We see then, that Jesus Christ our Lord would gather to him both great and small, to be honoured of all, and that they which are in honour, should humble themselves before him, and we might be all knit together, and serve him with one consent, knowing that GOD his father, gave him sovereign rule and dominion, to the end that all knees should bow before his majesty. This is very necessary, to make the subjects on their part, more ready and willing to submit themselves to the obedience of justice, & to them that bear the sword. For we know what pride is in men, and in their nature, that they will not willingly submit themselves, unless they know {138:A} that it be God,s will. When we know that Princes and ministers of justice are appointed by God, & be not established by force (as if God corrected us by the hands of thieves) but are as God,s lieutenants, and represent his person: and yet notwithstanding, are members of the Church, yea, honourable members, and Jesus Christ will have his glory appear in them, and them to be his officers: When we know this, we have good occasion to humble ourselves, not by constraint, but of a willing heart, knowing that is a service agreeable to God, for subjects to obey their superiors in modesty and humility. So have they also that rule, occasion to rejoice, in that that God hath received them to be his flock. And this ought to stir them up to do their duty, knowing that it is a good calling, and such an one as God alloweth of. For if they were not persuaded that God will use them to his service, and that it is a lawful estate which they have, what a thing were it? They should be always in trouble, and give themselves to evil. But when they are once persuaded and resolved of this, that the state which they have, was not invented by men, at haphazard, but that God established it, and he will that we know, that it is an holy vocation, then it behooveth them to be throughly moved, to execute their office faithfully. Neither may we doubt, but Paul meant in this place, to {138:B} give Kings and Magistrates a law: and so by the contrary shew, what condemnation is provided for them, if they abuse the seat which God hath dedicated to so good and excellent an use for all mankind, and which is to be referred to his glory, as the chiefest and most principal end. This is it which Princes and Magistrates have to gather out of this place, to wit, that they must give an account to God, seeing he hath advanced them to so great an honour, and hath placed them, as it were, in his seat, and will have them govern, as it were, in his person. So did Moses and Joshua [Deut. 1.17,] give the Judges which they made well to understand. Take good heed, you are not here in your own proper names, men shall not be your warrants, it is God that must govern above all, & to him belongeth this honor: and it pleaseth him that you should be his officers, and have his place. Seeing then it is so, walk in fear & carefulness, considering that it is an horrible sacrilege, if you defile the seat of justice, which God hath consecrated to himself and to his majesty. And therefore it behooveth princes & magistrates to take good heed to themselves, knowing that God will have an account of them, & they must appear before the Lord Jesus, to give an account of their office, which they have executed. And herewith also Paul sheweth, wherein they have to employ themselves, to wit, {139:A} in this, that we their subjects be maintained and kept in good peace, that every man may quietly enjoy that that is his own, that no man be oppressed and put to wrong, that they themselves stand for right and equity, without accepting of persons, that there be no partiality nor favour used, no hatred nor revenge shewed, and that there be an honest and indifferent dealing, betwixt man and man, that our lives be honest and seemly, not dissolute and lawless, and that there be no enormities amongst us, but that they keep men in subjection, to keep under their beastly appetites, and especially that they maintain God,s honour, and the pure and true religion. This is the lesson that is here given to Magistrates, and especially to them which will be taken and accounted faithful. For if the Heathen Princes and unbelievers cannot be excused, what will become of them, that pretend God,s name, & will also be taken for Christians? And mark a threatening by the way, which may make their hairs stare on their heads, & is contained in this text, if they do not their duty. And this order of God may not be broken: Mark then why he hath established Kings and Magistrates, and worldly government, to wit, first of all, That we might live, saith Paul, in all godliness. What meaneth this word Godliness? It meaneth God,s honor, when there is a pure & holy religion amongst us. [John Calvin]
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