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

¹O consider, is it not reasonable as well as religious, that you who rule by God, should rule for God? that that power which you have received from him, should be improved mostly for him? Remember your time is short, your opportunities are many, your work is great, and your account will be heavy, therefore work the work of him that sent you into the world. It was a saying of Becket, sometime Archbishop of Canterbury, when he was persuaded to deal moderately with the King, Clavum teneo & ad somnum me vocas, Do I sit at the stern, and would you have me sleep? Sirs, you steer the rudder of the State, you sit at the Helm of the Common-wealth; should you be sleepy or slothful? I beseech you to be doing for the furthering Piety, & the Lord will be with you.

¹O consider, is it not reasonable as well as religious, that you who rule by God, should rule for God? that that power which you have received from him, should be improved mostly for him? Remember your time is short, your opportunities are many, your work is great, and your account will be heavy, therefore work the work of him that sent you into the world. It was a saying of Becket, sometime Archbishop of Canterbury, when he was perswaded to deal moderately with the King, Clavum teneo & ad somnum me vocas, Do I sit at the stern, and would you have me sleep? Sirs, you steer the rudder of the State, you sit at the Helm of the Common-wealth; should you be sleepy or slothful? I beseech you to be doing for the furthering Piety, & the Lord will be with you.

1. 1Vide Zanch. de Magistrat Gerh. loc. com. Wallaeum de codem sub. Willet. in Rom. 13. controver. 4.

Now that Magistrates may be enabled and incited to walk, and to work, as Gods among men; I shall deliver a few directions, and two or three motives, and then conclude.