2. Conclusion. 1Our adversaries here corrupt the mind of Cartwright, 2Viretus, Calvin, and others, who say that the authority of Kings come immediately from God as Creator,3 and not from God in Christ as Mediator:4 For the kingly power is considered two ways, 1. In general, as kingly, and in the person of heathen Princes, who know nothing of God as a Redeemer in the Mediator. And so the kingly power in general as given for the good of all humane societies in general, is from God the Creator for the good of all societies whither heathen or Christian. So Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, Nero, and Julian were essentially Kings, and yet had not their kingly power immediately from the Mediator Christ, except in this general sense that the kingly power is a lawful ordinance of God warranted by the word of God, and Testament of our Testator Jesus Christ, because ⟨p. 295⟩these are essentially Kings and lawful Magistrates who either never heard of Christ, nor any thing of God; but only that he is Creator of the world, or then who persecute and hate the name of Jesus Christ. It may be that the fruits of persecuting Princes, their government redound to the •ood and salvation of the Saints, and that by accident, as all things work out for the good to those who love God. Now •ormalists denying such to be lawful Kings, as either know not Christ, or believe not in him, join hands with Papists, and make way for Anabaptisticall Anarchy, that a persecuting, or an unbelieving King is no King, not to be obeyed, but to be turned out of his Throne: And to this meaning, Calvin, Viretus, and Cartwright teach that the kingly power floweth immediately from God the Creator, not from God in the Mediator Christ. But 2. th• kingly power is considered in a special manner, as it is in a Christian, whether professing only the Gospel, or truly believing in Christ, and so in relation to Christs Church and to the soul of a believing Prince, the kingly power floweth from God in and through the Mediator Jesus Christ, as all common favours which in general• flow from God the Creator, are sanctified, and blessed to the believers in the Mediator Christ, as meat, drink, sleep, riches, kingly honour. And in this meaning, Sauls kingly honour in respect of Saul himself is but a common favour flowing from the Creator;
2. Conclusion. 1Our adversaries here corrupt the mind of Cartwright, 2Viretus, Calvin, and others, who say that the authority of Kings come immediately from God as Creator,3 and not from God in Christ as Mediator:4 For the kingly power is considered two wayes, 1. In generall, as kingly, and in the person of heathen Princes, who know nothing of God as a Redeemer in the Mediator. And so the kingly power in generall as given for the good of all humane societies in generall, is from God the Creator for the good of all societies whither heathen or Christian. So Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, Nero, and Julian were essentially Kings, and yet had not their kingly power immediately from the Mediator Christ, except in this generall sense that the kingly power is a lawfull ordinance of God warranted by the word of God, and Testament of our Testator Jesus Christ, because ⟨p. 295⟩these are essentially Kings and lawfull Magistrates who either never heard of Christ, nor any thing of God; but onely that he is Creator of the world, or then who persecute and hate the name of Jesus Christ. It may be that the fruits of persecuting Princes, their government redound to the •ood and salvation of the Saints, and that by accident, as all things worke out for the good to those who love God. Now •ormalists denying such to be lawfull Kings, as either know not Christ, or beleeve not in him, joyne hands with Papists, and make way for Anabaptisticall Ana•chy, that a persecuting, or an unbeleeving King is no King, not to be obeyed, but to be turned out of his Throne: And to this meaning, Calvin, Viretus, and Cartwright teach that the kingly power floweth immediately from God the Creator, not from God in the Mediator Christ. But 2. th• kingly power is considered in a speciall manner, as it is in a Christian, whether professing onely the Gospell, or truly beleeving in Christ, and so in relation to Christs Church and to the soule of a beleeving Prince, the kingly power floweth from God in and through the Mediator Jesus Christ, as all common favours which in general• flow from God the Creator, are sanctified, and blessed to the beleevers in the Mediator Christ, as meat, drinke, sleep, riches, kingly honour. And in this meaning, Sauls kingly honour in respect of Saul himselfe is but a common favour flowing from the Creator;
- 12. Conclus.
- 2Cartwright, p. 1. p. 93.
- 3Vir•tus dial. 3.
- 4Calv admonitions to the Pa•l. 2. of Eng. p. 61.
