THE DIVINE RIGHT AND IRRESISTIBILITY OF KINGS AND SVPREME MAGISTRATES Clearly evidenced not from any private Authority but from the Publique Confessions of the Reformed Churches and the Homilies of the Church of ENGLAND MATH 18.17 If he neglect to heare the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen man and a Publican OXFORD Printed by Leonard Lichfield Printer to the Vniversity 1645. To the READER Reader I Have cited the Confessions of the Reformed Churches as they were Printed at Cambridge 1586. And I have quoted the Homilies according to their late Impression 1633. And from the Confessions and Homilies thou mayest learne That God is the Author of Politicall Order And that himselfe is the first in that Order And that Kings and Princes are in that Ranke and Order next under him as his Lievtenants and Deputies having their Authority and power from him and so to give an Accompt of their Ministration to him And that by reason of their ranke and place they must not be Resisted by us much lesse may we wring their Authority from them or Rebell against them or endeavour upon any pretences to shake off the yoke of Subjection under them Now Resisting and Rebelling are a rising up against and opposing of the Higher Power and Resisting properly is in respect of that Order which God hath constituted in all Government And Rebellion is against the speciall Order and Constitutions in severall Kingdomes and Common-wealths That contrary to the Subjection which the Law of God requires This contrary to the Subjection and Obedience required by the Lawes of Men. And where these are accompanied with Civill Warre as amongst us at this day they produce farre greater miseries to the People and mischiefes farre more fatall to the Common-wealth then Tyranny and Oppression Vnder Tyranny there being some Order not onely the Divine but the Humane also in respect of matters between Subject and Subject but Resisting and Rebellion and such Warre overthrow all Order Divine and so inferre damnation Rom. 13. Humane even to Anarchy and Confusion which God avert from us Besides saith Mr Calvin in his Com upon Rom. 13. v. 3. an evill Prince is the scourge of God to punish the sinnes of the People And that excellent and wholsome Institution of Magistracy is never corrupted by Tyranny but upon our default wherefore we must impute to our selves and to our sins the evill that is in it and evermore Reverence the Ordination it selfe And lib. 4. Institut Cap. 20. Art 29. If we be persecuted for Godlinesse by an impious and Sacrilegious Prince let us first of all remember our sinnes which no doubt are corrected by God with such Scourges This will bridle our impatience with humility Then let us entertaine this thought that 't is not our part to heale such distempers but our onely remedy is to implore the help of God in whose hands are the hearts of Kings and the Inclinations of Kingdomes O Consider this ye that forget God Psal 50 22. As in this case most men both in their writings and proceedings forget him his first Ordinance of Politicall power for Government and his second Ordination of the power sometime to Judgement and especially doe they forget him who make the People the Author of that power and maintaine their Right of reassuming it at pleasure and Preach and Presse Resistance of the power and consequently of God himselfe in his Ordinance and Judgements Consider what I say c. 2. Tim. 2.7 THE DIVINE RIGHT AND Irresistibility of KINGS and Supreme MAGISTRATES The HELVETIAN Confession THe Magistrate of what sort soever it be In Syntag. confession Genev. An. 1612. pag. 85. is ordained of God himselfe for the Peace and quietnesse of Mankind and so that he ought to have the chiefest place in the World And God doth work the safety of his People by the Magistrate whom as he hath given to be as a Father of the World so all the Subjects are commanded to acknowledge this benefit of God in the Magistrate and honour him as the Ministâ—r of God And if the common safety of the Country and Justice require it and the Magistrate doe of necessity make Warre let them lay downe their life and spend their blood for the commoâ— safety and defence of the Magistrate and that in the name of God willingly valiantly and cheerfully for that he that opposeth himselfe against the Magistrate doth procure the wrath of God against him We know that though we be free we ought wholly in a true Faith holily to submit our selves to the Magistrate both with our body and with our goods and endeavours of minde so farre forth as his government is not evidently repugnant to him for whose sake we reverence the Magistrate The Confession of BOHEMIA IT is taught out of the holy Scriptures In Syntag. Confes edit Genev. An. 1612. pag. 264. part 2. that the Civill Magistrate is the Ordinance of God and appointed by God who both taketh his originall from God and by the effectuall power of his presence and continuall aid is maintained to governe the People in those things which appertaine to the life of this body here upon earth whereof is that of St Paul Rom. 13.1 There is no Power c. And Magistrates must know and remember this that they are Gods Deputies and in his stead and that God is the Soveraigne Lord and King even of them all as well as of other men to whom they must give an account at the last day of the degree wherein they were placed and of their dominion and of the whole administration of their government whereof it is expresly written in the book of Wisdome Cap. 6.1 The people also are taught of their duty and by the word of God are effectually thereto inforced that all and every of them in all things so that they be not contrary to God performe their obedience to the superior power first to the King's Majesty then to all other Magistrates and such as are in Authority in what charge soever they be placed whether they be of themselves good men or evill The FRENCH Confession In Corpor. Confession Genevae An. 1612. p. 110. Art 39. Confess Gallican VVE believe that God would have the world to be governed by Lawes and by Civill Government that there may be certain bridles whereby the immoderate desires of the world may be restrained and that therefore he appointed Kingdomes Common-wealths and other kind of Principalities whether they come by Inheritance or otherwise And Therefore because of the author of this order we must not only suffer them to rule whom he hath set over us but also give unto them all honour and reverence as unto his Ambassadours and Ministers assigned of him to execute a Lawfull and Holy Function We affirme also That we must obey the Lawes and Statutes that Tribute must be paid and we must patiently endure the other burthens to conclude That we must willingly suffer the yoke of
subjection although the Magistrates be infidells so that the soveraigne power of God doe remaine whole or entire and nothing be diminished The Confession of BELGIA VVE believe that the most gratious and mighty God did appoynt Kings Princes Ibid. pag. 183. Confess Belg. Artic. 36. and Magistrates because of the depravation of mankind and that it is his will that this World should be governed by Lawes and by a certain civill government to punish the faults of men and that all things may be done in good order among men Therefore he hath armed the Magistrate with a sword to punish the wicked and defend the good The Confession of AUSPURGE VVE are sure that seeing the Godly must obey the Magistrates that be over them Ibid. pag. 17. vid. Confession August Art 16. part 2. they must not wring their authority out of their hands nor overthrow Governments by Sedition for as much as Paul wisheth every soule to be subject to the Magistrates We know also that the Church in this life is subject to the Crosse as St Paul saith We must be made like to the image of the Sonne of God The Confession of SAXONY VVE teach that in the whole Doctrine of God delivered by the Apostles and Prophets Conf. Sax. Art 23. In Edit Gen. 1612. part 2. pag. 128. the degrees of the civill State are avouched and that Magistrates Lawes order in judgement and the lawfull society of mankind are not by chance sprung up among men And although there be many horrible confusions which grow from the divell and madnesse of men yet the lawfull Government and society of men is ordained of God and whatsoever order is yet left by the exceeding goodnesse of God it is preserved for the Churches sake And Subjects owe to the Civill Magistrate obedience as Paul saith not only because of Wrath i.e. for fear of Corporall punishment wherewith the Rebellious are rewarded by the Magistrate but also for Conscience sake i.e. Rebellion is a sinne that offendeth God and with-draweth the Conscience from God And again God would have all men to be ruled and kept in order by civill government even those that are not regenerate and in this government the Wisdome Iustice and goodnesse of God towards us is most clearely to be seen 1 Wisdome by Order and the societies of mankind under lawfull government 2 Iustice in that he will have open sinnes to be punished by the Magistrates and when they that are in authority doe not take punishment on offendors God himselfe doth miraculously draw them unto punishment and proportionably doth lay upon grievous sinnes grievous punishments in this life Mat. 26 52. Heb. 13.4 3. Goodnesse towards mankind in that he preserveth the societies of mankind after this order and for that cause doth he maintaine it that from thence his Church may be gathered and he will have Common-wealths to be places for the maintenance of his Church The confession of SCOTLAND Confes Scot. Artic. 24. in Corp. Conf. Gen. An. 1612. p. 156. part 1. VVE confesse and acknowledge Empires Kingdomes Dominions and Cities to be distincted and ordeined by God the Powers and Authorities in the same be it of Emperours in their Empires Kings in their Realmes Dukes and Princes in their Dominions and of other Magistrates in their Câ—ties to be Gods holy ordinance ordeined for manifestation of his owne glory and for the singular profit and Commodity of mankind so that whosoever goeth about to take away or confound the whole state of Civill policies now long established we affirme the same men not onely to be Enemies to mankind but also wickedly fight against Gods expressed will The summe of these confessions THe summe is All power is originally in God himselfe who is Solus potens a 1. Tim. 6.15 the onely King and independant potentate 2. He hath for the good of mankind communicated some of his power immediately to Kings and by them b 1. Pet. 2.13 to inferiour Magistrates So that a King is Gods immediate Vicegerent and Deputy and therefore His Authority and Person are both Sacred and should be inviolable He is Minister c Rom. 13.4 Dei and Vnctus Domini not the Peoples but the Lords Deputy the Lords Annointed and therefore none can stretch out his hand against him d 1. Sam. 26 9. though he be a Saul a Tyrant and be guiltlesse And if the Kirke of Scotland may be judge they that goe about to take away or confound Monarchy Those men are not onely Enemies to mankind but also wickedly fight against Gods expresse will I would to God the practice of that Nation were any way suitable to the piety and truth of this profession And because of the Author of this order we must both suffer those whom he hath set over us for to rule and also honour them in their place office as his Embassadours and Ministers of which their Ministration they must give an account at the last day And in all things that be not contrary to God we must performe obedience to the Superiour power First to the Kings Majesty then to all other Magistrates whether they be of themselves good men or evill yea we must patiently suffer the yoke of Subjection though they be Infidells And if the common safety of the Country and Iustice require it and the Magistrate doe of necessity make Warre they must lay downe their lives and spend their bloud for the common safety and defence of the Magistrate and that in the name of God willingly valiantly and chearfully for that he that opposeth himselfe against the Magistrate doth procure the wrath of God against him Lastly we must not wring their Authority out of their handes nor overthrow Government by Sedition and they that goe about to take away Civill policies established are Enemies to mankind and they that Resist and Rebell against their Prince resist God himselfe whose Deputy and Embassadour and Minister he is and they who teach such Doctrine withdraw the Consciences of men from God And Reader see the Harmony between the Confessions of the Reformed Churches and the Doctrine of the Church of England delivered in the Books of Homilies concerning Civill Obedience and Subjection The Authority of which Books is declared and confirmed by the 35 Article of our Religion The second Book of Homilies doth containe a godly and wholsome Doctrine and necessary for these times as doth the former Book of Homilies which were set forth in the time of King Edward the sixt and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Minister diligently and distinctly that they may be understood of the People And now I shall present unto thee the summe of the Doctrine of those Books concerning the Premises GOD. God is the universall Monarch of the world lib. 2. p. 278. l. 7. ORDER God hath appoynted all things in a most excellent Order lib. 1. pag. 69. lin 1. Where there is no order nor Magistrate
there is Confusion lin 31. KINGS Kings are from God 1. 70. 81. 2. 276. 39. 45. 278. 1. 10. 23. Kings have their power from God onely 1. 71. 31. They are the Chiefe and Supreme Rulers next under God 1. 76. 15. They onely have the use of the Sword 1. 74. 19. Evill KINGS Evill Kings are from God 2. 276. 45. God placeth them over a Country for the sinnes thereof 2. 278. 31. They are reserved for Gods punishment and judgement 1. 74. 10. OBEDIENCE We learne by the word of God to yeeld to our King that is due to our King that is honour obedience payments of due taxes customes tributes subsidies feare and love 1. 77. 7. This is gods ordinance gods Commandement and gods holy will that all the whole body of every Realme and all the members and parts thereof should be subject to their Head their King 1. 77. 2. They that live in true obedience to god and the King please god and have peace of Conscience and having god on their side let them not feare what man can doe against them ibid. 37. We must obey sharp and rigorous Princes 2. 277. 46. and patiently suffer under them 289. 32. 42. and pray for their prosperity 2. 280. 46. 288. 3. 6. If the King command any thing contrary to Gods Word we must rather obey God then man yet in that case we may not in any wise withstand violently or make any insurrection sedition or Tumults by force of Armes or otherwise against the Lords Annoynted or any of his Officers 1. 74. 44. If God give a heathen tyrant to reigne over us we must obey him and pray for him 2. 282. 13. Where is obedience there is the figure of heaven 2. 296. 46. Heaven is the place of good Subjects ibid. 44. JVDGING We must not judge of the King his government or Councellours Yea it is a perilous thing to commit unto Subjects the judgement which Prince is wise and Godly and his government good and which is otherwise as though the foot must judge of the head an enterprise very hainous and must needs breed Rebellion 2. 279. 23. MVRMVRING We may not murmure against the King or speak evill of him 2. 299. 12. 31. 34. 300. 3. RESISTING We may not in any case resist or stand against the superior powers though they be wicked because they have their power from God 1. 72. 12. 29. 30. 2. 280. 5. 33. 285. 6. 28. Though we have great numbers of men 2. 286. 40. yet we must not attempt any thing against the King though hated of god and gods enemy so likely to be pernitious to the Common-wealth 287. 2. 16. though he doth not consider our faithfull service or safeguard of our Posterity 22. and lastly though he be our known mortall deadly enemy and that he seeketh our lives 26. They that resist resist not man but God 1. 71. 35. REBELLION The sink of all sinne both of the first second table 2. 292. 29. Lucifer the first author of Rebellion 2. 276. 7. The two Principall causes of Rebellion are 1 Ambition and restlesse desire in some men to be of higher Estate then God hath given them 2. Ignorance in the people and lack of knowledge of Gods blessed will declared in his holy word concerning their obedience 2. 307. 16. 28. 313. 14. Rebells no true Christians 2. 289. 45. Rebells a wicked example against all Christendome and whole mankind c. 2. 282. 24. Rebells pretences vaine viz. redresse of the Common-wealth and reformation of Religion 2. 301. 19. 302. 2. 22. 25. 29. Rebellion no good means of Reformation 2. 279. 34. Miseries following Rebellion viz. Pestilence Famine the calamities of Warre extraordinary 2. 294. 29. Gods judgement on Rebells 2. 300. 9. Rebells never prospered long 2. 300. 45. Hell the place of Rebells 2. 296. 45. Vnlesse we doe what we are able to stay Rebellion we are most wicked c. 2. 282. 36. The CLERGY The Clergy ought both themselves especially to be obedient to their Prince and also to exhort others to the same 2. 308. 27. ALmighty God whose Kingdome is everlasting and power infinite have mercy upon the whole Congregation and so rule the heart of thy chosen servant Charles our King and Governour that He knowing whose Minister He is may above all things seek thy honour and glory and that we His Subiects duly considering whose authority He hath may faithfully serve honour and humbly obey him in thee and for thee according to thy blessed Word and Ordinance through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN FINIS