destroyed his Game which had been so gainful for so many ages I mean the winning of so many Peter-pence Annates money for polls and other trinkets c. but the King would needs be head of the Church in the Popes stead and so by his Court of Augmentations inriched himself with those Revenues which belonged to the Monastries and the Pope yet this was little ease to the people for what a Tyrant this King also was to his Subjects especially to the best of the Saints the scourge with six Coards as I remember it was called and Sir Walter Rawleigh in his Preface to the History of the world will well inform us Q. Mary oppressed the Saints with fire fagot Q Eliz. a moderate higher Power yet the people of God under the name of Puritan under great bondage His Daughter Mary also sacrificed the lives of the choycest Saints for the service of that Beast But I hasten Indeed his Daughter Queen Elizabeth who being more in good earnest for the best cause then in the world called the Interest of the Protestants against the House of Austria and the Catholique Popish league in France governed the Nation more honorably and was a better Higher Power than any I read of before or since in the Catalogue of Monarchs King Edw. 6. died in his nonage and yet it is well known what havock was made of the Nonconformists under the notion of Puritans in her time how were they oppressed and persecuted by the Prelates and what Burthens and Impositions what Costs and Charges they were put to in respect of their non-compliance with the Ceremonies is remembred to this day the lives of some of the choycest Saints were taken away for bearing testimony for the Lord Jesus against the Lords spiritual as the Prelates were called and their abominations and other abuses in the Court. Thus you see how the Disciples indured a very heavy yoke of bondage even in that period of time when the fourth Beast was most tame and most gentle namely in Q. Eliz. time and reign Before I pass from this Point The two Scotish Kings lay heavy yoaks upon the Saints K. James a soat oppressor of the Nonconformists I must give a short remembrance of the two Scotish Kings and their Government Not long after King James came to the English Throne ther were suspended silenced deprived turned out of house and harbor c. almost two hundred of the choycest Preachers throughout the Nation men of the best Gifts eminent for Godliness sound in the Faith most succesful in the Ministry and why was the condition of these precious ones so much worse than that of their Brethren because they would not worship the Beast because they could not subscribe to the Ceremonies of the Church of England c. therefore they must be impoverished by Fines Attendance Fees Mulcts and Penalties Besides the common burthen of the Nation in point of Taxes the Saints help to maintain their Brethren the Preachers who were silenced and put out of all which they were oppressed with This undoing of many Families occasioned the godly people to distribute to their necessities some of my Kindred to my knowledge have given several of them yearly allowances for twenty or thirty years together after the King and Bishops had taken away their livelihood for non-conformity It is incredible to the young generation of Disciples what the best sort of Saints have suffered since the tenth year of Queen Elizabeth And though I am not of that age as to remember any publique Transactions in the reign of this first Scotish King yet by History by Books of another nature by converse with antient intelligent Professors I do so well understand the heavy Oppressions and Persecutions of the best people in the Nation that I do judge and publiquely declare it were a very noble enterpize to collect a faithful history of the sufferings of the servants of God for testifying against the Beast and the false Prophet so boldly so constantly and so successfully this last hundred years or since the tenth year of the Queen aforesaid However when the Judge of the quick and the dead shall ingage in this work 1 Cor. 4.5 of bringing to light the hidden works of darkness and of revealing all the plots of the Kings and Prelates for the crushing and suppressing of the truth and those Saints that owned it the admiration will be unspeakable Oh what a cloud of witnesses will then appear with Christ in glory who in the world have been over-clouded with shame and most infamous reproach Col. 3.4 with all disgrace imaginable But whether am I carried excuse this sudden digression K. Charls an unreasonable raiser of taxes and observe with me that Charles his Son who reigned in his stead walked in the waies of his Fore-fathers and how far he went beyond his Predecessors in imposing illegal Burthens upon the people I leave to * Lawyers are acquainted with his projects to get mony from the people Lawyers to compute who are more versed in those Affairs But I know that it was a sad time with the most zealous heavenly Christians with the most eminent preachers and Professors Will. Laud a great persecutor and oppressor of the Saints by fines imprisonment visitations c. the persecution was so hot under William Laud both when he was Lord Bishop of London and afterwards of Canterbury that thousands of good people did transport themselves to strange remote Countries some fled to neighbor Nations to get out of his reach this was great oppression as for those that staid behind they hid themselves in corners were put to great cost and charges upon the account of their non-conformity besides what burthens were laid upon their shoulders in common with other people they were taxed fined sequestred and squeezed by the Prelates Courtâ— and Officers most unreasonably How many turned out of doors for not reading the Book of Sports allowed upon the first day of the week Yea the very visiting and speaking or shewing any kindness or countenance to Mr. Burton Mr. Prin and Dr. Bastick as they journied into banishment through the Countries cost many precious souls very dear as will appear in fulness of time to all the world After this The Classical Directory the common Prayer books successor cost the Nation a great sum a costly Common Prayer for Scotland was formed and imposed seconded with a great Army which and all the illegal Taxations before as for Knighthood at the beginning of his Government the Isle of Ree Ship-money c. had made the very common carnal people to see the English Government inclining to the French Garb where the Taxes are endless easeless and remediless as the poor Peasants may well compute Thus I have drawn this line of the HISTORY OF TAXES AND TRIBUâ—ES of ARBITRARY LEVIES AND IMPOSITIONS through so many ages tracing this hateful monster from its cradle in Souls time who was the
he will be more terrible in his doing toward the children of men He ruleth by his power for ever his eies behold the Nations Let not the rebellious EXALT THEMSELVES Selah Whoso is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord Psal 107.43 We have seen we have seen an end of all perfection which hath been preserved for so many ages The person and power of a King and the Son of antient Kings is cut down and cost out as an abominable Branch the Privilege of Parlament the Parlament and all their numerous unknown Privileges pulled down and devoured by the Army at a Breakfast the Liberties of the people also have met with the same destiny thus this antient threefold Cord made and preserved by our Ancestors with so much care with so great cost of blood and treasure is utterly untwisted and broken all to peeces By this brief account of these astonishing Alterations that great Truth which I laid as the first stone and the corner stone of this Discourse is worthy of remembrance The most High ruleth in the Kingdom of Men He changeth the times and the seasons He removeth Kings and setteth up Kings He the Lord doth all these things and other wonders without number His works are honorable and glorious sought cut of all that have pleasure therein Psal 111.2 3. Thus according to that talent of understanding which is given to me in these great and strange transpositions of Powers by the effectual influence of the first cause according to the words of the Prophets Kingly Power Aristocratical Privilege and Democratical Liberty being dissolved destroyed and disanulled as you have read heard and seen the Army must needs be the remaining Higher Power within these Nations If any Man Lawyer States-man c. know a Higher Power than theirs a stronger power than theirs a more absolute power than theirs I would willingly hear him speak his mind in that particular But to proceed if it be observed I only say They are the Supreme Power without addition or determination what kind of Power I own them as an Higher as the Highest earthly Power de facto acting and exercising such a superiority over the people but quo jure that is another Question fitter for the Lawyers to plead if they would or Durst than for me yet this I can find ground to say If any one ever heard me say they were a lawfull Authority or as is suggested If any person whatsoever can produce any writing wherein I acknowledge them a lawful or legal Authority since the 16. of the 10. Month 1653. let them publish it to the world and I will ingenuously confesse I am no way able to mantain or justifie such an Assertion in the least let them that please exercise their wits to perswade the credulous For Nibil tam incredibile quod non dicendo fiat probabile as Tully faith I shall according to the duty of my Office declare from the good word of God what is there upon record for a testimony against that generation of Back sliders from the Cause of Christ whom these following truths either do now or may hereafter very much concern The Scriptures of Truth do give us much light in the matter under consideration Rom 13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Higher powers 1 Pet. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the King 's supreme and 1 Tim. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—hich are in superiority There are several degrees and several kinds of Powers There are Higher or Lower Powers Supreme or Subordinate The Translators do render the word Higher in Pauls Epistle to the Romans and the same word they translate Supreme in Peters Epistle to the Jews This is also plain to sense and reason I shall not trouble the Reader further with this so I put it first to dispatch it unlesse I meet with an oportunity to do further service with this distinction As for the several kinds of Higher Powers that also needs little explication In some Nations there is one kind in others another kind Kings Judges Elders Patriachs c. But there is also a Distribution of Powers by their Adjuncts Distributio subjecti in adjuncta and so the Powers that are are either Lawful or Vnlawful Lawful Higher Powers are such either from God or from Nature or from Nations From God either first by especial Designation in love and mercy to a people as Moses David Christ Jesus the Lord Or else secondly by especial Designation in wrath for trial and punishment to a people Thus Jeroboam was set up by God for trial to the ten Tribes and for punishment to Solomon or rather chastisement and punishment to his son Rehoboam saith God by his Prophet I have given ten Tribes to thee I will take thee and thou shalt Reign and shalt be King over Israel 1 King from 29. to 37. compared with the 12. Chapter and the 24 vers Thus Saul was given to the Israelites by God in his anger partly for trial that he might see what was in their hearts and partly for punishment because they had rejected the Lord from being their King neverthelesse Saul was a lawful Higher Power for a time although given in displeasure Thus Baasha was exalted out of the dust by God as the Lord sent him word and by him made Prince over his people Israel to fulfill the word of the Lord against Jeroboam and his house 1 King 16. Chap. vers 2. There are other instances but I proceed In the next place there are Higher powers by nature that is they are possessed and that justly of the Dignity of Superiority and of the power of Government by a pure natural Right These Higher powers are either Paternal or Patriarchal such a right had Adam the Father of all Living so Noah Abraham and other heads of the houses of their Fathers as the Elders of the Israelites in Egypt Exod. Exo. 3.16.4 29. 6.14 The lower powers in Families are a Steward whom the Housholder or Lord of the Family makes Ruler over his Houshold to give them their portion of meat in due season as Christ expresseth this matter Luke 12.42 such an inferiour power was Eliezer of Damascus the Steward of Abrahams house so Tutors and Governors of the Heir till the time appointed of the Father are lawful lower powers c. Thirdly Higher powers are justly such by a National Right or by the voluntary consent of those Nations whom they govern and this either in time of peace by election or succession as Judah did cleave to Rehoboam the Son of Solomon and many other Instances might be added or else by victory in a just War as the Canaanites became Tributaries and other people also in all ages And thus the Lord Jesus himself will be actually an higher power by conquest of the Nations For in Righteousnesse be will judge and make war Rev. 19.11 But to conclude this part of the Distribution
The Oppressed Close Prisoner In WINDSOR-Castle HIS DEFIANCE TO The Father of Lyes In the strength of The God of Truth Occasioned by some late scandalous and slanderous Reports raised and dispersed to the Dishonour of that noble Cause wherein He with others of the Lords servants is so deeply engaged AS ALSO A Seasonable Word concerning the Higher Powers concerning the payment of Taxes and Tribute-money by the Saints to those Powers And how far a Minister of the Gospel may intermeddle in State-Affairs without sin By CHR. FEAKE in his Prison-Watch-tower Prov. 25.18 19. A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a Mâ—ul and a Sword and a sharp Arrow Confidence in an Unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joynt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Zor coram Dario. London Printed for L. Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head-alley 165â— The Preface THat space of time which remains to that old Serpent the Devil and Satan before the beginning of the thousand yeers being but short * Which according to my computation will expire within less then 50 yeers from this yeer 1654 It is no marvel that he is so much inraged at the Woman and that he continues to go forth to make war with the remnant of her seed which keep the Commandments of God and have the Testimony of Jesus Christ My expectations also are abundantly confirmed that the poor Nations will be most sadly deceived by him for the forementioned space of time insomuch that whilst the power of his Sophistry and Seduction is upon them they will freely expose themselves and all that is dear unto them to extream hazards for his service The certain and particular knowledge of these things doth much affect my heart with pity and I would gladly be at work with others to give forth Antidotes among the children of men But behold he hath by divine permission cast me and some other Brethren into Prison that we might be tried and I have had tribulation neer ten months of days a great part of which time I have also been shut up in a very narrow compass from the common air and which is far worse from the sweet society of the Saints But my dear Lord bids me be of good cheer and exhorts me most lovingly to be faithful to the DEATH and he will give me a CROWN OF LIFE Those most incouraging communications from Heaven whereof my soul hath had more sweet and plentiful experience then in any condition formerly will have I am perswaded a very effectual influence upon my spirit to cause it to bear up against all the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Devices and Wiles or Methods of that wicked one yea through Christ strengthning me having taken the shield of faith I shall be able to quench all those fiery darts * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which are shot against me to cause me to fall or quit the field and so desert that most noble Interest wherein I have with my fellow-workers unto the Kingdom of God been so long and so publickly engaged against the Kings and other Supream Powers of the Earth The cunning craftiness of this God of this world and of his Pursevants for the Devil also hath his Pursevants or Messengers deceitful Workers * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 11.13 hath raised and spread false reports and slanderous reproachful rumours as if I also had recanted as if I had renounced my Principles that now I begin to droop these lyes have begotten strange effects in the mindes and affections of the simple who are apt to believe every word and of the adversaries who would greatly rejoyce if it might be found a Truth Assuredly it is mater of some importance in this conjuncture of time for every one of the faithful followers of the Lambe to be fellow-helpers to the Truth * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 John 8. and to the cause and work of Christ which ere long shall have a most glorious resurrection although so many like the souldiers and Priests of old when the Lord of glory was dead and buried desire they may lie in the grave of oblivion so as never to rise again If it were onely a personal reproach particularly intended against me and reflecting upon me alone a poor inconsiderable instrument in the Lords hand I could through grace have borne it patiently without answering again according as I have endured a thousand for neer this ten yeers both in City and Country but this reacheth to the heavens * Captutinter nubila condit and rides pâ—st through the Nations to the dishonour of my Lord and Master the Lord Jesus Christ whose I am and whom I serve and to the further disparagement of that known great affair of His which hath been so slighted of late yeers by the quondam zealous assertors of it Wherefore if I should altogether hold my peace at this time as Mordecai said to Hester and in this matter how could I give an account with comfort to my Lord the King of Saints when he shall make enquiry after the service he expects should be done by me in my day for his Name and his Kingdom according to the trust he reposed in me when he did first chuse and call me forth to suffer for his sake But before I proceed to the business intended by me I shall declare so far as I have attained true intelligence in the general the first and last occasion of all this noise both among the Churches and elsewhere and then subjoyne a plain-hearted explication of those Truths concerning the matter in controversie which have sweetly wooed and won my understanding and judgement such as they are to entertain and to improve them as God shall providentially administer opportunity by the teachings of his Spirit But if in any circumstance I should miss the white at which I aim it must be imputed to my present incapacity of obtaining a full Relation partly because I am still a close Prisoner notwithstanding my present breathing in the open air and so cannot converse with such as would give me a more perfect and punctual Narrative in matter of fact as also because there hath been as it was always in the like cases a monstrous multiplication of new mishapen births even every day That Congregation which I am over in the Lord sent not many weeks since an Epistle to me testifying their love in the Lord and that brotherly sympathy with me in my sufferings which is meet withal signifying they should rejoyce to be serviceable to Christ and me in obtaining my enlargement if they did but once understand what means to use in order thereunto but they could not do what their souls desired to do without owning the Powers in being the doing of which said they is accounted a bowing of the knee to the Image of the Beast This last mentioned passage gave me just occasion according to my Office as
their shepherd to feed them with knowledge and understanding in this point and therefore accordingly I spent some time in clearing it up unto the Congregation in a second Epistle written in answer unto theirs It seems some of them through anacquaintedness with Scripture-distinctions in this doctrine and otherwise did not make a right interpretation of the Truths therein expressed but mistooke my minde and meaning and so whether weakly or willingly divulged or suffered to be divulged abroad some passages in the Letter which ought not to have been done considering the Letter was intended for their use and edifying onely and not for open publication I had some hint of this in a short time but not being conscious to my self of any alteration in the least no not in thought and purpose of heart toward a compliance and well knowing that no part of the Letter could signifie any such thing if rightly understood I neglected the rumour as onely one of the petty stratagems of the devil whereby to do me some mischief But afterward finding that that secret whisper and murmur was ripened suddenly into an infamous report Letter after Letter also representing this as of very sad consequence to that Name and Cause for which I am bound with this Chain I was brought under a necessity of presenting to publick view the Epistle it self so far as it concerns this Cause Especially when I finde it certified that one well known to all sorts of people in the City coming where several were together in company did in a laughing and scoffing maner draw forth a paper and say There was my Recantation pretending it was mine own Letter or a Copy of it wherein I wrote That I was now satisfied that the Government was a lawful authority c. It appears to me that the envious One and his Emissaries are altogether in extreams in their suggestions against my Good Name sometimes the world must be made believe yea and the Elect also that I am against Magistracie and Ministery that I am an enemy to Government a most dangerous man in my Principles that way c. Again sometimes it is for his advantage to perswade such as would have it so that I am come over to my Adversaries and Oppressors of mine own accord and that suddenly too without any Overtures made or Arguments used to draw me to a compliance or conformity But how improbable and irrational a practice such an hasty return would appear to solid Christians to be I refer it to themselves to say and judge No blessed be the Lord I shall not so far be forsaken by him or left to my self as to gratifie the foes and grieve the friends of my dear Redeemer by turning Apostate after all my sufferings in so good a Cause HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR HIS SERVANT yea let all my Friends and Enemies also know assuredly that I stand my ground by divine assistance yea I get ground and am abundantly confirmed that I am out of the reach of the earthly powers insomuch that if they should slay me they could not hurt me Let God in all things be glorified by Jesus Christ to whom also be glory for ever Amen The Epistle followeth together with a further manifestation of the Truth This following is a true Copy of the Epistle so far as concerns the matter in hand which I have divided into Sections for methods sake in the explanation of my meaning Grace mercy and peace from the ever-over-flowing Fountain to every son and daughter of the living God Sect. 1 HAving lately even in my last unto you declared among other things that purpose and determination concerning my Bonds and Imprisonment which I have according to my best understanding taken up upon Scripture-ground I shall now proceed to add something for the rectifying of some mistakes about the present powers and the image of the Beast It falling in properly upon this occasion for me to speak something to you concerning those Truths which do lie somewhat remote and out of the way of ordinary observation Sect. 2 The judgement of the Congregation appears by their Letter to me to be this viz. That you cannot do any thing toward my enlargement prayer excepted without owning the Powers in Being the doing of which say you is accounted a bowing the knee to the image of the Beast Now for the better clearing up of the minde of God in this dark and doubtful matter I shall plainly declare as follows Sect. 3 First I do not know by whom the ownnig of the Powers in Being is accounted a bowing the knee to the image of the Beast It was never neither is it like to be mine Opinion and whether you mean some of your Number or of other Congregations I cannot tell if I had particularly known I should have given a particular Answer for as for my self I do own the Powers in Being according as God himself hath commanded and have done all along I have and do render to all their Dues Tribute to whom Tribute is due Custome to whom Custom Fear to whom Fear Honour to whom Honour Sect. 4 And therefore secondly the doing of this that is Owning the Powers in Being is not ought not to be accounted a bowing the knee to the image of the Beast to own those Powers aforesaid is a plain duty not to be dispensed with by any Law of man whatsoever where as to worship or bow the knee to the Beast is a known sin forbidden in the Word of God By the Powers in Being I understand the Army as Supream and all those who joyne with them to carry on the work of justice and of mercy according to the indubitable principles of right reason and equity for Rulers saith the Apostle are not a terror to good workes but to the evil and so far as the Powers answer those principles they are Powers and the Ordinance of God and there is no more reason to resist them then there is to resist righteousness and truth whilst and so long as they answer the ends for which they were ordained and you know I never taught you to rise up against them in the least Sect. 5 If any would ask me How I can be said to own the Powers and yet preach against them and for the destroying of them thus one after another I answer I do in this matter as the Prophets and Apostles and Martyrs and upright and understanding Saints in all ages did before me for I make no question but they owned the Powers then in Being according to their own Doctrine and principles and yet at the same time preached and prophesied against them for their abominations both to their faces and behinde their backs also and this was done by the Lords faithful servants in all ages but I confess it did cost them very dear some their lives others their liberties others their ther substance c. where as the Court-Chaplains the Parish-Clergie and the Apostate Independents take a very
to the declared and known principles of the Author of those words unless he had certain information or other testimony of his open apostacy from his profession and constant conversation in time past unto that day Wherefore thirdly Let the whole clause be considered with an honest and impartial minde and you will finde such cautelous qualifications superadded as if I had foreseen the Devils design against the Cause and the Person both Whereas I writing in simplicity of heart as in the sight of God without any thoughts of Declining or Drawing back * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 10.39 could not once suspect that such constructions and consequences would have been formed and dispersed thereupon The first Qualification of my Words was this ACCORDING AS GOD HIMSELF HATH COMMANDED I do own the Powers in being and have done all along but otherwise I never did nor shall own the present Powers or their successors The second Qualification of those Words of mine which I added in the close of this third Section is expressed in the words of the Apostle Rendering to all their Dues tribute to whom tribute c. as you read it in Rom. 13.7 And thus far in this third Section and no further have I indeavoured to state the case and to plead against the unconscionable carriage of that person or those persons who have given liberty to their tongues to speak reproachfully against their neighbour without cause Psal 15.3 2 Tim. 2.25 the Lord give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth and to the bridling of that member which though little is so very unruly James 3. the 10. first verses as it is written THE TONGUE CAN NO MAN TAME AN UNRULY EVIL FULL OF DEADLY POYSON It seems it is the onely work of God to tame it it is not mans work especially when it is set on fire from Hell as too too often it comes to pass But to proceed Now further to declare ingenuously my judgement and apprehensions in this point thus I say Either I must own the Powers in Being or that Are for we will not argue about expressions when they are well understood though they may not be very proper I say either I must own the present Powers or I must own Anarchy For Powers to be hereafter or which may appear in time to come I know not how to own in such a sence as I intended for de non apparentibus non existentibus eadem est ratio If the Powers do not appear and existere extra causas as we say it is all one to us as if they were not in rerum naturâ as indeed they are not actually till they are formed for forma dat nomen esse and so exist from the concurrence of the several efficient causes also respectively Now as for Anarchy or no Government for a people to have no Powers in being it is Confusion it is Desolation it is the Abomination of Desolation or that maketh Desolate It alwayes was it is it will ever be the Abomination of my soul Tyranny it self is not so ugly a monster by many Degrees in mine eyes as is * I understand Anarchy not in notion but in operation Anarchy Rampant Anarchy But let no man imagine that I ever was or now am a friend in the least to former or present Tyranny though I thus speak for Tyranny is High Treason against Mankind and against the Image of God in the world and shall be turned headlong off from the stage again when it hath acted its part for the accomplishment of the Counsels of the Almighty which will not be until the words of God shall be fulfilled as it is written in the Scriptures of Truth From what hath been said the Saints and the World may see what reason I had and have to declare that I DO OWN THE POWERS IN BEING for to own the Powers that are to be hereafter but are not yet extant I cannot do it viz. in that sence before expressed and own Anarchy or non-Government that I will not do upon any terms while by the grace of God I continue in my right minde and injoy any remainders of sense and reason So that we are constrained by right reason to own the present Powers But then withal my two Limitations Restrictions or Correctives call them what you please must be admitted and remembred carefully for otherwise I shall suffer apparent injury as lately I have felt First in general I told the Congregation I owned them according to God or as God himself hath commanded Secondly I did particularly declare how and how far I owned the Powers in being in saying I gave tribute custom fear and honor where each of these were due BUT WHAT AND WHO THOSE POWERS ARE IN MY OPINION IS ANOTHER QUESTION AND SHALL BE HANDLED IN ITS PLACE Concerning the first of these two Restrictions I explain my meaning thus I may as well throw away the Old and New Testament those blessed Oracles which are sweeter to me especially since I came into prison and yet more especially since I was shut up in Close-Imprisonment then the honey or the honey-combe as deny or refuse to own the Powers in Being it being so Just and so Good a Law of God * That there should be Higher Powers in the world is a good law the law may be formed thus Potestates in mundo super-eminentes semper sunto 1 Pet. 2.13 the Soveraign Lord of Heaven and Earth The Command is full and plain Peter writing to the Believing Jews saith expressly Submit to every Ordinance of Man or Humane Creation * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tit. 3.1 for the Lords sake whether to the King as Supream or unto Governours as sent by him Paul to Titus doth confirm this Doctrine and this Statute-Law Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers to obey Magistrates * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so Rom. 13.1 2 c. But moreover let us not interpret this subjection and obedience this owning of them to be Absolute and Unlimited as if without all Restrictions and Distinctions for that were unreasonable as hath been argued and urged against the late King Yea furthermore these things are injoyned to particular Christians and private persons who are altogether under Authority for otherwise one Higher power may refuse obedience to another Higher power yea and take their Authority away from them utterly and for ever in many cases as I shall shew afterward But to give the world an Account of my Principles and Practises in this point Yet more particularly I am bound to own them so as not to forget that I am a Disciple of Christ that the Gospel the Doctrine thereof is to guide and regulate me in the thing under consideration for though they are the Higher Powers yet not the Highest FOR THERE ARE HIGHER THEN THEY Eccles 5.8 And if at any time they command ought that is inconsistent
first Monarch over the people of God to its old age for indeed Christians it waxeth old and is ready to vanish away Wait but a while you shall hear more But to finish this discourse I have you see brought you down to the beginning of the Scotish Troubles which being a day of small things The Scotish opposition to the Prelates and their trinkets a door of hope opened to the oppressed Saints was ready to be despised as not having any great birth in the womb of it When the Scotish woman threw her stool at the Priests head in the chief Church as they call it at Edenburgh as he was reading the Mass-book over her head in the Scotish language and a tumult followed thereupon I hearing of it was very much affected with it and found my Spirit mightily raised to expect great things I looked on it as the first great turn of the Tide whereby we were carried so fast toward the Sea of Rome and that was the first occasion of my looking into the Revelation and the Prophet Daniel Whereupon I saw plainly the Lord was resolved to turn back the captivity of his people The Parlament will not levy a Tax to make war with Scotland especially when the short Parlament refused to tax the Nation for the maintenance of the war with the good people of Scotland that Assembly being dissolved by the Kings Prerogative he was constrained much against his mind to summon another Parlament in the same year the most High over-ruled him brought him into inextricable labirynths all the policy of his States-men could not prevent the approaching Decrees of the King of Kings Whereupon the God of Heaven being with them for Judgement and Justice Illegal Taxations damned in ful Parlament all Arbitrary Courts all illegal Taxations were damned in full Parlament This was a year of Jubilee to the poor oppressed Sectaries and Non-conformists It is a year to be remembred with gladness and great joy Light breaks forth the bondage upon the Saints is gradually taken off We took them captives whose captives we were we rewarded them as they had rewarded us we ruled over our oppressors The spirit of Antichrist in the Prelates and their Faction in Court City and Country cannot indure to hear of and see the liberty of the true Israelties the return of the banished imprisoned ones the downfal of their Diana inraged them the Beast also began to roar in the sense of this deadly blow But the Spirit of Christ riseth higher and higher in his Servants being incouraged by the high Court of Parlament whose Office it was to take an account of the grievances and oppressions which had made the people full of discontent against the waies of the Court especially against the Prelates At length they take part with one Higher Power The persecuted Puritans joyn with the Parlament against the interest of the Court that house of Bondage and Taxes being lawfully called thereto against the other Higher Power who had so crushed them by Prerogative and Arbitrary proceedings as was well known to millions Generally the persecuted Christians and all the Puritans joyned with the Parlament for Christ and his interest so far as they knew it against the King and his Prelates for they well understood that the Court interest and that of the Lords spiritual as they were then called was opposite to the Lord Jesus and his affairs Hereupon the one Power and the other call for help every way first by way of Benevolence Taxes levied to destroy the old Taxes Clavum clavo and free Contribution afterward by Taxes and Excise I dare say for them who saw the wheel in the middest of the wheel * Ezek. 1.16 10.10 so long as we perceived the Work of the Lord promoted they might call for any thing almost and have it a free will Offering they had of Gold Silver Jewels Servants Sons Husbands for the Lord had stirred up the Spirit of his people in the Land exceedingly and they came in singleness of heart to serve the Lord Christ and to do work in his house * Hag. 1.14 in the removing of Rubbish and other obstacles which were laid in the way by the Man of sin others had other ends in going on this warfare as afterward did frequently appear Thus at the beginning we were ready to part with a great part of our livelihood for the compleat recovery of our Liberties and that we might see written vengeance executed * Ps 149.9 Jer. 50.28 even the vengeance of the Lords Temple c. and the cause of Christ carried on and prospering against Antichrist and the Fourth Monarchy But when we saw that the first Army was debauched by means of many mercenary Sword-men The first Army not fit instruments to destroy Tyranny and Souldiers of Fortune and by the prevarication of the Nobility and great men of the Nation we knew the Work of the Lord would not prosper in their hands thereupon it may easily be conceived we began to pay our Tribute or Tax-money very unwillingly the Taxes and Contributions lay exceeding heavy and no work done We complained to our friends in power we sought and besought the Lord that wee might not be carried back again to Egypt but forward towards perfection in this cause The Lord was intreated of his praying people The new Model formed used by God to renew the work begun for the good of the Saints and gave them the NEW MODEL formed contrary to principles of State-policy but it being of God and we finding that his Servants would serve him Rev. 22 3. and not themselves we paid our Taxes freely again I mean the people of Christ who were made willing in the day of his power or Armies as some read it Psal 110.3 the understanding sort of beleevers who knew what England ought to do though those of the Scotish way and spirit were very opposite did freely lay out themselves for their encouragement as foreseeing what would follow upon the taking away of Monarchical Tyranny or Tyrannical Monarchy as afterwards it came to pass And whereas it may be accounted as heavy a bondage to be taxed by Aristocratical Soveraignty The Remnant who did cleave to the work willing to be taxed and to charge themselves for their Brethren in Arms as by Kingly Power I say no not so in this case for we were satisfied that this charging of our selves as the Scripture speaks Nehem. 10.32 was for the pulling down of that Power which hath it as an essential property entring into the very constitution of it to oppress the people when there is no need of Impositions and Taxations But to go on Great affection to the new model abounding in the work of the Lord. THIS ARMY THVS MODELD had the Prayers Faith Affections Purses and other assistance of as knowing and heavenly Christians as I beleeve were in the world they looked on them as their dear
as far as my heavenly Father pleaseth I rejoyce I have any thing to suffer the losse of in so excellent and honourable a Cause as this is wherein with my Fellow-sufferers I am imbarked But having treated thus largely from the word of God and from Authentick Histories which are excellent Interpreters of Prophecies concerning these troublesome Inmates which have gotten into our houses and bowels which sit upon our skirts so constantly at every turn of Government and though we should speak them never so fair they will not depart till they are forced out by Judges as at the first and by Councellors as at the beginning Quest Moreover having also declared my practise in paying Taxes and suffering imprisonment without resistance It may be asked of me by some knowing Saints What are the particular grounds and reasons of your practice in this particular Ans The reason of paying tribute without resistance The return I give to such a Question is this according to the Apostle I AM SVBJECT TO THE POWERS IN BEING BECAVSE I MVST NEEDS BE SVBJECT PARTLY FOR WRATH PARTLY FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE Rom. 13.5 read and consider that sentence I explain my Answer thus First I am subject for wrath * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or because of wrath that is the wrath of the fourth Beast or Roman spirit in the powers for if I should have resisted when the Pursevants came to attach my body for my spirit indeed blessed be the Lord was and is out of theirs and their Masters reach their Roman wrath would have shewed it self presently by wounds or bruises or other outragious violence now I was not prepared to stand upon my guard as others have done in the like case neither did I intend to flee or make any escape for I was not afraid having done no evill for which I should be afraid of the powers Now I knowing that there was a power in being and apprehending that I could not glorifie God better for the present than by suffering I quietly and exceeding cheerfully submitted and obeyed the Order in the Authority whereof as to them they had apprehended me and went along with the poor creatures without gain-saying I had a blessed Catalogue of suffering Saints beside the King of Saints whose examples were very encouraging in conjunction with so good a Cause And thus I was and am still subject for wraths sake as it is translated or because of wrath for what single person can stand before the wrath of the Powers of this world during that time of Domination which is allotted to them he must needs be subject or come under their ordering as the word implies because of wrath their wraths not Gods thus I understand the place In the next place I say I am subject to the Powers in being because I must needs be subject NOT ONELY for wraths sake BVT ALSO for conscience sake or because of conscience that is as the wrath of violent men have a kind of compulsive power which will necessitate single persons or unarmed persons to yeeld to those who have power which is a real acknowledgement that they are the Higher Powers who bear all before them So in like manner but in a different way of working Conscience in a godly man and a knowing Christian hath a constraining power which will produce a resignation of our selves up to the will of God who is Lord of the Conscience and he perswading me upon plain grounds in his word to suffer under the fourth Kingdom for the service of himself and his Son I chearfully obey and forbear all words and actions of opposition after the manner of men untill the Dominion be taken away to consume and destroy it utterly as other Kings and Kingdoms have been destroyed heretofore And so I acknowledge there are Higher Powers in being and I finding and feeling it so to be am subject because it must be so not onely for wrath sake but for Conscience sake also and as Peter saith for the Lords sake 1 Pet. 2.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is a further obligation upon a Christian to suffer patiently those abuses which are offered to his person Relations good Name Estate or any thing that is his Nevertheless this I add That I groan all this while with other oppressed creatures Rom 8.19 20 21 22 23. for the manifestation of the glorious liberty of the Sons of God For certainly the creature being made subject to tyranny and the cruel lusts of proud men NOT WILLINGLY but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope cannot but in the light and power of that Spirit which is in them cry out in Faith and earnest expectation COME LORD JESVS COME QVICKLY and let all the followers of the Lamb say Amen And let all the wonderers after the Beast fill up the measure of their Fathers in reproaching imprisoning oppressing and otherwise persecuting the Saints of the most High and receive that recompence of reward which is meet Object If any shall here object and say Why did we fight against the King you your self did â—ppose him you preached other Doctrine in those times and if we must be so subject now and yeeld to the present Powers without resistance as you have said and done of late is not this a contradiction to former Principles and practices c. Answ All particular persons of whom I alwaies speak and it must be remembred I mean the Saints of the most High did yeeld subjection to the King yea and to the Prelates actively or passively without resistance those who were Non-conformists then to the Antichristian power as I am now did suffer patiently and chearfully as Christ left them an example this was so while the King was the only supreme Power in being and untill God raised up a Horn of Salvation for them and then as I said before the Puritans joyned with Parlamentary Power against Regal Power exercised contrary to Law and Justice and I was one of the number being lawfully called to oppose tyranny by the authority of the highest Court and I never did nor do repent of that ingagement against that party c. Whereas now there is no visible Powers in being to relieve me and other oppressed servants of the Lord it is with us now as it was under the old Monarchy there are no Saviors no Deliverers our Deliverers are become our Persecutors Zach. 1.2 or 3 last verses and there is no power to refist or oppose for the spirit of the Horns as Zacharias calls the persecuting Powers is gotten into the Carpenters the Carpenters are at length metamorphozed into pushing and goring Horns But when soever God shall provide new Carpenters to fray away these Horns that scatter the true Israel no question but Israel will be willing to be delivered and to take them Captives whose Captives they were and to rule over their oppressors as they did about fourteen years ago Obj. 2. But it may be
further urged by others But particular Christians did go to Law with the King before the Parlament was called and so opposed him that way by Arguments drawn from Reason and Justice as Mr. Hampden c. and cannot you go and do thus likewise namely wage Law with your Oppressors Answ 1. Most of the Judges were deaf on that ear concerning Law and Justice and were for the Kings Power and Prerogative and so carried it for the King being over-awed this I have from a good hand Nevertheless I honor the memory of those worthy persons who were willing to spend their Estates and hazzard all rather than not to bear testimony against tyranny 2 If the Sword were not the supreme Power and if all the Laws were not silenced or suspended at least which are against that Sword-interest It may be some particular persons whom God should make free might dare to wage or plead the Law of the Land against their oppreffors or appeal to the higher Powers if there were any as high or higher than the sharp power of the Sword as Paul did from the Jewish Powers unto Augustus Act. 25.11 12. But when Caesar who was the highest Power on earth did oppress him whither or to whom could Paul appeal but to Jesus Christ the Lord of Lords and King of Kings and thus it is with me Cranmer appealed from the Power in being which oppressed him to the next General Council whch was a Power in some ages had in great veneration but what good could that do him the present Power burnt him to ashes and his Appeal to a future contingent Power dyed with him yet it was a kind of Testimony against his persecutors And if that be judged to be of any use upon Scripture-ground I can enter my Appeal to the next higher Powers which the God of Heaven shall set up in mercy and love to his poor Remnant to do us right and deliver us from our potent persecuters But as the case now stands I am made a Bond-slave who was born free and never forfeited my liberty blessed be the Lord I can speak it before men and devils by any transgression of mans Laws yet I have and do cheerfully and with great delight submit to the will of God in these sufferings so burthensome to flesh and blood and I am perswaded if they should scourge me as the Jews did the Apostles and as the Prelats did some under the former Monarchs I should rejoyce to be counted worthy to suffer shame for his name * Acts 5. last vers Gal. 2. last verse who hath loved me and given himself for me the unworthiest worm of all and if the Lord should permit them to put me to a shameful death like the death of the Crosse I am ready But it is not yet signified to me by what death I shall glorifie God Oh it s a sweet life to live free from the fear of death Joh. 21.19 Heb 2.14 15 1 Cor. 15.57 Thanks be to God who giveth us victory through Jesus Christ to whom be Glory and Dominion for ever Amen Hitherto of giving Tribute Now as touching the other two particulars Honor and Fear due to Higher Powers as Tribute and Custom is due unto them Honour and Fear which are to be given to the Higher Powers beside Tribute and Custome In a very few words this I have to say That I alwayes freely gave honor to whom honor was due And in particular when I was apprehended the first time namely about the 21. of the 10. Month 1653. and brought before the Council for expounding the Prophecie about the little Horn in Dan. 7. I did obeysance according to the custome of the Country or Nation in which I live used towards Superiours I stood while they sat and with my head uncovered the General having his hat on and this without reluctancy besides I freely gave him the honorable Title of a Lord in discourse with him as being Captain General of all the Forces and I suppose this is to own a Higher Power for those who do not own Government and Superiority among men do not so behave themselves as namely the Shakers as they call them or any others of those principles and thus I did to the Committee of the Council when I was apprehended and brought before them this second time and I do not remember that ever any Powers did challenge me in this matter As for Fear and the rendring of fear to whom fear is due I am of this perswasion that if I were guilty in mine own conscience and before the Lord of any such grosse wickednesse as some of the choisest Saints have been overtaken and overcome withall and were brought to a legal trial and convicted by witnesse without as well convinced by witnesse within I should be afraid of the Power but not otherwise For the Apostle saith Wilt thou not be afraid of the Power do that which is good but if thou do that which is evil be afraid so that in this also I am ready to own any Higher Powers which shall be set up in my dayes when there is occasion and reason for it and surely no man can say at least if his words have the sap and juyce of sense and reason in them that I ought to fear any power higher or lower unlesse when I have done evill and this be made known unto me in the light of the righteous Law of God But though I know nothing by my self yet I am not thereby justified in the sight of God Thus I have for the Cause sake which might suffer if I should have neglected this impudent slander freely declared my former and present principles concerning the Powers in being But who could have imagined first That in saying I owned the present powers I had recanted and submitted and acknowledged them to be a lawful Authority and an hundred false rumors to the grief of my brethren of the same spirit with me in the present Truth whereas I never said nor thought otherwise And who could have imagined secondly that any one who calls and accounts himself a Christian would take part of the letter or a few sentences here and there torn from the rest and thereupon divulge and shew them as a testimony and proof of such a Report whereas to recapitulate all in a word This is that I will close up this Section with 1 I acknowledge there are Higher Powers in being and every one must grant this as well as I and my Fellow-prisoners for they feel it I beleeve though not so effectually as we do 2 I yeelded my body to be apprehended and carried away without striving or lifting up my voyce in the streets when they sent their Messengers with swords and it may be other weapons about them to bring me before the Council And I reckon this to be an owning of the present powers I never did yeeld thus far to private men who should come to apprehend me in my
and as it were Catholique Dominion was given to the Assyrians and Babylonians the next to the Medes and Persians The third to the Macedonians or Grecians The fourth to the Romans These four successively each in their times according to the All-wise appointment of the will of God were Lords of the world Dan. 2. Dan. 7. Dan. 11. The people of God were not free from these yokes of bondage as you have read already in the former Section Prop. or Obser 3. The Roman Monarchy the last of the four Kingdoms or Beasts as the Spirit of God doth expresly call them was at its full growth or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 about the time of the birth of the Prince of the Kings of the earth Numb 24.17 just at the Meridian of the Roman glory did the Star of Jacob arise and shine but with a very dim light to the sight of the world for yet he had not manifested forth his glory as afterward he did Joh. 2.11 This is plain as from other Histories so from Luk. 2.7 first verses Where all the world you find was to be taxed by the Decree of Augustus Caesar who now was in peaceable possession of the Roman Empire Anthony and Lepidus being overcome The Kingdom of Heaven it seems which shall break in peeces all these Kingdoms was designed to be set up at that instant conjuncture of time when this Monarchy was grown to its full perfection But more of this in due time and place if the Lord so please Prop. or Obser 4. This fourth Beast both killed the Lord Jesus and Millions and Myriards of his Discipes for the first 300 years after Christ as the Ecclesiastical Story of the Ten first Persecutions doth at large declare In process of time after various forms and shapes assumed as in Rev. 17.10 He appears at length with seven Heads and ten Horns and upon his Horns ten Crowns c. Rev. 13.2 3. To this Beast there described the Dragon gives his Power or Host his Throne and great Authority and so prosecutes on the behalf of the Dragon the old trade of deceiving the Nations and persecuting the Saints of the most High especially he falls upon those in every age who are zealous contenders for the present truth of every age Rev. 11. Rev. 13. Rev. 17. Prop. or Obser 5. These North-west Nations are undoubtedly some of those ten Horns which have given their power and strength to the Beast to make war with the Lamb and his followers And the evidence of Prophecy and History is so strong in this particular that all the Protestant Interpreters whom I have conversed with do agree in this Truth That the Race of Kings in this Island have together with the other Kings of Europe agreed and given their Kingdom to the Beast Rev. 17.13 and whether it be wholly taken from him again I mean in this Nation to this day is worthy a grave and serious examination Prop. or Obser 6. Now more particularly King Charls was within the compass of these Prophecies for he was not for the setting up of the Kingdom of Christ No not so much as in appearance or pretence much less in heart The spirit of the fourth Beast was plainly to be discerned in him by those who were wise and had their spiritual senses at their right hand For the wise shall understand faith Daniel but none of the wicked shall understand Dan. 12. But observe carefully that which followeth Prop. or Obser 7. This King Charles was fourteen or fifteen years since acknowledged an Higher Power in these Nations being in quiet possession of the best Title to Govern and to Rule the people of any other But the Decrees of the most High for this age being to take place he was necessitated to call a Parlament and to give it an existence in conjunction with the free people of the Nation they being the two legal efficient causes thereof So here was another Higher Power in being sent by him and the people as the Apostle distinguisheth the Powers according to the known Law of the Land This we have heard and seen and it was and is still marvellous in our eyes Prop. or Obser 8. This second Higher Power as I express it did contend with him who helped to make them a Power and to give them their lawful existence in that capacity This power after many bloody conflicts by their Forces did take away his Dominion to consume and to destroy it to the end then there was we thought an end of Kingship and this second Power declared themselves the Supreme Authority of the Nation changing the Government from the notion of King and Kingdom into that of a Commonwealth This was a great and wonderfull work of God which we are to consider with great regard Prop. or Obser 9. This Higher Power now supreme had impowred and Authorized after the Essexian Army was not found a fit Instrument for the work the new modeld Army and so they became a second higher Power in the Nation also sent by the Parlament as the Parlament was sent by the King and People But yet and for a good space they were and they acted as subordinate to the Supreme Civil Authority Nevertheless in process of time after most admirable Vicissitudes this military subordinate higher Power did take away the Parlaments Dominion to confume and to destroy it to the end I say they pluckt up the supreme Power so owned by themselves by the very roots even as they had eradicated Monarchy and damned it for ever as much as in them lay Prop. or Obser 10. Hereupon no Antient Legal Civil higher Power or supreme Authority was in being And that there might be a total destruction or dissolution of the old Fabrick to the foundation yea of the foundation and all The Souldiers took upon them to set up an Assembly somewhat like a Parlament which by major Vote called themselves by that name but how improperly not to say ridiculously let Law and Custom speak for neither King nor people did put forth any causal vertue towards their production as by Law they ought But to be short the Souldiery quickly pulled them down again like King Charles who by his Prerogative when the Parlament had no mind to humor his lusts would dissolve them at his pleasure Thus you by this time do not onely understand that they are supreme as I assert but you see quibus viis modis by what waies and means they are gotten into the Throne Now can any Christian nay can any rational Creature find fault with me for observing these wondrous works of the great Jehovah Can they find in their hearts to be angry with me for calling aloud to all the Saints and others too if they had ears to hear in Davids words Come behold the works of the Lord what desolations he hath made in the earth Psal 46.8 and as he cries out Psal 66.57 Come and see the works of God he hath been terrible
redeem them it being one of the last matters which he gave them in charge before his Ascension viz. Mat. 28 20. to teach all his Disciples to observe all things whatsoever he commanded for all power in heaven and earth was given to him and they were not to be Moses his Disciples henceforward in any thing and so came off from the Government of the Jewish Commonwealth Accordingly when Peter speaks of the Magistrates to the people he calls them their Mogistrates YOUR RULERS saith Peter he doth not say our Rulers Act. 3.17 again when he was with John convented before Authority this is his language Ye RULERS OF THE PEOPLE and Elders of Israel he owned them to be Rulers that is of the people but called them not at any time by any such title as might signifie that they were over them that is the Church as before when as yet they were of the world for then indeed they must own them as their Rulers for they had no others to rule them except the Souldiers And upon this consideration of their being under the government of Christ they did no longer mind what Rulers were set up in the world by the men of the world those who were Saints by Calling undoubtedly had no heart to busie themselves about the choice of a Roman Emperor though Citizens of Rome as Paul was but let the Army set up whom they pleased and pull down whom they would it was all one to them And as for the Senate of the children of Israel Act. 5.22 as we read it they had little cause to choose any members for that Parliament they being looked upon as a company of Sectaries or Separatists and so were of another Company Communion and Commonwealth And so in like manner Paul draws the Saints at Corinth from the Courts of those higher powers to compose and determine all controversies among themselves for they had better Laws and might have better Rulers of their own than any the world had and then what need they seek any further 1 Cor. 6. the beginning of the Chap. So that for my part if I were at liberty I should be as far from medling in the choice of Knights and Burgesses under the present Sword-Sovereignty or any other as from medling in the choice of Arch-bishops or Bishops as they were then called or of Arch-tryers or Tryers as they may be now called and why should not others be of my mind who have any knowledge of God and his wonderful works in these dayes and so never chuse any more Magistrates till Christ and his Laws and Government come to take place in the Nations It is a most incongruous course which some Christians have taken since the Lord pulled all in peeces namely the late Powers to pray for the setting up of the Kingdome of Christ in the world and neverthelesse joyn with those who pull down or prevent that which they seem to pray for But let all the Saints and faithful Brethren in Christ throughout this Nation take heed they do more so much as touch with the Fourth Kingdome now that the Lord is about to take away its Deminion to consume it utterly and to destroy it to the end Thus I have endeavored to represent at large my apprehensions concerning the Powers in being and I am fully perswaded that my Principles if improved according to their natural tendency would make notable work among the Kings of the Earth and their under Officers Oh how would that word of the Lord be fulfilled in Jer. 51. Jer. 51.58 The people would labor in vain towards the intended settlement and the felk should work in the fire to cause the Iron and Clay to soder and to incorporate and yet do no good upon it but be wearied out Babylon and her Princes her Captains and her rich men her States-men and her mighty men would be tired out with anguish and vexation of spirit if the Spirit of the Lord would vouchsafe to assist us in doing and in suffering according to the Will of God in this day Nevertheless I am affraid I shall not be understood by some in these things although I have endeavored to make out my thoughts with all the plainness I could wherefore I will recollect all in a few words by the way of distinguishing one thing from another Thus 1 It is one thing to own the Higher Powers according to God and his directions in the Word of Truth and Rigtheousness and it is another thing to own them in such a manner and to such degrees as they themselves desire and lust after The former way I walk in the latter I shall never be found in by the grace of my God and Father 2 It is one thing to own them as Powers and another thing to own them as lawful and righteous Powers the first we must needs do for they have Dominion over our bodies and over our substance by their Swords at their pleasure but to own them as having a right either by the Law of God or Man thus to Rule over us I absolutely and utterly refuse 3 Again It is one thing to own them and to acknowledge them as the Rulers of the people when they have universally accepted of their iron yokes and another thing to own and acknowledge them to be our Governors who never did nor do ever intend to chuse or accept them according to that new Instrument of servitude published to the Nations 4 It is one thing to own the Higher Powers so as not to resist them by force when they do that which is in it self lawful and right though they have no lawful Authority and it is another thing to own them in their oppressions persecutions all their unrighteous Decrees and tyrannical practises according to the first part of the distinction particular persons in their private capacities have forborn to interrupt them but as for he other part none but base Sycophants and their fellow Tyrants will therein testify their owning of them 5 It is one thing to own the worldly and tyrannical Powers in the way of necessary subjection and another to own them out of choyce and voluntary Approbation The former Christ and his Disciples have practised but as for the other none but ignorant Slaves have yeelded to it By these distinctions and such like it may easily I conceive be understood wherein and in what respects I own the Powers in being and in what respects I neither do nor ever shall own them the Lord continuing to be merciful unto his unworthy servant And as for the Power of the Army which I accounted the Supreme or the highest and strongest is these Islands I do still adhere to my former apprehensions that it is so and that they and their partakers have done and may do while their time lasteth many things in their own nature just and good yea good and profitable to mankind as the suppressing and punishing of Theeves and Murtherers c. And in
readers observe the emphasis for the Jewish Powers were apt to put it off to Pilate for he condemned him and crucifying was not the Jewish manner of execution of Malefactors besides they had not power of life and death for the Romans had reserved that to themselves as a peculiar character of the supreme Power and of their absolute Sovereignty yet Peter chargeth the High Priest and the Council with the murthering of Christ you may observe how near this accusation went Act. 5.33 for the Text saith Vpon the hearing of this they were cut to the heart and took counsel to slay them But now according to the principles and speeches of many wise English-men Peter and John might be thought not to use so much subtilty and discretion in the presence of the Rulers whereby they might have kept out of prison at leastwise out of danger of death for were not they Ministers of the Gospel What need they have spoken such words as must needs provoke the Higher Powers especially after they had born their Testimony once and again they might have forborn for the future seeing no good came of it we in this age have found out a better way of preaching for we know how to order things so as that if we preach never so often before the Higher powers guilty of very grosse wickedness as the word of God and our consciences tell us yet we will not cut them to the heart as Peter and John and Stephen did we will preach the Gospel The Truth is I fear this will appear a real truth when all secret things come to be revealed but as for thousands of the English Parsons and Vicars and Curates and State-Lecturers or Augmentation-men I am far from doubting of their compliance with any Powers which get the uppermost it s no matter how or which way instead of appearing for the present work and truth of Christ against the present Rulers they appear for the present profit of their several and respective Benefices and therefore we must not expect they should be followers of the Apostles as they followed Christ in bearing witness against the wickedness of great and small without respect of persons Object But yet again there are others who come with another ridiculous Objection in this manner Although it be a truth that the Ministers of Christ the Prophets and Apostles c. were very zealous against the Higher powers because of their abominations yet what they spake was to their faces and not behind their backs as all the Instances given by you do declare they did not disgrace or arraign them as it were at the Bar of the Vulgar as you do and your Fellow-sufferers this comes from some who do not well know what to say with reason Answ 1. For answer to this The Higher Powers are seldome found to send for plain-dealing Preachers to pray or prophesie in their Chapels or if it happen that they hear them once it s very improbable that they shall be sent for a second time and then how should the servants of the Lord declare the Lords Message in their hearing Answ 2. We have Instances from the Prophets and Apostles in this particular also Amos prophesied the destruction of Jeroboam while he himself was absent for it may be the King and his Courtiers would not hear Amos who was but a Herds-man and a Gatherer of Sycomore-fruit yet it was a testimony against them though they were absent whom it most concerned so that we Prisoners are not the first who have declared approaching destruction to the Higher Powers in their absence Moreover Christ called Herod a Fox or that Fox and Paul called Caesar Lion behind their backs And why do not our angry Brethren say they might have forborn such kind of language they not being present at least they should not have called the two Highest Powers among Jews and Gentiles by the reproachful names of two wild Bâ—asts and those too such Beasts of prey And why do they not find fault with Peter and John with Paul and Barnabas who in their Sermons to the people had no more good manners than openly to declare the Higher Powers guilty of Murther and the worse kind of Murther and this behind their backs and that in the presence of Thousands See Acts 3.17 and Acts 13.27 28. There Paul chargeth them in another Country and amplifieth the matter against them But further in their prayers to God they named Herod and Pontius Pilate in relating their wicked combination against the life of Christ And I know no reason why we may not pray and preach after that manner as the first Christians did who I am sure were more full of the Holy Spirit then any of us They were bold and resolute and whether the Higher Powers were absent or present it was alike â—o them Certainly open Murther and open Hypocrisie and Apostacy and Perjury and Treason against the King of Glory must be openly and publickly witnessed against before God Angels and all the world Shall the Rulers be so bold as to commit open abominations before all the people and shall not the Ministers of Christ who are called thereto be as bold and declare as openly against those abominations and that before all the people whether the guilty ones be in the hearing or not God forbid that we should forbear to bear our publick Testimony against publick wickednesse Object But others who understand themselves better than the former sort of fault-finders have a greater charge than those before mentioned for say they We may upon occasion declare openly against those who so sin without respect of persons whether they are present or absent but what have we who are ministers of Christ to do to intermeddle in State-matters or State-Affairs the compass of their Commission will not warrant them to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bishops in another mans Diocess or Province The whole work of a Minister of the Gospel is reduceable to two heads To bring Souls in to Christ and to build them up in Christ and whatsoever is besides this is beside the Cushion Many other words there are and may be excogitated to represent it as a very odious matter for Ministers to meddle in State-Affairs Cannot they be content if they have liberty to preach the Gospel and if they would keep to that and leave the Government of the Nations to be managed by the Higher Powers they need not be apprehended imprisoned c. as they are so that they may thank themselves With much more such stuff as this Answ I perceive plainly that these kinds of Preachings and Discoursings have such a plausible veri-similitude that they are beleeved by many honest hearts to be as true as Gospel namely That those Ministers are to be blamed as too pragmatical who insist upon such points and very worthy to taste and feel the coercive power of the Civil Magistrate insomuch that we are under a very great disadvantage for the present But
yet I hope we may be heard to speak for our selves and to plead our Cause from Scripture and from Principles of right Reason and otherwise Wherefore let the Question be stated thus WHETHER AND HOW FAR A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL MAY INTERMEDDLE IN STATE AFFAIRS WITHOVT SIN Before I come to argue and urge the truth in this probleme it will be needful and useful to explicate the terms of the Question in this insuing order First What is meant by STATE-AFFAIRS or matters of State Secondly What is the force and signification of that word meddle or INTERMEDDLE Thirdly Who is to be accounted a MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL For the first State-Affairs or matters which concern the State are as I conceive among us to be considered in contradistinction to Church-affairs or matters which concern the Church For that distinction of Church and State being received and kept up as proper to those parts of the world where there is a Church-State either really or in pretence it will give us light in this controversie But besides this that distinction of Jehosaphat will help us to understand this matter more fully in the 2 Chron. 19. last verse the Matters of the Lord or of Jehovah and the Matters of the King the Septuagint reads it thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tremelius thus In omninegotio Domini in omni negotio Regio so that the Matters Business and Affairs of Jehovahs are set by themselves and the Business and Affairs of the King are put by themselves in a distinction from the other Moreover the usual phrase in the New Testament helps us where it is said That you may know my Affairs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That I may know your Affairs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So 1 Cor. 7.32 The unmarried careth for the Things or Matters of the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But the married for the Things or Affairs of the World 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Things the Apostle though it be a circumlocution in the translation calleth by one word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. Things that pertain to this life in distinction from the Things of a better life So that upon the whole we must agree to understand by that phrase State-Affairs those Things or Matters which do properly and directly appertain to the Civil Magistrate to take care and cognizance of and to manage and order for the outward good and welfare of the people as Wars Peace Laws Customs Taxes c. The second Term to intermeddle is or may be taken in a bad sense as first to intrude Col. 2.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into those things that belong not to us for a man to thrust himself into business sese ingerere as Beza renders it It is true a man may have skil to manage such and such Affairs but to interpose having no call thereunto he may be justly accounted a meddlesom pragmatical man a busie forward Companion in such a case and one to whom we use to say upbraidingly you may meddle with your own matters or with your own business The Greeks do give this kind of carriage a fit word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a busying ones self about many affairs which yet do not any way concern us and indeed such a spirit is very unbecoming a Minister of the Gospel Secondly It is the property of others out of an overweening conceit of their own dexterity and skilfulness to undertake to meddle with great matters or things too high for them or too wonderful as David speaks Psal 131.1 of such also the Apostle Paul doth write 1 Tim. 1.7 They will needs be Teachers of the Law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and yet neither understand what they say nor whereof they affirm Surely it was vain-glory which put them upon such practices Salomon gives this as one character of a fool Prov. 20.3 It is an honor for a man to cease from strife but every foot will be meddling Moreover Thirdly some there are who by reason of their natural temper are found to be very much addicted to meddle with all matters and yet good men It is not so much from vain-glory it is not so much from self conceit of their fitness to interpose in divers businesses but they have a kind of Desultory Genius which would be ever and anon leaping from one thing to another they have an inward longing to be doing to be meddling like as some men who having itching ears do heap unto themselves Teachers as the Spirit speaks 2 Tim. 4.3 so these are troubled as it were with itching fingers their fingers itch to be meddling to be doing undoubtedly this is a lust to be mortified We describe such men when we say proverbially They live to have an Oar in every mans Boat or in another mans Boat Solomon also intimates such a spirit in Prov. 26.17 He that passeth by and meddleth with strife belonging not to him is like one that taketh a dog by the eares If he do but pass by and that upon other business it may be serious business yet his nature is such if there be any occasion he will be ready to intermingle himself in the Contention But I take not the Word in this sense For this troublesome corruption in a Minister or other Christian is to be watched and prayed against See 1 Thes 4.10 11. We beseech you saith he and that ye study to be quiet and TO DO YOVR OWN BVSINESS Yea Plato said almost in the same words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For a man to do his own business and not to be a Poly-pragmatist or not to meddle in other mens matters is one part of Justice Thus I grant that it may be sinful to intermeddle in some cases as you have seen in these three last particulars But yet to meddle or intermeddle is an act which may be taken in a good sense It is lawfull yea a duty to intermeddle at some seasons and upon some occasions for God and good men may agree to give a man a call and skill to do those things which ordinarily he may not meddle withall Thus Phineas stood up and executed judgement It was far from Phineas his Office to be an Executioner yet he engageth at this time out of his zeal to Justice and against most horrible wickedness Psal 106.30 31. compared with Numb 25.7 this sudden act so much out of the way of his calling is counted to him for righteousness yea to all generations for evermore Likewise Peter the Fisher-man and Fisher of men had used to preach more than to fight for he carried neither Sword nor Staff about with him when Christ sent him forth as a Lamb among Wolves Yet at a certain season afterward he so far intermeddled with State-Affairs as that he cut and slasht till one of the STATES OFFICERS had lost one of his ears he being in the number of those who came to apprehend his Master It s true his Office