Thirdly these haue each of them bookes and Chartors to declare their minds to their Subjects The Civill State Thirdly all Kings governours haue Bookes statutes and Records wherein are recorded their Lawes Articles Acts of Parliament likewise to Citties and townes Corporated they give Chartors whereby they haue power and preuilidge from their King head in his name and power to instate themselves into divers previledges for their mutuall good The true Ecclesiasticall State Even soe in the next place Ghrist Jesus hath given his lawes vnto Iacob his statutes to Israell his statute Books are the Holie Scripture of the Old and New Testament he is faithfull in all his house as was Moses Heb. 3.2.6 the acts of his last Parliament which hee called for the establishing of his Kingdome when hee was 40. daies with his Disciples giving them lawes through the Holy Ghost even till hee was taken vp into Heaven in their sight as wee may see in Acts. 1. chapt Those bookes called the Acts of the Apostles withall the Epistles and the Revelation in these the Cities and Charters of the new Jerusalem is to be found with the previledges thereunto belonging The False Ecclesiasticall State This smoaky pollitique State of the Crowned Locusts or Roman Clergie Rev. 9.3.7 hath distinct bookes from the other two states that are of God for this State or power hath Bookes of Cannons Counsels bookes of Articles bookes of Ordination of Priests and Deacons with the booke of Homilies and the Booke of Common-prayer and the power and state of this Beast doth more narrowly looke that all be agreeable to these bookes then the other two states doth as is manifest by that strict eye that is had ouer all in every parish not onelie in forraigne Lands but eveu in this our Kingdome of England for they of this Kingdome of Darkenesse are wiser more diligent in their generatioÌ„ theÌ„ the children of light Fourthly by vertue of these Charters these three states make Citties and Corporations according to their proper distinct state power pollitique The Civill State Jn the next place the loyall Subjects of this Regiment vnder their King Head by vertue of these Charters become famous Citties other inferior corporatioÌ„s agreeable to the tenour of their severall Charters that they received from their Head wheÌ„ they received their Charters then by that means they received the State power to become a Citty or Corperation vnder that Head when they haue vnited or incorporated themselvs into a Bodie they are a Citty constituted and this state power they are entered into is their forme and being and nothing else doth distinguish them from their former state and condition but that power and state that is their state wherein they live moue and haue their being pollitiquely The true Ecclesiasticall State In like manner the Subjects of this heavenlie regiment or Kingdome of Christ by power from him their Head doe become visible Churches and bodies incorporated together in his name power Mat. 18. therefore the Church hee left behind him of 120. were of one accord Acts 1. and to them were vnited or joyned 3000. in the next chapt so the saints at Antioch became a body or Church whose constitution or incorporation wee may see to bee a joyning themselves to the Lord Acts. 11.2.23 soe all the Churches of the Saints became bodies pollitique and therefore Gods visible Churches are called Citties or the City of God Psal 46.4 Psal 48.1.2.8 Psal 87.2.3 Therefore the Saints are called Cittizens Ephes 2.19 Inhabitants of the Living God Heb. 12.22 This holy Cittie is troden under foote 42. Moneths Re. 11.2 the time of the Raigne of the Beast Re. 13.5 whose Raigne is just so long this Holy Citty is the new Jerusalem that comes downe from heaven in great glory Rev. 21. the forme or beeing of his divine Citty or spirituall Bodie is the state and power pollitique instituted by Christ and given to his Saints Jude 3. v. Psal 133. and thus under Christ as their King they live moue and haue their being pollitiquelie The False Ecclesiasticall State So the power of Satan the Devil by hath the wisdome of the second Beast or false Prophet not only made to himselfe a great Citty whose power killed Christ Rev. 11.8 Thereby pointing vs to the Roman power that still kills his Saints for this Citty is soe powâ—efull that she Raigns over the Kings of the earth maks them to drinke of the cup of her fornications till they be so drunke thereby that they become her servants Rev. 17.2.18 18.2 And by this false Ecclesiasticall power state there are made lesse Citties called the Citties of the nations oâ— nation Churches are of the same nature Re. 16.9 as Daughters to the whore Mother of fornication of the earth this false great Catholique Church is distributed into nations provinces and into every diocesse and parrish as liuely and apparent as the Civill state is in every parrish and in every House therein soe that they live moue and haue their beeing as Royallie from this Beastlike power as the Saints doe by Christ or subjects under their King this is plaine by the daily troubles the poore saints suffer in every parrish if they worship not as this power commands Fiftly These haue each of them proper and distinct officers belonging to each pollitique State The Civill State In the first place these Cities by vertue of their Chartors injoy their owne officers Mayors Shirrifes Aldermen and other inferiour Officers as their Lord and King hath allotted them and also inferiour corporations according as is granted to them in their Chartor and they that obey these doe well and please God in keeping the first Commandement The true Ecclesiasticall State Likewise the Citty of God by vertue of their chartor haue right to enjoy their owne Bishops ouerseeres or Elders Acts 14.23 and chap 20. Titus 1.5,7 Which are not many yet Wisdome that hath built her house hath found them to be sufficient which are these Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons Widdowes Rom. 12.7.8 Ephe. 4.11.12 Phi. 1.1 1 Tim. and they that obey these and these onely serve Christ and obey God in keeping the 2. and 3. Commandements these only being the officers which God by his Holy Apostles hath set up instituted and placed in his Church to the end of the world therefore in Hearing and obeying these we heare obey Christ that sent them Luke 10.16 Math. 10.40 The false Ecclesiasticall State In like manner hath this whorish City or Citties the False Prophet or Body of false prophets attending upon their forged divises humane administrations which are almost innumirable to reckon froÌ„ the Pope to the parish clark or Paritor whosoever obyes these or any of these breaks the three first CoÌ„mandements for in hearing obeying these they hear obey the Dragon Beast whore that sent them and gaue them their authority and Office that
Perrochiall bodies but this Beast first made or framed them and still by the force of the same authority doth compell them to assemble and worship in his name and power which power is the tome and being of their visible pollitique vnion and Communion Againe the visible Churches which are in the Kingdome of the Beast are neither independent nor free bodies therefore the great Citty is called by the Holy ghost Sodome Egypt for her filthynes bondage Rev. 11.8 so that there hath not in Europe one parrish beene found free from spirituall Egyptian bondage inflicted upon them by some taske Master of the Clergy as the Person and Church-Wardens who force and drive by spirituall tyranny ouer the consciences of men to their falsely so called spirituall Courts to whom they are in bondage and vpon whom they do essencially depend so are not independent neither haue they any power or liberty to procure truth or abandon Errour in their publicke worship And Lastly these poore Captiuated slavish assemblies haue noe liberty or power of Christ among them but a great power ouer them that keepes them in a spirituall bondage and there assemblies consists of sinners of all sorts for they haue noe power of reproving or excluding sinne or sinners they must take such officers as the Bishops sends them be they never soe bad and they haue noe power to exclude or refuse them and if they proue good they haue no power to keepe them neyther canne they keepe themselves there except they submit to and practise such ordinances Lawes administrations as are the inventions of men and will worship aâ—… so breake the second commandement so that they haue no power to do them selves any spirituall good or to exclude from themselves any spirituall evill or hurt but being injoyned by there spirituall taske-masters to assemble to Church they goe and when they present them to their Courts they runne being commanded to do this or that in there publick worship they doe it though it bee contrary to God and there own consciences In these and divers other particulers this power that is ouer them is to their exceding great hurt damage The true Ecclesiasticall State The Fift Disproportionly s in their Officers or ministers which we are to observe thus First in there number Christ Iesus our Lord and King hath instituted and ordayned onely fiue which are specified Rom. 12.7.8 Phil. 1.1 1 Tim. 5. for though our Lord hath ordained in his Church for the Foundation thereof himselfe being the Cheife corner stone Apostles Prophets and Evangelists yet not successivelie continued but these Five onelie are to continue to the End of the world Secondly these Officers and Ministers of Iesus Christ haue not onely there authority from the particuler congregation but do originally and naturally arise out of the same Acts 1.23,26 and 6.3 14.23 Note that in the new Translation the word Election is left out of the 23. verse For before there be any Officers in the Church the e is instituted by the Holy Ghost divine â—ffices functions or odministrations as voyd and empty roomes Psa 122.5 Rev. 4.4 cha 20.4 for the saints which dwell in that Citty of God to supply with fit able persons to performe those severall administrations which God hath ordayned and commanded them and for the authorising of their Officers they haue Christ walking a mongst them as in one of his golden Candlesticks holding them in the right hand of his Kingly authority Rev. 1.16 by these divine deputies he rules them as a King teacheth them as a Prophet and feedes them as a Priest with his most sacred body and bloud The false Ecclesiasticall State But the officers of this false state are the whole body of the Clergy almost innumerable if we should reckon their severall orders â—distinction of degres as Pope Cardinals Patriarchs Primates Meâ—trapolitans Arch-bishops Lord-bishops Deanes Chancellars Vicar-Generals Praebends Arch-deacons Subdeacons Doctors of the Civill Law Doctors of Divinity Proctors Registers Cannons Petty-Cannons Chanters Preists Iesuits Parish-Preists Parsons Vicars Curats Deacons Vestremen Church Wardens Swornemen Sidemen Paâ—ish-Clarkes Sextons Pursâ—uants Summinours Apparitors with amultitude more which would tire a man to reckon them al up their being well nie sixscore in all of this rabble and as Iesus Christ his Apostles never knew them nor approvedly spoke of them but rather gave warning to the Saints that they should take heede of such for such were to come 2 Pet. 2.1 Mat. 24.24 and the Saints haue wofull experience that they are come for they haue been plagued with them this thousand yeares more Yet the time approcheth and is neere when they shall bee consumed with the Breath of his mouth and brightnesse of his comming 2 Thess 2.8 that rides vpon the white Horse Rev. 19.11,12,15 for their Kingdome is momentary and his is Everlasting Likewise these offices rise not out of the particuler assemblies neither haue the assemblies any offices or functions properly in them nor any power or authority to produce or raise officers out of them selves for the Clergy are a perticuler body distinct from the Layety hauing their consecrations Offices and authority from and amongst themselves and soe sent by their Ecclesiasticall Heads and bring their Office and authority with them as matters not belonging to the assemblyes and so by vertue of that Ecclesiasticall power rule ouer them as Lords and teacheth them as that power allowes and commands them vsurpedly administreth spirituall foode vnto them and soe by Imitation beguileth the simple and affronts the Administration of the mediatourship of Christ Iesus The true Ecclesiasticall State A Sixt Disproportion is the difference betweene there Lawes and Administrations as euery Citty and Corporation haue there Lawes amongst themselues by vertue of their Charters from their King Even soe hath every visiâ—le Church from Christ there King by vertue of their Charter which is the New Testament in possession amongst themselves all Lawes ordinances as Christ by his Apostles Mat. 28.20 hath committed to them Charging them vnder acurse to keep from adding or diminishing to or from these divine Lawes Act. 1.2.2 1 Cor. 11.3 2 Thes 2.15 Rev. 22.18.19 Secondly as the difference is great in the number of there Officers the true being few the False being innumerable so of necesity must the difference be in the lawes and administrations agreeable to the number of Officers which particulers I must omitt as a matter to large for this place yet note this by the way that one of the first laws in Christs Church is the ordinance of Prophecie 1 Cor. 14.1 to the end of the chap. that is that it is not only the liberty but the duty of every man in the Church that is able to teach preach to the edifying of the body so to do provided he keep the propoâ—tion of fayth that is the boundes of his owne knowledge Rom. 12.6 The False Ecclesiasticall State But
as Realie as wee Heare and obey the King by stooping and submitting to a Constable who sees not this These haue each of them proper and severall lawes statutes ordinances and administrations for their severall officers to attend vpon The Civill State Sixtly In this state or in these Citties are the lawes and ordinances of men that the saints must obey in the Lord for though in the time of Christ and his Apostels there were no Christian Kings yet the Churches of the Saints were commanded to obey their Lawes Religious Lawes they could not bee Because the Magistrates were all infidells therefore the Apostle Peter distingusheth them from the Divine by calling them the Ordinances of men due vnto Caesar as divine obedience is unto God The true Ecclesiastcall State Even so this Cittie of God with 〈◊〉 officers are to obserue whatsoever Christ hath commanded them Math. 28.20 the Church of Corinth kept them 1 Cor. 11.2 and Paulls Charge to Timothy is to teach the Church to obserue all without prefering one before another as he would answer it before Christ Iesus and his Elect Angells These divine things are due to Christ Iesus and to him to him onely belongs this visible worship Ioh. 4 21.22.23 The false Ecclesiasticall State The Lawes administrations of this whorish Church are partly their owne Inventions contained in the Bookes formerly named with some divine truthes which vsurped they injoy which truthes they vse as a help to set a glose vpon their inventions that they may passe with a better acceptation but both Divine and devised are consecrated dedicated by the Beast and are administred by his Officers and power Seauentlhy All these three haue their subjects or people which their pollitique Bodies consist of The Civill State Lastly this State hath Subjects which are the Kings alleiged people and are bound to him their Head by the Oath of alleigence as any of them do purchase a Charter from him to become a Cittie or Corporation they are bound by vertue of their Charters to walke submissiuely to him their pollitique head and in that relation are by duty bound to keepe the Lawes of their Charters in his name power which is their pollitique obedience This Ciuill State is Gods Ordinance and is here borrowed to Jllustrate manifest and set forth the other two in the former perticuler and soe we leaue it The true Ecclesiasticall State Soe in the last place the Subjects of this State are only Saints noe other that is such as by the Rule of the word are to be Judged one of another to be in Christ otherwise they haue no right to this Kingdome 1 Cor. 4.20 Chapt. 5.13 But are intruders Iud. 4. verse and soe not of the Kingdome though in the Kingdome 1 Iohn 2.19 and the Saints are out of their places till they come within this Holy Citty To this State all Gods people are Called both out of this world and all false Churches especially from this Regiment of darkenesse there discribed 2. Cor. 6.17 Rev. 18.4 The False Ecclesiasticall State Lastly the Subjects of this Kingdome of darkenes are all the Inhabitans of the Earth Kings subjects Rev. 13.16 Chap. 18.3 Yea it hath a commanding power bond and free to receive a mark of subjection and servitude there is none soe bad but will serve his turne if any proue too good bee casts them out kills and destroys Rev. 11.7 This is the State and Kingdome of darkenes with which the Devill hath deluded all nations from which all Gods people Servants are bound in duty to seperate that soe they may bee free from that wrath of God which shall fall upon the Kingdome of the beast to the Ruine ouerthrow thereof Rev. 18.4.5 19.20 14.9.10,11 Leaving the premises let every one note these ensuing differences or disproportions that are betwene the ◠Ecclesiasticall States for thir different natures The true Ecclesiasticall State The First disproportion betweene the true and False State is in the Originall from whence they arise The true State came from Heaven and is the house of wisdomes building Pro. 9.1 wherin the sonne of God the wisedome of his Father Heb. 1.3 hath beene as faithfull as was Moses in the former Heb. 3.2.6 is that Heaven discribed Rev. 12.1 and that Citty said to come downe from Heaven Rev. 21 and is an habitation for God to dwell in and for all his people to come into to dwell with God their Saviour for the name of the Citty is the Lord is there Ezec. last Chap. and last ver The False Ecclesiasticall State Likewise it is no hard Mistery to know the Originall of this False Ecclesiastical State for the Clargie as Goodwins Catologue of Bishops Fox his Booke of martyrs Rev. 9. 13 ch by their Preaching writing hath taught vs plainly that Antichrist the man of linne the sonne of perdition is seated in Rome the same Clergy doth also teach us that their Ministery Goverments of Bishops Arch Bb. successiuely proceedes from thence for our confirmation herein we read that Gregory the first of that name Pope of Rome about 1000 yeares since sent Austin the Monke into England consecrated him first Arch B. of Canterbury and he consecrated the rest of the Bb. and established the Ecclesiastical state which state platforme remaines vn-altered to this day notwithstanding the Head thereof be changed This state then being the man of sinne it is said to arise out of the Bottomles pitt Rev. 9.1 is called the King of the Locusts Rev. 9.11 is said to come by the effectuall working of Sathan 2 Thess 2.9 and as he is the sonne of perdition v. 3. and the Mistery of Iniquity v. 7. so shall he come to confusion by the mouth of the Lord v. 8. go to perdition Rev. 17.8 as the sonne heire thereof he shall haue the company of his Fatther the great Dragon the Devill and Satan with the yonger Brother the False Prophet that deceiued them that worshipped him these three shall dwell in the tormenting lake of Gods wrath forever and evermore Rev. 19.20 20 10. And thus wee see Originally from whence hee came and whither he must goe The true Ecclesiasticall State A Second disproportion is betweene the true power and the false The true power which Christ our King hath received of his Father Math. 28.18 and hath comunicated to his Saints 1 Cor. 5.4,12 and Psal 119. and to them onely This is that Dominion that the Antient of dayes hath giuen to his Saints Dan. 7..14 compared with ver 22 27 and with Revel 5.10 being lost hee will recover it againe vnto them as Daniell speakes in the New Testament is giuen to every Particuler visible Church or Assembly of Saints Math. 18.17.19.20 and 1 Cor. 5.12 In which point of Power we are to note two things First the Subject or place where it doth recide that is