A62049:253
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.
It is a Maxim of the Law of England, that the Law it self ought to be the rule by which all Judges must be regulated, all controversies tried, and all cases decided. It is good to keep close to the laws of men (that are warrantable by Scripture) but it is best to keep close to the Word of God; There are the best precepts for justice, the best patterns of just men; nay, and of the Infinitely righteous God. You have the example of God himself, how just, how holy he is in all his doings, how he walketh, how he worketh. Caesars ambition was to imitate Alexander; Themistocles endeavoured to resemble Miltiades. Do you labour to be like God, to hate sin, to love holiness, to discourage the profane, to countenance the pious, to be active and zealous both by your patterns and precepts for the glory, of God.
It is a Maxim of the Law of England, that the Law it self ought to be the rule by which all Judges must be regulated, all controversies tryed, and all cases decided. It is good to keep close to the laws of men (that are warrantable by Scriture) but it is best to keep close to the Word of God; There are the best precepts for justice, the best patterns of just men; nay, and of the Infinitely righteous God. You have the example of God himself, how just, how holy he is in all his doings, how he walketh, how he worketh. Caesars ambition was to imitate Alexander; Themistocles endeavoured to resemble Miltiades. Do you labour to be like God, to hate sin, to love holiness, to discourage the prophane, to countenance the pious, to be active and zealous both by your patterns and precepts for the glory, of God.
In all your difficulties make the Word of God your Counsellor; in all your doubts let Scripture resolve you: You may look too much to the light ⟨p. 263⟩within you, which is imperfect and (1 Tit.) defiled (as Quakers make a Christ of it) but you can never look too much to this light without you, which is perfect and pure, without the least blemish or defect.