Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now as touching the second reason, let us mark also that if God have given a people the grace to choose Kings, Princes, Magistrates or Judges, they ought to have great regard that the seat which God hath ordained for the welfare of mankind, be not given to a man that is an unbeliever. For the people that chooseth either king or Judge, without discerning whether he be a man that feareth God or no: do put the halter about their own necks wilfully. And when they shall choose, and take Magistrates that are either deadly enemies of the Gospel, or Hypocrites, that seek nothing else but to turn all things upsidedown, or worldlings that could find in their hearts to tread all religion under foot: is not the admitting of such men as an opening of the gate unto Satan, that he might have place among us? Is it not a rejecting of Gods grace, to the end that all abominations might have their full scope? So then, when soever we choose Judges, Magistrates, Governors and Officers of Justice, let us take warning by this text, to look for this mark in them, that they be men which fear God, and are at leastwise desirous that Religion should be maintained in his pureness: For otherwise it is all one ⟨p. 649⟩as if we would drive God from us, and seek to banish him from among us; which is too cursed a traitorousness. And thus much concerning earthly government. After we have endeavoured that the spiritual religion of the church may be maintained: let us likewise be so minded towards the state of the temporal sword and ordinary justice, that such as sit in judgement may be all one with us in brotherly religion, and that the holy band of faith may knit §10us together in obedience to one selfsame God. And hereof there is a fair confirmation in the things that Moses addeth: for it deserveth to be treated of immediately, and we shall see it in place convenient.

Nowe as touching the second reason, let vs marke also that if God haue giuen a people the grace to choose Kinges, Princes, Magistrates or Iudges, they ought to haue great regarde that the seate which God hath ordeined for the wellfare of mankinde, be not giuen to a man that is an vnbeleeuer. For the people that chooseth either king or Iudge, without discerning whether he be a man that fearth God or no: doe put the haulter about their owne neckes wilfully. And when they shall choose, and take Magistrates that are either deadly enemies of the Gospell, or Hypocrites, that seeke nothing else but to turne all thinges vpsidedowne, or worldelinges that coulde finde in their heartes to treade all religion vnder foote: is not the admitting of such men as an opening of the gate vnto Sathan, that hee might haue place among vs? Is it not a reiecting of Gods grace, to the ende that all abhominations might haue their full scope? So then, when soeuer wee choose Iudges, Magistrates, Gouernours and Officers of Iustice, let vs take warning by this text, to looke for this marke in them, that they bee men which feare God, and are at leastwise desirous that Religion shoulde be mainteined in his purenesse: For otherwise it is all one