in which no Christian may intangle himself r. G CHAP. XXIII. Of the civil Magistrate. OD, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates to be under him, over the people, for his own glory, and the public good; and, to this end, hath armed them with the power of the fword, for the defence and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evil doers a. II. It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate, when called thereunto b: in the managing whereof, as they ought especially to maintain piety, justice and peace, peace, according to the wholsome laws of each commonwealth ; fo, for that end, they may lawfully, now under the New Teftament, wage war upon juft and ncessary occafions d. Mat. xix. 11. But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. v. 12. For there are some eunuchs, who were so born from their mother's womb; and there are some eunuchs, who were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's fake: he that is able to receive it, let him receive it. 1 Cor. vii. 2. Neverthelefs, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband, v. 9. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. Eph. iv. 28. Let him that stole, steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. I Pet. iv. 2. That he ne longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh, to the lufts of men, but to the will of God. 1 Cor. vii. 23. Ye are bought with a price, be not ye the servants of men. 1. a Rom. xiii. 1. Let every foul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be, are ordained of God. v. 2. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, refifteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist, shall receive to themselves damnation. v. 3. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same. v. 4. For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minifter of God, a revenger, to execute wrath upon him that doth evil. 1 Pet. ii. 13. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's fake: whether it be to the king as supreme, v. 14. Or unto governors, as unto them that are fent by him, for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. II. 6 Prov. viii, 15. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. v. 16. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earthi Rom. xiii. 1, 2, 4. (See in letter a.) 1.2 Pfal, III. The civil magistrate may not affume to himself the administration of the word and facraments, or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven e: yet he hath authority, and it e Pfal, ii. ro. Be wife now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. v. 11. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. v. 12. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little; blessed are all they that put their truft in him. 1 Tim. ii. 2. For kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Pfal. Ixxxii, 3. Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy: v. 4. Deliver the poor and needy; rid them out of the hand of the wicked. 2 Sam. xxiii. 3. The God of Ifrael faid, the Rock of Ifrael spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 1 Pet. ii. 13. (See in letter a.) : d Luke iii. 14. And the foldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falfly, and be content with your wages. Rom. xiii. 4. (See letter a.) Mat. viii. 9. For I am a man under authority, having foldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth and to a nother, Come, and he cometh: and to my fervant, Do this, and he doeth it. v. 10. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and faid to them that followed, Verily, I fay unto you, I have not found so great faith, no not in Ifrael. Acts x. 1. There was a Certain man in Cefarea called Corne is lius, a Centurion of the band called the Italian band, v. 2. A devout-man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. Rev. xvii, 14. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they that are with him, are called, and chosen, and faithful. v. 16. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate. the whore, and shall make her defo late, and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. III. e Chron. xxvi. 18. And they withstood Uzziah the king, and faid unto him, it appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incenfe unto the Lord, but to the priests the fons. of Aaron, that are confecrated to burn incense: go out of the fanctu ary, for thou haft trefpaffed: neither shall it be for thine honour from the Lord God. With Mat. xviii. 17. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man, and a publican. And Mat, xvi, 19. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven: and whatfoever thou shalt loofe on earth, shall he loofed in heaven. Cor, xit. 28. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that is his duty, to take order, that unity and peace be preserved in the church, that the truth of God he kept pure and entire, that all blafphemies and heresies be fuppressed, all corruptions and abuses in worship and difcipline prevented or reformed; and all the ordinances of God duly settled, administred, and observed f for that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. v. 29. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Eph. iv. 11. And he gave some, apostles: and fome, prophets: and some, evangelifts: and fome paftors and teachers; v. 12. For the perfecting of the faints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Chrift. 1 Cor. iv, 1. Let a man so account of us, as of the minifters of Chrift, and stewards of the mysteries of God. v. 2. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. Rom. x. 15. And how shall they preach, except they be fent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gofpel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Heb, v. 4. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of cod, as was Aaron, Ifa. xlix. 23. And kings shall be thy nurfing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be afhamed that wait for me. Pfal. cxxii. 9. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will feek thy good. Ezra vii. 23. Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven; let it be dili gently done, for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his fons. v. 25. And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all fuch as know the laws of "thy God; and teach ye them that know them not. v. 26. And whosoever shall not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. v. 27. Blessed be the Lord God of our fa thers, who hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerufalem: v. 28. And hath ex tended mercy unto me, before the king, and his counsellers, and before all the king's mighty princes: and I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Ifrael chief men to go up with me. Lev. xxiv. 16. And he that blafphemeth the name of the Lord, he thall fure ly be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blafphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death. Deut. xifi. 5. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death (ber cause he hath spoken to turn, you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee, out of the way which the Lord thy God for the better effecting whereof, he hath power to call fynods. to be present at thein, and to provide that whatsoever is tranf acted in them be according to the mind of God g.. IV. It is the duty of people to pray for magistrates b, to ho nour Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Ifrael, for the judgment of the Lord, and for controverfies, when they return ed to Jerufalem. v. 9. And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and with a perfect heart. v. 10. And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and com mandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespais not against the Lord, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespaís. v. II. And behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord: and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be of commanded thee to walk in) so shalt all the countries that pertained to man or woman, & Chron. xix. 8. Moreover, in Jerufalem did Jehoshaphat set of the and the Lord shall be with the good, (2Chron. xxix. and xxx.chapters.) Mat, ii. 4. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. v. 5. And they faid unto him, In Bethlehem of Judah: for thus it is written by the prophet. IV. b1 Tim.ii. 1. Iexhort therefore, that frit of all fupplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men: v. 2. For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Pet nour their perfons i, to pay them tribute and other dues k, to o bey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their authority for confcience fake 1. Infidelity, or indifference in religion, doth not make void the magistrate's just and legal authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to him m: from which ecclesiastical persons are not exempted n; much less hath the pope any power or jurisdiction over them in their dominious, or over any of their people; and leaft of all to deprive them of their domi i i Pet, ii, i7. Honour all men Love the Brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Rom. xiii. 6. For, for this cause pay you tribute also; for they are God's minilters, attending continually upon this very thing. v. 7. Render therefore to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour. Rom xiii. 5. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but alfo for confcience sake. Tit. v. 1. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work. of Abiathar. Acts xxv. 9. But Feftus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, :answered Paul, and faid, Wilt thou go up to Jerufalem, and there be judged of these things before me V. 10. Then said Paul, I stand at Cefar's judgment-feat, where. I ought to be judged; to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. v. 11. For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them, I appeal unto Cefar. 2 Pet. ii, r. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable herefies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. v. 10. But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the luft of uncleanness, and despise government, presumptuous are they, felf-willed: they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities; vì 11. Whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, bring no railing accusation against them before the Lord. Jude 8, Likewise also there filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. v. 9. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil, he disputed about the body mı Pet. ii. 13. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's lake, whether it be to the king, as supreme, v. 14. Or unto governors, as unto them that are fent by him, for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. v. 16. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the fervants of God. n Rom. xiii. 1. Let every foul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be, are ordained of God. 1 Kings ii. 35. And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiadah in his room over the host; and Zadok the prieft did the king put in the room 14 |