A77844:65
The magistrates commission from heaven. Declared in a sermon preached in Laurence Jury, London, the…The magistrates commission from heaven. Declared in a sermon preached in Laurencejury, London, the…
The magistrates commission from heaven. Declared in a sermon preached in Laurence Jury, London, the 28. day of Sept. 1644. at the election of the Lord Major. / By Anthony Burgess, sometimes fellow of Immanuel College in Cambridge; now pastor of Sutton Coldfield in Warwick shire, and a member of the Assembly. Imprimatur Thomas Gataker.The magistrates commission from heaven. Declared in a sermon preached in Laurencejury, London, the 28. day of Sept. 1644. at the election of the Lord Major. / By Anthony Burgesse, sometimes fellow of Immanuel Colledge in Cambridge; now pastour of Sutton Coldfield in Warwick shire, and a member of the Assembly. Imprimatur Thomas Gataker.
London: printed by George Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1644London: printed by George Miller for Thomas Vnderhill, 1644
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
And then, on the other side, in the Excess, for there is politic idolatry as well as spiritual; we may make a Magistrate an idol; and that is, when we will obey him against God, when we have no other ground for our Worship or Religion then the Authority of a Magistrate, we look not to the Word of God; this is politic idolatry, Quicquid rex Demetrius jubet id erga homines justum & Deos sanctum, that was their resolution.
And then, on the other side, in the Excesse, for there is politicke idolatry as well as spirituall; we may make a Magistrate an idoll; and that is, when we will obey him against God, when we have no other ground for our Worship or Religion then the Authoritie of a Magistrate, we look not to the Word of God; this is politicke idolatry, Quicquid rex Demetrius jubet id erga homines justum & Deos sanctum, that was their resolution.
Use 2 In the next place,Is it so that Magistracy is appointed for our good, then let us humble our selves under the consideration of the abuse of Government that hath been heretofore in our Kingdom and Nation, the abuse of it, I say; here (says the Apostle) if thou dost evil be afraid: Oh beloved, were not the times, when men to ⟨p. 19⟩do good were afraid? were not the times, when if men prayed fervently, and when men preached powerfully, and when men stood for the public good of the Kingdom; when they did these good things, were they not afraid? how terrible is it therefore, when the Nature and the Office of Government is altered, when men to do good were afraid; and when men that did evil were not afraid, nor discouraged: when the Text now is altered, in stead of being a Minister of God to men for good, when Magistrates and Governors shall become Ministers of Satan for the evil and hurt of men, this is terrible.
Ʋse 2 In the next place,Is it so that Magistracie is appointed for our good, then let us humble our selves under the consideration of the abuse of Government that hath been heretofore in our Kingdome and Nation, the abuse of it, I say; here (saies the Apostle) if thou dost evill be afraid: Oh beloved, were not the times, when men to