A62049:209
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.
Further, It behoveth you the rather to walk as, Gods, because others do not only sin with you, but suffer for you. When King David numbered the people out of pride, how did God number the people to the Pestilence! 2 Sam. What bitter fruits doth God make Israel to feed on, Jer. 15.2. Such as are for death to death, such as are for famine to famine, such as are for the sword to the sword! But if you would know the root from which those swore fruits spring, Because of Manasseh the King of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem, v. 4.
Further, It behoveth you the rather to walk as, Gods, because others do not only sin with you, but suffer for you. When King David numbred the people out of pride, how did God number the people to the Pestilence! 2 Sam. What bitter fruits doth God make Israel to feed on, Jer. 15.2. Such as are for death to death, such as are for famine to famine, such as are for the sword to the sword! But if you would know the root from which those swore fruits spring, Because of Manasseh the King of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem, v. 4.
Whether, saith one, a Gangrene begin at the head or the heel, it will kill, but a Gangrene in the head will kill sooner then one in the heel; Even so will the sins of great ones overthrow a state sooner then the sins of small ones; therefore the advice of Sigismund the Emperor, when a motion was made for Reformation, was, Let us begin at the Minorities, saith one; No, rather saith he, Let us begin at the Majorities; for if the great ones be good, the meaner cannot easily be evil.
Whether, saith one, a Gangreen begin at the head or the heel, it will kill, but a Gangreen in the head will kill sooner then one in the heel; Even so will the sins of great ones overthrow a state sooner then the sins of small ones; therefore the advice of Sigismund the Emperour, when a motion was made for Reformation, was, Let us begin at the Minorities, saith one; No, rather saith he, Let us begin at the Majorities; for if the great ones be good, the meaner cannot easily be evill.