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THE STUMBLING-BLOCK OF Disobedience and Rebellion, &c.
CHAP. I. The Doctrine of Obedience laid down by CALVIN, and of the Popular Officers supposed by him, whereby he overthroweth that Doctrine.
- 1. The purpose and design of the Work in hand.
- 2. The Doctrine of Obedience unto Kings and Princes, soundly and piously laid down by Calvin.
- 3. And that not only to the good and gra∣cious, but even to cruel Princes and un∣godly Tyrants.
- 4. With Answer unto such Objections as are made against it.
- 5. The Principles of Disobedience, in the supposal of some popular Officers ordain∣ed of purpose, te regulate the power of Kings.
- 6. How much the practice of Calvin's fol∣lowers doth differ from their Masters Doctrine in the point of Obedience.
- 7. Severasl Articles and points of Doctrine, wherein the Disciples of Calvin are de∣parted from him.
- 8. More of the differences in point of Doctrine betwixt the Master and his Scho∣lars.
- 9. The dangerous consequences which arise from his faulty Principles, in the point or Article of Disobedience.
- 10. The method and distribution of the fol∣lowing Work.
SOME Writers may be likened unto Jeremies Figs, [unspec I] of which the Prophet saith, that if they were good, they were very good; if evil, very evil, such as could not be eaten they were so evil. Of such a tempera nd esteem was Origen amongst the Ancients, of whom it was observed (not without good cause) that in his Expositions of the Book of God and other learned Tra∣ctates which he writ and published, where he did well, none could do it better, and where he failed at all, no man erred more grosly. And of this sort and composition was Mr. Calvin of Geneva, than whom there is not any Minister of the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas, who hath more positively expresly laid down the Doctrine of Obedience unto Kings and Princes, and the unlawfulness of Subjects taking Arms against their Soveraign; nor opened a more dangerous gap to disobedience and rebellions in most States of Chri∣stendom. In which it is most strange to see how prone we are (such is the frailty and corruption of our sinful nature) to refuse the good, and choose the evil; to take no notice of his words when it most concerns us, when we are plainly told our duties both to God and man; and on the other side to take his words for Oracles, his Judgment for infallible, all his Geese for Swans, when he saith any thing which may be useful to our purposes, or serve to the advancement of our lewd designs. The credit and authority of the man was deservedly great amongst the people where he lived; and in short time of such authority and esteem in the World abroad, that