Institutes of the Christian Religion Abridged by Edmond Bunnie, Book · Book 4 · Chapter 20
Cap. 20. Of Ciuill gouernment.
FIrſt he ſendeth forth certaine things in generall, from the 1. to ye 3. Moreouer deuiding the whole matter into thrée partes, he proſecuteth eueryevery one ſeuerally, from the 4. to the 32.
1 After he hath aboundantly ſpoken of ſpirituall gouernment,Gal. 5.6. 1. Cor. 7.2…. which reſpecteth the ſoule, he doeth neceſſarily deſcend to that other, which tendeth to the gouernment of a ciuil life: and to the intent he may méete with a double euill, whereof the firſt is, that Barbarous and madde men doe furiouſly goe about to ouerthrowe the order eſtabliſhed by God, but ſith they doe it for this cauſe, as though Chriſtian libertie coulde not ſtande, it is ſhewed againſt them that politike adminiſtration is not againſt Chriſtian libertie.
2 And when they cry out, that the ciuil adminiſtration is vnméete for Chriſtians, and that ſuch in it ſelfe, that it repugneth Chriſtian profeſſion on both partes: Againſt both which it is ſhewed that it is ſuch as either in this life doth begin after a ſort immortalitie, and is very profitable for vsus.
3 This ſame hee proſecuteth, prouing that ciuill gouernment is not only profitable for vsus in earthly matters: but alſo to defende & increaſe the kingdome of Chriſte. Moreouer that the matter may more plainly goe forwarde, he diuideth this gouernment which he ſpeaketh of, into thrée partes: that is to ſay, into the Magiſtrate, ye lawe and the people, ſpeaking of eueryevery one in order.
Exo. 22.8. Pſal. 82.1.64 The Magiſtrats office is both commended to vsus of the Lord with moſt honourable titles, and with the examples of the godly, which continue holily therin: As Dauid, Ioſias, and Ezechias, Ioſeph and Daniell, in Lordſhip Moſes and Ioſua.
5 Neither is that firm enough which they obiecte that the ſame in times paſt was appointed to the rude people,Pſal. 3.12. but not ſo vntounto vsus at this day, for the ſtate of the Church at this day is committed to ye defence & ſauegard of Magiſtrates.
6 By this conſideration great fruite returneth to the Magiſtrates thēſelues,Ier. 48.11. Deut. 1.16. ſéeing that both may verie wel inſtruct them with what equitie and diligence they ought to be occupied in their dueties, and alſo may ſuſtaine them in ſingular comfort.
7 They that raile at this holie Miniſterie do not refuſe the Magiſtrate,1. Sam. 8.7. but caſt away God, yt he ſhoulde not raigne ouer them.Luk. 22.25. Notwithſtanding yt which they obiect, that dominion is forbidden by the mouth of Chriſt: neither is there any difference what fourme of gouernment it be: when we reaſon of giuing obedience, ſéeing it proueth that all are ordained of God.
8 There are thrée ſpeciall fourmes of ciuill gouernment: but whether is better it can not be defined. The ſtate of the chiefeſt men tempered with common gouernment is the beſt, by ye Princes defalt, yet all are of God.
9 Speaking of ye office of a Magiſtrat, that is,…udg. 21.25. to what ende he is ſet of God, hee ſheweth that his office is extended to both tables: neither is he inſtituted only to attend on ciuil iudgements, but much more to hauehave regarde of religion, and for that cauſe he is armed with power, both for reward and puniſhment.
10 Againſt them that ſtriue, that reuenge & ſheading of blood is of that ſort, that it becommeth not Chriſtians: hée ſheweth that Magiſtrates do not offend in puniſhing the wicked, that it ſhould be one of the Kings vertues, and an approbation of their godlines: too muche deſire of clemencie is verie pernicious; but on the other ſide alwaies they muſt take héed that gentleneſſe be not abſēt.
11 Herevpon it foloweth, yt all wars are iuſt & lawfull, that are taken in hād to execute publike vengeance.
12 That hindreth not, which is obiected out of the newe Teſtament, that there is no teſtimony or example which teacheth that war is a lawfull thing for Chriſtians, which he proueth by thrée reaſons. but heere on both ſides they muſt take héede that they bee not led by their owne deſires or proper affection, more than publike ſenſe: herevpon alſo it foloweth, Gariſons, Leages, & other ciuill fortifications are lawfull.
13 And that the Magiſtrate may lawfully demand tribute or yerely reuenue although here alſo they muſt take héed,Eze. 48.21. Rom. 13.6. that whatſoeuer they be bold to do, they be bold before God wt a pure conſcience.
14 Comming to ye ſecond part of the treatiſe, to treat of lawes, wher in few words he ſheweth what the profite and neceſſitie thereof is, he reproueth them of errour, which deny a well gouerned common wealth, which neglecting the ciuill lawes of Moſes, is gouerned by the common lawes of nations: firſt hée diſtributeth ye law into thrée parts, into moral, ceremonial, and iudiciall.
15 Moreouer he concludeth, after the ſcope of eueryevery thing is diligently ſearched, that to eueryevery natiō libertie is left,Gal. 4.4. to make ſuch lawes as they ſawe profitable for them, ſo they were finiſhed according to perpetuall rule of charitie.
16 This woulde bee plaine, if in all lawes two things were cōſidered, that is to ſay, the equitie and conſtitution of the lawe, the firſt whereof, is one and the ſame, and therefore ought neuer to varie: the other, becauſe it ought to depende of circumſtances, wil ſometimes neceſſarily be diuers, and that he ſheweth by diuers examples.Exo. 22.1. Deut. 19.18.
The third parte of the treatiſe is of the people, where firſt hée expoundeth what profite of lawes, of iudgements of Magiſtrates returneth to the common ſocietie of Chriſtians, from the 17. to the 21. Moreouer, howe muche priuate men ought to yelde to Magiſtrates, and and howe farre their obedience ought to procéede, from the 22. to the 32.
17 As touching the firſt, that he may ſhew that the Magiſtrates office is not ſuperfluous among Chriſtians,Rom. 13.4. he proueth that is it diuinely ordained, that by his hand and ſuccour wée being defended againſt the maliciouſnes and iniuries of wicked men, we may liue a quiet and a ſafe life: but here muſt we hauehave to doe with two kinde of men, the firſt of them is, which in ſtriuing by the weakeneſſe of the minde excéede meaſure.
18 What that gouernment is, to the rule wherof, men ought to direct themſelues.
19 The other is of them that preciſely condemne all contendinges at lawe. but they doe alſo refuſe and deſpiſe the ordinance of God:Act. 22.1. & ſéeing by the principall places they are wont to defende their opinion: firſt that they ſay, that to Chriſtians is forbidden reuenge. Chriſtians may not with affection or boyling heate of reuenge to bée corrupted, nor be touched with diſpleaſure of priuate iniury, but only may hauehave a mind to withſtād the enterpriſes of a miſchieuous man, that they may not hurt the common weale. We muſt thinke that the Magiſtrates reuenge is not the reuenge of man, but of God,Rom. 13.4. which he extendeth and exerciſeth by the miniſtery of man, for our good.
20 Moreouer becauſe Chriſt ſéemeth to forbid to reſiſt euill:Mat. 5.39. wherby is ment that men ſhould patiently beare all the iniuries and reproches of the malicious, ſo farre foorth that when they hauehave receiued one iniury, they ſhould be ready to receiue an other, promiſing themſelues all their life long, nothing els but a continuall croſſe,Mat. 5.39. not mindful to ſéeke eye for eye, or tooth for tooth, as the Phareſies taught their Diſciples to deſire reuenge, but as they are taught by Chriſt, to ſuffer their bodies to bée mangled, and their goods maliciouſly to be taken from them: and of their owne accorde to forgiue & pardon thoſe euils that are done vntounto them,Rom. 12.19. committing vengeance to the Lorde, to whom it belongeth. but yet this euennes & moderation of mindes, ſhall not withſtand but that the friendſhip towarde their enemies remaining ſafe: they may vſe the help of the Magiſtrat to the preſeruing of their goods, or for zeale of a publike commoditie, may ſue a guiltie & peſtelent man to be puniſhed, whome they know can not bée amēded but by death.
21 Laſt of all, becauſe they ſay Paul did wholly cōdemne,1. Cor. 6.6. in the Corinthiās, contentions & ſtrifes: but this was becauſe among the Corinthians in their Church vnmeaſurable rage of ſtriuing at law that they made the Goſpell of Chriſt, and whole religion open to the cauillations & euill ſpeaking of ye wicked which is the thing yt Paul blameth them of, firſt, bicauſe by their intemperance of contentions they brought the Goſpell in ſlaunder of the vnbeléeuers, and alſo they ſtriued among thēſelues, brethren with brethren.
22 As touching the laſt,1. Pet. 2.17 Pro. 24.21 Rom. 13.5 there are two things principally which priuate men owe vntounto magiſtrates: firſt that they thinke honorably of their office.
23 Moreouer that they declare obedience not making commotion, nor raſhly breaking into the office of the Magiſtrates.
24 Howſoeuer that all men doe confeſſe that they owe them ſelues to good Princes, yet there are many that cannot bée perſwaded that they owe ſuche thinges to tyrants.
The Prince is the paſture of the people, the kéeper of peace, the protector of righteouſneſſe, and the reuenger of innocencie.
25 But the word of God cōmandeth that we be ſubiect not only to good princes,Ioh. 34.30 Oſe. 15.11 but alſo to all which hauehave dominion in poſſeſſion, although they perfourme nothing leſſe, then that which pertaineth to the dueties of Princes.
26 That he may obteine ye ſame, he prooueth two things out of ye ſcripture: firſt that kinges are not appointed, but by the prouidence and ſingular doings of God.Daui. 2.21 Moreouer, from them are admonitions drawne, that wée ſhoulde obey them: firſt out of Daniell, Nabuchodonozer, he that conquered Hieruſalem,1. kinges. 24 was a ſtrong inuader, and deſtroier of other: yet it is ſaid, That the Lorde gaue him the lande of Egypt, for the ſeruice hée had doone to him in waſting it.
27 Moreouer out of Ieremie.
Iere. 27.528 Neither doeth that auaile which they obiect that that commandement was peculiar to ye Iſraelites,Pro. 28.2 Ioh. 12.18 ſéeing he teacheth all men of right that to whom ſoeuer the kingdom be geuē, they ſerue him. this hée proueth by certaine teſtimonies, and by Dauids example.
29 By what cogitations they ought to bridle their impaciencie,Ephe. 6.1. 1. Pet. 3.7 which liue vnderunder wicked and miſcheuous tyrants for in the Lords hands are kinges, and the bowings of kingdomes, & hee only will reuenge their euill doings.
30 Yet in the meane time, the Lorde is wont to bridle the licentiouſneſſe of Tyrants: and that he doth two waies. So hée deliuered the people of Iſraell out of ye tyranny of Pharao by Moſes, and out of the violence of Chuſa kyng of Syria, by Othoniel, and out of other thraldomes by other kinges or iudges. So he tamed the pride of Tyrus, by the Egyptians; the inſolence of the Egiptians, by the Aſſyriās; the fierceneſſe of the Aſſyriās, by the Chaldees; the boldnes of Babylon, by the Medians and Perſians; When Syrus had ſubdued the Medians, and the vnthankefulneſſe of the kinges of Iuda and Iſrael.
31 Howſoeuer this one thing alwaies lieth on priuate men, yt they obey their princes whatſoeuer they be, yet this letteth not, but yt there may be ſome popular Magiſtrates, in whoſe power it is to reſiſt the crueltie of Kings, and to defend the libertie of the people.
32 So farre foorth muſt Magiſtrates not bée obeied,Daui. 3.2 Oze. 5.13. as their will, are vnderſtoode to ſtriue with the worde of God. The diſpleaſure of the King is the meſſenger of death, but wee muſt liſten to the heauenly Harolde Peter, who ſaith Wee ought rather to obey God than man. Acts. 6.22And Paul ſpurreth vsus forwarde with this, that we are therefore redéemed with ſo great a price, as our redēption caſt on him, wee ſhoulde not yéelde our ſelues in thraldome to obey the peruerſe deſires of men,1. Cor. 7.13 but much leſſe ſhoulde be bonde to vngodlineſſe.
FINIS.
¶ IMPRINTED AT LONDON AT THE THREE CRANES IN THE VINtree by Thomas Dawſon, for William Norton, dwelling in Paules Churchyard at the Signe of the Queenes armes. 1580.
End of the text · John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion Abridged by Edmond Bunnie (1580)