Hoi. I answer — Tiioy do in a sort, but not in that order and manner that God's do. (1.) Not directly and immediately, but by the inter- vention of God's command. As a Christian is bound to perform all civil duties upon reasons of religion, we are bound in conscience, though human laws under that quatenus do not bind conscience. So 1 Peter ii. 13, ' Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man_ for the Lord's sake.' It is God's command that bindeth my conscience to observe man's. So Eccles. viii. 2. ' I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God ; ' that is, not only for fear of men, but chiefly for wronging thy conscience towards God. (2.) Not so universally and unlimitedly. I must obey God intuitu voluntatis, upon the bare sight of his will ; but I must examine the laws of men, whether they be just, equal, suiting with charity and public safety; and in many cases active obedience must be withheld. Peter and the apostles said, Acts v. 2!>, ' We ought to obey God rather than men.' Many such cases there are ; but now towards God con- science is bound, though it can see no reason for it, no good from it. (3.) Not so absolutely. Whatever God commandeth, I am bound to do it even in secret, though it be to my absolute ])rejudicc ; but now submission to man may be ])erformed by suffering the penalty, though the obedience re(|uired be forborne ; and in some cases a man may do contrary in piivate, where the thing is indifferent, and there is no danger of scandal and contempt of authority. Well, then, hear no voice but God's in your consciences, no doctrines in the church but Christ's. When they brought in foreign doctrines, it is said, they ' did not hold the head,' Col. ii. 11). No olHccs, institutions, and worship must be allowed but such as he hath appointed. Antiquity without
JaS. IV. 12.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JAMES. 385
scripture is no sure rule to walk hy. We must not look what others <lid before us, but what Christ did before them all.i So not the autho- rity of the church ; she is ' the pillar and ground of truth/ 1 Tim. iii. 1.5, sensu forensi' noii arcldtectonico ; that is, to hold forth Christ's mind, as a post doth a king's proclamation. Some power the church hath in rites of decency, and expediency, and order, by virtue of that general canon, 1 Cor. xiv. 40 (though that text carrieth the face of a restraint rather than an allowance, and doth not so much enlarge as moderate church power, as I have elsewhere cleared), but in the main matters the church can only declare laws, not make them ; and though in matters indifferent she can direct to what is suitable to order and decency, yet those directions should be so managed that they do not take away the nature of the thing ; and though Christian liberty be restrained, it must not be infringed. It is the injury of antichrist to usurp an authority over the church of God ; and this is the very spirit of antichristianism, to give laws to the conscience. Calvin 2 saith, Men would have us more modest than to call the Pope Antichrist ; but as long as he doth exercise a tyranny over the conscience, we shall never give over that terra ; nay, we shall go further, saith he, and call those members of antichrist that take such snares upon their con- sciences. The setting up another lawgiver is properly antichristianism ; for then there is one head set against another, and human authority against divine. It is Paul's character of antichrist : 2 Thes. ii. 4, that ' he as God sitteth in the temple of God ; ' that is, making himself absolute lord of consciences, bringing them to his obedience, working them to his advantage.
Who is able to save and to destroy. — It noteth God's absolute power to do with man either temporally or spiritually as he pleaseth. This power is everywhere given to God : Deut. xxxii. 39, ' See now, that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me : I kill, and I make alive ; I wound, and heal ; and there is none able to take out of my hand.' So 1 Sam. ii. 6, and Isa. xliii. 13. Note hence : —
Obs. 1. That absolute supremacy becometh none but him that hath absolute power. The power of magistrates is limited by the will of God, because they depend upon him, and can do nothing but as they are enabled and authorised by him, John xix. 11.
Ohs. 2. God hath an absolute and supreme power on men, and can dispose of them according to his Vv'ill and joleasure. And therefore we must — (1.) Keep close to his laws with more fear and trembling ; there is no escaping this judge, 1 Cor. x. 22. Eternal life and eternal death are in his jlisposal, Mat. x. 28. (2.) Observe them with more encour- agement ; live according to Christ's laws, and he is able to protect you : Ps. Ixviii. 20, * Our God is the God of salvations, and to him be- long the issues of death.' He can save his people, and he hath many ways to bring his enemies to ruin. Your friend is the most dreadful enemy ; he ' hath the keys of death and hell,' Rev. i. 18. (3.) Be the more humbled in case of breach of his laws. Oh ! what will you do with this lawgiver, who, with the rebuke of his countenance, can turn