he is chosen, is in no case Just. For it is
alwaies violation of faith, and consequently against
the Law of Nature, which is the eternal Law of God.
Nor doe wee read, that any such Doctrine was accounted
Christian in the time of the Apostles; nor in the
time of the Romane Emperours, till the Popes had the
Civill Soveraignty of Rome. But to this he hath
replyed, that the Christians of old, deposed not Nero,
nor Diocletian, nor Julian, nor Valens an Arrian, for
this cause onely, that they wanted Temporall forces.
Perhaps so. But did our Saviour, who for calling
for, might have had twelve Legions of immortall, invulnerable
Angels to assist him, want forces to depose Caesar,
or at least Pilate, that unjustly, without finding
fault in him, delivered him to the Jews to bee crucified?
Or if the Apostles wanted Temporall forces to depose
Nero, was it therefore necessary for them in their
Epistles to the new made Christians, to teach them,
(as they did) to obey the Powers constituted over
them, (whereof Nero in that time was one,) and that
they ought to obey them, not for fear of their wrath,
but for conscience sake? Shall we say they did
not onely obey, but also teach what they meant not,
for want of strength? It is not therefore for
want of strength, but for conscience sake, that Christians
are to tolerate their Heathen Princes, or Princes (for
I cannot call any one whose Doctrine is the Publique
Doctrine, an Haeretique) that authorize the teaching
of an Errour. And whereas for the Temporall
Power of the Pope, he alledgeth further, that St. Paul
(1 Cor. 6.) appointed Judges under the Heathen Princes
of those times, such as were not ordained by those
Princes; it is not true. For St. Paul does but
advise them, to take some of their Brethren to compound
their differences, as Arbitrators, rather than to goe
to law one with another before the Heathen Judges;
which is a wholsome Precept, and full of Charity,
fit to bee practised also in the Best Christian Common-wealths.
And for the danger that may arise to Religion, by
the Subjects tolerating of an Heathen, or an Erring
Prince, it is a point, of which a Subject is no competent
Judge; or if hee bee, the Popes Temporall Subjects
may judge also of the Popes Doctrine. For every
Christian Prince, as I have formerly proved, is no
lesse Supreme Pastor of his own Subjects, than the
Pope of his.
The fourth Argument, is taken from the Baptisme of Kings; wherein, that they may be made Christians they submit their Scepters to Christ; and promise to keep, and defend the Christian Faith. This is true; for Christian Kings are no more but Christs Subjects: but they may, for all that, bee the Popes Fellowes; for they are Supreme Pastors of their own Subjects; and the Pope is no more but King, and Pastor, even in Rome it selfe.