Exod. 2.6 . Exod. 2.1 . Numb. 16.29 . Hebr. 11.23 . Iosephus erat hic infans tam speci●●s , ut asp●cientium oculos in se raperet .

Theop●●● . dicit ●unc pucrum blande ar●●si●e & ob id se●●atum suisse , in Heb. 11.

Phil. Huiasmodi f●●t vita ob●tusque Moysis regis , legis latoris , vatis & pontificis . 1 Propheticall . Numb. 2.6 .

Greg Quanto mundus ad e●tremitatem ducitur , ●●nto nobis aeternae scentiae a litus largins ●●●tu● .

Deut. 34.10 . Aqu●n . 2● . 2● . qu●st. 174. a●t . 4. Quantum ad visionum ●●●ab●●tatem , & miraculorum ●perationem .

2 Sacerdoticall . Psal. 99.23 . 1 O atio . P al 99 . 6. ●r●m . & Iun. nisi constitusset Moyses in c●●ptione ( 1 ) ●●●ifi●●●erce●●●●● . Psal. 1●6 . 22 . Vn●●io .

2 By descent or lineage : of the house of Leui :

3 By his parentage , his Fathers name was Amram , his Mothers Iochebed .

4 By his visage he was faire : Theophilact saith , that when as he should haue been murthered with the rest of the Hebrew children , such was his extraordinary beauty and comelinesse , and with so sweet and smiling countenance hee beheld the tormentors , as that they were enforced to spare him , though they had a strait mandate to the contrary .

5 And lastly , by his office and function : Moses liued 120. yeares : of which time he liued

1 A Courtier in Pharaohs Court 40. yeeres .

2 A shepheard in Midian other forty yeeres .

3 A Gouernour in the desart the last 40 yeeres , in which quadragenary he did execute a threefold office .

1 Propheticall , 2 Sacerdoticall , 3 Iudiciall .

1 Propheticall , Moses was a Prophet● vnto Moses that Prophet I will speake mouth to mouth : and againe , there arose not a Prophet since in Israel like vnto Moses : Saint Gregory obserueth that of later times there haue beene men of as great , if not of greater note , then Moses : as Dauid , who was wiser than his ancients , or then his teachers ; and Salomon , who was wiser than any man : and withall , he giues this reason : By how much the world is nearer to the expiration , so much the more is his gift of illumination : yet ( as Aquinas noteth ) if we consider Moses in his admirable visions , for to whom did God speake face to face ? or in his extraordinary miracles ; few Prophets can be compared vnto him .

2 Sacerdoticall ; Moses was a Priest , who was both numbred among them , as also did performe the offices of them . There were three speciall actions enioyned the Priests .

1 Supplication , they were to pray for the people ; so Moses , when God was minded to destroy Israel . Moses did stand vp in the gap , deprecating against their punishment .

2 Vnction , they were to annoint with oyle : so Moses ●auing annoynted the Tabernacle , the Altar , and the Instruments : he poured the annoynting oyle vpon Aaron , Leuit. 8.11 . and annoynted him .

3 Oblation ; they were to sacrifice for the people ; 3 Sacrificatio . Hebr 11.28 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Quest. Sol. so did Moses : he prepared the Passeouer .

Quest. Why doth Moses meddle with the Priests office , whereunto his elder brother was called ?

Resol . Moses in his Sacerdoticall actions did much differ from Aaron : For ,

1 Aaron was by Gods appointment annoynted vnto his Priesthood : Moses not at all annoynted . Dion Carth. in quaest. in Leuit. In Moyse videtur fuisse plenitudo spiritualis potestatis & saecularis secundum exigentiam status plebis illius .

2 Aaron was an ordinary Priest , but Moses was extraordinary : Moses fuit sacerdos secundum speciale priuilegium .

3 Aaron had many successors in his order of Priesthood , but Moses had none to succeede him .

Wherefore ( most likely it is ) that Moses would not haue interested himselfe in this office , but that he receiued some speciall direction for the vndertaking thereof , and withall perceiued , that the necessity of those times did require the same , and most euident it is , that Moses did not execute this office after the time of Aarons consecration : but when Aaron was admitted , Moses is discharged .

3 Iudiciall : he was a Ruler , Iudge , and Lawgiuer : 3 Iudiciall . which title and office , ( though some of the Hebrewes denied him ) who made thee a man of authority , and a Iudge ouer vs ? Exod. 2.14 . Tolet annot. in 12. Luc. Moyses cum haec ageret nondum erat princeps neque , iudex . the interrogation being a plaine negation ; for that at this time he had no place of Iudicature or gouernement , which may safely be concluded from his flight into the land of Midian ; which long and wearisome iourney he might haue auoided , if he had beene absolutely authorised : yet afterwards hee was called to the office of a Ruler , and did sit and iudge the people : and of Moses set vp by Almighty God in this office , we are to speake , and from thence proceed to the second generall thing propounded , viz. the Obseruation .

2 In regard of the conseruation of the whole politique body ; what the head is vnto the body naturall , 2 Reason . Regnum sine rege est corpus sine capi●e . De●ost . Quemadmodum examine corpu● c●●●ui● , sic ●●●●l●ge civitas . that is a ruler to the body politicall : a body without a head is neare corruption and fit onely for the graue , and the common wealth without a Gouernour is as neare vnto ruine and destruction : on the other side , a good Gouernour conserueth the common wealth in a pious peaceable and commodious condition .

1 In a pious condition : 1 Timoth. 2.2 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Pray for Kings and for all that are in authority that wee may leade our liues in all godlinesse While Ioshua liued , all Israel serued the Lord , but he and the godly elders being once buried , 2 Iudges . ● . 11 . they did wickedly in the sight of the Lord : so that a maine cause of Israels godly deportment was godly gouernment .

2 In a peaceable condition : Acts 24.3 . Rulers are set ouer a people that they may leade a peaceable life . Tertullus acknowledgeth that by the gouernment of Foelix the whole Prouince had enioyed great peace , for which hee giueth him great thanks .

3 In a commodious condition : Rom. 13.4 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . the Ruler is the minister of God for our good ; some vnderstand ( good ) in that sense as it is vsed in the booke of the Prouerbs : Proverb. 31.12 . a vertuous wife doth her husband good all the dayes of her life , and what good he meaneth is expressed in the same place ; viz. she doth preserue his temporall estate .

Salomon gained great respect , and receiued much honour in his gouernment : whereof a maine cause was , because his Subiects liued vnder him both religiously , peaceably ,

Senec Qui● plus quam alij exer●●ntse ●●●●●erand●●● obe●iendo .

Iudges 21 25. Pet. Mar. in li. Iudic. Nihil i● caetu h●● i●●●r pe●niciosius , quam ut quisq , volanta●● su●●● seq●a●●r .

Thus you see the necessity of gouernement , without which no man can liue happily : when there was no ruler in Israel , euery man did that which was good in his owne eyes : the meaning whereof Peter Martir declareth , viz , they fell from euill to worse , committing sinne with greedinesse : no wonder if all things were cut of ioynt , where no godly Magistrate was either to prescribe a Law , nor faithfull officers to execute the law prescribed : whereupon saith Saint Chrysostome , Chrisost. Take away the Pilot from the ship thou sinkest the vessell ; the Captaine from the Army , thou endangerest the whole company ; the Ruler from the Common-wealth , thou bereauest it of its felicity , animating the godlesse rout to bite and deuoure one another as Canibals ; the greater to consume the lesser , the stronger to eate vp the weaker , and the rich to oppresse the poorer .

1 Vse . 3 Application vsefull for 1 Confutation . 2 Instruction .

Aug. ad Bonifa . Molestus est medicus furenti phrenetico , & pater indisciplinato silio . 1 Confutation of that false position of the Anabaptists , viz. Rulers are neither lawfull nor vsefull , either in the Church or in the Common-wealth ; who therefore would haue them cast out as vnsauory salt , lopt off as superfluous branches , pulled vp by the rootes as hurtfull weedes , trod vnder foote as stinking dung : and that they are men deseruing as little honour and respect as Sathan who is made mans tormentor . How earnest and painefull these men are in vntwisting and pulling asunder the Common wealth from the gouernour whom God hath ioyned together , will plainely appeare by the surueigh of those many arguments which they vse against this ordination : as though it were a doctrine against nature ,

1 Against nature .

Alsted . Theol. didact . In primaeva illa integritate potestas locum habitura fuisset .

Cal. inst. lib. 4. c. 20.

S●biectio est secundum naturam quanquum miseria subiectionis comes non sit secundum naturam .

Politicae non minor est necessitas & usita inter homines , quam panis , aquae , solis & acris .

1 Against nature : because Rulers had no existence in the state of innocencie : vnto which allegation , this reply will be sufficient ; that though there was no neede or vse of rule and dominion before the fall , there being at that time two persons onely in the world , who as they both were but one family , so but one flesh : yet if that estate had longer continued , power and gouernment had neuer the lesse beene established , though no way troublesome , as now it is : the which Caluin hath most learnedly obserued , who saith : Subiection of one man vnto another , is agreeable vnto nature , though the misery which since the fall accompanieth it , be distasted of nature : and addeth further , that now there is no lesse vse or need of gouernment , than of Bread , Water , the Sunne , the Ayre , which as they preserue men in being and breathing , so the other continueth as in a happy kinde of well being . Naturall therefore it is , that the inferiour obey the superiour , the lesser the greater ; without which subiection , the state of humane society cannot subsist : neither indeede is there any thing in the world excellent , which is not ruled and supported by gouernment , as we plainely discerne in bodies ; first , celestiall , Est deiure naturali quòd inferior suo superiori obediat & minor maiori : sine quâ rerum humanarum status conservari non potest . the Sunne ruling the Moone by night ; secondly , terrestriall the Beasts being subiect to the Lion , the Birds to the Eagle ; thirdly , artificiall ; in a clocke , the great wheeles guide the lesse , and the helme , the whole ship ; fourthly , politicall , in military discipline , the Generall commandeth the Coronell , he the Captaine , he the Lieuetenant , he the Sergeant , he the Corporall , and he the common Souldier ; euery of which faith to his inferiour , goe and he goeth , come and he commeth , Math. 8.9 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . doe this and he doth it : all which being well considered , how can we conclude any thing against this ordinance ?

2 Against reason , 2 Against reason . it being granted ( say they ) that Christians being sanctified persons , they are a law to themselues , and neede no other Gouernour , Law nor Ruler , the law being not giuen to a righteous man , but to the disobedient , 1 Tim 1.9 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . to the vngodly , and sinners ; whereas wee cannot conclude from thence , our exemption from the commandement , but our freedome from punishment : we are exempted from the vengeance of the Law , from which vnbeleeuers are not freed , but not from our obedience thereunto . Caluin saith , Calvin Nulla gens vnquam sic ab humanitate abhorruit ut non se intra leges aliquas contineret . Iames 3.8 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . no people hath euer as yet beene so vnreasonable , inhumane , and barbarous , as that they will not be confined and bound to some lawes : besides , what little power the man most sanctified hath to gouerne and regulate himselfe ; wee may perceiue by that which Saint Iames speaketh of the tongue : who euer liued so to gouerne this little member , as that thereby he hath not often giuen offence both to God , and to his neighbour ? the tongue can no man tame : from whence I thus inferre , if man hath not power to rule a lesser member , then not a greater ; if not one , then not many ; if not many , then not all ; and if not all , then not himselfe ; and doth it seeme vnreasonable that he should haue a Ruler ouer him , who cannot rule himselfe ?

3 Against the Scriptures . 3 Against the Scriptures ; especially against these foure pl●ces .

The first place of Scripture alleadged against this ordinance , Gen. ●● . ●● is to Genesis , Let them rule ouer the fish of the sea , and ouer the fowle of the heauen , and ouer the beasts : where GOD g ues Adam power ouer all creatures which are vnreasonable , but not ouer man who is a reasonable creature : vnto which allegation two things are replyed .

1 That these words were spoken vnto Adam at that time when as there were no other to gouerne , but vnreasonable creatures ; but when as mankind was multiplyed , the law of nature written in their hearts , ere it was written in the tables of stone , did dictate vnto their consciences this truth : viz. that euery superiour should be acknowledged and obeyed by his inferiour .

2 That dominion granted vnto man one way doth not exempt from subiection euery way . A bondslaue hath dominion and command ouer all the creatures , yet neuerthelesse is not exempted from his masters command ; the wife hath authority ouer her children and seruants which nullifieth not her husbands authority ouer her . Sathan the god of this world , who ruleth in the hearts of the disobedient , he guideth them at his pleasure , yet hereby is he not freed from Gods power , who limiteth and confineth him within his tether : so that though the superiours power ouer inferiours is not plainly expressed for the reasons alleaged , yet therein thus much is included , that subiection is a necessary ordination

The second place of Scripture alleaged against this ordinance is in the second Psalme , Psal. 1.11 . where David calleth vpon Kings and Superiours to kisse the Sonne , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Kisse the Sonne lest he be angry ; wherein he chargeth them to lay aside their power and authority being once conuerted vnto Christ : vnto which obiection that learned man M● . Calvin answereth well : Calvin instit . lib. p. 727. N●n i●bet imperio d●posito ad privatam vitam concedere : sed potestatem qua sunt instructi Christo subiscere ut unus inter omnes omincat . viz. though Princes are invited to ador● Christ Iesus , they are not therefore prohibited to exercise their magisteriall power and betake themselues to a priuate life , but they are admonished onely to subiect their power to the power Christ , and to employ it for the aduancement of his honour : Kings and Princes ought to kisse that is to honour Christ which is ( signum internae reverentie ) a signe of inward reuerence , yet are not bound to breake or cast away the Scepter which is ( Symbolum externae potentiae ) the ensigne of external power granted them fro God . 1 Kings 10. The Queen of Sheba , though she honoure● King Solomon as the greater light , yet shee looseth not her owne light , but returneth back againe with all the honour she brought . That thrise worthy Emperour Theodosius , Zozom. histor. cecl. lib. 7. c. 24. Theodostus abiecta purpura , relictis imperij insignibus tanquam unus ex plebe coram Deo sacrificavit . when as he was once conuerted vnto Christ , he kissed Christ the sonne of God , when putting off his purple robe , and laying aside his Imperiall Crowne and Scepter , hee went into the Temple , and there bowed downe and worshipped Christ together with the common multitude , which being finished , hee left not his authority or principality , but still held his Empire , and kept his souerainty .

The third place of Scripture alleaged against this ordinance , is in the prophecy of Isaiah , Isaiah 49.23 . Calvinus in loc. Non abdicat eos honore , sed patronos constituit pijs hominibus . where he predicteth that Kings shall be nursing fathers , and Queenes nursing mothers vnto the Church : and are thereby called to the exercise only of charity , not of authority : the answere is , that though they are compared to nurses , and are bound to foster the Church , they are not therefore bound to leaue their authority in the Church : a nurse who hath both a tender heart to affectionate and also full breasts to seede and consolate her tender babe , doth not throw away her rod which serueth both to doctrinate and castigate : in a word , as a man hauing wealth is not therefore to abdicate it because he hath got acquaintance with Christ , but to honour God with it : so a man hauing power must not relinquish it , but exercise it to the honour of God to whom all absolute and independant power belongeth , and from whom all regall power and subordinate authority is deriued .

The fourth place of Scripture alleaged against this ordinance , is in Saint Pauls Epistle to the Galatians ; Galath 3.28 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . where the Apostle saith that in Christ there is neither bond nor free , none so bound as to be a subiect , none so free as to be a Magistrate . For the answere whereof wee must consider the Church in a double respect .

1 In a spirituall respect , wherein thou art not respected for thy country whether Iewe or Gentile , nor for thy condition whether bond or free , nor for thy sexe whether male or female ; Act. 20.35 . but in euery Nation he that worketh righteousnesse is accepted of God : if thou beest euill the goodnesse of thy country , Episcop. Sarisb . exposit in Colos. Si Iud●us sis at careas renovatione , canis es non filius , si gentilis sis eamque habeas fillus es non amplius canis . pedigree , authority , cannot dignifie thee ; and if godly , the basenesse of thy birth , and meannesse of thy condition cannot vilifie thee : so saith a learned Bishop in our Church , if thou wert a lewe yet wantest sanctification thou art but a dog , not a childe , and though thou art a Gentile yet hast holinesse , thou art not a dog but a sonne .

2 In a ciuill respect , wherein the distinction of bond and free , of ruler and subiect is not taken away , but shall continue so long as there shall bee distinction and difference of sexe and of countryes ; as appeareth in the place last alleged .