AS there is no faithful man exempt from the obedience which be oweth to Jesus Christ, reigning in his Church, be it king, prince or subject, so there is none from the greatest to the least which oweth not voluntary obedience to his Magistrate, as ordained of Goda. Yea, although the Magistrate were a tyrant, except in one point only, that is to say, if he command to do things which were against Gods word. For in this case as the Apostles said, we must rather obey God then man, for otherwise we extol men above Godb. ⟨p. 126⟩It is not then rebellion to disobey Princes, when they would cause us to do that which God forbiddeth, or to defend• or forbid that which God commandeth. But in this poynt• there must be such a mean kept, that they do not pass or exceed their vocation. For the Apostles obeyed not to those which for bad and defended them to preach Jesus Christ, as also they took to them no weapon or armour, which appertained not to them. Also we must note, that there is difference between doing wrong to another and to suffer wrong done to us. Now for the first, it is forbidden us▪ never to do wrong: But especially commanded us to suffer the injuries done to us for the honour of GODc, as much as may or can be done without prejudice, or against our vocation, as we read that Jesus Christ although he were free, nevertheless payed tribute willinglyd. It is then a manifest and false slander to say, that the doctrine which we teach and use bringeth ⟨image 144⟩men to be seditious, and disobedient to kings and superiors. But clean contrary, the Gospel establisheth their power. But this is impudently done of those which have notoriously exempted themselves from the subjection of Princes, & which do understand no otherwise by the liberties of the Church, then that which they have usurped upon Princes, against all right both divine & human: and yet have no shame to burden us with that wherein they them selves be notoriously culpable and offenders.
AS there is no faythfull man exempt from the obedience whiche be oweth to Iesus Christe, reigning in his Church, be it king, prince or subiect, so ther is none from the greatest to the least which oweth not voluntarie obedyence to his Magistrate, as ordayned of Goda. Yea, although the Magistrate were a tirant, except in one point onelye, that is to saye, if he commaunde to doo things which were against Gods woorde. For in this case as the Apostles said, we must rather obey God then mā, for otherwise we extol mē aboue Godb. ⟨p. 126⟩It is not then rebellion to disobey Princes, when they woulde cause vs to doo that which God forbyddeth, or to defend• or forbyd that which God commaūdeth. But in this poynt• there must bee suche a meane kepte, that they doo not passe or excéede their vocation. For the Apostles obeyed not to those which for bad and defended them to preach Iesus Christe, as also they tooke to them no weapon or armour, which appertayned not to them. Also we must note, that there is difference betweene doing wrong to another and to suffer wrong done to vs. Nowe for the firste, it is forbydden vs▪ neuer to doo wrong: But especially commaunded vs to suffer the iniuryes done to vs for the honour of GODc, as much as maye or can bee done wythout preiudice, or against our vocation, as we reade that Iesus Christe although hee were free, neuerthelesse payed trybute wyllynglyed. It is then a manyfest and false slaunder to saye, that the doctrine which we teach and vse bringeth ⟨image 144⟩men to bee sedicious, and disobedient to kinges and superious. But cleane contrarie, the Gospell establisheth their power. But this is impudently done of those which haue notoriously exempted themselues from the subiection of Princes, & which do vnderstand no otherwise by the lyberties of the Church, then that which they haue vsurped vpon Princes, against all right both diuine & humaine: and yet haue no shame to burdē vs with that wherin they them selues be notory••slie culpable and offenders.
- aRoma. 13 Titus. 2. 1. Peter. 2▪
- bActs. 4
- c1. Peter. 2.
- dMath. 17
