Vert. 5,6,7. the Epifile to the Romans. _ 547 out in the reckoning,that Rulers wil be found culpable and guilty of fuch crimes,as by their loft heffe and fufferice be committed. For with God it is much one, whether one be a doer of evill, or no hinderer, and fo a confenter and a fofterer. On the other fide, by the diligent and confcionable ufeof the (word, not only the Ruler is difchar- ged, but there is a terrour firicken into the hearts of eviIl men which ftayes them from running headlong to vice, as Solomon faith, The blewneffe of the wound driveth out evill.And Deut. 18. Crimes muff be punilbed by the Judge, that the retï may fear and do no fuch ev/U. Alfo i Tim.5. 24. fcandalous Minifters mull be openly rebuked, that others may be terrified : fo as there is a double benefit comes by corre&ing vices , according to their quality. One the reformation of the offender, as the theefe on the croffe was reclaimed by his pain:and fecondly,the reftraint of others that would offend, were they not feared by example of pu- nifhmerit. Thus as the body by purging out noxious humours, the garden by wee- ding, the flocke by tarring (cabbed fheep be kept found, clean and health- (full: fo the Common - wealth is purged of much evill, and preferved from inte- &ion of vices by fevere punifhments. To thefe we may adde a third commo- dity of the (word, that (as Chryfoffome faith) it makes the wayes of verme eafie, when to the vertuous life of the Ruler there is added the impulhon and force oflaweswell executed. This brought many Donatifls from that wicked fe &, to imbrace the Catholike truth, where- Upon Auguffiné corre&ed his errour, touching the not punifhing of here - tickes. Laftly, in that they are entituled the Minifters of God : let this helpe to nourilh reverence towards them, to have them in good reputation for the Lords fake, o Pet. 2.I 3. Secondly,Iet it affure Rulers that they (hall not lacke Gods aflftance and prote &ion, fee JO. t. 5,6,7. If Kings will maintain their Judges,Sheriffs Juffices, and theft do beat out their Under- officers doing but their duties, yea to the punilhing of fuch as refill to make refcues : How can it be that God fhould caft off the care and defence of his Minifters and lervants, executing but his judgements? he wil certainly be a fhield and a buckler to fuch fhields of the earth(fo the Pfafmtfl calles Rulers) as be found upright and valiant. DIALOGua V. Verf. 5, 6, 7. Wherefore ye muff be fubjel3 not onely for wrath, but for confeience fake. For this caufe ye pay alfo tribute, for they are Gods Miniflers,applyingthemfelves for the fame thing:give to al men therefore theirtluesen. TI MOTH aUs. WHat be the contents of this Text? S r L. It con taineth a conciufi- on of the former exhortation touching fubje&ìion unto Magiftrates, wherein we are to obferve thefe three things : Firft, a repetition of two maine argu- ments, the former (a metu pcune) becaufe of wrath. The fecond (a meta Dei) for confcience fake , that is left we hurt our confcience by offending God who lets Rulers over us, and commands us to obey them. The fecond part is an addition of two new arguments, órit from neceflity, [ ye muff be fubjetï,] the fecond from equity [ render to every man his due: ] this is regula equitatis e juris. The third and fait member of the text is an enumeration of the parts of fubje &ion, which bee thefe faure: t fear; 2 honour, 3 tribute, 4 cationic. Of the laft two, there be two reafons yeelded in the text, why they ought to be paid: Fir1t,( a to ffimonio) becaufe they themfelves be witneffes of fubje &ion, [for this caufeye pay tribute.] Secondiy,(ab honeffo) becaufe it is an honeft thing to give recompence to the Magiftrate for his labour and paints, (applying them- (elves to this purpofe.) T t M. Let ut proceed to the words, and tell us what is here meant by [wrath, ] and [ for confcience fake ? ] A a a 3 Sit.
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