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
house or otherwhere I were bound to stand upon my guard in such a case as men do every day against Theeves and Robbers c. 3 I am subject to them also for wraths sake partly and partly for conscience sake in point of Taxes I would refist others who should demand any part of that wherewith the Lord hath blessed me by inheritance or otherwise neverthelesse I would be very glad to live under a Power that would not be a Raiser of Taxes and hope to see Judges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning Isa 1.26 before I dye 4 I give honor where it is due I understanding it to be due but when persons are not known how can it bee known what is their due or what respect belongs unto them and I conceive this is an owning of Powers likewise 5 I am willing also to be afraid of the Powers if I am found to be an evill doer hereafter and this made out to me by the word of God And what is due to others of the children of men I desire to give or render to them according as is meet for I would owe no man any thing but love and the Lord help and quickenâ—es all up to love to love the Lord and to love all the Saints yea the Lord make his people to increase and abound in love one toward another and towards All Men as it is written 1 Thess 3.12 Before I pass to the next Section it seemeth requisite that somewhat from the Scripture should be spoken concerning the time of the end of those Yokes of Bondage whereby the best people have been oppressed by the Kings of the Earth from King Saulâ— time unto this day For it is very probable that the intelligent Reader doth remember that I hinted such a poynt in the Introduction to this Historical Epitome of those Burthens whereof I have been speaking Quest Saying What hope is there of an end of these burthens But when shall the Lords people be a free people when shall the Oppressor cease when shall the Extortioner be hindred from taking of our Substance we had thought this New Model would have continued as they begun to be our Deliverers from Monarchical and other Tyranny but we have learned Every man is a lie and lighter than vanity Psal 62 9. and therefore we will no longer relie upon an arm of flesh What doth God the Lord speak to his people in this matter c. Answ 1. It is apparent and plain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Buâ—chered or slâ—ughtered so the word â—igâ—ifieâ—h Jugulo to cut the throat as Butchers do with sheep Rom. 8. â—7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We are counted as sheep for the slaughter-house The Roman Empire was like a slaughter house the first 300 years Ezra 9.8 that as the souls of the Saints slain in former ages for the Word of God and for the Testimony which they held do continue to cry HOW LONG O LORD HOLY AND TRVE so the living Saints who also are lively and sensible of the present persecutions and imprisonments of their Brethren do Eccho to the voyce of those who have died in the Lord and for the Lord HOW LONG O LORD HOLY AND TRVE 2. But then consider that as it was with the godly Jews upon their return from their captivity in Babylon so it is with us who but a few years ago came out of Babylon in part and but in part And Ezra's words will wel express our present state or at least as it was some few years since For a little space or for a moment grace hath been shewed us from the Lord our God to leave us a remnant to escape and to give us a nail in his holy place that our God may lighten our eies and give us a LITTLE REVIVING IN OVR BONDAGE For we were Bond-men yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the Kings of Persia to give us a REVIVING to set up the house of our God and to repair the desolations thereof and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem Yet afterward this fair first-fruits of redemption was blasted for in the first of Nebemiah a bitter complaint is brought which may answer our condition likewise The remnant that are left of the captivity are in great affliction and reproach Nehem. 1.3 the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down and the gates thereof are burnt with fire Thus you see their little reviving from their bondage and OVR LITTLE REVIVING FROM OVR BONDAGE comes afterward to be extinguished in reference to Church-work the Temple-work could not go forward the walls and gates being broken down and burnt with fire and this is our complaint also And as for our outward Liberties and Estates Nehem. 9.37 Nehem. 10.28 The Kings have Dominion over our Bodies and over our Cattle AT THEIR PLEASVRE and we are in great distress as were those Jews at that time Namely such as had separated themselves from the people of the Lands unto the Law of God Observe that description they separated themselves c. and so let the Disciples of Christ do at this day unto the LAW OF THEIR GOD ALSO for this is expected from them by the Lord. The consideration of this NEW UNEXPECTED TYRANNY under which we groan doth cause many poor hearts to fear our deliverance is not near and the rather they fear it because the famous NEW MODEL with whom the Lord was so eminently when they were about his work are so exceedingly degenerated that they have espoused the old quarrel and the old interest under the ill-favored disguise of another kind of Kingship which yet is not another but the same in principle in spirit and in operation Answ 3. Wherefore do you indeed desire to know whether or no the Lord will shortly turn again the captivity of Sion Psal 126.1.4 as the streams in the South would you in good earnest have skill and understanding in this matter Then in the next place take my Brethren the Prophets for an example particularly the Prophet Daniel Dan. 9 2. See 1 Per 1.11 Searching whâ—â— or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did sigu fie when it restified before-hand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow Rev. 17.17 who understood by Books the number of the years when the desolation of Jerusalem of holy Jerusalem should have an end The Teachers of the people are exceedingly to blame that they do not fore-warn the people to come out of Babylon and engage against the Kings of the Earth with all their might But what do I mean to charm the deaf Adder it is not for their interest to discover the nakednâ—ss of the searlet Whore much less to exhort the people to strip her naked and make her desolate that she and her lovers the ten Horns or Kings may no longer oppress the
or upon some such profound Reasons of carnal State-policy Secondly As for their Countenance and Maintenance for my part I look upon both the one and the other as two of the sorest and most dangerous snares wherein Ministers can possibly be caught in these dayes For is it probable or indeed possible for any One of the whole Generation of the Parsons and Vicars in the Reformed Churches of Europe or for the Nurseries and Seminaries of them The several Universities in the Respective Nations which did alwayes and do to this Day All depend upon the Bounty Munificence and Good will of the serveral Higher Powers I say again How can it be that these or such like creatures of mans making should turn head upon their good Lords or bountiful Benefactors and so to bear an high Testimony for the Lord Jesus against the Oppressions Luxuries superstitions and other Abominations of the Princes of the world aforesaid It is not to be imagined or expected For do rational Men look for grapes from Thorns or for figs from Thistles They were not of Gods planting and how can they bring forth fruit unto God But if at any time the Lord himself by his own Spirit working in any one of them mightily do call them forth as he did Paul Luther and such like to bear his name before the Kings of the earth they must cast up their Reckoning with Paul c. and come to this conclusion even to count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus their Lord for whom and whose service they will then willingly count their Benefices and promotions Ecclesiastical as they call them their Vice-chancellorships their Headships their Deaneries their Fellowships their University-Degrees their Augmentations but Dross and Dung that they may promote the work and honor of their Lord. For indeed this is the kindly Operation of the true knowledge of Christ And what Parish-Preacher soever he be who intends to be Christs Disciple in good earnest during the time of the Dominion of the little Horn and to follow him close so as to serve him with a perfect heart He must necessarily deny himself and forsake his House and Glebe Lands his Tythes and rates for Tythes whether personal or predial his State-salary or Augmentation or any other of the fine Things aforesaid for otherwise he cannot boldly bear up the Testimony of Jesus nor declare against the Babylonish Beast and the Ten Horns in all those things wherein they are guilty of High Treason against the Lord Jesus Christ his Crown and Dignity But if men will pretend to be for Christ and yet are so wise as to invent and contrive how to prevent sufferings for his sake let them stay behind and keep company with the world the world-like Church and the carnal Clergy yea let them do as the most do and then the fewest will laugh them to scorn But it may be said to me Although you are so malapert and so bold to throw dirt in the faces of so many Reverend Deans Doctors Divines Vice-chancellors with others of the worshipful Clergy and Orthodox Ministers in all the Protestant Courts Cities and countries in these parts of the world yet it is not much to be regarded what a prating fool doth speak besides Solomon saith A prating fool shall fall To this I reply They will do me manifest wrong whosoever shall say that I throw dirt in the faces of these men for the Truth is this They have besmeared their own faces with groveling upon the Dunghil of the filthy Antichristian world or else they have contracted Dirt for want of washing and cleansing their faces and their hands And I do but tell them where the dirt is and where the filth sticks upon them so as that they are and appear very Deformed by reason thereof And if you call me and my fellows prating fools for shewing you where the spots of Dirt are to be found we will be more vile and we will by the grace of God proceed and go on to play the fools for Christs sake and that till either you turn your backs and depart with shame or until you are perswaded to look into the glorious glass of the New Testament and compare our words with what you finde there represented to you for we will not be out-faced by you in this matter upon any terms But put the case we are such fools as you and your Patrons say and that we talk much more then our share comes to methinks you should suffer fools gladly seeing you your selves are so wise And what were it for some of you to perswade your Lord Protector to let out of prison two or three or a few fools to make sport for the wise men at the Court Certainly we being such simple and contemptible Ignoramusses could not prejudice so many wise men in any thing we could do or say Thus I have indeavoured to answer those objections and to speak something to those reproachful Cavils which are heard by many to proceed out of the mouths of Those who use to appear like the friends of Christ in a Sun-shine Day but to leave him when Tribulations or Persecutions arise because of the word As for the truth though it cannot be defended by us silly weak worms as the Lord knows we are yet the God of Truth will lift up the Banner of Truth and it shall be displayed in such glory at the length that all Nations shall flow unto it The latter part of this Section needs no Explanation for Res ipsa loquitur The Thing it self speaketh and speaketh aloud so that it is heard through the Nation viz. that the Carnal Clergy have no heart to declare or pray or confess according to the present exigences of the cause of our dear Redeemer But the Counsel of our Lord is plain Let them alone they are blind Leaders of the Blind and both shall fall into the Ditch And this shall suffice for this matter untill a better Oportunity Sect. 6 and 7. I need not spend time to satisfie any Readers concerning the contents thereof for they are themselves explanations of what went before Onely concerning the later part of the seventh I shall wait for such a season as the Lord by his wise providence shall administer for the best advantage of his service For for the present I do not finde my spirit free to increase this Treatise to a greater Bulk and price and I designed onely an explication of the first part in regard none else needed an Interpreter Sect. 8 and 9. The ensuing Epistle which I spake of in the first Section being obtained That will sufficiently enlighten the Reader in the understanding what I intend in those Things namely in the matter of application for my enlargment and how far it is from my very thoughts to accept of Deliverance upon base and Dishonourable Terms at any time In regard I know assuredly without any degree of doubting that I am sensible
of that this Cause wherein I am engaged with my fellows and companions is absolutely and unquestionably the Best and most Honorable Cause of all Causes whatsoever agitated and disputed at this day in all the world Wherefore I will now add no more but this He that believeth maketh not haste shall never be confounded And Christ is precious to them which Believe even in a Prison in a Dungeon upon the Scaffold upon the Cross anywhere every-where to that MOST PRECIOUS ANOYNTED ONE be Honour Glory and Dominion now and for ever And let all that love him in sincerity say Amen in full assurance of faith and hope even in the presence of all Opposition whatsoever Amen and Amen The End Here followeth an extract of that Letter to the Congregation which did immediately precede that Epistle which being so unworthily used did occasion such a noise among the foes and friends of Jesus Christ our Lord and which is now explained as you have read The Imprisoned Elder A Servant of the Lord Jesus from his Watch-Tower in this House of Bondage sendeth greeting to the Brethren which meet together in Warwick Lane London Well-beloved Brethren in our dearest Lord I Desire earnestly on your behalf all and all maner of Communications of Grace from Heaven whereby you may in all Things grow up into him who is the Head even unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ For undoubtedly you having received the Lord Jesus as a PRINCE and a SAVIOUR in the light and power of the glorious Ministration of the New Testament cannot but acknowledge that all your Happiness is derived from the love of the Father through him in whom dwells the fulness of the Godhead Bodily c. Now concerning the Things whereof you wrote unto me in your late Letter This I say and testifie in the Lord for a further Confirmation of the Truth mentioned by you and for the Encouragement of such honest Hearts who through faith and patience are in the number of those which wait for the kingdom of Heaven and for the Consolation of the true Israel for which I am bound with this Chain That although my Name be cast out as vile I am separated by the New-fashion'd King and his Council from the society of the Saints in which through mercy I so much delighted yet I bear record before this Congregation to the praise of the Lord that it is the best condition that I ever tasted of and enjoyed onely one sharp Thorn which I cannot forget hath been made use of to keep my spirit in a Gospel-decorum lest otherwise I might have been lifted up above measure through that abundance of ravishing glory which I have been ready very often to be overwhelmed withal And yet let the Saints take diligent Heed that they do not expect much from me when I am delivered for it may be Brethren These extraordinary visitations from on High are intended but for my Prison-state and for my succour and support while I am thus suffering from all sorts of men I have indeed desired earnestly that the Spirit of Christ may according to his Office and our Lords promise bring to my remembrance what the Lord hath spoken to me since I was Close-Prisoner and what I have seen and tasted and heard and handled of the word of life for I cannot write it down though I attempt it Therefore I beseech you let there be prayer made on my behalf and on your behalf which is more on the Lords behalf that God would open to me a Door of Utterance from that very moment he sets open the Prison-doors to speak forth that mystery of Christ for which I am in bonds and that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak And whereas you expect I should offer or propound A way to you that may be conducible to my Inlargement I desire you to understand that it was never in my Heart to direct you what to do for the obtaining of my Liberty for it is contrary to that light and those principles whereby I walk in this condition My Judgement is if there be not Light and Love and Courage enough in a Church of Saints to prompt them to the use of Lawful and Honorable Means for the Redemption of their Officer out of Captivity it is Best for him still to lie in Bonds for it concerns them above all other people to endeavour his deliverance out of the House of Bondage if they Judge his presence needful and useful in the midst of them Also in Answer to that Marginal Note in your Epistle I shall be plain with you It is no way proper for me to appear for the obtaining of my own Liberty in a private way and rather then do it I shall through the strength of Christ be contented to suffer Close-Imprisonment in this blessed Cause during this mans reign although it should last as long as Athaliah's who usurped the Chief Government for about the space of twice three yeers and an half It is true my sufferings are many and great and there is a multiplication of Grievances and Injuries every day and hour of the day And as the Chief Captain said with a Great sum would I obtain my freedom if I were imprisoned upon a Common Account but as the Case stands I say again I shall not give place by subjection for a moment or do Any thing more or less that is unworthy of me the Prisoner of the Lord in such a precious Cause as This the Lord standing by me and fully strengthening me for all the treasures and riches of the New Court and of all the Kingdoms of the Earth in to the Bargain And Brethren I have reason for what I write in this particular for first the Lord was with me in a most sweet and glorious manner while I preached those Truths for which I suffer His presence was also with me most Comfortably from the first moment I was apprehended by the Pursevant till I was committed hither And all this time of my long and wrongful Imprisonment he hath not left me nor forsaken me in the least praised for ever be his glorious Name And should I leave and forsake such a Lord Protector and such a Comforter by any base Compliance with the Kings of the Earth and their Parasites would not that Spirit be grieved by which I am sealed to the day of Redemption should not the Name of the Lord be blasphemed and the faces of the Choicest followers of the Lambe gather paleness and shame surely these Considerations are prevalent with me And in this further I much rejoyce that I can do nothing against the Truth but for the Truth Besides the former grounds of not stirring or moving for mine own liberty in the ordinary way I finde not upon search that those servants of the Lord who were Prisoners and Innocent did ever petition or use other ordinary means to the Chief Governours for their own Liberty Joseph did not Hanani did not Jeremiah did not nor John the Baptist nor Peter nor Paul that I can finde And surely there is very good reason for it if we could search it out I conceive these which follow may be given as some grounds of it 1. Innocent Prisoners suffering as they did whom I have mentioned know they have to deal with Tyrants and unreasonable Persecutors and what will such as these hearken to unless the Prisoners do submit to their lusts and satisfie their arbitrary wills and pleasures 2. They glorified God all the while they were suffering Bonds and Imprisonments The service of their Master was promoted all that time and being in Gods way why should they covet to go out of so good an Imployment 3. The Prisoners and Martyrs of the New Testament follow the example of Christ and tread in his steps when they patiently indure persecution for the Truths and Righteousness sake without making unworthy applications for their liberty 4. If it becomes us not to use the means and devices of the world to prevent Imprisonment but cheerfully to come when we are sent for before Kings and Councels for Christs sake and his Gospels how unseemly would it appear for us after a short time to use means to get out again after the manner of other men who are in bonds upon other Accounts I shall proceed upon the other part of your Letter the next week if God permit and in the mean season I beseech you and exhort you in the Lord See that you walk circumspectly as it is written not as fools but as wise redeeming the time because the dayes in one sence are very evil Wherefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is Prayer and Praise is to be continued for The 7 day of the 8 month 1654. Yours in Christ CHR. FEAKE FINIS
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
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
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
or for the doing of such things I do not find any honest man rising up against them but this will not signifie in the least any such thing as an approving of them to be lawfull Powers as I have shewed before and as it may be further instanced in their Predecessors who though they did many excellent things in their day yet because they miscarried in other respects the Lord did find them out and took a convenient time to lay their honor and power in the dust Let this suffice at present for I must now dispatch this Section There is one Objection onely which possibly may lie upon the spirits of some choyce servants of the Lord and this it is Object Although Christ and his Disciples did submit to the Higher Powers in their day yet it doth not seem to be a pattern for us upon whom the ends of the world are come For first We have resisted the Powers in our day and are blameless in the account of the most judicious Teachers which are among us And Secondly If we should submit as they in the primitive times how could vengeance be executed upon Babylon and her Adherents the Kings of the earth according to the Prophecies in the Word Ans 1. I grant it is most true there is ground to expect a time when we shall no more be subject to the Fourth Beast and his little Horn which time you must think those who suffer in all Countries under Papal and Regal Tyranny do long after but till that time you see that the two witnesses do suffer under the prevailing power of their Adversaries Ans 2. But for satisfaction of those who have not considered the matter viz. the different estate of the Saints in different times It is to be remembred and well observed That Jeremy in the beginning of their captivity did by the word of the Lord direct the Jews to seek the peace of the City whither he had caused them to be carried away captives and to pray unto the Lord for it Jer. 29.7 for in the peace thereof shall yee have peace Jer. 29.7 But now if you turn to Psal 137.8 9. you shall find there was a time to come when the Jews should be contrary minded to that passage before mentioned saying Oh Daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones You see what different language and carriage here is in reference to the same City and Power at different seasons yea Jeremy himself who sent word that they should pray for Babylon as you have heard at the beginning of the seventy years sent another message contrary to it not long after I will fix but upon one passage or two Jer. 51.33 It is time to thresh Babylon saith the Lord and the time of her harvest shall come Again vers 35. The violence done unto me and unto my flesh be upon Babylon shall the Inhabitant of Zion say and my blood be upon the Inhabitants of Caldea shall Jerusalem say Here is very differing language from the former message this cannot be praying for the City it is no less than cursing of Babylon as you plainly see Even thus it is with the true Israelites of the New Testament-times when they were first of all persecuted by the Roman Power they could not prophecy nor pray for the ruin of Rome it was not the truth and work of that age and so there was neither light nor spirit for any such enterprize but now it is seasonable in this day and I am perswaded if it were possible for the Apostles to be and to come among the living Saints in this Nation who have not defiled their Garments upon the dunghil of this world nor betrayed the Cause of Christ wherewith they have been intrusted they would incourage them to spend their arrows and not spare against this mystical Babylon they would own that cause and work truth for which we indure so great oppressions and persecution and therefore although I must needs be subject till the time of deliverance come and that deliverance shall come by Instruments annointed of God as Cyrus was yea with a better annointing yet because by a spiritual instinct flowing from that Divine Nature whereof through rich Grace I do partake I do know assuredly that we shall be so far ere it be long from praying for the Powers under the little Horn that we shall reward them as they have rewarded us Therefore I say do I thus speak and thus write and pray with other enlightened and enlivened Saints Pour out the remaining vials of thy wrath upon the PRESENT POWERS of the Earth who will not have Christ to reign over them and let all the followers of the Lamb say Amen Thus I have finished the explanation of the fourth Section of the Epistle with such further manifestation of the truth in this point as for the present I am furnished withall from the word and Spirit of the Lord and therefore I shall pass on to the next SECT V. IN this part I am willing to give an account to those who are dark in this matter Quest How I can justifie my practice of preaching down the Powers in being as my manner was when as my declared Principlet are and have been constantly to own them and therefore not to resist or rise up against them how can these things stand together It seems a Paradox if not an impossible thing in reason that the same man at the same time should both own the Powers and endeavor their destruction Thus no question many will query concerning this matter Answ 1. If it were needful I might easily shew how common a thing it is for two contrary qualities to be in the self-same subject at the same time in divers respects and in different degrees but those School-distinctions are not for the edifying of such kind of inquirers as I intend satisfaction to and therefore I shall first put them in mind of that which is in the Letter and then explain my meaning by particular instances in the word Answ 2. The sum of what I wrote is this That the Prophets Apostles and Martyrs in all ages i. e. since Kings and such like Arbitrary Powers were over the Saints did own the Powers in being in their daies and yet at the self same time they Preached and Prophecied against them for their Abominations and so have I done and will do the Lord assisting according to their examples This is the sum of the Answer in the Letter Now I will endeavor to illustrate that which seems so dark to others I begin with Samuel First He owned Saul as an Higher Power annointed and appointed of God to rule over his people as you find in 1 Sam. 9.17 and 1 Sam. 12.5 in this last Chapter you shall find these words to the people That yee may perceive and see
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