An harmony of the confessions of the faith of the Christian and Reformed Churches which purelie professe the holy doctrine of the Gospell in all the chiefe kingdomes, nations, and prouinces of Europe: the catologue and order whereof the pages following will declare. There are added in the ende verie shorte notes: in which both the obscure thinges are made plaine, & those thinges which maie in shew seeme to be contrarie each to other, are plainelie and verie modestlie reconciled, and if anie points doe as yet hang in doubt, they are sincerelie pointed at. All which things, in the name of the Churches of Fraunce and Belgia, are submitted to the free and discrete iudgement of all other Churches. Newlie translated out of Latine into English. Also in the end is added the confession of the Church of Scotland. Alowed by publique authoritie.

Of the ciuill power, or ciuill Magistrate. CHAP. 16.

FVrthermore, it is taught out of the holie Scripture, that the ciuill Magistrate is the ordinance of God, and appointed by God: whoe both taketh his originall from God, and by the effectuall power of his presence, and con∣tinuall aide is mainteined to gouerne the people in those things which appertaine to the life of this bodie here vpon earth: whereby also he is distinguished from that spirituall * 1.1state: whereof is that worthie sentence of Paull, There is no power but of god, & the power that is, is ordeined of god. Then ac∣cording to these points, all they that beeing indued with this authoritie doe beare publique offices, of what kinde soeuer they be, beeing in the degree of Magistrates, necessarilie must know, acknowledge, and remember this, that they are Gods deputies, and in his steade, and that God is the Soue∣raigne Lord and King, euen of them all, as well as of other men, to whome at length in the last daie they must giue an account, of the degree wherein they were placed, of their dominions, and of the wholl administration of their go∣uernment, whereof it is expresselie written in the booke of Wisdome, and else where.

* 1.2 And seeing they doe gouerne in stede of God vpon earth, and are his Lieuetenants, it is meete that they frame them∣selues to the example of the superior Lord, by following, and resembling him, and by learning of him mercie and iu∣stice. As touching these therefore such an instruction hath beene deliuered, that they who are in authoritie ought to doe good vnto others, according to that which Christ saith, * 1.3They that are mightie are called gratious, or bounteous Lords, and that in regard of their duetie they are especiallie bound thereunto, and that this is their speciall charge, that they cherish among the people without respect of persons, iustice, peace, and all good things that are appertaining vnto the time: that they protect and defend their peaceable sub∣iects, their rightes, their goodes, their life and their bo∣dies,

against those that wrong, and oppresse them, or doe any waies indammage, or hurt them: also against the vn∣iust violence of the Turkes, together with others that doe the like, to succour and defend them: and so to serue the Lorde God herein, that they beare not the sword in vaine, but valiantlie, couragiouslie, and faithfully vse the same to execute the will and workes of God therewith. Hereof in the holie Scripture such are called Gods, and of Saint Paull, * 1.4the Ministers of God. The Magistrate, saith he, is the Minister of God for thy good; who is sent, as Peter saith, to take vengeance on those that doe euill, and to giue honour vnto those that doe good.

But for as mueh as the Magistrate is not onelie the power of God, in that sort, as the scripture doth ascribe that title euen to an heathen Magistrate, as Christ said vnto Pilate, Thou couldest haue no power ouer mee, vnles it were giuen thee from * 1.5aboue: but the Christian Magistrate ought also to be a parta∣ker, * 1.6and as it were, a minister of the power of the Lambe Iesus Christ, whome God hath in our nature made Lord and King of Kings, that Kings of the earth, who in times past had beene heathen, might come vnder the power of the Lambe, and giue their glorie vnto the Church, and become nources thereof: which then began to be fulfilled, when they recei∣ued Christian religion, and made them nestes vnder the tree of mustard seed, which is faith. Then for this cause the Chri∣stian Magistrate is pecularlie taught to be such a one, that he should well vs•• this glory and portion of his authority, which he hath common with the Lamb, and that he betray it not to Satan and to Antichrist, vnles he will be transformed into that beast, and hideous Monster, which carieth the beast, and that he be not ashamed of the name of Iesus Christ our Lord, and that by this authoritie of his he set forth the truth of the holie gospell, make waie for the trueth whersoeuer, be a defender of the ministers and people of Christ, suffer not so farre as in him lieth Idolatrie, or the tyrannie of Antichrist, much lesse follow the same, although he be driuen to sustein some harme therefore, and so lay downe his crowne before the Lambe, and serue him together with the spirituall Kings and priests of the holie Church, that is, with all the faithfull, and Christians that are called to eternall life. Whereunto also the second psalme doth exhort Magistrates▪

* 1.7 which it is profitable often to remember, where it is thus read, And now ye Kings vnderstand, and be ye learned that iudge the earth serue the Lord with feare, & reioyce vnto him with trembling, Hereupon it followeth and is concluded by force of argu∣ment: namelie, that whosoeuer doth vse in such sort as hath beene said, this ordinarie power of God and of the Lambe, with patience in their aduersities, as well on the right, as on the left hand, they shall receiue for this thing, and for their labour a large and infinite reward and blessing of God vpon earth, and also in the life to come, through faith in Christ: and contrariwise vpon the wicked, cruell, and bloodthirstie, that repent not, shall come the paines of * 1.8fearfull vengeance in this life, and after this life euerlasting torment.

Moreouer the people also are taught of their duety, and by the word of god are effectuallie therto inforced, that al and e∣uerie of them, in all things, so that they be not contrary vn∣to God, performe their obedence to the superior power, first to the Kings Maiestie, then to all Magistrates, and such as are in authoritie, in what charge soeuer they be placed, whether they be of themselues good men, or euill; so also to al their ministers, and such as are sent with commission from them, to reuerence & honour them, and yeald vnto them all things, whatsoeuer by right are due vnto them; and to per∣forme and paie vnto them, honour, tribute custome, and such like whereunto they are bound. But in thinges pertei∣ning to mens soules, to faith and eternall saluation, of those the people is taught, * 1.9that they ought to obey no man more then God, but God onelie and his holy word aboue al things * 1.10and especially, according to that which the Lord commaun∣deth, Giue vnto Cesar the things which are Cesars, and vnto God the things which are Gods. But if some should attempt to re∣mooue any from this Christian and true opinion, they ought to follow the example of the Apostles, who with a bolde cou∣rage nothing at all daunted answered the Magistrate and counsell of Ierusalem in this manner, We ought rather to obey * 1.11God, then men. Whereof also is to be seene the iudgement of the olde fathers, and of the Canon law: where they thus write, and these are the wordes of S. Ierome: If the Lord (or magistrate) commaund those things that are not contrary to the holy

scriptures, let the seruant be subiect to the Lord: but if 〈◊〉〈◊〉 anie thing contrarie, let him rather obey the Lord of his p••••rit then of his bodie. And a litle after. If it be good which the Emperor com∣maundeth, do the will of him that commaundeth: if it be euill, an∣swer, we ought rather to obey God then men.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 13.
• * 1.2

  Sap. 6.
• * 1.3

  Luc. 22.▪
• * 1.4

  Psal. 82. Iohn. 10. Rom. 13. 1. Pet. 2.
• * 1.5

  Ioh. 19.
• * 1.6

  Apoc. 1. & 1••. 1. Tim. 6. Isa 49. Math. 15. Lu. 13.
• * 1.7

  Psal. 2.
• * 1.8

  Psal. 82. Sap. 6.
• * 1.9

  Looke the 2. obseruat.
• * 1.10

  Math. 22.
• * 1.11

  Causa. 11 Quaest. 3. Cap. Si Do∣minus.