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hearers did judge； and if perhaps these were punisht who did not
listen to them plainly； teaching easie things； it doth not thence
follow； that the Kings were obliged to follow all things which
they in Gods name did declare； were to be followed。 For though
Iosiah the good King of Iudah were slain because he obeyed not
the word of the Lord from the mouth of Necho King of AEgypt； that
is to say； because he rejected good Counsell though it seemed to
come from an enemy； yet no man I hope will say that Iosiah was by
any bond either of divine； or humane Lawes obliged to beleeve
Pharoah Necho King of AEgypt； because he said that God had spoken
to him。 But what some man may object against Kings； that for want
of learning； they are seldome able enough to interpret those
books of antiquity in the which Gods word is contained； and that
for this cause it is not reasonable that this office should
depend on their authority； he may object as much against the
Priests； and all mortall men； for they may erre； and although
Priests were better instructed in nature； and arts then other
men； yet Kings are able enough to appoint such interpreters under
them； and so； though Kings did not themselves interpret the word
of God； yet the office of interpreting them might depend on their
authority； and they who therefore refuse to yeeld up this
authority to Kings； because they cannot practise the office it
selfe； doe as much as if they should say that the authority of
teaching Geometry must not depend upon Kings； except they
themselves were Geometricians。 We read that Kings have prayed for
the People； that they have blest the people； that they have
consecrated the Temple； that they have commanded the Priests；
that they have removed Priests from their office； that they have
constituted others。 Sacrifices indeed they have not offered； for
that was hereditary to Aaron； and his sonnes； but it is manifest；
as in Moyses his life time； so throughout all ages from King Saul
to the captivity of Babylon； that the Priesthood was not a
Maistry； but a Ministry。
XVII。 After their returne from Babylonian bondage； the
Covenant being renewed； and sign'd； the Priestly Kingdome was
restor'd to the same manner it was in from the death of Ioshuah
to the beginning of the Kings； excepting that it is not expresly
set downe that the return'd Jewes did give up the Right of
Soveraignty either to Esdras （by whose directions they ordred
their State） or to any other； beside God himselfe。 That
reformation seemes rather to be nothing else then the bare
promises； and vowes of every man to observe those things which
were written in the booke of the Law。 Notwithstanding； （perhaps
not by the Peoples intention） by virtue of the Covenant which
they then renewed； （for the Covenant was the same with that which
was made at Mount Sinai） that same state was a Priestly Kingdome；
that is to say； the supreme civill authority； and the sacred were
united in the Priests。 Now； howsoever through the ambition of
those who strove for the Priesthood； and by the interposition of
forraigne Princes； it was so troubled till our Saviour Iesus
Christs time； that it cannot be understood out of the histories
of those times； where that authority resided； yet it's plaine；
that in those times； the power of interpreting Gods Word was not
severed from the supreme civill power。
XVIII。 Out of all this； we may easily know how the Iewes in
all times from Abraham unto Christ were to behave themselves in
the Commands of their Princes。 For as in Kingdomes meerly humane
men must obey a subordinate Magistrate in all things； excepting
when his Commands containe in them some Treason； so in the
Kingdome of God； the Iewes were bound to obey their Princes；
Abraham； Isaac； Jacob； Moyses； the Priest； the King； every one
during their time in all things； except when their commands did
containe some treason against the Divine Majesty。 Now treason
against the Divine Majesty was； first； the deniall of his divine
providence； for this was to deny God to be a King by nature；
next； Idolatry； or the worship not of other （for there is but one
God） but of strange Gods； that is to say； a worship though of one
God； yet under other Titles； Attributes； and Rites； then what
were establisht by Abraham； and Moyses。 For this was to deny the
God of Abraham to be their King by Covenant made with Abraham；
and themselves。 In all other things they were to obey； and if a
King or Priest having the Soveraign authority； had commanded
somewhat else to be done which was against the Lawes； that had
been his sinne； and not his subjects； whose duty it is； not to
dispute； but to obey the Commands of his superiours。
Chap。 XVII
Of the Kingdome of God by the new Covenant
I。 There are many cleare prophesies extant in the old
Testament concerning our Saviour Jesus Christ； who was to restore
the Kingdome of God by a new Covenant； partly foretelling his
regall Dignity； partly his Humility and Passion。 Among others
concerning his Dignity； these； God blessing Abraham； makes him a
promise of his sonne Isaac； and addes； And Kings of People shall
be of him； Gen。 17。 vers。 16。 Jacob blessing his sonne Judah； The
Scepter （quoth he） shall not depart from Judah； Gen。 49。 vers。
10。 God to Moyses； A Prophet （saith he） will I raise them up from
among their brethren like unto thee； and will put my words in his
mouth； and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him；
and it shall come to Passe； that whosoever will not hearken unto
my words； which he shall speak in my name； I will require it of
him； Deut。 18。 vers。 18。 Isaias； The Lord himselfe shall give
thee a signe； Behold a Virgin shall conceive； and bear a Sonne；
and shall call his name Emanuel； Isai 7。 v。 14。 The same Prophet；
Unto us a child is born； unto us a Sonne is given； and the
government shall be upon his shoulders； and his name shall be
called Wonderfull； Counsellour； the mighty God； the Everlasting
Father； the Prince of Peace； Isai 9。 vers。 6。 And again； There
shall come forth a Rod out of the stemme of Jesse； and a branch
shall grow out of his roots； the spirit of the Lord shall rest
upon him； &c。 he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes；
neither reProve after the hearing of his eares； but with
righteousnesse shall he judge the Poor； &c。 and he shall smite
the earth with the rod of his mouth； and with the breath of his
lips shall he slay the wicked； Isay 11。 vers。 1； 2； 3； 4； 5。
Furthermore in the 51； 52； 53； 54； 56； 60； 61； 62。 Ch。 of the
same Isay； there is almost nothing else contained but a
description of the coming； and the works of Christ。 Jeremias；
Behold the days come； saith the Lord； that I will make a new
Covenant with the house of Israel； and with the house of Judah；
Jerem。 31。 31。 And Baruch； This is our God。 &c。 Afterward did he
shew himselfe upon earth； and conversed with men； Baruch 3。 vers。
35； 37。 Ezekiel； I will set up one Shepheard over them； and he
shall feed them； even my Servant David； And I will make with them
a Covenant of Peace； &c。 Ezek。 34。 vers。 23； 25。 Daniel； I saw in
the night visions； and behold one like the Sonne of man came with
the clouds of heaven； a