Commentary on Genesis and Exodus, Theological treatise · Chapter 22 · Questions · Question 50 – Question 51
QUEST. L. Who are understood here by gods, and why.
Vers. 28. THou shalt not raile upon the gods. 1. Augustine thinketh, that this place is to be understood according to that saying of S. Paul, Though there bee that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, as there be many gods, and many Lords, 1 Cor. 8.5. addende, sicut sunt, deos intelligi voluit, qui digne … dicuntur; … 1…. in Exo.in adding as there are, &c. he would have understood such gods, which are worthily so …alled. And these gods which are worthily so called, he forbiddeth to be rayled on, non jussisunt sacificiis, &c. …os honorare, they are not bidden to honour them with sacrifices, &c. But the Apostle rather in this place understandeth the vaine idols of the Heathen, which in their blinde opinion were counted gods: not such to whom that name was worthily attributed:Lib. 9. contr. Iulian. as Cyril saith, Vnde divinus Paulus, quod multi quidem … coel… et in terra ni… sunt, sed p…tius n…minantur; Whereupon divine Paul saith, that there are many which are not indeed gods in heaven and in earth, but are so called. 2. Therefore by the name of gods, here is understood the Prince or Magistrate: as Cyrill… expoundeth, Vt manifestam faceret dicti vim, subj…ngit stati… ▪ Cyril. lib. 7. cont. Iulian.That he might make manifest the sense of the word, he addeth presently, Neither speake evill of the Ruler of the people. Likewise Gregorie interpreteth, Per dons, sublimes & sapicu…es viri intelliguntur, &c. By gods, high and wise men are understood▪ Gregor. in … Reg. cap. 6.as the Lord saith, he had made Moses, Pharaohs god. So Constantine, when accusations were brought in against the Bishops, called them together, and burned before their face the libels of accusation, thus saying unto them: Yee are gods, non dignum est ut nos judicemus deos: it is not meet that wee should judge the gods. 3. So our blessed Saviour expounded that place of the 82. Psalme, I said yee are gods, hee calleth them gods, to whom the word of God was▪ Iob. 10.34. Which is not to bee understood, (as Calvin well interpreteth) of the generall doctrine which is directed to all the sonnes of God, sed de speciali dominandi mandato, of the speciall charge of government. 4. By gods then here, and Rulers, are understood both Ecclesiasticall and Civill governours, as Saint Paul expoundeth it, Act. 23. Iun. Gregorie applieth it only to Ecclesiasticall Governours:In registro epist. 75. but it comprehendeth also the Civill Rulers, as appeareth, Psal. 82.1. 5. They are called gods, Tanquam imagines existentes ejus, &c. Because they are as the image of him which is both the Son and God, Cyril. Quod ad universorum Iudicis imitationem▪ judicia illis credita sunt; Because judgement is committed unto them, wherein they imitate the universall Judge of all, Theodoret. Iniis relucet Majestas Dei, cujus vicem & nomen ger…t; The Majestie of God shineth in them, in whose stead they are, and whose name they beare, Gallas. And so the Apostle calleth them the Ministers of God, Rom. 13. And they are so called, Ne quid admittant quod …os dedeceat, qui loco Dei sedent, &c. That they should commit no thing unbeseeming them, seeing they sit in Gods place, Lippoman. Dei personam sustinent, tanquam legati & vicari… ; They sustaine the person of God, as his embassadors, and vicegerents, Calvin.
QUEST. LI. Why the Magistrate is not to be reviled, and with what limitation this law is to bee understood.
THou shalt not raile. 1. The word, callal, here used, signifieth properly to set at nought, or esteeme light by, and consequently to revile, because men contemne and despise those whom they speake evill of, Oleaster. They are then forbidden, first, to contemne or despise the Magistrates, then to speake evill of them. 2. And two things they are here warned of, not in secret to detract from them, nor openly to raile on them, Tostat. quaest. 16. Neither in absentia, velcoram, in their absence, or to their face, Cajetan. 2. And specially this law intendeth to restraine their insolencie, that are readie to speake evil of Magistrates▪ if they judge not according to their humour: and especially, malefactors are given to …aile upon the Judge, when they are punished justly, Lyran. 3. They being then in Gods place, are to bee reverenced, and had in honor: because injurie cannot be done unto them, Quin simul Deo inferatur; But it must likewise be offered unto God, in whose place they are, Marbach. And hee that curseth them, in a manner curseth himselfe; because the Magistrate is the head of the people, whereof he is a member, or part, Lyran. 4. But though Magistrates must bee honored, they are not to bee adored: Prohibiti sunt maledici, non jussi sunt sacrificiis honorari, &c. Though they are forbidden to be evill spoken of, they are not bidden to be honored with sacrifices, or any such adoration, August. quaest. 86. in Exod. 5. And although they are not to bee rayled upon, yet neither are they to be flattered in their sin: we must not thinke, Honorem, quo praediti sunt, esse vitiorum integumentum, That the honor which is yeelded unto them, is a veile or covering of their sin,Lib. 1…. super Ioan. cap. 19. Calvine. Dei nomen etiamsi falso quibusdam imponatur, &c. The name of God, though it bee given falsely unto some Magistrates, yet is to bee honored, Cyril. 6. But so farre are Magistrates to bee honored, and those terrene gods to bee admired, as they command nothing against the great God of heaven: Praepositis obediendum vice Dei, sed non contra Deum; We must obey them in Gods stead, but not against God, Lippoman. 7. As Princes are not to bee reviled, so yet they may bee soberly and discreetly admonished▪ not taunted, or checked, or malepertly rebuked. Augustus was wont to say, In libera civitate liberas esse linguas oportere; That in a free city tongues ought to be free: But herein the lenitie of those Christian Emperours Theodosius, Honorius, Arcadius, was admirable, who would have them subject to no punishment which spake evill of them: for (say they) Si ex levitate profectum est, contemnendum: si ex insanla, miseratione dignissimum; si ab injuria, remittendum; If it come of lightnesse, it was to be contemned; if of madnesse, to bee pitied; if of wrong, to bee remitted, Gallas. 8. There is here no punishment set for him that should raile on the Magistrate: but seeing he that railed on his father and mother was to die for it, chap. 21.17. much more worthie of death was he which should curse the Prince, the father of the countrie, Simler.