difpofed of all things in her own dominions,
without fear of rendering an account to fuch
popular magiftrates, as Calvin's doctrine
might encourage to require it of her. But
Calvin found more friends in Scotland, than in
all the world; there being no kingdom, prin-
cipality, or other eftate, which had herein
followed Calvin's doctrine, in the imprison-
ing, depofing, and expelling their own natu-
ral prince, till the Scots firft led the way
unto it in this fad example."

It certainly argues a more intimate and
certain knowledge of the cause or the antece-
dent to demonftrate à priori the effect or
confequent, than from the effect or confe-
quent to demonstrate à pofteriori the cause
or antecedent. Thus muft we give more
credit to arch-bishop Bancroft, who wrote in
the year 1591 under queen Elizabeth, for
his judgment of the real tendency of thefe
Geneva doctrines, before their effects had
been fenfibly experienced in this country,
than to Dr. Heylin and others, who had wit-
neffed their dire confequences in the wounds.
and wretchedness of their afflicted country.

*"As you have heard how Mr. Knox, being at Geneva, in queen Mary's time, la

Bancroft Dangerous Pofitions, c. i. p. 34. & feq.

boured, and afterward proceeded to reform religion in Scotland by force and arms: fo did fundry Englishmen, that then lived there in like fort, according to the Geneva refolutions in that point, endeavour as much as lay in them to have kindled the like ftirs at that time here in England. To which special end they did write hither fundry letters and books wholly of this argument, viz. That the then tounfellors, the noblemen, inferior magiftrates, and (rather than fail) the very people were bound before God to overthrow the fuperftition and idolatry, that was then in the land, and to reform religion, whether the queen would or no; yea, though it were by putting her to death. Out of two of thefe English books, I have collected these feditious and confiftorial propofitions following:

* « All men, counsellors, noblemen, inferior magiftrates, and people, are bound and charged to fee the laws of God kept, and to fupprefs and refift idolatry by force."

If the magiftrates fhall refufe to put massmongers and false preachers to death, the people (in feeing it performed) do fhew that zeal of God, which was commended in Phinees, de

Goodman, p. 73, 74, 77.

+ Ibid. p. 196.

ftroying

ftroying the adulterers, and in the Ifraelites against the Benjamites.”

*«To teach, that it is not unlawful in any cafe to refift the fuperior powers, but rather to fubmit ourfelves to punishment, is a dangerous doctrine; taught by fome, by the permiffion of God, for our fins."

t "It is not fufficient for fubjects not to obey wicked commandments of their princes, but to withstand them alfo in doing the contrary, every man in his vocation and office."

"Sheriffs, jaylors, and other inferior offi cers ought not only not to caft the faints of God in prifon (having commandment thereunto by the prince) for fear of lofing their officers; but to withstand evil, to Jupport them, and to deliver them to the uttermost of their power."

§ " If we see a sheep in danger to be devoured of a wolf, we are bound to deliver it: even fo to our power we are bound to put to our hands, to deliver the children of God, when we fee them pitiously in danger by God's ene

mies.”

"It is the office of counfellors to bridle the affections of princes and governors: noblemen

* Goodman, p. 30.

Ibid. p. 63, 43, 59, 728

Ibid. p. 87, 88, 89, 90.

§ Ibid. p. 90.

Ibid. p. 33, 35.

Pp 2

were

were firft ordained to bridle princes. Noblemen have their bonour of the people to revenge the injuries of their kings, and not for their * lufty hawking, nimble dicing and carding, finging and dancing, open bragging and fwearing, falje fleering and flattering, fubtil picking and stealing, cruel polling and pilling, &c.”

+ "Subjects do promife obedience, that the magiftrate might help them; which, if he does not, they are difcharged of their obedience."

"If magiftrates without fear tranfgrefs God's laws themfelves, and command others to do the like, they then have loft that bonour and obedience, which otherwise their subjects did owe unto them; and ought no more to be taken for magiftrates, but be examined, accufed, condemned, and punished as private tranfgref fors."

S Judges ought, by the law of God, to fummon princes before them for their crimes; and to proceed against them as against all other offenders."

"Evil princes ought (by the law of God) to be depofed; and inferior magiftrates ought chiefly to do it. Examples allowed of kings

Obed. p. 107.

+ Goodm. p. 19.

↑ Ibid.

p. 119. 139. § Obedience, p. 111. Goodm. p.

Ibid. p. 110.

deposed,

depofed, Edw. II. Rich. II. Chriftierne of Denmark, &c."

"It is lawful to kill wicked kings and tyrants: and both by God's law and man's law, † Queen Mary ought to have been put to death, as being a tyrant, a monster, a cruel beaft, &c. Examples: The fubjects did kill the queen's highness Athaliah; Jehu killed the queen's majesty Jezabel: Elias, being no magiftrate, killed the queen's majesty's chaplains, Baal's priefts.. These examples are left for our inftruction. Where this juftice is not executed, the state is moft corrupt."

S "When magiftrates do ceafe to do their duties (in thus depofing or killing of princes) the people are as it were without officers: and then God giveth the fword into their hands, and be himself is become immediately their head: for to the multitude a portion of the fword of justice is committed; from the which no person, king, queen, or emperor (being an idolater) is exempt; be muft die the death. The people, in the 25th of Numbers, did bang up certain of their heads and captains; which ought to be for ever a perpetual example of their duty, in the like defection from God, to hang up fuch rulers, as shall

• Obedience, p. 99. 103.

+ Goodm. p. 99. ↑ Obedience, p. 113, 114, 115. Goodman, p. 180, 184, 185.

PP 3

draw