Now if the Question be, What is that work to the doing whereof Magistrates are by their places obliged? I answer, To appear for God, and to act for God. As God is the Author of their Power, so his Interest and Honour ought to be the matter of their designs, and the end of their Government. This that good King Jehoshaphat did full well understand, accordingly when he had set Judges in the Land, through all the fenced Cities of Judah, City by City, he spake thus unto them, 2 Chron. 19.6. Take heed what ye do, for ye rule not for men, but for the Lord, who is with you in the Judgment. An excellent speech it was, a charge fit to be given to Judges, when to go their Circuits. Judges, yea and others too as well as they, had need be very Cautious and Wary men, exceeding prudent and circumspect, it concerns them to ponder and weigh actions, how they carry, what Laws they make, how they execute them, what Judgments they give, and what Sentences they pass. But what is the reason hereof? Because they Judge not for men, but for the Lord, and so they rule not for men, but the Lord; and when they meet in Parliament they should consult not for men, but for the Lord. Though indeed they do manage all most prudently for men, when they act most faithfully for the Lord. And it is certain, it is not Officers own advancement and enrichment, not their own Honour and Grandeur at which they should level and direct their Actions, none of these is the end of Government, or of their being called to any part or share of it, but the Honour of God, and his Glory as Supreme, and the good of men as subordinate. ⟨p. 342⟩And let not that be forgotten which Jehoshaphat added, The Lord is with you in the Judgment. When you do well, and act according to the Law of Righteousness, God is with you to own you, to justify you, to stand by you, to comfort and encourage you, to protect and defend you, to reward and bless you, as Persons that have been faithful. And you may be sure, He is at all times with you, in the Throne, and in the Senate, and upon the Bench, and elsewhere, curiously to observe, and take notice of that which you do, for by him actions are weighed. Magistrates and Officers of all sorts have many eyes upon them, more see them than they themselves see. There are upon them the eyes of good men and bad, of Friends and Foes, of Subjects and Strangers:
Now if the Question be, What is that work to the doing whereof Magistrates are by their places obliged? I answer, To appear for God, and to act for God. As God is the Author of their Power, so his Interest and Honour ought to be the matter of their designs, and the end of their Government. This that good King Jehoshaphat did full well understand, accordingly when he had set Judges in the Land, through all the fenced Cities of Judah, City by City, he spake thus unto them, 2 Chron. 19.6. Take heed what ye do, for ye rule not for men, but for the Lord, who is with you in the Judgment. An excellent speech it was, a charge fit to be given to Judges, when to go their Circuits. Judges, yea and others too as well as they, had need be very Cautious and Wary men, exceeding prudent and circumspect, it concerns them to ponder and weigh actions, how they carry, what Laws they make, how they execute them, what Judgments they give, and what Sentences they pass. But what is the reason hereof? Because they Judge not for men, but for the Lord, and so they rule not for men, but the Lord; and when they meet in Parliament they should consult not for men, but for the Lord. Though indeed they do manage all most prudently for men, when they act most faithfully for the Lord. And it is certain, it is not Officers own advancement and inrichment, not their own Honour and Grandeur at which they should level and direct their Actions, none of these is the end of Government, or of their being called to any part or share of it, but the Honour of God, and his Glory as Supreme, and the good of men as subordinate. ⟨p. 342⟩And let not that be forgotten which Jehoshaphat added, The Lord is with you in the Judgment. When you do well, and act according to the Law of Righteousness, God is with you to own you, to justifie you, to stand by you, to comfort and encourage you, to protect and defend you, to reward and bless you, as Persons that have been faithful. And you may be sure, He is at all times with you, in the Throne, and in the Senate, and upon the Bench, and elsewhere, curiously to observe, and take notice of that which you do, for by him actions are weighed. Magistrates and Officers of all sorts have many eyes upon them, more see them than they themselves see. There are upon them the eyes of good men and bad, of Friends and Foes, of Subjects and Strangers:
