2. Assert. There is no reason to restrain the higher powers to1 Monarchs only, or yet principally, as if they only were essentially powers ordained of God, 1. Because he calleth them [Greek or Hebrew], higher powers. Now this will include all higher powers, as Piscator observeth on the place. And certainly Rome had never two or three Kings to which every soul should be subject, if Paul had intended that they should have given obedience to one Nero, as the only essential Judge he would have designed him by the noun in the singular number. 2. All the reasons that the Apostle bringeth to prove that subjection is due, agreeth to inferior Judges, as well as to Emperors, for they are powers ordained of God, and they bear the sword, and we must obey them for conscience sake, and they are Gods deputies, and their judgement is not the judgement of men, but of the Lord, 2 Chron. 19. 6, 7. Deut. 1. 16. Numb. 11. 16, 17. Tribute and wages be no less due to them, as ministers and servants, for their work, then to the King, &c. 3. The Apostle could not omit obedience to the good Civill Laws enacted by the Senate, nor could he omit to command subjection to Rulers, if the Romans should change the Government, and abolish Monarchy, and erect their ancient form of Government before they had Kings. 5. This is Canonical Scripture, and a clear exposition of the first Commandment, and so must reach the consciences of all Christian Republics, where there is no Monarchy. 5. Parallel places of Scripture prove this. Paul, 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2. will have prayers made to God, for Kings, and for all that are in authority, and the intrinsical ⟨p. 352⟩end of all is, a godly, honest, and peaceable life. And 1 Pet. 2. 13. Submit to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake. Tit. 3. 1. It is true, subjection to Nero, of whom Tertullian said, Apol. 5. Nihil nisi grande bonum à Nerone damnatum, is commanded here, but to Nero as such an one as he is obliged, de jure, to be, (whether you speak of the office, in abstracto, or of the Emperor, in concreto, in this notion, to me it is all one) but that Paul commandeth subjection to Nero, and that principally and solely, as he was such a man, defacto, I shall then believe, when Antichristian Prelates turn Pauls Bishops, 1 Tim. 2. which is a miracle. 6.
2. Assert. There is no reason to restrain the higher powers to1 Monarchs onely, or yet principally, as if they onely were essentially powers ordained of God, 1. Because he calleth them 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, higher powers. Now this will include all higher powers, as Piscator observeth on the place. And certainly Rome had never two or three Kings to which every soule should be subject, if Paul had intended that they should have given obedience to one Nero, as the onely essentiall Judge he would have designed him by the nowne in the singular number. 2. All the reasons that the Apostle bringeth to prove that subjection is due, agreeth to inferiour Judges, as well as to Emperours, for they are powers ordained of God, and they beare the sword, and we must obey them for conscience sake, and they are Gods deputies, and their judgement is not the judgement of men, but of the Lord, 2 Chron. 19. 6, 7. Deut. 1. 16. Numb. 11. 16, 17. Tribute and wages be no lesse due to them, as ministers and servants, for their work, then to the King, &c. 3. The Apostle could not omit obedience to the good Civill Lawes enacted by the Senate, nor could he omit to command subjection to Rulers, if the Romanes should change the Government, and abolish Monarchie, and erect their ancient forme of Government before they had Kings. 5. This is Canonicall Scripture, and a cleare exposition of the first Commandement, and so must reach the consciences of all Christian Republicks, where there is no Monarchie. 5. Parallel places of Scripture prove this. Paul, 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2. will have prayers made to God, for Kings, and for all that are in authority, and the intrinsecall ⟨p. 352⟩end of all is, a godly, honest, and peaceable life. And 1 Pet. 2. 13. Submit to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake. Tit. 3. 1. It is true, subjection to Nero, of whom Tertullian said, Apol. 5. Nihil nisi grande bonum à Nerone damnatum, is commanded here, but to Nero as such an one as he is obliged, de jure, to be, (whether you speak of the office, in abstracto, or of the Emperour, in concreto, in this notion, to me it is all one) but that Paul commandeth subjection to Nero, and that principally and solely, as he was such a man, defacto, I shall then beleeve, when Antichristian Prelats turn Pauls Bishops,
- 1Only Nero cannot be understood, Rom. 13. •,Onely Nero cannot be understood, Rom. 13. •,
