A plaine exposition vpon the whole thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth chapters of the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romanes Wherein the text is diligently and methodically resolued, the sense giuen, and many doctrines thence gathered, are by liuely vses applied for the benefit of Gods children. Performed with much varietie, and conuenient breuitie, by Elnathan Parr Bachelor in Diuinity, and preacher of Gods word. To which is prefixed an alphabeticall table, containing the chiefe points and doctrines handled in the booke.

VERSE 1. Let euery soule be subiect to the higher Powers:—

IN the latter end of the twelfth Chapter hee spake against Reuenge; now lest any infer••e, therefore not lawfull to vse the Magistrate in cases of wrong: Saint Paul seasona∣bly adioynes a commandement to be subiect to Magistrates, and so, not publique but priuate Reuenge to be vnlawfull.

This first part containeth two things: first a Precept: se∣condly, Reasons of obedience thereunto.

The Precept peremptorily set downe in these words; hath the Thing, Subiection: and the Persons, which are two, yeel∣ding subiection, Euery soule: and to whom it is to bee yeel∣ded, which are set downe, Powers: and distinguished, Higher Powers.

To begin with the Exposition of the last words first.

Powers: Not Angels (though the Greeke word a may be so construed elsewhere) but Magistrates, nor Ecclesiasticall Magistrates properly, but ciuill Magistrates, whose is the Sword, and to whom Tribute is due.

Ciuill Magistracie is an Ordinance of God for the punish∣ment of euill doers, and for the praise of them that doe well, 1. Pet. 2.14.

He saith not, To Emperours, Kings, &c. but Powers, na∣ming the Thing, not the Persons: because, though the Officer may be wicked, and in regard of his person be vnworthy of respect, yet the Office is to be honored and respected: and the Power alwayes to be obeyed.

Powers, in the plurall, For there are diuers kinds. A Mo∣narchie, an Aristocratie, a Demoeratie, when one alone, when some of the best, when the people, or most part rule all things; vnder which of these soeuer wee liue, wee must bee subiect thereunto.

Higher: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which are, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in authoritie, as it is translated 1. Tim. 2.2. that is, high or excellent Authority: For there are Powers from God which are more meane, and not so general and publike, as of Fathers, Masters, &c. which are not meant in this place.

And not onely to the Supreame Magistrate, but vnto all Gouernours sent and appointed by him, as Saint Peter ex∣pounds b.

Be subiect. The word signifies an orderly subiection; and implies, the reuerence of the heart, respectfull language and gesture, obedience without resisting, &c. A Subiection wil∣ling, and in due manner.

Euery soule. Soule for the whole Man by a Synechdoche, he being so called from his most noble part: The Magistrate hath most power ouer the bodies of their Subiects; but Soule is named, eyther by an Hebraisme, or to shew the manner of the obedience required, that it must be ex animo, euen from the very soule.

Euery soule. No exemption of any who enioy the bene∣fit of the lawes in the Common-wealth, of which they are members, vpon any pretence whatsoeuer, in regard of Ec∣clesiasticall calling, or otherwise.

All which liue vnder any ciuill Gouernment, [Doctr.] must vnto the Gouernours yeeld obedience and subiection, Matth. 22.21. Ren∣der vnto Caesar the things which are Caesars, Titus 3.1. Put them in minde to be subiect to Principalities and Powers, and to obey Magistrates, 1 Pet. 2.13, 14.

This obedience is to be limited, in things lawfull, [Obser.] and not contrary to the word of God.

The Magistrates in the Apostles time were enemies and Persecutors, and yet hee requires subiection to them; [Ʋse 1] and Titus is charged to put the people in continuall remembrance of it: much more are wee to preach obedience to the godly and religious Magistrates.

Must Nero be obeyed, and ought not much more King Iames, a Defender of the Faith, a Nursing Father of the Church?

The Gospell doth in some sort meddle with obedience to the Ciuill Magistrate. [Ʋse 2] I say in some sort, as that it is lawfull to be a Magistrate, and that he may and ought to be obeyed; For we must haue the testimony of the Word of the lawful∣nesse of these things.

But to set downe lawes of ciuill businesse, of Contracts, of Successions, of Conueyance of Lands, of Pleas, of Pu∣nishments, of Warre, &c. in the Common-wealth; or of the times of meeting for the seruice of God, or of reading of the Scriptures, or of Garments or Gestures to be vsed in the Ad∣ministration of holy things &c. in the Church; it belongs not to the Gospell in particular, to enact; but these things are to bee directed by reason, being not contrarie to the Word.

The calling of the Physitian or Carpenter, is lawfull by the Gospell, and it requireth of them that they should deale conscionably: but what drugges, or what course of prescribing the one should vse in euery disease: or what plot, or tooles the other should vse in building, the Gospell determines not; but these are left to the iudgement of right reason: So for particulars in Church or Common-wealth.

Moses had the execution of all gouernment, both Ci∣uill and Ecclesiasticall among the Israelites, and performed it in his owne person. Iethro his father in law seeing it, tells him that the thing which hee did was not good c, and adui∣seth him to a course much more conuenient. In giuing sen∣tence, and iust determining of Suites, Moses saw more then Iethro; but in the orderly and more easie proceeding there∣in both for Moses and the people, Iethro saw more then Moses by reason and experience.

Hee which readeth the Gospell as a booke of State Poli∣cie, or a booke of Statutes, abuseth it: For the principall scope of the Gospell, is to reueale the will of God concer∣ning Remission of sinnes by faith in Christ, and in the Ge∣nerall to exhort to a righteous conuersation.

The Brownists therefore and others, are greatly to bee blamed, who absurdly deny and contemne all Canons and Constitutions concerning order, which are not in so many words set downe and commanded in the Gospell: but of this more in the next Chapter.

Here are to be reproued the Donatists, [Ʋse 3] who tooke away the Authoritie of Ciuill Magistrates, expounding this place

onely of Ecclesiasticall Gouernours, whom Saint Augustine confutes d.

Also the Anabaptists, and Libertines, they being so called for vrging a libertie in outward things, who deny the vse of a Magistrate, among Christians, to be lawfull, and which in the memory of our Fathers, armed the rude multitude in Germany against their Magistrates and Princes.

Also the Popish Clergie, who from the highest to the lowest of them, hold themselues not bound and subiect to the Ciuill Magistrate, but in all criminall causes appeale to their Ordinary, and are not punishable, vnlesse they bee first degraded, and so deliuered to the Secular power.

But the Apostle saith, Euery soule, and Saint Chrysostome e expounds, If thou be an Apostle, an Euangelist, a Prophet, or whatsoeuer thou art, thou must be subiect; and, these things are commanded to all, both Priests and Monkes, and not on∣ly to Seculars.

S. Bernard f also to a Bishop writeth of this matter thus: Si omnis anima, & vestra: Quis vos excepit ab vniuersitate? Si quis tentat excipere, tentat decipere: If euery soule, then yours; who excepted you from this vniuersalitie? He which attemp∣teth to except you, attempteth to deceiue you.

The priests of the olde Testament were subiect to their Kings: our blessed Sauiour submitted himselfe. So Paul, Act. 25.10, 11, 12. and yet the Pope intolerably vsurpeth, and his Bishops, ouer Emperours and Kings.

The Emperours, Henry the fourth, Henry the fifth, Frede∣rick the first, Otho the fourth, Frederick the second, and Con∣radus his sonne, were deposed by Popes. And of the Insolencie of Bishops contrary to this precept, doe our owne Chroni∣cles make mention; as of Becket against Henry the second; Longchamp against Richard the first; S. Hugh of Lincolne, Sainted for his treason against King Iohn, and Henry the third his sonne: This was that good Sir Hugh, whose day was the seuenteenth of Nouember, in whose stead the Corona∣tion of Queene Elizabeth was placed, at the which the Pa∣pists stormed.

The persons of all Clericks are to be subiect to the ciuill Ma∣gistrate:

Emperors, Kings, and Princes I confesse, haue en∣dowed Clergy men with many Immunities long agoe; and in this land statutes haue beene made for the priuiledge of Clergy men g, by which priuiledges they are not exempted from the bond of subiection, but from certaine taxations, or impositions of seruice: as from warfare, from watching and war∣ding, and such like. For no King can make void the bond of the obedience of his subiects, no more then a father can dis∣charge his sonne, or a husband his wife.

The Gospell taketh not away ciuill authority but rather sta∣blisheth the same, [Ʋse 4] so that a King Popish, is but halfe a king, in comparison of a king Protestant, who vnder Christ supreme∣ly gouerneth ouer all persons, causes and things within his do∣minions, according to the Gospell.

It is necessary for the people to vnderstand that the Go∣spel constituteth not new gouernments, but commandeth to reuerence and obey them that are.

The froward peruersnesse of some, vnder a pretence of conscience refusing to submit vnto the reasonable constituti∣ons of authority, hath caused the Gospell to be disgraced as a profession denying obedience to Magistrates; let all be subiect, that we may win due credit to the religion we professe.

Notes

• a

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• b

  1. Pet. 2.13.14.
• c

  Exod. 18.17.
• d

  Aug. l. 1. cont. epist. Parm. c. 7.
• e

  Chrysost. in locum.
• f

  Ad Henric. Ep. Sen. epist. 42.
• g

  Anni. 14. Edw. 3. c. 1. et 1. Rich. 2. c. 3.