"There is no king, emperor, magistrate, and ruler, of what state soever they be, but are bound to obey this God, and to give credence unto his holy word, in directing their steps ordinately according to the same word. Yea, truly, they are not only bound to obey God's book, but also the minister of the same, "for the word's sake," so far as he speaketh "sitting in Moses' chair": that is, if his doctrine be taken out of Moses' law. For in this world God hath two swords, the one is a temporal sword, the other a spiritual. The temporal sword resteth in the hands of kings, magistrates, and rulers, under him; whereunto all subjects, as well the clergy as the laity, be subject, and punishable for any offence contrary to the same book." -Hugh Latimer, Sermons, Parker Society edition (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1844), p. 85. The quotation is taken from a sermon preached before Edward VI on March 8, 1549
John Knox (1514-1572)
"When God
did establish his law, statutes, and ceremonies in the midst of
Israel, he did not exempt the matters of religion from the power of
Moses; but as he gave him charge over the civil polity, so he put in
his mouth and in his hand: that is, he first revealed to him, and
thereafter commanded to put in practice whatsoever was to be taught
or done in matters of religion (Ex. 21, 24-25). Nothing did God
reveal particularly to Aaron, but altogether was he commanded to
depend from the mouth of Moses. [33]Yea, nothing was he permitted to
do to himself or to his children either, in his or their inauguration
and sanctification to the priesthood, but all was committed to the
care of Moses. And therefore were these words so frequently repeated
to Moses: "Thou shalt separate Aaron, and his sons, from the
midst of the people of Israel, that they may execute the office of
the priesthood. Thou shalt make unto them garments, thou shalt anoint
them, thou shalt wash them, thou shalt fill their hands with the
sacrifice" (Ex. 28). And so forth, of every rite and ceremony
that was to be done unto them, especial commandment was given unto
Moses, that they should do it. Now if Aaron and his sons were so
subject to Moses, that they did nothing but at his commandment, who
dare be so bold as to affirm, that the civil magistrate has nothing
to do in matters of religion! For seeing that then God did so
straitly require, that even those who did bear the figure of Christ
should receive from the civil power, as it were, their sanctification
and entrance into their office; and seeing that Moses was so far
preferred to Aaron, that the one commanded and the other did obey;
who dare esteem that the civil power is now become so profane in
God's eyes, that it is sequestered from all intromission [admission]
with the matters of religion? The Holy Ghost in diverse places
declares the contrary. For one of the chief precepts commanded to the
king, when he should be placed in his throne, was to write the
example [a copy] of the book of the Lord's law, that is should be
with him, that he might read in it all the days of his life, that he
might learn to fear the Lord his God, and to keep all the words of
his law, and his statutes to do them (Deut. 17:18-20). This precept
requires, not only that the king should himself fear God, keep his
law and statutes, but that also he, as the chief ruler, should
provide that God's true religion should be kept inviolate of the
people and flock, which by God were committed to his charge." -
John Knox
"No man
denies, but that the sword is committed to the magistrate, to the end
that he should punish vice and maintain virtue. To punish vice, I
say: not only that which troubles the tranquillity and quiet estate
of the commonwealth (by adultery, theft, or murder committed), but
also such vices as openly impugn the glory of God, as idolatry,
blasphemy, and manifest heresy, taught and obstinately maintained, as
the histories and notable acts of Hezekiah, Jehoshaphat, and Josiah
do plainly teach us; whose study and care was not only to glorify God
in their own life and conversation, but also they unfeignedly did
travail to bring their subjects to the true worshipping and honoring
of God; and did destroy all monuments of idolatry, did punish to
death the teachers of it, and removed from office and honors such as
were maintainers of those abominations. Whereby, I suppose, that it
is evident, that the office of the king, or supreme magistrate, has
respect to the moral law, and to the conservation of both the
tables." - John Knox, The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the
Monstrous Regiment [government] of Women (1558).
"Kings then have not
absolute power to do in their regiment what pleaseth them; but their
power is limited by God’s Word. So that if they strike where God
commandeth not, they are but murderers; and if, they spare, where God
commandeth to strike, they and their throne are criminal, and guilty
of the wickedness that aboundeth upon the face of the earth for lack
of punishment. Oh, if kings and princes would consider what account
shall be craved of them, as well of their ignorance and misknowledge
of God’s will, as for the neglecting of their office!" -John Knox, ‘A
sermon preached by John Knox, minister of Christ Jesus, in the church
of Edinburgh, upon Sunday, August 19, 1565, Select practical writings
of John Knox (1845; Edinburgh, 2011), pp 212-14.
Wilhelmus A' Brakel
(1636- 1711)
“It is the duty of
the civil government to uphold not only the second table of the law,
but also the first. It must see to it that God is honored. It may not
tolerate any idolatry, worship of images, or any false religion
within her jurisdiction, but must rather eradicate these. It must
prevent the vain use of God’s Name practiced by cursing, swearing,
and blasphemy. It must prevent the desecration of the Sabbath, punish
violators of this commandment, and see to it that the gospel is
proclaimed everywhere within its jurisdiction. It must see to it that
the church as the darling of the Lord Jesus is protected and
preserved and that neither internal dissension no any external
oppression disturb or destroy the church, but that instead she be
safely preserved in the use of the privileges and liberties which her
King Jesus has given her.” -From Vol. 2, Chapter 29, page 179
"The command is to all—to states, republics, kingdoms, and empires, in whatever quarter of the world they may be found, from whatever branch of the human family they may be descended, and whatever may be their local peculiarities and pursuits—let all bow down before the Mediator and serve him. But we must be more particular.
1. It is their duty to bind themselves to him by covenant engagement, consecrating themselves to him, swearing allegiance to him as their King and Lord, binding themselves to one another, and, as united together in social compact, to seek the protection and the blessings of Messiah, Heaven’s Almighty Vicegerent. ...
Is there any intimation in the
whole volume of inspiration, that other nations should not copy after the
example set them in Judea? Any hint that the honors there claimed by Messiah,
and conceded to him, were peculiar to that territory, and that he does not
demand them in other quarters of the world? Nothing like it; but quite the
reverse. "The uttermost parts of the earth are given to him for
inheritance;" "he is the governor among the nations;"
"Sheba’s and Seba’s kings shall offer gifts, yea all kings shall fall down
before him;" "the isles shall wait for his law;" "the
gathering of the people shall be to him." The lion of the tribe of Judah
has the volume of providence committed to him, and he prevails to open the
seals of the book in which the destiny of the nations is recorded: "he is
prince of the kings of the earth;" and "hath on his vesture and on
his thigh written, King of kings, and Lord of lords." Indeed, is not easy
to conceive, how God could have expressed his will more plainly, or have more
fully and distinctly asserted the claims of his Son to universal dominion, and
the duty of nations to acknowledge him." -James Willson's sermon "The Subjection of Kings and Nations to Messiah"
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