last point which I shal be able at this time to handle as the end wherfore Christians are bound to pray for those in authority or the good fruit which we may by God's blessing reape if we be not sparing in sowing the powerfull seed of our prayers for them In which clause as there is plainly set downe a suffitient argument to enduce us to pray for Kings c So there seemeth to be included what is the duty of magistrates in the common wealth or where to God hath ordained them and what he requireth of them viz to see to the maintainance of 1 peace and quietnes 2. godlines and 3ly honestie Peace is the profit and increase of the Duty of princes common wealth whereas warre is the overthrow and ruine of it as may be seen in great kingdomes and Countries which have bin utterly wasted and depopulated by having the seat of warre within their borders So that there is great reason that those in supream authority should have a care to preserve peace for in so doeing they preserve their owne and the Country's riches and safety Happie therfore and renowned among men is that King or supreame magistrate who beareth not only in his Chrest but also in his breast this divine Mottoe Blessed are Math. 5 9. the peacemakers but sad thoughts can not but be of those princes who like unnaturall and hard hearted parents shall not only with dry cheeks behold their children their subjects sheathing their swords in each others bowels but also countenance and defend the ringleaders and abettors of such bloodie enterprizes Surely such if such there be are farre from being sons of peace Should not the shedding of their owne blood touch them and make them withdraw their hand yea doubtles otherwise they bewray themselves to be unfit to governe for he that ruleth over men must be just 2 Sam. 23 3. but how farr such demeanour is from Justice a tender capacitie may soone determine Civile peace is also the tranquillity of the Churches of the Saints who in the dayes of rest and quiet doe flourish as a green baytree in the garden of God spread abroad over nations and kingdomes but in the daies of trouble and persecution is driven into the wildernes to hide herself from the rage of the wicked where yet the Lord nourisheth her maketh her to yeild her savour like the Camemal which the more it is troden upon and depressed the sweeter smell it sendeth forth In the daies of peace and quietnes the people of God sit under their vines and figtrees eating and drinking and making melodie in their hearts unto God flocking like doves to their windowes like Eagles to the carkase in multitudes to the celebration of God's ordinances Whereas the times of trouble and persecution make them to sit downe in mourning and hang by their harpes as not able to * Psal 137. sing the song of Sion but remembring the Lord a farre off as one that turneth his back upon them which maketh them to sigh and groan and to cloth themselves in sackcloth and to have ashes for their meat and mingle their wine with weeping Their meetings togither then if at all are in feare and sorrowe stil looking for their enemy to come upon them to make a prey of their lives Let then every true Christian-like heart never cease praying for Kings and those in authority that under them we may live a peaceable and quiet life Godlinesse is the pillar of the common wealth for where that is cherished upheld and maintayned by the higher powers that kingdom is doubtlesse stable and firme and so shall continue For there is neither treacherie or rebellion at home or open invasion from abroad that shall anie way distract that prince who maketh the Lord his hope and serveth him continually nor hurt that people that walke in his feare Wherfore it is a principall thing which God requireth in princes that they be men c Exod. 18 21. 22. fearing God and the sweet singer of Israel saith that they must d 2 Sam. 23 3. rule in the feare of God I can not here omit something that I have lately read written by one * Iosua de la Cave of our times in an Epistle to the states of Holland and West-Frisia to this effect e Vbi religio est locum habent bonae leges ac bona disciplina ex quibus fortunati felicesque eventus in expeditionibus praecipuâ— bellicis nascuntur sieut â— contra etiam sublata religione corruere rempublicam oportet quoniaâ— sublata Dei timore sequitur impietas ruins Imperiorum where religion is good lawes and good discipline have place by which come prosperous and happie events espetially in warlike expeditions as on the contrary religion being taken away the common wealth must faile becaus when the feare of God is taken away ungodlines followeth and the ruine of Empires And againe * Duo fundamenta tâ— tius bonae societatis sunt religio Iustitia ubi câ—ptum ab illis declinari pro modulo minuitur felicitas Reipublicae subditos rebellare in se sentit ordinario Iure qui Deo rebellis est Religion and Justice are the two only props of a good society when once men begin to declyne from them the happines also of the common wealth doth diminish he ordinarily feeleth the rebellion of his subjects against him that is himself a rebell against God And afterwards ‡ Cum pura manet religio tum bene ordinata stat politia a Deo conservata incolumis when Religion remayneth pure then the civile state is well ordered is kept in safety by God Now princes may be said to maintaine godlines first by abolishing and rooting out of their kingdome as much as in them is all false wayes invented and feigned religions all Idols and superstitious vanities But if they be on the other hand seekers to root out godlines and the feare of God from among them by persecuting the Saints forbiding preaching suffering Idol-service tollerating the blaspheming of the name of God and breach of his sabaths they shall never be able to hold up their heads when the King of Kings shall call them to an accompt Secondly by upholding and maintayning the true Christian religion defending the Churches of Christ from the abusing hands and tongues of wicked persecutors But if they themselves be persecutors of the godly restrayning them of their liberty of publike service of God inflicting fines amercements imprisonments and other corporall punishments upon men that make conscience of the way of Gods service the true religion what will they say when God shall visite their iniquity with a rod their sin with scourges This is the principall charge and duty of princes if they did but know their duty namely to further the honour of God and his worship and service First becaus it is from him they have their office charge
the power thereof and therfore we are bidden to turne away from them I should rather exhort such to repent and be converted that their sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshment shall come from the presence of the Lord Acts. 3 19. and then they may come with boldnesse to the throne of grace and be sure to find grace to help in time of need Heb. 4 16. for they must be purged even as gold and silver before they can offer to the Lord an offering in righteousnesse Mal. 3 3. But my purpose in manifesting this discourse is partly to put the Church of God in mynd as in duty and by calling I am bound what is the best and most safest meanes to be used by them in these troublous times to helpe to allay the distractions of our native Countrie and that such a meanes as whereby they though absent from them yet may helpe them that more effectually than if they should run home and fight for them to wit by their earnest prayers teares and strong cryes unto God which prevaile powerfully when sword and speare can doe no good and partly as hath bin before touched to give the world and all juditious readers to understand if they will understand anie thing that those faithfull Christians which goe commonly though falsely under the name of Brownists are not so corrupt in doctrine and manners as hath bin since the session of this present Parliament of England divers times intimated against them by persons of no meane quality whose wordes by reason of their place dignity doe call for credit when they affirme any thing inword or writing and that not only such as assist the King but also some that seeme to plead for the Parliament as if Brownists as they terme them were the only and chief foisterers and fomentors of these dissentions and the only masterlesse and unruly persons in the common wealth and such as can not endure Kingly governement or authority over them And this I have attempted not for the credit of the persons of the professors for they can have no greater credit and honour upon earth than to be falsely accused for the name of Christ Math. 5 11. 12. but for the truth's sake that such as desire or inclyne to the embraceing thereof may receive no stumbling block or offence by these aspersions but maie f Iam. 1 21. with meeknesse receave the ingraffed word which is able to save their soules and that they who have already receaved it may not so faint in their myndes that they should by these reprochfull slaunders be turned aside from the good way whereunto the Lord hath called them but have something to answere those that shall thus accuse them and by their perseverance in well doeing put to silence the ignorance of foolish men and g Gal. 6 9. never be weary of well doeing knowing that in due time they shall reape if they faint not In these verses therfore and so forward The scope unto the end of the 7th vers of this chapter the Apostle exhorteth to the carefull and diligent performance of publike prayers wherein he teacheth that we are not only to be myndfull of our selves but ought to remember all men in our prayers to God and espetially Kings and all other magistrates of whom there might have bin then great occasion to doubt whither they should be prayed for or seing they were such bitter enemyes to the Church of God But for them espetially the Apostle proveth that Christians ought to pray by an argument drawen from the profitable effect which should might come thereby to themselves viz that they by their prayers seeking procureing the safety preservatiō of Kings and magistrates their equall just administratiō of their office might live a peaceable quiet life in all godlines honesty And for all men both kinges people by an argument drawen from a certaine assured effect which cā not but follow upon our faithfull fervēt prayers in this kind viz that therein we should please God How ever it goeth with us in respect of the King and people though he continue◠to be a tyrant against us regard not th◠benefit which might come to him and hi◠land by the prayers of the faithfull and they doe continue still in their ignoran◠refusing of the knowledge of God ye◠our praying for them shall returne into our owne bosomes it shall not come home empty for 1 this is good that i◠a greable to the will of God profitable and benefitiall unto our selves 2ly acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour A thing wherein he is much delighted as w th the sweet incense and h Psa 14 1 2 evening sacrifice The which goodnes and acceptablenes of prayer the Apostle proveth by another argument taken from the end whereunto God would have all men to attaine which is salvation Wherein we may apprehend the Apostle's argument to be to this effect He that willeth or is well pleased with the end the same willeth also and is well pleased with the use of the lawfull meanes for attayning to that end But God willeth all men that is all sortes of men aswell Kings and other magistrates as people to be i 2 Pet. 3 9. saved Therfore God willeth and it is a thing good and acceptable in his sight that prayers and supplications be made for them that they may come to the knowledge of his truth so be saved Vers 4. Now that God doth will the salvation of all sortes of men he confirmeth by a double reason Vers 5. and 6. first becaus there is but one God of all sorts of men that is becaus one and the same God hath chosen his people in out of every order and condition of men whom he hath ordained to be objects of his favour There is not one God of the King and an other◠of the subject not one of the rich an◠another of the poore not one of the k Rom. 3 29. Jew◠and another of the gentile but he only that justifieth both Jew and gentile i◠able to save both king and people it i◠the l Rom. 10 12 same Lord over all that is rich unto al◠that call upon him and he alone knoweth who are his 2 Tim. 2 19. Secondly becaus there is but one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus who hath given and offered up him selfe to the father as the price of redemption for all those whom the father hath given him out of every kindred and nation and kingdome and people out o◠every sexe condition Amongst whom he putteth no difference but alike dye◠for them all for there is m Col. 3 11. neither gree◠nor Jew circumcission nor uncircumcission Barbarian Scythian bond nor free ◠but Christ is all and in all and all are one in him whom the Lord will have to be testifyed in due time to
sometimes transforming himself into an z 2 Cor. 11 14. Angell of light as he did to our first parents making them believe that they should be a Gen. 3 5. as Gods that he sought nothing but their good and as he did unto our Saviour Christ himself he assaulted him with a sentence of b Mat. 4 6. Scripture as if he sought to perswade him to no thing but that which was agreable to the will of God when indeed he is a c Iohn 8 44. lyer and the father of lyes like unto whom are his ministers they can turne themselves into the shape of the d 2 Cor. 11 15. ministers of Christ making the simple believe that prelaticall Episcopacie is of divine right that the worship of God is not pure and holy unlesse it be performed in a consecrated church or chappell nor the Supper of the Lord reverently receaved unlesse the piece of bread be adored by prostrating of the body before it that we honor not the name of our Saviour unlesse we bow the knee or put off the cap whensoever we heare the name of Jesus whereby many ignorant ones it may be sometimes mistake * VVhere the Apocrypha is allovved to be read in publike Jesus the son of Syrach or Jesus called Justus or e Acts. 7 45. Jesus who brought in the Israelites into the possession of the gentiles for Jesus our Saviour who is the son of God and many other thinges which are comonly taught by his servants yea and ushered in with manie quotations of scripture and fathers as if their doctrines and phantasies were Oracles of God undenyable truths when indeed they are no thing but error and falshood the very f 1 Tim. 4 1. doctrine of divels Idol service and g Col. 2 18. will worship according to the h Col. 2 8. traditions of men and not after Christ Against whose subtilties and craftie devices where with they i Ephes 4 14. lye in wait to deceave we are no way able to resist unlesse the Lord of his meere grace in Christ doe give unto us the Spirit k Ioh. 16 13. of truth by whom we may be led into all truth and made to discerne between good evill cleave to that which is good and forsake that which is evill the which l Luk. 11 13. holy Spirit he hath promised to give to those that aske him Behold then what great necessity we have every one of us to pray night and day unto God for his helpe and assistance against this our deadly enemie for we m Eph. 6 12. wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers yea Spirituall wickednesses that are in high places wherfore we shall find that the Apostle adviseth us to the practise hereof as a maine weapon to n Eph. 6 18. resist the fiery darts of the Divell that having done all thinges we may stand o Eph 6 13. fast in the faith And our Saviour commaÌ„deth us to p Math. 26 41. watoh and praie that we enter not into temptation Every day bringeth with it evill q Mat. 6 34. suffitient for the day whereby we are incombred with maniefold necessityes for we have not food or rayment of our selves no not the least health strength or ability of body by our owne wisdome it is God that r Psal 136 25. giveth food to all flesh Å¿ Mat. 6 28 29. 30. that clotheth the lillyes and feedeth the ravens when they cry whose is t Psal 24 1. the earth and the fulnesse thereof whose v Prov. 10 22. blessing it is that maketh rich and he addeth no sorrow with it without whom all our labour toyle and industrie is but as water spilt upon the ground for except x Psa 127 1. he build the house the worke-man worketh but in vaine except he keepe the city the watch-man waketh but in vaine wherfore we can never have assurance to have these our bodily wants supplyed from day to day unlesse we be carefull to seeke it of God by prayer as our Saviour hath taught us saying y Mat. 6 11. give us this day our daylie bread And if I should here insist upon the dangerous times in which we live and the daylie feares where with we are incompassed now that we heare of warres and rumors of warrs in all quarters and parts of the earth now that the stroake is come even to our doores our native Country which hath bin famous and renowned amongst all nations for traffique and manufacture by sea and land mightie in conquests famous for riches and learning surpassing others in the light of the gospell which was more or lesse spread abroad over the whole Kingdome lyeth here and there weltring in the bloud of her owne slaine and we have continuall talke and discourse of the great nomber of bloodly enemyes that are among us as so many Serpents in our owne bosomes ready to bite and devoure us it might be a suffitient and powerfull argument to be produced for the proofe of this point to shew the necessity offervent fervent and faithfull prayers to be poured out to the God of hosts whose name is a z Prov. 18 10. strong tower whereto the righteous run and are safe but I feare to darken counsell by a multitude of wordes without knowledge I know our owne hearts and dayly thoughts can not but presse this home unto us with greater efficacie than I can speake it And who is there that is now so sottish or sencelesse as not to mynd that if ever now are the times wherein the Saints are to come often a Mal. 3 16. togither and every one in his b Zach. 12 12. house and closet a part to poure out strong cries and teares unto him that is able to make us overcome all difficulties for if God be with us c Psal 118 6 we need not feare what man can doe unto us They that d Psal 107. 23. goe downe to the sea in ships and occupie in the deepe waters they well know how needfull an anchor â—s to a ship for it is one of the principall implements which they are carefull to preserve So may prayer be said to be to the soule of every true Christian for it will helpe to beget and worke in us â—ope which is the e Heb. 6 1â— anchor of the soule â—oth sure and stedfast and it entereth into that within the vaile where Christ ouâ— high priest sitteth at the right hand oâ— God And as a key is necessary for the opening of a doore that is fast locked So is prayer necessary to open the shut doore of our heart to open the doore of f Acts. 14 27. faith unro us to open the doore of g Col. 4 3. utterance unto us yea the doore of heaven it self whereby we may have entrance unto the throne of grace h Heb. 4 16. to
they are his ministers they could have no power except it were given them from above and therfore good reason that they should use it principally in the furtherance of godlinesse See Dan. 2 21. 37. Pro. 8 15. Joh. 19 11. Ezek. 29. 19. 20. Rom. 13 1. 2. 3. 4. Jerem. 27 8. Secondly God hath honoured them with giving them his title I have said ye are Gods c. Psal 82 1. 2 Cron. 19 6. therfore it is their shame if they should â—ishonour him which they doe if they â—eeke not by all lawfull wayes and meanes â—he promotion of his worship and service Thirdly this appeareth by the administraâ—ion of Almightie God in all ages since we â—ead of Kinges ruling upon Earth both â—n the land of Judah and also in Israel and others Countries in that he hath preâ—erved those that have feared him and â—romoted godlinesse though but in a â—mall measure whereas he hath destroyed â—nd cut off their name and memoriall that have rebelled against him and bin abetâ—ors of Idolatry and false worship though â—t have bin but in the forme and manner of his service which amongst men is accompted an indifferent thing but it is not so with God who will have his will to be the only law to rule in mens consciences as he did the Kinges of Israel who maintayned the calves at Dan and Bethel which Jeroboam the son of Nebat had set up And how did he plague Pharaoh and all Aegipt for that they would not * Exod. 5 1. suffer the childeren of Israel to goe and doe service to their God as he had commanded them which example me thinketh were alone enough to make the hearts of all Kings princes and magistrates be they of supreame or inferior authority to tremble and quake who know that historie of God's fearfulâ— judgments upon that king and people and yet are guilty of the same sin foâ— they will not suffer the people of God to f 2 Cor. 6 17. seperate from their Idolatries and to serve the Lord upon the * Rev. 14 1. VVith Zach. 2 7. Mount Sion where he hath commanded to be worshipped by his Saints They will havâ— the Saints of God the holy ones of the most high to pollute themselves witâ— their Aegyptian Idols to hold communion with their Babylonish Synagogue and to approve and justifie them yea to accompanie with them in their unfruitfull works of darknes Idol-service and Image worship or els fire and fagot halter and gibbet sword and persecutioâ— shall follow them yea and such new kinds of torture as never before these evill dayes have bin heard to have biâ— inflicted upon the Saints as if men for conscience towards God were to be notcht cut or mark'd like dogs rogues or open perjured varlets If this be noâ— a great oppression of the poore weakling and a depriving the free borne subject of his liberty nay his liberty of conscience which is more deare than life and making them slaves and vassals to mens wills and malitious practises whither right or wroÌ„g I am ignorant what is whereas man being a reasonable creature and having a spirit of wisdome and understanding given him from the Almightie should be governed by rationall lawes grounded upon the law of God light of nature and when he is found after due conviction to be a rebell then is it time enough to punish him but if a man be able with meeknes and feare any wise to manifest that that which is put upon him is contrary to the word of God and he can not doe this without sining against God and the scripture saith it is better to obey God than man then to compell such a man to doe any thing against the check of his conscience or to punish him for not doeing it or for doeing the good which is contrary thereunto is not ruling but tyranie Oh that now at length the g Psal 2. 10. 11. 12. Kings of the earth would be wise and that the Judges and rulers of the world would by that and such like examples learne to serve the Lord in feare and rejoyce in trembling Oh that they would themselves and their people with them cast off that affinitie which they have made with that Arch-enemy of Christ the man of sin and would kisse the son least he be angry and they perish in the way when his wrath shall suddainly burne and none shall quench it for it is the will of God that h Iob. 5 23. all men should honour the son as they honor the father he that honoureth not the son honoureth not the father which hath sent him But is it so that they will not honour the son by submitting themselves their crownes and scepters at i his feet to serve him Rev 21 24. and his church by being nursing fathers unto his people Isa 49 23. and 60 10. if they will not k Ier. 22. 3. execute Iudgment and righteousnes and deliver the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor and vexe not the stranger the fatherlesse or the widowe but will doe violence and shed innocent blood will they not set before them the law of the Lord God of heaven l Deut. 17 vers 18. 19. 20. read therein and learne thereby to feare the Lord God whose name is Iehovah and keep all the wordes of his law to doe them but will have their hearts lift up above their bretheren and will oppresse them and make them submit to their humane lawes and ordinances which they have themselves sucked out of the poysoned cup of fornications in the hand of that great whore that rideth upon that scarlet beast whose name is a a Mysterie great Babilon the mother of whoredomes and abominations of the earth and will m Rev. 17 13. 14. have one mynd and give their power and authority to the beast and all to fight against the lambe and those that are with him who are called and chosen and faithfull Then let them know that if they turne not sudainly he that is n Rev. 19 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. faithfull and true who judgeth and warreth righteously whose eies are a flame of fire and on whose head are many crownes whose name is THE WORD OF GOD who hath a companie of warriers following him upon white horses clothed with fine lynnen white and pure out of whose mouth goeth a two-edged sword wherewith he smiteth the nations who is the king of kings and Lord of Lords and hath all o Mat. 28 18 power given him both in heaven and earth that he I say hath p Psol 7 12. bent his bow and made his arrowes ready to shoot at those wicked persecutors and sudainly will he speake unto them in his wrath vexe them in his sore displeasure Then shall they be slaine with the q Rev. 19 18 21. sword of him that sitteth upon the horse which sword cometh out of his mouth and their flesh shal be given