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

1. That you be terrors to evil doers; this is expressed as one of your chief duties, Rom. 13.3. If ⟨p. 247⟩men be fearless in sinning, surely you should not be fearful in sentencing them for their sins. God hateth iniquity; He is of purer eyes then to behold it, the evil of sin never got a good look from God,¹ and why should it from the Gods? Edward the Confessor was held a bad Prince, not by doing but enduring evil. God was angry with Eli, and telleth him that he would judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knew, because his Sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not, 1 Sam. 3.13. Eli was a Magistrate, and should have put forth his authority and punished those ungodly children, but because he did not, God punished both him and them. O it is dangerous to do the work of the Lord negligently. Sir, Do not you (or might you not upon inquiry) know of them that profane Gods day, blaspheme his name, frequent Ale-houses and the like? do you restrain them? Do you fright such offenders with your frowns, and show your love to their souls by executing Justice on them for their sins? If you do not, look to your self; for God hath Iron hands for Justices that have leaden heels, and will one day strike them home, for forswearing themselves to spare others. He will be a terror to thee, and make thee a terror to thy self who wilt not at his command be a terror to evil doers. Thou sinnest in others,² whilst thou sufferest them to sin, and thou shalt one day suffer with them, Rev. 18.4. Thou art afraid to offend thy Neighbours, I tell thee, God will make thee know twere better offending all the world, then one God. I beseech you, make it appear that you are Magistrates by being men of courage; be as bold in executing as others are in transgressing the law. Shall iniquity be brazen-faced, and authority hide it self? If the offender be in robes, be not afraid of him, but make him afraid of you. I have read that the Athenian Judges sat in Mars-street, to show that Rulers should be