A20559:457
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandments gathered from the mouth of a faithful pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholar in Cambridge.The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandements gathered from the mouth of a faithfull pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholler in Cambridge.
London: printed by John Harison for Thomas Man, 1603London: printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man, 1603
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thus much for those superiors that have authority in the Church and their inferiors. The superiors and inferiors in the Common wealth follow, and those are Magistrate and people.
Thus much for those superiours that haue authoritie in the Church and their inferiours. The superiors and inferiors in the Common wealth follow, and those are Magistrate and people.
The first duty of the subject, is inward and outward submission in heart to reverence, and outwardly to obey the Magistrate as is commanded. Rom. 13. Let every soul be subject to the highest powers. He commands not only a bodily subjection, which may be in the most rebellious persons that resist authority, and lie open to the curse of God for this sin: but a submission inward of the soul, as unto a spark of Gods authority and an appointment, or if this inward be not first, the outward subjection will fail upon every light occasion. There must be an outward subjection also, in obeying their commands, so far as they command lawful things. As Titus 3. 1. Put them in remembrance that they be subject to all in authority, and obedient. But if it so fall out that the Prince, or any inferior Magistrate command things unlawful, against the commandment of God; then indeed one must with Peter, say, It is better to obey God then man. But yet so, as one be content without murmuring or resistance, to bear with every punishment shall be laid upon him, even to death. As Daniel, when the king made a wicked Edict, would not yield unto it, but yet he was content to yield to the punishment with patience, and never went about to gather a power in his own defence against the king. And the three Children, would not prefer Nebuchadnezzars commandments before Gods, but yet they did not by rebellion seek their own deliverance, but quietly gave up themselves to death, expecting help only from God. So that if the Magistrates command be lawful, the subject must obey; but if he command an unlawful thing, he must not rebel, but suffer the punishment without murmuring, even in heart: as Eccle. 16. 20. Curse not the king, no not in thine heart, nor the rich in thy bed chamber, for the fowls of the air shall descry it.