mind to be subject to principalities and to obey magistrates'," and "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man, for the Lord's sake; whether it be to the king, as supreme, or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and the praise of them that do well 2.

For spiritual and ecclesiastical governors thus we are commanded, Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your soul, as they that must give an account," and "Hold such in reputation 4 ;" and

To this end did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things"."

We must obey all human laws appointed and constituted by lawful authority, that is, of the supreme power, according to the constitution of the place in which we live; all laws, I mean, which are not against the law of God.

As long as the law is obligatory, so long our obedience is due. He that begins a contrary cus

1 Titus iii. 1.
4 Phil. ii. 29.

21 Pet. ii. 13.

3 Heb. xiii. 17. 5 2 Cor. ii. 9.

tom without reason, sins; but he that breaks the law when the custom is entered and fixed, is excused; because it is supposed the legislative power consents, when by not punishing it suffers disobedience to grow up to a custom.

Obedience to human laws must be for consciencesake: that is, because in such obedience public order, and charity, and benefit, is concerned, and because the law of God commands us; therefore we must make a conscience in keeping just laws of superiors and although the matter before the making of the law was indifferent, yet now the obedience is not indifferent; but next to the laws of God, we are to obey the laws of all our superiors, who the more public they are, the first they are to be in the order of obedience.

Submit to the punishment and censure of the laws, and seek not to reverse their judgment by opposing, but by submitting, or flying, or silence, to pass through it or by it, as we can ; and although from inferior judges we may appeal where the law permits us, yet we must sit down and rest in the judgment of the supreme; and if we be wronged, let us complain to God of the

injury, not of the persons, and He will deliver thy soul from unrighteous judges.

We must not be too easy in examining the prudence and reasonableness of human laws: for although we are not bound to believe them all to be the wisest, yet if by enquiring into the lawfulness of them, or by any other instrument, we find them to fail of that wisdom, with which some others are ordained, yet we must never make use of it to disparage the person of the lawgiver, or to countenance any man's disobedience, much less

our own.

Pay that reverence to the person of thy prince, of his ministers, of thy parents and spiritual guides, which by the customs of the place thou livest in are usually paid to such persons in their several degrees; that is, that the highest reverence be paid to the highest person, and so still in proportion, and that this reverence be expressed in all the circumstances and manners of the city and nation.

Lift not up thy hand against thy prince or parent upon what pretence soever; but bear all

personal affronts and inconveniences at their hands, and seek no remedy but by patience and piety, yielding and praying, or absenting thyself.

Speak not evil of the ruler of thy people, neither curse thy father or mother, nor revile thy spiritual guides, nor discover and expose their infirmities; but treat them with reverence and religion, and preserve their authority sacred by esteeming their persons venerable.

As he is not called a just father who educates his children well, but pious; so that prince who defends and rules well his people is religious, and does that duty for which alone he is answerable to God. The consequence of which is this, so far as it concerns our duty: if the prince or parent fail of their duty, we must not fail of ours; for we are answerable to them and to God too, as being accountable to all our superiors, and so are they to theirs: they are above us, and God is above them.

Consider that all authority descends from God, and our superiors bear the image of the Divine power, which God imprints on them, as on an image of clay, or a coin upon a less perfect metal,

which whoso defaces shall not be answerable for the loss or spoil of the materials, but the defacing the king's image: and in the same measure will God require it at our hands, if we despise his authority, upon whomsoever he hath imprinted it. He that despiseth you, despiseth me. And Dathan and Abiram were said to be gathered together against the Lord. And this was St. Paul's argument for our obedience; the powers

that be are ordained of God."

66

There is very great peace and immunity from sin in resigning our wills up to the command of others; for, provided that our duty to God be secured, their commands are warrants to us in all things else; and the case of conscience is determined, if the command be evident and pressing and it is certain the action that is but indifferent, and without reward, if done only upon our own choice, is an act of duty and of religion, and rewardable by the grace and favour of God, if done in obedience to the command of our superiors. Obedience is acceptable to God, although there be no other good in the thing commanded us, but that it is commanded.