What is sin in the natural kingdom of God, and what treason against the divine majesty.
19. From what hath been said may be gathered, that God reigning by the way of natural reason only, subjects do sin, first if they break the moral laws; which are unfolded in chapters II. and III. Secondly, if they break the laws or commands of the city, in those things which pertain to justice. Thirdly, if they worship not God κατὰ τὰ νόμικα Fourthly, if they confess not before men, both in words and deeds, that there is one God most good, most great, most blessed, the Supreme King of the world and of all worldly kings; that is to say, if they do not worship God. This fourth sin in the natural kingdom of God, by what hath been said in the foregoing chapter in [art. 2], is the sin of treason against the Divine Majesty. For it is a denying of the Divine Power, or atheism. For sins proceed here, just as if we should suppose some man to be the sovereign king, who being himself absent, should rule by his viceroy. Against whom sure they would transgress, who should not obey his viceroy in all things; except he usurped the kingdom to himself, or would give it to some other. But they who should so absolutely obey him, as not to admit of this exception, might be said to be guilty of treason.
[18]. By reason of their weakness.] If this shall seem hard to any man, I desire him with a silent thought to consider, if there were two Omnipotents, whether were bound to obey. I believe he will confess that neither is bound. If this be true, then it is also true what I have set down; that men are subject unto God, because they are not omnipotent. And truly our Saviour admonishing Paul, who at that time was an enemy to the Church, that he should not kick against the pricks; seems to require obedience from him for this cause, because he had not power enough to resist.
[19]. Truly it is to be done.] We said in [art. 14] of this chapter, that they who attributed limits to God, transgressed the natural law concerning God’s worship. Now they who worship him in an image, assign him limits. Wherefore they do that which they ought not to do. And this place seems to contradict the former. We must therefore know first, that they who are constrained by authority, do not set God any bounds; but they who command them. For they who worship unwillingly, do worship in very deed: but they either stand or fall there, where they are commanded to stand or fall by a lawful sovereign. Secondly, I say it must be done, not at all times and everywhere, but on supposition that there is no other rule of worshipping God, beside the dictates of human reason; for then the will of the city stands for reason. But in the kingdom of God by way of covenant, whether old or new, where idolatry is expressly forbid, though the city commands us to worship thus, yet must we not do it. Which, if he shall consider, who conceived some repugnancy between this and [art. 14], will surely cease to think so any longer.
CHAPTER XVI.
OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD UNDER THE OLD COVENANT.
[1.] Superstition possessing foreign nations, God instituted true religion by the means of Abraham. [2.] By the covenant between God and Adam, all dispute is forbidden concerning the commands of superiors. [3.] The manner of the covenant between God and Abraham. [4.] In that covenant is contained an acknowledgment of God, not simply, but of him who appeared unto Abraham. [5.] The laws unto which Abraham was tied, were no other beside those of nature, and the law of circumcision. [6.] Abraham was the interpreter of the word of God, and of all laws among those that belonged to him. [7.] Abraham’s subjects could not sin by obeying him. [8.] God’s covenant with the Hebrews on Mount Sinai. [9.] From thence God’s government took the name of a kingdom. [10.] What laws were by God given to the Jews. [11.] What the word of God is, and how to be known. [12.] What was held the written word of God among the Jews. [13.] The power of interpreting the word of God, and the supreme civil power, were united in Moses while he lived. [14.] They were also united in the high-priest, during the life of Joshua. [15.] They were united too in the high-priest until king Saul’s time. [16.] They were also united in the kings until the captivity. [17.] They were so in the high-priests after the captivity. [18.] Denial of the Divine Providence, and idolatry, were the only treasons against the Divine Majesty among the Jews; in all things else they ought to obey their princes.
Superstition possessing foreign nations, God instituted the true religion by the means of Abraham.
1. Mankind, from conscience of its own weakness and admiration of natural events, hath this; that most men believe God to be the invisible maker of all invisible things; whom they also fear, conceiving that they have not a sufficient protection in themselves. But the imperfect use they had of their reason, the violence of their passions did so cloud them, that they could not rightly worship him. Now the fear of invisible things, when it is severed from right reason, is superstition. It was therefore almost impossible for men, without the special assistance of God, to avoid both rocks of atheism and superstition. For this proceeds from fear without right reason; that, from an opinion of right reason without fear. Idolatry therefore did easily fasten upon the greatest part of men; and almost all nations did worship God in images and resemblances of finite things; and they worshipped spirits or vain visions, perhaps out of fear calling them devils. But it pleased the Divine Majesty, as we read it written in the sacred history, out of all mankind to call forth Abraham, by whose means he might bring men to the true worship of him; and to reveal himself supernaturally to him, and to make that most famous covenant with him and his seed, which is called the old covenant or testament. He therefore is the head of true religion; he was the first that after the deluge taught, that there was one God, the Creator of the universe. And from him the kingdom of God by way of covenants, takes its beginning. Joseph. Antiq. Jews, lib. I.. cap. 7.