power onely to the Scriptures and therefore we must exclude all vnwritten Traditions or Decrées of men though neuer so holy and learned from being this Rule or any part thereof Therefore we are forbidden to adde Deut. 4.2 Reu. 22.18 19. or take from the written word of God Beléeuest thou the Scriptures They say thou shalt not adde to them And therefore Tertullian saith When we beléeue wée beléeue this first that there is nothing more which we ought to beléeue Vse 2. This bindeth all to all reuerence in reading Prou. 1.7 Psa 25.14 1. Pet. 4.11 speaking hearing of the word because of the Author which is God and to all care to know vnderstand beléeue and obey the same because to this purpose it is giuen vs as a most perfect Rule by God himselfe Q. The holy Scriptures are Diuine and Canonicall in themselues Esay 8.20 Deut. 5.32 Ioh. 5.39 2. Pet. 1.19 Gal. 6.16 2. Iohn 10 Iohn 7.17 1. Cor. 2.10.11.12 1. Ioh. 2.27 5.10 but how do we know that they be so Ans We know that they are so both by the testimony of themselues for so the old Testament testifieth of it selfe the new of the old and of it selfe and also by the witnesse of the Holy Ghost in our hearts Expli There are two principall arguments of the Diuinity of the Scriptures to vs 2. Sam. 23 2. Luk. 1.70 2 Tim. 3.16 2. Pet. 1.21 1. Cor. 2.13 the first is their owne voyce witnessing that they are of God as often this is repeated in the Prophets Thus saith the Lord. And this is the chiefest Argument euen the very voice of God himselfe of which we may safely collect thus If the Scriptures be true when they speake of things to come then also when they speake of things present The second argument is like vnto the first and it is the testimony of the Holy Ghost which as it inspired the holy men to write so also it teacheth the children of God to beléeue the Scriptures 2. Pet. 1.21 1. Cor. 2.10 for if faith be the gift of God as it is then also to beléeue the Scriptures to be the word of God The first of these is to perswade others and our selues the other chiefly to satisfie our our selues which also is alwaies agréeable to the Scriptures and is to be examined by the same Vnto these two you may adde also their miraculous preseruation notwithstanding the rage of all Iulians and Diuels the diuine vocation mission and life of the Writers the Maiesty of the stile the purity of the Doctrine their power vpon the conscience for the confounding and breaking of the stubborne and for the raising conuerting and comforting of the broken and such like Vse This serues to confute the Papists who hold that the only chiefe argument whereby we are perswaded of the authority of the Scriptures is the testimony of the Church we willingly acknowledge that the Church is a meanes whereby wee come to the knowledge of the Scriptures but not that for the which only we beléeue them to be diuine The Scriptures are a Rule 1. Tim. 3.15 the office of the Church is to keep to vse this Rule Now as the worke-man which vseth a Rule giues not that power to it wherby it iudgeth the dimensions but it hath it of its owne nature by an inward essentiall property as it is a Rule so also the Scriptures haue not this power of the Church though the Church haue power skill to vse the same And therfore our Sauiour when question was whether he were the Messiah or no resteth not on the witnesse of Iohn Iohn 5.36 Ibid. Vers 37. Verse 39. but vpon greater and better witnesse this witnesse was his workes the witnesse of his Father and of the holy Scriptures So when the Tessalonians receiued the preaching of Paul as the word of God 1. Thes 2.13 it was not the testimony of any Church nor the worthinesse of Paul a meane poore man but the very force of the word it selfe which bowed their hearts The testimony of the Church is to be reuerenced is good but not infallible The testimony of the Scriptures themselues is better and infallible The Church is to be proued by the Scriptures not the scriptures only by the Church Yea the Papists to proue the infallibility of the Church flie to the Scriptures And vniuersally Mat. 16.18 1. Tim. 3.15 the authority prouing is greater more certaine more knowne then the conclusion proued by the same Yea if we should belieue the Scriptures onely for the authority of the Church which is in conclusion the Pope his Prelates then first they should be Iudges in their own cause which is vnequall Secondly there could be no certainty of Faith or Religion because the Church hath varied diuersly in her iudgement of the Canon Thirdly why may not the Turkes perswade themselues that their testimony of their Alcoran is as sufficient as ours of the Scriptures Fourthly this is to subiect the Word of God to the will of Man yea God to man so that God shall not be beleeued to speake to vs nor we beleeue him when he speaks vnlesse it please the Church that is the Pope and his Prelates yea there shal be no more difference betweene God the Diuel truth lying the sacred and diuine Scriptures and the Alcoran of the Turkes then the Church shall thinke fit which is most horrible blasphemy The Lord open the eies of our Aduersaries the Papists to consider it Q. How do these holy Scriptures set forth and describe God or what do you beleeue God to be according to the Scriptures Ans I beleeue by the Scriptures that God is a Spirit being of himselfe and giuing being to all things Infinite Eternall Almighty Knowing all things c. Wisedome Goodnesse Mercy Truth Iustice it selfe c. The Father the Son and the Holy Ghost The Creator and Preseruer of all things The Redeemer and Sanctifier of his Church Expl. None must imagine that I haue set downe all that can be said of God for there are many other particulars in the holy Scriptures but these are the heads neither can the knowledge of Men Angels expresse fully the amplitude of his essence and glory Though that so much as is auaileable for vs to know himselfe hath reuealed in his word for it is most true that a learned man said Ramus God cannot be defined without his owne logicke This is not a Definition but a Description taken out of the Scriptures consisting of thrée parts first of Attributes secondly of Relations and proprieties of persons Thirdly of Actions and Effects which are generall as Creation Prouidence speciall belonging only to his Church which are principally two Redemption and Sanctification Of these I purpose according as God enableth to enquire in order according to the Scriptures and first I will briefly expound the Atributes as they are alleaged We
THE GROVNDS Of Diuinitie Plainely discouering the Mysteries of Christian Religion propounded familiarly in diuers Questions and Answeres Substantially proued by Scriptures Expounded faithfully according to the Writings of the best Divines and euidently applyed by profitable Vses for the helpe and benefite of the Vnlearned which desire Knowledge To the which is prefixed a very profitable Treatise containing an Exhortation to the Study of the Word with singular directions for the Hearing and Reading of the same By ELNATHAN PARR Minister of the Word at Palgraue in Suffolke PROV 3.13.14 Blessed is the man that findeth wisedome and the man that getteth vnderstanding For the Marchandise thereof is better then the Marchandise of Siluer and the gaine thereof is better then gold LONDON Printed by N. O. for SAMVEL MAN and are to be sold at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Ball. 1614. TO THE VERTVOVS RELIGIOVS AND MOST WORTHY LADY the Lady IANE CORNEVVALLEYS Widdow Grace and Peace from God the Father through our Lord Iesus Christ. MADAME I Present vnto you these my weake and homely labours being the first fruits of my paines in this kinde humbly desiring that your Ladiship wold vouchsafe to patronize them That which hath emboldened me to dedicate them to your worthy Name is Partly A minde willing in the best measure I can to testifie my thankefulnesse for your many vndeserued fauours whereby I confesse you may iustly challenge more then my Mediocrity can euer performe Partly your loue vnfeigned and sincere profession of the Gospell whereby you are an honour to your Degree and Sexe cleerely euidenced many wayes during your abode in Suffolke which as it is a sweete testimony to your owne breast that you are beloued of God and hath made you farre and neere honoured by all such which loue God so also it hath made mee very confident that your Ladiship will fauourably accept these my thankefull endeuours Goe on I humbly beseech you good Madame goe on in that good way which you haue chosen and constantly continue as a bright Starre to shine without waning or being ecclipsed to the directing confirming and comforting of many as hitherto you haue done And for my part I shall neuer cease among many other to stand vp as an humble Suppliant to God that you may bee more and more strengthened in his Grace and directed by the Eternall Spirit that as you haue already by your zeale in Religion prouoked many so you may perseuere vnto the end in this holy course and bring on and encourage others by your singular example Then shall your Name bee still more honourable while you liue here and your account furthered in the day of our Lord IESVS And thus humbly tendering my best seruice to your Ladiship and to the hopefull Gentleman Mr FREDERICKE your ioy vpon whom I beseech God to double the glory of all his Ancestors and wishing vnto you both and to your whole family all temporall and eternall blessings by Iesus Christ I humbly take my leaue and alway rest bound to your Ladiship to my vttermost in all Christian duty Elnathan Parr ¶ To the courteous Reader COurteous Reader Thou hast here the fruit of my sicknesse whereby in the beginning of this Winter I was made vnseruiceable for my publique duety In this while considering that Time is pretious and the dayes euill as the Apostle saith the Lord put into my heart to redeeme the time Whereupon as God enabled me to hold vp my head I looked ouer my ragged Notes and scattered papers Part of which after my rude maner pollished are here offered vnto thee I am not without hope but that by the good hand of God as I had experience of the profit of these things being deliuered by liuely voyce so also the charitable reading of them may much auayle thee I know that euery day there are many new Bookes set forth and of this kind not a few yet in this method with sound briefe Propositions of the principall points of Diuinity euident and infallible proofes succinct and perspicuous Explications and plaine and liuely Applications I haue not obserued any So that this and also the great ignorāce of the multitude considred I doubt not but the Indifferent will free these my Endeuors from the censure of superfluous of writing Iliads as they say after Homer I confesse ingenuously that much of my Explications is drawn frō the fountains of other men both forren Writers and many our owne worthy Countreymen So that as the little Bee greatly industrious flieth ouer many a garden and flower to gather a little hony so haue I out of many mens gardens selected and gathered many such choice things which I iudged might most make for thy benefit And this can be no Imputation to mee in asmuch as the Learned know that not to speake of some of the Pen-men of the holy Ghost both auncient later Writers haue to the great benefit of the Church taken this course also because I haue made such things which I haue receiued from others so to serue my purpose either by contraction addition exposition or marshalling into my order that I may in some sort iustly challenge them as mine owne The summe of this my small Labour to the which is prefixed an exhortation to the study of the Word is an Exposition of the Description of God named the Grounds of Diuinitie expounded applied because it propoundeth preueth and as a key openeth easily vnlocketh the hidden mystery and counsell of God concerning our saluatiō by Iesus Christ The Questions and Answers are familiar and friendly depending The Explications plaine for the most part concise pointing at some things in a word at some in a parenthesis which to the industrious Reader wil be the more aduantageable and for the Vses which being practised are the praise life of knowledge I haue not obserued euery thing nor so pressed any thing but that I leaue much more to be gathered and obserued by such which are accustomed to Meditation In a word that which I iudged most profitable I haue performed for thee If thou beest learned as thou needest it not so I humbly intreate thee to know that I writ it not for thee yet I barre thee not the reading but most willingly submit it to thy censure If thou blamest the Phrase and Stile that it is not fluent and round but ragged and harsh Truly neither can I commend it Happily I haue striuen to be plaine or at least hauing no skill in finer cookery haue drest it as I was able after our homely and country fashion for the stomackes of the vnlearned who rellish and like better of that which is plaine and easie then either learned and deep treatises which they vnderstand not or such cooked conceits where the cost is greater then the nourishment Some delight in toyes like children I should then thinke very ill of my selfe when I should goe about to please their
thereof So then not the world that is not euery man and woman in the world haue interest in the blessing of Christ Rom. 11.7 but onely the Elect of God This Church is called Holy partly because it is cloathed with the righteousnes of Christ imputed and partly because it is gouerned by the Spirit of Christ by the which euery member thereof is quicknes and made able in some measure in truth to hate sinne and to loue and follow that which is good It is called Catholike that is Vniuersall because all the Saints and Elect of all times and places 〈…〉 vnto it as to one Body And this we professe to be One because there is the Head which is Christ one Body one Spirit one Faith one Hope Ephe. 4.4 one Loue c. Part whereof is now in heauen Triumphing which are the Soules of the Saints departed and part fighting and Militant here on earth in the Spirituall wee face against the world the flesh and the deuill Vse 1. All happy making promises are made onely to the Church All shall not be saued labour to be of that number whose are the promises if thou wouldst bee saued Vse 2. It 's a great comfort that of all sorts of men some are of this Church which is washed with the Blocd of Iesus the Geatile as well as the Iew the Seruant as well as the Maister the Poore as well as the Rich For there is no respect of persons with God but in all Nations such as feare him are accepted be they one or other Act. 10.34.35 As God respects none for their riches or great place so he reiects none because they are poore and base Indéed in this world the poore haue the least part but in Christ benefites the Beggar beléeuing hath as large and good right as the King For we are Cittizens of a Kingdome which is not of this world God is not onely the God of the Mountaines Ioh. 18.36 but of the Vallies also And the Spirit bloweth where it listeth Yea many times God breatheth Life and Grace on a pooer contemptible wretch as the world accounts as on Lazarus and passeth by such as go in veluet coates as Diues Memember Christ is not thine because thou art rich or great or beautifull but because thou Beléeuest It is faith makes the poore Beggar as rich in Christ as thy selfe For God hath chosen the poore also to make them rich in faith and pertakers of his Kingdome Art thou rich Iames 2.5 despise not the Beggar or poorest Beléeuer who if thou beleeuest not is better then thy selfe and though in the things of this life according to Gods ordinance thou hast the start of him yet in Christ he is thy equall for in Christ there is neither Circumsion nor Vncircumcision Bond nor Frée Col. 3.11 c. Art thou rich Labour to bée rich in faith rather then in gold for thou and thy money may perish but by faith thou shalt bée saued Art thou poore Comfort thy selfe Thou hast a right in a heauenly inheritance where thou shalt equally share with the greatest King and let it prouoke thee to so much the more care to please him in all things who hath chosen thée so base and called thée so vnworthy Vse 3. The Church of Christ is a Holy Church Marke then If thou béest not holy in heart and affections in life and conuersation but a profane wretch thou art also a damned wretch if thou so continuest thou art no part of this Church for Christ hath chosen vs that we should bée holy Ephe. 1.4 2. Tim. 1.9 and hee hath called vs with a holy making calling Examine therefore thy selfe Cant. 4.12.13 The Church by Salomon is called a Garden enclosed full of the sweetest Flowers and Plants Now if thou beest a Blasphemer a Lyer a Backe-biter c. If these bee the Flowers which grow in thy Garden thou art the Deuils Dunghill thou art none of the Church The Church is called a Doue vndefiled If thou beest filthy Cant. 5.2 vncleane a Fornicator a Strumpet an Vsurer an Oppressour Couetous Cruell Vnmercifull c. Thou maist be a member of the Kite Vulture or rauenous Cormorant but not of Christs spotlesse Doue which is his Church The Church is the Body of Christ If thou beest a Drunkard Ryotous a breaker of the Saboath a contemner of Religion and such as doe professe it c. thou art a limbe of the deuill not a Member of Christ vnlesse thou wouldst make the Body of Christ a monstrous body like the Image of Nebuchadonoser which was part of Gold and Siluer part of Iron and Clay Remember then Christ is the Head of his Church if thou receiuest not not Grace from him to Sanctification thou art none of his Christ is the King of his Church out of the Church the deuill raignes If thou obeyest not Christ but the deuill how art thou Christs Nay how art thou not the deuils Quest You say that the Church is a company of such which are Predestinated to Eternall Life What meane you by Predestination Ans By Predestination of men I meane the Eternall purpose of God concerning Man-kind fallen and corrupted whereby for the setting forth of his glory he appointed some to Saluation with the meanes whereby they should obtaine the same which is called Election and some to damnation 1. Thess 5.9 which is called Reprobation Rom. 9. throughout the chapter Quest What is Election Ans Election is the most free and Eternall Counsell of God Luk. 10.20 Rom. 8.30 9.11 11.5.2 Pet. 1.10 Eph. 1.2.3.4 whereby hee chooseth some which were falne in Adam and Predestinateth them to Grace and Glory by Iesus Christ Quest What is Reprobation Ans It is the most free Counsell of God whereby hee determined not to chuse Rom. 9.21.22.2 Pet. 2.8 Iude 4. but to passe by some fallen in Adam and to leaue them in their guiltinesse and corruption and in the end to condemne them for their sinnes Q Do you then thinke that men were ordained to life or death before they were borne Ans Yes verily that I do Quest Doth not this bring in a neglect of all godlinesse Rom. 9.11 and make for them which say If I be predestinated to life I shall be saued whatsoeuer I do if to death I shall bee damned in like manner therefore I will liue as I list Ans God forbid For wee teach that men are not onely predestinated to the end but also to the meanes They which are ordained to Life being also ordained to Grace whereby they obtaine it and they that are ordained to death being also ordained to be left in their corruption that they may be damned Ephe. 1.4 Expl. That there is Predestination which is an ordaining of a thing to this or that before it be extant appeares in the doctrine of the Prouidence of God And that it is to be referred to men in the
of his Apparrell and outward shape Thus the Church on Earth is said to be Inuisible in regarde of the inward essentiall forme which is sanctity which cannot be seene with mans eie Hebr. 12.14 1. Ioh. 2.19 2. Tim. 2.19 Rom. 2.29 or Visible either in regard of the particular companies professing Christ or in regard of the outward forme which is the ministery of the Word and Sacraments by the which it is visible becauss these being the means whereby it is gathered and gouerned are visible Vse Examine how thou standest in the visible Church for many are called but few are chosen and many are in the visible which are not of the inuisible as the Lées are in the Vessell which are not wine nor of the wine It is not enough to be in Gods field vnlesse we be good corne not enough that we be in the body vnlesse we be members For if wee be wennes and spottes we must be purged and scowred off not enough to be in Gods floore vnlesse we be good Corne For hee will gather the Corne into his Barne but the Chaffe hee will burne with vnquenchable fire so not enough that thou arte among the Saints vnlesse thou be a Saint For C ham was in the Arke Saul among the Prophets Iudas among the Apostles and yet these are damned So thou mayst be baptized and ioined to the visible company of the faithfull yet if thou want the Spirit which quickens al the true members of Christs body to holinesse and righteousnesse of life thou art but a withered branch to be cut off and cast into the fire Looke therefore to thy standing Question What call you the Inuisible Church Ans It is the vniuersity of the Elect and Regenerate Rom. 2.29 which doe at any time or in any place professe and truely haue faith and conuersion to God Quest What is the visible Church Ans It is a company embracing and enioying the Ministery of the Word and Sacraments Mat. 28.19 Ephes 4 11 and professing the Gospel Quest What are the true notes of a true visible Church Ans The true proper and essentiall notes of a true Church are two namely The pure and incorrupt Ministerie and profession of the Word and Mat. 28.19 Act. 2.42 46. Ephe. 5.25 26. The lawfull Administration of the Sacraments to the which some adde Discipline Explic. Vnto those Scriptures in the answere which shew that the lawfull vse of the Word and Sacraments are the two genuine notes of a true Church because the Primitiue Church is so in them described You may adde concerning the Word these Iohn 8.31 and 10.27 and 14.23 1. Corint 4.15 Ephes 2.20 1. Tim. 3.15 And of the Sacraments these 1. Corin. 20.16 and 12.13 So that wheresoeuer there is a Company preaching and professing that Iesus Christ the Sonne of Marie is the Sonne of GOD Christ the Lord by whom onely and alone they séeke to be saued that Company is a true visible Church though there be many corruptions in the same Simon Magus was by Baptisme receiued into the Visible Church Acts 8.13 for an outward profession of Christ in word And the Corinthians were a true church euen then when they abounded with grosse corruptions as Paul denyeth not in his Epistles written vnto them These notes haue their degrées the more pure they are the more pure is the Church which hath them the lesse pure they are the lesse pure is a Church to bee accounted and where they are not all or wholely adulterated there either is no Church or a very corrupt one Now though Discipline be allowed and necessarily required to the well being of a Church yet a Company holding Christ and maintaining the Scriptures though they should want Discipline are a true though a defectiue Church It is the duty of the Church to vse Discipline but as a wife ceaseth not to be a true wife for the neglect of houshold gouernement so long as she kéepeth the mariage oath to herhusband vnbroken so a Church ceaseth not to be a true Church for some saults or neglects so long as she acknowledgeth her head Christ according to the Word Vse Withdraw not thy selfe from the fellowship of the Churches of God and if thou hast depraued the Church of England and separated from it repent of thy rash and vncharitable censures Remember what great things God hath done for the Church thou despisest and spit not in her face that hath brought thée forth to Christ Remember that God hath alwaies preserued a séed of Christ in our land euer since the first conuersion therof from Heathenisme which as a little leauen lay a long time hid in thrée peckes of meale as our Sauiour speaketh till at the last by the hand of a King Henry 8. it began to sowre the whole lumpe And after him remember how God raised him vp a Iosias to finish his fathers beginnings Afterward Edward 6. how it was watered with the bloud of as famous Martyrs as euer the world saw Then thinke how God miraculously preserued and gaue a Quéene to nurse this Church labouring Queene Elizabeth and almost fainting vnder afflictions yea such a Quéene as he neuer stablished in the Throne of any Kingdome since the day of Adams Creation And then consider how that when we reckoned that all our happinesse had béene ended and expected nothing but dissipation fire sword bloud and the ruine of Church and Common-wealth euen then the Lord beyond all expectation sent amongst vs a most tender Father our most gratious Soueraigne King IAMES whom God long preserue vnmatchable for mildnesse of Gouernment Vigilancy care for the good of all his subiects déepnesse of iudgement soundnesse of Religion and together with many other blessings whereby we are blessed in him for incomparable learning hauing to the admiration of the world with his Owne Pen defended and aduanced the truth And if thou standest vpon a right constitution remember that the replanters of the Gospell here were Kings and Princes and not without the preaching of the word Remember that the people of the land were not conuerted from Heathenisme by them as such which had no knowledge of Christ but from Papisme vnder which they had some knowledge of him Remember that if the Church were not rightly constituted by Quéene Elizabeth neither was it by King Henry the eighth and King Edward the sixth and so thou wrongest the ashes of the Martyrs as if they were not Martyrs of Christ but of Antichrist And say that there was something wanting in the first constitution cannot God forgiue it Nay hath he not forgiuen it How darest thou say the contrary Remember these things stay thy tongue from reuiling Israel and thy foot from withdrawing thy selfe from the people of God If thou wouldst haue Discipline we are not without it though without that of thy deuising If thou wouldst haue the preaching of the Word we haue it I may boldly say as soundly and powerfully
name of Christ that is by his authority according to his commandement yea this to be in force in all Churches euen which are vnder Christian Magistrates for otherwise doth the ciuill Magistrate punish otherwise the Church The Church aimeth at the repentance of the offender the ciuill Magistrate at the execution of iustice The Church procéedeth not to excommunication where the delinquent repenteth obeyeth The ciuil Magistrate notwithstanding the repentance of the party executeth the law as Ioshua notwithstanding the confession of Achan Ioshua 7. caused him to be destroyed Vse 1. All such whom it concernes to deale in Ecclesiasticall censures ought to beware of all filthy lucre faithfully discharge that which is cōmitted vnto thē to censure them which are prophane accordingly for the glory of God the good of the Church the repentance of them which offend and the furthering of their owne accounts at the last day Vse 2. Art thou prophane a drunkard a blasphemer an vsurer a breaker of the sabaoth c. deseruest thou to be stricken with the thunderbolt of excommunication yet escapest by thy purse or otherwaies yet know thou whatsoeuer thou art that although either through the corruption of them which excecute the same Discipline thou continuest in the fellowship of the Church yet in the account of the Lord thou art excluded from all spiritual priuiledges of the Church till thou repent not being worthy to sit among the dogs of the flocke as one may say the lesse thou answerest for here through the silence of the lawes the more thou hast to answere before Iesus Christ at the day of Iudgement Q. You seeme to say that where there is a Christian ciuill Magistrate there the Church ought to expect his consent and by his authority make Constitutions and Canons Do you then thinke that the Clergie or Church-men are subiect to the Ciuill Magistrate Ans Yes verily do I and so God plainly teacheth in his word Rom. 13.1 Tit. 3.1 1. Pet. 2.13 14.15 Let euery soule be subiect c. Whether Apostle Prophet or Bishop Q. What is the ciuill Magistracy or Gouernment Ans It is an ordinance of God for the good of men whereby they are gouerned by good lawes both Diuine and humane that publike peace may be preserued Rom. 13.4 Pro. 8.15 Dan. 2.21 Ioh. 19.11 the good maintained the euill punished the worship and glory of God set forth Q. What is the office of the ciuil Magistrate Ans The office of the supreme Magistrate is to keepe and maintaine both the Tables of the morall law Deu. 17.18 19. 2. Chro. 19 6. and to minister right iudgment iustice to his subiects Q. What is the power of the superior Magistrate Ans In things diuine it is limited by the word but in humane things and ciuill it is wonderfull large as namely to command all his subiects in matters concerning the publike good of all or the priuate good of some To compell all orders Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill to do their duties to punish the stubborne To command the bodies and goods of his subiects in matters lawfull To exact Tribute Custome Subsidies Taxes Tenthes c. for the maintaining of his honour and magnificence and for the bearing of the publike charge To make and confirme lawes for the ciuill policy of his Iurisdiction Iob. 34.18 Eccles 8.3 4. Dan. 5.19 and to define all matters and causes by the same And in a word the Ciuill supreme Magistrate is in all causes and ouer all persons as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill supreme Gouernour next vnder Christ 1. Sam. 15.14 as also in the examples of the good Kings of Iudah appeareth Q. What is the duty of Subiects Ans The duty of subiects may be referrred to these heads 1. Pet. 2.18 Rom. 13.1 Tit. 3.1 1. Tim. 2.1 2. Ier. 29.7 Pro. 24.21.22 Rom. 13.6 1. Reuerence 2. Obedience 3. Piety 4. Faithfulnesse 5. Thankfulnesse Expl. One of the greatest blessings which God hath giuen to men is Order and Gouernment without which through confusion all things would soone come to ruine For as a Ship without a Pilot so is a Company or Society of men without a King or other lawfull Magistrate Therefore it was well said of Tacitus That it is better to haue an euill Prince then none And of S. Chrysostome It is better to haue a Tyrant then no Gouernour And the Scripture maketh mention that the state of the people of Israel was neuer worse while they were a free people then when they were without continual Gouernours Yea Nature euen in reasonlesse bruite creatures acknowledgeth Order Gouernment as in the Bées c. This great benefite came from the Lord as all other good things The prime care of the Soueraigne Magistrate must be to maintaine the first Table of the Law Kissing the Sonne and doing homage vnto Christ and therefore to maintaine the true worship of God and to forbid and vtterly to extirpate the contrary And yet this so to be vnderstood the through the necessity of dangerous times he may suffer such as are superstitious and do erre that some Common-wealth and Religion may be had rather then none at all It belongs to the Prince to sée the the true Doctrine be taught but to administer the same teach it in publique it belongs to Ministers and Ecclesiasticall persons It belongs to his Authority to appoint ordinary iudgements Ecclesiasticall to maintaine Schooles Vniuersities c. wherby fit Bishops Ministers may beset ouer the Flock of Christ to make lawes whereby such Pastors Teachers may be directed corrected suspended depriued as matters shall require It is his Authority which may call and moderate Prouincionall Nationall Generall Syneds appoint Fasts c. Yea he ought to punish Heretickes Idolaters Blasphemers c. as well as Murtherers Théeues c. and to do all things which may further the Spirituall good of his Subiects and to take away the contrary Rom. 13.4 For he beareth not the Sword in vaine So Moses appointed the worship of God prescribed it to Aaron Dauid disposed the Ministery of the Tabernacle called a Conuocation or Synode for the bringing of the Arke Salomon dedicated the Temple deposed Abiathar Iehoshaphat commanded the Priests and Elders to visite the Churches and to restore the worship of God As also did other good Kings of Iudah as appeareth in their Stories which they did not onely of Piety but euen of Office So also haue Christian Emperours called Ccuncels moderated Controuersies of Religion aduanced good Bishops repressed bad and made Lawes concerning Bishops Ministers holy things for the welfare of the Church and the glory of God For the Magistrate is the Father of the Common-wealth yea Esay saith Esa 49.23 That Kings Queens are nursing Fathers and Mothers of the Church Constantine the Great said the the Bishops were Ouer-seers in the Church and Hee a Bishop or Ouer-seer out