ion of that which he
hadd seene at Damasco. This Kinge Achaz his sonne / godly
Ezechias / perceyuinge that these thinges whiche his father hadd
done / were repugnant and contrarye vnto Godds worde / hurtefull
also to the consciences of his subiects / he (I say) did fall
away from the Kinge of the Assyrians / which yet was now his
superior and hygher poure. Indeede he soughte fyrst to pacifie
hym with gyftes / which thing when he coulde not do / then to
the vttermost of hys poure he dyd defende hym self / and his
people agaynst hym. Neuertheles in this matter sedicion muste be
auoyded so much as may be / and these princes must not vnder the
colour and cloke of Religion / seeke theyr own gayne and honor:
but here only let them resiste / that nothing be done contrary to
Godds worde / and not for those thinges which are done to hinder
theyr ambicion. Of this corrupt affection yf thei be cleare /
and only for Religions sake do resiste the wicked proceadinges
of theyr hygher princes and Lordes / let them not thincke that
they do herin anye vnrighteousnes at all. But yf one will
obiecte and saye: Thys maye not be / for all men are commaunded
to obeye the hygher poures. I answer /

[[Rom. 13.]]

It is true indeede that the holy scriptures do commaunde / that
euerye soule shulde obeye the hygher poures / but so farr as by
Godds word it is lawfull to obey / and no further. For the holy
scriptures do likewyse say / that the Rular is not any feare to
them that doth good / but to them that do euell. Wherfor seying
these princes / in this case by theyr endeuour and laboure / do
promote that which is goode / they do well and not euell: and so
ought they for this doinge to be without fear of the hygher
poure / because that herin they do not resiste agaynst them /
with that Resistaunce which is forbidden. Wilt thou (saith he)
be without feare of the poure? do well then / and so shalt thou
be praysed of the same: If these princes and rulars do defende
godlynes and religion / they do good / then by the iudgement of
Goddes worde they are without feare of the poure / and do
deserue prayse of theyr hygher poures and lords. But yf thou do
euell (saith Paule) then feare the poure / for he beareth not
the sworde for nought / but is the minister of Godd to take
vengeaunce on them which do euell. Thus doth this place arme the
myndes and consciences of these inferior princes of whom I
speake / that they shulde note feare theyr hygher poures