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.

Doth the care of Religion belong to the Magistrates?

Yea;* 1.1 for as Augustine saith Herein Kings serue the Lord as they are Kings when they doe those things which they could not doe except they were Kings, that is, when they publish and set forth Edicts, and decrees for true Religion. And if the care of Religi∣on doe appertaine to euerie housholder, as the father of the familieh 1.2, much more then to a Magistrate, who is the father of all his subiects.

But the care of setting vp or restoring of Religion according to the prescript of Gods word, and of maintaining the same, doth then especially belong to the Magistrate, when the Bishops are negligent, or aduersaries to the Gospell: but the administration of Religion belongeth to the Ministers of the word. Wee see what the Scripture requireth of the Magistrate, Psal. 2.12. Kisse the sonne and serue the Lord in feare, and Psalm. 24.7, Lift vp your heads O yee gates, and bee yee lift vp yee euerlasting doores, that is, Open your gates O yee Princes, that the King of glorie may enter in. Hee calleth the Empires themselues and so also Kings, Princes and Magistrates, Gates, because in olde time

Iudgemēt was giuen in the gates. And therfore when Ioas was in∣stalled into his Kingdom he had the book of the Lawe of God giuen into his handsi 1.3, according to the commaundement, Deut. 17.18. And for this cause especially, the Magistrate is by the Apostle called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the minister and seruant of Godk 1.4. To this purpose tend the examples of Moses, Dauid, Iosias, Ezekias, Theodosius, and others. And these precepts belong to the whole Church and euery member thereof. Mat. 7.15. Take heede of false Prophets or false teachers. 1. Cor. 5.13. Take away the euill or wicked person from amongst you. Gal. 1.8. If any man teach any other Gos∣pell, let him be accursed.

Further he is to see that all thing; be done decently, & orderly in the celebration of the outward worship & seruice of God by the aduice & counsel of good & godly Church gouernours. And that such an Ecclesiasticall order being once rightly established, may be kept and obserued. Dauid. 1. Chro. 13.5. by the counsell of the captains, & gouernours, took the Arke of the Lord from Ci∣riath Icarim, to carie it to Ierusalem: and 23.2, and the verses following he calleth the Leuites and disposeth to euery one his office: and 2. Chron. 29.5. Ezechias being made King, presently restoreth Gods worshippe, commanding the Priests to sanctifie themselues, and to purge the temple.

It is likewise also the Princes duetie, to haue a care of those Schooles wherein good learning, and those Arts that are necessa∣rie for the Church are taught, and deliuered, to nourse, and traine vp in conuenient sort, godly teachers, and to foster and make much of the Church, as it is said. Esay. 49.23. Thy Kings shall bee noursing fathers and thy Queenes noursing mothers. They must also bee examples of pietie and vertue, as Dauid vowed and professed that hee would bee when hee should be aduanced to the Royall thronea 1.5. And Claudian saith very wel speaking to a prince on this manner.

In commune iubes, si quid censesue tenendum, Primus iussa subi, tunc obseruantior aequi Fit populus, nec ferre vetat, quum viderit ipsum,

Auctorem parere sibi: componitur orbis Regis ad exemplum: nec sic inflectere sensus Humanos edicta valent, quàm vita regentis, Mobile mutatur semper cum principe vulgus.

If people thou commaundest, and think'st they should obey: Thou first must keepe thine owne edicts, then will they not gainsay, The princes life a Lawe, the people euer make, As Princes change, vnconstant folke to change occasion take,

Notes

• * 1.1

  Epist. 50. ad Bonif.
• h 1.2

  Eph. 64
• i 1.3

  2 K, 11.21
• k 1.4

  Rom, 13.2, 4.6
• a 1.5

  Psa, 101