WE will here make a1 difference between the Civill and the spiritual Magistrates. For the teachers and governors of the Church are ministers, and not Lords to exercise ⟨image 144⟩a government like kings, princes or noble men, and we ought to obey them as the Ministers of Christ, so long as they be his, preach his word, and execute the Christian ministry. And so Paul teacheth with these words: We beseech you brethren, that you2 will know them which labour amongest you, and take the charge over you in the Lord, and instruct you, that you honour them through love for their works sake, and have peace with them. And again:3 Obey those which have the oversight of you, and submit your selves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give accounts, that they may do it with joy. Likewise Christ saith to his Apostles: He that heareth you, heareth me. 4And he manifestly forbiddeth his Apostles to rule as Civill Magistrates, John. 13. Read more of this, Math. 18. and. 20. Luke. 22. where you shall manifestly find, that our Lord saith: The kings of the Nations reign over them: and those which exercise authority over them are called gracious lords: but it shall not be so with you. And therefore ⟨p. 142⟩the civil power which the Bishops and governors of the Church exercise, hath no ground or authority in the word of god, neither hath Christ at any time commanded them to use both the swords. Saint Peter in the sixth of the Acts speaketh of him self and the other Apostles thus: It is not convenient that we should leave the word of God, and serve Tables, that is to say, give ourselves to the feeding of the poor. &c. And yet it is more like that the Apostles would take charge & care for the poor, than to take upon them government and civill authority, onlesse they had known the same to be against the commandment of God. And therefore doubtless if such power had ben offered unto them, they would never have received it. And besides this experience teacheth us now in our age, that these two can not be joined together. Yet let the christians submit themselves to these magistrates, so long as they command not things contrary to god, & yet if they do, they may not therefore stir commotions, but do that which god hath commanded.
WE wyll héere make a1 difference betwene the Ciuill and the spirituall Magistrates. For the teachers and gouernors of the Church are ministers, and not Lords to exercise ⟨image 144⟩a gouernement lyke kings, prynces or noble men, and we ought to obey them as the Ministers of Chryste, so long as they bée hys, preache hys worde, and execute the Christian ministerie. And so Paule teacheth with these wordes: VVee beseeche you brethren, that you2 will know them which labour amongest you, and take the charge ouer you in the Lorde, and instruct you, that you honor them throgh loue for their works sake, and haue peace with them. And againe:3 Obey those which haue the ouersight of you, and submyt your selues: for they watch for your soules, as they that must giue accountes, that they may do it with ioy. Likewyse Chryst sayth to his Apostles: He that heareth you, heareth me. 4And he manyfestly forbiddeth his Apostles to rule as Ciuill Magistrates, John. 13. Reade more of this, Math. 18. and. 20. Luke. 22. where you shall manyfestly finde, that our Lorde saythe: The kings of the Nations reigne ouer them: and those which exercise authoritie ouer them are called gracious lords: but it shal not be so with you. And therfore ⟨p. 142⟩the ciuil power which the Bishops and gouernors of the Churche exercise, hath no groūd or authoritie in the word of god, neither hath Chryst at any time commaunded them to vse bothe the swordes. Saint Peter in the sixt of the Actes speaketh of him self and the other Apostles thus: It is not conuenient that we should leaue the worde of God, and serue Tables, that is to say, giue ourselues to the féeding of the poore. &c. And yet it is more lyke that the Apostles woulde take charge & care for the poore, than to take vpon them gouernemente and ciuill authoritie, onlesse they had knowen the same to bée agaynst the commaundement of God. And therfore doubtlesse if suche power had ben offered vnto them, they would neuer haue receiued it. And besides this experience teacheth vs nowe in our age, that these two can not be ioyned togither. Yet let the christians submit thēselues to these magistrates, so long as they cōmaunde not things contrary to god, & yet if they do, they may not therfore stir cōmotiōs, but do that which god hath cōmaunded.
- 1The spiritual Magistrates.
- 21. Thessa. 5
- 3Hebr. 13.
- 4Luke. 10.
