as Realie as wee Heare and obey the King by stooping and submitting to a Constable who sees not this These haue each of them proper and severall lawes statutes ordinances and administrations for their severall officers to attend vpon The Civill State Sixtly In this state or in these Citties are the lawes and ordinances of men that the saints must obey in the Lord for though in the time of Christ and his Apostels there were no Christian Kings yet the Churches of the Saints were commanded to obey their Lawes Religious Lawes they could not bee Because the Magistrates were all infidells therefore the Apostle Peter distingusheth them from the Divine by calling them the Ordinances of men due vnto Caesar as divine obedience is unto God The true Ecclesiastcall State Even so this Cittie of God with 〈◊〉 officers are to obserue whatsoever Christ hath commanded them Math. 28.20 the Church of Corinth kept them 1 Cor. 11.2 and Paulls Charge to Timothy is to teach the Church to obserue all without prefering one before another as he would answer it before Christ Iesus and his Elect Angells These divine things are due to Christ Iesus and to him to him onely belongs this visible worship Ioh. 4 21.22.23 The false Ecclesiasticall State The Lawes administrations of this whorish Church are partly their owne Inventions contained in the Bookes formerly named with some divine truthes which vsurped they injoy which truthes they vse as a help to set a glose vpon their inventions that they may passe with a better acceptation but both Divine and devised are consecrated dedicated by the Beast and are administred by his Officers and power Seauentlhy All these three haue their subjects or people which their pollitique Bodies consist of The Civill State Lastly this State hath Subjects which are the Kings alleiged people and are bound to him their Head by the Oath of alleigence as any of them do purchase a Charter from him to become a Cittie or Corporation they are bound by vertue of their Charters to walke submissiuely to him their pollitique head and in that relation are by duty bound to keepe the Lawes of their Charters in his name power which is their pollitique obedience This Ciuill State is Gods Ordinance and is here borrowed to Jllustrate manifest and set forth the other two in the former perticuler and soe we leaue it The true Ecclesiasticall State Soe in the last place the Subjects of this State are only Saints noe other that is such as by the Rule of the word are to be Judged one of another to be in Christ otherwise they haue no right to this Kingdome 1 Cor. 4.20 Chapt. 5.13 But are intruders Iud. 4. verse and soe not of the Kingdome though in the Kingdome 1 Iohn 2.19 and the Saints are out of their places till they come within this Holy Citty To this State all Gods people are Called both out of this world and all false Churches especially from this Regiment of darkenesse there discribed 2. Cor. 6.17 Rev. 18.4 The False Ecclesiasticall State Lastly the Subjects of this Kingdome of darkenes are all the Inhabitans of the Earth Kings subjects Rev. 13.16 Chap. 18.3 Yea it hath a commanding power bond and free to receive a mark of subjection and servitude there is none soe bad but will serve his turne if any proue too good bee casts them out kills and destroys Rev. 11.7 This is the State and Kingdome of darkenes with which the Devill hath deluded all nations from which all Gods people Servants are bound in duty to seperate that soe they may bee free from that wrath of God which shall fall upon the Kingdome of the beast to the Ruine ouerthrow thereof Rev. 18.4.5 19.20 14.9.10,11 Leaving the premises let every one note these ensuing differences or disproportions that are betwene the ◠Ecclesiasticall States for thir different natures The true Ecclesiasticall State The First disproportion betweene the true and False State is in the Originall from whence they arise The true State came from Heaven and is the house of wisdomes building Pro. 9.1 wherin the sonne of God the wisedome of his Father Heb. 1.3 hath beene as faithfull as was Moses in the former Heb. 3.2.6 is that Heaven discribed Rev. 12.1 and that Citty said to come downe from Heaven Rev. 21 and is an habitation for God to dwell in and for all his people to come into to dwell with God their Saviour for the name of the Citty is the Lord is there Ezec. last Chap. and last ver The False Ecclesiasticall State Likewise it is no hard Mistery to know the Originall of this False Ecclesiastical State for the Clargie as Goodwins Catologue of Bishops Fox his Booke of martyrs Rev. 9. 13 ch by their Preaching writing hath taught vs plainly that Antichrist the man of linne the sonne of perdition is seated in Rome the same Clergy doth also teach us that their Ministery Goverments of Bishops Arch Bb. successiuely proceedes from thence for our confirmation herein we read that Gregory the first of that name Pope of Rome about 1000 yeares since sent Austin the Monke into England consecrated him first Arch B. of Canterbury and he consecrated the rest of the Bb. and established the Ecclesiastical state which state platforme remaines vn-altered to this day notwithstanding the Head thereof be changed This state then being the man of sinne it is said to arise out of the Bottomles pitt Rev. 9.1 is called the King of the Locusts Rev. 9.11 is said to come by the effectuall working of Sathan 2 Thess 2.9 and as he is the sonne of perdition v. 3. and the Mistery of Iniquity v. 7. so shall he come to confusion by the mouth of the Lord v. 8. go to perdition Rev. 17.8 as the sonne heire thereof he shall haue the company of his Fatther the great Dragon the Devill and Satan with the yonger Brother the False Prophet that deceiued them that worshipped him these three shall dwell in the tormenting lake of Gods wrath forever and evermore Rev. 19.20 20 10. And thus wee see Originally from whence hee came and whither he must goe The true Ecclesiasticall State A Second disproportion is betweene the true power and the false The true power which Christ our King hath received of his Father Math. 28.18 and hath comunicated to his Saints 1 Cor. 5.4,12 and Psal 119. and to them onely This is that Dominion that the Antient of dayes hath giuen to his Saints Dan. 7..14 compared with ver 22 27 and with Revel 5.10 being lost hee will recover it againe vnto them as Daniell speakes in the New Testament is giuen to every Particuler visible Church or Assembly of Saints Math. 18.17.19.20 and 1 Cor. 5.12 In which point of Power we are to note two things First the Subject or place where it doth recide that is
A LIGHT FOR THE IGNORANT OR A Treatise shevving that in the nevv Testament is set forth three Kingly States or Governments that is the Civill State the true Ecclesiasticall-State and the false Ecclesiasticall State Mat. 15.13 Every plant which my Heavenly Father hath not planted shal be rooted vp Seene and allowed Printed in the Yeare 1638. The Epistle to the Reader VVell affectionated Reader It is as thou knowest a divine precept that we should giue Honour to whom honour is due Jmplying therein that no honour is due either to PersoÌ„s or things but in a lawfull and right way And hence it is that many of Gods deare Servants both haue and still doe refuse to yeeld any Reuerence Honoor Service c. vnto Archbishops Bishops and their dependent Offices I say as they are Ecclesiasticall persons doe administer in their Spirituall Courts as they terme them in regard they have assumed such a State as is to speake properly and truely of it neither Iure Divino nor jure Humano warrented by the word of God But of this I shall not need to say any more in regard thou shalt find what here I say cleared proved sufficiently viz. that their calling is not froÌ„ God either in a divine or humane respect but according to the scripturs after mentioned altogether every way from the Devill And therfore look unto it whosoever thou art that thou like Mordecay bow not the knee to any of these Amaliks but on the contrarie Feare God and honour the King and give reverence Only to such ordinances as God binds thy Conscience too either in respect of nature or grace and soe doeing thou shalt Give vnto Caesar the things that are Caesars And give vnto God those things that are Gods And that thou mayst so doe the Lord sanctsfie both this and all other good meanes and helps to thee A LIGHT FOR THE IGNORANT OR A Treatise shevving that in the nevv Testament is set forth three Kingly States or Governments that is the Civill State the true Ecclesiasticall-State and the false Ecclesiasticall State THere are in the new Testement of Christ Iesus three Kinglie States or Governments The Civill State The true Ecclesiasticall State And the false Ecclesiasticall State Two of them are of God and the third is of the Divill They all consist of these Seven particulars following In the First place these three pollitique Regiments hath each of them a King or Head over them Secondly They haue each of them authoritie power or state pollitique Thirdly They haue books and Charters wherein their statutes Lawes and Cannons are writen Fourthly Each of these make themselves Citties Corporations or bodies politique Fiftly They haue Officers and deputies who are their seuerall Ministers to and in there bodies or Corporations Sixtly They have Lawes ordinances and administrations for these officers to administer to their subjects according to there severall functions in the name and by the power of their proper King and head from whom they haue received their authority in whose name they administer Sevenlie and lastlie they haue subjects or members governed by and in their seuerall pollitique States and powers vnder their severall â—eads The First particular Handled These haue each of them a King or Head over them The Civill State The First is the State of Magistracie or civill State that wherein Cesar is to haue his due as King and head these Kings heads are to be prayed for of all Gods people as their Heads and gouernours Rom. 13.1.2 1. Tim. 2.2 The true Ecclesiasticall State This state is Christs the annointed Psa 2.6 Acts. 2.26 whome God the Father hath set upon the Throne of David Jsay 9.6.7 and he is King of Saints Rev. 15,3 Yea the King of Kings Lord of Lords Rev. 17.14 19,16 The False Ecclesiasticall State The third is the helish state of the Beast his Kingdome or state of Rome which in the 13. Rev. v. 2. is said to haue his power from the Devill also he is said to haue a Throne therefore hee is a King 11. c. He is called the King of the Locusts which is there said to bee the Angell of the bottomlesse pit v. 11. Secondly these haue each of theÌ„ a Kingly state or power pollitique The Civill State This power or Civill state is of God and is the Charracter of Gods soveraigntie over man is displaid by his Communicating the same unto Kings such as are in authority under them for which cause hee hath said yee are Gods and God must and is obeyed by stooping and submitting to this power and state and he that resisteth this power resisteth the ordinance of God Rom. 13. c. The true Ecclesiasticall State Likewise this state is of God for it is the Kingdome of his deare Sonne is not the Civill state but the Ecclesiastical state of Christ his Church or power which he received of his Father Mat 28.18 after that he rose again from the dead by which power he authorised his Apostles sent theÌ„ on his errand or message to al the world Mat. 28. which power the Apostles vsed in planting Churchs and Church Officers which power Christ gives to all the Churches of the Saints to the end of the world it is the power given to them to bind and loose too and from the Devill and to right each others wrongs Mat. 18. it is the same power and state the Churches had coÌ„mitted to them by the Apostles who reproved the Churches for not using it to suppresse sinne and sinne rs 1 Cor. 5. with the seuen Churches in Asia Rev. 2.3 c. these and many more are the severall vses the Lord hath made of this true Ecclesiasticall or Church state and Goverment The False Ecclesiasticall State This Angell of the Bottemlesse pit Rev. 9.11 the King of the Locusts hath a state throne power and great authority Rev. 13.2 in the same Chapter it is said he hath power to continue 42 moneths v. 5. that is 126. dayes as c. 12.6 counting each day for a yeare as the Lord doth in numbers 14.34 and Ezec. 4.6 it is 1260. yeares that is the length or time of his Raigne that one and the same time which Christs Kingdome vnder the name of the holie City shal be trod under foot Rev. 11.2 Likewise that is that power or state that the woman or great whore sits or rids uppon whereby shee is able to Raigne Rev. 13.16 c. 17. as a Queene over the Kings of the earth And Lastly this state is soe great that it Captiuates all Kings Princes Emperours yea all the world of vngodly men Rev. 13.7.8 wonders followes and worships this state or beast and if they will not he hath such power and authority that hee will compell high and low rich and poore bond and free to submit unto him to kill all those that are found refractory to his state and power Rev. 13.15.16.17 This is the False Ecclesiasticall state and power
in the Body or Assembly of the Saints as the former scriptures largely declare Secondly that they were not forced nor compelled to submitt to theis power but as the loue of God shed abroade in their hearts the Doctrine of the Apostles by the power of the spirit caused them freely and willingly to submit themselves unto it Acts 2.41 for Christ and his Apostles never used any means to bring his saints into his Kâ—ngdome The False Ecclesiasticall State Soe in Like manner the Dragon that Old Serpent Rev. 12. â— gave to his son of perdition the Beast his power throne great authority Rev. 13.2 And this man of sinne hath conveyed to all his Cergie his power by vertue wherof they are all rulers men of authority in all nations where he hath established them as is declared Rev. 9 Chapter 10 First Verse s wher it is said hey haue Crownes upon their heads like gold that is counterfit power and authoritie by vertue of this power pollitique are made one intire body pollitique under one head King soe called vers 11. and are distinct from the Layety living in by the practise of this power with reference to that Head though they bee never soe farre disperced or remote from him this beeing observed the disproportion will appeare in these two particulers First the subject place where this power doth recide it beeing in the body of the Clergy the Layety being excluded though never so high or great in place as Iudges Iustices Lords Knights c they refusing it as a matter not belonging to them but to the Clergy Secondly this power compells all in all nations will they nill they to come under this Government and to obey his power and authority Rev. 13,8.16 where it is said he made all great and small rich and poore free and bond to submit to him else they should not buy nor sell nor live ver 17. and ch 11 7. The true Ecclesiasticall State A Third disproportion shall appâ—aâ—e in this Every Kingdome or pollitique state whether Civill or Ecclesiasticall hath their severall bookes and Charters wherein is contayned the Platforme of there severall governments soe every Church is knowne by its owne articles Cannons and Constitutions so that they that will know what Church Ministery and worship Christ and his Apostles hath planted in the new Testâ—ment after the Câ—remoniall was abolished they must read the Acts of the Apostles with the Epistles Acts 16.4 1. Cor. 14.37 Revel 22 18.19 Yea the whole new Testemenâ— and there they shall finde Jesus Christ our Lord and King his Bookes of Cannons Articles and Ordination to guide and direct the Churches of the saints in his Kingdâ—me vnto the end of the world The False Ecclesiasticall State Also in the False State they that would know what goverment Church Ministery and worship the man of sinne hath established he must viewe his Platforme contayned in his Booke of Cannons Articles and Ordintion â—f the Priests Deacons his Bookes of homilies and Common Prayers for in them is contayned those institutions Lawes and ordinances that he hath established but how contrary to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testement they that are Spirituall in part doe know and how obedience to them is inforced and divine Lawes omitted and laid aside the poore saints doe finde and fâ—…e to there smart The true Ecclesiasticall State A Fourth Disproportion This State makes not Nationall nor Provinciall pollitique Bodies but only particuler Congregations or assemblies of Saints as in Judea one Nation yet divers Churches Gal. 1.22 Soe Galalia one nation yet many Churches ver 3. likewise Asia hath seaven seuerall Churches ver 1.11 and where there was but one the Holi ghost speakes in the singuler number as the Church at Rome another at Corinth another at Collossia another at Thessaloniea and the like Secondly the Congregations of our Lord Christ come freely and willingly as so many living stones 1 Pet. 2.4.5 volluntarily â—…iting themselues together whereby they become A Spirituall house and a Royall Priesthood ver 9. and are hereby capable of performing the publique worship of the New Testament wherein they are to offer as Living sacrifices their Soules and Bodies Rom. 12.1 and by faith to haue Communion with their Mediator Heb. 12.24 as he hath promised to all such assemblies gathered in his name and power Rev. 21.3 Math. 18 19.20 which is the forme and beeing of this their visible and pollitique vnion communion Ephe. 2.20.21.22 Coll. 2.19 Thirdly the visible Churches of Christ are independent Bodies there is Equallity or apparity amongst them that is they are all alike in Iurisdiction authority they are all Golden Candlestickes Rev. 1.20 they are every one of them a Ierusalem compact together within it selfe Psal 122.3 compared with Heb. 12.22 hauing each of them whole Christ for their mediatour that is Priest Prophet and King and thereby enjoy all his power and all his promises and all his Lawes and ordinances with all his liberties and previledges Fourthly and Lastly in the vse of their liberty which they enjoy from and vnder Christ their Head and dwels in the whole body in the vse whereof they are inabled to exclude sinne and sinners and ought that offends God or them 1. Cor. 5.13 2 Thes 3.14 Acts 3 and to establish among them such Officers Ordinances and Admistrations as their Lord King hath given them for their comfort and profit by this power they can examine and try False teachers Rev. 2.2 they can reproue and admonish proud ones and exhort the negligent Coll 4.17 thus their power and liberty from Christ their head becomes a great benefit and a great good to the whole body in these and divers others perticulers of great weight The False Ecclesiasticall State But this False State brings ten Kingdomes into one pollitique body Rev. 17.12.13.15 hath set heads over nations to bring them into pollitique bodies Ecclesiasticall as for example England is one pollitique body Ecclesiasticall as well as Civil vnder one Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Pope of Lambeth and by the sinewes and bonds of his Ecclesiasticall power the whole hand as one body is knitt and bound to that Ecclesiasticall Head by vertue of that Romish authority that hee successively doth exercise and hath received from Austin the Monke who consecrated authorized sent into this Land to establish this power according to Pope Gregorius his will wisdome and power Farther this False State hath left noe liberty nor power to any person good or bad Rev. 13.7.8 but compels and forces all in the name and power of Antichrists successours will they nill they haue they faith or no conscience or no conscience this beast will be served and obeyed of all states degrees and conditions of all people in the world ver 15.16.17 soe that there is noe Ecclesiasticall body of his making whether it be the great Catholique Babylon Reuel 16.19 or Nationall or Provinciall or