A47584:573
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.
Thirdly, That albeit God hath appointed Magistrates his Lieutenants on earth, and hath honoured them with his own Title, calling them Gods, That yet he did never so firmly establish any, but at his pleasure, he seeing just cause, might deprive them.
Fourthly, That in deposing of Princes, and those that have been in Authority, God did not always use his immediate power, but sometimes he useth second means, which his wisdom thought good, and Justice approved: As by Asa, he removed Maacha his own mother from Honour and Authority which before she had used. By Jehu, he destroyed Joram, and the whole posterity of Ahab. And by divers others he hath deposed from Authority those whom before he had established by his own Word. And hereupon concluded he, That sith the Queen Regent denied her chief duty to the subjects of this Realm, which was, To minister Justice to them indifferently,1 to preserve their Liberties from invasion of strangers, and to suffer them to have Gods Word freely and openly preached amongst them. Seeing moreover that the Queen Regent was an open and obstinate Idolatress, a vehement maintainer of all Superstition and Idolatry, as also she openly declares the Country to be conquest, and no more free. And finally, That she utterly despiseth the counsel and requests of the Nobility: he could see no reason why they the borne Counsellors, Nobility, and Barons of the Realm might not justly deprive her from all Regiment and Authority amongst them.
Fourthly, That in deposing of Princes, and those that have been in Authority, God did not alwayes use his immediate power, but sometimes he useth second means, which his wisedome thought good, and Justice approved: As by Asa, he removed Maacha his owne mother from Honour and Authority which before she had used. By Iehu, he destroyed Ioram, and the whole posterity of Achab. And by divers others he hath deposed from Authority those whom before he had established by his own Word. And hereupon concluded he, That sith the Queen Regent denied her chief duty to the subjects of this Realme, which was, To minister Justice to them indifferently,1