The crucifying of the world

Answ. Yes, according to their nature and use: Riches are a gift which he giveth even to his enemies, and to those that must perish for ever; and few that have them come to heaven. But Holiness is a gift which he giveth to none but his beloved, and is the beginning of eternal life. Which then should be most honoured?

Obj. But would you draw men to despise Dignities and Authority?

Answ. Authority is one thing, and worldly Riches is another. We reverence Authority more then you do. We look on it as a beam from God, as participating of somewhat that is Divine; I look on a Magistrate as Gods officer, and one that deriveth his Authority from him; and I no more acknowledge any Power which is not efficiently from God as the supreme Rector of the ⟨p. 103⟩universe, then I acknowledge any natural Being which is not efficiently from God as the author of nature and the first Being. I look at a Magistrate as ultimately for God, as a man authorized to do his work, and none but what is ultimately his. So that as his office is so humane as to be also participatively Divine, and he is so an humane creature, as to be by participation Divine, so the Reverence and Obedience which I owe to a Magistrate, is by participation Divine: And therefore though I judge not peremptorily that those Ancients were in the right that made the fifth Commandment to be the last of the first Table, yet I doubt not but our Moderns are less likely to be in the right, that confine it only to the second Table. And as I think it standeth so between the two as in several respects to belong to each, so I rather think that it more principally belongeth to the first. You see then the difference between a true Christians honouring of Magistrates and yours: You honour them but for your worldly Ends; and because they are able to do you good or hurt. But we honour them as Gods officers, speaking and acting for him and from him by his Commission, and we obey their Power, as participatively Divine: but as they can do us good or hurt we less regard them: And this honour and obedience we owe them, not for their wealth, but their Authority: and if the meanest man have this Authority, he shall be honoured and obeyed by us, as well as the richest.