How Superior Powers Ought to be Obeyed of their Subjects, Chapter 3 – Chapter 4
CHAP. III.
¶What inconuenience had commē to the Churche of God, if the Apoſtels had ob…yed the commandement of the Concil, and what euills hauehave commen lately vponupon England through the preaching of vnlawful obediēce and yelding to vngodly Rulers.
LEt vsus leaue the vngodlie papiſtes with their wicked decrees and Concils,The infinit ſlaughter of martyrs in Englande. as mē that paſſe the Iewes in all maner of wilful ſtubberneſſe and cruel perſecution of the trueth, as the horrible ſlaghter of thouſandes of martyrs, which with in theſe few yeres in Englande alone do witneſſe: and returne to the Apoſtels, Peter and Iohn, to examine what anſwere they framed to theſe men of auctoritie, and Rulers, gathered to gether of all ſortes, as you hauehave harde, as wel of the Cleargie as of the Laitie, of ſuche as thē had the onlie gouernement of Ieruſalem vnderunder the Romayns, to whom they were then tributaries, which charge and threatning of the whole Concil, done with ſo great aduiſement and conſultation, oght not lightlie to be eſtemed, eſpeciallie, of the ſeruantes of God,We muſt not yelde in Gods cauſe, when man threatneth. and their ſubiects, as the Apoſtels then were. They were charged and threatned to preache no more in the Name of Chriſte crucified. An heauy commandement doutleſſe to Peter and Iohn, eſpeciallie if it might hauehave taken place: ſeing it was all together contrarie to their vocation and charge geuen vntounto them by their maiſter Chriſt, to preache his Goſpell throughout all the worlde,Luk. 24. act. 1. and to begyn at Ieruſalem, for which cauſe they were called and choſen from amongeſt all others, and had bene of longe tyme inſtructed of their maiſter Chriſt in the knowledge of all his holie Scriptures, ād repleniſhed with wonderful giftes of the holie Goſte, to cure all deſeaſes, to caſt out diuels, to drinke poyſon, to tread vponupon ſerpentes, and to diſtribute the holye Spirit, and all thoſe to be as it were ſeales and cōfirmatiōs of their doctrine, whiche all had bene to no porpoſe, yf this commandement and threatninge of the Magiſtrats ſhuld hauehave bene obeyed,Relenting of the miniſters moſte dangerous. & the Apoſtels yelded to their auctoritie. Then the foundation of the Churche ſhuld hauehave ben ſhaken, and the whole aſſemble diſcouraged: for the two Chief Captayns gyuinge ouer, who durſte hauehave preſumed further?
And truelie, if the Apoſtels at that tyme had bene no further inſtructed, then the moſte parte of men are in theſe our dayes, and eſpeciallie hauehave bene, and yet be in our miſerable countrie of Englande: they would hauehave bene in great perplexitie, and ſore afrayde to hauehave made this, or the like anſwere ſayng:we maye ſafely folowe the example of the Apoſtels aproued by the holy Gost. Iudge you whither it be lawful before God to obeye you, rather then God. For the moſte parte of men, yea and of thoſe whiche hauehave bene both learned and godlie, and hauehave geuen worthie teſtymonie of their profeſsion to the glorie of God: hauehave thoght and taught (by the permiſsion of God for our ſynnes) that it was not lawful in anie caſe to reſiſt and diſobeye the ſuperior powers:A dangerous doctrine. but rather to laye downe their heades, and ſubmitte them ſelues to all kindes of puniſhmentes and tyrannye, thinkinge them ſelues ſufficientlie diſcharged before God of their vocation and duetie, hauing onlie the commandement of the ſuperiour power to the contrarie, were it neuer ſo vngodlie ād cleāe againſte all natural reaſon:1. Cor. 3 Man can not diſpē ce with that which God commandeth. wherby manye hauinge commandement to preache no more Ieſus chriſt to the people, without anie trouble of conſcience hauehave keapt ſilence, and thought thē ſelues ſufficientlie diſcharged: nether cō ſidering that they were made ſtewards of Godes holye myſteries, and that not at the appointment of man, or for them ſelues, but by the ordināce of our Sauiour Chriſt Ieſus, and to be faithful diſtributers to others. Nether yet markinge this preſent anſwere of Peter and Iohn, whom they might ſafely hauehave folowed with better aſſurance: who in ſuche caſe,Falſe brethern which betray God and his trueth in yelding to the papists. hauehave lefte this leſſon for all men, rather to obaye God then mā. Others, hearinge the Name of God blaſphemed by the falſe doctrine of the wicked and ſhaueling prieſtes, durſte not once open their mouthes to ſpeak one worde in their maiſters behalff and his infallible truethe: but ſtopt theyr mouthes as dōme dogges, ād durſte not barke againſt the rauenīge wolff when they knew and ſaw him cōming. Many not minding to obiecte them ſelues to anie daunger, regardinge more their owne ſafetie, then the preſeruatiō of their flocke,No miniſter oght to flie and forſake his flocke, except he be perſecuted onelyonly, and not his flocke. wolde not abide the wilde beaſte commyng, but moſte ſhamefullie fledde before the daunger came, ſhewing them ſelues playne hirelings, and no true paſtores: leauinge the ſelie ſhepe of God to be deuoured, and that becauſe they had entred in to the folde before to feede of the flocke, to eate the fleſhe, and deuoure the people of God as bread,Pſal. 14. rather then to do their dueties.
They which pleaſe man rather then obey God.But all theſe and ſuche like are here condemned and conuicted of euel, which fearing man more then God, gaue eare and obedience to man, rather then to God. Wherof, beſides the iuſte ſhame that came vponupon them ſelues, and the diſpleaſure of God powred generally vponupon all (for as muche as we all were betrayers of our maiſter, thoghe not all a like) iuſt occaſion of offence and of like diſobediēce to God, was miniſtred to all ſorts of men, of what vocation ſo euer they were.we muſt obey the preachers onelyonly whē they bring Gods worde. For when they ſawe the teachers and leaders of others to ſet vp obedience of man rather then of God, and the ſame confirmed by their owne example: thoſe whiche knewe no other, thoght it their parte to do the like alſo in their vocation and office. And ſuche as were playne enimies to God,The papiſtes laughe in their ſleues, when they ſee their wicked proceadinges promoted by vnlawfull obedience. the wicked papiſtes or diſſolute perſons, laughed in their ſleues: ſeing bothe them and their wicked proceadings therby promoted and furthered. Where as to defend their kyngdome of darckenes, ambitiō and idle belies, there is no kyng ſo godly, no contrey ſo peaceable, nor no kyngdome ſo ſtronge, which through their deuiliſhe entrepriſes and wicked perſuaſions, they hauehave not ſtudyed vtterly to ſubuert and deſtroy. As the example of that deſperat Moncke,A moncke who to poiſon king Iohn, wittingly and willingly poyſoned him ſelf. O malicious deuil. Likewiſe the oration of that moſte traiterous and peſtilent Cardinal Pole,Cardinal Pole. doth yet witenes to all the papiſts ſhame and confuſion: wherin he goeth about to perſwade the wicked Emperour rather to tourne his power ād armie agaīſt Kynge Hēry the eight ād Englād, this doggs owne cōtrey, thē againſt the infidels, Turckes, and Sarracenes: blaſphemouſlie termīg the worde of God ād Goſpel of ſaluation to be the Turckeſh ſede. O impudēt mouth: ô blaſphemous beaſt, which ſaiſt in thi heart, Ther is no God. And yet to all your ſhame ād vtter deſtructiō of your cōtrie, you hauehave receaued him as a God, whome before in your lawful kyngs dayes, you moſte iuſtely condemned as a traitour and very ſonne of Antichriſt. The Counſellers, whoſe office is to brydle the affectiōs of their Princes ād Gouuernours, in geuīg ſuch counſele as might promote the glorie of God, ād the welthe of their cōtrie by this perſuaſion of obediēce, hauehave hitherto ſought, and yet apearinglie do, how to accōpliſhe and ſatisfie the vngodly luſtes of their vngodlie ād vnlawful Gouerneſſe, wicked Ieſabel: who for our ſynnes, contrarie to nature and the manyfeſte worde of God, is ſuffred to raigne ouer vsus in Goddes furie, ād hauehave therby moſte wickedlie betrayed Chriſte, their countrie, and thē ſelues (ſo muche as lieth in thē) to become ſlaues to a ſtrange and foren nation, the prowde Spaniards. The Nobles alſo, which (thoghe vnworthilie wil be ſo called) hearing no other preaching,To obey is good, but whome, wherin, ād howe farre, ought to be cōſidered but that they muſt obeye their Prince, neither knowing whō, wherin, nor how farre, hauehave in like maner, as men diſguiſed vponupon a ſtage, turned their nobilite to open ſhame amongeſt all nations, whiche now beholde their follie, and wōder ther at: ſeinge they are made inſtrumētes of impietie, and deſtroyers of their natiue countrie, which firſte were ordayned in Realmes to ſtande in defence of trewe religion, lawes, and welth of their nation, and to be a ſhylde (to their power) agaynſt their enimies in tyme of warre, and a brydel at home to their Princes in tyme of peace: neither to ſuffer them in this ſorte to rage agaynſt God, and vtterlie to conteme the holſome lawes of the Realme, to ſatisfie their filthie luſte and vayne glorie, nor ſo cruelie to murther, and agaynſt nature to deuoure the people of God, their ſubiects, whom they are charged by their office to ſuccoure and defende, and hauehave therfore a feareful compt to make for donige the contrarie.
The iuſtices & other vnderunder officers.The Iuſtices likewiſe in Townes and Cities, as Maieres, Shryffs, Baylyfes, Conſtables, Iealers and all ſuche inferior officers, folowing the ſame exſample of vnlawful obedience, whoſe office and charge it is to miniſter iuſtice whithout reſpecte of perſōs,Officers ād Iudges degenerat. to defende the ſymple and innocēt, and to puniſhe all tranſgreſſors and malefactors, blaſphemours of Goddes holie Name, violent oppreſſers of innocentes, as be the bloudthurſtie papiſtes: are nowe become miniſters of iniuſtice, and tyranny, made tormentours of their owne naturall Countrye men, moſt blouddie butchers of their brethren, and mercileſſe murtherers of the childrē of God: and that in ſuche cruel ſorte, as neuer was hearde of before ſince the deathe of Chriſte, where anie profeſsion of his Name hathe bene. In ſo muche that they are made a ſpectacle and gaſinge-ſtock to all countries and nations, amongeſt whom is anie feare of God or ciuile policie, whiche woulde not hauehave beleued it to be poſsible, if their eares and eyes were not this day ſufficient wittneſſes. For to vnderſtand that the papiſtes were cruell butchers and vnſatiable bloudſuckers,The papiſtes naturally thurſt for bloud. had bene no newes at all, they hauehave bene ſuch from the beginninge. But when they bothe heare and ſee thoſe that profeſſe the Goſpel, and woulde be counted Chriſtes ſhepe,Fals Goſpelers, ſlaues vntounto papiſtes. turned for feare of diſpleaſure, or loſinge of their office in to the nature of bloudthurſtie woulues, to execute agaynſt God and their conſcience, the vngodlie commandements of the papiſtes: to be at commandement, not onlie to their vnlawful Quene, but alſo to eueryevery ſhauen Sir Iohn, to imbrue their handes with them in innocent bloude: this makethe all men to wonder and be aſtoniſhed.
To conclude,The cōmon people. the reſidue of the comon people, ſeing their ſuperiours of all degrees ād eſtates, by whom they ſhulde be gouerned with godlie lawes, and to whom they ought obedience in the feare of God onelie, thus couardly to forſake their obedience to God, and vtterlie contemne the office wherwith he had charged them, to ſatisfie the vnlawful commandements of their wilful Gouerneſſe: thinke it in no caſe their parte to deny to her like obedience: but with bodies and goodes,Men that do againſt their conſcience and Godes worde. at home ād abrode, to fulfill and mayntayne her will ād tyranny, not withſtandinge their owne conſcience doth condemne thē, and the worde of God dothe playnelie teſtifie, that it is euell and vngodlie which they are commanded to do. Being deceaued by miſunderſtanding this place of Paule and ſuch like:Rom. 13. It behoueth eueryevery ſoule to be ſubiecte to ſuperior powers, becauſe there is no power but of God. For the powers that are, be ordinances of God: ād therfore he that reſiſteth the power, reſiſteth the ordinaunce of God.
But how litle this and other like obiectiōs make for their purpoſe, we ſhall God willinge vnderſtande, after that we hauehave better examined this preſent anſwere of Peter and Iohn: who are not cō trarie to Paul, nor Paul to them, rightly cōſidered▪ For thoghe this anſwere was made of Peter ād Iohn in their owne cauſe to the Magieſtrates ād Rulers of Ieruſalem: yet is it no leſſe generall then the ſaynge of. S. Paule: and partayneth to al conditions of men, as wel Magieſtrates and Rulers, as inferior perſons and ſubiectes: teaching them bothe their office moſte rightlie: the one, what to commande, and how to rule: the other, whom to obeye, and wherin to be ſubiecte, as in their places folowinge ſhall euidentlie appeare.
CHAP. IIII.
The trueth of this anſwere was ſo ſenſible, that the verie aduerſaries coulde not withſtand it.
ANd firſte to returne to the anſwere,The enemies of God cā not denye this anſwere to be treue. we may be aſſured that it is certayne ād an vndouted true the, that in all things, and of all men, ād in all places, God is to be obeyed before mē. In ſo muche as the Apoſtels were not afrayed to cōmite the iudgement therof vntounto their extreame enemies: whom they knewe right well, would hauehave geuen contrarie ſentence, if their anſwere had not bene withe out all controuerſie. As thoghe they would hauehave ſayed. After that we hauehave bene charged with this office to preache to all people and nations, ād that by God him ſelffe, to whom all powers are ſubiecte, and all men are bownd to obeye, whoſe iudgementes none can eſcape, and whoſe wrathe no fleſhe is able to abyde:Pſal. 104. whiche with the breathe of his mouthe, moueth the heauens, and makethe the mightie mountaynes to ſhake and tremble, and dryueth all powers (be they neuer ſo ſtronge) to duſt ād powder. We are contēted to make you iudges, which charge vsus to the contrarie: whither this dreadful God may approue our doings in obeyēge you beīg men, and his creatures, yea earthe, verie duſt and aſſhes in compariſon of his Maieſtie? Whither man, of what auctoritie ſo euer he be, is able to diſcharge vsus in the preſence of oure God, if in holding our peace at your commandement,Preachers muſt preach Chriſte in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon. we tranſgreſſe the expreſſe commandemēt of God? That is, not to preache Ieſus Chriſt crucified: who hathe choſē vsus to the ſame ēd, indued vsus with knowledge, reuealed vntounto vsus his ſecret counſels, the myſterie of our redemption, and armed vsus with all giftes of the holie Goſt, neceſſarie for the accompliſhement of ſo waightie an entrepriſe. We nede not herein to vſe many wordes or reaſons: nor to deſier anie arbiters to define this matter: be you your ſelues iudges. Which kinde of ſpeaking, men commonlie vſe, when the matter is euident and out of doubte, knowen to all men, be they of neuer ſo ſlender iudgement, and nede no further reaſons, or Scriptures to proue it. The like kinde of reaſoninge, the Apoſtle vſeth agaynſt the Corinthians:1. Cor. 11. who permitted their wemē to praye bareheaded in the Congregation, which he condemned as an vndecent cuſtome, not becommyng the Sayncts of God. For amongeſt other reaſons, he likewiſe makethe them ſelues iudges in the matter, ſayeng: Iudge ye amonge your ſelues, whither it be cumlie for a womā to praye bareheaded in the Congregation. Cōcludinge, that verie nature dothe teache the contrarye. In like maner this anſwere is ſo true and ſenſible (that rather God is to be obeyed then man) that there cā be none ſo malitious or ignorante, whom verie nature will not compel to confeſſe it, if he had no further knowledge. Nether had theſe men, for all their great a doo, lōge conſultacion, hie learninge and wiſdome (deſierous alſo to take occaſion agaynſt the Apoſtels) anie thinge to ſaye for the cō trary. But as Gods enemies are accuſtomed, when their mouthes are ſtopt, either with raylinges, or threatnings, to expreſſe their rage: ſo did they with Peter & Iohn,They ſhuld not ſo hauehave eſcaped if they had bene befor our cruell Counſelors Phariſies and Hypocrits of Englande. dimitting them at the laſt with bitter wordes and menaces: and they departed notwithſtandinge from the Concile, by the means of this anſwere, conquerours.