[previous CHAPTER]CHAPTER V. Of the Dignity of the Office. That this ordinance of God might work more effectually to the holy ends he had designed it, he was pleased to stamp his image and superscription upon it, as appears by the titles following, viz.:
1. From their administering in God’s ordinance, called God’s ministers.
He is the minister of God to thee for good. He is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil, Rom. 13:4. They are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing, verse 6.
2. From their declaring God’s word upon the throne, and distributing God’s attributes of judgment, justice, and mercy, called gods.
Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people, Exod. 22:28. Is it not written in your law, I said you are gods? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came, John 10:34,35. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty, and judgeth among the gods, Psal. 82:1. I have said you are gods, and all of you children of the Most High, Psal. 82:6. Therefore the ruler’s throne is called God’s throne: And Solomon sat upon the throne of the Lord, 1 Chron. 29:23. And the judgment is the judgment of God, Deut. 1:17. And Jehoshaphat said to the judges, take heed what you do, for you judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment, 2 Chron. 19:6. And he set the chief of the fathers for the judgment of the Lord, verse 8. Therefore it was said that they that resisted God’s rulers, resisted God, Rom. 13:2, Numb. 16:11. [next CHAPTER]
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