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.

What is the office of the Magistrate?

1. In generall, that hee keepe and obserue both the tables of the Lawea and so first and principally kisse the sonne, and doe him homage, with due seruice and true reuerence.

2. That hee erect, according to the word of God, and also defende, and maintaine, gods true worshippe, and prohibit all false worshipb,d and take away, and remoue whatsoeuer may seeme to bee any hinderance to true Religion, after the example of Ezechias,e Iosias, and Nebuchadnetzarc.

3. Hee must bee helpefull to the Church with his counsell and substance, and promote the ministerie of the word. Psal. 122.9. For the house sake of my God, I will procure thy good: and Isa. 49.23. Thy Kings shall bee nursing fathers, and thy Queenes nursing mothers.

Furthermore in humane matters, he must execute iudgement, and iustice, that is to say, hee must punishe the wicked, defend and rewarde the good, deliuer the afflicted out of the hands of the wicked, helpe the orphane, giue righteous iudgement to

the poore fatherlesse, and needie that haue none to helpe themf: he must bee a preseruer of peace. But if neede so require he must defend his subiectes with armes, and the Dominions that are committed to his trust by warre, hee must bridle them that in∣fring the peace, defend his prouinces from Rapines, and other annoyances, and recouer those things that are iniuriously taken away.

So Alphonsus King of Naples his Symbole was the pelli∣cane pecking bloud out of her breast with her bill, to refresh her young ones, with this inscription, pro lege & pro grege, for the Lawe and for the Land: hee must bee 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is to say, hee must with a fatherly affection prouide foode for his subiectes as Ioseph didg.

Lastly hee must gouerne the common wealth, and guide his iudgements, by lawes honest and agreeable to reason.

Notes

• a

  Sent. 17, 17
• b

  Deut. 13, 5, 6
• d

  2. K. 23, 2, 4.
• e

  Dan. 3.29
• c

  2 K. 18, 4
• f

  Gen. 9, 6 Psal. 82 3.4 72, 2.12
• g

  Gen. 45 48,