r the caus of your iniquitie. All authoritie quhilk God
hath establisshed, is good and perfyte, and is to be obeyed of all
men, yea under the pane of damnatioun. [SN: DIFFERENCE BETUIX THE
PERSONE AND THE AUTHORITIE.] But do ye nocht understand, that thair
is a great difference betuix the authoritie quhiche is Goddis
ordinance, and the personis of those whiche ar placit in
authoritie? The authoritie and Goddis ordinance can never do wrang;
for it commandeth, That vice and wickit men be punischit, and
vertew, with verteous men and just, be maynteaned. But the corrupt
Persone placed in this authoritie may offend, and most commonelie
doeth the contrare heirof; and is than the corruptioun of the
persone to be followed, be ressone that he is cled with the name of
the authoritie? Or, sall those that obey the wicked commandiment of
those that ar placed in authoritie be excusable befoir God? Nocht
so; nocht so. Bott the plagues and vengeances of God tackin upoun
Kingis, thair servandis, and subjectis, do witnes to us the plane
contrarie. Pharao was a King, and had his authoritie of God, who
commandit his subjectis to murther and torment the Israelites, and
at last most crewellie to persecut thair lyves. But was thare
obedience, (blynd raige it should be called,) excusable befoir God?
The universall plague doeth planelie declair, that the wicked
commander, and those that obeyed, war alyke giltie befoir God. [SN:
THE FACT OF KING SAULE.] And yf the example of Pharao shalbe
rejected, becaus he was ane Ethnik, than lat us considder the
factis of Saule: He was a King anoynted of God, appoynted to regne
ower his people, he commanded to persecut David, becaus (as he
alledged) David was a traytour and usurper of the Crowne; and
lyekwyis commanded Abimelech the Hie Preast and his fellowis to be
slane: But did God approve any parte of this obedience? Evident it
is that he did nott. And think ye, that God will approve in yow
that whiche he did dampne in otheris? Be nocht deceaved: with God
thair is no suche partialitie.[783] Yf ye obey the injust
commandimentis of wicked rewlaris, ye sall suffer Goddis vengeance
and just punishment with thame. And thairfoir as ye tender your
awin salvatioun, we most earnistlie requyre of yow moderatioun,
and that ye stay your selfis, a