t nature, that, unless severe
punishment were appointed and put in execution upon malefactors, better it
were that man should live among brutes and wild beasts than among men. But
at this present I dare not enter into the description of this
common-place; for so should I not satisfy the text, which by God's grace I
purpose to explain. This only by the way--I would that such as are placed
in authority should consider, whether they reign and rule by God, so that
God rules them; or if they rule without, besides, and against God, of whom
our prophet hero complains.

If any desire to take trial of this point, it is not hard; for Moses, in
the election of judges, and of a king, describes not only what persons
shall be chosen to that honour, but also gives to him that is elected and
chosen, the rule by which he shall try himself, whether God reign in him
or not, saying, "When he shall sit upon the throne of his kingdom, he
shall write to himself an exemplar of this law, in a book by the priests
and Levites; it shall be with him, and he shall lead therein, all the days
of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, and to keep all
the words of his law, and these statutes, that he may do them; that his
heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not from the
commandment, to the right hand, or to the left." Deut. xvii.

The same is repeated to Joshua, in his inauguration to the government of
the people, by God himself, saying, "Let not the book of this law depart
from thy mouth, but meditate in it day and night, that thou mayest keep
it, and do according to all that which is written in it. For then shall
thy way be prosperous, and thou shall do prudently." Josh. i.

The _first_ thing then that God requires of him, who is called to the
honour of a king, is, The knowledge of his will revealed in his word.

The _second_ is, An upright and willing mind, to put in execution such
things as God commands in his law, without declining to the right, or to
the left hand.

Kings then have not an absolute power, to do in their government what
pleases them, but their power is limited by God's word; so that if they
strike where God has not commanded, they are but murderers; and if they
spare where God has commanded to strike, they and their throne are
criminal and guilty of the wickedness which abounds upon the face of the
earth, for lack of punishment.

O that kings and princes would consider what account shall b