A62049:94
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.
As in the waters there be some greater, some smaller fish; and in the earth there be Mountains and Hills as well as Plains and Valleys; and in the Heavens there are Stars differing from each other in glory; so amongst men there are some greater then others in power, higher in place, and excelling them in authority and glory.
As the natural body is distinguished by God himself into comely and uncomely parts, 1 Cor. 12.23, 24. so is the Political body into members Noble and Ignoble:
The Bees in their Common-wealth (as is reported) have a Commander in chief, a Master Be. The Lyon claimeth a command and superiority among the Beasts of the field. The Angels in heaven have a chief, Michael the Archangel, Jude 9. 1 Thes. 4.16. The School-men indeed being more bold then they ought, do divide the Angels into three Hierarchies, and each Hierarchy into three several orders. The first Hierarchy they say comprehendeth Cherubims, Seraphims, and Thrones: The second, Dominions, Principalities, and Powers. The third, ⟨p. 206⟩Mights, Archangels, and Angels: As also they assert the reason of these several names. But the more modest and learned Expositors who join not in the aforesaid presumptuous division, do yet generally conclude an order, distinction, and preeminence amongst Angels, from Ephes. 1.21. Col. 1.16