The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

We shall add one example more, which is, of Henry the eighth; who, anno 1525, the seventeenth year of his Reign, by the advice of his Council, put a Tax upon the people; which the people did not only refuse to pay, but declared, That the thing was unjust and unlawful. Withal, wherever they met those whom the King had employed for the gathering the money, they used them so kindly, that they did never come twice to one place for the payment of the Tax. The King seeing this, he disclaims the Imposition of the Tax, and so do the Nobles that convened ⟨image 33⟩at London, by his Command, for that purpose, and lays all the fault upon ill counsel, namely, upon Wolsey. This was Henry constrained to do, notwithstanding his resoluteness against all foreign enemy, chiefly the Pope, with his shavelings. By this instance, Henry acknowledged his power to be limited, and no ways arbitrary: Against the doctrine of our now Court-parasites.

We shall adde one example more, which is, of Henry the eighth; who, anno 1525, the seventeenth yeer of his Reign, by the advice of his Councell, put a Tax upon the people; which the people did not onely refuse to pay, but declared, That the thing was unjust and unlawfull. Withall, wherever they met those whom the King had employed for the gathering the money, they used them so kindely, that they did never come twice to one place for the payment of the Tax. The King seeing this, he disclaims the Imposition of the Tax, and so do the Nobles that convened ⟨image 33⟩at London, by his Command, for that purpose, and layes all the fault upon ill counsell, namely, upon Wolsey. This was Henry constrained to do, notwithstanding his resolutenesse against all forreign enemy, chiefly the Pope, with his shavelings. By this instance, Henry acknowledged his power to be limited, and no wayes arbitrary: Against the doctrine of our now Cout-parasites.

Now if the People have this much power in them, as to stand for their Temporal Liberty, both against foreign and domestic slavery; far more may they, and ought they, to defend the Spiritual Freedom, which Christ, having purchased with his Blood, hath left them, as Members of his Church. But all this defence of Liberty and Religion ought to be made so, that it be without by-ends, sinistrous respects, of hatred, malice, ambition, &c. The only scope and main drift being, To have Gods glory, in the Light of his Gospel, settled and maintained, The People at quiet, The Prince obeyed, in God, and for God (i. e.) according to the Law of God, Nature, Nations, and the Country or Kingdom, so far as possibly can be. This being looked to carefully, there is no gap opened to Rebellion; which is a fighting against Gods Ordinance, and not the just and necessary opposing of the abuse and corrupting of the good Ordinance of God.