HOMILY ON OBEDIENCE

Short-Title Catalogue 13675. Renaissance Electronic Texts 1.1.
Copyright 1994 Ian Lancashire (ed.) University of Toronto

 Edited to 2003 American English by Curtis I. Caldwell on 23 March 2003.
Revised 17 July 2004.

 

AN EXHORTATION
concerning good Order, and obedience
to Rulers and Magistrates.


Almighty God has created and appointed all things in heaven, earth, and waters, in a most excellent and perfect order. In Heaven, he has appointed distinct and several orders and states of archangels and angels. In earth he has assigned and appointed kings, princes, with other governors under them, in all good and necessary order. The water above is kept, and rains down in due time and season. The sun, moon, stars, rainbow, thunder, lightning, clouds, and all birds of the air, keep their order. The earth, trees, seeds, plants, herbs, corn, grass, and all manner of beasts keep themselves in order. All the parts of the whole year, as winter, summer, months, nights and days, continue in their order. All kinds of fish in the sea, rivers, and waters, with all fountains, springs, yea, the seas themselves keep their comely course and order. And man himself also has all his parts both within and without, as soul, heart, mind, memory, understanding, reason, speech, with all and singular corporal members of his body in a profitable, necessary, and pleasant order. Every degree of people in their vocation, calling and office, has appointed to them their duty and order: some are in high degree, some in low, some kings and princes, some inferiors and subjects, priests and laymen, masters and servants, fathers and children, husbands and wives, rich and poor, and every one have need of other, so that in all things is to be lauded and praised the goodly order of God, without which no house, no city, no commonwealth can continue and endure, or last. For where there is no right order, there reigns all abuse, carnal liberty, enormity, sin, and Babylonical confusion.

Take away rulers, judges, and such government officials of God's order, no man shall ride or go by the highway unrobbed, no man shall sleep in his own house or bed unkilled, no man shall keep his wife, children, and possession in quietness, all things shall be common, and there must needs follow all mischief, and utter destruction both of souls, bodies, goods, and commonwealths. But blessed be God that we feel not the horrible calamities, miseries, and wretchedness, which all they undoubtedly feel and suffer, who lack this godly order, and praised be God that we know the great excellent benefit of God shown towards us in this behalf.

Wherefore, let us citizens do our bounden duties, giving hearty thanks to God, and praying for the preservation of this godly order. Let us all obey, even from the bottom of our hearts, all their godly proceedings, laws, statutes, proclamations, and injunctions, with all other godly orders. Let us consider the Scriptures of the Holy Ghost, which persuade and command us all obediently to be subject to our government, which by God's goodness, is placed and ordered.

For Almighty God is the only author and provider for this forenamed state and order, as it is written of God, in the book of the Proverbs: "Through me, kings do reign. Through me counselors make just laws. Through me princes rule, and all judges of the earth execute judgment. I am loving to them that love me" (Proverbs 8:15, 17).

Here let us mark well, and remember that the high power and authority of rulers, with their making of laws, judgments and offices, are the ordinances not of man, but of God, and therefore is this word (through me) so many times repeated. Here is also well to be considered and remembered, that this good order is appointed by God's wisdom, favor, and love, especially for those that love God, and therefore he says, "I love them that love me." Also in the book of Wisdom we may clearly learn that a ruler's power, authority, and strength, is a great benefit of God, given by his great mercy, to the comfort of our great misery. For thus we read there spoken to Kings, "Hear, O you Kings, and understand. Learn, you that are judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, you that rule the multitudes. For the power given to you by the Lord, and the strength, is from the highest" (Wisdom 6:1-3). Let us learn also here by the infallible and undeceiveable word of God, that rulers and other supreme and higher officers are ordained by God, who is most high, and therefore they are here taught diligently to apply and devote themselves to knowledge and wisdom necessary for the ordering of God's people to their governance committed, or whom to govern, they are charged by God.

And they are here also taught by Almighty God that they should acknowledge themselves to have all their power and strength not from Rome, but immediately from God most High. We read in the book of Deuteronomy that all punishment is the legal right of God, by this sentence, "Vengeance is mine, and I will reward" (Deuteronomy 32:35). But this sentence we must understand to pertain also to the Magistrates which exercise God's room in judgment, and punishing by good and godly laws here on earth. And the places of Scripture which seem to remove from among all Christian men, judgment, punishment, or killing, ought to be understood that no man (of his own private authority) may be judge over another, may punish, or may kill. But we must refer all judgment to God, rulers, and judges under them, which are God's officers to execute justice, and by plain words of Scripture have their authority and use of the sword granted from God, as we are taught by Saint Paul, that dear and chosen apostle of our Savior Christ, whom we ought diligently to obey even as we would obey our Savior Christ, if he were present.

Thus Saint Paul writes to the Romans, "Let every soul submit himself to the authority of the higher powers, for there is no power but from God. The powers that exist are ordained by God. Whoever, therefore, opposes the power, opposes the ordinance of God; and those who resist, or are against it, shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not fearful to those that do good, but to those that do evil. Will you be without fear of that power? Do them well, and so shall you be praised by the same, for he is the minister of God for your wealth. But if you do that which is evil, then fear, for he bears not the sword for nothing, for he is the minister of God, to take vengeance on him that does evil. Wherefore, you must obey, not only for fear of vengeance, but also because of conscience. And even for this cause pay you tribute, for they are God's ministers serving for the same purpose (Romans 13:1-6).

Here let us learn of Saint Paul the chosen vessel of God, that all persons having souls (he excepts none, nor exempts none, neither priest, apostle, nor prophet, says St. Chrysostom) do owe of bounden duty, and even in conscience, obedience, submission, and subjection to the high powers, which are set in authority by God, for as much as they are God's lieutenants, God's rulers, God's officers, God's commissioners, God's judges, ordained by God himself, by whom, only, they have all their power and all their authority. And the same Saint Paul threatens no less pain than everlasting damnation to all disobedient persons, to all resisters against this general and common authority, for as much as they resist not man, but God.

THE SECOND PART OF THE SERMON OF OBEDIENCE

Not Man's Device and Invention, but God's Wisdom, God's Order, Power, and Authority. Or as much as God has created and disposed all things in a proper order, we have been taught in the first part of the sermon concerning good order and obedience that we also ought in all commonwealths to observe and keep a due order, and to be obedient to the powers, their ordinances, and laws, and that all rulers are appointed by God for good order to be kept in the world, and also how the magistrates ought to learn how to rule and govern according to God's laws, and that all citizens are bound to obey them as God's ministers, yea, although they are evil, not only for fear, but also for conscience's sake. And here (good people) let us all note diligently, that it is not lawful for inferiors and citizens in any case to resist and stand against the superior powers, for Saint Paul's words are plain, that whoever opposes shall get to themselves damnation. For whoever rebels, opposes the ordinance of God. Our Savior Christ himself, and his apostles, received many and diverse injuries by the unfaithful and wicked men in authority. Yet we never read that they, or any of them, caused any sedition or rebellion against authority. We often read that they patiently suffered all troubles, vexations, slanders, pangs, and pains, and death itself, obediently without tumult or resistance. They committed their cause to Him who judges righteously, and prayed for their enemies heartily and earnestly. They knew that the authority of the powers was God's ordinance, and therefore, both in their words and deeds, they always taught obedience to it, and never taught nor did the contrary.

The wicked judge Pilate said to Christ, "Know you not that I have power to crucify you, and have power also to set you free?" Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against me, except that it were given to you from above." Whereby Christ taught us plainly that even the wicked rulers have their power and authority from God, and therefore it is not lawful for their citizens to oppose them although they abuse their power, much less then it is lawful for subjects to oppose their godly and Christian rulers which do not abuse their authority, but use the same to God's glory, and to the profit and benefit of God's people. The holy apostle Peter commands servants to be obedient to their masters, not only if they are good and gentle, but also if they are evil and obstreperous, affirming that the vocation and calling of God's people is to be patient, and of the suffering sides. And there he brings in the patience of our Savior Christ, to persuade obedience to governors, yea, although they are wicked and wrong doers.

But let us now hear St. Peter himself speak, for his words certify best our conscience. Thus he utters them in his first epistle, "Servants, obey your masters with fear, not only if they are good and gentle, but also if they are unreasonable. For it is thankworthy if a man, for conscience toward God, endures grief and suffers wrong undeserved. For what praise is it when you are beaten for your faults, if you take it patiently? But when you do well, if you then suffer wrong and take it patiently; then is there cause to have thanks from Go. For this were you truly called, for so did Christ suffer for us, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps" (1 Peter 2:18-21). All these are the very words of St. Peter.

Holy David also teaches us a good lesson in this matter, who was many times most cruelly and wrongfully persecuted by King Saul, and many times also put in jeopardy and danger of his life by King Saul and his people. Yet he neither rebelled, neither used any force or violence, against King Saul, his mortal and deadly enemy, but always gave to his liege lord and master King Saul, most true, most diligent, and most faithful service (1 Samuel 18:11, 14, 30, 19:10-11; 20:31; 24:2-7). Even to the extent that when the Lord God had given King Saul into David's hands in his own cave, David would not hurt King Saul when David might without any bodily peril easily have slain him, nor would he permit any of his servants once to lay their hand upon King Saul, but prayed to God in this manner, "Lord keep me from doing that thing unto my Master, the Lord's anointed. Keep me, that I lay not my hand upon him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord. For as truly as the Lord lives (except the Lord smite him, or except his day come, or that he go down to war and perish in battle), the Lord be merciful to me, that I lay not my hand upon the Lord's anointed."

And that David might have killed his enemy King Saul, it is plainly proven in the First Book of the Kings, both by the cutting off the lap of Saul's garment, and also by plain confession of King Saul. Also another time, as is mentioned in the same book, when the most unmerciful and most unkind King Saul persecuted poor David, God again gave King Saul into David's hands by casting of King Saul and his whole army into a dead sleep, so that David, and one Abishai with him, came in the night into Saul's host, where Saul lay sleeping, and his spear stuck in the ground at his head. Then said Abishai to David, "God has delivered your enemy into your hands at this time. Now therefore let me smite him once with my spear to the earth, and I will not smite him again the second time". meaning thereby to have killed him with one stroke, and to have made David safe forever. And David answered and said to Abishai, "Destroy him not, for who can lay his hands on the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless?" And David said furthermore, "As sure as the Lord lives, the Lord shall smite him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall descend or go down into battle and there perish. The Lord keep me from laying my hands upon the Lord's anointed. But take you now the spear that is at his head, and the cruse of water, and let us go." And so he did. Here is plainly proven that we may not oppose, nor in any manner hurt an anointed ruler, which is God's lieutenant, vice-regent, and highest minister in that country where he is ruler.

An objection. But suppose some here would say that David, in his own defense, might have killed King Saul lawfully, and with a safe conscience.

An answer. But holy David knew that he might in no manner oppose, hurt, or kill his sovereign lord and king. He knew that he was but King Saul's subject, though he were in great favor with God, and his enemy King Saul was out of God's favor. Therefore, though he were never so much provoked, yet he refused utterly to hurt the Lord's anointed. He dared not, for offending God and his own conscience (although he had occasion and opportunity) once lay his hands upon God's high officer the king, whom he knew to be a person reserved and kept (for his office's sake) only for God's punishment and judgment.

Therefore, he prayed so often and so earnestly, that he lay not his hands upon the Lord's anointed. And by these two examples, Saint David (being named in Scripture 'a man after God's own heart') gives a general rule and lesson to all citizens in the world to not oppose their ruler, not to take a sword by their private authority against their ruler, God's anointed (1 Samuel 26:11; Psalm 88.), who only bears the sword by God's authority for the maintenance of good, and for the punishment of evil, who only by God's law has the use of the sword at his command, and also has all power, jurisdiction, regiment, correction and punishment, as supreme governor of all his realms and dominions, and that even by the authority of God, and by God's ordinances.

Yet another notable story and doctrine is in the Second Book of the Kings, that makes also for this purpose. When an Amalekite, by King Saul's own consent and commandment, had killed King Saul (2 Samuel 1:8-10), he went to David, supposing to have had great thanks for his message that he had killed David's deadly enemy, and therefore he made great haste to tell to David the event, bringing with him King Saul's crown that was upon his head, and his bracelet that was upon his arm, to demonstrate that his reports were true. But godly David was so far from rejoicing at this news that immediately and forthwith he ripped his clothes off his back, he mourned and wept, and said to the messenger, "How is it that you were not afraid to lay your hands on the Lord's anointed to destroy him?" And by and by, David made one of his servants kill the messenger, saying, "Your blood be on your own head, for your own mouth has testified and witnessed against you, granting that you have slain the Lords anointed."

These examples, being so manifest and evident, it is an intolerable ignorance, madness, and wickedness for subjects to make any murmuring, rebellion, resistance, or withstanding, commotion, or insurrection against their ruler, ordained and appointed by God's goodness for their benefit, peace, and quietness.

Yet let us believe undoubtedly, (good Christian people) that we may not obey kings, magistrates, or any other, (though they be our own fathers) if they would command us to do any thing contrary to God's commandments. In such a case we ought to say with the apostle, "We must rather obey God than man" (Acts 5:29). But nevertheless, in that case we may not in any way oppose violently, or rebel, against rulers, or make any insurrection, sedition, or tumults, either by force of arms (or otherwise) against the anointed of the Lord, or any of his officers. But we must in such case patiently suffer all wrongs and injuries, referring the judgment of our cause only to God (Acts 7). Let us fear the terrible punishment of Almighty God against traitors and rebellious persons, by the example of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, which he repugned and grudged against God's magistrates and officers, and therefore the earth opened and swallowed them up alive. Other for their wicked murmuring and rebellion, were by a sudden fire sent of God, utterly consumed (Numbers 16: 1 - 35). Others, for their obstreperous behavior to their rulers and governors, God's ministers, were suddenly stricken with a foul leprosy. Other were stung to death, with astonishing strange fiery serpents. Other were severely plagued, so that there was killed in one day the number of fourteen thousand and seven hundred, for rebellion against those whom God had appointed to be in authority.

Absalom, also rebelling against his father King David, was punished with a strange and notable death (2 Samuel 18:9-10).

 

THE THIRD PART OF THE SERMON OF OBEDIENCE

You have heard before in this sermon of good order and obedience, manifestly proven both by the Scriptures and examples, that all subjects are required to obey their magistrates, and for no cause to resist, or oppose, or rebel, or make any sedition against them, yea, although they are wicked men. And let no man think that he can escape unpunished, that commits treason, conspiracy, or rebellion against his government, though he commits the same never so secretly, either in thought, word, or deed, never so privately, in his bathroom by himself, or openly communicating, and consulting with others. For treason will not be hid; treason will be found out at length. God will have that most detestable vice both opened and punished, for that it is so directly against his ordinance, and against his high principal judge, and anointed on earth. The violence and injury that is committed against authority is committed against God, the commonwealth, and the whole nation, which God will have known, and deservedly or worthily punished one way or other. For it is notably written of the wise man in Scripture, in the book called Ecclesiastes: "With the king, no evil in your thought, nor speak no hurt of him in your bathroom, for the bird of the air shall betray your voice, and with her feathers shall betray your words" (Ecclesiastes 10:20). These lessons and examples are written for our learning.

Therefore, let us all fear the most detestable vice of rebellion, ever knowing and remembering that he that resists or opposes common authority, resists or opposes God and his ordinance, as it may be proven by many other places of Holy Scripture. And here let us take heed that we understand not these or such other similar places (which so directly command obedience to superiors, and so straightly punished rebellion, and disobedience to the same) to be meant in any condition of the pretensed or colored power of the Bishop of Rome. For truly, the Scripture of God allows no such usurped power, full of enormities, abuses, and blasphemies. But the true meaning of these and such places, are to extol and set forth God's true ordinance, and the authority of God's anointed kings, and of their officers appointed under them. And concerning the usurped power of the Bishop of Rome, which he most wrongfully challenges, as the successor of Christ and Peter, we may easily perceive how false, feigned, and forged it is, not only in that it has no sufficient ground in Holy Scripture, but also by the fruits and doctrine thereof.

For our Savior Christ, and St. Peter, teach most earnestly and agreeably obedience to rulers, as to the chief and supreme rulers in this world, next under God. But the Bishop of Rome teaches that those who are under him are free from all burdens and charges of the commonwealth, and obedience toward their ruler, most clearly against Christ's doctrine and St. Peter's. He ought therefore rather to be called Antichrist, and the successor of the Scribes and Pharisees, than Christ's vicar, or St. Peter's successor. Seeing that not only in this point, but also in other weighty matters of Christian religion, in matters of remission and forgiveness of sins, and of salvation, he teaches so directly against both St. Peter, and against our Savior Christ, who not only taught obedience to rulers, but also practiced obedience in their conversation and living. For we read that they both paid tribute to the king (Matthew 17:27). And also we read that the holy virgin Mary, mother to our Savior Christ, and Joseph, who was taken as his father, at the Emperor's commandment went to the City of David, named Bethlehem, to be taxed along with others, and to declare their obedience to the magistrates for God's ordinances' sake (Luke 2:4-5). And here let us not forget the blessed virgin Mary's obedience. For although she was highly in God's favor, and Christ's natural mother, and was also about to give birth to her child at the same time, and so immediate her travail that she was delivered during her journey, yet she gladly, without any excuse or grudging (for conscience sake), took that cold and foul winter journey, being in the mean time so poor that she lay in a stable, and there she delivered the baby, who is the Christ.

And according to the same, observe how St. Peter agrees, writing by express words in his first epistle: "Submit your selves, and be subject (says he) unto kings as unto the chief heads, and unto rulers as unto those that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of those that do well, for this is the will of God" (1 Peter 2:13-15). I need not to expound these words; they are so plain by themselves. St. Peter does not say, "Submit yourselves unto me, as supreme head of the church." Neither says he, "Submit your selves from time to time to my successors in Rome." But he says submit your selves unto your ruler, your supreme head, and unto those that he appoints in authority under him, for that you shall so show your obedience; it is the will of God. God wants you be in subjection to your ruler.

This is God's ordinance, God's commandment, and God's holy will, that the whole body of every nation, and all the members and parts of the same, shall be subject to their head, their ruler, and that (as St. Peter writes) for the Lord's sake (1 Peter 2:13), and (as St. Paul writes) for conscience sake and not for fear only (Romans 13:5). Thus we learn by the word of God to yield to our ruler that which is due to our ruler: that is, honor, obedience, payments of due taxes, customs, tributes, subsidies, love and fear (Matthew 22:21, Romans 13). Thus we know partly our bounden duties to common authority, now let us learn to accomplish the same. And let us most instantly and heartily pray to God, the only author of all authority, for all those that are in authority, according as St. Paul teaches, writing thus to Timothy in his First Epistle: "I exhort, therefore, that above all things, prayers, supplications, intercessions, and giving of thanks be done for all men: for rulers, and for all that are in authority, that we may live a quiet and a peaceable life, with all godliness and honesty. For that is good and accepted or allowable in the sight of God our Savior" ( 1 Timothy 2:1-3). Here St. Paul makes an earnest and an especial exhortation concerning giving of thanks, and prayer for rulers and others in authority, saying, "Above all things, as he might say, in any wise principally and chiefly, let prayer be made for kings."

Let us heartily thank God for his great and excellent benefit and providence concerning the state of rulers. Let us pray for them, that they may have God's favor and God's protection. Let us pray that they may ever, in all things, have God before their eyes. Let us pray that they may have wisdom, strength, justice, clemency, and zeal to God's glory, to God's truth, to Christian souls, and to the commonwealth. Let us pray that they may rightly use their sword and authority for the maintenance and defense of the catholic faith contained in Holy Scripture, and of their good and honest subjects, for the fear and punishment of the evil and vicious people. Let us pray that they may most faithfully follow the kings and captains in the Bible: David, Ezekiel, Josiah, and Moses, with such others. And let us pray for our selves, that we may live godly in holy and Christian conversation, so shall we have God on our side. And then let us not fear what man can do against us, so we shall live in true obedience, both to our most merciful King in Heaven, and to our most Christian ruler on earth, so shall we please God and have the exceeding benefit, peace of conscience, rest and quietness here in this world, and after this life, we shall enjoy a better life, rest, peace, and the everlasting bliss of heaven, which he grants us all, who was obedient for us all, even to the death of the cross, Jesus Christ to whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, both now and ever. Amen.


*Editing goals: Clear the text from obsolete words and phrases and from references local to England, its constitution, and laws.

[CIC] It would be well for the church to reexamine the statements regarding the Church of Rome and the Pope, to determine which epitaphs apply only to an historical situation of the 1500s and 1600s, and which are of timeless judgment and accurately stated.

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