The firste parte of the Christian instruction, and generall so[m]me of the doctrine, conteyned in the holy Scriptures wherein the principall pointes of the religion are familiarly handled by dialogues, very necessary to be read of all Christians. Translated into Englishe, by Iohn Shute, accordyng to the late copy set forth, by th'author Maister Peter Viret. 1565. Ouersene and perused, accordyng to the order appointed, by the Queenes maiesties iniunctions.

¶ Of those vvhich cōmit idolatries to their princes, preferring their lawes before the lawes of God, & what autoritie Gods word hath ouer all men, and ouer all their lawes.

[unspec 30] T. I Feare that there are many such, but there are many others that are not the worste people of the world, but yet they are idolaters of their princes. D. Thou dost right∣ly terme such men idolaters of their princes, for in that they take their princes for their law in matters of religiō & con∣science, and seeke not otherwyse to vnderstande the will of God, they make them their Gods and their idoles, and doe them great wronge, for it apperteyneth to no prince nor to any creature what soeuer or how excellent he be, no not to the very Angels of God, to geue lawes of religion & of the seruice of God, but onely to God himselfe, vnto whom this

seruice & the honour of such thinges doth appertaine. And therfore S. Paule sayth, that if he himself, yea if an Angell cōming frō heauen shoulde declare any other Gospell then y^t which he hath taught, which is y^e true Gospell of Christ, let y^e same Angell be a cursed. If he make the very Angells subiecte to y^e word of God, how much rather should all men which are but mortall creatures be subiecte to the worde of God? For vnto whom doth it belong to geue lawes, eyther to the prince or els to his subiectes? T. It is for the prince to geue lawes, & for the subiectes to receaue & obserue y^e same. D. Well then if religion haue none other regard, but to the honour & seruice of y^e onely God, and y^t his pleasure is that none shal haue power of y^e soules & consciences of men, but onely he himself, and y^t he hath as great authoritie ouer the greatest Monarches, Emperours, Kings, princes & lordes, as he hath ouer the meanest of their subiectes, how great a presumption should this be of them: to dare take in hand to geue lawes to their soueraigne prince (I saye of those y^t are but his subiectes & vassalles) to cōmaund y^t men shall serue him according to their appoyntment, & not to his? T. That were to be Lord & not subiecte, maister and not seruant. D. Would they them selues endure this at y^e hands of y^e grea∣test of their subiectes? And yet is there no suche comparison betwene God & them, as is betwene them & their subiectes. For they are mortall men as their subiectes are, they maye erre as other men may. And fall by the iuste iudgementes of God, frō rule into seruitude & subiection, yea oftentimes into y^e subiection of their own subiectes, as it hath oftētimes happened to many: for that they would not obey God, but tooke in hand to be aboue him, none of these thinges maye happen to God.

Notes

• Galath. i.