s4 treatife of Conjclence, 1I57 out them, then they are made Idolatrous, and lofe their virtue of binding the conscience. But all fuch commands of things that are indifferent, which are commanded without refpe& to make them idolatrous, they may be obeyed. This is our fecond conclufion. 3. Concluf :on, 3. Thofe laws and commandments of Magifirates which want the authority of Gods law to confirm them ( and there- fore bind not the confcience) ought not to be difobeyed for all that with fcandall or contempt and by unreverent (lighting or defpifing the Magiflrate or his laws. He mull be acknowled- ged a Magiflrate under God for all that : I Tim. 2.1, Z. J exhort that Application be made for Kings and thofe that are in authority. He i eaketh there of heathen Kings ; yet bee callech them Kings, and faith they have authority : and wee ought to pray for them : and therefore how much more when Kings and Magifirates fubfcribe to Chriflran religion ? Nay, though they command that which is utterly unlawfull, wee mull not rife up againfl them : for if we do, we rife up againft God. We mull obey them one way or other, either a&ively or pavely : When they command that which is lawfull for us to do, we mull obey them by doing : when they command that which is unlawfull for us to do, and threaten punishment, then wee cannot a&ively obey them by doing, becaufe they command a- gainft God ; yet we mull paffively obey by fuffering and fub- mitting to their penalties, becaufe the Lord bath given them au- thority over us. This is our third conclufion. 4. Con du Pion. 4. Thofe laws ofMagiflrates which by Gods law do not bind confcience, do yet in matter of fcandall bind us to obedi- ence. Ifthe Magiflrate (hall command any thing beyond his power to command yet not unlawfull for us to do, though fuch a command do not bind to obedience in cafe of confcience, yet in cafe of fcandal itBoth. Thus Chril was content to pay tribute
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