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 4. — But if thou doe that which is euill, be afraid: For he beareth not the sword in vaine: For he is the Minister of God, a reuenger to execute wrath vpon him that doth euill.

IN these words the Apostle, by a like figure as before, shew∣eth that Magistrates are a terrour to cuill workes: as he hath shewed the Magistrate to be amiable to the good, and that they may reioyce in him; so here he maketh him terrible to the wicked, that such as will not doe well for the loue of ver∣tue, may by feare of punishment be kept in awe.

Here are two things: a Proposition, He that doth ill, hath iust cause to feare: a Reason, from his power and authority, He beareth not the sword in vaine: and this is set forth by the Author of his power, which is God: Hee is the Minister of God: and by the end wherefore he receiueth such power in re∣gard

of the wicked; To execute vengeance or wrath vpon him that doth euill.

If thou doe that which is euill: Morall euill, or Ciuill, con∣trary to the Decalogue, or particular positiue lawes and Canons of the Church or Commonwealth, or place where thou liuest; which Lawes and Canons to be the same in all places and Countries is not necessary.

He beareth not the sword in vaine. There is a twofold sword; of the Word, in the mouth of the Minister, by admonition, suspension, excommunication; and of iustice, in the hand of the Magistrate, which is here meant; and here are two fi∣gures: 1. a Metonymie of the signe for the thing signified; the sword for authority: Then a Synechdoche; one kind for all coactiue power.

He beareth. According to the fashions of Princes, who haue certaine Officers going before them carrying the En∣signes of their power. Thus the Romanes had certaine Bun∣dels of rods, and axes, carried before their Magistrates, by 12. Sergeants: and the Kings of England, Scepters, and a Sword.

In vaine. He carries not the sword for fashion or for a shew, but as hauing power of life and death: He may reproue with words, and he hath power also to strike with the sword: Dau. 5.19. Ʋana sine viribus ira: Authority were but an idle name, if it were not inuested with the power of the sword.

He is the Minister of God: as before.

A reuenger to execute wrath, &c. Ʋengeance is proper to God, and by God communicated to Magistrates, who other∣wise had no power to reuenge; neither may inferiours exe∣cute priuate reuenge.

Wrath. The wrath of God: or punishment; so called, sig∣nifying all manner of castigation, as mulcts, sines, imprison∣ment, banishment, proscription, death, &c.

The Magistrate is appointed for the punishment of them which doe euill: Gen. 9.6. Who so sheddeth mans blood, [Doctr.] by man shall his blood be shed. By this Scripture the power of the sword is con∣firmed to the Magistrate. So Exod. 21.14 and S. Peter affir∣meth that Magistrates are sent for the punishment of euill doers: 1. Pet. 2.14.

May the Magistrate pardon, [Quest.] a malefactor deseruing to die by the law of God, and conuicted?

The Supreme Magistrate may, [Answ.] and also encrease or dimi∣nish punishments according to circumstances, if it be more for the good of the Common-wealth, and no fraud to God or good men: So Dauid aggrauated the punishment of theft by his sentence vpon a rich man, which should haue stolne the only sheepe of his poore neighbour a.

Also he forbore Ioab, that wilfully murdred two famous men, Abner and Amasa; for he was a valiant man, in great account with the people, and there was great need of him. But Salomon executed Ioab, and in the flower of his wisdome, vpon good reason pardoned Abiathar the Priest, a man worthy of death b.

Warre, [Vse 1] a cruell thing I confesse, yet lawfull and necessary sometimes by this place: as he may draw his sword against a priuate troubler of the Common-wealth, so against a publike, whatsoeuer Erasmus saith to the contrary c.

The Saints by Faith subdued kingdomes, and turned to flight the armies of aliens, Hebr. 11.33.34.

When the Souldiers demanded of Iohn, what they should doe: If he had misliked warre, he would haue bid them to hurle away their swords, rather then bid them be content with their wages, as Saint Augustine hath obserued d. So that warre is lawfull; and if the King command, lawfull for the subiect to draw his sword, but not without his authority.

It is the duty of Magistrates to punish offenders. Clemen∣cie is most commendable in Princes. [Vse 2] Nero in the beginning of his Empire, when he was requested to set his hand to the execution of an offender, would say, vtinam nescirem literas, I would I could not write, which procured him great loue a∣mong the people.

And Theodosius the yonger being asked, why hee neuer executed such as iniuried him; answered, I would to God it lay in me to reuiue them which be dead e, A princely voice.

Yet seuerity is necessary, and God requires that wicked men should be punished. Impunity is a great entisement to sinne.

It is true which the Orator f said, There is no profit of that Gouernment which hath not instruments of punish∣ment for wicked men.

It is profitable for the Common-wealth, for the safetie of the Good, who are in some sort wronged, when wicked men are spared. The Physitian purgeth our bodies of peccant hu∣mours, and the Soueraigne Magistrate is the Royall Physitian of the State. A wise King (saith a wise King g) scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheele ouer them.

Also for the amendment of the bad, who are punished euen for this also, that others may be warned by their example: If they will not amend, let them be made Triacle, to expell the poyson of sinne out of others.

The execution of Iustice in this kinde, is like Thunder, which striketh few, but feareth many h. Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware, Prou. 19.25. So God will haue the enti∣ser to Idolatry i, the false witnesse k, and the incorrigible sonne l, to be seuerely punished for a warning and example to others.

Magistrates are not to bee a terror to the good, but to the euill: Dat veniam coruis, vexat censura columbas, is a foule mistaking of the marke: They must diligently examine mat∣ters, that they may pronounce right iudgement; neither must they proceed for fauour or affection, for they iudge not for man, but for the Lord, as said a iust King m.

It is reported of Artaxerxes long-hand Emperour of Per∣sia n, that when his fauourite Satibarzanes sued for an vniust thing, being drawne thereunto by the promise of a great summe of money; the Emperour commanded his Treasurer to bring so much money, and gaue it to his fauourite: Hold thee, saith hee, though I giue thee this, I shall be neuer the poorer, but if I grant thy suite, I shall be much the vniuster.

We are to praise God for our Gouernours, and good lawes, [Vse 4] without which no man should trauell in safetie, nor keepe his owne house: also to pray for the Magistrates, that they may be all of them louers of Religion, Iustice, Vertue: for accor∣ding to their example, are the Commons for the most part fashioned. In the time of Iulius Caesar, souldiers; of Augustus, schollers; of Nero, Poets and Stage-players flourished, because

these great ones were such: As certaine flowers moue accor∣ding to the motion of the Sunne, so do the common people imitate the liues of their Superiours.

Notes

• a

  2. S••m. 12.56.
• b

  1. King. 1.26.
• c

  Erasm. Adag. Chil. 4. Cent. 1. Adag. 1.
• d

  Aug. epist. 5. Marcel. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 di∣rissime. to 6. l. 22 contra Fanst••m, cap. 74.
• e

  Secrat. Schol. Eccles. hist. l. 7. 5. p. 22.
• f

  Aeschines. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• g

  Prou. 20.26.
• h

  Poena ad pau∣cos, metus ad om∣nes.
• i

  Deut. 13.11.
• k

  Deut. 19.20.
• l

  Deut. 21.21.
• m

  2 Chro. 59.6.
• n

  J. Lypsii mo∣nitorum & ex∣emplorum polit. l. 2 cap. 9.