Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

VVho is the Author of the Mgistrate?

God himselfe: for hee at the first, did so illuminate mens mindes, that he knoweth, he cannot liue without a guide, and gouernour, yea the verie Bees, doe acknowledge a King, and follow him, the Cranes haue a guide, and setting their rankes, doe keepe watch by night, which similies, taken from nature, doe declare that the institution of Magistrates is aswell naturall, as diuine. Besides Gene. 9.6. God made a Lawe, that hee who sheddeth mans bloud, his bloud should be shed by man, not by any man, but by one called lawfully to that office, and furnished with authoritie from God; and therefore it must be done by an ordinary Iudge or magistrate, who by a set

order may punish the offender, and execute the iudgement of God. Now since this is giuen to the Magistrate to punish Homi∣cides with capitall punishment, it is certaine also, that all other degrees both of causes, and punishments, are ratified and con∣firmed by that speach.

Exod. 18.21. Moses appointed Magistrates, the which (though hee did it by the aduise of Iethro) yet the Lord himselfe appoin∣ted it, Deut. 16.18. saying, Thou shalt appoint Iudges & Magistrates in all thy gates, that they may iudge the people with iudgement. And Deut. 16.13. and 19.2. the same God appointed both power and punishment, adding this seuere commaund, Thou shalt not pittie him, but shalt take euill from the middest of thee, that others hearing may feare. Now the morall and naturall parts of Moses Law ap∣pertained in generall to all ages in the world. Prou. 8.15. By me, saith Wisdome, which is the sonne of God, doe Kings raigne, and princes decree iustice, by mee princes rule, and the Nobles, and all the Iudges of the earth, that is, all their authoritie is from mee. 2. Cron. 19.6. Iehosaphat the king of Iuda speaketh thus to his Iud∣ges, Take heede what yee doe, for yee doe not exercise the iudgement of man but of God. Dan. 2.21. God setteth vp Kings, and translateth Kingdomes.

In the new Testament, Christ confirmeth Magistrates, when hee saith. Math. 22.21. Giue vnto Caesar the things that are Cae∣sars: and to Pilate. Iohn. 19.11, Thou hast no power ouer me, vnlesse it were giuen from aboue. and Paul. Rom. 13.7. There is no power but of God, and the powers that are, are ordained of God, or distributed by God, where note, that hee calleth authoritie, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.1 the ordinance of God, and verse. 4. and the 6. hee calleth the Magi∣strate the Minister of God, which also euen the heathen doe ac∣knowledge, as Hesiod when hee saith that Kings as of Iu∣piterb 1.2.

3. Moses, Iosua, the Iudges, Dauid, Hezechia, Iosias, and ma∣ny such like were often stirred vp by God himselfe, when he wold deliuer the people from the oppression of their enemies, and we may read in the Bible, that the condition of the people of Israell was neuer more miserable, then when they wanted lawfull Iud∣ges, and Magistrates, but were without a King: for then euery man had a superstition of his owne deuising, and all things, be∣came

dissolute by impunitie, whereby they fell into a thousand both publick and priuate calamitiesa 1.3. Now in that Peter calleth the Magistrate an humane ordinance, 1. Pet. 2.13. this hee doth not because man deuised it, (for it is an excellent gift of God) but because it is either proper to men, or appointed for the good of men. Out of all this wee may gather, that the Pope of Rome is Gods aduersary, in that he dares arrogate this to himselfe, to translate Kings, to set vp and pull downe whome hee will.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• a 1.3

  Iudg. 2.19 &. 4.1. &, 13.1. &, 17 6 &. 19.1. & 21, 25