I shall humbly add my thoughts upon these words which some think there is much in for Antichrist viz. And it was given him Rev. 13. 7. Here we are to enquire First Who is here to be underderstood by this particle him To this the Answer is clear It is the Beast Antichrist v. 1 2. Secondly What Power Antichrist had The Answer is common viz. Civil Power to make war or power and strength to raise Armies and make war with and overcome the Saints Thirdly How Antichrist had or came by this Power To this the Text answers It was given him Fourthly But the great Question is Who gave Antichrist this Power viz. God or some other The Answer is plain The Dragon gave him his Power and Rev. 13. â—â— his Seat and great Authority Now when the holy Ghost is thus plain and punctual in describing Antichrist in the Original of his Power and in the improvement of it against God Holiness and Saints that yet Antichrist should be asserted the Ordinance of God and Minister of God c. I confess I see no ground for it from these Scriptures Object But it is said by Saints to Antichrist as Christ once said to Pilate Thou couldest have no power at all against me except it were given thee from above therefore he that delivered me to thee Joh. 19. 10 11. had the greater sin Answ To this I Reply That in like manner as Pilate was Antichrist was permitted of God in whom it was to have hindred it to arise and get strength and power to make war with the Rev. 2. 5 10. Saints and to overcome them either for trial of their Faith or rebuke of their sin Pilate and the Jews could have put out Act. 2. 22 23. Rom. 9. 17. no act of power against Christ or Antichrist against the Saints but as God permitted and suffered in his own wisdom and counsel to bring to pass his designes of greater Grace Power and Glory So the Devil had no power over Job but as God Job 1. 9 10 suffered and permitted Note And I see not but by the same Argument that the Pagan Caesaâ—â— and Antichristian Kings are asserted to be the Ordinance of God and to be obeyed by the Lords People by the same Argument the Devil must be acknowledged to be the Orninance of God and to be obeyed by the Saints Object Or if it be said That God doth the Saints good by the Afflictions and Persecutions from Tyrants 1 Cor. 3. 22 23 Answ I say That God by his Wisdom Grace and Power so orders all for the good of Saints inward or outward and yet Rom 8. 28. neither the Devil or wicked men are the efficient cause of that good which comes to Saints by sanctified afflictions Note Therefore I yet see not any Scripture-proof that the Pagan Caesars or Antichristian Kings are the Ordinance of God and to be obeyed by the Saints in their Bodies and Estates for the Lords sake and for Conscience sake because God useth these Rods to chastize the Saints with As there hath no Heathen or Antichristian State arisen in the World but by Gods Permission and Providence Dan 4. 1â— so there hath been a concurrance of Natural Causes leading to such Changes of States and Governments God secretly carrying on his designes in them and yet so as the Agents or Instruments therein have not seen God in those things and so they have been cursed in the designes which they have accomplished against the Lords People and Interest Thus the Heathen Isa 10. 5 6 c Mat. 27. 1 2 c. â—ct 2. 22 23. State Judas and the Jews came under the Curse for destroying Jerusalem for betraying Christ and putting him to death although they fulfilled the determinate Counsel of God Therefore what Christ said of Judas may be said of every apostate Professor who for gain or self ends hath either formerly or in later times betrayed the Lords Interest and People into the hands of Antichristian Kings though by Gods secret counsel and permission The distressed Saints may say Note He or they that delivered us into the hands of beastly bloody men Jâ—hn 19. 11 have the greater sin But still some suppose that they have but done their duty and to confirm their opinion and practice in subjecting unto Pagan or Antichristian Kings as having power of Rule over them in Civil Affairs by Gods appointment they urge the Writings of Peter and both Pauls Doctrine and Practice but the two chief Corner Stones on which they found their Opinion is 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. and Rom. 13. 1. Of these Scriptures therefore I will take a further view The words of Peter are these Submit your selves to every Ordinance 1 Peâ— 2. 〈…〉 of Man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as Supream c. In these words Peter enjoyns Saints universal obedience to every Ordinance of Man or Law of Man as some take it Civil and Ecclesiastical not considering the state condition or quality of the Kings Pagan or Antichristian But as Peter wrote this to Saints under the Pagan Roman Caesars it is taken for granted that Peter in his time commanded those Saints to submit to every Ordinance of those Emperours without exception though idolatâ—ous beastly bloody Tyrants Some men again godly and learned see cause to put a restriction upon Peters universal and say That Peters exhortation to Saints in that day was to submit to every Ordinance of Man in Civil Affairs concerning the Bodies and Estates of Saints Note But the Saints Consciences to God in Spiritual things were and are only under the Government and Ordinances of God and Christ And this their position they prove from other Texts and the currant of Scripture But I have given my sence upon this place in the former Papers and therefore pass it here But the main and chief Text in all the Scriptures urged are the words of Paul written to the Saints at Rome His words are these Let every soul be subject to the higher Powers for there is no Power but of God the Powers that be are ordained or ordered of Rom. 13. 1 God From this Text some argue thus First That Paul commands a universal obedience to the Higher Powers by Saints and Sinners Let every soul Secondly The Powers that be are ordained of God Paul saith not The Powers that have been or the Powers that shall be are Ordained of God But the Powers which be are Ordained of God And the Powers which then were in being were the Pagan Roman Caesars idolatrous beastly bloody Tyrants the which command is still binding to Christians under the like Powers From this Text some give the sole Supream Power to Kings to rule over mens Bodies and Souls as God Some again restrain the Royal Power of Kings only to the Bodies of Saints in Civil Affairs and give the Soveraignty of Souls to Eph 1. 21 22 23. Christ
a Stranger to the continued ingagements which lye upon you But my great assurance of your Love and Zeal for our Lords Honour and Interest with your approved Wisdom and Meekness to manage this point in Controversie hath made me bold thus to presume upon you But I may say also as I humbly judge that you have some engagement upon you to hear and answer the humble desires of your Brethren for Light in the Mystical Visions of the Revelation and upon that ground also I was the rather emboldened to desire your Return upon the Paper I sent you and you have done like your self to make so sudden and large return to me Yours I have perused and on the behalf of our Lord and of Truth as I conceive I am emboldned to make some Reply in what I cannot receive I do say with great confidence that I believe your heart is one with mine to find out and advance our Lords Interest in truth and clearness but when we consider the Time and State we have been born educated and lived in we have cause to admire the riches of free grace which hath made us to differ from gross Idolaters and hath given us any Light and Faith to be Witnesses for Christ in any of his Mediatory Offices We I say who have had our Birth and Education under so great Antichristian darkness and bondage it is only of Free Grace that we are what we are Though some have a little more light then others in Divine Mysteries yet it may be said to those of highest attainments What have you that you have not received Therefore such as have most Light have not to boast in themselves or carry it proudly to their Brethren of lower Light and Faith in Generation Truths If I mistake not the opening of the seven-seald Book of Divine Mysteries speaks a gradual discovery of Light in Generation Truths and now the Generation Truth is Christ Kingly Authority Civil and Spiritual for the Bodies and Souls of his People or Saints in Covenant-relation unto him The Beast here doth not openly and professedly deny Christs Prophetical Office and the authority of Holy Scriptures nor the Priestly Office of Christ in the sufficiency of this Merit and Righteousness to the Justification and Salvation of Believers But the Kingly Office of Christ is only denyed in his Soveraignty over his People in things Ecclesiastical and Civil And this is the Generation-Truth now witnessed to and suffered for and in which or for which the Witnesses are Rev. 11. 7. slain by the Beast ascending out of the botomless pit in my understanding There are few real Professors at this day but in words they confess Christ's Royal Soveraignty over their Souls in Spirituall or Ecclesiastical things though they live not in practice up to that profession but there are very few who in Light Faith and Profession witness to Christs Royal Authority over the Saints Bodies Estates and Liberties in Civil or Temporal things here on Earth Note This Soveraign Authority I take to be actually seated also in Christ as Mediator by God the Father and is to be witnessed to now as a Generation-Truth Some dear Soules have judged me singular or alone in this opinion but I find it a Truth which is and will be more and more witnessed to as the Day of the Lord draweth on and the Vail of Antichristian darkness is removed and taken away Both this darkness and bondage of Antichrist was a Curse and Judgment 2 Thes 2. 10 11. upon Christian Professors from God for their earthliness and hypocrisie But it is promised That that wicked one shall be revealed discovered or made naked whom the Lord will 2 Thes 2. 8. consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming Although as yet the Beast Antichrist is not fully made manifest to the Lords People as he will be yet we have great cause to bless and praise God for what we see and thankfully accept our measures of present Light as earnests of what is promised and as evidences of our Lords appearing As our Lords right to Soveraign Rule in Civil things is now the great Question and Controversie amongst real believing Christian Professors it is our great duty to search the Scriptures therein and humbly to lye at Gods feet and beg for the teaching of the John 16. 13. Spirit of Truth to lead us into this truth also We are under the promise of the Last Times That many shall run to and fro Dan. 12. 4. and knowledge shall be increased And I hope that this our intercourse to communicate our present Light to each other in this great point in love and in meekness may tend greatly to bring us both to more perfect and distinct knowledge of Gods will in this Truth and the Truth into Victory In your Paper I humbly accept your grave and Christian Answers in case of male administration of a Lawful Power in many particulars but I must confess that I yet see it not proved from the Scriptures of Old or New Testament That the Heathen Roman Caesars were ever Magistrates Ordained by God to Rule and Govern his People before or after Christ was invested with his Mediatory Authority and then much Deut. 1. 9 13 14. 16. 18 19 c. Rom. 13. 1 2 3 c. 1 Pet 2. 13. 14. Josh 7. 9. less that the Civil Power of Antichrist was a Beam of Divine Soveraignty and the Ordinance of God to be submitted and subjected to by the Lords People for the Lords sake Magistracy or Polittical Government and Governors in Civil and Temporal things I own to be the Ordinance and appointment of God to Rule and Order his People according to his Law as Polittical Fathers to whom the Lords People in discharge of that Office and Trust do owe obedience and subjection to for the Lords sake and Conscience sake actively as of duty and passively when they transgress the Laws and Commands of God But that either the Heathen Emperors or Antichristian Kings were called by God to this Office and Authority I yet understand not That which doth constitute specifie and denominate a Exod. 18. 21 22. c. Political Governour or Magistrate to be the Ordinance of God is That he be so Qualified so called to Office and so Deut 1. 9 13 14. 4. 1 2 5. 16. 18. 17. 18 19 20. 2 Sam. 23. 3. Ruling as God hath commanded and ordained or ordered as his Minister in the State 2 Chr. 19. 6 7. Rom. 13. 1 2 3 4 5. 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. I humbly judge That due qualifications in a man for a Magistrate makes not a man to be a Magistrate That a Call of a People only makes not a Magistrate That a Person duely Qualified and rightly Called by a People to Rule if he rule not by Gods Laws he is yet no Magistrate or Minister of God as the Ordinance
of that Authority in Civil affairs though debarred the publick exercise of some acts or all acts by the Armies or Strength of Heathen Kings And because the Churches or Saints had not then power or strength to execute some Laws on offenders Note the Apostle prest the Saints to subjection as of duty to those Civil Rulers or Magistrates they had amongst themselves as Gods Ordinance to be obeyed for the Lords sake and Conscience sake as commanded by God Secondly It is evident both from the rise and exercise of power in Heathen Kings that they were not ordained by God Dan. 7 2 3 c. 2 Chr. 36. 17 c. Isa 10 5 6 c. and 42. 24 25. Ezek. 34. 23 24. to rule over his People under him neither had they power and authority to govern from God but only power and strength to burn destroy kill and captive the Lords People rebelling against him and so called Gods Staffe Hammer Saw c. not Fathers Shepherds c. Object But Paul exhorted Timothy That supplications and prayers should be made for all men for Kings and all that are in Authority or eminent place that we may lead a quiet and peaceable 1 Tim. 2. 1 2. Life Answ First If by Kings we understand the then Heathen Kings Paul may be understood to enjoyn the Saints to pray either for the conversion of their souls or restraint of their power that the Saints Peace and Godliness were not hindred viz. That God would not suffer those heathen Kings to put out their power and strength to persecute or hinder the Saints Peace Liberty and Holiness But this text asserts not the Divine Authority of heathen Kings to govern the Lords People or Saints to subject to them Secondly If the Apostle be taken as referring to any time when a Magistrate called King shall be called to rule over the Lords people in Authority or eminent place of Trust as appointed and ordained by God then it will be the duty of Saints to pray for such Magistrates That their Rule and Government may answer the end of their Power and Trust as Ordained by Rom. 13. 3 4 c. 1 Pet. 2. 13 14 God viz. Saints Peace and Holiness Object But the Apostle Peter also gave this in charge to Saints Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as Supream or unto Governours as to them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of them that do well 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. Answ First In this the Apostle is clear that he presseth Saints Subjection to Kings or Governours as called or sent of God Note for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise and encouragement of them that do well This is the currant of Scripture Secondly Note The Apostle presseth Saints Subjection to Kings or Governours as the Ordinance of Man or as Mans appointment in the State when they answer the ends of Civil Government as Ordained by God If we should take the Apostle exhorting Saints To subject to every Law and Ordinance of man for the Lords sake then the Laws of Men should be obeyed by Saints how unjust unnatural or contrary soever they were to the Laws of God but this is too gross and contrary to the currant of Scripture not answering the ends of Government as Ordained by God Thirdly If we take the Apostle speaking of Kings or Governours as the Ordinance of Man then the title King or Power of Kings is only humane and God hath left it in the wisdom power and will of a State or Body Politick to call to Office and Power one Person or a set number of Persons joyntly to rule over them as they judge best for the whole Note and also to dignifie and distinguish their Officers of State as they please and Saints are not hereby to be displeased but must submit for the Lords sake I am humbly bold thus to give my sence That both Paul in Rom 13. 1. and in his other Epistles Note as also Peter in this text had no respect to the Heathen Kings of that time but that both these Apostles do assert Magistracy to be the Ordinance of God amongst his People To suppress evil-doers and to encourage them that do well Rom. 13. 3 4. to which Magistrates the Saints owe subjection for the Lords sake Note This Apostle Peter also implieth That the designation of Magisterial Authority upon one person or upon several persons with the Names and Titles by which they are called or dignified are humane and left to men and therefore Saints should not deny subjection upon that account In the first constitution of the Jewish Polittick State God gave them Judges about the space of 450 years after which Deut. 16. 18 Act. 13. 20 21 c. 1 Sam. 8. 1 2 c. v. 19 22. upon the ill government of Samuels Sons Israel resolved to change the Government from Judge to King and God gave way to them But as God fore-saw that Israel would change the Government of State in which his secret counsel was fulfilled to bring in Davids Kingdom and make way for Christs Kingdom God enjoyned and commanded Israel that Deut. 17. 14 Kings should rule by the same Laws which he gave to the Judges The Apostle Peter then seeing or supposing that in after-time some difference might arise amongst Saints about Political Government or Governours viz. Whether the chief should be in one Person or in many and by what names they should be dignified Peter inferrs that this is in man to order ordain and appoint and therefore exhorts Saints not The Body or State Polâ—â—ick are the first Seat of Power â—y Pâ—tâ—r to differ or dissent from what the Body of the People or State ordain and appoint in that matter so as the Governours do answer the ends of Government as ordained by God I must say I know not that this was questioned by Saints in Peters time Note but it may be a question amongst Saints in the Resurrection of the Witnesses and here is the Solution which is not again found in all the Scriptures And let me add these my thoughts That as Gods moral judicial Laws given to Israel are the Laws of Christs Kingdom Christ ratified and confirmed them in his Ministry and the Apostles gave many general directions to Saints about Political Government and Governours as Ordained by God Note but neither exprest or intended the then Heathen Kings in those directions Object But Rulers and Governours were commonly called Gods and it is not likely that they should be so dignified by holy men if they were not ordained by God and bare upon them some Image or Beam of Divine Soveraignty Answ We may grant that this high Title was ascâ—ibed to Rulers and Governours by David by Christ and by Paul referring Exod. 22. 28. Psal 82. 1 6. John 10. 34. Act. 23. 4 5. to Moses
The People of England are the first Seat of Power with the People and to Rule by Law Therefore by the Civil Constitution of England The People are the first Seat of Power and the Kings of England have been as well bound by Oath to Govern by Law as the People are bound by Oath or Law to subject to Kings as Governours in Chief Partic. 5 Fifthly and lastly The Lords People in England have by the Light of the Gospel and brightness of Christs coming and 2 Thes 3. 3 4 8 with the smart of Heathenish and Antichristian Tyranny made great discoveries of the Man of Sin the Son of Perdition who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God Tyrannizing over their Souls and Bodys and now sighing and saying O Lord our God other Lords besides thee have had Dominion over us but now by thee only will we make mention of thy Name Isa 26. 13. Now for the Lords Remnant under and after all these Bonds and Engagements to God and one to another with experiences of Gods appearing for them for them to turn back to Egypt and Babylon and break Covenant with God and one with another For them again to set up what they had destroyed in Gods Name Spirit and Power and from which they were redeemed by so great Grace through many Prayers with the exhausting of so great Treasure and the price of so much Blood of Saints with others and again for those redeemed Souls to submit their Necks to the same Yoke of Tyranny this must needs be a sin of high nature and dreadfully provoking God SIR YOu were pleased to give your Understanding upon several Passages in that Paper which I willingly pass as loath to take up much of your time to read over my thoughts in every particular but if the Lord shall be pleased to bring to light more of his secret Will and our Duty in our Day this Labour will not be lost or this time meerly spent and it will be found both our honour and our Souls quiet to be witnessing for Christ against Antichrist however it goes with our outward man The 10th Month the 12th Day 1667. SIR SOme dayes after I had written my thoughts in what I judged then meet in return to yours I was under some conviction in my self that I had not fully explained my Understanding upon Rom. 13. 1 c. a Scripture which I had several times cited in a sence which some do not receive I am therefore humbly bold to add these Lines as a Post-script to the former I find it is the opinion of some men godly and learned That the Pagan Roman Caesars were and the Antichristian Kings are though idolatrous beastly bloody Tyrants the Magistrates and Ministers of God Constituted and Ordained and Invested by God with all Supream Authority in Civil affairs to rule over the Lords People and that the Saints are commanded by God to submit and subject to those Powers in their Bodies and Estates for the Lords sake and for Conscience sake This I humbly judge is Written Printed Preached and Professed c. It seems to me That the Old Testament the Law and Prophets which speak most of Political Government are yet silent in this point neither recording the time when the manner how or the words of Gods Commission and their Investment into such absolute Soveraign Authority over his People nor is there as I know or can be produced any one Text from the Old Testament where God by Moses or any of the Prophets commanded his People to submit to Pagan Roman Caesars or Antichristian Idolatrous Beastly bloody Tyrants as Gods Ordinance for the Lords sake or for Conscience sake But the proof of this Doctrine is taken out of the New Testament and two great Apostles of Christ Peter and Paul are made the only Fathers of this Opinion which I desire to examine The Rise and Original of the Pagan Caesars or the 4th Empire was first fore-shewed by the Prophet Daniel in these words After this I saw in the Night-Visions and behold a fourth Beast dreadful and terrible and strong exceedingly and it Dan. 7. 7. expounded v. 23. had great iron teeth it devoured and brake in pieces and stamped the residue with the feet of it And it was divers from all the Beasts that were before it and it had ten horns Here Daniel in his time described the fourth Empire whence it was vers 3. after what it was and how it acted in power and strength by Gods permission but not by Gods Institution and Commission that can be proved The Rise and Original also of Antichrist or the Antichristian State I take to be darkly represented by Daniel in the little â—aâ— 7. 8. vers 24 25 26 27. horn that came up among the ten horns of the Roman Empire or Roman Beast and how that acted also by Gods permission and how that Horn and Beast shall end But this Horn or Beast is shewed to the Apostle John and described fully Rev. 13. 1 2 c. which is generally taken to represent the Antichristian State Civil or Political The Rise of this Beast was out of the Sea and he had ten horns and upon his horns ten Crowns and upon his Heads the names of Blasphemy vers 1. The Dragon or the Devil gave this Beast his Power and his Seat and great Authority vers 2. And there was given him a mouth viz. to the Beast Antichrist speaking great things and Blasphemies vers 5. And he opened his mouth in Blasphemies against God to blaspheme his Name and his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven vers 6. And it was given him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them vers 7. Now when the Original of Antichrist is thus plainly set out Note That his Power Seat and great Authority is from the Devil his work to Blaspheme God and his Worship and to make war with and overcome the Saints how unreasonable and unwarranted seems that Assertion which yet makes the Pagan Roman Caesars and Antichristian Kings to be Constituted Ordained and Invested by God with all Supream Magisterial Authority to rule over his People in Civil Affairs and that the Saints owe submission and subjection unto those Powers in their Bodies and Estates how intollerable bloody and tyrannical soever they be But to me there seems to be an unanswerable Argument couched against this vers 7. in these words And it was given him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them From hence I argue If in the rising State or under the Antichristian Civil State the Saints were in Arms lawfully upon their own defence against Antichrist in his Civil State and Antichrist overcame the Saints in war then the Saints had Civil Priviledges which they lawfully defended against Antichrist But under the Civil State of Antichrist c. Ergo. I will not follow this Argument as I might to prove it from the consent of Scriptures and History but
as Head of the Church upon the grounds before exprest But I must take the humble boldness in Truths behalf to dissent from others in their sense upon this Text I humbly judge that this Text proves neither the one nor the others opinion though some be godly and learned as to the opinion of those who from this Text or any other do give the sole Supream Power to Men as Lords and Law-givers to others both for Soul and Body I pass them by But to those godly and Learned who from this Text or any other do plead for Saints Subjection to Pagan or Antichristian Kings though idolatrous beastly bloody Tyrants in Civil Affaiâ—s or Temporal Jurisdiction for the Lords sake and for Conscience sake I humbly Reply that they mistake the Apostle and mis-apply the Text who so take the place and to these I humbly offer these my Reasons against that sense to consideration Reason 1 First Though Paul say Let every soul be subject to the higher Powers yet he doth not say Let every soul be subject to the higher Powers in all Civil Affairs concerning Bodies and Estates neither doth he say to Pagan or to Antichristian Powers but with restriction to Powrs ordained of God Note as his Ministers of State Therefore though Paul commands subjection Rom. 13. 1 2 3 4 5. from every soul yet it is not in all things or to all Persons or Powers but as Ordained by God My thoughts are That those who see cause to restrain general Scriptures which speak of Soveraign Magisterial Power to Civil Jurisdiction over the outward man and except their Power and Jurisdiction over souls in Spiritual and Ecclesiastical things will upon good consideration see cause also to restrain Magisterial Power and Jurisdiction Note over Bodies in Civil things and will not strain Texts against the currant of Scriptures to prove what they do not hint If we take these words of Paul or Peter as commanding Saints subjection to the Higher Powers be they what they will in all outward things Note this takes away the Soveraignty of God over Man in all outward things and nulls the moral Law which sets bounds between man and man Superiour and Inferiour Therefore upon this ground the Apostle cannot be taken in that sense viz. to give a power to some men viz. to Kings to command others to break Gods Moral Laws which Moral Laws Paul himself maintained and also taught others in his Epistles But I shall humbly give my sence upon this Text as of other the like Scriptures That both Paul and Peter do only call and command Saints Obedience to all Lawful Magistrates in all Lawful things commanded by God Note and therein enjoynes subjection to Saints for the Lords sake and for Conscience sake as to God Reason 2 Secondly The scope of the Apostle in this place as I judge is to press Saints to submit and subject to Higher Powers or Magistrates as Ordained and set over them by God as his Ministers in State for their good to restrain sins against the Moral Rom. 13. 1 2 c. Exod. 18. 15 16 c. 2 Chr. 19. 6 7. Law and to maintain Justice Equity and Peace between man and man Paul describes not here these Ministers of State by Names but by their Qualities and gives only a general description of Magistracy to be obeyed Note as Ministers Ordained by God In the same way and after the same manner that Paul describes Antichrist the Man of Sin the Son of Perdition to be 2 Thes 2. 3 4. Rev. 14 9 10. Rev. 13. 1 c rejected of Saints he here describes the true Magistrates of God to be obeyed by the Lords People for the Lords sake Surely those have little sight who see not that the general Government of Nations is still beastly Tyranny Note both by Heathen and Antichristian Kings rather than the Government of God for the good of Mankind But many are stumbled at these words of Paul The Powers that be The great question here is The question to what Powers Paul refers to what Powers the Apostle refers viz. Whether to the Pagan Caesars Power who were then Monarchs of all the World or to the Civil Power and Jurisdiction then exercised amongst the Saints as far as they could or to Magistracy as ordained and constituted by God in the Jewish State If we take the Apostle in either of the latter senses there is Scripture-grounds for it but if we refer Pauls words to the Pagan Caesars State there is only this poor plea for it That Luk. â— 1 2 with Paâ—ls time the Pagan Caesars were then being and reigning in the World but answered not to the qualifications of those Ministers of God as Paul describeth Magistrates Ordained by God now answering the ends of Government The Caesars then being and reigning Rom. 1â— 3 4 5 in the World is but a circumstance of time but the qualifications of Rulers and the ends of Government are Essentials in Magistracy and therefore to expound Paul by a conceived circumstance when and where the Essentials of Government as Ordained by God are wanting cannot be held Orthodox and sound But if we take Paul in these words The Powers that be to refer to that Civil Power and Jurisdiction resting at that time and seated in the Saints by God according to the Moral Law given to Israel there is much Reason and Scripture to confirm this Exposition First Before Christ left the World he devolved the administration of all that Power and Authority Civil and Spiritual Mat. 28. 18 Mat. 25. 14. Mar. 13. 34. over his own People as intrusted with him by the Father to his own Servants Secondly In Pauls time there were Saints in the Churches who were fitted and qualified for Civil Governours or Magistrates 1 Cor. 6. 4. Thirdly In Pauls time the Sainâ—s had sufficient Laws and power of Jurisdiction to hear and determine all Civil differences amongst themselves that they needed not to go to Law before the Pagan Governours and therefore Paul sharply reproved the Saints of Corinth for going to Law before the unjust and not before the Saints 1 Cor. 6. 4 These Considerations have swayed with me and I know not one argument to shake me in my judgement as this sense hath the currant of Scripture with it Note But if we shall yet suppose that there wants some words in the Text as is common to clear and fill the Apostles meaning yet the current of the following Verses which gives the qualifications of Magistrates as constituted by God carries Pauls sence from the Pagan Roman Caesars that they were not the Powers which he intended neither Antichristian Kings Reason 3 My Third Reason is If we infer from Paul or Peter That Pagan or Antichristian Kings were or are Powers to be submitted and subjected to by Saints in all Civil affairs without limitation or restriction to the Law of God then Saints were and are to
obey Men in Civil things rather than God and the Command of a King is Authority for Saints to break the Moral Laws of God and Nature and not sin Surely if the Bodies and Estates of men be left by God to the Wills Lusts and Commands of any Emperours Kings or States and Saints bound to obey them in all outward natural things Note then if Emperors Kings or States make Laws to break and void the Laws of God and Nature the Saints must yet obey them in those things But this sense and interpretation of the place is so gross and contrary to the current of Scripture that this cannot be received but some other sense must be sought out and I am perswaded that this sense following is according to Truth viz. That as Paul hath bounded the Authority of Parents over Children and of Eph. 6. 1. v. 4. 5 6. Col. 3. 20 21 c. Masters over Servants to the Law of God and Rules of God and therein commands Children to obey Parents and Servants to obey Masters in all things in the Lord as to God and Christ So the same Apostle enjoyns Saints subjection to Lawful Magistrates in all lawful things Note as to Political Fathers or Governours for the Lords sake and for Conscience sake to God and no further Reason 4 My Fourth Reason follows It is recorded in Scripture as an approved evidence of the Fear of God in many of the Lords Servants to slight and disobey the cruel Laws and Commands of Kings in Moral Civil things and in that disobedience God owned and honoured them Of these the Scriptures give many Examples As The Midwives of Egypt Exod. 1. 17 20 v. 22. Heb. 11. 23 v. 27. 1 King 18. 3 4. The Parents of Moses Moses himself Obediah c. And though those high expressions of the Three Children of Peter and other Apostles spoken boldly before Magistrates in Counsel be ordinarily restrained to spiritual things and worship yet I judge that those Saints did not intentionally so take them but they may also as truly be spoken by Saints in Civil natural Priviledges when demnaded from them or they commanded by man to break any Moral Law of God We are not Dan. 3. 16. Act. 4. 19. and 5. 29. careful to answer thee in this matter We ought to obey God rather than Man Reason 5 My Fifth and Last Reason is God is Supreamly above all Persons and Powers to be feared obeyed and served by Saints and Sinners in all Commands Natural and Spiritual Mat. 10. 26 28. Luke 12. 5. Isa 8. 13 14. Civil or Ecclesiastical as he made and hath power over Bodys and Souls to save or to destroy eternally God is only to be feared and obeyed by his Children and Servants and not Deut. 13. 4. 1 Chr. 16. 25. Gen. 17. 1. Emperours Kings or States whoever they be in any Commands which are contrary to the Laws and Commands of God Almighty Note All that Power and Authority which Magistrates can exercise over their Brethren by Divine Right is by the Law and appointment of God for the good of Mankind No one man as a Child of Adam hath power of Jurisdiction over another but in the way and manner which God hath Ordained and Appointed in his Law Therefore it stands not with the Revealed Will of God in the Scriptures or Natural Reasons that any Persons or Powers on Earth are Invested by God with Supream Power either to command any Person to do what God forbids or to forbid what God commands in matters Civil Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Thus I have given my understanding upon Rom. 13. 4. at which so many have and yet do stumble and fall sorely The 10th Month the 20th Day 1667. FINIS