And Whether He May Make Laws and Ordinances in Cases of Religion. The Seventh Sermon
The first and greatest thing, that chiefly ought to be in a magistrate, is easily perceived by the declaration of his office and duty. In my yesterday’s sermon I shewed you what the magistrate is, how many kinds of magistrates there are, of whom the magistrate had his beginning, for what causes he was ordained, the manner and order how to choose peers?, and what kind of men should be called to be magistrates. To this let us now add what the office and duty of a magistrate properly is.
The whole office of a magistrate seemeth to consist in these three points; to order, to judge, and to punish: of every one whereof I mean to speak severally in order as they lie. The ordinance of the magistrate is a decree made by him for maintaining of religion, honesty, justice, and public peace: and it consisteth on two points; in ordering rightly matters of religion, and making good laws for the preservation of honesty, justice, and common peace. But before I come to the determining and ordering of religion, I will briefly, and in few words, handle their question which demand, whether the care of religion do appertain to the magistrate as part of his office or no? For I see many that are of opinion, that the care and ordering of religion doth belong to bishops alone?, and that kings, princes, and senators ought not to meddle therewith.
But the catholic verity teacheth, that the care of religion doth especially belong to the magistrate; and that it is not in his power only, but his office and duty also, to dispose and
[3 que ordinet, Lat.; omitted. What he may regulate. ] proceres, Lat. ] [+ Cf. Becon’s Works, Vol. 11. p. 303. Parker Soc. ed. The Ro-]
[mish arguments on this topic are alleged and discussed by Melancthon.]
[—Corp. Reform. Tom. 11. No. 1520. pp. 240—58.] 21—2]
advance religion. For among them of old their kings were priests; I mean, masters and overseers of religion. Mel-chizedech, that holy and wise prince of the Canaanitish people, who bare the type or figure of Christ our Lord, is wonderfully commended in the holy scriptures: now he was both king and priest together. Moreover, in the book of Numbers, to Josue, newly ordained and lately consecrated, are the laws belonging to religion given up and delivered. The kings of Juda also, and the elect people of God, have for the well ordering of religion (as I will by examples anon declare unto you) obtained very great praise: and again, as many as were slack in looking to religion are noted with the mark of perpetual reproach. Who is ignorant, that the magistrate’s especial care ought to be to keep the commonweal in safeguard and prosperity? Which undoubtedly he cannot do, unless he provide to have the word of God preached to his people, and cause them to be taught the true worship of God, by that means making himself, as it were, the minister of Levit. xxvi. true religion. In Leviticus and Deuteronomy the Lord doth largely set down the good prepared for men that are religious and zealous indeed; and reckoneth up, on the other side, the evil appointed for the contemners of true religion. But the good magistrate is commanded to retain and keep prosperity among his people, and to repel all kind of adversity. Let us hear also what the wise man, Salomon, saith in his Proverbs: “Godliness and truth preserve the king, and in godliness his seat is holden up.” When the just are multiplied, the people rejoice; and when the wicked ruleth, the people lamenteth. The king by judgment stablisheth his dominion, but a tyrant overthroweth it. When the wicked increase, iniquity is multiplied, and the just shall see their decay. Where the word of God is not preached!, the people decay; but happy is he that keepeth the law2” Whereby we gather, that they, which would not have the care of religion to appertain to princes, do seek and bring in the confusion of all things, the dissolution of princes and their people, and lastly, the neglecting and oppression of the poor.
Furthermore, the Lord commandeth the magistrate to make trial of doctrines, and to kill those that do stubbornly teach
[1 quando non est visio, Lat.; cum prophetia defecerit, Vulg.] [2 Prov. xx. 28; xxix.‘2, 4,16, 18.]]
against the scriptures, and draw the people from the true God. The place is to be seen in the thirteenth of Deut. God also forbade the magistrate to plant groves, or erect images: as is to be seen in the seventeenth of Deut. And by those particularities he did insinuate things general; forbidding to ordain, to nourish, and set forth superstition or idolatry; wherefore he commanded to advance true religion: and so consequently it followeth, that the care of religion belongeth to the magistrate. What may be thought of that moreover, that the most excellent princes and friends of God among God’s people did challenge to themselves the care of religion as belonging to themselves; insomuch that they exercised and took the charge thereof, even as if they had been ministers of the holy things? Josue in the mount Hebal caused an altar to be builded, and fulfilled all the worship of God, as it was commanded of God by the mouth of Moses. David, in bringing in and bestowing the ark of God in his place, and in ordering the worship of God, was so diligent, that it is wonder to tell. So likewise was Salomon, David’s son. Neither do I think that any man knoweth not how much Abia, Josaphat, Ezechias, and Josias, laboured in the reformation of religion, which in their times was corrupted and utterly defaced. The very heathen kings and princes are praised, because, when they knew the truth, they gave out edicts for the confirmation of true religion against blasphemous mouths. Nabuchodonozor, the Chaldean, the most mighty monarch of all the world, than who I doubt whether any more great and mighty did reign in the world, publisheth a decree, that he should be torn in pieces, and his house made a jakes, whosoever spake reproachfully against the true God which made both heaven and earth. The place is extant in the third chapter of Daniel’s prophecy. Darius Medus, the son of Assuerus, king Cyrus his uncle, saith: “I have decreed that all men in the whole dominion of my kingdom do fear the God of Daniel:” as is to be seen in the sixth of Daniel. Cyrus, king of Persia, looseth the Jews from bondage, and giveth them in charge to repair the temple, and restore their holy rites again Darius Persa, the son of Hystaspes, saith: “I have decreed for every man which changeth