M. Hardinge.
Your seconde argumente for the Ecclesiastical Power of Kinges is, because God bad them to cut downe superstitious groues, and ouerthrowe idols:* 1.1 as though this were not an office of executinge a commaundemente, rather then of decreeinge any thinge. The Authoritie to discerne an image of Christ from an idol of the deuil, belongeth to them, who knowe, that an image is a name of art, which is of God: an idol is a name of false woorshippinge, whiche is of the Deuil. So that an image is godly: and idol deuilishe. VVhen the Prieste hath iudged this, or that, to be an idol, or when it is e∣uident, that so it is, then the kinge shal do wel to breake it downe.‡ 1.2 But if the Kinge wil breake downe the image of Christe, when the Priest telleth him it is a godly representation, and no idol: then the Kinge dothe more then his office requireth: And shal not onely not proue his supremacie, but also shal incurre danger to be reiected of God,* 1.3 as Kinge Saul was, when he despised to keepe the com∣maundement of Samuel the high Prieste.
VVhereas you alleage for a Kinges Ecclesiastical Power, that he was commaunded to write out the Booke of the lawe for him selfe: why lefte ye out that, whiche foloweth there immediately, accipiens exemplar à Sacerdotibus Leuiticae tribus?* 1.4 The Kinge muste write out a Booke of the Deuteronomie: but the example thereof he must receiue of the Priestes that be of the tribe of Leut. If in spiritual matters the Kinge were aboue the Priestes.* 1.5 why had he not the Kepinge of the Lawe in his owne handes? VVhy muste he take it of the Priestes? why did not rather the Priestes come to him, sith the inferiour taketh al his right of the superiour? If the Priestes muste geue the holy scripture vnto the Kinge, then verely muste he take sutche as they geue him, and with such meaning, as they geue vnto it. So that if you had not‡ 1.6 falsefied the meaninge of Gods woorde by leauinge out halfe the sentence, this place had proued againste you. It is to be weyed to what ende a Kinge is required to haue, and to reade that holy Booke. Verely not to take vpon him the parte of a iudge in causes of Religion: but as there it is expressed, to thintent he learne to feare his Lorde God,* 1.7 and kepe his woordes, and ceremo∣monies in the lawe commaunded, and that his harte be not lifted vp into pride, aboue his brethren, &c.* 1.8 I omitte, that you reade, Librum legis, whereas the Churche readeth Deuteronomium: * it were too longe to enter into that disputation. The booke of the lawe, signifieth the whole law: the Deuteronomie is but one of the fiue bookes.
VVhere Esaie calleth a Kinge a Patrone of the Churche, I haue not founde. But were it he called him so, it betokeneth, that he shoulde defende the Churche from worldly ennimies, as in repellinge the Turkes, in expellinge Heretikes, and sutche like Kingely actes. VVhiche proueth no spiritual supre∣macie, but vnder God a fealtie, and seruiceable power. I finde where Esaie saith, Et erunt Reges nutricij tui, & Reginae nutrices tuae.* 1.9 Kinges shal be thy fosterers, and Quenes thy nourses. But not euery nourse, or fosterer is aboue him, who is nourished.‡ 1.10 A faitheful seruant oftentimes fostereth the maister. Yet is he not aboue his maister. Besides, S. Hierome vnderstandeth the Kinges, whom Esaie nameth, to be the Apostles: accordinge to whiche sense, it maketh nothinge to the purpose it is allea∣ged for.