Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

From this law is exempted the Magistrate ordained by God, whom ¹God commandeth to use authority and to kill, threatening to punish him most sharply, if he neglect to kill the men whom God commandeth to be killed. This sixth commandment of the Law therefore, doth flatly forbid upon private authority to kill any man. But the magistrate killeth at Gods commandment, when he putteth to death those which are by law condemned for their offences, or when in defence of his people he doth justly and necessarily arm himself to the battle. And yet the magistrates may offend in these two points two sundry ways. For either they do by law, that is, under the coloured pretence of law s•ay y• guiltless, to satisfy their own lust, hatred or covetousness: As we read that Jezebel slew y• just man Naboth with the Lords Prophets. Or else by peevish pity and foolish clemency do let them escape scot free, whom the Lord commanded them to kill: as Saul & Ahab are reported to have sinned in letting go the bloody kings whom God commanded to be slain. And Solomon in the 17. of his Proverbs doth testify, that the Lord doth as greatly hate the magistrate that acquiteth a wicked person, as him that condemneth an innocent man. The magistrates also in making or else repelling war do offend two ways in this sort. For either they do unjustly themselves make war upon other men, and entangle their people therein: Or else they suffer foreign enemies to rob and spoil the people committed to their charge, & do not with such force, as they may, keep off and defend that open wrong and manifest injury. Both these offences are of sundry sorts, and therewithal so great that they can hardly be purged. Thou readest therefore that the holy kings of Israel did never make war upon any body, unless the Lord commanded them. And they again fought for their people, & suffered them not to be led away captive as miserable bondslaves. For so did the blessed Patriarch Abraham follow upon & pursue those four kings, nay rather cutthroat robbers of the East, and recovered by force of arms Lot, Lots substance, and the people of Sodom that were carried away.

From this law is exempted the Magistrate ordeyned by God, whom ¹God commaundeth to vse authoritie and to kill, threatening to punish him most sharpely, if hée neglect to kill the men whom God commaundeth to be killed. This sixt commaundement of the Law therefore, doth flatly forbid vppon priuate authoritie to kill any man. But the magistrate killeth at Gods commaundement, when hée putteth to death those which are by law condemned for their offences, or when in defence of his people he doth iustly and necessarilie arme himself to the battell. And yet the magistrates may offend in these two pointes two sundry wayes. For either they do by law, that is, vnder the coloured pretence of law say y giltlesse, to satisfie their own lust, hatred or couetousnes: As wée read that Iesabell slew y iuste man Naboth with ye Lords Prophets. Or else by peeuish pitie and foolish clemencie do let them escape skotte frée, whom the Lord commaunded them to kill: as Saul & Achab are reported to haue sinned in letting go the blouddie kings whom God commaunded to be slaine. And Salomon in the 17. of his Prouerbes doth testifie, that the Lord doth as greatly hate the magistrate that acquiteth a wicked person, as him that condemneth an innocent man. The magistrates also in making or else repelling warre do offend two wayes in this sort. For either they doe vniustly themselues make warre vppon other men, and intangle their people therein: Or else they suffer forreigne enimies to rob and spoile the people committed to their charge, & do not with such force, as they may, kéepe off and defend that open wrong and manifest iniurie. Both these offences are of sundrie sorts, and therewithall so great that they can hardly be purged. Thou readest therefore that the holie kings of Israell did neuer make warre vppon any body, vnlesse ye Lord commaunded them. And they againe fought for their people, & suffered them not to be led away captiue as miserable bondslaues. For so did ye blessed Patriarch Abraham follow vpon & pursue those foure kinges, nay rather cutthroate robbers of the East, and recouered by force of armes Lot, Lots substaunce, and the people of Sodom that were carried away.