A62049:148
Men are gods, or, The dignity of magistracy, and the duty of the magistrate…
Men are gods, or, The dignity of magistracy, and the duty of the magistrate as it was presented in a sermon at the assize holden at Hertford for that county on August 2, 1653 / by George Swinnocke ...
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1660
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Though a Christian must rather suffer then offer injuries; yet he may, nay must mind his own safety. He may not unjustly offend his Brother, but he may justly defend himself.
All private revenge is forbidden,1 but the Magistrate is Gods Minister; therefore as vengeance belongeth unto God, so the Magistrate may in Gods place take revenge, and one may implore his help, as he may commit his cause to God, so it be not done with a revengeful mind.
All private revenge is forbidden,1 but the Magistrate is Gods Minister; therefore as vengeance belongeth unto God, so the Magistrate may in Gods place take revenge, and one may implore his help, as he may commit his cause to God, so it be not done with a revengefull mind.
- 1R. Willet in Rom. 13.
The meaning of the holy Scriptures is far different from the sense which the Apostate Julian put on them. When he had taken away their estates, he put them off with a mock, Your Master said, Blessed are the poor: and when he had sorely beaten them with his hands, he would wound them with his tongue saying, Your Master said If one beat you on one cheek turn to him the other. The Gospel certainly was never intended for a cross, but a comfort to a Christian, and though its principal aim be to further him spiritually, yet it never designed to hinder him corporally by any of those commands.