A62049:71
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.
Man is by nature an untamed Heifer, loathing the yoke of subjection, prone to rage and rebel; so that he needeth all means imaginable to rule and restrain him. The wise Governor of all things hath therefore thought fit not only to give Christians a natural law and moral law from himself, but also positive laws from men, that this threefold cord which is not easily broken may bind him fast. And this surely speaketh Magistrates to be like God; for even the Heathen themselves would ascribe their laws to some one of their Gods. Zoroastres who gave laws to the Persians, ascribed them to Oromazen. Trismegistus among the Egyptians ascribed his Laws to Mercurius; Lycurgus, who gave laws to the Lacedaemonians, would make Apollo the Author of them. Solon and Draco among the Athenians, said that Minerva was their Law-giver. So almost in every Nation they who had the Legislative Power, ascribed the invention of their laws to their false gods. But the Word of God which is a perfect rule for all men, doth impower Magistrates to make laws (not according to their lusts, but) agreeable to his revealed will.
Man is by nature an untamed Heifer, loathing the yoke of subjection, prone to rage and rebel; so that he needeth all means imaginable to rule and restrain him. The wise Governour of all things hath therefore thought fit not only to give Christians a natural law and moral law from himself, but also positive laws from men, that this threefold cord which is not easily broken may bind him fast. And this surely speaketh Magistrates to be like God; for even the Heathen themselves would ascribe their laws to some one of their Gods. Zoroastres who gave laws to the Persians, ascribed them to Oromazen. Trismegistus among the Aegyptians ascribed his Laws to Mercurius; Lycurgus, who gave laws to the Lacedemonians, would make Apollo the Author of them. Solon and Draco among the Aehenians, said that Minerva was their Law-giver. So almost in every Nation they who had the Legislative Power, ascribed the invention of their laws to their false gods. But the Word of God which is a perfect rule for all men, doth impower Magistrates to make laws (not according to their lusts, but) agreeable to his revealed will.
Thirdly,1