Ordinance was clearly in and amongst Gods Covenant-People from Moses to Christ and with none other Object But it is Objected That Daniels expounding Nebuchadnezzars Dream of the great Dan. 2. 37 c. Image said to him Thou O King art a King of Kings for the God of heaven hath given thee a Kingdom Power and Strength and Glory and after thee shall arise another Kingdom c. Therefore these four Kings or Imperial States were the Ordinance of God and lawful Magistrates or Ministers of God to whom the Lords People did and still do owe Obedience to in Civil things Answ To this I humbly give my thoughts First This was a Vision opened of four Imperial States which God would Providentially raise in the World successively one after another and use at his pleasure either to afflict Dan. 4. 17. or help his People and one to destroy the other but neither this Prophesie or any other Word of God speaks their Ordination and Constitution of Governors Magistrates or Misters Rom. 13. 3 4. 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. of God sent for the good of his People for the encouragement of godliness and to be a terrour to evil-deers which are the great ends of Magistracy ordained by God and wherein the Lords People are commanded subjection for the Lords sake Secondly These Kings came successively to their Kingdoms and Rule by the power of the Sword and Strength as was prophesied but not by Power and Authority and so accordingly were represented by Monstrous Beasts and no Births of Dan. 7. 4 to 8. and 8. 4 c. Nature All these Monstrous States or Kings came successively to Rule by Gods Providence in their times as they got power or strength to Conquer The King of Babylon Conquered 2 King 24. 1 2 c. vers 10. and 25. 1 2 c. and Captivated the Jews for their sin by Power and Might not by Authority or Right By Gods providence a Thief or Thieves rob or kill the honest Traveller Note but not by Power of Authority as having right to the Travellers mony and life by the Law of God and in this way like Beasts of prey one Kingdom or State subdued another and so it is still Thirdly Though Daniel said to the King of Babylon That God gave him a Kingdom Power and Strength yet this was prophesied after he had taken Jerusalem and captived the Jews Dan. 2. 37. living therefore this Commission was not warrant for the former Cruelty Fourthly Not any of these Kings had the Essentials of Gods Magistrates viz. As fearing God as chosen out of themselves and Exod. 18. 21. Deut. 1. 13. Rom. 13. 3 4. 1 Pet. 2. 13 14 invested with authority by them nor ruling by Gods Laws to encourage godliness and be a terror to evil-doers Therefore upon these grounds not any of the Heathen Kings were the Ordinance of God to be obeyed by the Lords People for the Lords sake Object But it is said That God brought upon Israel the King of the Caldees and God gave Jehoiakim King of Judah into the hand of the King of Babylon 2 Chron. 36. 17. Dan. 1. 1 2. Answ Yes God did so providentially as a Curse and Judgement to fulfil the Word of his threatnings upon their disobedience 2 Chr. 36. 14 15 16 17. Isa 10. 5 c. 2 King 24. 1 c. 8. 10 c. stubbornness and incorrigible rebellions against him but not as his Minister for their good as a Magistrate ordained by God to rule and feed them The Kings of Assyria and Babylon c. were such powers of the Earth or earthly powers which God by his Almighty Power providentially used as his Creatures to afflict or relieve to distress or save his Covenant-People when he pleased but not to rule and govern them under God or for God as his Magistrates ordained by him God by his Almighty Soveraign power and pleasure threatned the disobedience of his people with many sore judgments Ezek. 14 12 13 Deut. 28. 15 c. and he used what Creatures he thought good to do it by viz. Either noysom Beasts Famine Pestilence or Sword By Sword was meant the Sword of Kings or States whom he providentially brought upon them which Kings were only led by principles of Nature and opportunities and providences when they knew not God or his designs and so they were Isa 10. 5 6 7. v. 12. to 19. Jer. 51. 52. judged by God and destroyed for the misery desolation and blood of the Lords People Note Therefore these Heathen Kings or Powers were no otherwise the Ordinance of God but as Locusts Famine Pestilence c. or the Devil are the Ordinance of God Object But God gave it in Charge to those Jews who were carried Captives to Babylon to seek the peace of the City and to pray unto the Lord for it for in the peace thereof ye shall have peace Jer. 29. 7. Answ This was the Lords Command to those Captives But First That short time of Israels Captivity was foreshewed and also by whom their Deliverance should come viz. by Cyrus Isa 44. 28. 45. 1 2 c. Jer. 29. 10 11. Secondly Their Captivity was very easie they had the Liberty of Conscience in Religion they had liberty to build Houses to plant Vineyards and to eat the Fruit to marry Wives and to live in safety therefore to seek the Peace of the place but not of the King of Babylon Thirdly This command To seek the Peace of the place implies a Charge laid upon them not to raise trouble by seeking their Deliverance yet not to pray for the prosâ—â—â—ity of the King or the establishment of that Kingdom for God had declared Isa 44. 28. and 45. 1 2 3 c. Dan. 5. 30 31. Rev. 18 6 7. his determination to destroy Babylon and in Babylons destruction their deliverance should come Therefore God used the King of Persia to redeem Israel but this is not the case of Christians under Mystery Babylon But Daniel and other Servants of the Lord served the King of Object Babylon c. Answ They did so as Captives taken by the Sword and Violence not as Magistrates or Ministers of God to rule over them for then they had had no cause to return to their own Country and Government The Captive Jews under the King of Babylon and Captive Christians under the Turk are one in Nature Note but I judge that Christians in Turkish slavery do not see themselves bound by the preceptive will of God to abide in slavery if by Gods providence a way be opened for their escape The Jews under the Government of Judges were Judg. 2. 11 12 v. 14 15 16 c. oft providentially given up by God into the hands of several Heathen Kings or States for their great transgressions against God and when they humbled themselves before the Lord and repented the Lord also providentially delivered them But in the
I shall humbly add my thoughts upon these words which some think there is much in for Antichrist viz. And it was given him Rev. 13. 7. Here we are to enquire First Who is here to be underderstood by this particle him To this the Answer is clear It is the Beast Antichrist v. 1 2. Secondly What Power Antichrist had The Answer is common viz. Civil Power to make war or power and strength to raise Armies and make war with and overcome the Saints Thirdly How Antichrist had or came by this Power To this the Text answers It was given him Fourthly But the great Question is Who gave Antichrist this Power viz. God or some other The Answer is plain The Dragon gave him his Power and Rev. 13. â—â— his Seat and great Authority Now when the holy Ghost is thus plain and punctual in describing Antichrist in the Original of his Power and in the improvement of it against God Holiness and Saints that yet Antichrist should be asserted the Ordinance of God and Minister of God c. I confess I see no ground for it from these Scriptures Object But it is said by Saints to Antichrist as Christ once said to Pilate Thou couldest have no power at all against me except it were given thee from above therefore he that delivered me to thee Joh. 19. 10 11. had the greater sin Answ To this I Reply That in like manner as Pilate was Antichrist was permitted of God in whom it was to have hindred it to arise and get strength and power to make war with the Rev. 2. 5 10. Saints and to overcome them either for trial of their Faith or rebuke of their sin Pilate and the Jews could have put out Act. 2. 22 23. Rom. 9. 17. no act of power against Christ or Antichrist against the Saints but as God permitted and suffered in his own wisdom and counsel to bring to pass his designes of greater Grace Power and Glory So the Devil had no power over Job but as God Job 1. 9 10 suffered and permitted Note And I see not but by the same Argument that the Pagan Caesaâ—â— and Antichristian Kings are asserted to be the Ordinance of God and to be obeyed by the Lords People by the same Argument the Devil must be acknowledged to be the Orninance of God and to be obeyed by the Saints Object Or if it be said That God doth the Saints good by the Afflictions and Persecutions from Tyrants 1 Cor. 3. 22 23 Answ I say That God by his Wisdom Grace and Power so orders all for the good of Saints inward or outward and yet Rom 8. 28. neither the Devil or wicked men are the efficient cause of that good which comes to Saints by sanctified afflictions Note Therefore I yet see not any Scripture-proof that the Pagan Caesars or Antichristian Kings are the Ordinance of God and to be obeyed by the Saints in their Bodies and Estates for the Lords sake and for Conscience sake because God useth these Rods to chastize the Saints with As there hath no Heathen or Antichristian State arisen in the World but by Gods Permission and Providence Dan 4. 1â— so there hath been a concurrance of Natural Causes leading to such Changes of States and Governments God secretly carrying on his designes in them and yet so as the Agents or Instruments therein have not seen God in those things and so they have been cursed in the designes which they have accomplished against the Lords People and Interest Thus the Heathen Isa 10. 5 6 c Mat. 27. 1 2 c. â—ct 2. 22 23. State Judas and the Jews came under the Curse for destroying Jerusalem for betraying Christ and putting him to death although they fulfilled the determinate Counsel of God Therefore what Christ said of Judas may be said of every apostate Professor who for gain or self ends hath either formerly or in later times betrayed the Lords Interest and People into the hands of Antichristian Kings though by Gods secret counsel and permission The distressed Saints may say Note He or they that delivered us into the hands of beastly bloody men Jâ—hn 19. 11 have the greater sin But still some suppose that they have but done their duty and to confirm their opinion and practice in subjecting unto Pagan or Antichristian Kings as having power of Rule over them in Civil Affairs by Gods appointment they urge the Writings of Peter and both Pauls Doctrine and Practice but the two chief Corner Stones on which they found their Opinion is 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. and Rom. 13. 1. Of these Scriptures therefore I will take a further view The words of Peter are these Submit your selves to every Ordinance 1 Peâ— 2. 〈…〉 of Man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as Supream c. In these words Peter enjoyns Saints universal obedience to every Ordinance of Man or Law of Man as some take it Civil and Ecclesiastical not considering the state condition or quality of the Kings Pagan or Antichristian But as Peter wrote this to Saints under the Pagan Roman Caesars it is taken for granted that Peter in his time commanded those Saints to submit to every Ordinance of those Emperours without exception though idolatâ—ous beastly bloody Tyrants Some men again godly and learned see cause to put a restriction upon Peters universal and say That Peters exhortation to Saints in that day was to submit to every Ordinance of Man in Civil Affairs concerning the Bodies and Estates of Saints Note But the Saints Consciences to God in Spiritual things were and are only under the Government and Ordinances of God and Christ And this their position they prove from other Texts and the currant of Scripture But I have given my sence upon this place in the former Papers and therefore pass it here But the main and chief Text in all the Scriptures urged are the words of Paul written to the Saints at Rome His words are these Let every soul be subject to the higher Powers for there is no Power but of God the Powers that be are ordained or ordered of Rom. 13. 1 God From this Text some argue thus First That Paul commands a universal obedience to the Higher Powers by Saints and Sinners Let every soul Secondly The Powers that be are ordained of God Paul saith not The Powers that have been or the Powers that shall be are Ordained of God But the Powers which be are Ordained of God And the Powers which then were in being were the Pagan Roman Caesars idolatrous beastly bloody Tyrants the which command is still binding to Christians under the like Powers From this Text some give the sole Supream Power to Kings to rule over mens Bodies and Souls as God Some again restrain the Royal Power of Kings only to the Bodies of Saints in Civil Affairs and give the Soveraignty of Souls to Eph 1. 21 22 23. Christ
a Stranger to the continued ingagements which lye upon you But my great assurance of your Love and Zeal for our Lords Honour and Interest with your approved Wisdom and Meekness to manage this point in Controversie hath made me bold thus to presume upon you But I may say also as I humbly judge that you have some engagement upon you to hear and answer the humble desires of your Brethren for Light in the Mystical Visions of the Revelation and upon that ground also I was the rather emboldened to desire your Return upon the Paper I sent you and you have done like your self to make so sudden and large return to me Yours I have perused and on the behalf of our Lord and of Truth as I conceive I am emboldned to make some Reply in what I cannot receive I do say with great confidence that I believe your heart is one with mine to find out and advance our Lords Interest in truth and clearness but when we consider the Time and State we have been born educated and lived in we have cause to admire the riches of free grace which hath made us to differ from gross Idolaters and hath given us any Light and Faith to be Witnesses for Christ in any of his Mediatory Offices We I say who have had our Birth and Education under so great Antichristian darkness and bondage it is only of Free Grace that we are what we are Though some have a little more light then others in Divine Mysteries yet it may be said to those of highest attainments What have you that you have not received Therefore such as have most Light have not to boast in themselves or carry it proudly to their Brethren of lower Light and Faith in Generation Truths If I mistake not the opening of the seven-seald Book of Divine Mysteries speaks a gradual discovery of Light in Generation Truths and now the Generation Truth is Christ Kingly Authority Civil and Spiritual for the Bodies and Souls of his People or Saints in Covenant-relation unto him The Beast here doth not openly and professedly deny Christs Prophetical Office and the authority of Holy Scriptures nor the Priestly Office of Christ in the sufficiency of this Merit and Righteousness to the Justification and Salvation of Believers But the Kingly Office of Christ is only denyed in his Soveraignty over his People in things Ecclesiastical and Civil And this is the Generation-Truth now witnessed to and suffered for and in which or for which the Witnesses are Rev. 11. 7. slain by the Beast ascending out of the botomless pit in my understanding There are few real Professors at this day but in words they confess Christ's Royal Soveraignty over their Souls in Spirituall or Ecclesiastical things though they live not in practice up to that profession but there are very few who in Light Faith and Profession witness to Christs Royal Authority over the Saints Bodies Estates and Liberties in Civil or Temporal things here on Earth Note This Soveraign Authority I take to be actually seated also in Christ as Mediator by God the Father and is to be witnessed to now as a Generation-Truth Some dear Soules have judged me singular or alone in this opinion but I find it a Truth which is and will be more and more witnessed to as the Day of the Lord draweth on and the Vail of Antichristian darkness is removed and taken away Both this darkness and bondage of Antichrist was a Curse and Judgment 2 Thes 2. 10 11. upon Christian Professors from God for their earthliness and hypocrisie But it is promised That that wicked one shall be revealed discovered or made naked whom the Lord will 2 Thes 2. 8. consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming Although as yet the Beast Antichrist is not fully made manifest to the Lords People as he will be yet we have great cause to bless and praise God for what we see and thankfully accept our measures of present Light as earnests of what is promised and as evidences of our Lords appearing As our Lords right to Soveraign Rule in Civil things is now the great Question and Controversie amongst real believing Christian Professors it is our great duty to search the Scriptures therein and humbly to lye at Gods feet and beg for the teaching of the John 16. 13. Spirit of Truth to lead us into this truth also We are under the promise of the Last Times That many shall run to and fro Dan. 12. 4. and knowledge shall be increased And I hope that this our intercourse to communicate our present Light to each other in this great point in love and in meekness may tend greatly to bring us both to more perfect and distinct knowledge of Gods will in this Truth and the Truth into Victory In your Paper I humbly accept your grave and Christian Answers in case of male administration of a Lawful Power in many particulars but I must confess that I yet see it not proved from the Scriptures of Old or New Testament That the Heathen Roman Caesars were ever Magistrates Ordained by God to Rule and Govern his People before or after Christ was invested with his Mediatory Authority and then much Deut. 1. 9 13 14. 16. 18 19 c. Rom. 13. 1 2 3 c. 1 Pet 2. 13. 14. Josh 7. 9. less that the Civil Power of Antichrist was a Beam of Divine Soveraignty and the Ordinance of God to be submitted and subjected to by the Lords People for the Lords sake Magistracy or Polittical Government and Governors in Civil and Temporal things I own to be the Ordinance and appointment of God to Rule and Order his People according to his Law as Polittical Fathers to whom the Lords People in discharge of that Office and Trust do owe obedience and subjection to for the Lords sake and Conscience sake actively as of duty and passively when they transgress the Laws and Commands of God But that either the Heathen Emperors or Antichristian Kings were called by God to this Office and Authority I yet understand not That which doth constitute specifie and denominate a Exod. 18. 21 22. c. Political Governour or Magistrate to be the Ordinance of God is That he be so Qualified so called to Office and so Deut 1. 9 13 14. 4. 1 2 5. 16. 18. 17. 18 19 20. 2 Sam. 23. 3. Ruling as God hath commanded and ordained or ordered as his Minister in the State 2 Chr. 19. 6 7. Rom. 13. 1 2 3 4 5. 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. I humbly judge That due qualifications in a man for a Magistrate makes not a man to be a Magistrate That a Call of a People only makes not a Magistrate That a Person duely Qualified and rightly Called by a People to Rule if he rule not by Gods Laws he is yet no Magistrate or Minister of God as the Ordinance