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 kind of authority hath the magistrate?

In diuine matters, it is fully contained within the limits of Gods word. Deut. 12.8. Let not euery man doe that which seemeth right in his owne eies. And Math. 15.9. They worship me in vaine, teach∣ing for doctrines mens precepts. But in the outward gouernment of the Church, the king ought to confirme the decrees of the Eccle∣siasticall Synod which himselfe hath assembled. 1. Chro. 23.2. &c.

But in humane matters it extendeth it selfe a great deale fur∣ther. For the magistrates law is.

1 To commaund his subiects necessarie duties tending both to the publike weale, and safetie, and to euery particular mans profit, and commoditie.

2 To compell euerie man in his order, and estate, whether it be Ecclesiasticall or ciuill, to doe his dutie, and to punish those that are found rebellious.

3 He hath power also ouer the goods of his subiects, and they are all the kings, as we vse to say, not simply, or for occupation, & possession, (for Gen. 47.20.24. Ioseph bought the whole land of Aegypt for Pharao, and afterwards let it againe to the Aegyp∣tians, that they should be the perpetuall tillers of it, and should answere vnto Pharao a fift part of the increase.) But they are the kings, as concerning protection, defence, and lawfull administra∣tion of Iustice: which wee see confirmed by the historie of wic∣ked Achab, who was punished by God for taking away by vio∣lence Naboths vineyard.

4 The king hath right to require ordinarie tributes, or tolle of the heads, grounds, and immoueable goods of his subiects,a and portage, or custome of wares, brought in or caried out, and tri∣bute of their fields, & subsidies according to the estimate of their whole substance. And these ought still to be ordinarie, for the vpholding of the publike charge of his office, and to maintain the glorie and dignitie of his house. Math. 17.25. and 22.21. Giue vnto Caesar those things which are Caesars. Rom. 13.6.7. Giue vnto all men their dutie, tribute to whom tribute: custome to whom custome belongethb. And the king hath right also to demaund extraordinarie tribute, when any vrgent necessitie requireth it, but not to spend wastfully or riotously.

His exactions therefore must be moderate, least they being immoderate, he doe thereby ouerthrow, exhaust, and deuoure his peoplec. And let Princes remember, that what tribute or custome soeuer they haue of the people, it is the publicke good, and must not be an instrument of priuate lust or tyrannie. The saying of Tiberius is well knowne. It is the part of a good shepheard, to sheare his sheepe, but not to fleece them. And therfore in Danielld, a king is described to be like a tree, vnder which many gather fruit, are fed, and shadowed, and in which many build. And to the pub∣licans & officers of Princes, Saint Iohn Baptist preacheth, Luc. 3.13

Require no more then that which is appointed vnto you.

5 He hath right to determine all controuersies according to the law, and to make lawes, and edicts, such as may be requisite for the right ordering of ciuill gouernment: as namely concer∣ning Iudiciall proceedings, punishment of offenders, contracts, successions, and the like, according to the diuers circumstances of place, time, and persons. But he cannot take away the funda∣mentall lawes of the kingdome, or commonwealth, but by the free consent of all estates and degrees.

Notes

• a

  1 K. 21.2
• b

  1 Sam. 8 11 Gen 41.34 47.2.6 Dan. 2.4, 8,
• c

  Psal. 53, 5 1 King, 12.11
• d

  Dan. 4.7, 12