Men are gods, or, The dignity of magistracy, and the duty of the magistrate…

2. Their command to govern is from God; the several Precepts from God to men in high places, doth fully speak their power to be of God. Why should God command them to rule according to his laws, who have no authority to rule at all? Jer. 22.2, 3. Hear the word of the Lord O King of Judah, execute judgement and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressed, &c. If the matter or substance of their rule were unlawful, surely God would not own it so far as to prescribe rules for the manner of executing it. Now God through the whole Scriptures scattereth many precepts for directions to Princes how they should govern, and what they should practice, Deut. 17.

3. Their protection is from God. As a King defendeth his inferior officers in the execution of their offices; so the King of Kings defendeth Magistrates in the discharge of their trusts; God standeth ⟨p. 209⟩in the Congregation among the Gods, Psal. 82.1. not only to observe whether they offer injuries to others, but also to take care, that they receive no injuries from others. God is a stronger guard to the Judge then any Sheriff. And were not he a wall of fire about some worthy zealous Justices, many beastly persons (who have been curbed by them, and hindered from leaping over the hedges of divine commands) would have trampled them under feet, if not torn them in pieces.

3. Their protection is from God. As a King defendeth his inferiour officers in the execution of their offices; so the King of Kings defendeth Magistrates in the discharge of their trusts; God standeth ⟨p. 209⟩in the Congregation among the Gods,