Of domesticall duties eight treatises. I. An exposition of that part of Scripture out…

I deny not but that it is a far more difficult and hard matter to govern well than to obey well. For to rule and ¹govern requireth more knowledge, experience, wisdom, care, watchfulness, diligence, and other like virtues, than to obey and be subject. He that obeyeth hath his rule laid before him, which is the will and command of his ²superior in things lawful, and not against Gods will. But the superior who commandeth, is to consider not only what is lawful, but also what is most fit, meet, convenient, and every way the best: yea also he must forecast for the time to come, and so far as he can observe whether that which is now for the present meet enough, may not be dangerous for the time to come, and in that respect unmeet to be urged. Whence it followeth, that the superior in authority may sin in commanding that which the inferior in subjection may upon his command do without sin. Who can justly charge Joab with sin in numbering the ³people, when David urged him by virtue of his authority ⁴so to do? Yet did David sin in commanding it. ⟨p. 23⟩Without all question Saul did sin in charging the people by an oath, to eat no food the day that they pursued their enemies (a time when they had most need to be refreshed with food, as Jonathans words imply) and yet did not the people ⁵sin in forbearing: witness the event that followed on Jonathans eating, though he knew not his fathers charge. Who seeth not hereby, that it is a matter of much more difficulty to rule well, than to obey? which is yet further evident by Gods wise disposing providence in ordering who should govern, who obey. Commonly the younger ⁶for age, the weaker for sex, the meaner for estate, the more ignorant for understanding, with the like, are in places of subjection: but the elder, stronger, wealthier, wiser, and such like persons, are for the most part, or at least should be in place of authority. Woe to thee ô land (