I will instance in one thing, wherein the Kings of England would not willingly be limited by their example, namely, The confining of their succession to the heir male. The daughters of the Kings of Judah did not inherit, only the males; but the daughters of our Kings do. If this Question be asked, Why in some countries only the Male inherits, as in France; in others, the females likewise, as in England; why in some Countries the King is elective, as in Denmark and others; in others it is hereditary, as with us: The Answer will be given, This is from the diversity of the Laws of Kingdoms. So then it follows not, because some Kings in Scripture were thus and thus, therefore all Kings must needs be so; but according to the diversity of the Laws of Kingdoms, ⟨p. 35⟩so is the diversity of the power of Kings. Every Country in the first constitution of the Government, hath power to divide the Government, so much to the King, so much to the Nobles, so much to the Commons, as they shall see best suitable to the condition of their Country: so that we are not to go by such a rule, what power such and such Kings have had, but what power every King hath in the Country where he is King. Civil Government 1is left to the wisdom and justice of every Country, in the constitution of it: They may confer power upon several Magistrates by several portions, as shall be most for the good of that Country. That there should be Civil Government, God hath appointed; but that it should be thus or thus, all in one, or divided into many, that is left to humane prudence, going according to rules of Justice, for the public good. If the kinds of Civil government were of Divine institution, it must be all the same in every complete Common-wealth, which no man that I know will affirm. Ecclesiastical Government, because it is spiritual, and hath a spiritual efficacy in it, must therefore of necessity be of Divine institution, & so the same in all places in the world where Churches are complete.2
I will instance in one thing, wherein the Kings of England vvould not vvillingly be limited by their example, namely, The confining of their succession to the heire male. The daughters of the Kings of Judah did not inherit, onely the males; but the daughters of our Kings do. If this Question be asked, Why in some countreyes onely the Male inherits, as in France; in others, the females likewise, as in England; why in some Countries the King is elective, as in Denmark and others; in others it is hereditary, as with us: The Answer will be given, This is from the diversity of the Laws of Kingdoms. So then it follows not, because some Kings in Scripture were thus and thus, therefore all Kings must needs be so; but according to the diversity of the Laws of Kingdoms, ⟨p. 35⟩so is the diversity of the power of Kings. Every Countrey in the first constitution of the Government, hath power to divide the Government, so much to the King, so much to the Nobles, so much to the Commons, as they shall see best sutable to the condition of their Countrey: so that we are not to goe by such a rule, what power such and such Kings have had, but what power every King hath in the Countrey where he is King. Civil Government 1is left to the wisdome and justice of every Country, in the constitution of it: They may confer power upon severall Magistrates by severall portions, as shal be most for the good of that Countrey. That there should be Civil Government, God hath appointed; but that it should be thus or thus, all in one, or divided into many, that is left to humane prudence, going according to rules of Justice, for the publique good. If the kinds of Civil government were of Divine institution, it must be all the same in every compleat Common-wealth, which no man that I know wil affirm. Ecclesiastical Government, because it is spirituall, and hath a spirituall efficacie in it, must therefore of necessity be of Divine institution, & so the same in all places in the world where Churches are cōpleat.2
- 11 Pet 2. 13 All civill Government, even that of Kings, is called a humane creation, for so the words are in the Original, [Greek or Hebrew].1 Pet 2. 13 All civill Government, even that of Kings, is called a humane creation, for so the words are in the Originall, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- 2Ob.
