A short instruction for to arm all good Christian people against the pestiferous errors…A short instruction for to arme all good Christian people agaynst the pestiferous errours…

I will cease to rehearse a great many testimonies, which make well for the probation of this matter, only for brevity's sake. And also because one only is sufficient for us. What greater praise will we have of any estate, then that by Gods own mouth it be called divine? If this title be given unto the estate of Princes: who shall dare say that it is unmeet for a faithful man. Now it hath a more large praise. For the Lord showeth this favour to Princes, as to call them Gods: and that not for their own persons sake: but in consideration of the dignity wherein they are. The Lord Jesus showeth the reason why, that is because god hath committed and ordained such a charge unto them. Me think that God can not give a more express testimony, for the approbation of any estate, then when he communicateth ⟨image 31⟩his name unto that man which is constitute in the same, as if he called him his Lieutenant, which representeth his person. Wherefore I conclude, that who so ever despiseth this vocation, so much honoured of God, doeth blaspheme his heavenly majesty. They will answer me, that to make it inferior to the christian perfection is not to dispraise it. But I reply, that they can not speak with greater contumely. For in saying that it can not stand with christianity, they do reject it as a profane thing. I pass not of their fair colour, by which they cover their blasphemy, in saying that it is an ordinance of God. For the whole matter standeth in this, whether it be an holy office, which may be exercised by the faithful, or whether a man which cometh thereto, be thereby polluted. Now they do say that who so ever doeth sit in the seat of justice can not be reputed a christian man, because the office of a sword hath no place in Christs church.

I wyll cease to rehearse a greate meynye testimonies, whyche make well for the probation of thys matter, onely for breuites sake. And also bycause one onely is suffitiente for vs. What greater prayse wyll we haue of anye estate, then that by Gods owne mouth it be called diuine? If this title be geuen vnto the estate of Prynces: who shall dare saye that it is vnmete for a fayethful man. Nowe it hath a more large prayse. For the Lorde sheweth thys fauoure to Prynces, as to call theym Goddes: and that not for theyr owne persons sake: but in cōsideration of the dignitie wherein they are. The Lorde Iesus sheweth the reason why, that is bycause god hath committed and ordeyned such a charge vnto theym. Me thynke that God canne not geue a more expresse testimonye, for the approbation of anye estate, then when he communicateth