The Preface to the Readers, the perverting of them ; that they maybecomehis inftru-: merits, to the perverting of the refl. For Magiftrates he would firft taint them with fe- cret infidelity ; or elfe engage them to the utmoft in a carnal felf-intereft, anal perfwacle them thlt '.,:hrifts In tereft doth ftand in their way, . He would delude them fo far as to carafe them tomiftake where their inter( lyeth, and fo to efpoufe them to an intereft incontinent with Chrifts ; and then will they be involved before they are aware into a kerning neceility of fi againft Heaven, and fecret or open oppoRtion °if the Church The deceiver would make them forget, mar from chri they have their power, and under him and frr him muff they hold it, and exercife it. A fairer opportunity in- deedhe hath to draw the Princes and Great ones of the world,to forget that they arebut men, and fervants, and to forget the fading vanity and danger oftheir condition, and toRebel againft Chrift by felf exaltation, then with the meaner and poorer inhabitants of the earth: He of- fereth them a more golden and glorious bait, and there- by hath hitherto befooled the molt of them, to fall up-. on that ftone that will dafh them in pieces: Or elfe if he cannot taint them with the common Profanefs,lre will at leaft engag them to a hatredof the power ofGodlinefs. Or if he can taint _them (as hedid conflantiffs) with He ' retie, he will engage them to fall upon the' foundeft in the Church. Or can he but delude them to fit by, and as Neuters to look on, as being indifferent between Chrift and him, at leaft, hewill deprive the Church of the be- nefit of their power, or of that fpecial intereft in them, which they may claim from their commiffi oh. As kazi- anen calls the Magiftrate the. Vice- gerent of Chrift ; fo may the -Church juftly fay as Tertallia,7, did, Apologet. cap. 3 3. imper atoremnecf e ft ut fUlpiciampi ,ut eum quern Domino'
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