5 36 An Expofition upon contained, and what it the meaning thereo f ? S r L. The propofition is in the firfl words [Let every foul be fubjea to the higher powers,] the meaning hereof is,Let eve- ry man and woman be in fubje&ion to the Magiftrate. In the word [foul] there is a Synecdoche, as the flefh or body (which is put a part) is fometimes put for the whole man, as in thofe fayings ofEfay,Allflefhio- grafe: and again, Al flefh fhaU fee the falvation of God : fo the foul doth often lignifie the whole man, as in Gen. 4.6. Jacob went down into Egypt with 7o fouls, and Att. 27. 37. and fo in this place the whole man is denominated from the foul which is the principali part : and in the Pfalmer, Soul is fome- times put for the man himfelf, but yet the Apofile ufeth rather the word [Soul] then man, for thefereafòns ; as namely, firft of all to teach us that the fubje &ion he requireth,muft be volun- tary, not upon compulfion, but wil- lingly. Secondly, to thew that inferiors not in fubftance only and body, but muftbe fubje& alto even in their very fouls, in fuch things as they may do with a good confcienc'e, otherwife they ought to obey God rather then men. Thirdly, to declare that mortali men without exception of any, (even as ma- ny'as have fouls) muff yeeld their fub- je &ion to Rulers. T i M. Is not thin 1af1 thing further con - fermedbythis univerfall particle [every foul ?] S t t. It is fo : for the meaning there - of is thus much, that all men of what condition, fexe, or age foever (none exempted) muff be fubje&. Therefore foolifh and very falfe is that colle&ion of Origen,that fuch asbe utterly fpiritu- all and do not follow the affe&ions of the ftefh, are not to live under Princes, becaufe Paul wrote thus [Let every foul] not let every fpirit, this is more fubtle then found, for none were more fpirituall then Chrift and his Apoftles, and yet none were more fubje& then they ; wherefore it is better to fay with fhryfo flame, that this univerfall particle [all] doth comprehend all without ex- ception of any, and that this precept is given not to fecular men only, but alfo Chap. 12 to Priefts and Moná, as Ghryfcflorne faith,Whether he bean Apoffle, or Pro- phet, or Evangelift, or whatfoever he be, let him be fubje &,for this fubje &ion (faith he)doth not overthrow religion. Hereunto accordeth Bernard, in an Epi- ftle of his to the Clergie of Rome, Epiff. 24. Si omuis anima fubjici debeat, guir eat excipiet ab bac oniverfalitate ? guifguir cana- tur elericor excipere, tentat decipere : yea Chrift himfelf did not plead priviledge againft this precept, neither did grant exception unto any. T t m. What ufeis to be made of this point, touching the generality of the perfens who muff be fubjet? S z L. It reproves divers forts of per- Ions : Firft,the Anabaptift who wil not admit Chriftians either to bear Magi - ftracy, or to be fubje& unto authority; as if it were fit for Infidels but not for the faithful! to be fubje& to powers; under this pretence, that being Chrifts free men they may not live in fervitude, or be bound unto any : whereas P ireð this precept to the beleeving Romani, who were Chriftians by ro- feflion, whofe fpirituall freedome from fin,Satan,and damnation, is not repug- nant unto corporali fubje &ion, due to civil! Magiftrates. There is nothing in the Gofpel againft this,but rather much for it, that a man may be both a Chri- ftian and a fubje&,as well as a wife,a ma- fter,a fervant,and achilde. The fecond kinde here reproved, are certain irre- gular and exorbitant . perlons among(} our felves, who though they be in judgement convi&cd, and cannot but confeffe that this precept is given to all Chriftians,and touching all powers,yet they make themfelves a difpenfation, and take Iiberty to do what they lift, without all due regard to that which is by fuperiors commanded. Herein joy - ning with Anabaptifts and Libertines, thetas touching their pra &ife they ftrive to (hake offfrom their necks the yoke (though not offupreme,yet) offubor- dinate Governors, as if they were too good to obey fore powers. The third kind is the Pope and his Clergy,who do not only plead for an ex-
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