The thirteenth Chapter. Of a Magistrate, and of the difference betweene Ciuill and Ecclesiasticall power.
1 NOw it remaineth that I intreate of a Magistrate, who in my iudgement may thus be described: Namely, A person chosen by the institution of God, 2 to kéepe the lawes as touching outward discipline, in punishing of transgressors with punishment of the bodie, and to defend and make much of the good. There are vndoubtedly many persons elected by the institution of God, which are not Magistrates: such be the Ministers of Churches, which neuerthelesse are kéepers of the word of God and of his law, but not onely as touching outward discipline. 3 Because it is the office of ministers, through the word of God to pearse eue~ to the inwarde motions of the minde: because the holy Ghost ioyneth his power, both to the right preaching of his word, and also to the sacraments which are ministred in the Church. But the Magistrate onely exerciseth outward discipline and punishment vpon transgressors. The minister in the name of God, bindeth the guiltie and vnpenitent, and in his name excludeth them from the kingdome of heauen, as long as they shall so remaine. The Magistrate punisheth with outwarde punishments, and when néede requireth, vseth the sword. Both of them nourish the godly, but diuersly. The Magistrate aduaunceth them with honors, riches and dignities. The minister comforteth them with the promises of God & with the sacraments. 4 Wherefore the Magistrate is appointed to the end that the lawes should be diligently kept, the guiltie punished, and the good holpen and fostered. And certainely the lawe is a dumb Magistrate: and againe, the Magistrate, is a liuing and speaking law, 5 and is also the Minister of God (as Paul saieth) to their praise which doe well: and on the otherside he beareth the sworde against the wicked as a iudge and reuenger of God. 6 Neither tend these things to any other ende than to the safetie of men.
2 Howbeit the forme of Magistrates is not of one sort but manifolde: as Monarchia, 7 [y e gouernment of one] Aristocrasia [the rule of many good men,] and Politia [politike gouernment.] Or else Tyrannis, [where one rules for his owne commoditie,] Oligarchia, [where a fewe be in authoritie,] and Democratia, [when the people beare the sway.] The descriptions and natures of which formes Plato, Aristotle, and other Philosophers, haue elegantly described. Of all these manners of gouernment the best is to be desired. And all men to whom it pertaineth ought to prouide, that a good or tollerable estate, degenerate not into an euill one. But if it happen at any time that Tyrantes or wicked princes obtaine the gouernance, that must bee suffered as much as the worde of God giueth leaue. The Iewes were by violence oppressed of the Babylonians: 8 whom neuerthelesse, GOD admonished that they should obey, & to pray for the King although he were a Tyrant, and possessed the kingdom of the Hebrewes most wrongfully. Caesar also helde Iewrie by Tyrannie, and yet Christ said: Giue that which is Caesars vnto Caesar, 9 and the things that are of God vnto God. The Apostles also haue taught that we must obey princes and pray for them. 10 Nero was a most shamefull beast, to whom notwithstanding the Apostle in his Epistle to the Romans sheweth that obedience ought to be giuen, 11 not onely for feare but also for conscience sake. Phocas attained to the Empire of Rome, by euill practizes, and most cruelly slew Mauritius his prince, and also his children, whom neuerthelesse the Romans acknowledged for their Emperour: and Gregorie the first, read vnto the people his commandements and writings. But and if thou shalt demaunde what forme of a publike weale y e Iewes had, it may easily be knowen. At the beginning they had Aristocrasia [where the best sort ruled.] For God approoued the counsell of Iethro, 12 which was, that there should be chosen out wise men and couragious, and such as feared God which shoulde gouerne the publike weale, as it is written in Exodus and Deuteronomie. 13 Yea and God himselfe with his spirit did so inspire these 70. men (whom he had commaunded to bée chosen as helpers of Moses in the gouernment,) as they also prophesied. On this wise were the Israelites gouerned, although afterward they were ruled by a king.