But what say we of Princes in respect of their place and Sect. 14 calling? Is not their power absolute in that respect? Recte quidam, saith iSaravia, illiberalis & inverecundi censet esse ingenij, de Principum potestate & rebus gestis questionem movere, quando & Imperator sacrilegium esse scribit, de eo quod a Principe factum est disputare. kCamero holdeth that in things pertaining to external order in religion, Kings may command what they will pr• authoritate, and forbid to seek another reason beside the Majesty of their authority: yea that when they command frivola, dura, & iniqua respectu nostri, our consciences are bound by those their frivolous and unjust commandments, not only in respect of the end, because scandal should possibly follow in case we obey them not, but also Jubentis respectu, because the Apostle biddeth us, obey the Magistrate for conscience sake. At the reading of these Passages in Saravia & Camero, horror and amazement have taken hold on me. O wisdom of God, by whom Kings do reign & Princes decree Justice upon whose thigh & vesture is written King of Kings & Lord of Lords; make the Kings of the Earth to know that their Laws are but Regulae regulatae, and mensurae mensuratae. Be wise now therefore. O ye Kings: Be instructed ye Judges of the Earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice ⟨p. 133⟩with trembling. Kiss the Son, and lay down your Crowns at he feet of the Lamb lthat sits upon the Throne, discite justitiam moniti, and remember that this is the beginning of wisdom, by casting pride away, to addict yourselves to the Dominion of Christ: Who albeit he hath given the Kingdoms of this world unto your hands, and Non a•feret mortalia, Qui regna dat caelestia; myet hath he kept the government of his Church upon his own shoulder. So that Rex non est proprie Rector Ecclesiae, sed Reipublicae: Ecclesiae vero Defensor est. O all ye Subjects of Kings and Princes understand that in things pertaining to the Church and Kingdom of Christ, nye are not the Servants of men; to do what they list, and that for their listing. The Apostle Rom. 13. (o) urgeth not obedience to Magistrates for conscience sake, but only subjection for conscience 6sake. For phe concludeth his whole purpose Vers. 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.
But what say we of Princes in respect of their place and Sect. 14 calling? Is not their power absolute in that respect? Recte quidam, saith iSaravia, illiberalis & inverecundi censet esse ingenij, de Principum potestate & rebus gestis questionem movere, quando & Imperator sacrilegium esse scribit, de eo quod a Principe factum est disputare. kCamero holdeth that in things pertaining to externall order in religion, Kings may command what they will pr• authoritate, and forbidde to seeke another reason beside the Majesty of their authority: yea that vvhen they command frivola, dura, & iniqua respectu nostri, our consciences are bound by those their frivolous and unjust commaundements, not only in respect of the end, because scandall should possibly follovv in case vve obey them not, but also Iubentis respectu, because the Apostle biddeth us, obey the Magistrate for conscience sake. At the reading of these Passages in Sarauia & Camero, horrour and amazement have taken hold on me. O wisedome of God, by whom Kings doe raigne & Princes decree Iustice upon whose thigh & vesture is written King of Kings & Lord of Lords; make the Kings of the Earth to know that their Lawes are but Regulae regulatae, and mensurae mensuratae. Be wise now therefore. O ye Kings: Be instructed ye Iudges of the Earth. Serve the Lord with feare, and rejoyce ⟨p. 133⟩with trembling. Kisse the Sonne, and lay downe your Crownes at he feete of the Lambe lthat sits upon the Throne, discite justitiam moniti, and remember that this is the beginning of wisedome, by casting pride away, to addict yourselves to the Dominion of Christ: Who albeit he hath given the Kingdomes of this world unto your hands, and Non a•feret mortalia, Qui regna dat caelestia; myet hath he kept the governement of his Church upon his owne shoulder. So that Rex non est proprie Rector Ecclesiae, sed Reipublicae: Ecclesiae vero Defensor est. O all yee Subjects of Kings and Princes understand that in things pertaining to the Church and Kingdome of Christ, nye are not the Servants of men; to doe what they list, and that for their listing. The Apostle Rom. 13
- iDe imper. aut. lib. 2. cap. 55.
- kpraelect. tom. 1. pa. 370. 372. & tom. 2. pag. 41.
- lCalv. in Psal. 2.
- mPsal. 9. 6, & 22. 21.
- n1. Cor. 7. 23.
- 6(a) Taylor. on Tit. 3. 1. pag. 543.
- pPareus in illum locum.
