a Magistrate that neglecteth his duty herein is like a Winters Sun glorious for Majesty but yielding no warming or refreshing influences to them that are under him or like the Kings head on a sign-post only for shew The God of heaven doth not cast away the perfect man nor help the evil doer Job 8.20 He beholdeth the righteous with favour he woundeth the heads of sinners Psal. 68.21 He cutteth off the workers of iniquity He killeth and maketh alive with him is the fountain of life Psal. 39.9 as waters flow from Fountain so doth life from God And he can easily slay men Job 4.9 By the blast of God they perish To save and kill is a God-like priviledge The power of life and death is in the hands of these earthly Gods they enliven with their smiles their favour or the light of a Kings countenance is life they kill with their frowns The wrath of a King is the messenger of death Prov. 16.14 15. Herein their dignity and civil God-ship appeareth that they can give by reprieve or pardon or take away a life which is forfeited to the Law Caesars speech was high when he was opposed by Metellus in his takeing away the mony out of the Romane Treasury Let me alone or I will kill thee presently and then to qualifie his threat and magnifie his strength he told him Young man thou knowest it is harder for me to speak it then to do it But this is certain Rulers are not for nothing called Powers Tit. 3.1 It is in their power though not to Tyrannize at their pleasure yet to execute the Laws even to the death of the offendor 2. Magistrates are called Gods not only in regard of ther dignity but also in regard of their duty They ought to resemble God in their execution of Justice amongst men God administreth Justice impartially and so should the Gods The Judge of all the earth doth right and the Judges that are on the earth should do right God doth judge the world in righteousness and ministreth judgement to the poor in uprightness Psal. 9.8 And they who rule over men must be just ruling in the fear of God 2 Sam. 23.3 Justice and Judgement are the habitation of Gods Throne Psal. 89.14 The holy Ghost alludeth to the Thrones of earthly Princes which were under-propped with Pillars as Solomons Throne with Lions 1 Kings 19 20. that were both a support and an ornament to it Now saith the Psalmist Justice and Judgement are the Pillars upon which Gods Throne standeth or as Calvin expoundeth it the Robe and Diadem the Purple and Scepter the Regalia with which Gods Throne is adorned Thus Magistrates ought to make good their pattern and to take heed what they do because they judge not for man but for the Lord who is with them in the Judgement 2 Chron. 19.6 Magistrates are therefore called Gods because they should as God doth do impartial justice without respect of persons protecting the godly as being the Ministers of God for their good Rom. 13.4 and punishing the wicked which are malignant enemies to God and them Now the impartiality of the Gods as of God in executing justice appeareth in these three particulars First in not favouring any for their neerness Magistrates must imitate God in this who is no respecter of persons but judgeth every man according to his works 1 Pet. 1.17 Though Coniah be to me saith God as the Signet on my right hand yet I will pluck him thence Jer. 22.24 That is though he were as near and dear to me as a Kings sealing-ring which is most carefully kept and tenderly preserved worn commonly yea continually on some finger yet I would do justice in plucking him off and casting him from me Nay when Gods own Son who was the Son of his infinite love and choicest delight became liable to the lash of the Law as being a sinner by imputation God would not spare him in the least but made him bear the curse of the Law Rom. 8.32 Zaleucus the Law-giver having enacted that every person guilty of adultery should lose both his eyes did yet when his own Son was found guilty of that fault put out one of his own eyes and one of his Sons But the great God was more just when his Son was a Surety for sinners he caused him to pay the utmost farthing he suffered the law to have its full stroak at him O how just was God that rather then violate the least Tittle of his Law would sign a warrant with his own hand and confirm the Commission with his own Seal for his dearest Sons execution Thus should Magistrates hear and determine without any respect to friends or relations Prov. 24.23 To have respect of persons is not good yea it is very evil Magistrates must hear the cause not the person and mind not the man but the matter which is brought before them David was faulty and he smarted sharply for it in sparing Amnon guilty of Incest and Absolom guilty of Murder because they were his Sons But Levi did nobly who said to his Father and to his Mother I have not seen him neither did he acknowledge his brethren nor knew his own children Deut. 33.9 Pompey aspiring to the Roman Empire and perceiving that Cato was against him sent his friend Minucius to Cato to demand his two Nieces One for himself the other for his Son But when the Messenger had delivered his errand Cato gave him this Answer Go tell Pompey Cato is not to be won by women as long as Pompey shall deal uprightly I shall be his friend and in a greater degree then any marriage can ever make me Surely this Moralist will condemn many Christian Rulers of whom it is said that the Sun might assoon be hindred from running his race as he from doing what was just and upright God will not upon any pretence whatsoever have his own person accepted Job 13.8 much less the persons of men Secondly In not sparing or fearing any for their greatness Rulers ought to be men of courage Exod 18.21 The fear of man bringeth a snare Prov. 29.25 and is often the cause why justice is perverted Pilate feared Caesar John 19.12 13. and therefore against his conscience condemned Christ The great God of heaven feareth none spareth none for their glory or greatness He putteth the mighty out of their Seats Luke 1.52 He bindeth Kings in chains and Princes in Fetters of Iron Psal. 149.8 The day of the Lord shall be upon all the Cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up and upon all the Oaks of Bashan and upon all the high Mountains and upon every high Tower and upon every fenced Wall Isa. 2.12 13 14. He is the Almighty Al-powerfull God and therefore cares not for any might or power of man Thus the Gods on earth should do justice on all great as well as small fearing none but the God of heaven Deut. 1.17
Gods Have said How God speaketh is a point almost unspeakable God speaketh or saith as well as man but not after the same manner he doth not form a voyce by such organs or instruments of speech But when God speaketh He doth either create a voyce in the air as Matth. 3.17 or declare and make known his mind sometimes secretly and immediately to the spirits of the Prophets so that phrase The word of the Lord came unto me so frequently used in Scripture is to be understood sometimes publickly and mediately by the Prophets to the people So then I have said that is I have in my Word manifested this to be my will That ye should be Gods amongst men Exod. 21.28 I that speak and none may or who dareth disannul it I who said Let there be light and there was light I who appointed the Sun to rule the day the Moon and the Stars to rule the night I have said Be ye Gods and ye shall be Gods I have appointed you in power and dignity to excel others and to rule over them on earth as the greater Luminaries do the lesser in the Heavens Ye are Gods That is in my place and stead amongst men To receive honour from them both of reverence and obedience To distribute justice amongst them both zealously and impartially To be terrours to evil doers and encouragements to them that do well To govern from love to my Name according to the rule of my Law for my honour and praise as likewise the good and profit of the people The word God is taken diversly in Scripture 1. Properly and so it is given only to him who is Essentially and by Nature God Who is an Infinite being of himself and from whom all others have their being And in this sense it is mentioned sometimes Generally without any Limitation to a certain person as Heb. 12. ult. John 4.24 sometimes Singularly with a Determination to one person as to the Father John 3.16 to the Son Rom. 9.5 1 Tim. 3.16 to the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 3.16 17. 2. Improperly and so it is given to them who by nature are not Gods As 1. To the Devil in regard of his unjust usurpation and wicked mens corruption 2 Cor. 4.4 He is called The God of this world He usurpeth the honour and Soveraignty of God Matth. 4.9 and the wicked world obeyeth him as if he were a God John 8.44 The God he is not of the world simply but of this world of this sinful world that lyeth in wickedness 1 John 5.19 2. To Idols in regard of the false perswasion of degenerate man 1 Cor. 8.4 5. There are Gods many and Lords many that is in their conceits who were Heathen They worshipped stocks and stones any thing yea almost all things though an Idol be nothing in the judgement of a Christian It is nothing saith the Apostle i. e. formally the thing signified is nothing yet materially it is something as made of wood or brass or the like 3. To Magistrates Exod. 4.16 who have their Commission from God Rom. 13. who do the work of God 2 Cor. 13. Rom. 3.4 who ought to do all for God 2 Chron. 19.6 And all of you are children of the most High It was no wonder that they were called Gods for here they are the children of the most High Now children are called after their Fathers Name This term Son of God or child of the most High is attributed 1. To Christ because of his Eternal Generation Psal. 2.7 He is the only begotten of the Father John 3.16 2. To Angels both Because of their practice they serve God not as slaves a Master but as children a Father chearfully heartily with filial alacrity and delight And because of their priviledge God useth them not as slaves but sons They are near him alwayes beholding the face of their Father Matth. 18.10 3. To men and that in regard of the purity and holiness in them they resemble God as a child his Father or in regard of the grace and favour God bestoweth on them in these respects all believers are the children of God Or in regard of their power and greatness they are priviledged to be higher then others in place as sons are before and above servants And they are like him in their Dignity and Authority so Magistrates The Chaldee paraphraseth As the Angels of the high God because Magistrates should be like Angels for wisdom 2 Sam. 14.24 The words being thus opened will yeeld us this Doctrine Doctrine That the God of Heaven hath appointed Magistrates to be Gods on earth He is God by Nature and he hath given them to be Gods by Name The Deity was by Incarnation cloathed with the Humane Nature and Humanity is here by Gods designation cloathed with the divine name I will praise thee before the Gods saith David Psal. 83.1 that is The tune of my heart shall be high in singing thy praise even before them that are by thy command highest in place The Sun in the higher world shineth most gloriously yet he communicateth some of his light to the Moon whereby she surpasseth and is as Queen among the glittering Stars So God the true Sun is infinitely above all he shineth eminently with his own native light and lustre yet he bestoweth of his beauty and brightness on some men whereby they excel and are above others in this lower world For the Explication of this truth I shall only shew in what respects Magistrates are called Gods and then proceed to Application Magistrates are in a two-fold respect called Gods 1. In respect of their honourable dignity 2. In respect of their answerable Duty It speaketh that their priviledge is high and that their practices should be holy 1. In respect of their Dignity God speaketh the nature of Magistracy to be honourable by the names which he giveth to the Magistrate Government is not a mean employment but a great preferment Magistracy is here by God himself invested with Majesty It is observable that God ascribeth to Magistrates the most honourable names among men Great men 2 Sam. 3.38 Nobles 2 Chron. 23. 30. Princes Psal. 83.11 Kings his Kings Psal. 18. ult. Fathers 1 Sam. 29.11 Chief of the people Judg. 20.2 Heads over the people Exod. 18.25 Dignities Glories Jude v. 8. The Ancients of the people Isai. 3.12 not only because aged persons were ordinarily elected for with the ancient is wisdom and in length of dayes understanding Job 12.12 but also because aged persons are honourable persons Men are commanded to bow down before the hoary head and reverence the Ancient Levit. 19.32 Nay God giveth Magistrates not only those names which are in most esteem amongst men but the names of Angels Angels are the perfection as it were of the Creation the top-stone of this glorious building When the Spirit of God would speak a thing or person to be excellent it doth resemble them to Angels My Lord
is wise as an Angel of God 2 Sam. 14.20 And Acts 6.15 They beheld his face as if it had been the face of an Angel Farther the great happiness of holy ones in heaven is set forth by their likeness to Angels They shall be as Angels Matth. 22. 30. Now what glorious persons then are Magistrates that have the names of Angels given them Angels are called Dominions Principalities Powers Col. 1.16 Ephes. 1.21 So are Magistrates Jude v. 8. Titus 3.1 Be subject to Principalities and Powers But the Text speaketh more of their dignity Magistrates have not only the highest names of the most honourable visible creatures Men and of the most honourable invisible creatures Angels but of the Creatour of God himself the Fountain and Standard of all Dignity and Honour I have said ye are Gods When Jacob would manifest to Josephs children the extraordinary respect he had for their father he doth it thus My Name be named on them and the Names of my Father Abraham and Isaac Gen. 48.16 It is a great honour to be called the servant of God Paul gloried in this Titus 1.1 So did David more in being a subject to God then a King over men Psal. 36. Title It is a greater honour and favour to be called Gods son Joh. 1.12 1 Joh. 3.1 Is it a mean thing saith David to be the Kings Son in law 1 Sam. 18.23 Magistrates are children of the most High they are sons to the King of Kings But the greatest honour of all is to be called Gods for God to say My name be named on them This is the highest name that can be given Here is a ne plus ultra This is the highest Name which is above all names and as the Diamond to the Ring addeth both vertue and value to whatsoever it is affixed As because Gold is the most precious excellent metal therefore we lay gold over other things we guild peuter brass yea silver it self So because God is the most excellent name it is laid to other things that thereby their worth may be set forth As the Sons of God Job 1.6 The City of God Psal. 46.4 The River of God Psal. 65.9 The Kingdom of God * Now in their dignity Magistrates resemble God in these two or three particulars and therefore are fitly called Gods First in receiving honour from others Honour accompanyeth power as the shadow the body There is naturally in man an aw and respect towards those that are Magistrates They are the Fathers of their Countrey and their subjects like children owe them both obedience and reverence Divine worship is to be given only to God in heaven but civil worship may be given to Gods on earth David speaketh of himself being a King His glory is great in thy salvation Honour and Majesty hast thou put upon him Psal. 21.5 Joseph when advanced to be a Ruler in Egypt rideth in the second Chariot and hath one crying befor him Bow the knee The most high God that giveth them Kingdoms doth also give them Glory and Majesty and honour Dan. 5.28 29. God indeed hath the greatest honour as the Supreme Governour and Law-giver but Magistrates receive it upon his account as they are his Representatives and Vicegerents When I went out to the gate saith Job that is to the place of administring justice for that work was done in the gates as Ruth 4.1 Job 5.4 Psal. 127.5 the young men saw me and hid themselves and the aged arose and stood up the Princes refrained talking and they laid their hands on their mouths Job 29.8 9. My son saith Solomon fear thou the Lord and the King Prov. 24.21 God is the proper object of fear hence the Greeks call him fear but the Gods because invested with his authority and intrusted with the administration of his Kingdom upon earth are also to be feared as Superiour to us though inferiour to God Secondly their dignity appeareth and in this they resemble God also in giving Laws to others Magistrates have power to enact laws for the encouraging of vertue and discouraging of vice for the preservation of peace among their people Zanchy saith There are three offices of the Magistrate whereof one is to ordain laws for the worship of God and the welfare of men There is indeed one Supreme and absolute Law-giver James 4.12 whose will and word must be the rule of others laws Besides in spirituals none can give laws to bind the conscience but God Isa. 33.21 In that sense The Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Law-giver but in external policy the Laws of men are to be observed And they have power to make such laws as are sutable unto and convenient for the wealth and safety of their Dominions The end of Magistracy sheweth their legislative authority for neither will piety be promoted nor the publike good procured or peace preserved without it And questionless God would never have injoyned Subjects to obey if Magistrates had not power to command Laws are the walls and Bulwarks of a Nation which in a great part may secure it against invasions from abroad and insurrections at home The standing Militia which protecteth the lives of the people The hedge which keeps men in from oppressing their neighbours The deeds and evidences which give us a right and title to our estates They are the nerves and sinews of the Body Politick or as Physick to the natural body to prevent diseases and purge out ill humours Man is by nature an untamed Heifer loathing the yoke of subjection prone to rage and rebel so that he needeth all means imaginable to rule and restrain him The wise Governour of all things hath therefore thought fit not only to give Christians a natural law and moral law from himself but also positive laws from men that this threefold cord which is not easily broken may bind him fast And this surely speaketh Magistrates to be like God for even the Heathen themselves would ascribe their laws to some one of their Gods Zoroastres who gave laws to the Persians ascribed them to Oromazen Trismegistus among the Aegyptians ascribed his Laws to Mercurius Lycurgus who gave laws to the Lacedemonians would make Apollo the Author of them Solon and Draco among the Aehenians said that Minerva was their Law-giver So almost in every Nation they who had the Legislative Power ascribed the invention of their laws to their false gods But the Word of God which is a perfect rule for all men doth impower Magistrates to make laws not according to their lusts but agreeable to his revealed will Thirdly The dignity of Magistracy wherein they likewise are like to God consisteth in their executing the Law In punishing the nocent and acquitting the innocent Execution is the life of the Law the lustre and glory of the Prince the security of the good people A Law unexecuted is like a sword without an edge for no use or service And
us 2. Objective As man is the object thereof about them it is exercised It is for the punishment of bad men and encouragement of good men for the deciding differences between man and man 3. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Finaliter As man is the end thereof He is the Minister of God for mans good But these things will not prove Magistracy to be a meer humane Ordinance for in these three respects the Ministry as well as the Magistracy may be said to be an humane Ordinance Man being both the subject object and end thereof yet what sober man ever denyed the ministry to be an Ordinance of God 4. It is Ordinance of man in regard of the kind of it Each Nation having a liberty to choose what form of Government they apprehend most commodious for them Magistracy is Ordained by God though this particular Magistrate or this form of Government be appointed by man The Genus of Magistracy is from God yet the Species whether Monarchy Democracy or Aristocracy may be at the choice of men Further though the Magistrate should be of the Devil a wicked ungodly person yet the Magistracy is of God There is a difference between the Office or Power it self and the manner of exercising it and the means of attaining it The first is alwayes of God but not alwayes the second and third The power of Nero was of God as the Holy Ghost speaketh fully Rom. 13. though he exercised it in a Devillish manner oppressing and killing the good encourageing and acquitting such as were evil The power of our Richard the third was of God though he attained it by ungodly and devillish means the murdering his own Soveraign and Nephew There are four particulars which will clearly demonstrate the truth of this assertion namely That Magistracy is of Divine Authority First Their Commission is from God By me Kings Rule saith God Prov. 8.15 Subordinate Magistrates may have their Commission from men but Supreme Magistrates have their Commissions from God only The Powers that be are ordained of God Rom. 13.1 not simply ordained of God as other things saith a learned Interpreter but specially by precept and command from God There are other things of God saith he as Famine War Sickness Poverty but they are not ordained by Precept Daniel telleth Nebuchadnezzar that God had commissionated him to rule over men Dan. 2.37 38. Thou O King art a King of Kings for the God of Heaven hath given thee a Kingdom power and strength and glory And wheresoever the children of men dwell the beasts of the field and the fowls of heaven hath he given into thy hand and hath made thee Ruler over them all thou art this head of Gold These higher Powers are so clearly from the highest Power that their Throne is called Gods Throne 1 Chron. 29.23 Then Solomon sate on the Throne of the Lord as King instead of David their Scepter is called Gods Scepter and their judgement Gods judgement Deut. 1.17 Ye shall not respect persons for the judgement is Gods Besides we find that several persons received their Regal Investiture from God himself as Saul David Jehu Cyrus which last was by God named and ordained to the government of the Persian Monarchy above sixty years before he was born Isai. 44.28 Isai. 45.1 2. Their command to govern is from God the several Precepts from God to men in high places doth fully speak their power to be of God Why should God command them to rule according to his laws who have no authority to rule at all Jer. 22.2 3. Hear the word of the Lord O King of Judah execute judgement and righteousness and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressed c. If the matter or substance of their rule were unlawful surely God would not own it so far as to prescribe rules for the manner of executing it Now God through the whole Scriptures scattereth many precepts for directions to Princes how they should govern and what they should practice Deut. 17. 3. Their protection is from God As a King defendeth his inferiour officers in the execution of their offices so the King of Kings defendeth Magistrates in the discharge of their trusts God standeth in the Congregation among the Gods Psal. 82.1 not only to observe whether they offer injuries to others but also to take care that they receive no injuries from others God is a stronger guard to the Judge then any Sheriff And were not he a wall of fire about some worthy zealous Justices many beastly persons who have been curb'd by them and hindered from leaping over the hedges of divine commands would have trampled them under feet if not torn them in pieces It is worthy our observation how exceedingly God manifesteth his power and zeal for the help of Magistrates against all opposition Korah and his company conspire against Moses and Aaron Magistracy and Ministery Numb. 16. and would have brought in Anarchy Indeed both those Ordinances have the same adversaries Those that would level the Ministery making Preachers Jeroboam-like of the lowest of the people and filling the Pulpit as Noahs Ark with creatures clean and unclean will at last level the Magistracy too and make the Throne as low and as common as the Pulpit But observe what God saith of these opposers of Magistracy and Ministery and what God doth to them for his saying That they are gathered together against the Lord vers. 11. They wounded God through the sides of Moses and Aaron They that murmur and conspire against Gods Delegated servants murmur and conspire against God himself And surely God will first or last be too hard for those that thus harden themselves against him For see what he doth to them The Earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up and their houses and all the men that appertained unto Korah and all their goods they and all that belonged to them went down alive into the pit and the earth closed upon them vers. 32.33 God hath strange punishments for such strange principles and practices He will work miraculously but that he will make such as are against Magistrate and Minister exemplary Psa. 18. ult. Great deliverance giveth God to the King The Supreme Magistrate is in great dangers therefore God giveth him great deliverances as he is liable to more harm then others by reason of his place so he may expect if he be godly especially more help then others by reason of the divine promise Be strong and of a good courage be not affraid for the the Lord thy God is with thee whither soever thou goest Josh. 9. Josephus from the extraordinary escape of Titus at the view of the walls of Jerusalem observeth Imperatorum pericula Deum curare That God is the Magistrates guard 4. The subjection of their people to them is from God Every man is by nature a Quaker a Leveller like a Colt unwilling to be bridled like an untamed Heifer
the road to Hell How deep wilt thou sink into hell that shalt be pressed down under the weight of thy own and thine other mens sins I remember Luther mentioneth this to be one of the Papists tenents That if the Pope be so neglectful of his own and his Brethren salvation and so unprofitable and remiss in his place that he carries a long with himself innumerable people to be eternally tormented no mortal man ought to reprove him for this sin But sure I am the Immortal God will reprove both him and you for such crimes when ye shall meet in the other world where the weight of sin will be sufficiently felt and the worth of the soul which is destroyed by it shall be fully known Further It behoveth you the rather to walk as Gods because others do not only sin with you but suffer for you When King David numbred the people out of pride how did God number the people to the Pestilence 2 Sam. What bitter fruits doth God make Israel to feed on Jer. 15.2 Such as are for death to death such as are for famine to famine such as are for the sword to the sword But if you would know the root from which those swore fruits spring Because of Manasseh the King of Judah for that which he did in Jerusalem v. 4. Whether saith one a Gangreen begin at the head or the heel it will kill but a Gangreen in the head will kill sooner then one in the heel Even so will the sins of great ones overthrow a state sooner then the sins of small ones therefore the advice of Sigismund the Emperour when a motion was made for Reformation was Let us begin at the Minorities saith one No rather saith he Let us begin at the Majorities for if the great ones be good the meaner cannot easily be evill Secondly It exhorteth you to work as Gods I shall branch this Use into three Particulars 1. Executive Justice impartially 2. Excell in shewing Mercy 3. Promote Piety to the utmost of your power First Execute justice impartially God is a God of Justice judgement Isa. 30.18 The most just Job 34.17 Others may do justly he cannot but do justly Justice which is an accident in others and therefore may be separated from them is his very Essence his Being Be ye therefore like God Let Justice run down like water and Righteousness like a mighty stream Wear the same garments which he doth Isa. 59.17 He putteth on Righteousness for a Breast-plate and the Helmet of Salvation upon his head Such garments did holy Job wear I put on Righteousness and it cloathed me my Judgement was as a Robe and a Diadem Job 29.14 Kings and Princes wear Crowns and Diadems Judges and other Officers wear Robes and other Ornaments Now saith Job others place much of their glory and state in their Robes in their Purple vestments which strike a reverence in the Subject toward his Superior adding in the estimation of men Majesty to the person and solemnity to the action of the wearer but I place my honour in Justice and Judgement I think my self better cloathed with these real vertues then others with their empty marks ensigns of dignity I say Execute Justice impartially that is without fear or favour Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgement thou shalt not respect the person of the poor nor honour the person of the mighty Lev. 19.15 as if he had said ye cannot deal righteously if ye spare any because he is poor or because he is rich It is a principle in Moral Policy That an ill executor of the laws is worse in a State then a great breaker of them And the Egyptian Kings presented the Oath to their Judges not to swerve from their consciences though they received a command from themselves to the contrary Neither fear of greatness It is a mercy to have Judges saith Cicero modo audeant quae sentiunt nor favour of nearness should make Magistrates deviate from the Rule When Caricles the son in law of Phocion was accused for taking bribes he desired his Father to defend his cause but he answered him I took thee for my son in law in all honest matters only A Magistrate should be an heart without affection an eye without lust a mind without passion or otherwise his hand will do unrighteous actions He that goeth to the Seat of Judicature must leave his affections as Abram his servants when he went to the Mount behind him A Justice must like the earth cherish and nourish the low Violet as well as the tall Cedar The Graecians placed Justice betwixt Leo and Libra thereby signifying that there ought to be both magnanimity in executing and indifferency in determining But the impartiality of a Ruler is notably set out by the Throne of the house of David which was placed in the gate of the City towards the Sun rising as some observe In the gate to tell us that all who went in and came out at the gate might indifferently be heard and have free access to the Judgement Seat but towards the rising of the Sun to shew that their judgement should be as clear from corruption as the Sun is clear in his chiefest brightness It would be an ornament unto and tend to the settlement of Magistracy for the Throne is established by righteousness Prov. 16.12 if those two Verses which some say are written in letters of gold over the Tribunal in Zant were practised by every Court of Justice Hic locus odit amat punit conservat honorat Nequitiam pacem crimina jura bonos In the executing of Justice there are two things mainly to be minded 1. That you be terrors to evil doers this is expressed as one of your chief duties Rom. 13.3 If men be fearless in sinning surely you should not be fearful in sentencing them for their sins God hateth iniquity He is of purer eyes then to behold it the evill of sin never got a good look from God and why should it from the Gods Edward the Confessor was held a bad Prince not by doing but enduring evil God was angry with Eli and telleth him that he would judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knew because his Sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not 1 Sam. 3.13 Eli was a Magistrate and should have put forth his authority and punished those ungodly children but because he did not God punisht both him and them O it is dangerous to do the work of the Lord negligently Sir Do not you or might you not upon inquiry know of them that prophane Gods day blaspheme his name frequent Ale-houses and the like do you restrain them Do you fright such offenders with your frowns and shew your love to their souls by executing Justice on them for their sins If you do not look to your self for God hath Iron hands for Justices that have leaden heels and will one day strike them home