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OF COMMONWEALTH

choice of your youth, and employ them in his business. He shall take the tithe of your flocks; and you shall be his servants." This is absolute power, and summed up in the last words, "you shall be his servants." Again, when the people heard what power their king was to have, yet they consented thereto, and say thus (verse 10) "We will be as all other nations, and our king shall judge our causes, and go before us, to conduct our wars." Here is confirmed the right that sovereigns have, both to the "militia," and to all "judicature"; in which is contained as absolute power, as one man can possibly transfer to another. Again, the prayer of king Solomon to God, was this (1 Kings, iii. 9): "Give to thy servant understanding, to judge thy people, and to discern between good and evil." It belongeth therefore to the sovereign to be "judge," and to prescribe the rules of "discerning good" and "evil": which rules are laws; and therefore in him is the legislative power. Saul sought the life of David; yet when it was in his power to slay Saul, and his servants would have done it, David forbad them, saying, (1 Sam. xxiv. 6) "God forbid I should do such an act against my lord, the anointed of God." For obedience of servants St. Paul saith, (Col. iii. 22) Servants obey your masters in all things"; and, (Col. iii. 20) Children obey your parents in all things." There is simple obedience in those that are subject to paternal, or despotical dominion. Again, (Matt. xxiii. 2, 3) "The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' chair, and therefore all that they shall bid you observe, that observe and do." There again is simple obedience. And St. Paul, (Titus iii. 2) "Warn them that they subject themselves to princes, and to those that are in authority, and obey them." This obedience is also simple. Lastly, our Saviour himself acknowledges, that men ought to pay such taxes as are by kings imposed, where he says, "Give to Cæsar that which is Cæsar's"; and paid such taxes himself. And that the

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