JOI. These be the words of Paul: Can any of you abide, having business, or to do with an other, too be judged under unrightful judges, & not rather under the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world be judged by you, are ye unworthy of small judgements? Do ye not know that we shall judge angels, & not only those things that pertain to the living? Therefore if ye have judgements, touching those things ye pertain to the use of life, make them judges that are vilest in the congregation, I do speak to your shame. ⟨image 42⟩Is there not among you a wise man? not as much as one? which can give judgement between brother and brother? But one brother striveth with an other, and ye under infidels. Therefore now there is a great fault in you, ye ye have strife among you.1 Why do not ye rather suffer wrong Why do ye not receive harm? yea, but rather ye do injury and wrong, and that to your brethren. These, I say, be the words of Paul, whereby we do learn, that we ought rather to suffer wrong, and to receive patiently harm, then to strive & contend among our selves, whereunto Christ, in the .vi. of Matthew, hath a respect. But if this, for the imbecility, weakness, and corruption of our flesh, can not be done, there be Magistrates, courts, and judges, before whom, such matters, if any do chance, may be discussed and pacified, too the intents, that he, which suffereth wrong, may be revenged and he that doth the wrong, may be punished and holden in.2 Now they that so contend before a judge, for things that pertain to the use of life, are christians for Paul saith: One brother doth wrong to an other, whom he commandeth (if ⟨image 43⟩need do so require) to sue for their right before christian judges. For brothe• and christian, are all one. Finally, by the foresaid words, it may be manifestly gathered, that a christian may execute the office of a magistrate.3 For he appointed the saints to be judges, and here the saints be put for the faithful whom he will rather to be chosen of the vilest sort in the congregation, then that they should repair to unfaithful judges.
Of all these things we do gather and conclude that the faithful have need of a magistrate, sith that the congregation is gathered of good and evil, the faithful them selves being in the flesh, as long as they live.
IOI. These be ye words of Paul: Can any of you abide, hauing busines, or to do wt an other, too be iudged vnder vnryghtfull iudges, & not rather vnder ye sainctes? Do ye not know yt the saints shal iudge ye world? And if ye world be iudged by you, are ye vnworthye of smal iugements? Do ye not know yt we shal iudge angels, & not only those thinges yt pertain to ye liuing? Therfore yf ye haue iudgements, touching those things ye pertain to ye vse of life, make thē iudges yt are vilest in ye congregatiō, I do speake to your shame. ⟨image 42⟩Is there not emong you a wyse man? not as muche as one? whych can geue iudgement betwene brother and brother? But one brother striueth with an other, and ye vnder infidels. Therfore nowe there is a great fault in you, ye ye haue strife emong you.1 Why do not ye rather suffer wrong Whye do ye not receiue harme? yea, but rather ye do iniury and wronge, and yt to your brethren. These, I say, be the wordes of Paul, wherbye we do learne, that we ought rather to suffer wrong, and to receiue paciently harme, then to stryue & contende emong our selues, wheruntoo Christ, in the .vi. of Mathewe, hath a respecte. But if thys, for the imbecyllytye, weakenes, and corruption of our flesshe, can not be done, there be Magystrates, courtes, and iudges, before whom, suche matters, if any do chaunce, may be discussed and pacifyed, too the intents, that he, which suffreth wrong, may be reuenged and he that doth the wrong, may be punisshed and holden in.2 Now they that so contend before a iudge, for thynges that pertayne to the vse of lyfe, are christians for Paul saith: One brother doth wrong to an other, whom he commaundeth (yf ⟨image 43⟩nede do so require) to sue for their righte before christian iudges. For brothe• and christian, are al one. Finally, by the foresayd wordes, it may be manifestly gathered, that a christian may execute ye offyce of a magistrate.3 For he apointed the saintes to be iudges, and here the sainctes be put for the faithfull whom he wil rather to be chosen of the vilest sorte in the congregation, then that they should repayre to vnfaithfull iudges.
Of all these thinges we do gather and conclude that the faithfull haue nede of a magistrate, sith that the congregation is gathered of good and euyll, the faithfull them selues being in the flesh, as long as they liue.
- 1The place of Paul is discussed.
- 2Wherefore courts and judges serve, look upon this, O ye judges.Wherefore courtes and iudges serue, looke vpon thys, O ye iudges.
- 3Saints are every where in the scripture taken for the faithful.Saynctes are euerye where in the scriptur taken for the faythfull.
