JOIA. I have proved that a christian may execute the office of a Magistrate. What shall I say to thine objections? Nicodemus & Joseph were in the bloody council, where Christ was condemned, & yet not withstanding, they were not polluted with that bloody judgement. For they did not con sent to the counsels of the ungodly. Lu. xxiii Wherefore a christian, is nothing harmed though that he sate in the council of the ungodly, so that he doth not consent to their filthy deeds & acts, but defend & counsel, the which is right, as much as lieth in him. Psalm .i. But now look upon the thing more narrowly, & ponder it more diligently, whether it is better that godly men and christians, should be rulers and Magistrates, or ungodly persons? For if the Magistrate be an infidel, what goodness can we look too have of him?
⟨image 39⟩For he can do no manner of good him self being not good, as be all they, that neither know, nor worship god, which thing ye do not deny your selves. Sith then that ye do say, that a christian neither can, nor ought to bear rule or be a Magistrate, what other thing do ye say, but that there ought to be no goodness at all in the magistrate?1 Which doctrine if it should stand should not all right and justice be perverted? They that ay that a Christian can not be a Magistrate, and grant that the ungodly may, they seek nothing else, but to destroy all religion and common weal. Can any man govern & rule better then he that worshippeth god,2 and liveth innocently before him? We do learn out of the books of judges, of Samuel, of Kings, and of the Chronicles, that the Realms & kingdoms were never in a better & more prosperous state, then when godly judges and kings did bear rule. Again, that there were never so troublous times, so much wickedness, famine, hunger, wars, tumults, and calamities, as have been under ungodly tyrants, as was Jeroboam, Ahab, Manasseh. &c. Therefore we do now conclude, not only that a christian may execute the office of a magistrate, ⟨image 39⟩but also that such an office can not be prosperously and well administered but by christians.
IOIA. I haue proued yt a christan may execute the office of a Magistrate. What shall I say to thyne obiections? Nicodemus & Ioseph were in ye bloudy councel, where Christ was condemned, & yet not wtstanding, they were not polluted with yt bloudy iudgement. For thei did not cō sent to ye counsails of ye vngodly. Lu. xxiii Wherfore a christian, is nothing harmed though yt he sate in ye councel of ye vngodly, so yt he doth not consent to their filthy dedes & actes, but defende & counsayle, ye which is ryght, as much as lieth in him. Psalme .i. But now loke vpon ye thinge more narowly, & ponder it more diligently, whether it is better yt godly men and christyans, should be rulers and Magystrates, or vngodlye persons? For if the Magystrate be an infydell, what goodnesse can wee looke too haue of hym?
⟨image 39⟩For he can do no maner of good him self beinge not good, as be all they, yt neyther know, nor worship god, which thinge ye do not deny your selues. Syth then that ye do say, that a christian neither can, nor ought to beare rule or be a Magystrate, what other thynge do ye say, but yt there ought to be no goodnesse at al in ye magystrate?1 Which doctrine if it should stand shuld not all ryght and iustice be peruerted? They that ay yt a Christian can not be a Magistrate, and graunt that the vngodly may, they seke nothing els, but to destroy al religyon and common weale. Can any man gouerne & rule better then he that worshpipeth god,2 and liueth innocently before him? We do learne out of ye bokes of iudges, of Samuel, of Kynges, and of ye Chronicles, that the Realmes & kingdoms were neuer in a better & more prosperous state, then when godlye iudges and kinges dyd beare rule. Againe, yt there were neuer so troublous tymes, so muche wyckednes, famine, hunger, warres, tumultes, and calamytyes, as haue bene vnder vngodlye tyrauntes, as was Hieroboam, Achab, Manasses. &c. Therfore we do now conclude, not onely that a christian may execute the office of a magistrate, ⟨image 39⟩but also that suche an offyce can not be prosperously and wel administred but by christians.
- 1If ye doctrine of the Libertines & anabaptists should stand, all right & justice should be perverted.If ye doctryne of ye Libertins & anabaptists shuld stand, al right & iustice shuld be peruerted.
- 2As kingdoms did always flourish under godly & virtuous princes, so they have ben overwhelmed with all kinds of calamities when ungodly men did bear ruleAs kingdoms dyd alwayes florishe vnder godly & vertuous princes, so they haue ben ouerwhelmed wt al kindes of calamites whē vngodly men did beare rule
