*fileofS.P,wl to Vita. CHAP.3.I. Sonne any leífe wife a law-giuer in his Churcb, then was Mofes a fcr- 545 uant ? Pfc. r. This dot:trine meeteth with that wicked opinion ofAnabap- ntilna Aar tilts, and Libcrtincs,whohold that Chrifliansneed noMagiflrates,nor baptifise ought tobe fubiedt unto any ; and why fo ? r. Becaufe they are the Lords freemen. z.They are the iufl whoneed no laws, but are a law to themfelues, 3.They need no prote5tion but the Lords. ,}.Their badge is loue,which fuffrech,and couereth all things,and thereforethey may not reuenge,nor refill euill by carying before the Magiflratc. But for the f tfl,the libertyofthe Lords free men in this life,is spiritual and inward: and not outward and bodily,till the life to come. For the fecond,if the law be not made againfl them , yet it is for them, and their good ; for fvppofe theydo no euill,yet may they fuffer much wrong and cull with- out defence oflaw; fo as the old laying will here be true, Kings were ordained for men, andnot men for Kings;and efpecially for good men, as the fhepheard for the Cheep, and not principally for the wolues. Be- tides the fuppolition is naught, for though they be lull, yet they are fo but in part,aud therefore fometimes they follow their private affcElions and do wrong,and need the Iaw to vrge them to do right. For the third, althoughbeleeuers be vnder theproteelion of God,who fuffreth not an hayre to fall from their heads without his prouidence; yet may we not Rrip his prouidence from the meanes which lerue.it , of which this is a fpeciall one. And for the fourth, true it is that loue couereth things: t.cor.r ;.j. but by covering, mull be meant, a. A favourable conflruc`?ionof all chings,which in right reafon may be well contlrued : for a man may not put out his eyes,and affe&ion may not fo ouermaier fencc,as to cal tna- nifeft datknes by the name oflight. 2.Apangby fmaller infirmities, and private offences,asone that would not take knowledge of them. 3. Such a covering as may cure alfo,for loue is wile,& herein tngfl loving, when in caking notice ofan iniury, it turneth it ielte to the difcipline of the party; fornetimes by loving admonition in all lenitie, and forne- times by mereifull feuerity in (harper reprehension: yea, and if that take no place,in proceeding further to difcouer the fores toskilful' (urgions, according to the quality ofthe offëce,t.o the bench either ofthe church, or commonwealth; and this is no impeachment unto loue,as we fee in God himfelfe, who chafienethvnto amendment whom he loueth. A- gaine, Chriflians may not rcrurne euill for euill, but rather beare two blowes then giue one, and fuller a double iniury then offer one:but yet this hindrethnot , but that aChriflian may lawfully defend himfelfe a1- The 6°4'ct forbidacch nog though he may not offend and hurt another ; for we maynot thinke our taw,bur teach. (clues (o ffraitly bound to the letter, as the right fence offuch precepts: how to vie for
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