DIAL. II.
Verses 1, 2. For there is no power but of God, and the po∣wers that be, are ordained of God. Whosoeuer therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God, and they that resist, shall receiue to themselues damnation.
HOw doth our Apostle proceede?
In these words, and the verses following, he rendreth sundry and weighty reasons why we ought to be subiect to Magistrates, whereof the first is taken from the efficient cause and author, which is neither for∣tune, nor chance, nor men, nor Angels, good or badde, but onely God himselfe, whose ordinance we are bound to reuerence, and be subiect to it; but powers or magi∣strates are Gods ordinance, therefore we must bee sub∣iect to them. This is the first argument which may bee thus further pressed and vrged. It is a comely and an ho∣nest thing to submit our selues vnto that order which comes from God, who is not the authour of any thing that is euill: therefore, seeing Magistracie is a thing which God hath set amongst men, it is a seemly and ho∣nest thing to submit our selues vnto it.
May we not gather from the first words, that there* 1.1 are sundry powers, and that they are all of GOD one and o∣ther?
Yea, this Text implyeth, that there are sundrie* 1.2