544 An Expofition upon and in the exercife of vertue, and civili good by maintaining their effate and li- berty ; and fpirituall good by making ',awes for religion, and againfi idolatry by upholding preaching and Preachers, and the rightufe of Sacraments,maintai- ning Schooles, and Üniverftics, with prof ffors : for Religion is our chief good the care whereof lies on the powers civill,who be the prefervers of both the Tables of the Law,whereof is a precept, Peut. 17.18,19. T i M la what j'en fe is the Magi fárate cald the mini fier of God ? S e L. Firff,becaufe they are ordained of God. Secondly, let over us by God. Thirdly,they are Gods in earth,to exer- cile his judgements. Fourthly, in Gods behalf, in his flead, in his name, and by his power and authority, they reward the righteous, and punifh the evill, as well concerning Religion as Juffice : as the Kings of judo did defend publick peaceandhoneffy, difcipline and good order,fo as God may be ferved, and the tranquillity of the State preferved. T s M. But ri herein do rafters differ from Magifirates, for they are alfa called Gods Mini flea ? S i L They have onely one begin - ning (to wit) God; and one end, the godd of the people : but they differ in theobje&, which is the foule and Di- vine things for the Preacher, but body and goods for. the Ruler : and in the meanes u hich be excernall, force in the Ruler; but inftru&ions and exhortati- ons, and Ecclefìafficall difcipline in the preacher. T i M. What.ufe of this inffrutiion, that Rulers are appointed for the praife and great good of the people ? Si L. bisa fpurre to fubje &i on, to hear as as doe well, (hall t eeeive pralle and o much good : for all men do defire good things, and .co- vet to be well fpoken of. Secondly, it reproves fuch Rulers as look to their own privateends,and not to the pub- likegood; fuch as wafle the common Treaftire, fpoile and waf }e the fubje &s, neglc& the obfervation of good Lawes, and the encouragement of vertuouffy Chap.ig. difpofed perlons, giving heart by re- miffion and connivence to the ev ill, and difheartning the good.Thirdly;it admo- nifheth all Rulers,with all care and con- fcience ro anfwer their high authority ; as they are Gods Miniffers, fo to doe Gods will, and to approve their do= ings to God, to feeke his honour in their office, reniembring that to him they muff render account, and above all to uphold the purity of. Do&rine and Divine worfhip, after the example . of prima, David, Jofiah, JeheJaphat,Heze- kfah, and other godly Emperours and Kings. Laffly, it muff provoke us to the greater reverence towards them, being Gods Officers and Vicegerents : in refpe&ing, loving, obeying them for Gods fake- we muff declare our reve- rence,love, and obedience to God him- felfe. DIALOGUE IV. Verfe 4. But if thou de that which is eviy,be a fraid: for he beareth not the ¡word in vain, for he is theMiniffer ofGod total&e vengeance on him that deth evil. TI MOTH Eu S. Has is contained in the( a words ? S t L. The fecond or latter end or ufe for which Rulers are appoin- ted of God, ( for the punifhment of evill doers) as Peter fhyleth it, i Pet. 2. 13. From whence the Apoffle ar- gueth thus to confirme the princi- pall matter in hand touching fubjeaion: We ought willingly ( not for fear one- ly) be fubjea to them which are helpe- full to all mankinde. Tbis propofition is not expreffed, but underffood. But Powers or Rulers are beneficiall to mankinde, not onely for praifing and defending the good, but for bridling and punifhing the evill, verfes 3. and+. Therefore, not for fear of wrath only, but for conncience fake we ought to o- bey them, verfi g. for it is againft éon- fcience to relift and grieve fuch benefa- aors as governours be. The proofe of the
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