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

My Son, saith Solomon, fear thou the Lord and the King, and meddle not with them that are given to change. For their calamity shall arise suddenly, and who knoweth the ruin of them both? Prov. 21.22. i.e. of them that fear not God, and of them that fear not the King. And Eccles. 10.8, 9. He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a Serpent shall bite him. Whoso removeth stones, shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood, shall be endangered thereby. These four proverbial expressions speak the danger of them that go about to supplant their Rulers. Whilst they are digging pits to catch others, the earth falleth on them, and murdereth themselves. When they are breaking up the old hedge of Government, Serpents and Adders which use to harbour in old walls and hedges will sting them. God will make men know that it is a dangerous thing to confound rule and subjection, and to break down the partition wall which he hath set up between Magistrates and people. When these sharp instruments which they run against, wound them deep, they will believe that it is bad meddling with edged tools, and that there is a truth in those words of the Apostle, They that resist procure to themselves damnation, Rom. 13.2. that is, both corporal punishment and eternal torment, saith Peter Martyr.

My Son, saith Solomon, fear thou the Lord and the King, and meddle not with them that are given to change. For their calamity shall arise suddenly, and who knoweth the ruine of them both? Prov. 21.22. i.e. of them that fear not God, and of them that fear not the King. And Eccles. 10.8, 9. He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a Serpent shall bite him. Whoso removeth stones, shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood, shall be endangered thereby. These four proverbial expressions speak the danger of them that go about to supplant their Rulers. Whilest they are digging pits to catch others, the earth falleth on them, and murdereth themselves. When they are breaking up the old hedge of Government, Serpents and Adders which use to harbour in old walls and hedges will sting them. God will make men know that it is a dangerous thing to confound rule and subjection, and to break down the partition wall which he hath set up between Magistrates and people. When these sharp instruments which they run against, wound them deep, they will believe that it is bad medling with edged tools, and that there is a truth in those words of the Apostle, They that resist procure to themselves damnation,