Exhortacion Concerning Good Order & Obedience to Rulers & Magistrates

For thus we read there spoken to kings.

Hear, O ye kings, and understand: Let us learn also here, by the infallible and undeceivable word of God, that kings and other supreme and higher officers, are ordained of God, who is most Highest ; and therefore they are here taught diligently to apply and give themselves to knowledge and wisdom, necessary for the ordering of God's people to their governance committed, or whom to go- vern they are charged of God.

And they be here also taught by Almighty God, that they should acknow- ledge themselves to have all their power and strength, not from Rome, but immediately of God most Highest. We read in the Book of Deuteronomy, that all pu- nishment pertaineth to God, by this sentence, Ven- geance is mine, and I ivill reward. But this sentence we must understand to pertain also unto the magistrates which do exercise God's a3 G The First Part of the Sei'mon room in judgment, and punishing by good and godly laws here in earth.

And the places of Scripture which seem to remove from among all Christian men judgment, punishment, or killing, ought to be understood, that no man of his own private autho- rity may be judge over other, may punish, or may kill. But we must refer all judgment to God, to kings and rulers, and judges under them, which be God's officers to execute justice ; and by plain words of Scripture have their authority and use of the sword granted from God ; as we are taught by Saint Paul, that dear and chosen Apostle of our Saviour Christ, whom we ought diligently to obey, even as we would obey our Saviour Christ, if he were pre- sent.

Paul wTiteth to the Romans: The powers that be, be ordained of God. Whosoever therefore icithstandeth the poiver, ivithstandeth the ordinance of God ; but they that resist, or are against it, shall receive to themselves dainnation. For rulers are not fearful to them that do good, but to them that do evil.

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Wilt thou be ivithout fear of the power? Do well then, and so shall thou be praised of the same ; for he is the minister of God for thy wealth. But, and if thou do that which is evil, then fear ; for he beareth not the sivord for nought, for he is the minister of God, to take vengeance on him that doth evil. Here let us learn of St.

Paul, the chosen vessel of God, that all persons having souls he excepteth none, nor exempteth none, neither priest, apostle, nor prophet, saith St. Chrysostom, do owe of bounden duty, and even in conscience, obedience, submis- sion, and subjection to the high powers tvhich be set ill authority by God; forasmuch as they be God's of Obedience.

And the same St. Paul threateneth no less pain than everlasting dmnnation to all disobedient persons, to all resisters against this general and com- mon authority, forasmuch as they resist not man but God ; not man's device and invention, but God's wis- dom, God's order, power, and authority. The Second Part of the Sermon of Obedience. Forasmuch as God hath created and disposed all things in a comely order, we have been taught in the first part of the sermon, concerning good order and obedience, that we also ought in all commonweals, to observe and keep a due order, and to be obedient to the powers, their ordinances and laws, and that all rulers are appointed of God for a goodly order to be kept in the world: And here, good people, let us all mark diligently, that it is not lawful for inferiors and subjects, in any case, to resist and stand against the superior powers ; for St.

Paul's words be plain, that whosoever withstarid- eth, shall get to themselves damnation ; for zthosoever vcithstandeth, wiihstandeth the ordinance of God. Our Saviour Christ himself, and his apostles, received many and divers injuries of the unfaithful and wicked men in authority: We read oft, that they patiently sufifered all troubles, vexations, slanders, pangs, and pains, 8 The Second Part of the Sermon and death itself, obediently, without tumult or re- sistance.

They committed their cause to him that judgeth righteously, and prayed for their enemies heartily and earnestly. They knew that the autho- rity of the powers was God's ordinance ; and there- fore, both in their words and deeds, they taught ever obedience to it, and never taught nor did the con- trary. The wicked judge Pilate said to Christ, Knoivest thou not, that I have poiver to crucify thee, and have power also to loose thee?

Thou couldest have no poiver at all against me, except it were given thee from above. Whereby Christ taught us plainly, that even the wicked rulers have their power and authority from God ; and therefore it is not lawful for their subjects to withstand them, although they abuse their power ; much less then is it lawful for subjects to withstand their godly and Christian princes, which do not abuse their authority, but use the same to God's glory, and to the profit and commodity of God's people.

The holy Apostle St. Peter commandeth servants to be obedient to their masters, not only if they be good and gentle, but also if they be evil and froward ; affirming, that the vocation and calling of God's people is to be patient, and of the suffering side. And there he bringeth in the patience of our Saviour Christ, to persuade obedience to governors, yea, although they be wicked and wrong doers. But let us now hear St. Peter himself speak, for his words certify best our conscience: Servants, obey your masters with fear, not only if they be good and gentle, but aha if they be froward.

For it is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endureth grief, and suf- fereth wrofig undeserved: But when ye do well, if you then suffer wrong, and take it patiently, then is there cause to have thank of God: All these be the very words of St.

Holy David also teacheth us a good lesson in this behalf, who Avas many times most cruelly and wrongfully persecuted of king Saul, and many times also put in jeopardy and danger of his life by king Saul and his people: Insomuch, that when the Lord God had given king Saul into David's hands in his own cave, he would not hurt him, when he might, without all bodily peril, easily have slain him ; no, he Avould not suffer any of his servants once to lay their hand upon king Saul, but prayed to God in this wise: Lord, keep me from doing that thing unto my master the Lord's anointed: And that David might have killed his enemy king Saul, it is evidently proved in the first Book of the Kings, both by the cutting off the lap of Saul's garment, and also by plain confession of king Saul.

Also another time, as is mentioned in the same book, when the most unmerciful and most unkind king Saul did persecute poor David; God did again give king Saul into David's hands, by casting of king Saul and his whole army into a dead sleep ; so that David and one Abisai with him came in the night into Saul's host, where Saul lay sleeping, and his spear stuck in the ground at his head.

Then said Abisai unto David, God hath deli- vered thine enemy into thy hands at this time: And David said furthermore, As sure as the Lord liveth, the Lord, shall smite him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall descend, or go down into battle, and there perish: But take thou now the spear that is at his head, and the cruse of water, and let us go ; and so he did. Here is evidently proved, that we may not withstand, nor in any wise hurt an anointed king, which is God's lieutenant, vicegerent, and highest mi-.

But holy David did know that l;e might in no wise withstand, hurt, or kill his sovereign lord and king: Therefore though he were never so much provoked, yet he re- fused utterly to hurt the Lord's anointed. He durst not, for offending God and his own conscience although he had occasion and opportunity, once lay his hands upon God's high officer the king, whom he did know to be a person reserved and kept for his office sake only to God's punishment and judgment: And by these two examples, Saint David being named in Scripture a man after God's own heart, giveth a general rule and lesson to all subjects in the world, not to withstand their liege lord and king ; not to take a sword by their private authority against their king, God's anointed, who only beareth the sword of Obedience.

Yet another notable story and doctrine is in the Second Book of the Kings, that maketh also for this purpose.

When an Amale- kite, by king Saul's own consent and commandment, had killed king Saul, he went to David, supposing to have had great thanks for his message, that he had killed David's deadly enemy ; and therefore he made great haste to tell to David the chance, bringing with him king Saul's crown that was upon his head, and his bracelet that was upon his arm, to persuade his tidings to be true. But godly David was so far from rejoic- ing at this news, that immediately and forthwith he rent his clothes off his back ; he mourned and wept, and said to the messenger, How is it that thou wast not afraid to lay thy hands on the Lord's anointed to destroy him?

And by and by David made one of his servants to kill the messenger, saying. Thy blood be on thine own head, for thine own mouth hath testified and witnessed against thee, granting that thou hast stain the Lord's anointed. These examples being so manifest and evident, it is an intolerable ig- norance, madness, and wickedness, for subjects to make any murmuring, rebellion, resistance, or with- standing, commotion, or insurrection, against their most dear and most dread sovereign lord and king, ordained and appointed of God's goodness for their commodity, peace, and quietness.

ALmighty GOD hath created and appointed all things in heauen, earth, and waters, in a most excellent and perfect order. In Heauen, hee hath appointed distinct and seuerall orders and states of Archangels and Angels. In earth hee hath assigned and appointed Kings, Princes, with other gouernours vnder them, in all good and necessary order.

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The water aboue is kept, and rayneth downe in due time and season. For where there is no right order, there reigneth all abuse, carnall liberty, enormitie, sinne, and Babylonicall confusion.

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Take away Kings Princes, Rulers, Magistrates, Iudges, and such estates of GODS order, no man shall ride or goe by the high way vnrobbed, no man shall sleepe in his owne house or bedde vnkilled, no man shall keepe his wife, children, and possession in quietnesse, all things shall bee common, and there must needes follow all mischiefe, and vtter destruction both of soules, bodies, goodes, and common wealthes. But blessed bee GOD, that wee in this Realme of England, feele not the horrible calamities, miseries, and wretchednesse, which all they vndoubtedly feele and suffer, that lacke this godly order: Wherefore, let vs subiectes doe our bounden dueties, giuing hearty thankes to GOD, and praying for the preseruation of this godly order.

Let vs all obey euen from the bottome of our heartes, all their godly proceedings, lawes, statutes, proclamations, and iniunctions, with all other godly orders. Let vs consider the Scriptures of the holy Ghost, which perswade and command vs all obediently to bee subiect, first and chiefely to the Kings Maiestie, supreme gouernour ouer all, and the next to his honourable counsell, and to all other noble men, Magistrates, and officers, which by GODS goodnesse, be placed and ordered.