The best and the worst magistrate

6. Lastly, The very individual action is weighty: For it is Election, and Election is a weighty action; it is an action which naturally calls for, and depends upon Judgement, Counsel, Deliberation. There are some Magistrates by Succession, whom people receive, but choose not; and there are some Magistrates by Nomination, who are chosen for us, but not by us; and there are some Magistrates by Election, who are (if I may so allude) our own Creatures and Workmanship: And we, we are the more entitled unto their good or evil carriages, by how much the more they are formed up into their place of Authority by our own wills, not merely consenting, but distinguishingly choosing and raising of them; so that if they be good, the first fruits of the comforts are your portion; and if they be bad, the bitter water of Curse is likely to be your draught first: O therefore how serious should you be in this work! you should use the Touchstone and the Balance, Try men, and Weigh men. Election (they say) is only Paucorum, and Bonorum, and Optimorum; Well, since the Office is high, the Trust great, the Administration difficult, the Error dangerous, the Opportunity honourable, and the Action weighty, here are Reasons enough why you should be serious.

6. Lastly, The very individual action is weighty: For it is Election, and Election is a weighty action; it is an action which naturally calls for, and depends upon Judgement, Counsel, Deliberation. There are some Magistrates by Succession, whom people receive, but choose not; and there are some Magistrates by Nomination, who are chosen for us, but not by us; and there are some Magistrates by Election, who are (if I may so allude) our own Creatures and Workmanship: And we, we are the more entituled unto their good or evil carriages, by how much the more they are formed up into their place of Authority by our own wills, not meerly consenting, but distinguishingly choosing and raising of them; so that if they be good, the first fruits of the comforts are your portion; and if they be bad, the bitter water of Curse is likely to be your draught first: O therefore how serious should you be in this work! you should use the Touchstone and the Ballance, Try men, and Weigh men. Election (they say) is onely Paucorum, and Bonorum, and Optimorum; Well, since the Office is high, the Trust great, the Administration difficult, the Error dangerous, the Opportunity honorable, and the Action weighty, here are Reasons enough why you should be serious.