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.

But since many bad men, yea tyrants are Magistrates, and in gouern∣ments much iniustice is committed, in iudgements are many deceipts, can we say that euen their offices are of God?

1. Surely they are, because they are the good ordinances of God. Rom. 13.1. as for these abuses and corruptions they are in the persons, who take vpon them the office of Magistrates, neither are these from God, but haue another beginning, as from the Diuell, and from both the malice and weaknesse of men: we must therefore distinguish betwixt the office, and bad persons which are in office.

For this is a fallacion of the accident, when by reason of the corruption of some gouernours, & manifold confusions in mans life, the politick gouernment it selfe is condemned.

2. Neither must wee looke onely what euill is in gouernment, but what good is in it: the good, wee must commend, as, the consociation of mankinde, marriage, and in it, the procreation, and education of children, contracts, distinctions of Lordships, iudgements, punishments of the wicked, defence of the good, nourceries to schooles, and Churches, and such like: but as for

the euils in gouernment, wee must wisely couer them, and by the consideration of our good, not so much as name them.

3. To conclude, corruptions in gouernments are oftentimes punishments, and as it were prisons, whereby God doth punish the sins of men, as it is said. Ecclesiasticus, 10.8. Because of the vn∣righteous dealing and wrongs, and riches gotten by deceipt, the King∣dome is translated from one people to another, and this saying is often true, Quicquid delirant reges, plectuntur Achini.

Let Grecian Princes doe amisse, The Grecian subiect punisht is.