A62049:249
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.
Or if he be very bold and venturous for God, yet being an evil man, he can never do good (by all his activeness as a Ruler) to his own soul. God may give him parts, and gifts, and courage, (as a Noble man giveth dainty fare to his Nurse) not out of love to him, but for his children's sake. He may like a ship, be instrumental to land others at some happy Port whereon it never entereth it self; He may be very helpful to others temporal, nay and eternal salvation, and yet miss himself: Jehu by acting for God, got a lease of an earthly Kingdom for three or four lives, but he lost the heavenly one for ever. The most that I know, that a civil yet unsanctified Magistrate gets by his forwardness and heat for God, is only a cooler hell; though your names are divine, yet if ye be not partakers of the divine nature, ye are lost for ever. Now what advantage will it be to you, like Noah's Carpenters, to build an Ark for the saving of others, and to perish your selves!
Or if he be very bold and venturous for God, yet being an evil man, he can never do good (by all his activeness as a Ruler) to his own soul. God may give him parts, and gifts, and courage, (as a Noble man giveth dainty fare to his Nurse) not out of love to him, but for his childrens sake. He may like a ship, be instrumental to land others at some happy Port whereon it never entereth it self; He may be very helpful to others temporal, nay and eternal salvation, and yet miss himself: Jehu by acting for God, got a lease of an earthly Kingdom for three or four lives, but he lost the heavenly one for ever. The most that I know, that a civil yet unsanctified Magistrate gets by his forwardness and heat for God, is only a cooler hell; though your names are divine, yet if ye be not partakers of the divine nature, ye are lost for ever. Now what advantage will it be to you, like Noahs Carpenters, to build an Ark for the saving of others, and to perish your selves!
Believe it Sirs, If ye would have good fruits in your lives, there must be this root of holiness in your hearts; A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things. What water is in the Well, such will be in the bucket; and what ware ⟨p. 261⟩