things that are Gods whose Image Caesar beares as the Tribute money beares Caesars And that this must be the drift of our Saviour in these words it appeares for that in the Question there was nothing of doubt moved concerning GOD but as Saint Paul Rom. 13. 6. For this cause pay you Tribute for they are Gods Ministers attending continually upon this very thing So our Saviour answereth here that Caesar requires it not in his owne but in the Right of GOD. 17. That all the Right which Caesar hath unto it he hath from GOD and that he hath GODS Right our Saviour in his owne case and when he had not wherewith to pay it expresseth Mat. 17. 25. Of whom doe the Kings of the earth take Tribute Of their owne Children or of Strangers Saint Peter unto whom the Question was put answereth of Strangers Jesus replyeth Then are the Children free Concluding from thence his owne exemption as being the Son of Him in whose Right the Custome and Tribute were due For it is evident that Christ was none of those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 None of Tiberius Caesar his own Sons but he was His to whom by Caesar the Tribute was due debt and who did receive it in Caesar Otherwise the words of him who is the Wisdome of God had been devoid of ordinary Reason whose Plea was most strong if he who is the Wisdome of God knew how to argue for his immunity from the same 18. But in the next Verse Though Caesar have no Right to it from Vs yet lest They who are his Officers be angry go a fishing and pay it which course I am sure is Christian and would not mis-become any times Where it may be observed that they who are invested with Power that is Divine have a little more Priviledge then the sons of Adam in commune For it is lest they should be angry with Vs and give it for Thee and Me but Capiet qui capere potest 19. Concerning the demeanour of Christ submitting himselfe unto the death it is that which we all pretend to looke for benefit by and therefore should all consider when He who was the Founder of Christianity was to gather to himselfe all the Kingdomes of the Earth into one Family while Herod Pontius Pilate and the People of the Jewes were gathered together against Him as Psal 2. though he wanted not Power to make Resistance Perdidit Vitam nè perderet Obedientiam He quitted his Life to preserve his Obedience To doe thus rather then to Resist the Power of an Heathen Prince which he acknowledged though the Deputy unjustly used his Authority to be from Heaven I am sure is Christian from the Example of Christ walking according to his owne Rules 20. And Saint Peter saith 1 Pet. 2. 21. This was to leave us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Example for Christian Imitation this I am sure is recorded for Christian Doctrine to remaine for ever To doe thus by good Logick and true Paronymy from Christ I can denominate Christian But they have the luck of it if they may escape Scot-free who can conjugate such Oppositions and make that Christian to doe contrary to the Doctrine and Example of Christ And that as matter of Religion for Conscience sake contrary to both both of Christ and his Apostles And further yet to erect this as the chiefe Ensigne and note of Christianity and to teach and enjoyne men to spend their blouds in this Cause to establish a contrary Foundation and to enjoyne an opposite Covenant For my part as yet I know no new Christ nor no new Gospel to learne the contrary from and therefore Contentus hoc Catone I will as I am bidden walke on this way For it is an Article of my Creed that he who trode it Ascended into Heaven animated by him who went before me Adsum Caesar ubique tuus Liceat modo nunc quoque miles Whereupon my Tenth Quaere is Since all Christian Kings more singularly then other Princes have the Divine Power of Elohim and Messiah annexed to their Persons and not barely to their Offices And since our Saviour made this Annexation viz. to their Persons His Argument à Notiori to refute the imputation of Blasphemy for his affirming the Divinity of his owne Person And since ' by the Gospel Doctrine and Practice Obedience even unto Monarchicall Tyrants in Self-denyall and taking up of the Crosse is set forth as the differentiall note of Christians And Rebellion with the Sword or otherwise is declared damnable And paying and yeelding Tribute Life and Livelihood it selfe is that which onely from both Precept and Example can denominate Christian. By what Logick they can distinguish away their Blasphemy and Paronymise themselves into the name of Christians Who against Christs Gospel-Information Precept and Practice affirme the Power of Dominion to be in the People And that we may oppose those whom the Gospel-Doctrine teacheth us rather to dye then Resist My first Argument is concerning the Argument of our Saviour S. John 10. Every Doctrine which dissolveth that indissoluble Principle by which our Saviour Christ vindicated the affirmation of the Divinity of his Person from the imputation of Blasphemy Is blasphemous and the Maintainers thereof had need to be sure of a new Christ But the Doctrine that asserteth that the Regall Power of Kings is not Divine or that it is distinguishable away from their Persons Dissolveth that indissoluble Principle by which our Saviour Christ vindicated the affirmation of the Divinity of his Person against the imputation of Blasphemy Therefore the Doctrine that asserteth that the Regall Power of Kings is not Divine or that it is distinguishable away from their Persons Is blasphemous and the Maintainers thereof had need to be sure of a new Christ. Secondly concerning the Text urged by our Saviour out of Psal 82. Every exception of common Similitude between two severall Predicates which agree in aliquo tertio Is a negation of Identity between the Proposed and the Likened in the particulars Predicated But in the Proposition Psal 8◠You are Elohim or you are all of you the Sons of Ghnelion and these you shall dye like Adam or the community of mankind whether singular or aggregate and you shall fall like one of the Princes or particular members of the Senate There is an exception of common Similitude viz. of death between two severall Predicates To wit Elohim and the Sons of Ghnelion Kings in their Persons and between Kings and Adam and between Kings and Peers Therefore in the Propositions abovesaid there is a negation of Identity between the Proposed and the Likened in the particulars predicated So that neither the whole People nor the peers or Magistrates with relation to the King are invested with the Name and Power of Elohim Thirdly concerning the root of all evill the first degree of Antichristianisme They who deny their whole Livelihoods to God when he requires them and that contrary to Christs Information
Misprision of divers in these dayes upon that of Saint Peter 1. 2. 13. Submit your selves unto every Ordinance of man and that according to the Originall for Adjectives in inos doe not Connotate Efficiency in the Subject but its Passivity that it is not meant of any Ordinance created by man but established in or amongst men to wit in this particular by the Constitution of GOD And this is the constant Doctrine of the Scriptures answerable to that of Saint Paul Rom. 13. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For there is nothing that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or just Power but it proceedeth from GOD who is not the People and all that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or just Power is set in Order by GOD and no other 35. Saint Peters words are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be subordinate unto every Constitution amongst men for or according to the Lord for so the Praeposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with an Accusative Case signifies in the Scripture to wit the Lords orderly Disposition of Superiour and Inferiour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whether it be to the King as to the Supreme to wit in this Substitution 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. or unto those by whom his mind is declared as unto men that have his viz. the Kings Commission Which cannot be understood of their immediate Mission from GOD for then the GOD of Order must be the Author of Confusion necessarily attending many Supremes ad idem for the same Act for whosoever is sent by the most High is quoad hoc Supreme in relation to that Commission where with he is sent The Conjecturals of the Opposers of this manifest truth are inferiour to a serious Answer and neither the present times normy Genius are for the Disport which such Leaps would make from out of every Book that is written 36. Concerning those many places in the Evangelists wherein the Kingdome of Heaven or the Kingdome of GOD are mentioned it appears in part but shall be made clear hereafter that as sometimes they are to be understood of that his Kingdome which is in the highest Heavens so most frequently are they to be construed of the Dominion in private men which the Repaired Image of GOD seated in the reasonable Appetite enlightned by the Sacerdotal Vrim and Thumâ—in of GODS infused Likenesse exerciseth over the seventeen Provinces of the unruly Lusts and Passions the Aborigenes and native Inhabiters in every particular man Notwithstanding which Kingship and Priesthood they are and remaine but private men with Relation to the publike Regality and Sacerdotality whereon Christs publike Soveraignties are enthroned in externall Power and Glory As it was amongst the former Israel Exod. 19. 6. You shall be unto me a Kingdom of Priests an holy Nation and yet they had over them Kings and Priests unto whom they were to be obedient or dye for it 37. So those whom Saint Peter had honoured in the forecited Chapter Ver. 9. with the Appellation of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Royall Priesthood as Saint John had called them Kings and Priests unto GOD Rev. 1. 6. he enjoyneth from the Preceptive example of him who is the onely King of kings to vaile their Honour unto those who are that over all other men which they are or should be over their rebellious Passions So Saint Paul to Bishop Titus 3. 1. as also concerning those entrusted with the Priesthood of the Gospel Heb. 13. 17. Obey them that have the Rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your soules as they who must give an account for you So that the Kingship and Priesthood of private Christians is so far from exempting them from their Bonds unto the Publike that they impose a greater Obligation upon them to be Obedient for Conscience sake which Beam was undiscerned till Christianity unclouded it So that no such injury can be done unto it as to make it a Stale for Disobedience which as will appear is the greatest breach of true Christian Liberty and the strongest Gives and Fetters for the wicked ones Tyranny who as most Rebels pretends for the King that may un-king him with applause or for Liberty that he may be sole King and exclude Christ But I will herein forbeare to Charge till I come to Prove 38. And for those places which concerne the Liberty which Christ hath purchased for us they cannot be understood of wild Freedome to do what evill we please nor of phreneticall Immunity from the Law of Reason Nature and Morality For the Law of the Gospel hath in the particulars thereof as appears by our Saviours Sermon in the Mount and elsewhere laid severer Bonds upon us then those which are expressed in the former Covenant for the Nonage of the Children thereof but they are to be understood as of universall Freedome yet conditionall viz. upon performance of the Articles of the Covenant of Grace from the Sentence of Adam so from the painfull and chargeable Services of the first Testament and of the Impediments which lie in the way of the sons of Obedience in order to Heaven which ought to be the Earth's patterne for the accomplishing of the will of both that after our probation of Subjection here we may be Monarchs hereafter There Free as himselfe and his blessed Angels are all Power of Rebellion being taken away which is the greatest Freedom which now we want 39. Free according to Saint Bernards three-sold Freedom 1. At Liberty from the Liberty of Sin which is the Liberty of liberties 2. From Misery where every one shall have all yet none shall want what another hath where none shall envy anothers Greatnesse but the greatnesse of any ones Glory shall encrease the greatnesse of every one 3. From Coaction where though Gods will shall be our Law yet it shall be as to himself who is most Free though he be our King yet it shall be our greatest Honour to serve for his Honour And therefore it should be so here to promote the Glory of his Representer on earth and not to lessen his Prerogative for feare of him who can discerne whether it be Himselfe or his Deputy that is diminished And hence also appears the Excellency of Monarchy in that it alone is to continue in that which is our true Countrey But I proceed CHAP. III. The Contents A briefe Digression that the Power entrusted to Kings cannot but be Divine by the unquestionablenesse thereof Job 34. 16. Expounded and the Exposition justified by parallel Texts The Question answered What if the King turne Tyrant An Answer to a Scotch Topick 1. BEfore I proceed in the Sacred Story the generall Importunity of the times cals for a short Digression for the Justification of GOD when he shall set up in that Place and Power which is his Christs a Tyrannous violator of his People and Religion who loves both better then we deserve but will not have us to teach him Whereas the People should be taught that if
of it himself they or any for them have in them Naturall Power for the Resistance and forcible Restraint of the One Supreme Power on Earth by the GOD of Heaven placed in One which to defend and put into practice incurs the Apostles Sentence for the forfeiture of Heaven 12. As also in regard of their earthly Estates to the losse of that to blow them up with fancied Propriety as if they could have any in any part of his Creation against him or his disposall or otherwise then under him and it as Usu-fructuaries thereof so as to make them trust rather to their owne Arrogant Vaine Providence then to his most Prudent and Unquestionable Justice for the Governing of the Heart and Restraining the Hand of his Deputy who shall most strictly account unto GOD for Unjustice or Oppression if without necessity approveable to the All-commiserating most impartial GOD he take away what GOD hath given them he being not Himself the proper Owner and Lord of either the Gold or Steel which Elohim Created But as hath been shewed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 onely the onely Entrusted Superintendent and Dispenser thereof and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for thy beneficiall Propriety in thy goods not onely in things Spirituall in order to thy Celestiall good but in relation also to earthly Emoluments in thy Temporall goods for so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Gal. 6. 6. Let him that is Gal. 6. 6. taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in all his goods as appears 1 Cor. 9. 11. Rom. 15. 27. 1 Cor. 9. 11. Rom. 15. 27. Rom. 14. 4. 13. But it is evident that in that wherein he is GODS Steward he is responsible onely to his own Master Rom. 14. 4. Who art thou Oh man that judgest an other mans Servant Who then art thou Dust and Ashes who as an Invader of the high Prerogative of the most High judgest thy Lords Lord whose Power over thee is evidently Divine as hath been shewed by Verse 5. and Verse 6. They are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods Workmen for the Peoples availe in as much as the Honour of his Scepter the Feare of his Sword his Customes for his ordinary Support his Tribute for his extraordinary Supplies have influence upon the Conscience And as 1 Pet. 2. 13. 1 Pet. 2. 13. our Allegiance is to be payed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the Lords sake in the former word of the Divine Subordination 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Submit your selves and not as herein serving men but as the Servants of GOD who is the Father and Lord of this Order wherein the King for the expression of Saint Pauls meaning is declared to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Supreme on Earth all others that are entrusted for the exercise of his Dominion having their Power from his Commission as being sent of Him above whom none have Power nor under whom any but from him and therefore not one or all against him 14. So that it is an unprosperous Question with a Recusant stomack to demand what Evidence we have for his Title under and from whom we have the Severalty and Security of all the whole Interest which we have in the good things of the Earth unto which while we keep our selves in the due Subordination that GOD hath fixed we have good claime but by our forwardnesse in passing our Line we list our selves under the Enemy and are deserters of GOD. 15. So Eccles 10. 4. If the anger Hamoshel from Mashal as before of him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that hath Dominion rise up against thee leave not thy place The word is Mekomcha and * Doctores Hebraei cognominant nomen Domini sive Dominum Makom eo quod est locus mundi nec mundus est locus ejus quemadmodum vocatur Makom Habitaculum Deut. 33. 27. Et sunt qui putant illud Hest 4. 14. Mimakom achir indicate Dominum hoc factum esse nè nomen Domini esset scriptum in libris Medorum Persarum Pagn in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Makom which signifieth Place of Station or Possession also doth signifie the Lord God himselfe So that here is expressed the mysterious Vbiquity of GOD who is rather to be said to be ipsum ubique quà m ubique to be the every where it selfe then barely to be every where all Vbi and Place with whatsoever Space is imaginable beyond all Place being in him he not being comprehended in any or all of them And together herewith that he that presumes out of his place of Order forfeits his place of Inheritance departing from the Fortifications of GOD into the Tents of the Destroyer by his bold advancing beyond that Title wherein he who marshalleth every one in his true place is the strong place of his place while he continues in it 16. And that which Solomon observes in the following Verses to be the cause of Peoples Apostasie from GOD and the Order by him circumscribed them is their Curiosity and Prying into the Soveraignes Cabinets where finding or pretending Errors or such things perhaps their Vertues and Excellencies which they make to look like Errors the world comes to this passe That Vassals ride and Princes walke but mark the sequell He that openeth this Pit with Korab shall fall into it and he that pulleth up this Hedge a Serpent shall bite him as it did Adam presuming proudly beyond his Order 17. Such our unrulinesse constraineth GOD many times to Rule us by such Princes who will not be Ruled by him whilest those that be his and in possession of their owne soules through Christian Patience shall in him be so secured and sustained that those things which are by others esteemed the greatest of their heart-rending Evils shall prove the highest Improvements of their soul-dilating Blisse when they who will carve out their owne Liberties if the Truth of GODS Word continue the same it was and if the Practice of the Sonne of GOD and of his Saints be the true and unchangeable Expositor of that Word shall if they be not wish they had been here Bruised with a Rod of Iron and Broken in pieces like a Potters vessell SECT 5. The Contents The 1 Tim. 2 12. I permit not a Woman c. Explained The Apostles Argument for Monarchicall Dominion from Adam formed alone The Case of Zelophehad's Daughters Num. 27. Their Plea considerable for these times Gods Determination thereupon 1. COncerning Supremacy in all the Jura Majestatis or Rights of Majesty that from the Beginning Kings have had the Power thereof none can deny That by Divine Constitution in the Revealed Word of God onely Monarchs have had this Supreme Power is as undeniable That God ever specified his Approbation of any other way of Administration of it is more then any man for ought I know hath demonstrated And that GOD only hath right to dispose of this high Prerogative of Elohim is as evident
Donation recorded in his word Ninthly concerning the guilt of Disobedience to the King and what it forfeiteth That sin which forfeiteth mans Temporall Estate and is moreover a violation of that Commandement which God hath left as a Guardian for all the rest in order to Earth's Peace and Heaven's Glory Is most carefully to be avoided of all those who dare not be wiser then God or suspect his Justice but with Obedient sobriety expect Earth's Happinesse and Heaven's Blessednesse But Disobedience to the King Is that sin which forfeiteth Mans Temporall Estate and is moreover a violation of that Commandement which God hath left as a Guardian for all the rest in order to Earth's Peace and Heaven's Glory Therefore Disobedience to the King Is most carefully to be avoided of all those who dare not be wiser then God or suspect his Justice but with obedient sobriety expect Earth's Happinesse and Heaven's Blessednesse Tenthly concerning the Power of the Sword Whosoever is entrusted by God with the greatest of the Rights of Majesty viz. the Power of the One Sword of the One God His Power is more then Humane He is more then mans Brother is invested with the Divine Paternity of God and by consequence hath all other the lesser Rights of Majesty now in Question amongst us But the King onely Is he that is entrusted by God with the greatest of the Rights of Majesty viz. the Power of the One Sword of the One God Therefore the King onely is he Whose Power is more then Humane who is more then mans Brother is invested with the Divine Paternity of God and by consequence hath all other the lesser Rights of Majesty now in Question amongst us Eleventhly concerning the Order that God hath established for the Government of the World the Disturbers thereof and their danger Whosoever violate that Order which the God of Order hath constituted for the Government of mankind and put themselves into the Bands of Apollyon who himselfe though he endeavours to bring Christians into this Antichristianism dares not trust in Hell it selfe any other Government but Monarchicall They doe proportionably to the Degrees of their severall Enormities incurre the Apostles Sentence of Damnation Rom. 13. But they who presume beyond their rank in the Subordination which God hath fixed They who in case there be difference amongst those who are subalternate Administrators of this Divine Power will not rectifie their Obedience by submission unto Him who is the higher in the Subordination They who will not acknowledge the King to be on Earth Supreme and his Power to be Irresistible by any He be he never so great or by any they be they never so many They who make it not matter of conscience for Gods and Religions sake to come out of their Rebellious courses and submit unto his Decisive Scepter unto his Corrective Sword unto his Ordinary Customes unto his Extraordinary Subsidies They as Transgressours of the Magisteriall Law of God in the highest of his earthly Concernments doe violate that Order which the God of Order hath Constituted for the Government of mankind and as deserters of God have put themselves into the Bands of Apollyon who himselfe though he endeavours to bring Christians to this Antichristianisme dares not in Hell it selfe trust any other Government then Monarchicall Therefore they who presume beyond their ranke in the Subordination which God hath fixed they who c. All of them doe proportionably to the degrees of their several Enormities incur the Apostles Sentence of Damnation Rom. 13. Twelfthly concerning the Apostles Argument Chap. 7. about the Foundation of this Order laid in the Creation of the first Man alone Wheresoever in any Type or Epitome wherein God hath no lesse Power and Propriety in the one then in the other the Spirit of God maketh choice of words whose Latitude is more exercible in the one then in the other There Gods All-seeing Spirit intended chiefly the Typified or Epitomized But in the Apostles Argument 1 Tim. 2. 12. Family-Monarchicall Government Is the Epitome of State-Monarchy wherein God hath no lesse Power and Propriety then in the Family and the Latitude of the words Mashal and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is more exercible in the Kingdome then in the Family viz. they include the Power of the Sword which the small Monarch of the Family may not use therein Therefore in the Apostles Argument 1 Tim. 2. 12. the All-seeing Spirit of God intended chiefly the Monarchicall Government of the Kingdome viz. upon the Creation of one Man at the first alone Lastly concerning the Question it selfe and Cautions to be used therein Such Questions which bring into Question the whole Title which Man hath from God to the Blessings of Heaven and Earth and which resolved according to the Votes of naturall Man doe tend to the disentitling of God to that Dominion of the Earth which He the Creator of whatsoever hath being cannot any where lose which He will not immediately Exercise himselfe and which He may not endure to have taken unlesse given by any Creature or which tend to the making of God not to have so Regular Soveraignty amongst Professing Christians as that he had and hath amongst Pagans and little other then that he hath in Hell it self together with all other the ill Consequences in the foregoing Arguments Are in regard of the Devils Malice and Vigilancy against the Supremacy of God and the Weal of Man promised unto his Humility and Obedience and in respect of the generall Vanity of Proud and Vnruly mankind impatient of the Dominion of God committed to one Man rather to be avoided with the Reverence of Religious Feare then entred into with the boldnesse of confident Weaknesse then prosecuted with the dangerous strength of Self-ended Wisdome or otherwise then by the justly Magisteriall evidently Infallible and graciously provident Oracles of the Creator and King of all But the particular Questioning of the Kings Title who is the Onely declared Deputy of God throughout the whole Scripture out of a Spirit of Opposition Brings into Question the whole c. Therefore the Questioning of the Kings Title out of a Spirit of Opposition Is rather to be avoided with the Reverence of Religious Fear then entred into with the boldnesse of confident Weaknesse then prosecuted with the dangerous strength of Self-ended Wisdome or otherwise then by the justly Magisteriall evidently Infallible and graciously provident Oracles of the Creator and King of all CHAP. VIII SECT 1. The Contents An Introduction to the ensuing Chapter The Adversaries Principles unjustly taken up but more foully deserted The Peoples Liberty the Word of God and the Kingdome of Christ find no such Enemies as the Pretenders for them The written Word of God the best Commentary upon the unwritten Law of Nature Gen. 49. 10. and 1 Sam. 13. 13. reconciled The Exemplification of Gods mind in the Institution of King Saul an Argument unanswerable by the Adversaries The acknowledger of the Scriptures