Obj. ANother Tenent which is urged upon them is, that they deny the lawfull power of the Mastistrate, viz. that he hath power to put any to death, or at least for a Christian to be a Civill Magistrate.
Ans. The Apostle affirmeth the contrary, Rom. 13. 4. where he saith, That the power beareth not the Sword in vaine, and that he is the Minister of God, to shew revenge upon them that doe evil.
Obj. Our Saviour exhorteth us (in his Sermond) not to resist evill, so that Christ restraineth the power of revenging evill, given by Moses to the Magistrate.
Ans. Although this power was first given to the Magistrate, yet the Scribes and Pharisees corruptly applyed it to private re∣venge, so that Christ in this place disanulleth not the Law of Moses, but speaketh against their corrupt glosses of it.
Obj. We ought not to be subject unto Magestracy, because Christ hath made us free.
Ans. The internall liberty and freedome of the Spirit, doth not take away externall subjection unto the Magistrate, as the A∣postle saith, Art thou called being a servant, care not for it, 1 Cor. 7. 21. As one then may be a servant, and retaine his Christian liberty; so he may also be a subject. We read also that Cornelius a Centurion, and Sergius Paulus Pre-consul after their conversi∣on, was not charged to leave their calling.