Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 58
Of these seuerally, and first concerning the subiect.
Quest. Wherein standeth the due respect and due carriage of the subiect toward the Magistrate?
Answ. In yeelding foure things to him.
Reuerence.
Submission.
Fidelitie, and
Thankefulnes.
Quest. What is that Reuerence that subiects are to yeeld to their Magistrate?
Ans. It is two-fold,
Inward, and
Outward.
Quest: What is that inward Reuerence that subiects are to yeeld to their Magistrates?
Answ: This; they are to thinke,1. Sam: 10.26.27. Psal. 81.1.6. Eccles: 10.20. Rom: 13.1.7. and to esteeme reuerently of their Magistrates, and to carry in their hearts a reuerent awe and feare of them, acknowledging Gods image in them, and that they hauehave their authoritie from God, and are ordained of God, and are his deputies, and stand in his stead as they be Magistrates.
…ection.1. Pet: 2:13. Submit your selues to all manner ordinance of man, therefore the magistrate is mans ordinance.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; the magistrate is said to be the ordinance of man, not because he hath his power and authoritie from man, and not from God; but because God hath left it to mans discretion to appoint particular sorts and kinds of magistrates in the common wealth, according to the state of the commonwealth and the manner of gouernment therein vsed, as eueryevery state and kingdome hath seuerall sorts of gouernment.
Que: Are subiects to thinke and to esteeme euerently of wicked and vngodly magistrates, & to carry in their hearts a reuerent awe and feare of them, acknowledging that they beare Gods image and and hauehave their authority from God?
Answ. As they bee their magistrates, they are; though they be neuer so vile and wicked:Sam: 24.6.7. Tim: 2.2. for a magistrate, as he is a magistrate is deputed of God to that office, and hath his power and authority from him, and beares his image: and in that respect though hee bee wicked, hee is to be reuerenced in the hearts of all that are vnderunder him. Thus Dauid accounted Saul the Lords annointed. 1. Sam: 24.6.7.
Quest. What is the outward reuerence that subiects are to yeeld to their magistrates?
Answ. This; it is a declaration and shewing forth of their inward reuerence: subiects are to expresse their inward reuerent awe & feare of their magistrates by their outward reuerent behauiour towards them both in word and deed;Sam: 15.20. Dan: 4.16. Act: 26.25. Iud: epist: v. 8. 2. Sam: 9.6.8. 1. King: 1.23. 2. King: 3.14. Act: 24.10. as by giuing them titles of honour and reuerence due to them, by bowing to them, by standing bare in their presence, by keeping silence in courts of iudgements till they be called to speake; by an humble and submissiue countenance & carriage, either when magistrates speake to them or they speake to their magistrates.
Quest: Are subiects to yeeld the like measure of outward reuerence to all their magistrates?
Answ. No; though all are to bee reuerenced as magistrates,1. Pet. 2.13. yet not all with the like measure and degree of reuerence; but some with a greater, and some with a lesser degree, according to the order, and degree, and place, and office they hold in the common wealth; as greater honour and reuerence is to be giuen to the supreame magistrate, then to the subordinate, and him that is vnderunder him.
Quest. What is that submission that subiects are to yeeld to their magistrates?
Answ. This; it is an humble, ready,Rom: 13.1.2.5. 1. Pet: 2.13. and willing submitting of themselues to the exercise and practice of that authoritie and power that their magistrates hauehave ouer them.
Quest. Wherein standeth that humble, ready, and willing submission of subiects to the exercise and practice of the authoritie and power that their …agistrates hauehave ouer them?
Answ. In yeelding obedience to their magistrates: the submission of subiects to the exercise and practice of the authoritie and power that their magistrates hauehave ouer them,Tit▪ 3.1. stands in being obedient to them.
Quest: Wherein are subiects to expresse and to shew forth their obedience to their magistrates?
Answ. In two things.
Quest: What is the first of those?
Ans. This;Iosh: 1.16.17. 1. Sam: 16.19.20. 2. Sam: 15.14.15. 1. King: 2.25. 2. King: 10.25. in yeelding willingly & readily so far as they are able to those things that their magistrates doe command, keeping and performing according to their abilitie the expresse cōmandement of their magistrate in all things honest and lawfull.
Quest. What is the second thing wherein subiects are to expresse their obedience to their magistrate?
Answ. This;2. Sam: 19.27.28. Prou: 24.21.22. Act: 25.11. Rom: 13.4. in a quiet and patient bearing of the censures and punishments that their magistrates lay on them for their offences, in breaking their good and wholsome lawes, though it be to the losse of their liues.
Quest. What if the magistrate commaund and require any vnlawful or vniust thing of his subiects, what are subiects then to doe?
Answ. In such a case as this, subiects are not to rebell and to rise vp against the authority of their magistrates, but they are wisely to consider who it is that cōmands,Rom: 1….4. and what it is that is commanded, and accordingly to carrie themselues.
Q. How are subiects to carry themselues in respect of their magistrates commanding and requiring any vnlawfull or vniust thing?
Answ. Thus; if it be the inferiour Magistrate that commands or requires any vniust thing, the subiect that is grieued is to make his complaint to the superiour and highest Magistrate, and to sue to him for redresse. Act. 25.11. But if it be the Prince himselfe and supreame magistrate that commands or requires any vnlawfull or vniust thing, then subiects are to consider what it is that is commanded, and accordingly to carry themselues.
Quest: How are subiects to carry themselues in respect of the thing commanded by the Prince being vnlawfull, or vniust?
…am. 22.17. …n. 3.16.17.… …n. 6.10.11.…. …. 4.16.20.Answ. Thus; if the thing commaunded be against pietie and ther duty towards God, and bee against the commandement of God; then subiects are rather to submit themselues to any punishment that shall be laid on them, euen to death it selfe, then to yeeld to that commandement.
But if the thing commanded concerne the temporall state of subiects, as in grieuous and intollerable impositions, taxes, payments and the like; subiects are to make no resistance at all, but to endure such burdens with patience, vntill by good meanes,King: 18.14: as by prayer to God, and making meanes to their gouernours they may be eased.
Because such impositions are laid on subiects by hard and tyrannyzing gouernours,…b. 34.30. …ozea 13.11. as crosses or punishments from the Lord for their sinnes.
Obiect. 1. King: 21.3. Naboth refused to yeeld his vineyard to Ahab the King, when hee would hauehave had it; and therefore, it may seeme, that subiects may refuse to yeeld to their Prince when he requires some grieuous tax at their hands.
Quest. How is this to be answered.
Answ. Thus; Naboths case in not yeelding his inheritance to the Kings desire was singular, & he did wel in not yeelding it, because that belonged to the speciall policy of that nation not to alienate their inheritance from one tribe to another, that a distinction of their families and tribes might be kept, that it might be known of what tribe & family the Messiah should come; and therefore that proues not, that subiects may refuse to yeeld to their Prince when he requires some grieuous taxe at their hands.
Quest. What if the life of a Subiect be sought by the Prince vniustly, and his life be by indirect meanes assaulted; or the chastity of his wife, or the life of his children: what is the Subiect then to doe?
Answ. Though the Subiect in these extreamities,1 King. 19.3. 2 King. 6.32. Act. 9.24.25. 2 Cor. 11.32.33 is not to rise vp against his Princes authority; yet the law of nature binds him either by flight, or by hiding, or by other lawfull meanes, to defend him and his.
Quest: May not Subiects rise vp against their Prince, being a cruell Tyrant, and either depose him, or cut him off and take away his life?
Answ: Where the Prince is receiued on condition, that if he rule well and lawfully,1 Sam. 24.14. 1 Sam. 26.9.10.11. then he shall continue his Authority; if not, he shall lose it: there, not eueryevery priuate person, but the Ouerseers or States appointed to that purpose, may either depose, or on resistance, take away the life of a Tyrant: but if the authority of the Prince be absolute, and setled on him; either by election, or conquest, or inheritance: there, Subiects may not rise vp against their Prince being a Tyrant; nor seeke either to depose him, or to take away his life, but must leaue him to the hand of God alone.
Obiection 2 Chron. 26.20. Vziah the King, taking on him presumptuously to burne Incense on the Incense Alter in the Temple, Azariah the Priest resisted him, and cast him out of the Temple, and deposed him from his Kingdome, say the Papists: therefore say they, it is lawfull for Subiects to depose a Tyrant.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus;2 Chron. 26.18. to 22. 2 King. 15.5. Azariah and the Priests first resisted Vzziah, not by violence or force, but only by word and admonition. vers, 18.
Againe, they did not depose him from his gouernment, but he being smitten by the hand of God with leprosie, they caused him according to the law, to goe out of the Temple and to dwell apart, hee being thereby disabled to gouerne; yet still the right of gouernment did belong to him, and hee held it; and Jotham his Sonne did only gouerne his house, and iudge the people. vers. 2….
…iection.2 Chron. 23. Iehoiadah the high Priest deposed Queene Athaliah from her Kingdome, and set vp young Ioash to be King; therefore the Pope hath authority to depose Kings and Emperours.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; Iehoiadah the High Priest was next to the King in blood. 2. Chron. 22.21. and one of the States of the Land, and hee together with all the States and Peeres of the Land stood for the right of Ioash, as appeares vers. 1.2. and helped him to his right which was vsurped by Athaliah; for she was an Vsurper, and Ioash was the right Heire.
Quest. The Papists say the Clergy are to be exempted from the iurisdiction of the ciuill Magistrate, both their Persons, Lands, and Possessions: is this true or no?
Answ. No, it is false; all persons are to submit themselues to the iurisdiction of the ciuill Magistrate, both their persons and goods. Rom. 13.1. eueryevery soule without exception.
Obiection. Gen. 47.26. The Lands of the Egyptian Priests were free from the taxe of the first part: therefore the Clergie are exempted from the iurisdiction of the ciuill Magistrate.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; it was because their Lands were not sold to Pharaoh as the peoples were, as the Text it selfe saith. Ecclesiasticall persons may inioy immunities and priuiledges bestowed on them by Christian Princes; but they are not to challenge them by diuine right.
Quest. What is the fidelitie that Subiects are to yeeld to their Magistrates?
1 Sam. 22.14. 2 Sam. 20.2.Answ. This; it is a yeelding of loyall and sound hearted louelove to their Magistrates. Subiects are to shew themselues loyall and sound hearted in their louelove to their Magistrates; constantly cleauing to them, and not shrinking from them when they hauehave neede of them, nor deceiuing them at any time, nor in any thing, wherein they ought to bee faithfull to them.
Quest. Wherein are Subiects to expresse their fidelitie, euen their loyall and sound hearted louelove to their Magistrates?
Answ. In three things.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; in a tender care of their Magistrates honour and dignitie, endeauouring as much as they are able,1 Sam. 19 2.4.5.6. &c. 2 Sam. 24.3. Ierem. 36.25. within the compasse of their places and callings, to keepe their Magistrates from doing any thing that may blemish them in their place and office; as being such as may speake to their Magistrates, speaking plainely to them, yet reuerently and dutifully: and by disswading them as much as they may from that which is amisse, when they see they are about to doe any euill; and not flattering and soothing them vp in any euill course.
Quest: What is the second thing wherein Subiects are to expresse their fidelitie, their loyall and sound hearted louelove vntounto their Magistrates?
Answ. This; in standing as much as they are able,2 Sam. 15.21. 2 Sam. 18.3. 2 Sam. 21.17. for the defence of the life and state of their Magistrates; and especially in defending to their vttermost power, the life of their Prince, the supreame Magistrate; though it bee to the losse of their owne liues.
Quest. What is the third thing wherein Subiects are to expresse their fidelitie, their loyall and sound hearted louelove vntounto their Magistrates?
Answ. This; in keeping secret the honest intents,2 King. 6.11. 2 Sam. 17.15.16. Hest. 2.21.22 sayings and doings of their Magistrates, which they would not hauehave made knowne: and in discouering of treasons, conspiracies, practices and dangers, intended against their liues and persons; and especially against the life and person of their Prince, and supreame Magistrate.
Quest. VVhat is that thankefulnesse that Subiects are to yeeld to their Magistrates?
Answ. This it is, not only an acknowledgement in word, of their Magistrates care ouer them for their good, and of the benefits they enioy vnderunder their wise and good gouernment; their Magistrates being carefull as they ought to bee for their good: but a care, and an endeauour also in Subiects so farre as they are able, to answer that care of their Magistrates, and that good they doe or may receiue by their good gouernment, by doing good to them againe.
Quest. Wherein stands that care and indeauour of Subiects to answer the care of their Magistrates for their good; and the good they doe or may receiue from them, by doing good to them againe?
Answ. In three things.
Quest: What is the first of those?
…at. 22.21. …om. 13.6.7.Answ. This; in yeelding them outward helpe and support, willingly and cheerefully paying to them Subsidies, Taxes, and other payments necessarie for the maintenance of their estate; especially, the estate of the Prince, both in time of peace, and in time of warre.
Quest. What is the second thing, wherein stands the care and endeauour of Subiects, to answer the care of their Magistrates for their good, and the good they doe, or may receiue from them, by doing good to them againe?
King. 1.39.1.29.7. Tim. 2.1.2.Answ. This; in praying for their Magistrates: Subiects are to pray for their Magistrates, especially for their Prince, or supreame Magistrate; for his person, state, and good and happy gouernment.
Quest. What is the third thing, wherein stands the care and endeauour of Subiects, to answer the care of their Magistrates for their good, and the good they doe, or may receiue from them, by doing good to them againe?
Answ. This; in praysing God for the good gifts of their Magistrates, the right vse of their authority, and the blessing of God on their publike actions that concerne the common good:Tim. 2.1.2. the good of their Subiects both in Peace and Warre. Psal. 21. a Psalme of thanksgiuing after victory.
Now concerning Magistrates.
Quest. Wherein stands the due respect, and due carriage of the Magistrate towards his Subiects?
Answ. In a wise and right vsage of his good gifts, his wisedome,…ai. 49.23. …om. 13.4. Tim. 2.2. and of his power and authority ouer his Subiects, in vsing and applying his gifts and authority in that place and office which he holdeth in the Common wealth, for the best good of his Subi…cts, and of the Common wealth.
Quest. How is the Magistrate to vse and to apply his gifts, and his power and authority in that place and Office which hee holdeth in the common wealth, for the best good of his Subiects, and of the common wealth?
Answ. Three waies.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; by a carefull promoting,2 King. 18.4. 2 King. 23.3.4.5.6. to 21. 2 Chron. 17.6 2 Chron 34.31. to the end. 1 Tim. 2.2. and aduancing of true Religion, and the pure worship of God; and by discountenancing and d…facing of all vngodlinesse, and all false and idolatrous worship, according to his place and power: the chiefe Magistrate according to his place and power, and the inferiour Magistrate according to his.
Quest: How farre is the chiefe Magistrate, the supreame gouernour carefully to promote and to aduance true Religion and the pure worship of God; and to discountenance the contrary?
Answ. Both in his person, and also as much as he may, in all that be vnderunder his gouernment.
Quest: How is the chiefe Magistrate to promote, and aduance true Religion, and the pure worship of God, and to discountenance the contrary in his owne person?
Answ. Thus;Deut. 17.18.19. 2 Sam. 6.24. 2 Chron. 19.3. by taking knowledge of the true Religion himselfe, and imbracing it, and practising it in his owne person.
Quest. How is the chiefe Magistrate to promote, and to aduance true Religion and the pure worship of God; and to discountenance the contrary in those that be vnderunder his gouernment?
Answ. Three waies.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; by making and establishing in his Kingdome, such good and wholesome Lawes and Orders, as serue to maintaine and vphold the truth of Religion: and to inhibit and put downe all false Religion, and to keepe out of his Kingdome and Dominion, all confused mixture of Religion; and by seeing those Lawes and Orders duly executed. 1 Chro. 23. Dauid disposed the Ministeriall Offices of the Tabernacle, and appointed Leuits and Priests their order and courses.Iudg. 17.6. 2 Chron. 35. from 1. to 9. Iosiah kept the Passeouer himselfe, and gaue commandement concerning the preparation and performance of the same.
Quest. What is the second way by which the chiefe Magistrate is to promote and to aduance true Religion, and the pure worship of God; and to discountenance the contrary, in those that be vnderunder his gouernment?
…ng. 9.1.2. …ng. 22.14.49.23. …hro. 19.8.9. …hro. 31.2.Answ. This; by prouiding as much as hee may, that his Subiects may be taught the truth of Religion, and instructed in the waies of God; to that end, planting and maintaining Schooles of good learning, and Vniuersities in his dominions; and looking that able and sufficient Pastors bee set ouer seuerall Churches in his Kingdome.
Quest. What is the third way, by which the chiefe Magistrate is to promote and to aduance true Religion, and the pure worship of God; and to discountenance the contrary in those that be vnderunder his gouernment?
Answ. This; by taking order that Pastors and Teachers doe their dutie,…ing. 23.4. …hro. 29.4.5. in preaching true and sound doctrine, and in other administrations, countenancing the good and faithfull;…ing. 2.26.35. …ing. 10.25. …d. 22.20. …uit. 24.26. and discountenancing the carelesse and negligent: and remouing such as be erronious and scandalous, and deserue to be remoued: and by taking order that the people yeeld themselues to bee taught and guided by their Pastors, for the good of their soules: and that Heretickes, Idolaters, Blasphemers and such like, bee punished according to their offences.