A47584:1509
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.
For such is the furious rage of mans corrupt nature, That unless severe punishment were appointed, and put in execution upon malefactors; Better it were, that man should live among brute and wild Beasts, then among men. But at this present, I dare not enter into the description of this common place; for so should I not satisfy the Text, which by Gods grace I purpose to absolve. This only by the way, I would that such as are placed in Authority, should consider, Whether they reign and rule by God, so that God ruleth them or if they rule without, besides, and against God, of whom our Prophet here doth complain.
For such is the furious rage of mans corrupt nature, That unlesse severe punishment were appointed, and put in execution upon malefactors; Better it were, that man should live among brute and wilde Beasts, then among men. But at this present, I dare not enter into the description of this common place; for so should I not satisfie the Text, which by Gods grace I purpose to absolve. This onely by the way, I would that such as are placed in Authority, should consider, Whether they raign and rule by God, so that God ruleth them or if they rule without, besides, and against God, of whom our Prophet here doth complain.
If any list to take trial of this point, it is not hard: For Moses in the election of Judges,1 and of a King, describeth, not only, what persons shall be chosen to that honour, but doth also give to him that is elected and chosen, the rule by the which he shall try himself, whether God reign in him or not, saying: When he shall sit upon the throne of his Kingdom, he shall write to himself an exemplar of this Law, in a Book by the Priests and Levites; it shall be with him, and he shall read therein, all the days of his life, That he may learn to fear the Lord his God, and to keep all the words of this Law, and these Statutes, that he may do them, that his heart be not lifted up above his Brethren, and that he turn not from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left.
If any list to take tryall of this point, it is not hard: For Moses in the election of Judges,