HOW SVPERIOR POWERS OGHT TO BE OBEYD OF THEIR subiects and Wherin they may lawfully by Gods Worde be disobeyed and resisted Wherin also is declared the cause of all this present miserie in England and the onely way to remedy the same BY CHRISTOPHER GOODMAN ¶ The Lord hath broght vpon them a nation from a farre contrey an impudent nation and of a strange langage Baruch 4. Deut. 28. Printed at Geneua by Iohn Crispin M.D.LVIII VVILLIAM VVHITINGHAM TO ALL THEM that loue to knoWe the trueth and foloWe it Grace and peace IGnorance the mother of error and professed ennemie to Gods Trueth hath two daughters by whose flatteries and subtile practises she blyndeth mens eyes obscureth the Trueth and withdraweth vs from the way of knollage Custome and Negligence Wherof the first so bewitcheth vs that althogh we wallowe and walter in darcke blyndenes yet as it were by dreaming we seme to walke in the bright sunne shyning so that Custome and compagnie may farre soner drawe vs to perdition then Trueth and reason bring vs to the vnderstanding of our error The other being a domestical seruante and wel acquaynted with our maners by crafty flatterie doth ouercome vs. For the fleshe is prowde and swelleth against God she glorieth in her owne wisdome she loueth her owne consel she deliteth in her owne imaginatiō and policie and albeit we knowe that slothful Negligence is an impediment and blocke in our nature to stoppe vs from Trueth yet willingly we gyue place to her flattering persuasions and suffre her to trayne vs to wilful destruction So that betwixt Custome and Negligence we rather holde with damnable Ignorance and wisshe to be plonged in abominable errors then by diligent study and serching of the Trueth learne to knowe our duetie to God ād what he requireth of vs to do towardes our neighbour Then if we wolde auoyde these euils we must loue and embrace the cōtrary vertues and if Custome be wicked and withholde vs from God we must spedely reiect her and cleaue vnto God and if Negligence haue noseled vs in the denne of Ignorance we must purchase by diligence to proffit in the schole of knollage For the acheuing wherof whē M. Christopher Goodman one of our ministers according to the course of the text expounded bothe faithfully and cōfortably this place of the Actes of the Apostles Iudge whether it be iuste before God to obey you rather then God certeyne learned and godly men moste instantly and at sondry tymes required hī to dilate more at large that his Sermon and to suffre it to be printed that not onely we here present but our bretherne in England and other places might be persuaded in the trueth of that doctrine concerninge obedience to the magistrat and so glorifie God with vs. Whiche request he admitted not easely til at lēgth wel wayinge how many perished in their ignorance for lack of meanes to attaine to the knollage of the trueth and also conferringe his articles and chief propositions with the best learned in these partes who approued them he cōsented to enlarge the said Sermō and so to print it as a token of his duetie and good affection towarde the Churche of God and then if it were thoght good to the iudgement of the godly to translate the same into other lāgages that the proffit ther of might be more vniuersal Ther is no doute but many ouercome with olde Custome or yelding to negligēt Slothfulnes wil ether dispraise this proffitable worke or neglect it For euel Custome deliting in Ignorance wil straight way flie to her wonted argumēt What is this newe doctrine and whēce is it Negligence on the other part crieth maliciously We haue bookes ynough what nede we yet to be set to schole Thus Satan with double subteltie deludeth the worlde keping his euer so fast tyed in the bandes of blynde Ignorance that they can nether stirre hand nor fote they are blynde and can not se what is good and thogh it be offered yet are they insensible and can not fele it The trueth of Gods worde is to them moste odious but mans dreames and deuils doctrines are in greate estimatiō and reuerence Their false prophets and papistical priests haue so charmed them that Ignorance is holden for knollage error for trueth superstition for religion disobedience for obedience the Masse for the Lordes Supper Purgatorie for Christs blood workes for faith Belial for God and as S. Paul saieth If they bring you into slauerie ye endure it if they deuoure you ye suffre it if they spoile you of your goods ye are content if they preferre them selues and thrust you downe ye forbeare it if they smite you on the face yet ye can susteine it And thus the children of Satan had rather rot in their barbarous ignorance then by submitting thē selues to the mercies of God aspire to the perfect vnderstanding of his heauenly will reueiled vnto vs by his worde But thou the sonne of God shewe thy duetie and loue towarde thy merciful Father endeuour to knowe his wil declare thy affection towardes his Scriptures be zealous of his glorie reuerence his ministers and receaue thankfully his graces geuen to his Churche by them Proue diligently and trie by the touchstone who speake the wordes of God in pure simplicitie as in Gods presēce and who cehoppe and change the same making marchandise therof to traffique according to mans pleasure Nether do we desire onely that you shulde be persuaded in this trueth because we our selues so beleue but we exhort you that as the Samaritās dyd not onely beleue in our Sauiour Christ because of the womās report which broght the newes but forasmuche as they them selues heard him and knewe that Christ was the Sauiour of the worlde so whē you shal wel examine these things by the rule of Gods worde you wolde not so much by our report as by your owne iudgement and knowlage credit the trueth Remēbring that the worthy people of Beroe were cōmēded by the holy Gost because they tryed by Gods worde whether the ministers preachīg agreed with the same or no. Seing then by these examples we are bonde to seke the wil of God manifested vnto vs in his Scriptures what excuse shal we alledge for our pretensed ignorance Beholde here ▪ thou hearest the Eternal speaking by his minister in whose mouthe he hath put his worde and whose lippes must kepe the Lawe ād the vnderstāding therof as wryteth the Prophet Malachie Beware therfore that thou neglect not him that brīgeth the worde of God but quickely gyue eare ād obey For if thou desirest to knowe thy duetie to thy Prince and his charge likewise ouer thee read this book and thou shalt wel vnderstāde both If thou wishe for Christiā libertie come and se how it may easely be had If thou woldest loue God aboue man here thou shalt knowe how to obey God rather then mā Let the Apostles of Christ here be thy
schole maisters and then the more thou learnest the lesse occasiō shalt thou haue to repent Obedience is necessarie where God is glorified but if God be dishonored thy obedience is abominable in the sight of God be it neuer so beautiful in mans eyes Gods worde is our guyde to leade vs in our doings when it commandeth vs to obey God we must disobey man in the contrary for no man can serue two maisters and when our heauēly maister cōmandeth obedience to man it is euer to be vnderstand in the Lord. So that obedience to Gods Lawes by dissobeyīg mās wicked lawes is muche commendable but to disobey God for any duetie to mā is all to gether damnable as in the discourse of this booke thou shalt fully be asseured if God open thyn eyes to se the trueth ād moue thy heart to embrace it The Spirit of God which is the scholemaistre to leade vs into all trueth lighten your hartes gyue you myndes to vnderstande and courage to execute his holy wil to the setting forth of Christes kingdome the proffit of his Churche and confusion of Satans power and Antichrists Amen From Geneua this first of Ianuarie 1558. THE PREFACE AS there is nothīge to be cōpared to true obediēce in preseruīge the cōmō welth of townes cities and kingdoms or in maynteyninge true religiō Christiā peace cōcorde for therby euery mā is instructed how to render vnto God his due honour glorie to man that whiche his office requireth Euē so is ther nothinge more hatefull to God nether more hurtefull to mā then so to be bewitched with Satans false illusions that they are not able to put difference betwyxte obedience disobedience but as men without all iudgemēt and naturall sense take th one for thother beinge in them selues playne contrarie whiche is the onelie cause of all disorder and lamentable confusion where with the whole worlde is bothe this daie and hath bene also frō the beginning most miserably defaced and oppressed For when vile man replenished with pride vayne glorie and grosse ignorance will measure obedience with the crowked lyne of his owne corrupte iudgement and not with the infallible trueth of Goddes holie worde he must nedes preferre his owne decrees phantasies and ordināces to the cōfortable Lawes and liuelie preceptes of God his creator Then in place of iustice he receaueth iniustice for right wronge for vertue vice for lawe will for loue hatred for trueth falshod for playne dealing dissimulation for religion superstition for true worshippe detestable idolatrie and to be shorte for God Sathan for Christ Antichrist and with him suche plages of God and disorder amonge mē as are this daye set before oure eyes to beholde in all places throughout the vniuersal worlde and haue bene likewise euen from the beginninge When Adam was placed in paradise beinge a creature moste perfecte and abundinge in all wisdome and heauenlie knowledge and wolde at the persuasion of his wif measure obedience rather by his owne reason then by the worde sentence of God before pronounced behold he was not onelie spoyled of wisdome knowledge becomminge a verie foole in comparison of that whiche he was before but also sodaynlie destitute of all other singuler giftes as of innocencie and immortalitie was confoūded at the voyce of the Lord asshamed at his owne nakednesse and felt the dredfull indignation and curse of God whiche he had procured not onelie to him self but broght the same also vpon all his posteritie after him When the whole worlde was so corrupted in their owne wayes in the dayes of faithfull Noha no regarde was at all to the obedience of the liuinge Lorde nor yet to the godlie admonitions of iust Noha but euerie man was so drowned in his owne lustes that the space of an hundreth twenty yeares was not sufficiēt to moue them to repentance And therfore could they not escape the strange and horrible iudgement of God whiche immediatlie after folowed moste iustlie And althogh in that wicked generation abonded all kinde of wickednesse as well agaynst God as man in so muche as the earthe then might be compted a verie hell yet from whence proceaded all this rebellion against Goddes mightie maiestie but onelie for that they measured all thinges after their owne corrupt reason and not by his holie Lawes and preceptes Whiche they had now receaued of their forefathers hearde of Noah yea and had them ingrafted naturally in their hartes The probation wherof might easilie be deduced from all ages euen to oure tyme by innumerable and euident examples if it were nedefull in so playne a matter For who is so blynde that maye not se how man sheweth his rebellion neuer so muche as when he woulde be moste obedient in his owne sight and iudgement not measuringe the same by the streght lyne and true touchestone whiche is the Lawe and worde of God but suffringe him self to be led by his owne corrupte iudgemēt and affectiōs This turned the Wisdome of the Gentiles into mere folishnesse inuētinge shamefull idolatrye for true worshipp as witnessethe the Apostle This blynded the Ieues with hypocrisie and cloked holynesse makinge the Lawe of the liuinge Lorde to geue place to their inuented traditions by man Out of this stinkinge puddle of mans brayne haue issued forthe so great diuersitie of opinions and daungerous herisies wherwith the Churche of God hathe bē at all tymes horriblye tormented Finallie from hence hathe Antichriste filled his pestilente cupp of all sortes of deadlie poyson where of he hathe made the whole earthe almost and her kinges and Princes not onelie to drinke but to be most vilelie ouercome and dronken In whose defence they haue armed them selues against the Lorde ād Christe his Son whō notwithstanding with impudent mouthes they professe where as in verie dede they persecute him moste cruellie in his Saincts by all means possible fightinge as men in a rage vnder the banner of that filthie beast And yet these men in the middle of their furie without all obedience ordre subuertinge the Lawes of God and of nature will be called notwithstandinge the defenders of the faithe mayntayners of true religiō autours of peace teachers of obedience ād most discrete gouernours of common weales and policies To the intent therfore that these disguised personnes whiche abuse the whole worlde may appeare in their owne liuely shape and be knowen as they are in dede I haue thoght it good hauinge occasion by this worthie answere of Peter and Iohn and beinge hereto of diuers godlie persons prouoked somewhat to wryte of true obedience to wit what God him self requiereth of vs and what he commandethe to be geuen also to men Wherby God willinge the disguised clokes and craftie pretences of obedience vsed and practised by the vngodlie worldlings shal be discouered who haue soght alwayes and yet do seeke vnder the pleasant name of
few yeres in Englande alone do witnesse and returne to the Apostels Peter and Iohn to examine what answere they framed to these men of auctoritie and Rulers gathered to gether of all sortes as you haue harde as wel of the Cleargie as of the Laitie of suche as thē had the onlie gouernement of Ierusalem vnder the Romayns to whom they were then tributaries which charge and threatning of the whole Concil done with so great aduisement and consultation oght not lightlie to be estemed especiallie of the seruantes of God and their subiects as the Apostels then were They were charged and threatned to preache no more in the Name of Christe crucified An heauy commandement doutlesse to Peter and Iohn especiallie if it might haue taken place seing it was all together contrarie to their vocation and charge geuen vnto them by their maister Christ to preache his Gospell throughout all the worlde and to begyn at Ierusalem for which cause they were called and chosen from amongest all others and had bene of longe tyme instructed of their maister Christ in the knowledge of all his holie Scriptures ād replenished with wonderful giftes of the holie Goste to cure all deseases to cast out diuels to drinke poyson to tread vpon serpentes and to distribute the holye Spirit and all those to be as it were seales and cōfirmatiōs of their doctrine whiche all had bene to no porpose yf this commandement and threatninge of the Magistrats shuld haue bene obeyed the Apostels yelded to their auctoritie Then the foundation of the Churche shuld haue ben shaken and the whole assemble discouraged for the two Chief Captayns gyuinge ouer who durste haue presumed further And truelie if the Apostels at that tyme had bene no further instructed then the moste parte of men are in these our dayes and especiallie haue bene and yet be in our miserable countrie of Englande they would haue bene in great perplexitie and sore afrayde to haue made this or the like answere sayng Iudge you whither it be lawful before God to obeye you rather then God For the moste parte of men yea and of those whiche haue bene both learned and godlie and haue geuen worthie testymonie of their profession to the glorie of God haue thoght and taught by the permission of God for our synnes that it was not lawful in anie case to resist and disobeye the superior powers but rather to laye downe their heades and submitte them selues to all kindes of punishmentes and tyrannye thinkinge them selues sufficientlie discharged before God of their vocation and duetie hauing onlie the commandement of the superiour power to the contrarie were it neuer so vngodlie ād cleāe againste all natural reason wherby manye hauinge commandement to preache no more Iesus christ to the people without anie trouble of conscience haue keapt silence and thought thē selues sufficientlie discharged nether cōsidering that they were made stewards of Godes holye mysteries and that not at the appointment of man or for them selues but by the ordināce of our Sauiour Christ Iesus and to be faithful distributers to others Nether yet markinge this present answere of Peter and Iohn whom they might safely haue folowed with better assurance who in suche case haue lefte this lesson for all men rather to obaye God then mā Others hearinge the Name of God blasphemed by the false doctrine of the wicked and shaueling priestes durste not once open their mouthes to speak one worde in their maisters behalff and his infallible truethe but stopt theyr mouthes as dōme dogges ād durste not barke against the rauenīge wolff when they knew and saw him cōming Many not minding to obiecte them selues to anie daunger regardinge more their owne safetie then the preseruatiō of their flocke wolde not abide the wilde beaste commyng but moste shamefullie fledde before the daunger came shewing them selues playne hirelings and no true pastores leauinge the selie shepe of God to be deuoured and that because they had entred in to the folde before to feede of the flocke to eate the fleshe and deuoure the people of God as bread rather then to do their dueties But all these and suche like are here condemned and conuicted of euel which fearing man more then God gaue eare and obedience to man rather then to God Wherof besides the iuste shame that came vpon them selues and the displeasure of God powred generally vpon all for as muche as we all were betrayers of our maister thoghe not all a like iust occasion of offence and of like disobediēce to God was ministred to all sorts of men of what vocation so euer they were For when they sawe the teachers and leaders of others to set vp obedience of man rather then of God and the same confirmed by their owne example those whiche knewe no other thoght it their parte to do the like also in their vocation and office And suche as were playne enimies to God the wicked papistes or dissolute persons laughed in their sleues seing bothe them and their wicked proceadings therby promoted and furthered Where as to defend their kyngdome of darckenes ambitiō and idle belies there is no kyng so godly no contrey so peaceable nor no kyngdome so stronge which through their deuilishe entreprises and wicked persuasions they haue not studyed vtterly to subuert and destroy As the example of that desperat Moncke who to poison king Iohn wittingly and willingly poysoned him self O malicious deuil Likewise the oration of that moste traiterous and pestilent Cardinal Pole doth yet witenes to all the papists shame and confusion wherin he goeth about to perswade the wicked Emperour rather to tourne his power ād armie agaīst Kynge Hēry the eight ād Englād this doggs owne cōtrey thē against the infidels Turckes and Sarracenes blasphemouslie termīg the worde of God ād Gospel of saluation to be the Turckesh sede O impudēt mouth ô blasphemous beast which saist in thi heart Ther is no God And yet to all your shame ād vtter destructiō of your cōtrie you haue receaued him as a God whome before in your lawful kyngs dayes you moste iustely condemned as a traitour and very sonne of Antichrist The Counsellers whose office is to brydle the affectiōs of their Princes ād Gouuernours in geuīg such counsele as might promote the glorie of God ād the welthe of their cōtrie by this persuasion of obediēce haue hitherto sought and yet apearinglie do how to accōplishe and satisfie the vngodly lustes of their vngodlie ād vnlawful Gouernesse wicked Iesabel who for our synnes contrarie to nature and the manyfeste worde of God is suffred to raigne ouer vs in Goddes furie ād haue therby moste wickedlie betrayed Christe their countrie and thē selues so muche as lieth in thē to become slaues to a strange and foren nation the prowde Spaniards The Nobles also which thoghe vnworthilie wil be so called hearing no other preaching but that they must obeye their
malitious or ignorante whom verie nature will not compel to confesse it if he had no further knowledge Nether had these men for all their great a doo lōge consultacion hie learninge and wisdome desierous also to take occasion agaynst the Apostels anie thinge to saye for the cōtrary But as Gods enemies are accustomed when their mouthes are stopt either with raylinges or threatnings to expresse their rage so did they with Peter Iohn dimitting them at the last with bitter wordes and menaces and they departed notwithstandinge from the Concile by the means of this answere conquerours CHAP. V. ¶ To obeye man in anie thinge agaynst God is Vnlawfull ind playne disobedience NOw for as muche as we are assured of the trueth ād certantie of their answere wherof none can iustlie doute let vs somewhat further consider what thinges are prīcipallie here in conteyned First we maye hereof iustlie conclude that to obeye man in anie thinge contrary to God or his precepts thoghe he be in hiest auctoritie or neuer so orderly called there vnto as these men wherof Luke speaketh were is no obedience at all but disobedience Secondlie that it is not a sufficient discharge for vs before God whē we denye to accōplyshe their vnlawful demādes and threatnings except we do the cōtrarie euery man in his vocation and office as occasion is offred and as his power will serue Whiche thīges playnlie vnderstāde as they shal geue a clere light in this controuersie so do I not doute by this present answere and facte of Peter and Iohn to proue moste manifestlie that althoghe we were destitute of other examples yet this might appeare sufficient As touchinge the firste that there is no obedience agaynst God which is not playne disobedience the Apostles say Iudge you whither it be right or iust in Godds sight to obeye you rather thē God which is as muche as thei would saye It is not iuste nor lawful Thē if it be not lawful and iust in Goddes sight who iudgeth things truelie ād as thei be in dede it must nedes folowe that all maner of obediēce agaynst God ād his worde is playne disobediēce and the workers therof likewise condemned as rebells Why Bycause it is vniust and vnlawfull before God And all true obedience is lawful which must not be measured by the will of mā but by the iuste Lawes and ordinances of the liuinge Lorde So that after God hathe once pronounced anie thinge that he would haue done either in his Lawe or otherwise there is no man that may or can dispence therwith seeme it of neuer so litle importance in the iudgement of men He that commandeth the contrarie is a rebell and he that obeyeth likewise Neither dothe this appertayne to the Apostles and ministers onlie in their office but is a generall argument for all sortes estates and degrees of men for as muche as God hathe like auctoritie of all and all owe vnto him first and principall obedience and secondly vnto men for him and in him onlie except they wil be enimies to God and deny him to be their Lorde For so muche it is in effecte when we preferre men to God obedience to man before the obedience to God It is not the auctoritie of the Prince or the feare of his punishmēt that cā excuse in his presence who cōmādeth his people generalie high and lowe riche and poore man ād womā to heare his voyce and to obserue his statutes Nether to declyne vpon the right hand nor vpon the lefte nether to adde anie thinge therto or to take anie thinge from it but to do that onlie whiche the liuinge Lorde commādeth And if we be the shepe of the Lordes foulde it is not sufficiēt for vs to heare the voyce of our pastor ād to folowe him except we also deny to heare muche more to folowe anie other that is which calleth not with the voyce of the true pastor And as there ought to be no creature of like auctoritie amongest vs as our soueraygne Lorde and God whose creatures we be and the workemanship of his owne hādes euen so there is none like to him in dignitie or may be cōpared to him in power none like to him in riches or so able to rewarde his subiectes beinge Lorde of heauē and earthe disposer of all things present and to come distributer not onlie of all corporall and earthlie blessings to those that feare and serue him but also powreth vpon them all spirituall and heauenlie graces in great aboundance Moreouer as by his auctoritie power dignitie riches and liberalitie he maye of right demande of vs obedience so must we persuade our selues in not rēdring the same to him willinglie that none cā deliuer vs from his horrible punishementes and destruction whiche he threatneth vpon all such as wilfully trangresse his holie preceptes ād declyne from his Lawes Nether wil he regarde by what means or by whose cōmandement we transgresse his lawes For that can be no excuse for vs thoghe he be Kinge Quene or Emperour that commandeth or threatneth vs. For what is kinge Quene or Emperour compared to God Is the punishement of earthe ashes of vile man whose breath is in his nostrilles more to be feared then the plages of God who hath power both of body and soule to destroye thē euerlastingly Was it any earthly power that broght the waters vpon the vniuersall worlde and drowned all mankinde for synne viii persons excepted Did man destroye Sodome and Gomorrhe with fier and brymstone Came the plages of Egypt the drowninge of Pharao the ouertrow of the Cananites the subuersion of Ierusalem by the power of man If these be the workes of man and not of God feare man and not God but if there be none of these euells which cometh vpon anie Citie or contrie wherof the Lorde is not the worker beware that the feare of mans punishment cause thee not to fall in to the handes of this mightie reuēger whiche is an horrible thinge as the Apostle writeth Princes therfore and all powers vpon thee arth are not to be compared vnto God whose Lieutenants onlie they shuld be and are no longer then he wil in whose handes their hartes are to moue and turne at his pleasure And for that cause it is their duetie to seke all means possible wherbie the glorie of God might be aduanced by whom they are them selues so highlie exalted aboue their brethern and in no cause to minister occasion of rebellion agaynst his mightie Maiestie but rather to be examples to others ouer whom they are constitute of all Godlie liffe and lawfull obedience In consideration wherof God him selfe appoyntīg his people to haue a kinge which when they shulde come in to the lande of promesse for that was the first promotion that God ordeyned amongest his people which yet came not to suche pride to desire an Emperour did with great circumspection as well appoynt
by the cruel officiers of wicked Antiochus which had spoyled their TeÌ„pel rased their waules murthered their brethern and set vp idolatrie in so muche as all for the most parte applied them selues to their wicked parsuations that he with the residue shulde forsake the Lawes and sacrifices of their God to worshipp strange Goddes he made answere to the officer of Antiochus the kinge which would to God our Noble men had perfetly learned That thoghe all Nations apparteyning to kinge Antiochus shulde obeye him so that euery man would declyne from the Lawes of his countrie yet I saieth he my children and brethern wil stand in the conuenant of our fathers c. Which thing he performe din dede to the glorie of God to his owne saluation and comforte of his brethern and countrie for euer And euen at the self same tyme he slewe not onely a Iewe one of his owne brethern which came to sacrifice in his presence at the alter Modim according to the prescript of Antiochus but killed also the kiÌ„ges officer that coÌ„pelled him therto and afterwarde distroyed the altar aÌ„d folowed the Lawe of God with a zeale as did Phinees Matathias had then a litle power amongest his brethern but nothing to defende him self agaynst the kinge and also being charged with children and kinsfolk which semed to be all his power woulde nether pollute him self nor suffer theÌ„ to be polluted with wicked idolatrie nor couÌ„seles to be oppressed with tyrannie And yet we reade of no auctoritie or office he had to excuse him by but onelie this one thing which was comon to all other of his natioÌ„ the Lawes of their countrie and couenant of their fathers Which cause he thoght sufficieÌ„t to discharge his coÌ„science before God and to approue his doings For as muche as God had commanded him not onely to denie to do the commandement of the cruell tyrant Antiochus vnder whoÌ„ all Ierusalem then was by conqueste but manfully to professe him and his as open aduersaries to his Lawes and to resiste idolatrie by force in killing the idolatrer and the kinges seruant by whom he was compelled and in subuerting the altar where vpoÌ„ the idolatrous sacrifice shuld haue bene done Which was as you see manifeste resisting of the superior power being but maÌ„ to the intent he might shewe true obedience to his Lorde and God iÌ„n defending and maynteyning his Lawes which he calleth the couenant of their fathers yea and with the temporal sworde to the vttermost of his power TheÌ„ if Matathias herein did discharge his conscieÌ„ce before God and man in resisting by temporal power the kinge his commandements and officiers it is not onely the office of Apostles aÌ„d preachers to resist but the dewtie likewise of all others according to their estate and vocation But you will say perchance that this boke of the Macabees is not of sufficient auctoririe to persuade your consciences in the like case because it is not reputed to be amongest those bokes which are autentique and named Canonical Trueth it is but that thou which art in like and better estate because of thy power and auctoritie wherewith thou art as wel charged before God as kinge or Emperour mayst and shuldest with a safe conscience folowe this worthie example it is moste true and certayne For the facte of Mattathias dependeth not vpon the auctoritie of the boke wherin it is conteyned but vpon the worde of God whervpon it was grownded For hathe he done anie otherwise in his vocation then the Apostles did in theirs Did not they say that God is to be obeyed rather then man And so sayed Mattathias and muche more playner that thoghe all nations woulde obeye Antiochus yet he and so many as he coulde procure shulde obeye the true God and his Lawes And like as the Apostles according to their answer openlie and playnly in fight of the people did vse the spiritual sworde manfully fighting agaynst all rebellion of man in Goddes cause so did Mattathias vse the temporall sworde according to his power moued by the same reason agaynst idolatrie and oppression which is manifeste rebellion agaynst God Yea and if their were nether example nor Scripture to proue his facte yet would verie natural reason compel euery man to alowe the same as moste Godlie And that therin he did nothing but his duetie which thing was approued in the iudgement of that age and as a lawful facte and monument wryte and left to be red and practised of all posteritie the Lawe of nature so directing their iudgments But to put you out of all doute we will confirme it with an other testimonie most surely auctorised and the very same in effect of that renowmed and worthie Capitayne Iosua the sonne of Nun whome God him self had chosen to succede Moyses in the gouernement and leading of the people of Israel who after he had declared the benefites of God done vnto them from the tyme that he had chosen them to be his people namelie to Abraham whom he called from idolatrie to Isaac and Iacob and to the rest of the people their posteritie in deliuering them out of Egypt preseruinge them in the wildernesse and geuing to them his Lawes spake these wordes to the Elders aÌ„d all the multitude sayng Now therfore feare ye the Lord serue him vnfaynedlie and faithfullie take away the Goddes which your fathers worshipped beyonde the Riuer and in Egypte and serue the Lorde But yf you wil not serue the Lorde chose vnto you this day whom you will serue â–ª whither ye wil serue the Goddes beyonde the Riuer or the Gods of the Amorites in whose lande ye dwele As for me and my familie we will serue the Lorde answering as did Matathias And this spake he in his later dayes to admonishe them afore hande not to incline to idolatrie and to neglecte the Lawes of God which is the cause of all euill and gapp to all mischiff Which sayng of Iosua the true seruaÌ„t of God seemed so Godlie in the sight of all the people that all were compelled with a uehemencie of spirite to say God forbid that we shulde forsake the Lorde to serue strange Goddes For the Lorde our God him self broght vs out of Egypt and from the house of bondage What wilt thou more to proue this facte of Mattathias aÌ„d therbie thy duetie also whither thou be of the Seniors of the people or of the multitude Here is thy confession if thou be of God Yf all men would serue strange Godds yet will I and my familie serue the liuinge Lorde And agayne God forbid that we shulde leaue the obedience of our God by whome we are created redeâ—â—d and saued to serue strange Goddes And how caneste thou say that thou seruest God thy Lorde except thou vse all suche means as he hath geuen to thee in defence of his glorie beit counsel learning auctoritie power in bodie or in soule All muste serue the Lorde when he
appoynting six dayes for their trauell and the seuenth daye onely to reste and that to the honoring of our Lorde God Also by what means may the people be drawen from the dayes of riote and bancketing which they terme frindly feasting and goodfelloweshipp as from Whitsontides dronkennes and surfet Midsōmers shewes and vanities Christmas riote and bawdry Shroftetwesdayes glottony and Lents superstitious obseruations excepte by some Lawe of greater importance the rude people be otherwise perswaded And what other Lawes are there able to bringe this to passe besides the Lawes of God Wherin if they be not instructed it is impossible for any auctoritie or power to withholde them with out great daunger and tumultes from such kinde of disordres and vnlawfull customes Therfore if thou be a Ruler and couete to haue the people obedient to thee in Gods feare this muste be thy first and principall studie to procure that they may truely know God by the playne and diligent preaching of his worde wherī if they be well instructed there is no custome so longe continued no idlenesse so longe vsed no supersticion so deeply rooted which they will not gladly and peaceably for go at thy commandement yea there is nothing which is euill that they can for shame stande in nor any good and lawfull demande that they will deny thee By these means onely shalt thou obtayne honour maintayne thy right winne the hartes of thy people and haue them all obedient And as the Magistrates by this means are sure to finde obedience and escape all rebellion tumultes and disordres amonges their subiectes euenso is there no other rule for the subiectes to escape the idolatrie tyrannie and oppression of their superiors then in reteyning as their chief possession the self same Lawe and worde of God Permitting rather all thinges wordlie to be taken from them as landes goodes house cōtrie father mother wiffe children yea liffe it self then to be depriued by any means of that heauenly treasure and precious perle for the which they must sell althinges Wherof to be fullie perswaded it is necessary to vnderstande what maner of people you are Yf you be the people of God and vnfayned Christians then muste ye also knowe that the Lawe of God and Christe your Sauiour doth appertayne vnto you wherin as without shame ād condemnation ye may not be ignorāt euenso no power commandment or threatninges shulde cause you to departe from it wherin onely standethe that comforte and saluation which no creature can restore agayne vnto you The heathen which knewe not God a right but were idolatrers yet made their religiō to haue the highest place in their comon welthes as Aristotle writeth in his Politiques In the name wherof they might demande any thinge of their kinges and Rulers and they durst not denye them and might also with out offence deny all thinges which their Rulers demaunded contrarie to their religion In so muche as this prouerbe was comon amongest all Vsque ad Aras meaning that agaynst their religion as they were perswaded they were bownde to no persone father mother frende or gouernour their loue ād obedience towardes thē coulde stretch no further then to the Altars that is so farre as with obseruing their religion they might lawfullye performe Yf the Gentills then had their religion in such honour and reuerence that agaynst it thoghe in dede it was meere superstition and idolatrie they woulde acknowledge no obedience in what estimation shulde Gods worde and the religion of our Sauiour Iesus Christe be amongest vs that professe his Name and are assured of his doctrine to be the vndouted trueth and power of God to saluacion of all beleuers Yf the heathen kinges and Magistrates coulde cōpell their subiectes no farther then the Alters shall any auctoritie or power compell vs farther then God and his anoynted our chief kinge Lorde ād Maister Let it be counted shame to vs that the ignorant Gentils shuld be founde more carefull and zelous in defending their superstition and manifeste idolatrie then we are in mayntayning the true worship of God and his heauenly wisedome Yf we were Turkes Sarasins Iewes or papistes which either knewe not God a right or els denied his Sonne Iesus it were no great maruell if we were led after the lustes of our vngodly Princes For as our Maister teacheth When the blynde leadeth the blynde bothe fall in to the diche But if we will be taken for the people of God and his sonnes by adoption in Christ Iesus then it behoueth vs likewise to geue obediēce principally to our Lorde and Maister to our mightie God and moste louinge Father as Malachi the Prophet exhorteth The sonne reuerenceth the father and the seruaūt the maister yf I be your Father saith the Lorde where is the honor that you geue me Yf I be your Lorde and Maister where is my feare Notinge vnto vs how it is in vayne to call him Father or Lorde so long as we geue him not that honour and reuerence which he demandeth Also if we will not be taken for blynde and ignorante persones then must we shewe forth this light by walking as becomethe the childrē of light as the Apostle requirethe indifferently of all Gods children with out exceptiō or excuse either of guide or Ruler For the blyndnesse of our guide whither he be of the Cleargie or Laytie may be no excuse to vs if in folowing him we fall and perishe it is our owne faute and we must beare our owne iudgment For Christe hereof admonisheth vs Let thē a lone saithe he for they are blind guides and leaders of the blynd And agayne accordinge to their workes see ye do not Yf thou hauynge sight had appoynted to thee a blynde guide wouldeste thou folowe him into a daungerouse pit or deepe water wherin both might perishe because he was thy guide Then truely mightest thou be iudged of all men worse then either oxe or asse or any other vnreasonable beaste whiche will not be driuē in such places as to their outwarde sēses appeare daūgerous Nature onely teacheth all creatures this to flie frome those daungers that shulde hurte them and to desier all thinges that do them good And when God hath made this comon to all beastes ād inferior creatures paynefully to seeke their preseruation hathe he denied the same to man whome aboue all others he will haue preserued For whose preseruation chieflie he hath not onely created all thīges and prescribed his Lawes and commandements to prohibet murther and euery other thinge tendinge to his destruction but also to shewe the abundance of his mercies spared not his dearelye belouid Sonne but gaue him to the cruell death of the Crosse that man might haue full saluation not onely here in this world but euerlastingly in the worlde to come Wherfore if he tender vs so muche as to seeke by all meās possible our liffe and preseruation then must it likewise