This is to be known and acknowledged both to keep us from all base, and slavish obedience to earthly Governors in things against Gods will: and also to provoke us readily and willingly to obey them in all lawful things for conscience sake, 1for the Lords sake. If earthly kingdoms be, as they are, within the limits of Gods kingdom, parts thereof, subordinate thereto, then no obedience must be yielded to the Governors of them, but that which may stand with the Laws of Gods kingdom: so as God the only King may be obeyed therein and thereby. But in every thing that may stand with the Laws of Gods Kingdom, obedience is to be yielded to Governors on earth, because their Kingdoms are parts of Gods, and they Gods Deputies and Ministers.2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. These are the grounds that bind us to obey Magistrates for conscience sake. Not that one man hath power over another's conscience; this power is Gods Prerogative: but that God to whom all mens consciences are and ought to be subject, hath ordained the Powers, and requireth subjection to them. So as that which is done for conscience sake, is done for the Lords sake.
This is to be knowne and acknowledged both to keepe vs from all base, and slauish obedience to earthly Gouernours in things against Gods will: and also to prouoke vs readily and willingly to obey them in all lawfull things for conscience sake, 1for the Lords sake. If earthly kingdomes be, as they are, within the limits of Gods kingdome, parts thereof, subordinate thereto, then no obedience must bee yeelded to the Gouernours of them, but that which may stand with the Lawes of Gods kingdome: so as God the onely King may bee obeyed therein and thereby. But in euery thing that may stand with the Lawes of Gods Kingdome, obedience is to be yeelded to Gouernours on earth, because their Kingdomes are parts of Gods, and they Gods Deputies and Ministers.2 Whosoeuer therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receiue to themselues damnation. These are the grounds that binde vs to obey Magistrates for conscience sake. Not that one man hath power ouer anothers conscience; this power is Gods Prerogatiue: but that God to whom all mens consciences are and ought to be subiect, hath ordained the Powers, and requireth subiection to them. So as that which is done for conscience sake, is done for the Lords sake.
- 1Rom. 13. 5. 1. Pet. 2. 13.
- 2Rom. 13. 2.
