B22970:60
An appeal to thy conscience as thou wilt answer it at the great and…An appeale to thy conscience as thou wilt answere it at the great and…
An appeal to thy conscience as thou wilt answer it at the great and dreadful day of Christ Jesus.An appeale to thy conscience as thou wilt answere it at the great and dreadfull day of Christ Iesus.
London : s.n., 1643
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The fourth Objection.
When Joram King of Israel sent to take away the head of Elisha, as he sate in his house with the Elders, ere the messenger came to him, he said to the Elders, see ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? Look when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door. 2 K 6 32. Therefore to preserve our life, we may resist the Kings Officers, and by consequence the King.
When Joram King of Israel sent to take away the head of Elisha, as he sate in his house with the Elders, ere the messenger came to him, he said to the Elders, see ye how this son of a murtherer hath sent to take away mine head? Look when the messenger commeth, shut the doore, and hold him fast at the doore. 2 K 6 32. Therefore to preserve our life, we may resist the Kings Officers, and by consequence the King.
The Answer.
This conclusion is not rightly inferred. For it is one thing to hold a messenger fast; and another thing to resist, strike, or slay him. The former does delay the execution o• the Kings command; the latter is a high contempt of his power. But if we observe the text, Elisha had just cause to command what he did; not so much to preserve his own life, as to perform the will of the King. For as God had revealed unto him the coming of the messenger, and his message: So he likewise revealed unto him, that Joram was sorry for sending the messenger, and that he himself was coming after with all speed to recall his command. This is implied in the reason which he gives, why they should shut the door and hold him fast at the door to wit, is not the sound of his masters feet behind him? As if he should say, hold the messenger a while, Mox enim Rex ipse aderit, mandati jam paenitens, For by and by the King himself will be here, who at this very time repents him of his message.