Verf. the Epiftle to the Romans. 515 CHAP. XIII. Of e 1Vlagiffracy, DIALOGUE I A I. Vert a. Let every foul be fubje0 to the higher powers, for there is no power but of God, and the powers that be are ordained of God. -fluor x aus. Hat is the argument and fubjeli ofthis Chapter? S I L. Having in the for- mer Chapter, exhorted us to many moral! duties, he now commendeth us unto political! and civil! fubje &ion ; and withall ex- horteth us unto mutuall charity, and holineffe of converfation, fo as the parts of this Chapter are three. The firft of obedience to Magiftrates, to the end of the iéventhverfe. The fecond,oflove due to our Neighbour, to the eleventh verfe. The third of purity and fan&i- mony oflife,to the end of the chapter. T I M. Shea, us now more d&Pally the connexion of this chapter with the former, and what reafonsmight move the Apoffle to treat of duties to Magiftrates? S I L. Faul having before forbidden to recompenfe evill, and to avenge our felves, left he might be thought to take away all power from man to avenge our wrongs,' he now teacheth that Ma- giftrates are pet up of God to be his mi- nifters to take vengeance of evil! doers. Secondly,having faid th twemuff do good to fuch as hurt us, he now very fitly inferreth, that we ought much more to reverence and obey Governors which are helpfull to mankinde. Now the reafons which moved Paul to make a fet treatife coaching the honour due unto rulers are thefe : Firit, to ftop themouthes of fach as affirm the Go- fpel ofChrift,to be an enemy to autho- rity again(} Sings and Princes, , for thus the Chriffians were accufed in the Apo - ftles time. Secondly, in refpe& of the jewes who being born of Abraham, free born and Gods peculiar people, did feek to {hake off the yoke of the Romans, who were now become their Lords. Thirdly, becaufe it might be judged farre unmeet for the faithful! which are governed by Gods Spirit, to be ruled by heathenifhGovernors, and fuch they all were at that time. Laffly, to meet with fuch as imagine that Chriftian liberty and civil! Magi - firacy could, not Hand together, and that we need not to be fubje& to poli- tick ]awes, becaufe Paul had written before that we are not under the Law. Upon there confederations it feemeth the Apoflie cloth now very. feafonably urge civil! obedience: and as all -the precepts in the former chapterfrom,the ninth verfeto the end,are branches of the fixt Commandement [Thou (halt not murder,] fo this that he fpeaketh now of fubje&ion to. R ulers, 'belongeth to the flit commandement, whereofit is part; for what elfe be Magiftrates but Parents of their Countrey, raifed. up of God with a fatherly affe&ion to. defend dig Lawes and publick peace, and to pro- cure the common good, and to be. ha, nouredof the people under them with childelike reverence and.obedience T r as. Lay forth now the method and diff, pofition of that part of this Gbapter which concerneth men in authority ? S I L. The general] .members of this treatife are -two: firft, a.propofition ; fecondly, the reafons thereof. T i wt. In. what words is the propofitiott Z z 3 con-
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