IT is the saying of the divine Psalmist and many other excellent Authors doe avouch it , That no Power , Potentate , nor Councell , who are elected as Representatives of the people , for the Government of a Nation , can rule or govern rightly , that loveth not to judge which and that they betray their trust and usurpe a power , which pealeth partially : For we must remember , that they measured Salomons worthinesse to reign , by his well swaying of the Scepter ; the which , Salomon could not have handled so well as he did , if he had not been carryed away with an earnest desire to deal indiferently , and to judge impartially , as appeareth in the most excellent demonstration and prayer , which transcended from him , unto the Almighty Jehovah of Heaven , when he saith , Give vnto thy servant , O Lord an understanding and a wise heart , to judge thy people , that I may discern betwixt good and evill , 2 King . 3. And when he had prayed for wisdome and understanding , hee sheweth whereunto he would apply those good guifts of God , even unto the glory of him that gave them , To judge the people , that I may discern betwixt good and evill saith he ) Prov. 8.15 . for by him Kings reign , and by him Magistrates decree Justice ; which , that it may be duly executed within the Territories of our English Nation , let the people make choise of such faithfull patriots , as are here prescribed and set down in this ensuing parable of Jethro , viz.

When Jethro the Father in law of Moses came out of the Land Midian to see him , being at the Mount of God , which was Mount Sinai , and beheld how the people cryed to Moses ( their Governour ) for Judgment and Justice by due consideration thereof , Jethro found these three inconveniencies , viz.

First , That Moses wearied himself with ( sitting in judgement from morning to night .

Secondly , That he was too tedious unto the people , which attended upon him in all that time .

And thirdly , that notwithstanding his carefulnesse in judgment , and their earnest expectation of Justice , he was not able to dispatch so many matters as were brought before him , but with a slight hearing , and little regarding of many mens causes .

Wherefore , Jethro being a man very desirous that Justice might proceed , that no mens matters might be slightly slipt over , counselled Moses to make more Magistrates and Rulers in Israel ; and to the end , that this might with more facile be prosecuted , Jethro prescribes a way , and points at the disposition of those men which should bear Rule : For ( saith he ) Thou shalt chuse out amongst all the people , men of courage , dealing truly , serving God , and hating covetousnesse , and them shalt thou make Governours over the people , Exod. 18 21.

Even such Magistrates and Rulers doth the Common-wealth of England stand in need of , whose Government desireth men of courage , faithfulnesse , and impartiality ; and seeing that her Governours are nominated and appointed , and a Rule is set down for the people to walke by , God grant , that they may follow the example of Jethro , to deale truly , act justly , execute impartially , and redresse the grievances of the people , and not to rule as the Councel of Macedonia did , who upon the humble addresse and representation of a poor Widow , purporting her sad and deplorable condition , they rejected her , and cast her off with this slender answer , Go thy way , for we have no leisure to heare thee now .

The woman being much grieved thereat , replyed thus ; Thus why have you liesure to be Rulers and Magistrates .

And therefore , if the Councel of England , proceed and continue in their wayes of impartiallity , acting justly , and detesting all by ends , and self-interests , this Nation wil have cause to rejoyce ; if they desist from so doing , her joy and tranquility will be frustrated and eclipsed .

O remember what God said unto Israel , You shall not doe what seemeth good in your own eyes , but what I command you to do , saith the Lord .

Then know , that you do not that which he hath commanded , if you deal not with mercy and truth , by judging every mans cause aright . It was a worthy commendation , that David uttered in the praise of Ierusalem , when he said , There is the Seat for judgment , the which appointing of that Seat for Judgment , was an argument , that they loved the true executing of Justice .

And first , the place where it was set assureth us hereof , for it was set in the Gate , where through men might have passage to and from the Judgment Seat .

Secondly , the manner of framing the Seat in the Gate ; namely , that the Judges and Councell might sit with their faces towards the rising of the Sun , in token that their judgment should be as pure from corruption , as the Sun was cleer in his chiefest brightnesse and splendor .

O happy Common wealth of England , art thou , who can say with Jerusalem , that thy Justice Seat is not putrified with corruption .

And whereas God standeth in the Parliaments of Princes , so is he a Judge amongst Gods , to give all Magistrates a Memento , that God is present in all their assemblies , and judgeth them that judge under him , whereof they had need to be put in mind : for oftentimes Micheas proveth too true a prophet , in saying that the great man will seek what his heart desireth , and the people must allow it well : of the which sort of men , the very best is but a thistle , which a man can hardly touch unpricked , and the most just like a bramble , whereunto the silly sheep seeking to be shrowded from sharp showers , is often forced to leave his fleece behind : whose unworthy coming to their places , Jon ham hath well described in the person of Abimelich , when hee said , The trees of the wood went to annoint a King over them , and said unto the Olive tree , raign thou over Us : but the Olive tree answered , shall I leave my fatnesse , which both God and Men praise in me , and go to be promoted over the trees ? Then they came to the Fig tree , and said , Come thou and reign over us : the fig tree answered , shall I leave my sweetnesse and good fruit , and go to be promoted over the trees ? They said unto the Vane , reigne thou over us : but the Vine answered , should I leave the Wine wherewith I chear the Sons of men , to be promoted over the trees ? Then they said unto the Bramble , wilt thou reign over us ? Then said the Bramble , if it be true indeed that you will submit your selves to my authority , and put your trust under my shadow ; or else , fire proceed from the Bramble and consume you .

By this Parable we are taught generally , that every man is to be content with that estate wherein God hath placed him , and that for the most part the very best-worthy do refuse proffered promotion , and on their part well deserved : whereas on the contrary , the most unfitly furnished with Justice and true Judgment , and the least deserving in a common-wealth , are of all other most ambitions .

And it is to be feared , that many will rise through their wicked practises , and subtil stratagems , both in this Nation , and parts adjacent , to disturbe the peace of our Israell ; But God grant that they prove not like to those , whom Zephaniah , feared not to liken to Lyons and Wolves , who finding their proy in the evening , chop up all , not leaving so much as the bones untill the morning .

Another Memento is , That the civill Magistrate who beareth the sword is called the Minister of God , as well as the spirituall Magistrate that teacheth the Word : and that no doubt , to the intent he might take care to maintain true Religion as to minister deserved Discipline . For it standeth with all divine and humane reason , that if all masters and fathers ought to have a more then ordinary care to instruct and help forward their families in Christian Religion , so much as in them lieth : much more ought the Magistrate to mediate by all meanes prossible to perform his duty therein , who is a father over all families . I cannot set this forth in any plainer demonstration , than David hath done in this short saying , Embrace the son , least he be angry , and so you perish from the right way . By which speech the Prophet teacheth , that God cannot be honoured by any other meanes , than by that which Christ his Son hath taught , and that if you worship not the Son as he hath commanded , then you dishonour him ; if you dishonour him , then you anger him ; if you anger him , he casteth you off ; if he casteth you off , then you are from the right way ; and if you are from the right way , then you perish . For the avoiding whereof , all Godly Magitrates have had a speciall care to meditate in the Law of the Lord : such were Moses Iosua , David , Salomon , and others . Of whose good example , God grant , that the Magistrates of England may make use thereof .