en, to be ruled and restrained by political
government. And in this government the wisdom, justice, and goodness of
God to mankind do shine forth. His wisdom, order declares, which is the
difference of virtues and vices, and the consociation of men by lawful
governments and contracts ordained in wonderful wisdom. God's justice
also is seen in political government, who will have manifest
wickednesses to be punished by magistrates; and when they that rule
punish not the guilty, God himself wonderfully draws them to punishment,
and regularly punishes heinous faults with heinous penalties in this
life, as it is said, _He that takes the sword shall perish by the
sword_; and, _Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge_. God will have
in these punishments the difference of vices and virtues to be seen; and
will have us learn that God is wise, just, true, chaste. God's goodness
also to mankind is beheld, because by this means he preserves the
society of men, and therefore he preserves it that thence the Church may
be gathered, and will have polities to be the Church's inns. Of these
divine and immoveable laws, which are testimonies of God, and the chief
rule of manners, the magistrate is to be keeper in punishing all that
violate them. For the voice of the law, without punishment and
execution, is of small avail to bridle and restrain men; therefore it is
said by Paul, _The power should be a terror to evil works, and an honor
to the good._ And antiquity rightly said, _The magistrate is the keeper
of the law, both of the first and second table,_ so far as appertains to
_good order_. And though many in their governments neglect the glory of
God, yet this ought to be their chief care, to hear and embrace the true
doctrine touching the Son of God, and to foster the churches, as the
psalm saith, _And now understand, ye kings, and be instructed, ye judges
of the earth._ Again, _Open your gates, ye princes_, i.e., Open your
empires to the gospel, and afford harbor to the Son of God. And Isa.
xlix.: _And kings shall be thy nursing-fathers, and queens_, i.e.,
commonwealths, _shall be thy nursing-mothers_, i.e., of the Church, they
shall afford lodgings to churches and pious studies. And kings and
princes themselves shall be members of the Church, and shall rightly
understand doctrine, shall not help those that establish false doctrine,
and exercise unjust cruelty, but shall be mindful of this saying, "I
will glorify them that glorify me.