And this is done by lifting up their hands to Heaven Dan. 12. 7. And swearing by him that liveth for ever And not by laying down the hand on a book as the practise of Antichrist hath been And Thirdly at the mouth of two or three witnesses the Judges do determine the matter Deut. 17. 6. and 19. 15. We have not one word of a Jury of twelve men in all the Scripture but the Judges having heard the cause and the Testimonies they give Judgement according to the Law and the party or parties are to sit down with this Judgment as proceeding from Christ who sitteth upon the Throne amongst the Judges And if any matter prove too difficult for the Judges to determine then are they to repair unto the great Councel and to advise with them concerning the Law and the Judgment and the parties must submit unto that determination Deut. 17. 19 12. There was no appeale allowed for that would have been a dishonour to Christ to suppose his Judgment changeable like as mens minds and places are The first rise of such a practise seems to spring from Balak who when he could not get the Lord to curse Israel from one place thought by changing the place of audience to change the minde of the Lord. And when that would not prevail he makes another remove Nam 23. 24. But it is not so in Christs Kingdom When Christ gives Judgement all men are to submit unto it and sit down with it 4. And lastly Christs Officers whether they be Councellors Judges or Military men c. they do conclude their administrations with praises and Prayer to God And thus many of Christs worthies in our late warres have done in their Military expeditions They have first begun with Prayer and concluded with praises And this is the constant practise of the Saints in New England When they begin their Courts whether they be for Councel or for Judicature they first seek the face of God by invocation of his Name and conclude in the same manner So also do the Military Officers in their exercises In like manner do the Ministers and Embassadors of Christ in their administrations For in this way it pleaseth the Lord to train up all his Servants yea those which have attained the greatest parts to depend upon him that he may act their Gifts and make them both serviceable and acceptable to himself and to his people But now behold the great difference between Christs Government and the Governments of those Nations that have received their power from the Dragon For 1. When they come to their Councels or Judicatories they do not begin with Prayer to God But as Swine which come and gather acornes under the tree and never look upwards so do they come and sit down upon their Judgment-Seats it may be under the Arms of the Prince or State which hath impowered them and from whence those have received their authority hath been already shewed and all persons must stand bare before them and in stead of Prayer it may be they begin with an O yes 2. In the management of their power you shall oftentimes see in stead of gravity much levity The Judges now and then breaking jests to make the carnal auditors to break out into laughter a which doth ill beseem the Judgment-Seat Somtimes again they fall into such passionate expressions calling men Varlets and Knaves c. and threatning to make them examples to all others that a man would wonder what is become of that meekness which ought to be in righteous Judges 3. They do not alwayes proceed to Judgment at the mouth of two or three witnesses but oftentimes admit scores of witnesses unto one particular to satisfy the lusts of the plaintiffs and defendants and to increase the Courts fees Whereas in Christs Government every matter is judged at the mouth of two or three witnesses at the most And it is an old Maxime Frustra fit per plura quod fieri potest per pauciora it is needless to use many when fewer will serve the turn And it were good to be considered how it can be excused from taking the Name of God in vain if multitude of witnesses be sworn And lastly as they do not begin with God so neither do they end and close with God They sought not his presence when they began nor do they seek his blessing nor blesse his name for any thing which hath been done Such is the disproportion between the Governments of the Nations and that Government which Christ hath set up Object But it may be some will say Why Judges and Counsellors are not Saints Nor is it the custome of the Nations to pray in their Councel-Chambers or upon the Bench of Justice Answ I Answer 'T is oftentimes too true that Councellors and Judges c. are not Saints more is the pity They are not Saints by calling nor do they walk in fellowship with any of the Churches of Christ It may be they pray not at home in their Families or in their closets and how then can it be expected they should pray upon the Judgement-Seats or in their Counsels It may be they cannot pray at all quoad verba unless they should Mumble over a company of beads as the Popish manner is And whereas the Objection saith it is not the fashion of the Nations to pray upon Judgment-Seats c. I Answer It is the more shame for them But yet no wonder that in those Nations which have received their power from the Dragon Prayer unto God should grow out of use for that would not turn to the Dragons advantage 2. As it is a shame for them so it is to be pityed and lamented that Nations who professe Christ should have such Officers as are difused to pray and either cannot or will not call upon God 3. I say that though Rulers in other Nations do not make it their business to seek the Lord both first and last in all their publick administrations Yet New-England which hath been better principled and let it be remembred for an everlasting praise unto them in the generations yet to come they make this their constant practise to begin and end their Courts with prayer And me thinks the Counsellors and Judges in all the Nations that professe to know Christ should be willing without much provocation to take up such a Holy Necessary and Christian practise For if Masters be counted irreligious that pray not with their Families and Ministers also that pray not with their Congregations shall not such Magistrates be worthily counted irreligious that do not sanctify Gods Name by Prayer and Praises on their Judgement-Seats As for such as cannot pray they are unworthy me thinks to sit upon Gods Seat of Justice It were fit to thrust such dumb Doggs that cannot bark such Idol-Shepherds from the Judgment-Seats as well as out of the Churches I speak now of them that are the worser sort of Rulers and Magistrates in
according as it is said Psal 93. 5. Holiness becomes thy House for ever Thus you see it cleared from the Text That the Government there spoken of must necessarily be understood of Civil Government Let me now produce some Arguments of the like nature drawn from other Scriptures that speak of the Kingdom of the Messiah And they will demonstratively prove That Civil Government and Jurisdiction do of right belong unto the Messiah the Son of David our Lord Jesus Christ that blessed and onely Potentate 1 Tim. 6. 15. These Arguments I shall reduce to six Heads 1. The Style given to the Government of the Messiah argueth that it is not Ecclesiastical but Civil It is called an Absolute k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Soveraignty Dominion or Sultanship Dan. 7. 14. Hence the Turks derive the Name of their chiefest Lords whom they call Sultans This is such a power of Government as cannot be applied to Church-Government but is always attributed to earthly Princes Power in reference to mens persons and estates and ordering of the Commonwealths Affairs which is a Power that was never allowed to Churches or Church-Officers And David speaking of that Power which the Messiah should put forth saith Psal 72. 8. He shall have dominion from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth The word there used for l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dominion doth signifie such a power as is inconsistent with Church Government It is such a Dominion and Rule as Masters do exercise over their servants Levit. 25. 43. Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour or as Adam did exercise over the fishes of the sea and fowls of the air and every thing that moveth upon the earth Gen. 1. 28. where the same word is used And who can with any pretence or colour of reason suppose That that should be an Ecclesiastical Power Yea it is such a ruling power as Princes exercise over their enemies Psal 110. 2. Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies Wherefore we must needs conclude That Civil Government doth of Right belong to Jesus Christ unless we shall willingly shut our eyes against the clear light of Truth 2. The Titles given to Christ do argue That Civil Power belongs to him He is called The GREAT KING in reference to Jerusalem or the Commonwealth Maâ— 5. 35. He is called also King of kings and Lord of lords Rev. 19. 16. Now in the Churches there is but one King and one Lord. Sometimes I alledged also 1 Tim. 6. 15. and applied those words The blessed and onely Potentate unto Christ as if the Apostle had spoken immediately of Christ Lest any therefore should mistake the place as I also did till I looked into the Original I thought it good to advertise every one to examine duly the words in their proper tongue ere they relye upon any interpretation given But yet the mistake is not great because that which is spoken of the Divine Nature may also by communication of properties be attributed to the Humane Nature united to the Second Person He is the King of kings and Lord of lords as hath been shewed 3. We may fetch another Argument from the Royal Seat of the Messiahs Government or the place of his Throne and Court which is not here said to be Zion or the Church but Jerusalem and Jerusalem in Scripture-phrase is frequently put for the Civil State And for that cause it is called The City of the great King Mat. 5. 35. Swear not by Jerusalem for it is the City of the great King Why were not Hebron and Samaria and other Cities of Israel and Judah his Cities Yea verily but they are not the Royal Seat of this great King or the place of his Court and Throne the place of his residence That will be at Jerusalem For There do the thrones of Judgement remain or sit the thrones of the house of David Psal 122. 5. Whence it is that most of the Prophecies concerning the Kingdom of the Messiah do still â—un upon Jerusalem I will create Jerusalem a rejoycing and her people a praise and I will rejoyce in Jerusalem Isa 65. â—8 19. Isa 62. 7. Ye that are the Lords remembrancâ—rs keep not silence and give him no rest till he establish and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the midst of the earth And in the 3d Verse of that Chapter he saith That Jerusalem shall be a Royal Diadem as if that were the Royal Seat of this great King the MESSIAH And Zachary prophesying of the Kingdom of this great King bids Zion that is the Church rejoyce not onely for the presence of the Lord in his Church but also because the Lord Jesus the Messiah would again choose Jerusalem to be his Royal Seat Zech. 2. 10 12. and Zech. 14. 16 17. And it shall come to pass that every one that is left of all the Nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King the Lord of Hosts and to keep the feast of Tabernacles And it shall be that whosoever will not come up of the families of the earth to Jerusalem to worship the King the Lord of Hosts even upon them shall be no rain This King undoubtedly is King Jesus the promised Messiah of whom the Angel speaketh to Mary Luke 1. 32. He shall be great or shall be called the son of the MOST HIGH and the Lord God shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdom there shall be no end And Thrones and Kingdoms are always put for Civil Jurisdiction and Power not for Church-power And lâ—st any should be mistaken to think that all the Scriptures which speak of Christs Kingdom are to be understood of his Spiritual Government over his Church the Prophet Isaiah tells us That he shall reign as King both in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem that is both in Church and Civil State Isa 24. 23. If any shall say That this will necessarily â—nferre Christs Personal reign for a thousand years I answer That it will not necessarily follow But that is not my subject at this â—aâ—e to discuss Possibly there may be a mistake both in them that avouch the thousand years Personal reign and in them that deny Christs Rule and Government in Civil things But whether he will Personally reign on earth a thousand years or no doubtless he will Personally appear and will assume his Kingdom and order the same And it is one thing to appear and to order and constitute Government another thing to reside and exercise the same But I shall conclude nothing positively as to that particular 4. The Acts of Judgement and Justice which are put forth in this Kingdom of the Messiah are such as appertain to Civil not unto Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Let me instance in some Acts and I shall begin with that which David mentions Psal 72.
14. He shall judge thy people with justice and thy poor with judgement He shall redeem their soul from sorce and violence which Churches cannot do by Church-power And Psal 76. 12. He cutteth off the spirit of Princes And Psal 110. 5 6. He strikes through Kings in the day of his wrath He shall judge among the Nations he shall fill them with dead bodies he shall wound the Heads over many countreys And Rev. 19. 15. Out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword that with it he should smite the Nations and he shall rule them with a Rod of iron And Daniel speaking of this Kingdom of the Messiah and the little Stone cut out of the Mountain without hands saith Dan. 2. 35 45. Then were broken in pieces as one the iron the clay the brass the silver and the gold and they became as the chaff of the summer threshing-floors and the wind carried them away that no place of them was sound and the stone that smote the Image became a great Mountain and filled all the earth And ver 45. he saith that the Stone cut out of the Mountain without hands it brake in pieces the iron the brass the clay the silver and the gold Now how disproportionable is it unto Church-power To rescue men from force and violence to behead Princes to strike through Kings in wrath to judge Nations with such a Judgement as filleth them with dead bodies to wound Captains and Rulers over many Nations to smite the Nations and rule them with an iron Rod yea to break them and make them as the dust of the Summer threshing-floors These are such acts as do not become Churches to exercise as Churches Should it be put unto Princes and Rulers to judge whether it be fit to allow Churches such a power I trow they would answer in the Negative They will tell you That the Acts aforementioned appertain to the Jurisdiction of Civil Princes and Potentates And if so how can it be denied that this Civil Power belongs to the Messiah who is King of kings and Lord of lords or whom David Daniel and John did prophesie in the places afore-mentioned 5. The Acknowledgements which the People Nations and Languages yea and Kings themselves do tender unto this great King the Messiah and to his Government are such as do plainly argue That Civil Jurisdiction belongeth to Christ Jesus the Messiah Let me instance in two particulars 1. Homage and Fealty is due to Christ as you may reade Dan. 7. 14. All People Nations and Languages shall serve him or do Homage to him And Psal 72. 11. All Kings shall bow down to him all the Nations shall do him homage And ver 9. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him and his enemies shall lick the dust 2. Tribute Not that this King Jesus will put upon them Taxes Impositions Customs Excize No Customs or Excize in the days of the Messiah or the like that is contrary to his nature and the sweetness of his Government but the Nations come freely and offer gifts His people are a willing people in the day of his power And thus it is said Psa 72. 10 15. The Kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall bring an offering the Kings David seems to be a Fifth Monarchy man of Sheba and Seba shall offer a gift Yea he shall live and to him one shall give of the gold of Ophir Oh! how would the Priests and Shavelings of our Age leap for joy if such honour might be done to them by the Grandees of the World and by the vulgar sort also If they should come and bow to them but most of all if they would come and bring them all manner of costly Merchandize and the gold of Ophir too Oh how would their hearts skip for joy But 't is much to be feared if this should be the condition of the carnal proud Clergy-men as they are called they would do as sometimes good Aaron did make Calves to please the people Indeed such free offerings and gifts may well beseem the Royalty of Christs Kingdom when the Jews shall be called to support the vast expence which the Rulers must necessarily and inevitably undergo in reparation of their Cities and houses and entertainment of their own Countreymen which will be daily flocking as Doves to the Windows And also for the honourable entertainment and accommodation of the Messengers and Ambassadors which will be sent unto them from all the Nations in every Quarter of the World And also as a thankful acknowledgement unto the Messiah who by this time will have turned their Swords into Plow-shares and their Spears into Pruning-hooks so as they shall never learn warre any more No marvel then if the mercenary Souldiers of this Age cannot indure to hear of this Kingdom or Fifth Monarchy for then away goes Swords and Spears and Courts of Guard which is now their livelyhood and maintenance But there will be no need of such things then 6. Jesus Christ hath formerly exercised Civil Power He hath given Laws Statutes and Judgements and granted Commission unto meet Officers to execute the same and therefore the power of Civil Government doth belong to him of right Now that Christ hath exercised such a power is manifest Witness all the Laws Statutes and Judgements given to Gods people by the hand of Moses when he brought them out of the Land of Aegypt And that Government he exercised for the space of many hundreds of years together until the Babylonish Captivity when Nebuchadnezzar the Head of Image-government wrested it as I may say out of Christs hand But Christ hath promised That as formerly he did exercise this power so he will assume this power again when he hath broken down all Image-government and then he will restore Judges unto his people as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning Isa 1. 26. And then shall his people have no Laws nor Judgments but his as the Prophet saith Isa 33. 22. Jehovah is our Judge Jehovah is our Law-giver Jehovah is our King he will save us From all which Arguments laid together we may undoubtedly conclude That the power of Civil Government doth of right belong unto Jesus Christ the Messiah and that he will again resume this power and the exercise thereof when he hath broken those powers that have Outed him from his Inheritance and then will he reign most gloriously This was the Opinion of David and Isaiah and all the Prophets as hath been shewed And this was the Opinion of the eleven Apostles as may appear by the Question they put to our Lord Jesus after his Resurrection Acts 1. 6. Lord wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdome to Israel A Kingdome then they did expect And mark Christs answer He doth not deny that such a Kingdome should be which in faithfulness he would have done to undeceive them had their judgements been erroneous but he tells them their Question was unseasonable It is