Church concord

14. But where we may not actively obey, we must either fly to another City, Mat. 10. 23. or patiently suffer, and not resist, Rom. 13. 3. 5. Matth. 5. 10, 11, 12. We must not revile when we are reviled, nor curse (no not in our hearts) the Rulers of our people, nor secretly or openly dishonour them; Because their honour is more necessary to the common good than our vindication is: 1. Pet. 2. 23. Act. 23. 5. Eccl. 10. 20. Much less may we raise any Seditions or Rebellions▪ or revenge or defend our selves by Wars against them, or against their truly authorized Officers: The Christian Religion being so far from justifying any disloyalty, that it most strongly obligeth us to honour our Superiors, upon the highest accoun••; and to give place to wrath and evil, Rom. 12. 17. 19. 21. and to pray for Kings and all in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceable▪life, ⟨p. 76⟩in all godliness and honesty. And though among Christians as some tha• bear that Name are vicious and sensual; so some are turbulent and seditious; and some that are better may be ensnared by the Differences of Statesmen and Lawyers; and it hath ever been Satan's grand design to raise jealousies against Christianity and Godliness in the Rulers of the Earth, and to make them believe, that the most serious and godly Christians are the worst and most dangerous Subjects; yet the very Nature and Laws of Christianity, do make it most evident that the best and the entirest Christians, and the most Godly and Heavenly Men, must needs be the most loyal faithful Subjects; and he that is truest to God, will (so far as he understandeth) be truest both to King and Kingdom: And as our Obedience to the fifth Commandment is part of our Religion, so the promoting of all due Obedience unto our Governors, and the preventing of all Rebellions and Disloyalty, must be part of the work of all true Pastors, in their public Teaching and their private converse.