Bishop Overall's convocation-book, MDCVI concerning the government of God's catholick church, and the kingdoms of the whole world.

CAN. I.

AND therefore if any Man shall af∣firm, under colour of any thing that is in the Scriptures, either that the Doctrine of Grace in the New Testament doth more abolish the rules of Nature, or Moral Law of God, than it did in the Old; or that through Faith the said Law was not rather establisht than in any sort impeached; or, that because as many as believe are redeem∣ed, and made free from the Curse of the Law, they are therefore exempted, and free from the obedience of the Law; or, that by the Incarnation of our Saviour Christ, o∣bedience to the Fifth Commandment, touch∣ing honour due to Parents and Princes, was in any sort impeached, the rest of the Law being established; or, that our Sa∣viour Christ having undertaken the fullfil∣ling of the whole Law (as far forth, at the least, as ever Mankind was bound to have fullfilled it) came short in this one Law, by exempting himself from any obe∣dience due to the civil Magistrate; or, that he, having tied himself according to the said Commandment, as well to the obedience of the civil Magistrate, as the obedience which

was due to his Parents, did not, whilst he lived in the World, fullfil the Law wholly concerning them both; or, that he did any way, or at any time encourage the Jews, or any other, directly or indirectly, to Rebel, for any cause whatsoever, against the Roman Emperour, or any of his subor∣dinate Magistrates; or, that he did not ve∣ry willingly, both himself pay Tribute to Caesar, and also advise the Jews so to do; or, that when he willed the Jews to pay Tri∣bute to Caesar, including therein their duty of obedience unto him, he did not therein deal plainly and sincerely, but meant secret∣ly that they should be bound no longer to be obedient unto him, but until by force they should be able to resist him; or, that he did not utterly and truly condemn all devices, Conferences and resolutions whatsoever, either in his own Apostles, or in any other Persons, for the using of force against civil Authority; or, that it is, or can be more lawful for any private Persons, either of St. Peter's calling, or of any other Profes∣sion, to draw their Swords against Au∣thority, though in their rash Zeal they should hold it lawful so to do, for the preservation of Religion, than it was for St. Peter for the preservation of his Masters Life; or,

that by Christs's words above-mentioned, all Subjects of what sort soever, without exception, ought not by the Law of God, to perish with the Sword, that take, and use the Sword for any cause against Kings and Soveraign Princes, under whom they were born, or under whose Iurisdiction they do inhabit; or, that seeing our Savi∣our Christ would not have the Samaritans to be destroyed with Fire from Heaven, al∣though they were at that time divided in Religion from the Jews, and refused to re∣ceive him in Person, it is not to be ascribed to the Spirit of Satan for any private Men to attempt by Gunpowder, and Fire from Hell, to blow up and destroy their Sove∣raigns, and the whole State of the Coun∣try where they were born and bred, because in their conceits they refused some part of Christ's Doctrine and Government; or, that Christ did not well, and as the said Fifth Commandment did require, in submitting himself as he did to Authority, although he was first sent for with Swords and Staves, as if he had been a Thief, and then afterward carried to Pilate, and by him (albeit he found no evil in him) con∣demned to Death; or, that by any Do∣ctrine or Example, which Christ ever

taught, or hath left upon good Record, it can be proved lawful to any Subjects, for any cause of what nature soever, to de∣cline either the Authority and Iurisdiction of their Soveraign Princes, or of any their lawful Deputies and inferiour Magi∣strates ruling under them; He doth greatly Erre.

Notes

• Matt. 26. 55.