OF AN HOLY WAR. 137 



the charter of foundation : it is now the more easy to 

 judge of the forfeiture or reseizure. Deface the 

 image, and you divest the right. But what is this 

 image, and how is it defaced ? The poor men of 

 Lyons, and some fanatical spirits, will tell you, that 

 the image of God is purity ; and the defacement, 

 sin. But this subverteth all government : neither 

 did Adam s sin, or the curse upon it, deprive him of 

 his rule, but left the creatures to a rebellion or re- 

 luctation. And therefore if you note it attentively, 

 when this charter was renewed unto Noah and his 

 sons, it is not by the words, &quot; You shall have do 

 minion ; but Your fear shall be upon all the beasts 

 of the land, and the birds of the air, and all that 

 moveth :&quot; not regranting the sovereignty, which 

 stood firm; but protecting it against the reluctation. 

 The sound interpreters therefore expounded this 

 image of God, of natural reason ; which if it be to 

 tally or mostly defaced, the right of government doth 

 cease ; and if you mark all the interpretes well, still 

 they doubt of the case, and not of the law. But this 

 is properly to be spoken to in handling the second 

 point, when we shall define of the defacements. To 

 go on : The prophet Hosea, in the person of God, 

 saith of the Jews ; &quot; They have reigned, but not by 

 me ; they have set a seigniory over themselves,, but 

 I knew nothing of it&quot;. Which place proverb plainly, 

 that there are governments which God doth not avow. 

 For though they be ordained by his secret providence, 

 yet they are not acknowledged by his revealed will. 

 Neither can this be meant of evil governors or 



