The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

for neither of both can excuse you in Gods presence from doing his duty, for it is a thing more then certain, That whatsoever God required of the Civill Magistrate in Israel or Judah concerning the observation of true Religion during the time of the Law, the same doth he require of lawful Magistrates professing Christ Jesus in the time of the Gospel, as the holy Ghost hath taught us by the mouth of David (Psal. 2.) saying, Be learned, you that judge the earth, kiss the Son, lest that the Lord wax angry, and that ye perish away. This Admonition doth not extend to the Judges under the Law only, but doth also include all such as be promoted to Honours in the time of the Gospel, when Christ Jesus doth reign and fight in his Spiritual Kingdom, whose enemies in that Psalm be first most sharply taxed, their fury expressed, and vanity mocked; and then are Kings and Judges, who think themselves free from all Law and Obedience, commanded to repent their former blind rage; and Judges are charged to be learned; and last, are commanded to serve the Eternal God in fear, to rejoice before him in trembling, to kiss the Son, that is, To give him most humble Obedience: Whereof it is evident, That the Rulers, Magistrates, and Judges now in Christs Kingdom, are no less bound to Obedience unto God, then were those under the Law: And how is it possible that any should be obedient, who despiseth his Religion, in which standeth the chief glory that man can give to God, and is a service which God especially requireth of Kings and Rulers? Which thing Saint Augustine plainly did note, writing to one Bonifacius a man of War,¹ according to the same argument and purpose which I labour to persuade your Honours: For after that he hath in that his Epistle declared the difference betwixt the heresy of the Donatists and Arians, and hath somewhat spoken of their cruelty, he showeth the way how their fury should and ought to be repressed, and that it is lawful for the unjustly afflicted to seek support and defence at godly Magistrates; for thus he writeth, Either must the Verity be kept close, ²or else must their cruelty be sustained. But if the Verity should be concealed, not only should none be saved, but also should many be lost through their deceit.

for neither of both can excuse you in Gods presence from doing his duty, for it is a thing more then certain, That whatsoever God required of the Civill Magistrate in Israel or Iuda concerning the observation of true Religion during the time of the Law, the same doth he require of lawfull Magistrates professing Christ Jesus in the time of the Gospel, as the holy Ghost hath taught us by the mouth of David (