A47584:1218
The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland
The history of the reformation of the Church of Scotland containing five books : together with some treatises conducing to the history.The historie of the reformation of the Church of Scotland containing five books : together with some treatises conducing to the history.
London: printed by John Raworth for George Thomason and Octavian Pullen, 1644
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.
Let every soul (saith he) submit himself unto the higher Powers; for there is no power but of God: 1Whosoever resisteth therefore the Power, resisteth the Ordinance of God; and they that resist, shall receive to themselves damnation: For Rulers are not to be feared of those that do well, but of those that do evil. Wilt thou then be without fear of the Power? Do that which is good, and so shalt thou be praised of the same: For he is the Minister of God for thy weal: But if thou do that which is evil, fear; for he beareth not the Sword for nought; for he is the Minister of God, to take vengeance on them that do evil.
- 1Rom. 13.
As the Apostle in these words most straitly commandeth Obedience to ⟨p. 11⟩be given to lawful powers, pronouncing Gods wrath and vengeance against such as shall resist the Ordinance of God; so doth he assign to the powers their Offices, which be, To take vengeance upon evil doers, To maintain the well doers, and so to minister and rule in their Office, that the subjects by them may have a Benefit, and be praised in well doing. Now if you be powers ordained by God, (and that I hope all men will grant) then by the plain words of the Apostle is the Sword given unto you by God, for maintenance of the innocent, and for punishment of malefactors: But I, and my brethren with me accused, do offer not only to prove our selves innocents in all things laid to our charge, but also we offer most evidently to prove your Bishops to be the very pestilence, who have infected all Christianity: And therefore by the plain Doctrine of the Apostle, you are bound to maintain us, and punish the other, being evidently convinced, and proved criminal. Moreover, the former words of the Apostle do teach,1 How far high powers are bound to their subjects; to wit, That because they be Gods Ministers, by him ordained for the profit and utility of others, most diligently ought they to attend upon the same. For that cause assigneth the holy Ghost, commanding subjects to obey,