How Superior Powers Ought To Be Obeyed
William Whittingham to all those that love to know
the truth and follow it: Grace and Peace.
The Preface
Chapter I. To whom this answer was given, and upon
what occasion; How ugly the malice of the Jews prevailed against the
Apostles, in seeking to stop the Gospel by their crafty fetches and
chastisements.
Chapter II. How the Papist church and councils
cannot but err, and how they being compared to the Jews, are no less
deniers and blasphemers of Christ, then the Jews.
Chapter III. What inconvenience would have come to
the Church of God, if the Apostles had obeyed the commandment of the
Council, and what evils have come lately upon England through the
preaching of unlawful obedience and yielding to ungodly rulers.
Chapter IV. The truth of this answer was so
sensible, that the very adversaries could not withstand it.
Chapter V. To obey man in anything against God, is
unlawful and plain disobedience.
Chapter VI. How it is not enough to deny wicked
commandments of all kinds of rulers, except we withstand them also,
every man according to his vocation, in doing the contrary.
Chapter VII. All men are bound to follow the like
example, as well as the Apostles and Daniel, of whatsoever estate and
condition they be.
Chapter VIII. The conclusion of these two parts
with a further declaration of the same, that it is both lawful and
necessary some times to disobey and also to resist ungodly magistrates
and wherein.
Chapter IX. Answers to the contrary objections of
such as teach all manner of obedience to Magistrates to be lawful,
taken from the New Testament.
Chapter X. Objections out of the Old Testament,
and answers to the same.
Chapter XI. It appertains not only to the
magistrates and all other inferior officers to see that their princes
are subject to God's Laws, but to the common people also: whereby the
tyranny of the princes and rebellion of the subjects may be avoided.
Chapter XII. How much the common people owe to
God for His benefits received, what obedience He requires, how far
they are charged, what things they have promised, and how ignorance
may not excuse them.
Chapter XIII. The readiness of the people to
defend idolatry, superstition, and earthly commodities: and their
slothfulness in maintaining the contrary. How they are charged to see
the Laws of God kept, and the transgression of the same punished, if
their rulers do neglect them. And that they may lawfully punish their
magistrates as private persons transgressing the Lord's precepts.
Chapter XIV. This is no doctrine of rebellion,
but the only doctrine of peace and means to enjoy quietly the
blessings of God, which ought not to be wished for only by the people,
but carefully sought for also.
Chapter XV. What remedy or counsel is left, to
the poor and afflicted servants of God, at what time they are
destitute of all outward means and support of men.
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