Certain godly, and most necessary annotations upon the thirteenth chapter to the RomansCertaine godly, and most necessarie annotations vpon the thirteenth chapter to the Romanes

And the powers that here S. Paul speaketh of, be not only Kings & emperors, but also such as be appointed to any public office and common ⟨image 8⟩regiment, either for a King, where as is a Kingdom, or in the place of a King, where as the state of the common wealth is no monarchy, but a rule and dominion, commended to many. To all these S. Paul commandeth obedience, honour, reverence, and love to be borne. And this is specially to be noted in S Paul, that he saith simply and plainly, we should obey the higher powers to confute, argue, and reprehend those that cloak and excuse their inobedience, cyther for the age of the rulers, or else for conditions and manners of the rulers. And that age dischargeth no man for inobedience, the word of God declareth, how that he was present to help young kings, ¹and to defend them in their under age, as it is to be seen by king Joshuas. Also God punisheth young Kings as often as they walk not after his word, as it is to be seen by Jehoiacim, ²that was crowned in the eight year of his age, and within three months and Ten days, for the Since ⟨image 9⟩he committed before God: he was taken prisoner by Nebuchadnezzar. Even so was Manasseh being of 12. years of age. Neither doth the manners and condition of the Magistrates excuse our inobedience though they be naught For Paul biddeth us look upon the power and authority of the higher powers: and not upon their manners. ³* And S. Peter commandeth the servants to obey their Masters though they be evil. So Joseph obeyed Pharaoh, and Christ our saviour Pilate, S. Paul, the emperors of Rome, Caligula and Nero. And when S. Paul commandeth us to be obedient, he meaneth not only we should speak reverently and honourably of the higher power, or make courtesy unto him, but to obey the laws set forth by the powers, except they command things against gods laws: ⁴then must * we obey more God then men, and yet not to strive and fight with the Magistrates: but suffer patiently death rather then to offend God: or else our obedience is no thing but hypocrisy and dissimulation.