John Trapp on Romans 13:3

Verſe 3. For Rulers are not, &c.] They ſhould not be. But Ieroboam ſet a net on Mizpeh, and ſpread a ſhare upon Tabor to watch who would go from him to Iudah to worſhip, Hoſ 5.1.

A terrour to good works, but to the evil] The Sword of juſtice (ſaith one) muſt be furbiſhed with the oil of mercy: yet there are caſes wherein ſeverity ought to caſt the ſcale. Petr. Nicol. Gelſtrou[illegible: 1 letter]. Dan. biſt. Dureſce, Dureſce, ò infoelix Lantgravie, ſaid the poor Smith to the Lantgrave of Thuring, more milde then was for his peoples good. Bonis nocet, qui malis parcit. Edward the Confeſſour was held a bad Prince, not by doing, but enduring ill.