haue not cast of the but me Also the magistrate there is warned too take hede he doo nothynge but as the minister of god too rule gouerne after his word For this god requyreth of hym that he be a faythfull mynister And when so euer he begyn to wax laughty haulty arrogant and proud â–ª let hym remember Sainte Paules wordes that he is but a minister And where as Sainte Paule sayeth the Magystrate is ordeyned for the wealthe of the people â–ª he must take hede of the ende where vnto he is appoynted and be in dede as god wold hym to be a wealth saluatyon of y e people to defend iust causes to condemne suche as be vniust to remoue false supersticious religion and to plant true and godly religioÌ„ to maintaine suche as profyt the church and â—â—ocke of Christ and to remoue such as hinder and deceiue theÌ„ Saint Paul nowe prosecuteth â—ys matter and sheweth whoo shuld feare the hygher powers with these wordes If thou do euyl then fear for he bearith not aswerd for noughte but he is the minister of god to take punishment of them that do euyll Euen as Sainte Paul saith here that the cause of feare too an euyll man is that the Magistrate beareth a swearde Euen so doth he declare that it is not ynoughe for the Magystrate to beare a swerd but to vse and execute the sweard as the synnes of the people requyre too punysshe and kyll them yf the lawe so fynde them gyltye and for feare of the vse of y â— swearde whyche is not in vayne they should kepe euyll doers in obedyence and feare and so muche the more because he is the mynyster of God and hys punyshmente is the verye hande and wyll of god when he punissheth yuell doers And it is not he y â— kylleth but god whose place he occupieth being a magistrate higher power For god coÌ„maundyth him to punysh not to fauoure suche yuel and naughtye persons It is very diuillishnes to accuse the magistrates of yuel doinges when they punysh or put too death yuell doers seyng in their this doing thei be none other but gods Ministers And where as the scrypture forbyddeth punishment reuengyng it meaneth that no priuate man should reuenge his owne cause nor fight at his pleasure but rather suffer wronges if the lawe wil not redres it And if y â— iudge and magistrate in a cause of the lawe for lucre feare loue frendship or ony other respect kil ani man that is not worthye by the lawe to die the iudge and Magystrate is a verye murtherer And so he is yf he saue ony man that the lawe condemnyth For he is as S. Paul saith a mynyster of God whoo neuer saueth one condeÌ„nith y â— other in lyke causes S. Paule when he hath sufficiently declared y â— dignity of the higher power gathereth by two necessary causes more y â— the Magistrate is to be obeyed with these wordes Wherfore ye muste nedes obey not for feare of vengeaunce onely but also because of conscience The one cause wherfore we must obey is the feare of payn punishment the which the Magistrate must minister by y e commaundemente of God vnto all suche as disobey and contemne the ordinaunce of God The other is conscience for although the magistrate do not se nor know how thou doest disobey breake the order of god or els if thou couldest by power and strength ouercome the magistrates yet thy conscience is bound to obey and that for many causes First because the magistrate is the ordinauÌ„ce of god then because dysobedyence and breaking of goddes lawes troubleth the publike and commune peace yeueth other stomake and incouraging to dysobey Al these euyls folowith dysobedyence the which of conscience we are bound to exchew auoide There be some so indurate past grace that thinke them selues not bound to obey thys order and higher power appoynted and commaunded of God but doubtles those shall perysh with their capitaines as Architophel did with his Absolon If y â— hygher power coÌ„maund ony thyng contrary vnto gods worde they should not be obeyed Notwythstandynge there should be suche modestie and so bernes vsyd as shuld be w toute al violence force and rebellion As Peter Ihon vsyd saying God is more to be obeyed then man And so in saying of truththey continued in y â— truth w tout mouing of sedityon and suffred death for y â— truth as Fabiane Cipriane holy martirs recordes of god suffred in Affrica vnder Decius the Emperoure of Rome How we are bound in coÌ„science to obey theÌ„ S. Paul declareth farther saying And euen for thys cause paye ye tribute for they are goddes ministers appointed to y e same purpose If we were not bound in conscyence to obey them we shuld not nede to pai tribute vnto theÌ„ but seing we ought to pay trybute taxes and subsidies we knowe they do defende vs agaynst all force violence wrongs of our enemyes Therfore tribute is a note and knowledge of our obedience which we must pay wyllyngly and gladlye of dutye as Christ sayth geue vnto God y â— which is gods to y e Emporour that which is the Emperours Sainte Paule sheweth the cause why tribute oughte to be payed vnto the hygher powers because sayth he they be ordeyned of God to preserue and defend the coÌ„mon welth in peace quietnes to punyshe the yuel and to defend the good And without the magistrates helpe thys can not bee doone as ye maye read In the booke of the iudges howe the people fell in to all myschiefe when they wanted a lawful Magistrate superior power and euery man did as it semed best in his owne eyes And in the Prophet Esai the lord threateneth y e wycked Hierusalem because there was none in it worthy to beare rule Euen as subiectes be bound to obey this higher power so must the higher power alwaye take hede that vertue and good meÌ„ be commended and euyll men with sinne and disobedience punisshed Nowe foloweth the second part of the Chapiter GIue to euery maÌ„ therfore his duty tribute to whoÌ„ tribute belongeth Custome to whoÌ„ custom is due fear to whom fear belongeth honoure too whom honor perteineth When Saint Paule hath sufficiently tolde vs our duties to y e higher power he descendeth from that particularitye one sorte of persons to a generalitie howe we should do our dutyes to all maner of persons Fyrste generally he sayeth we should yeue euery man hys due Then numbreth he certeyne kindes particulers of dutyes Tribute we owe to kynges and Magistrates that must we faithfully paye or els the wythhoulders commytte thefte and therfore Christ payed tribute Custome is the reuenewes or proffytes that commeth by land or trade of merchaundyse and in thys point fayth must be kepte to all men accordynge to the lawes appointed by y e hygher
¶ To my very louynge and dere beloued felowlabourers in the worde of God and brethreÌ„ in Christ William Ienyns Deane of the Cathedrall church in Gloucestre Ihon Williams doctour of the lawe and Chauncelour and to the rest of all the churche appoynted there to serue the lyuinge God with al other Archedeacons Officiales Deanes Perâ—ons â—yâ—ars and Curates wythin this the Kyngs Maiesties diocese of Gloucestre grace and mercy from y â— lord euer lyuyng in the bloud of Iesus Christe our onely Sauyoure IF the daungers and perylles of Sayncte Paules tyme derebe loued â–ª mynistred and gaue occasion vnto hym for too â—eare of the loste of suche people as then were conuerted vnto y â— knowledge and vnderstanding of goddes holye worde least by neglygence or corrupt doctrine of the bisshops pastours they might be seduced and broughte into erroure doutles the daungers of thys oure tyme that be not onely to be feared least such as knowe the truthe be by errour seduced and brought from y â— truthe or â—ls by continuaunce in vngodly lyfe continue in the truth in vaine â–ª but also that the most part of people be yet ignorant and not conuerted vnto y â— truthe shuld minyster and yeue occasyon vnto vs a great deale more to be vigilant and circum spect not onely to kepe those in truth to whome god hath reue led it but also to winne and conâ—ert with all prayer diligence preachyng and other instruction such as yet be ignoraunte out of the way vnto the truthe and knowledge of gods worde And so muche y â— rather because we se by experience and also fele it in our selues that the iust god is offended angrye wyth our synnes and wyll not be contentyd w t these troubles miseryes and crosses that alredye he layeth vpon vs but doeth doutles prepare and make readie many more and more greuouse Our office therfore is to be dilygent and circumspecte for the people of God and nowe the hande of god beynge stretched furthe to admonysh the flocke committed vnto our charges in tyme least they die their bloud required at our handes Certeyn I am y â— our sinnes be y e only cause wher fore this moste iust god is offended and certeyn we be that the only way and meanes to please and quiet him again is to leaue and wasshe away oure synnes What the synnes of y e people be where with all god is thus offeÌ„ded you that haue y â— ouersyght of theym knowe or ye oughte to knowe I meane not too descende particularly to any sinne leaste paraduenture I myghte seme too be temerous and ouer hardye too iudge more then I perfitly know or els in naming suche sinnes as many good simple people haue notte heard of might rather lerne to augment the euyll they knowe then too lerne the good they know not It is the duety of euerye good pastoure and curate dilygently to searche and knowe what vertue is most mete to be commended what vyce most to be reprehended in y â— church y t he serueth I wyl leaue therefore the vnknowen euils vnto me to the shepeherd of euery parish requiryng hym to marke the synnes of the people after-and by the estimation of gods word therby too pondre the condytyon of his people lest that he cause theÌ„ and do the same hym selfe swalowe a Camel and be choked w t a flee leape ouer a blocke and stomble at a strawe Before all things se that the people know theyr commaundementes and the workes thereof appertayning vnto god in the fyrst table that they honour no wrong nor false god nor yet the true god a wrong waye but as he hath coÌ„maunded hym selfe in the olde Testamente and the newe And alsoo that they auoyde all suche synnes faultes and dysobedyence as be contrary to the commaundementes of God in the second table And for a help vnto you and also to the people in this behalfe I haue set furth here the. xiii Chapyter of S. Paule to the Romaynes whyche intreateth of all the seconde table and dewtye of a chrystian manne howe he should vse hym selfe with and towardes al sortes of people Most hartily praiing you and also in gods name and the kinges maiesties name commaunde you that as many as serueth any cure w tin this diocese y â— can not for lacke of learning or excercise teche nor preache hym selfe too the people the lyke doctryne that they doo euerye Saterdaye and Sonnedaye reade vntoo the people thys xiij Chapyter as I haue here set it furth that the people may learne to knowe loue and fear the better the kinges Maiestie and other suche magistrates as be by hym appoynted ouer the people And all suche as God hath yeuen grace of preachynge vnto in theyr sermons shall oftentymes inculcate and perswade thys argumente and rule of obedience vnto the people And the cause why I haue written in this Chapiter more then an other and thinke it very expedyent to be now taught vntoo the people is the greate and daungerous offences and synnes of the rycher sort of people and alsoo of the poore both â—n thys shiere and other the kinâ—es Maiestyes in this realme And certayne I am that bothe of theym shall dye eternallye yf they amende not Wherfore to delyuer my soule I geue suche as be commended by god and y â— kings Maiestie vnto my charge warning of the iudgement and dampnatioÌ„ to come before The ryche man so incrochith gathereth together and obteyneth so muche into hys owne handes that he alone possesseth y â— earth lyueth therebye and hys poore neyghboure readye too dye for lacke so that he is brought into Cantalus paine meat drinke catel and corne inough of euery syde of hym yet shall rather dye for lacke then y â— vnsatiable and neuer contented couetouse persons wyll price theyr goodes sâ—â—s poore men theyr wiues and theyr Chyldren maye be habâ— to by resonable peniworthes oâ— Goddes aboundaunte plentye and riches that he bringeth out of the earth These men excepte they repente can not be saued nor be partakers of the merites of Christes passyon For God would the riche to geue vnto y â— poore But oure men that care neyther for god nor the kynges lawes wil neyther yeue nor sell what so euer necessite do require If thei wold not care for goddes word yet should they haue respect to Nature and to there countreye thoughe the poore man be not a ryche man yet is he a Christian and thy countrey man of whom nature and countreyshyp requireth the to haue compassion The poore manne partlye prouoked by necessetye and nede and partelye of vnchrystyan hatred and dysdayne he hathe at hys neyghboures wealthe and prosperitye conspyryth worketh prouoketh desyreth by al meanes to oppresse and robbe his richer neighbour and wyll by force strengthe treason sedytion commotyon assemblaunce and gatheryng together of suche as he is him self agaynst goddes lawes goddes ordinaunces Magistrates and superioure
to the worde of God whose officers they be In case they doo although the Subiectes maye not nor vpon payne of eternall dampnatyon ought not by force nor violence to resyst the offycer in hys high power yet he shuld and is bond to thyncke hym selfe that God can and wil as wel reuenge the abuse of his office in him as punysshe the subiecte for the dysobedyence of his ordinaunces towardes the hygher power If it be true that Sainte Paul sayeth the hygher power to be the ordinauÌ„nce of god it is verye damnable iniquitie that for any priuate affection or other iniust oppressyons for ony man to depose the magistrates from their places and honoure appoynted by god or els priuilie or openly craftely or violentli to go about to chaunge or alter y â— state and ordynaunce of God and there wythall God is soore offended â—s it doth appere by the grudynge and murmurynge of the People agaynste Moses in the deserte the whyche thoughtes and conspiryces of the people agaynste their Magistrate and gouernoure the Lorde punysshed wyth deathe and kylled theym all before they came too the lande of Canaan For euen as Kynges and Magystrates be appoynted and ordeyned of God â–ª euen soo be they alsoo defended by hym as it appeared by Dauid Iosaphat and other And the sedition and treason redounded alwaies too the destruction of y e people at lengthe as it is to be seene in AbsoloÌ„ Architophel Catilme Brutus Cassius and other that destroyed not onely the selues but also people by suche treason and disobedience against y â— ordynauÌ„ce â–ª and appoyntment of god as ye maye see here by the texte of Sayncte Paule that folowyth which is his seconde cause why the higher powers shulde be obeyed And as he sayd first they shulde be obeyed because theyr place and autoritye is the ordynaunce of god so now in hys seconde cause he sheweth what great daunger perill it is too resyste and dysobaye Goddes ordyaunces And they that resyst shal receiue to theÌ„ selfes damnation As thoughe he hadde sayde lest ye shulde thynke it a lyghte thyng and but a trisfelyng matter to wythstand and dysobeye the magistrates vnderst and ye y â— in your so doing ye withstand and fight against god and therfore ye prouoke iudgement and vengeauÌ„ce agaynst your selfes be culpable and gylty of gods euerlastynge dyspleasure yf ye repent not and yeue ouer your obstinate disobedyent rebelly on Here Saynte Paule hath set furth the end and successe of sedytion treason conspyracie rebellyon too saye destructyon both of bodye and soule Whoo is hable to contende and fighte wyth God and ouercome him Is not he onely almightye and onely strength Absolon with a thousand traitours against one true subiecte preuailed not against his father Dauyd but dyed the death of a traytoure Euen so dyd those whom before I named And as S. Paule speketh heâ—e so speaketh Christ to Peter He y â— striketh with the swerd shal perish by the swerde if gods word be trewe as it can not be false all such as do by thought word or dede intend to trouble vnquiet chaunge aulter moue or resyste the ordinaunce of god which is the Magystrates and hygher powers must nedes of necessite perysshe as well in this worlde as in the world to come excepte they repente and ceasse from doynge of yuell Nowe goyth Saynt Paule fourth wyth the terte For rulers be not to be feared of such as do well but of suche as do cuyll By these wordes Saynt Paul declareth two thynges Fyrste he warneth the Magystrate of hys offyce leaste when he shall perceyue it to be y â— ordynaunce of god and that no man should more resiste and contrary it theÌ„ to resyste and contrarye God shuld ware arrogante proude and beginne to fauour and flatter hym selfe to mouche vnder the title and pretence of Gods power But God forbyd sayeth Saynte Paule that the magystrate shoulde thynke ony suche thynge he shoulde remember rather that he is appoynted to hys place to defende helpe and preserue souche as be good and punysshe souche as be noughte and euyll Thys commaundemente dyd GOD commaunde to the hygher powers in the commune wealthe of the Israelites and that they should not lyfte vp theyr hertes aboue their brothers but to vse indyfferencie and iustice wyth all indifferently wythout exceptyon of persons as ye maye reade in the holy scripture The second parte of Sainte Paules wordes commendith y e magistrates for their vtilitye coÌ„moditye in y â— coÌ„mune wealth bycause that by their autoritye yuel doers amonge the people are punyshed corrected that honeste true men may lyue in rest and quietnes And for thys commodytie and necessarie vse we be bound to obey them For through their diligence labour paynes vnder God we eate heare the word of god laboure brynge vp youth householdes be in quietnes the goodes ther of with Cities townes and villages of the realme These commodities be great and worthy of thankes specially to god and then to the hygher power Saint Paule foloweth his purpose with these wordes Wylte thou be Wyth out feare of y e hygher power do well then and so shalt thou be praysed of them Where as before he said y e high power was a fear to euil doers in these words he sheweth how meÌ„ may be w tout fear of the magistrates to saye if men do wel for well doing pleaseth goddes order and goddes order beyng pleased feareth not nor punyssheth y e weldoer And where as Saint Paule speaketh of feare to the hygher power we muste vnderstand that fear is of two sortes One is yf loue and good wyll anexed and knyt wyth reuerence and loue and this fear is onely in godly and vertuous men that delyte too be ordered and ruled after the order appoyntment of God The other feare is annexed wyth spyte hatred enuye and dysdayne that wyssheth there were no order lawe nor Magistrates and those that be to destroy them or to brynge theym out of credyte and estymatyon amonge the people This feare is wicked and dampnable and a testymonye of an yuel and cursed conscyence and forbydden here in thys Place by Saincte Paule Sainte Paule contynueth in the coÌ„mendatyon of the magistrates saying For he is the mynyster of God for thy wealth Here Sainte Paule addeth an other commendatyon of the hygher power the whych consysteth in twoo members wherfore he shoulde be obeyed The fyrste is because he is the Mynyster of God The seconde because he was instytuted and appoynted by God for the wealth and commodyte of the subiecte In thys that Saint Paule calleth hym the mynister of God he putteth the subiecte in mynd agayne that whoo so euer contempne or dysobeye the hygher power contempnyth and dysobeyeth GOD. And so sayeth Christe who soo contempnyth suche as I appointe and sende contemnyth me And the same saide God vnto Moses They