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

Ah how exactly shouldst thou live, that must be tried for thine endless estate by so strict a law!

Ah how exactly shouldst thou live, that must be tryed for thine endless estate by so strict a law!

How diligently shouldst thou keep thy heart, knowing that God will judge the secrets of thy heart! Rom. 2.16. How carefully shouldst thou keep the door of thy lips, considering that of every (not only swearing or cursing, but) idle word which thou shalt speak, thou shalt give an account at the day of Christ! Matth. 12.35. How wary shouldst thou be in all thy deeds, believing that thou shalt appear at the Judgement Seat of Christ to give an account of every thing done in the body of flesh, whether it be good, or whether it be evil! 2 Cor. 5.10. So think, so speak, so act, as one that must be judged for all at the great day of Christ.

This may likewise incite you to work as Gods amongst men, because at that day Christ will come, and his reward will be with him to give to every one according to his works, Rev. 22.12. Your actions now are seed; if ye would reap liberally on that great harvest day, ye must sow liberally in this seed-time. Christ will then demand, how ye improved the many advantages, and opportunities which he put into your hands for the magnifying his Name, countenancing his people, propagating his Gospel, punishing his enemies, and discouraging the workers of iniquity. He will ask you why at such a time, when you knew his Name was blasphemed, his Day was profaned, his Ministers and Ordinances were trampled