of the Church For the Duty or Office of the chiefe Magistrate in the maintaining the second Table I néed not say any thing for none is so ignorant as not to know that the procuring of the ciuill good of men belongs to the Supreme Gouernour For the power of Magistrates Sée the Scriptures in the Answere vnto the Question and for this they are called Gods the Sonnes of the most High not by Nature but by Office and Dignity being the Images of God his Deputies Royall on earth The Ministers also of God c. Whose Power it is better and fitter for Subiects to feare and obey then to dispute or determine Eccl. 8.3.4 Concerning the duties of Subiects The first is Reuerence which is a godly subiection in Heart Word Déed Thinking and Iudging honourably of the Magistrate euen of the lowest Looking not to his person whether good or bad but the Person he representeth which is GOD. Speaking reuerently Ex. 22.28 Act. 23.5 1. Reg. 1.23.31 Vsing all lowly Gestures Yea this requires that Subiects interpret the sayings and doings of the Magistrate to the best and to conceale couer their faults giuing feare to whom feare honour to whom honor belongeth The second Duty is Obedience Eccl. 8.2 to be performed by all persons and in all things possible the contrary whereof God commandeth not though hard and vnequall not examining what it is which is commanded but being content with this Mat. 22.21 that it is commanded And this obedience must be to all Gouernours to the King as Superior and to the rest appointed by him 1. Pet. 2.13.14 and to these whether Christian or Heathen Good or Bad Mercifull or Cruel for there is no power but of God Rom. 13.1 The third is Piety that Subiects pray for their Gouernours Yea 1. Tim. 2.1 Ier. 29.7 though they were Infidels or Wicked Thus did Daniel Thus did the Ancient Christians for the Heathen Emperours for their long life and safety for their Issue Of-spring for their quiet Gouernment that their Councell might bée Wise and Faithfull their Armes Victorious their People Loyall c. The fourth is Faithfulnesse which requireth that Subiects be quiet and peaceable and true-hearted in all Loyall Alleageance that they be not Trayterous or Seditious raising or consenting to Tumults Insurrections Mutynies c. but that they reueale such things spéedily and that what they can by all good possible and lawfull meanes they do defend and kéep safe the Health Life Person Cause Crowne Dignity and Family of the Supreme Magistrate against all Opposites whatsoeuer 2. Sam. 16.9 20.22 21.16.17 2. Reg. 11.2.4 1. Ioh. 3.16 yea with the losse of their owne best bloud For if we must lay downe our liues for our Brethren much more for our Fathers The fift is Thankfulnes which is a ready and chéerfulloue which is to be shewed in a willing paying of tribute bearing such charges as are imposed by the King or superior magistrate in as much as the treasure of the King is the sinew of the common wealth and because he watcheth and careth for all Ro. 13.6.7 and defends all So Ioseph and Mary trauel willingly to be taxed Yea our Sauiour Christ Mat. 17.27 and Peter pay tribute none are exempt for if Christ and Peter then why not their successors And all these things Subiects are to doe chéerfully and willingly euen to wicked princes not only for feare but for conscience toward God 1. Pet. 2.18 Rom. 13.5 who accounts himselfe neglected resisted and opposed when his deputies are resisted opposed Rom. 13. or neglected Vse 1. First it is the duety of Ministers wel to instruct and to put their hearers in remembrance of these things that they may know their duetie to their Gouernors and performe allegeance accordingly wherein is a great part of the welfare of the Common wealth Tit. 3.1 Vse 2. Hence it appeareth that the Pope with his limbs are the great rebells of the world for not onely pulling their neckes as Ecclesiastical persons from the yoake of the Emperour and their Soueraignes but specially for seeking to ouerrule depose and destroy the kings and kingdomes of the earth Vse 3. Learne thy duty Thy calling is to be subiect Pray for the prosperity of the King his children and dominions Speake not euill Iude 8. but reuerence in word and déed the chiefe and all vnder-magistrates yea thinke not an euill thought Eccles 10.20 c. Beware of Sedition by the example of Corah Absolon Sheba c. Obey for conscience Quarrell not neither murmure at the commandement though vnequall hard if not impious to be done yea if it be doubtfull examine it not but obey Pay all subsidies taxes customes c. willingly yea though it goe hard with thée and thine and thou be faine to borrow it Do it of conscience and thou shalt be the more blessed in thy substance Remember Christ had it not when it was due and he willingly paid and surely if wee must willingly pay to a Heathen much more to a Christian religious mercifull and renowned king Draw not thy neeke out of the yoake and being able go not about to be eased of that which is thy duty in conscience to pay It is no part of a good subiect or of one that loueth his Prince or Common wealth to séek to be frée or to be eased oboue his Equalls in a common burthen the benefite whereof comes to himselfe It is a thing too much practised in these dayes to the great hindrance and dammage of the Kings excellent Maiesty the Countrey and many particular men Vse 4. Praise God for establishing so worthy religious peaceable learned and famous a King ouer vs through whom we enioy peace liberty plenty hope of succession and the swéete comfort of our Soules the holy Gospel And let all true hearted subiects pray for the safety preseruation of the person life crowne and dignity of our most gracious King Iames by the grace of God King of great Brittaine France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. and in all Causes and ouer all Persons aswell Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill within these his dominions next and immediatly vnder Iesus Christ supreme Gouernour who is the very breath of our nostrils that God would blesse our most vertuous Q. Anne his wife our hopefull Prince Charles the Lady Elizabeth her Highnesse with her renowned Husband That God would direct with wisedome and pietie all the Honorable of his Maiesties Priuy Councell blesse all the reuerend Fathers of the Church that he would endue all the Nobles Gentrie of the Kings dominions with fortitude courage loyalty and all the graue Honorable Iudges right worshipfull Iustices and other inferior Magistrates with the knowledge and conscience of Equity Iustice and Right all the Ministers of the Word with abilitie of gifts and conscionable care and diligence in the Lords haruest all the Commons with peaceable loyall and religious minds and affections that God would hold backe the Iudgements we haue deserued and continue and increase vpon vs and our posterity his vndeserued mercies bodily and spirituall to his owne glory and the temporall and eternall comfort of vs all through our princely Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen So be it Now vnto the King euerlasting immortall inuisible vnto God onely wise be honour 1. Tim. 1.17 and glory for euer and euer Amen FINIS
cause that after long Preaching many remaine very grosly ignorant Q. What doe you meane by this word Testament Ans By Testament I vnderstand the vnchangeable Couenant betweene God and man Gen. 17.1.2.7.9 Ier. 31.1.31.32.2 Cor. 6.18 concerning the mercy of God by Christ to man and mans obedience to God Q You say that the holy Scriptures are the Bookes of the Old and New Testament Are there then two Testaments Ans I beleeue that the Testament or Couenant of God is but one in regard of Substance though in regard of Circumstance it be said Gal. 4.24 that there are two Expli The Doctrine of Grace offering to men in the name of God saluation and binding man to obedience and thankefulnesse to God is called in regard of the forme of conuention agréement betwéene God and man a Couenant and in regard of the maner of confirming it a Testament being in many things like a Testament For first as in a Testament or last Will the Testators minde is declared so is the will of God in his word Secondly as in a Will so héere is a Testator which is Christ a Legacie which is eternall life Heires which are the Elect an instrument and Writing which are the Scriptures and Seales which are the Sacraments Thirdly and principally as a Testament is in force by the death of the Testator Heb. 9.16.17 so the Couenant of God is ratified by the death of Christ This Couenant is and hath béene alwaies one and the same to Abraham and the Elect before Christ Rom. 4.23 24. the same that it is to vs for all are saued by Christ they by him to come wée by him come in the flesh Acts 15.11 But because God in his manifold wisedome otherwise propounded it to the Fathers otherwise to vs Euen as a Physition administreth after one manner to a child after an other to a man growne for the diuersitie of their age and temperament therefore it is said to be double God bringing them and vs after a diuers manner to the knowledge of saluation by his Sonne Christ For before the comming of Christ the manner of the Couenant to the Fathers was darke burdensome and costly they being gouerned and tutored by the ministery of the Law a seuere Schoole-maister Gal. 3 24. vnder hard conditions as the yoake of many diners Ceremonies to be abolished Heb. 15.10 Gal. 3.10 and the burden of the Curse and hence it is called Old but vnto vs all things are after a more plaine easie and frée manner without the same strict exaction of the law of obedience to be performed in our owne persons Act. 13.38.39 the grieuous burden of the Curse and the intollerable yoake of Ceremonies being remoued from our neckes by the preaching of the Gospell and for this it is called New Therefore Saint Augustine said that the new Testament was hidden in the Old and the Old manifested in the New Wherefore when you read in the Scriptures that the old Testament was but for a tune Heb. 8.6.7.8.9.10.11 and to be abolished c. and that the new is better and such like vnderstand this opposition and abolition not in the bookes for the bookes of the old Testament are the word of God which abideth foreuer nor in the substance or matter but in regard of circumstances afore spoken Notwithstanding this the Law it selfe or Decalogue which by a figure is sometimes called the Couenant must be holden to be a diuers kinde of doctrine from the Gospell and bringing forth in respect of vs contrary effects 2. Cor. 3.7.8.9 and the Gospell not to bee a new Law differing from the old onely by a further degrée of perfection or by addition of Councels as the Papists teach Vse 1. Remember that to be in couenant with God is the fountaine of all thy happinesse which Couenant the Law is not but it is the Copy as it were of the Articles points agréed vpon betwéene God and thy selfe declaring not why God is thy God but what he requireth of thée nor why thou art receiued to grace but what thou promisest to do As then when thou sealest to Couenants or Indentures which are for thy great aduantage thou labourest well to vnderstand what thou sealest to and art careful to kéepe conditions on thy part so this requireth that thou shouldest know the law of thy God with the particular points thereof and if thou expectest the aduantage of the couenant that thou shouldest precisely kéepe the conditions on thy part which if thou doest not but transgressest it is as if thou shouldest deny thine owne hand and seale Vse 2. Remember also that the Scriptures are Christs Testament wherein thou hast a rich bequeathment of eternall life As men neglect not to haue the Copies of their fathers wils wherein the inheritance is giuen them and aske counsel and are very conuersant in them that they may vnderstand euery tittle in them Iohn 5.39 Col. 3.16 so shouldest thou be diligently conuersant in the word of God Q. Of what authority are the holy Scriptures An. I beleeue that they are of a diuine Authority whereby we are infallibly certaine of the Doctrine contained in them Psal 119.9 Esay 8.20 Gal. 6.16 Phil. 3.16 2. Tim. 3.16 2 Pet. 1.19 and necessarily bound to beleeue and obey the same Being therefore called the word of God and the perfect and onely Canon of our faith and life Expl. The Scriptures are two waies taken essentially for the doctrine contained in them and accidentally for the writings wherein such Doctrine is expressed now in both these they are Diuine but Canonicall properly the first way The whole Scripture is the rule but not the whole of the Scripture as in a Carpenters Rule euery thing that is of the Rule is not the Rule The Scriptures are Diuine and infallible because God is the Author who can neither be deceiued nor deceiue by word signe or writing They are Canonical 2. Tim. 3.16 2. Pet. 1.20 21. Esay 8.20 Rom. 15.4 1. Tim. 3.14.15 Ioh. 20.31 because written to this end namely to be the rule of our Faith and Life And of this authority they are in themselues though all the world should contradict it or be ignorant of it As the sunne was the measure of the day night before either man or beast were made to behold it That they are diuine it must néeds be Deut. 5.32 Eze. 20.29 2. Tim. 3.16 because of God the Author and Canonicall they must nées be because diuine which two agrée together as the cause and the effect Vse 1. Hence wée learne that by the Scriptures as by a supreme Iudge all controuersies in Religion are to be decided Euen as all difference and strife about weight is ended by an euen and iust ballance so all dissention in the faith is by the vnpartiall beame of the Sanctuary which is the Scriptures easily certainly compounded Yea we attribute this
name of Christ that is by his authority according to his commandement yea this to be in force in all Churches euen which are vnder Christian Magistrates for otherwise doth the ciuill Magistrate punish otherwise the Church The Church aimeth at the repentance of the offender the ciuill Magistrate at the execution of iustice The Church procéedeth not to excommunication where the delinquent repenteth obeyeth The ciuil Magistrate notwithstanding the repentance of the party executeth the law as Ioshua notwithstanding the confession of Achan Ioshua 7. caused him to be destroyed Vse 1. All such whom it concernes to deale in Ecclesiasticall censures ought to beware of all filthy lucre faithfully discharge that which is cōmitted vnto thē to censure them which are prophane accordingly for the glory of God the good of the Church the repentance of them which offend and the furthering of their owne accounts at the last day Vse 2. Art thou prophane a drunkard a blasphemer an vsurer a breaker of the sabaoth c. deseruest thou to be stricken with the thunderbolt of excommunication yet escapest by thy purse or otherwaies yet know thou whatsoeuer thou art that although either through the corruption of them which excecute the same Discipline thou continuest in the fellowship of the Church yet in the account of the Lord thou art excluded from all spiritual priuiledges of the Church till thou repent not being worthy to sit among the dogs of the flocke as one may say the lesse thou answerest for here through the silence of the lawes the more thou hast to answere before Iesus Christ at the day of Iudgement Q. You seeme to say that where there is a Christian ciuill Magistrate there the Church ought to expect his consent and by his authority make Constitutions and Canons Do you then thinke that the Clergie or Church-men are subiect to the Ciuill Magistrate Ans Yes verily do I and so God plainly teacheth in his word Rom. 13.1 Tit. 3.1 1. Pet. 2.13 14.15 Let euery soule be subiect c. Whether Apostle Prophet or Bishop Q. What is the ciuill Magistracy or Gouernment Ans It is an ordinance of God for the good of men whereby they are gouerned by good lawes both Diuine and humane that publike peace may be preserued Rom. 13.4 Pro. 8.15 Dan. 2.21 Ioh. 19.11 the good maintained the euill punished the worship and glory of God set forth Q. What is the office of the ciuil Magistrate Ans The office of the supreme Magistrate is to keepe and maintaine both the Tables of the morall law Deu. 17.18 19. 2. Chro. 19 6. and to minister right iudgment iustice to his subiects Q. What is the power of the superior Magistrate Ans In things diuine it is limited by the word but in humane things and ciuill it is wonderfull large as namely to command all his subiects in matters concerning the publike good of all or the priuate good of some To compell all orders Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill to do their duties to punish the stubborne To command the bodies and goods of his subiects in matters lawfull To exact Tribute Custome Subsidies Taxes Tenthes c. for the maintaining of his honour and magnificence and for the bearing of the publike charge To make and confirme lawes for the ciuill policy of his Iurisdiction Iob. 34.18 Eccles 8.3 4. Dan. 5.19 and to define all matters and causes by the same And in a word the Ciuill supreme Magistrate is in all causes and ouer all persons as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill supreme Gouernour next vnder Christ 1. Sam. 15.14 as also in the examples of the good Kings of Iudah appeareth Q. What is the duty of Subiects Ans The duty of subiects may be referrred to these heads 1. Pet. 2.18 Rom. 13.1 Tit. 3.1 1. Tim. 2.1 2. Ier. 29.7 Pro. 24.21.22 Rom. 13.6 1. Reuerence 2. Obedience 3. Piety 4. Faithfulnesse 5. Thankfulnesse Expl. One of the greatest blessings which God hath giuen to men is Order and Gouernment without which through confusion all things would soone come to ruine For as a Ship without a Pilot so is a Company or Society of men without a King or other lawfull Magistrate Therefore it was well said of Tacitus That it is better to haue an euill Prince then none And of S. Chrysostome It is better to haue a Tyrant then no Gouernour And the Scripture maketh mention that the state of the people of Israel was neuer worse while they were a free people then when they were without continual Gouernours Yea Nature euen in reasonlesse bruite creatures acknowledgeth Order Gouernment as in the Bées c. This great benefite came from the Lord as all other good things The prime care of the Soueraigne Magistrate must be to maintaine the first Table of the Law Kissing the Sonne and doing homage vnto Christ and therefore to maintaine the true worship of God and to forbid and vtterly to extirpate the contrary And yet this so to be vnderstood the through the necessity of dangerous times he may suffer such as are superstitious and do erre that some Common-wealth and Religion may be had rather then none at all It belongs to the Prince to sée the the true Doctrine be taught but to administer the same teach it in publique it belongs to Ministers and Ecclesiasticall persons It belongs to his Authority to appoint ordinary iudgements Ecclesiasticall to maintaine Schooles Vniuersities c. wherby fit Bishops Ministers may beset ouer the Flock of Christ to make lawes whereby such Pastors Teachers may be directed corrected suspended depriued as matters shall require It is his Authority which may call and moderate Prouincionall Nationall Generall Syneds appoint Fasts c. Yea he ought to punish Heretickes Idolaters Blasphemers c. as well as Murtherers Théeues c. and to do all things which may further the Spirituall good of his Subiects and to take away the contrary Rom. 13.4 For he beareth not the Sword in vaine So Moses appointed the worship of God prescribed it to Aaron Dauid disposed the Ministery of the Tabernacle called a Conuocation or Synode for the bringing of the Arke Salomon dedicated the Temple deposed Abiathar Iehoshaphat commanded the Priests and Elders to visite the Churches and to restore the worship of God As also did other good Kings of Iudah as appeareth in their Stories which they did not onely of Piety but euen of Office So also haue Christian Emperours called Ccuncels moderated Controuersies of Religion aduanced good Bishops repressed bad and made Lawes concerning Bishops Ministers holy things for the welfare of the Church and the glory of God For the Magistrate is the Father of the Common-wealth yea Esay saith Esa 49.23 That Kings Queens are nursing Fathers and Mothers of the Church Constantine the Great said the the Bishops were Ouer-seers in the Church and Hee a Bishop or Ouer-seer out