The second let the magistrate take head he absolve not him that God condemneth, and commandeth to be punished, for gain, affection, good intention else for any foolish & preposterous petty: for so doing Saul lost his kingdom .i. Samu. xv. read the place. And Ahab the king of Israel for dismissing of Bennaud as god said: they soul shall be for his soul .iii. Regum. fourteen. Even as here is occasion to admonish of justice towards evil doers, ⟨image 64⟩so is it to speak of war, and how it may be used lawfully by magistrates. The magistrate offendeth when he beginneth or continueth any iniuste battle, or of affection punisheth any innocent person: So Josyas offended although he was a good man in making war with the Egyptians, where as honest conditions of peace was offered, and was slain for his labour. The magistrate of the other part may offend if he in case he see his subjects oppressed and will not defend them as Abraham did his nevie Loth and other. Again, this battle he is daily bound unto, to war against vice and to punish, sin and in case he see any rebellion to resist the ⟨p. lv⟩just execution of justice, not to fear: for God will help his proceedings. Deut. xiii. And it may be seen that God will favour the magistrate that fighteth against his own brother, if it be to amend vice and to kill sin. For in manner the hole tribe of Benjamin was destroyed for the defence of adultery. Farther a magistrate fighteth justly, when he resisteth unjust force, whether it be of foreign enemies, or of his own rebellious subjects. Of such laws as should be kept in the time of war it is written Deut. xx. xxiii. Luke. iii. Our warriors have made of war a means and way to all robbery and spoil. The captain by his faith is bound to have as many as his ⟨image 65⟩allowance chargeth him with all, but like a thief he deceiveth the King both of his number of men, and robbeth him of his goods: and for lack of true payment to the half number that he is appointed unto, he wearieth the good will of the poor Soldiers, that extreme poverty with sickness for lack of payment of their wages, causeth them to pass neither of the King, neither of the commune wealth.
The second let ye magestrate take heade he absolue not him that God condemneth, and cō maundeth to be punyshed, for gayne, affection, good intencior els for any folyshe & preposterus pety: for so doing Saul loste his kyngdome .i. Samu. xv. reade the place. And Ahab the kynge of Israel for dimissyng of Bennaud as god said: they soule shalbe for his soule .iii. Regum. fourtene. Euen as here is occacion to admonishe of iustice towardes euil doers, ⟨image 64⟩so is it to speake of warre, and how it may be vsed lawfulli by magestrates. The magestrate offendeth when he beginneth or continueth any iniuste battel, or of affeccion punisheth any innocent person: So Iosyas offended althoughe he was a good man in makinge warre with the Egypcians, where as honest conditions of peace was offred, and was slayne for his laboure. The magestrate of the other part maye offende if he in case he see his subiectes oppressed and wyll not defend thē as Abraham did his neuie Loth and other. Agayne, thys battell he is daylye bounde vnto, to warre agaynste vice and to punyshe, synne and incase he see anye rebellion to resiste the ⟨p. lv⟩iust execusion of iustice, not to feare: for God wyll helpe his procedinges. Deut. xiii. And it maye be seen that God wyl fauoure the magestrate that fighteth against his owne brother, if it be to amende vyce and to kyll synne. For in manner the hole tribe of Beniamin was destroyed for the defence of adulterie. Farther a maiestrate fighteth iustly, when he resisteth vniust forse, whether it be of foren ennemyes, or of his owne rebellious subiectes. Of such lawes as shulde be kepte in the tyme of warre it is written Deut. xx. xxiii. Luke. iii. Oure warryers haue made of war a menes and waye to all robberye and spoil. The captayne by hys fayth is bound to haue as many as his ⟨image 65⟩allowaūce chargeth him with all, but lyke a thiefe he deceyueth the Kynge bothe of hys noumber of menne, and robbeth hym of hys goodes: and for lacke of true paymente to the halfe number that he is appoyneted vnto, he weryeth the good wyll of the poore Souldiours, that extreme pouertye wyth syckenes for lacke of paymente of theyr wages, causeth theym to passe neyther of the Kyng, neyther of the commune wealth.
