Selected quad for the lemma: earth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
earth_n	church_n	heaven_n	kingdom_n	8,952	5	6.5021	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78493	Certain quæres humbly presented in way of petition, by many Christian people, dispersed abroad throughout the county of Norfolk and city of Norwich, to the serious and grave consideration and debate of His Excellency the Lord General and of the General Councel of War. The resolution of which may tend much to the discovery of the great work of God in hand, the union of the godly, and the direction of those worthy instruments imployed in the work. Together with an humble advice for the settling of the kingdom, according to such a model hinted therein, offered as the sence of many Christians, who conceive themselves ingaged (as by their prayers, so) by their councels, to help on the present work of God; desiring it may be examined with all candor, and according as it is found agreeable to the Word of God, may be accepted; or if otherwise, rejected.		1649 (1649)	Wing C1738; Thomason E544_5; ESTC R205983	4,835	8

Antichrist 2 Thess 2.7 5 Q. Whether this be not the time or near upon it of putting down that worldly Government and erecting this new Kingdom For this end consider This kingdom is to succeed the fourth Monarchy immediately the first part whereof the Heathenish Empire is long since expired and the second part the Antichristian Empire is about the expiration the time allotted 1260 years being about to finish Obj. But Christ saith My Kingdom is not of this world how then can it now be expected R. But he doth not say It shall not be upon the earth nor while the earth remains see the contrary Rev. 5.10 but world is taken for the time of continuance of that worldly Government The world is put for the Roman Monarchy Luke 2.1 When the fifth Monarchy begins shall be those new Heavens and new Earth spoken of Heb. 2.5 The Church is called the world to come as some expound that place 2 Esdras 6.9 Esau is the ending of the old world and Jacob the beginning of the new that is The raign of the wicked Esau's progeny terminates the old world and the raign of Jacob of the Saints to whom the promise of Dominion is made begins the new world 6 Q. Whether this Kingdom is not to be set up without hands Dan. 2.45 without Humane Power and Authority Zech. 4.6 but by the Spirit of Christ calling and gathering People into less Families Churches and Corporations till they thus multiply exceedingly Thus all worldly Political kingdoms arise and grow and thus the Spiritual kingdom of the Church 7 Q. Whether these Churches and Corporations thus gathered and multiplyed exceedingly shall not joyn together in General Assemblies and Church-Parliaments chusing and delegating such Officers of Christ and Representatives of the Churches as may rule Nations and Kingdoms and so the Kingdoms of the world be the Churches This kingdom must either be Monarchical as when Christ the Head and King appears visibly or Parliamentary as in the mean time when Christs Officers and the Churches Representatives rule The brief Resolution of the Quaeres 1. THere is a kingdom and Dominion which the Church is to exercise on the Earth 2. That extends to all persons and things universally which is to be externally and visibly administred 3. By such Laws and Officers as Jesus Christ our Mediator hath appointed in his kingdom 4. It shall put down all worldly Rule and Authority so far as relates to the worldly constitution thereof though in the hands of Christians 5. And is to be expected about this time we live in 6. This kingdom shall not be erected by humane Power and Authority but Christ by his Spirit shall call and gather a people and form them into several less Families Churches and Corporations and when they are multiplyed 7. They shall rule the world by General Assemblies or Church-Parliaments of such Officers of Christ and Representatives of the Churches as they shall chuse and delegate which they shall do till Christ come in Person Q. What then is the present interest of the Saints and People of God R. To associate together into several Church-Societies and Corporations according to the Congregational way till being increased and multiplyed they may combine into General Assemblies or Church-Parliaments according to the Presbyterian way and then shall God give them Authority and Rule over the Nations and kingdoms of the world For the present to lay aside all differences and divisions amongst themselves and combine together against the Antichristian powers of the world Rev. 15.2 c. whom they may expect to combine against them universally Rev. 17.13 14. An humble Advice concerning the Government of the Kingdom according to the former Platform or Model 1. THat you would stir up godly Ministers and People throughout the kingdom to associate or incorporate into Church-Societies as is before expressed and grant them your special favor provision and protection so shall you be the Saints nursing fathers 2. That you would please to satisfie the godly dissenting Brethren both of Presbytery and Independency by such ways and means as your wisdoms shall finde out how both their interests may meet herein that so they may concur with one heart in the work 3. That Sister-Churches oversee such incorporations and imbodyings that onely such as be of approved godliness may have the right-hand of fellowship given to them 4. That such Churches where more of them are thus collected and imbodyed in any division circuit province c. may chuse and send out some delegates members officers to meet in one Session lesser Parliament Presbytery or Assembly for ordering all such affairs as there occur according to the word if appertaining alone to that division 5. That all such Churches and the Members thereof have voyces in Elections of such as are to sit in General Assemblies or Church-Parliaments so often as occasion is and those elected to sit there as Christs Officers and the Churches Representatives and to determine all things by the Word as that Law that God will exalt alone and make honorable 6. That you take special care to send out and incourage godly Preachers that may go into the rest of the Kingdom to preach the Gospel that so when others are converted and the Son of God makes them free they may enjoy the former freedome with the rest of the Saints Additional Considerations for the improvement of the former Model 1. COnsider whether it be not a far greater honor for Parliaments Magistrates c. to rule as Christs Officers and the Churches Representatives then as Officers of a worldly kingdom and Representatives of a meer natural and worldly people 2. What right or claim meer natural and worldly men have to Rule and Government that want a sanctified claim to the least outward blessings 3. How can the kingdom be the Saints when the ungodly are electors and elected to Govern 4. Whether it be not a straitning of the Churches power to limit it onely to Spiritual matters 5. We expect new Heavens and a new Earth according to his promise how then can it be lawful to patch up the old worldly Government especially being lapsed for its Male-Administration according to its own natural principles 6. Whether to repair the broken Image that the stone hath smitten upon the feet be not to fall upon the stone 7. Whether all powers falling upon that stone have not deserved to be broken in pieces 8. What a sin it would be to set up the dim light of nature for our Law when God hath given the light of the Scriptures a better Law 9. How unbeseeming it were for the followers of the Lamb to comply in the least with the powers of the world in setting up their worldly kingdoms 10. How dangerous it is to keep out Christ from his throne when he hath exalted you and given you an opportunity to exalt him 11. What facility appears in settling the kingdom in the hands of the Saints and difficulty to settle it any other way * As subscriptions c. and not destroy the interest of the Saints 12. What advantage of reconciling the godly this way and suppressing the Enemies of godliness for ever These and many other Considerations of like nature hereby hinted we humbly offer to your wisdoms desiring the assistance of Gods Spirit in all your Councels for the improvement of them FINIS

CERTAIN QVAERES Humbly presented In way of PETITION By many Christian People dispersed abroad throughout the County of Norfolk and City of Norwich To the serious and grave Consideration and Debate Of His EXCELLENCY The LORD GENERAL AND Of the General Councel of War The resolution of which may tend much to the discovery of the great work of God in hand The Union of the godly and the Direction of those worthy Instruments imployed in the Work Together with an humble Advice For the settling of the Kingdom according to such a Model hinted therein offered as the sence of many Christians who conceive themselves ingaged as by their Prayers so by their Councels to help on the present work of God desiring it may be examined with all candor and according as it is found agreeable to the Word of God may be accepted or if otherwise rejected London Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black Spread-Eagle at the West-end of Pauls 1648. To his Excellency Thomas Lord Fairfax Lord General of the Army and to the General Councel of War The Petition of many Christian People dispersed abroad throughout the County of Norfolk and City of Norwich Humbly sheweth THat your Petitioners acknowledge themselves unspeakably ingaged to the God of Heaven and Earth for his great mercy to us in giving you hearts to offer your selves so willingly among the People in the late great undertakings of this Nation against the Enemies of the Peace thereof and blessing your faithful endeavors with such glorious and wonderful successes Whereby as the Lord hath put great Honor upon you crowning your valor with Victory and making you the Warlike Glory of the world so he hath no less put great Obligations upon you all to exalt him that hath exalted you and to lift up his glory in the world where he hath given you a Name so great and glorious And because the great design of God in the falls and overthrows of worldly powers that have opposed the Kingdom of his Son is by making Christs foes his footstool To lift up him on high far above all Principality and Power and Might and Dominion and every name that is named in this world that he may be PRINCE of the Kings of the Earth and all Nations may serve and obey him as you shall quickly see if you make the Scriptures your Counsellors for which cause we take the boldness to tender these in stead of many Psal 2.9 10 11 12. and 72. and 93. and 110.1 2 3 4 5 6. Isa 2.11 12. and 11.4 5. and 32.1 2. and 53.12 and 52.13 14 15. Jer. 33.15 16 17. Ezek. 34.22 23 24. Dan. 2.34 35 44 45. and 7.26 27. Mic. 5.4 5 6. Zech. 9.10 Luke 1.32 33. Rev. 1.5 c. and 17.14 Phil. 2.9 10 11. Eph. 1.20 21 22. Therefore our daily prayer shall be for your selves and your Noble Army That you may never stumble at the stumbling stone nor take that Honor to your selves that is due to Christ nor be instrumental for the setting up of a meer natural and worldly Government like that of Heathen Rome and Athens as too many late overtures have caused us to fear whereby the publike interest of Jesus Christ will be utterly banished the Kingdom in the conclusion But that you whom God hath Honored so highly as to begin the great work of smiting the Image on the feet may shew your selves thankful to him that hath given you Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ may honor his Son and comfort his Saints in whom he raigns Spiritually and by whom he will raign visibly over all the Nations of the world as these Scriptures declare with others Dan. 2.44 55. and 7.22 27. Mic. 5.4 5.6 Rev. 2.26 27. and 5.9 10. and 12.9 10 11. To which end we humbly crave That your selves would take into your serious and grave consideration and debate the particulars in the Papers herewith humbly offered to you and also present them to the Honourable Parliament that they may be improved so far as found agreeable to the will and word of God which done we doubt not but God shall have much glory the godly party shall be comforted natural men enjoying their Estates will be at rest also and much satisfied and this Commonwealth will be exalted to be both an habitation of Justice and Mountain of Holiness even such a People as God will bless Jer. 31.23 And your Petitioners shall ever pray 1. Quaere VVHether there is not a Kingdom and Dominion of the Church or of Christ and the Saints to be expected upon Earth Dan. 7.27 and 2.44 Isa 2.2 3. and 60.12 c. Rev. 11.15 Rev. 5.10 2. Q. Whether this Kingdom though more Spiritual in the Administration thereof yet be not external and visible in the world yea extend not to all persons and things universally Isa 60.12 14. Zech. 14.16 17. 1 Cor. 6.2 3. Eph. 1.21 22. For this end consider 1. How this fifth kingdom or Monarchy comes in the place of the fourth visibly succeeding it 2. Note How the main scope of the Prophesies is to shew the ontward visible Administration of the Government of the world under the several kingdoms successively as under the first three Monarchies then under the fourth by the Roman Emperors first then by Antichrist and the ten horns and then how the Church comes to have the outward and visible Government of the world see Daniel and Revelations 3. Q. Whether this Kingdom is not proper to Christ as Mediator spicifically distinct from the Essential Kingdom of God and from all worldly Kingdoms and so to be administred by such Laws and Officers as Christ as Mediator hath appointed in his Kingdom and therefore not set up when Magistrates become Christian seeing they rule not then as Christian nor as Christs Officers nor by his Law but as worldly Governors the Magistrates being Officers set up by God in that Essential Kingdom not in this Mediatory Kingdom of Christ 4 Q. Whether the Kingdoms of the world and Powers thereof as Kings yea Parliaments also and Magistrates so far as appertains to the present worldly constitution of them must not be put down before this Kingdom can be erected 1 Cor. 15.24 25. Dan. 2.35 44 45. 1 Object But these Powers are not inconsistent with the Kingdom of Christ both may stand together Kings shall be thy nursing fathers R. The persons betrusted with these powers may befriend it such as rule in the Kingdoms of the world may be subjects of Christ but the question here is of the Government it self which relates to the great Image Dan. 2. and so must be broken down 2 Obj. But worldly Government as worldly or Civil appertains not to the fourth Monarchy nor to the Image but as opposing Christs Kingdom 1 R. The ten Toes Horns or Kingdoms are parts of the Image 2. They oppose Christs Kingdom as worldly or civil because they let it not to speak now of other opposition as the Roman Heathen Empire letted