y to these men's hands, who neither know nor will know these things,
nor yet set a jot by any point of religion, save that which concerneth
their belly and riot; and to have them alone sit as judges, and to be set
up as overseers in the watch-tower, being no better than blind spies; of
the other side, to have a Christian prince of good understanding and of a
right judgment to stand still like a block or a stake, not to be suffered
neither to give his voice nor to show his judgment, but only to wait what
these men shall will and command, as one which had neither ears, nor
eyes, nor wit, nor heart; and whatsoever they give in charge, to allow it
without exception, blindly fulfilling their commandments, be they never
so blasphemous and wicked, yea, although they command him quite to
destroy all religion, and to crucify again Christ Himself: this surely,
besides that it is proud and spiteful, is also beyond all right and
reason, and not to be endured of Christian and wise princes. Why, I pray
you, may Caiaphas and Annas understand these matters, and may not David
and Ezechias do the same? Is it lawful for a cardinal, being a man of
war, and delighting in blood, to have place in a council? and is it not
lawful for a Christian emperor or a king? We truly grant no further
liberty to our magistrates than that we know hath both been given them by
the Word of God, and also been confirmed by the examples of the very best
governed commonwealths. For besides that a Christian prince hath the
charge of both tables committed to him by God, to the end he may
understand that not temporal matters only, but also religious and
ecclesiastical causes, pertain to his office: besides also that God by
His prophets often and earnestly commandeth the king to cut down the
groves, to break down the images and altars of idols, and to write out
the book of the law for himself: and besides that the prophet Isaiah
saith, "A king ought to be a patron and a nurse of the Church:" I say,
besides all these things, we see by histories and by examples of the best
times that good princes ever took the administration of ecclesiastical
matters to pertain to their duty.

Moses, a civil magistrate, and chief guide of the people, both received
from God, and delivered to the people, all the order for religion and
sacrifices, and gave Aaron the bishop a vehement and sore rebuke for
making the golden calf, and for suffering the corruption of religion.
Joshua also, t