A92848:52
The best and the worst magistrate
The best and the worst magistrate: or, The people's happiness and unhappiness, laid open in a sermon preached at the late election of the Lord Major for the famous City of London, Sept. 29. 1648. / By Obadiah Sedgwick B. in D. and minister at Covent-Garden.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1648
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.
4. Rulers must be men of Mercy, as well as of Justice: I will sing of mercy and justice, saith David; The Mercy-seat 1was the best seat that ever was set up for Sinners: and it is the excellency of Christs Government, that it is full of Purity, and of Equity, and of Mercy. One relates of the Jews, That they would have none to be Magistrates, who were not Fathers of Children; they thought their fatherly relation would be a motion to mercy. Now Mercy in a Ruler is a joy unto a people, and conduceth unto the public good: The throne is upheld by mercy, saith Solomon; and no persons are more 2merciful then righteous persons, they are begotten by the Father of Mercies, and are Children of Mercy: David saith, They are gracious, and full of compassion; and Solomon saith, 3The righteous man regardeth the life of his beast, much more then the estates and lives of men.
4. Rulers must be men of Mercy, as well as of Justice: I will sing of mercy and justice, saith David; The Mercy-seat 1was the best seat that ever was set up for Sinners: and it is the excellency of Christs Government, that it is full of Purity, and of Equity, and of Mercy. One relates of the Jews, That they would have none to be Magistrates, who were not Fathers of Children; they thought their fatherly relation would be a motion to mercy. Now Mercy in a Ruler is a joy unto a people, and conduceth unto the publique good: The throne is upheld by mercy, saith Solomon; and no persons are more 2merciful then righteous persons, they are begotten by the Father of Mercies, and are Children of Mercy: David saith, They are gracious, and full of compassion; and Solomon saith, 3The righteous man regardeth the life of his beast, much more then the estates and lives of men.
- 1