The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs

4. And from hence follows a fourth thing, and therein you must consider, how far this authority is ⟨p. 22⟩limited. If no particular man hath no authority, any further than God reveals his mind; and God now reveals his mind, either immediately from Heaven, or by inclining the hearts of those that have power to give authority, to give it to such an one; then the limitations must be according to that power that confers authority. If God doth immediately confer authority, then it is to be limited by that, but if God doth confer power by man, then it is to be limited by that.

4. And from hence follows a fourth thing, and therein you must consider, how farr this authority is ⟨p. 22⟩limited. If no particular man hath no authority, any further than God reveals his mind; and God now reveales his mind, either immediately from Heaven, or by inclining the hearts of those that have power to give authority, to give it to such an one; then the limitations must be according to that power that conferts authority. If God doth immediatly confer authority, then it is to be limited by that, but if God doth confer power by man, then it is to be limited by that.

In several Kingdoms and Countries there are several Governments: one Country is governed by States: another Country a government of Monarchy; and other Countries other kinds of Governments: what is it that makes this difference of governments? of necessity the difference must be made by that power that doth first confer this authority, and so it is to be limited by that authority.