Verf.4. the Epiftle to the Romans. the affumption or minor is, becaufe to power is given authority to bear and ufe the fword, both of prote&ing the innocent by lawful wars,and revenging the malefa &or by corporali paines, and death if need be. This power was gran- ted to man, Gen. 9.5. And afterwards oftentimes confirmed in Exed. and Deut. T I M. Come to the words and interpret them. S a L. By doing evil] is meant, tref- paffes and crimes committed againft pofitive and politicke Jewes. For there are many evil] deedes forbidden in Gods law, which Magiflrates can take no knowledge of, or cannot call untó an account to punifh, as evil] thoughts; and many rotten words and vain a&i ons; therefore criminali and capital] faults be meant. They which be guilty of filch, may well be afraid of powers, for they have power to ftrike for filch deeds. T I M. What is our felon from hence ? S I L. That innocent perlons are dreadleffe and bold, but breakers of good ]awes do go and live in continu- all terrour, as Theeves, Murtherers, Traitors, dare not looke out. The reafon is, becaufe innocency is as a Bul- warke and fortreffe to the good, and the Lawes alto and Powers are for their fafegard ; whereas the guilt of an evil] confcience, is as a tormenter to the evil] doer, who knoweth Powers and Lawes to be ordained for fcourging and curbing them. Hence it is, that the wicked and difobedient livers du feare and flit, and hide their heads, and feeke the darkeneffe to cover them, as Cain did, and as with us, Felons and Malefa &ors doe; when guiltleffe perlons are feareleffe and confident,and fhunne not the light, becaufe they have not done evil] againft Lawes. The three fervants of God, being convenced before the King, and fore threatned, faid; O King wee are not afraid to an- freer thee, Dan. 3. 16. John and Peter, (Ait. 4. t 3.) being brought before the Rulers, fo ifoutly anfwered (out of the goodneffe of their cattle and confci- 545 ence) as the Elders and Pries admired to fee unlettered men fo bold ; where. as evill men commonly (hake and trem- ble in the pretence of the Magiltrate, and looke pale as if death were in their faces, becaufe guilt is in their confcì- ence, This ferves to be a notable fpurre to fùbjeítion,to caule us to walk obediently towards Rulers lh all ready (oblation to Lawes and Orders well eftablifhed for publike good, that We may injoy that treedome from perplex. cd and flavifh feare,which as a Ghoft or Fiend doth follow evil doers,to difquiet and vex then,, living in continual] feare and dread of the (word, and feverity of Juftice. T I M.What is meant I ere by the [Sword] and in what f enje is it laid not to be. [borne in f vain ? ] S s-r. This is not fpoken of an Ec- clefiafticall or fpirituall fword,which is by the hands of GOD himfelf put into the hands of Church Officers, whereof Paul entreated before, Chap. 12. verfe 7,8. Here he fpeakes of Civili officers to whom cuftome and tribute are paid ; and therefore this muff be underftood of a material] (word, by which he meaneth (Metoiiymically ) the right and power of drawing the fword for good fubjedts againft evill ones, and ( Synecdochically) armour and weapons of all kinds, together with all coattive and coercitive power whatfoever is to be exercifed for the fafety of the body politick, and the fuppreflion of all enemies thereof, either domefticall and inteffine, of foraine. In the tearme of bearing the (word, he bath refpe& without all queftion, unto the cuftome of Princes and great Ru- lers 'who as enfgnes of their authoritie, and for the moving terror in the minds of rebellious ones, tile to have (courges or rods, Axes and fwords, carried be- fore them by Sergeants and Officers. This (word is (aid not to be [borne in vaine] in two fences, Firft, he beareth is not rafhly, Secondly, or not without caufe or end. The former hath relation to the beginning or firft canto of the (word, which the Magiftrate hath not A a a 2 - caught
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