of the end, because scandal should possibly follow in
case we obey them not, but also _jubentis respectu_, because the Apostle
biddeth us obey the magistrate for conscience' sake. At the reading of
these passages in Saravia and Camero, horror and amazement have taken hold
on me. O wisdom of God, by whom kings do reign and princes decree justice,
upon whose thigh and vesture is written, "King of kings and Lord of
lords," make the kings of the earth to know that their laws are but
_regulae regulatae_, and _mensurae mensuratae_! Be wise now, therefore, O
ye kings, be instructed ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, and lay down your crowns at the
feet of the Lamb that sits upon the throne,(934) _discite justitiam
moniti_, and remember that this is the beginning of wisdom, by casting
pride away, to addict yourselves to the dominion of Christ, who, albeit he
hath given the kingdoms of this world unto your hands, and non _auferet
mortalia, qui regna datio caelestia_, yet hath he kept the government of
his church upon his own shoulder, Psalm ix. 6, xxii. 21. So that _rex non
est propie rector ecclesiae sed reipublicae, ecclesiae vero defensor est_.
O all ye subjects of kings and princes, understand that in things
pertaining to the church and kingdom of Christ, ye are not the servants of
men, to do what they list, and that for their listing, 1 Cor. vii. 23. The
Apostle, Rom. xiii. urgeth, not obedience to magistrates for conscience'
sake, but only subjection for conscience' sake, for he concludeth his
whole purpose,(935) 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 honour."(936) There is not in all that chapter one word of
obedience to magistrates.

And as touching the binding power of their laws, be they never so just,
they cannot bind you any other way, nor in respect of the general end of
them. For, _per se_, they cannot bind more than the church's laws can.
Which things Dr Forbesse(937) hath also told you out of Calvin.

And hence it followeth, that whensoever you may omit that which princes
enjoin, without violating the law of charity, you are not holden to obey
them for the majesty of princely authority. Be ashamed, O ye Formalists,
of your ascribing to princes a jurisdiction so absolute! Bury it in the
grave of eternal silence. Tell it not in Rome; publish it not among the
vassals