A92848:91
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.
5. Your Opportunity is honourable: There is no new Magistrate to be chosen by you for this City, but God at such a time presents unto you four great advantages: 1. One is, To make Christ very glorious. 2. A second is, To make Religion very prosperous. 3. A third is, To make this City very happy. 4. A fourth is, To make the whole Kingdom (upon which this place hath such an exemplary influence) very safe.
5. Your Opportunity is honorable: There is no new Magistrate to be chosen by you for this City, but God at such a time presents unto you four great advantages: 1. One is, To make Christ very glorious. 2. A second is, To make Religion very prosperous. 3. A third is, To make this City very happy. 4. A fourth is, To make the whole Kingdom (upon which this place hath such an exemplary influence) very safe.
Beloved, you have in your hands, This one day, All the next years Mercies, and Blessings, All your own Comforts, and, All your Brethren's Comforts: A good choice is a full years Blessing. And verily, as such an opportunity is precious, so the honour which God puts upon you in that opportunity is very glorious; for as Magistrates are Gods in respect of Office, so are you (who come to choose) you are also Gods ⟨p. 21⟩in respect of the fruit of your Choice, for according as your Choice is, you make day or night, light or darkness, good or evil, joy or sorrow unto the people, which works God owns for his works in Scripture.
Beloved, you have in your hands, This one day, All the next years Mercies, and Blessings, All your own Comforts, and, All your Brethrens Comforts: A good choyce is a full years Blessing. And verily, as such an opportunity is precious, so the honor which God puts upon you in that opportunity is very glorious; for as Magistrates are Gods in respect of Office, so are you (who come to choose) you are also Gods ⟨p. 21⟩in respect of the fruit of your Choyce, for according as your Choyce is, you make day or night, light or darkness, good or evil, joy or sorrow unto the people, which works God owns for his works in Scripture.