And the powers that here Saint Paul speaketh of, be not only kings and Emperors but all such as be appointed to any public office and common regiment, either for a king, where as is a kingdom, or in the place of a king, where as y• state of the commune wealth is no monarchy, but a rule and dominion, commended to many To all these Saint Paul commandeth obedience, honour, reverence, and love too be borne. And this is specially to be noted in Saint Paul, that he saith simple and plainly, we should obey ⟨image 11⟩the higher powers to confute, argue, & reprehend those that cloak and excuse their inobedience, either for the age of the rulers, or else for conditions and manners of the rulers. And that age dischargeth no man for inobedience, the word of god declareth, how that he was present1 to help young kings, and to defend them in their under age, as it is to be seen by king Josiah. Also God punisheth young kings as often as they walk not after his word, as it is to be seen by Jehoiacim that was crowned in the eight year of his age, and with in three months and ten days, for the since2 he committed before god, he was taken prisoner by Nebuchadnezzar Even so was Manasseh being of. xii. years of age. Neither ⟨image 11⟩doth the manners & condition of the magistrates excuse our inobedience, though they be nought. For Paul biddeth us look upon the power and authority of the higher powers: and not upon their manners. And S. Peter3 commandeth the servants to obey their masters though they be evil. So Joseph obeyed Pharaoh, & Christ our saviour Pilate, Saint Paul, the Emperors of Rome, Caligula & Nero. And when S. Paul commandeth us to be obedient, he meaneth not only we should speak reverently and honourably of the higher power, or make courtesy unto him, but to obey the laws set forth by the powers, except they command things against gods laws: then must we obey more god then men, & yet not to4 ⟨image 12⟩strive and fight with the magistrates: but suffer patiently death rather then to offend God: or else our obedience is nothing but hypocrisy and dissimulation Who would accept his own child's making of courtesy, when all his facts be contrary to his commandment? What Master would be content, or think his servant did his duty in putting of his cap, and in his doing contemneth all his masters laws and commandments?
And the powers that here Saint Paul speaketh of, be not onely kynges and Emperours but all such as be appoynted to ony publike office and common regymente, eyther for a kynge, where as is a kyngedome, or in the place of a kynge, where as y• state of the commune wealth is noo monarchye, but a rule and dominion, commended to many To all these Saint Paule commaundeth obedience, honour, reuerence, and loue too be borne. And this is specialli to be noted in Saint Paule, yt he sayth symple and playnly, we should obey ⟨image 11⟩the hyhher powers to confute, argue, & reprehende those that cloke and excuse their inobedyence, eyther for ye age of the rulers, or els for condytyons and maners of the rulers. And that •ige dischargeth no man for inobedience, the worde of god declareth, howe that he was present1 to helpe yonge kinges, and to defende them in theyr vnder age, as it is to be sene by kynge Iosias. Also God punyssheth yonge kynges as often as they walke not after hys word, as it is to be sene by Iehoiacim that was crowned in ye eight yere of his age, and wt in thre monethes and tenne dayes, for the synnes2 he cōmytted before god, he was takē prisoner by Nabucadnozor Euen so was Manasses beyng of. xii. yeres of aige. Neyther ⟨image 11⟩doth the maners & condition of ye magistrates excuse our inobedience, though they be nought. For Paule byddeth vs loke vpon the power and autoritie of ye hygher powers: and not vpon theyr manners. And S. Peter3 commaundeth the seruauntes to obeye their maisters though they be euil. So Ioseph obeied Pharao, & Christe our sauyour Pilate, Saint Paul, the Emperours of Rome, Caligula & Nero. And whē S. Paule cōmaundith vs to be obedyent, he meaneth not only we should speake reuerentlye and honorably of ye higher power, or make curtesye vnto him, but to obey the lawes set furth by the powers, except they commaund things against gods lawes: then must we obey more god then mē, & yet not to4 ⟨image 12⟩striue and fight wt the magistrates: but suffer pacientlye death rather then to offende God: or els oure obedience is nothinge but hipocrisie and dissimulation Who wold accept his own childes making of curtesy, when all his factes be contrary to his cō maundemente? What Maister would be content, or thinke his seruant did his duty in putting of his cappe, and in his doing cō temneth all his maisters lawes and commaundementes?
- 1•. Paral. 21.
- 2•. Paral 36.
- 3•. Peter, •.
- 4Acts, 5.Actes, 5.
