2. But yet a Magistrate may require those things at our hands, which are clearly revealed to be the will of God, and in that we obey God in man, and not so much man as God. In this case we may say as the Samaritan did. Now we believe ⟨p. 324⟩not because of thy sayings, because we have heard him our selves. I conceive, there may be a distinction made between supreme masters, and subordinate masters, and so between subjection in order to another, and obedience to one as the supreme. Those are subordinate masters to whom we obey in subordination, or in order to another; and those are supreme masters, in whom our obedience resteth, and into whom it is finally resolved: afor this last kind, which is the Romish doctrine, surely neither Men nor Angels may usurp without high treason to Jesus Christ. It is treason for any to usurp it, and wickedness for any to give it; if God will not allow a supreme master, nor absolute obedience in temporal things, but requires us to serve men, as in subordination to Christ, Ephes. 6.7. Col. 3.23, 24. Much less will he allow of a supreme master in spiritual things. bCertainly it is the highest piece of slavery and vassalage in the world to yield up our consciences to the will of any, or surrender up our judgements to be wholly disposed by the sentences, determinations of any; but now in the other sense I conceive that men may be masters, and we may be subject to them in ⟨p. 325⟩subordination to God and Christ. And surely if you look into the old testament, it doth plainly hold forth this asubordination of obedience in spiritual things, bthe people were bound to obey their Magistrate when he commanded obedience to that which God had commanded; and to obey them I conceive not as they were types of Christ, (as some imagine, who say their power was to cease, and to end in Christ, as the great King of his Church, and in whom alone all authority over his people was to be shut up) but to them as they were temporal Magistrates, and were the fences of the worship of God: So that I conceive a Magistrate without any impeachment to the authority of Christ, or infringement of the liberty of conscience may require those things to be obeyed which are clearly revealed to be the will and mind of Christ, yet in this he is but a subordinate, and Christ is the supreme Master, he tells you what is Gods will, not what is his:
2. But yet a Magistrate may require those things at our hands, which are clearly revealed to be the will of God, and in that wee obey God in man, and not so much man as God. In this case we may say as the Samaritane did. Now wee beleeve ⟨p. 324⟩not because of thy sayings, because we have heard him our selves. I conceive, there may bee a distinction made between supream masters, and subordinate masters, and so betweene subiection in order to another, and obedience to one as the supreame. Those are subordinate masters to whom we obey in subordination, or in order to another; and those are supream masters, in whom our obedience resteth, and into whom it is finally resolved: afor this last kinde, which is the Romish doctrine, surely neither Men nor Angels may usurp without high treason to Iesus Christ. It is treason for any to usurp it, and wickednesse for any to give it; if God will not allow a supream master, nor absolute obedience in temporall things, but requires us to serve men, as in subordination to Christ, Ephes. 6.7. Col. 3.23, 24. Much lesse will hee allow of a supreame master in spirituall things. bCertainly it is the highest piece of slavery and vassallage in the world to yeeld up our consciences to the will of any, or surrender up our iudgements to be wholly disposed by the sentences, determinations of any; but now in the other sense I conceive that men may be masters, and wee may be subiect to them in ⟨p. 325⟩subordination to God and Christ. And surely if you looke into the old testament, it doth plainly hold forth this asubordination of obedience in spiritual things, bthe people were bound to obey their Magistrate when hee commanded obedience to that which God had commanded; and to obey them I conceive not as they were types of Christ, (as some imagine, who say their power was to cease, and to end in Christ, as the great King of his Church, and in whom alone all authority over his people was to be shut up) but to them as they were temporal Magistrates, and were the fences of the worship of God: So that I conceive a Magistrate without any impeachment to the authority of Christ, or infringement of the liberty of conscience may require those things to be obeyed which are clearly revealed to be the will and minde of Christ, yet in this he is but a subordinate, and Christ is the supreame Master, hee tells you what is Gods will, not what is his:
- aVos rudes et imperiti estis, ergo si salvi esse velitis, uihil jam reliquum est nisi ut caeca obedientia nostro judicio subscribatur. Bellar. Hoc uno scelere meritos esse praelatos Romanenses ut Ecclesiae caetu tanquam lupi et tyranni pellerentur. Luther. Ephes. 6.7 Col. 3.23.24.
- bOmnis homo dimittens rationem propter authoritatem humanamincidit in insipientiam bestialem.
- aQuismente sobrius dicat regibus, Non ad vos pertinet, quis in regno vestro velit esse sive religiosus sive sacrilegus. Aug. de co. Do. c. 13.
- bSi sacras scripturas V. T. inspiciamus, reges laudantur qui rectum dei cultum suprema authoritate sua observandum sanciebant, qui idolatriam evertendam curabant, et in N. T. reges terrae taxantur quod cum meretrice Babylonica scortati sunt, debuerunt ergoidolatriā evertere, veramque religionem omnibus imperare. Daev. de jud. et Nor.Si sacras scripturas V. T. inspiciamus, reges laudantur qui rectum dei cultum suprema authoritate sua observandum sanciebant, qui idolatriam evertendam curabant, et in N. T. reges terrae taxantur quod cum meretrice Babylonica scortati sunt, debuerunt ergoidolatriā evertere, veramque religionem omnibus imperare. Daev. de jud. et Nor.
