Commentary on Romans, Biblical exegesis 2 · Chapter 13 · Section 4
4. Places of Doctrine.
Doct. 1. That God is author of order, and so consequently of governement.
v. 1. There is no power but of God. God is the author of order, the deuill bringeth in confusion: as in heauen and earth God hath set all things in an excellent order, so he would hauehave order kept among men: that some should command and rule, others be ruled & obey: that they should not be as fishes and creeping things, that hauehave no ruler, Habuc. 1.14.
Doct. 2. That it is lawfull for the Magistrate to vse the sword.
v. 4. He beareth not the sword for naught. The Magistrate then may lawfully vse the sword both in time of peace to punish offenders euen vntounto death, if the qualitie of their offence deserue it: and in time of war to resist the cōmon enemie: yea not onelyonly in ciuill matters, may he punish offenders with the sword, but in Ecclesiasticall also, as heresie, blasphemie: for these also are the workes of the flesh, Galat. 5.20. and the Prince is to be feared for (all) euill workes, v. 3.
Doct. 3. That Magistrates must be obeyed not for feare, but for conscience sake, v. 3.
This maketh against those which thinke they hauehave satisfied their dutie if they doe outwardly performe their obedience, but the Apostle requireth more, the inward disposing of the mind and conscience to obedience: that if there were no lawe to compell a man, yet his owne conscience, and the feare of God, should keepe and hold him in awe and reverence of the Magistrate: as the Preacher saith, Curse not the King, no not in thy thought, Ec. 10.20.
Doct. 4. That tribute must be paid.
v. 7. GiueGive to all men their dutie, tribute to whom tribute, &c. It is then a requisite and meere thing, that tribute should be payed vntounto the Prince. 1. as a signe of subiection. 2. as a recompence of the great care and paines, which the Magistrate taketh in watching ouer his people. 3. as a support and supply of the manifold charges, which the Prince is put vntounto in maintaining his officers and Ministers, in founding and raising Churches, schooles, hospitals, in waging battell, and such like: our Blessed Sauiour refused not to pay poll money to the officers, Matth. 17.
Doct. 5. A Christian is bound to pay his debts.
v. 6. Owe nothing to any man, &c. Though charitie require, that no extremitie should be vsed in rigorous exacting of debts, yet euerie one that is endebted, ought to hauehave a care of discharging his debts: as Christian religion doth not ouerthrowe the generall policies of states and commonwealths, so neither doth it dissolue priuate contracts, and couenants: the Prophet did by a miracle bring vp the axe that was fallen into the water, to restore it againe to the owner, of whom it was borrowed, 2. King. 6.5.
Doct. 6. That Christian religion taketh not away the obedience of subiects.
This euidently appeareth out of the whole chapter, wherein the Apostle sheweth fowre speciall bands of obedience. 1. the authoritie of God, who instituted magistrates. 2. the feare and awe of conscience, which is more then the feare of any humane lawes. 3. the dutie of charitie, which is to yeeld vntounto eueryevery one their owne. 4. the puritie of Euangelicall doctrine, which forbiddeth all vice, and commandeth vertue.
Therefore the Romanists doe cause the Gospell of Christ to be slaundered, so much diminishing and empayring the authoritie of Magistrates, by exemption of Ecclesiasticall and other priuiledged persons.
But Tolet annot. 12. here telleth vsus, that notwithstanding some persons are exempted,The Magistrates authoritie is empayred, not confirmed by the exemption of Ecclesiasticall persons. yet for all this the Ecclesiasticall state, doth confirme and corroborate the secular obedience, as by the Magistrates authoritie, is diminished in some sort the particular power of parents ouer their children, of Masters ouer their seruants: and yet also their authoritie is confirmed and strengthened by the care and prouision of the superiour Magistrate: and so is the secular state confirmed by the Eccesiasticall, though it seeme in some respect to be empayred.
Contra. 1. The example is not alike, for the lawe commandeth obedience of children to their parents, of seruants to their Masters, it exempteth them not, as they free Ecclesiasticall persons altogether: yet in case the parent or master may command any thing against the state: for then they are not to be obeyed: neither is the ciuill Magistrate to require any thing against God. 2. the Ecclesiasticall state by preaching confirmeth obedience to the Prince: and the Prince by his authoritie countenanceth the Ministers: but when as subiects are so freed, that the Prince hath no power ouer thē, it is a manifest empairing of their authoritie.