Page 400
CHAP. XLVII. That Kings and Princes ought to looke to the execution of Iustice, for the punishment of naughty and corrupt manners.
NO man ought to be ignorant of this, that it is the duty of a Prince, not onely to hinder the course of sin from bursting into action, but also to punish the doers of the Jame; making both civill justice to be administred up∣rightly, and the law of God to be regarded and observed inviolably: for to this end are they ordained of God, that by their meanes every one might live a quiet and peaceable life, in all godlinesse and honesty: to the which end the mainte∣nance and administration of justice being most necessary, they ought not so to discharge themselves of it, as to translate it upon their Officers and Judges, but also to looke to the execution thereof themselves, as it is most needfull: for if law (which is the foundation of justice) be (as Plato saith) a speechlesse and dumbe Magistrate; who shall give voyce and vigor unto it, if not hee that is in supreame and soveraigne authority? For which cause the King is commanded in Deuteronomy, To have before him alwayes the Booke of the Law, to the end to doe justice and judgement to every one in the feare of God. And before the creation of the Kings in Israel, the chiefe Captaines and Soveraignes amongst them were renowned with no other title nor quality, than of Judges. In the time of Deborah the Prophetesse, though she was a woman, the weaker vessell; yet because she had the con∣ducting and governing of the people, they came unto her to seeke judge∣ment. It is said of Samuel, that he judged Israel so long, till being tyred with age, and not able to beare that burden any longer, hee appointed his sonnes for Judges in his stead: who when through covetousnesse they per∣verted justice, and did not execute judgement like their father Samuel, they gave occasion to the people to demaund a King, that they might be judged and governed after the manner of other Nations: which things sufficient∣ly declared, that in old time the principall charge of Kings was personally to administer justice and judgement, and not as now to transferre the care thereof to others.
The same we read of King David, of whom it is said, That during his reigne he executed justice and judgement, among his people: and in ano∣ther place, That men came unto him for judgement, and therefore he dis∣dained not to heare the complaint of the woman of Tekoah; shewing him∣selfe herein a good Prince, and as the Angel of God, to heare good and evill: for this cause Solomon desired not riches, nor long life of the Lord, but a wise and discreet heart to judge his people, and to discerne betwixt good and e∣vill: which request was so agreeable and acceptable to God, that hee gran∣ted it unto him; so that he obtained such an excellent measure of incompara∣ble wisedome, that he was commended and reputed more for it, than for all his great riches and precious treasure beside. There is mention made in the Book of the Kings of his judiciall throne wherein he used to sit and heare the causes of the people, and execute justice among them; and albeit he was the