discipline prevented or reformed, and all the ordinances of God duly settled, administered, and observed. For the f Isa. xlix. 23. And kings shall be thy nursing-fathers, and their queens thy nursing-mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me. Psal. cxxii. 9. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek thy good. Ezra vii. 23. Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? Ver. 25. And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not. Ver. 26. And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. Ver. 27. Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem: Ver. 28. And hath extended mercy unto me before the king and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes; and I was strengthened, as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me. Lev. xxiv. 16. And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, better he shall surely be put to death: and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death. Deut. xiii. 5. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, (because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God com. manded thee to walk in,) so shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. Ver. 6. If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers: Ver. 12. If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the Lord thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying, &c. 2 Kings xviii. 4. He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it, and he called it Nehushtan. 1 Chron. xiii. 1. to the 9th Verse. 2 Kings xxiii. 1. to the 26th Verse.] 2 Chron. xxxiv. 33. And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the Lord their God. And all 1 better effecting whereof, he hath power to call synods, to be present at them, and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them be according to the mind of God. IV. It is the duty of people to pray for magistratesh, to honour their persons', to pay them tribute and other dues, to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their authority for conscience' sake'. Infidelity, or difference in religion, doth not make void the magistrate's just and legal authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to himTM: from which ecclesiastical persons are not exempted"; much less hath the Pope any power or jurisdiction over them in their dominions, or over any of their people; and least of all to deprive them of their dominions or lives, if he shall judge them to be hereticks, or upon any other pretence whatsoevero. all his days they departed not from following the Lord, the God of their fathers. 2 Chron. xv. 12. And they entered into a covenant, to seek the Lord God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul; Ver. 13. That whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. 2 Chron. xix. 8. Moreover, in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem. Ver. 9. And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. Ver. 10. And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the Lord, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass. Ver. 11. And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah, the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's mat dience ters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the Lord shall be with the good. 2 Chron. Chapters xxix. and xxx.] Matth. ii. 4. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. Ver. 5. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea': for thus it is written by the prophet. IV. h 1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men: Ver. 2. For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. il Pet. ii. 17. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. k Rom. xiii. 6. For, for this cause pay you tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Ver. 7. Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom ho nour. 1 Rom. xiii. 5. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake. Tit. iii. 1. Put them in mind to be subject to principali ties and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work. m 1 Pet. ii. 13. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Ver. 14. Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. Ver. 16. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Rom. xiii. 1. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God. 1 Kings ii. 35. And the king put Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, in his room, over the host; and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar. Acts xxv. 9. But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? Ver. 10. Then said Paul, I stand at Cesar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged; to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. Ver. 11. For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cesar. 2 Pet. ii. 1. But there were false prophets also among the 2 CHAP. people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. Ver. 10. But chiefly them that walk after the flesh, in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government: presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Ver. 11. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. Jude, ver. 8. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Ver. 9. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil, (he disputed about the body of Moses,) durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. Ver. 10. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Ver. 11. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 02 Thess. ii. 4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Rev. xiii. 15. : CHAP. XXIV. Of Marriage and Divorce. MARRIAGE is to be between one man and one wo man: neither is it lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband at the same time *. II. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife; for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and of the church with an holy seed and for preventing of uncleanness d III. It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry who are able with judgment to give their consent: yet it is the duty xiii. 15. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. Ver. 16. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: Ver. 17. And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. I. Gen. ii. 24. Therefore shall.: a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Matth. xix. 5. And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife and they twain shall be one flesh. Ver. 6. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder, Prov. ii. 17. Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forget teth the covenant of her God. H. b Gen, ii, 18. And the Lord ! God said, It is not good that the man should be alone: I will make him an help meet for him. Mal. ii. 15. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the Spirit. And wherefore one t That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. d 1 Cor. vii. 2. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Ver. 9. But if they cannot contain. let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. III. Heb. xiii. 4. Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge, 1 Tim. iv. 3. Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be receiv. ed with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 1 Cor. vii. 86. But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely towards his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. Ver., 37. Nevertheless, he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart G duty of Christians to marry only in the Lord. And therefore such as profess the true reformed religion should not marry with infidels, Papists, or other idolaters: neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are notoriously wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresies 5. heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. Ver. 38. So then, he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better. Gen. xxiv. 57. And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth. Ver. 58. And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. f 1 Cor. vii. 39. The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. 8 Gen. xxxiv. 14. And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us. Exod. xxxiv. 16. And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods. Deut. vii. 3. Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. Ver. 4. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly 1 Kings xi. 4. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after IV. Marriage other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. Neh. xiii. 25. And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. Ver. 26. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many natione was there no king like him, whe was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless, even him did outlandish women cause to sin. Ver. 27. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God, in marrying strange wives? Mal. ii. 11. Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel, and in Jerusalem: for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lord which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. Ver. 12. The Lord will cut off the man that doeth this the master and the scholar out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the Lord of hosts 2 Cor. vi. 14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteous ness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with dark. ness? IV. h [Levit. |