disclaim not only Ecclesiastical Rulers but also civil powers in order to their smiting work and also to smite them is damnable and Antichristian Nor can here the pretences of their being of the fourth Monarchy from Rome Oppressors Idolaters Antichristian salve the matter fith those Priests of the Jewes and Roman Governours to whom Christ yeiled Subjection were as bad and every way as obnoxious to their criminations of the present Governours as any now be Assuredly the present Governours in these Nations cannot be charged with such things as Pilate Caiaphas and the rest of those Governors to whom Christ was subject were chargable wth without extream impudence This argument is further confirmed from the examples of all the holy Apostles Martyrs and Confessors in the primative times of Christianity Instances might be given in James Peter Paul who doubtless could as easily have killed their persecutors as Ananias and Sapphira or strucken them blind as St. Paul did Elymas the Sorcerer yet submitted themselves to imprisonment pleaded their cause before Roman Rulers appealed to Caesar suffered even to death In the times following the Christians served under the persecuting Roman Emperors in their Wars and though they were in number many dispersedover their Empire and had Arms in their hands whereby they might in appearance have been able to have defended themselves against the violence of their persecutors yet they chose to suffer under the tyrannous Emperors that then were rather than to rise up against them to revenge themselves because their Christian profession did forbid them as Tertullian Apolog. c. 37. ad scapulam c. 2. Cyprian ad Demetr and others plead for them Out of these and other examples which might be produced we may argue thus That Doctrine which teacheth men to do contrary to the examples and profession of our Lord Christ Jesus his Apostles Martyrs Confessors Saints in the first and best ages of Christianity is damnable and Antichristian But such is the Doctrine of the Quinto-Monarchians concerning their smiting of civil powers as is manifest by comparing them therefore it is damnable and Antichristian § 8. More arguments are urged from censures and determinations in the New Testament A Fourth argument I deduce from those places of holy scripture which censure condemn and denounce woe unto those practises which the Doctrine of the Quinto-Monarchians incites men to and they magnify as the fruits of Gods Spirit The Apostle Peter 2 Epist. 2. 9 10 11. The Lord knowes how to deliver the Godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and dispise Government or Dominion presumptuous are they self-willed they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities whereas Angels which are greater in power and might bring not a railing accusation against them before the Lord. Which is seconded by St. Jude v. 8 9 10. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh despise Dominion and speak evil of dignities Yet Michael the Arch-Angel when contending with the Devil he disputed about the body of Moses durst not bring against him a railing accusation but said the Lord rebuke thee But these speak evil of the things they know not In which passages those holy Apostles rank the despisers of Dominion those that speak evil of dignities not among the Saints but amongst the most accursed reprobates though those Dominions and dignities were as bad as might be in respect of their personal qualities and actions yea the Arch-Angels example is brought in as not daring to bring against the Devil himself when there was a contention about Moses his body a railing accusation but referred it to the Lord to rebuke him teaching thereby that such terms as contain threatning contempt reproach of Governors and dignities are altogether unsuteable to Saints and such as they should not dare to utter though they contended with the Devil himself much less with men that are in Power and Authority much less to smite them and directing how to deal with them when they be injurious to wit to defer their cause to God for his suppression of them and threatning wo to the practisers of contempt of Dominion and speaking evil of dignities All which are contrary to the Doctrine of Quinto-Monarchians who revile dispise threaten them commend the smiting of them as the generation work promise rewards to them that do it Whence I infer that Doctrine which animates men to such practises as are damned by the holy Apostles St. Peter and St. Jude is damnable and Antichristian But such is the Doctrine of Quinto-Monarchians concerning their vilifying and smiting civil powers therefore it is damnable and Antichristian If any object our Saviours answer Luk. 13. 32. to some Pharisees who said to him get thee out and depart hence for Herod will kill thee bidding them go ye and tell that Fox behold I cast out Devils and I do cures to day and to morrow and the third day I shall be perfected I answer these words do not at all contain any vilifying of the Kingdoms of the fourth Beast or contempt of the Kings of the earth But a reproof of Herods evil qualities of craft and crueltie and a professed resolution of his going on in his work with undanted magnanimity till the time came of his laying down his life with a prediction that it should not be where Herod had jurisdiction but at Jerusalem As for that which we read Isai. 37. 22. This is the word of the Lord which he hath spoken concerning Sennacherib King of Assyria the Virgin the daughter of Sion hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorn the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee it gives no allowance for one of the Lamb's followers to express contempt of the Kings of the earth though they were all of them as they are unjustly charged the lovers of the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the earth this being a breach of a plain rule in the New Testament requiring subjection to them and condemning contempt of them which is not in a holy triumph of faith but rather in a proud self magnifying or factious animosity not a deriding of their threats and Blasphemous desparaging of God as was that which the Prophet from God fore-told the Jews should do to a King that had no Authority over them but was an hostile Invader of them and by express warrant from God but a vilifying of the powers that are termed the Kingdom of the fourth Beast as opposite to the Kingdom power and glory of Jesus Christ our Lord though the Apostle Peter expressely bid Honour the King even then when the King was of the fourth Beast as they speak and opposite to the Kingdom power and glory of Christ Jesus The Prophet Isaiah never taught the Jewes to vilify Manasseh his Kingdom or Authority notwithstanding his reprehension of his wickedness and prediction of his calamity And in
not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands neither would he have shewed us all these things nor would as at this time have told us such things as these Judges 13. 23. which shewes that the chief thing animating them to that bloody attempt was the opinion they had that their determinations were of God and that they were assured of help from him which was the very thing that Thomas Muncer and Hacket and such like unquiet spirits were of Satan incited by and ended in nothing but blasphemy of God and reproach of Religion 2. Their abuse of scriptures wrested by unstable and unlearned persons to their destruction arguing from obscure passages against plain precepts doth aggravate their evil acts it being no small evil to make the holy scriptures which are for humility meekness patience trust in God peaceableness an instrument to commotions disobedience to superiors shedding blood such like horrid wickedness So in the Banner despâ—ayed p. 19. Mal. 3. 3. Rev. 14. 4 5. are alledged to prove the Stone Dan. 2. 34 35. is Christ Jesus in the pure sanctified and refined Gentile Christians when the former speaks of the Sons of Levi and the other mentions the 144000. who it is likely are the same with 144000. Revel 7. 4. Sealed of all the Tribes of Israel and p. 59. the words of the Prophet Jerem. 51. 19 20 21 22 23. spoken either of Cyrus or the King of Babel are alleged to prove that the Lord hath elected and made choice of Zion his people to act in this work and service of smiting civil powers unto whom he saith thus thou art my Battle-Axe and Weapon of War So extremely are they deceived and deceive others 3. Which is the worse in them in that they urge their notions as matters of their faith when yet they use conjectural expressions p. 40. Probable conjecture p. 41. seems to favour p. 42. we do not ascertain or determin only suppose p. 44. This our opinion p. 48. we may probably conclude p. 55. humbly conceive about them and sometimes vent inconsistencies as that the stone is Christ and yet the Gentile Saints the Jewes excluded though they shall be the stone when made a Mountain with many more uncertainties about the stone the little Horn Dan. 7. and other things too tedious to be insisted on 4. To these we may add the uncharitable conceits of their Governors their Revilings of them their unquietness in separating from those that concur not with them their contention and ejection from their society such as do oppose them in their heady and violent practises all which shew that they are animated by the infernal spirit and not from above and in all likelihood have received their opinions and practises from Jesuites and Emissaries of Rome who have crept into societies of zealous Christians and sown their tares among them The Tenents about civil powers being too near of kin to one another § 15. The claim which Quinto-Monarchians make to Civil government on earth in the Saints afore Christs coming is false HAving shewed the sinfulness of smiting civil powers the vanity of the conceits about the Stone Dan. 2. 34 35. the falsity of the notions about the fifth-Monarchy I shall now examin their assertions about the Saints right to the Kingdom on earth before Christs coming about which are held many false and pernicious positions which I shall now discuss The first is that before cited by me sect 2. in these words The creature man was priviledged with being Lord over inferior creatures but not over his own kind for all men being alike priviledged by birth so all men were to enjoy the creatures alike without propriety one more than another Which position is manifestly false even concerning the state of nature uncorrupt For even then the man was the head of the woman as the Apostle asserts 1 Cor. 11. 3. and proves v. 8. 9. from the womans creation For the man is not of the woman but the woman of the man neither was the man created for the woman but the woman for the man which plainly proves a dominion and propriety of the man over and in the woman who is of his own kind and the contrary Doctrine would infer not only polygamy but also community of Wives which was the very Doctrine of the Nicolaitanes of which Christ saith in two Epistles Rev. 2. 6. 15. which thing I bate The same also may be said concerning Father and child even in nature uncorrupt if there had been any child born in that state they would not have been all alike priviledged by birth but the creature man was priviledged with being Lord over his own kind nor were all men to enjoy the creatures alike without propriety but one more than another the Father being priviledged by birth above his child so as to be Lord over his child and enjoy him with propriety and not another his child nor he anothers nor is it to be conceived but that in Goods Cattel and Fruits of the earth there would have been propriety in them so as that the Wife was to be at the Husbands disposing and allowance concerning them and the child at the Fathers 2. The second which is the Quinto-Monarchians opinion cited Sect. 2. is that all men as they are men have lost their rights and priviledges in respect of Government in the first Adam Which is false For 1. Our Lord Christ in the point of divorce doth determin that divorces allowed by the Jewes were not right because they agreed not with the law of marriage in the beginning Matth. 19. 4 5 6. which argument of our Lord rests on this proposition that what law was made in the beginning was in force still and consequently the right of Government which a Husband had above his Wife a Father above his Child continue still 2. If all rights and priviledges in respect of Government in the first Adam were lost then they are still lost to them that are not in Christ which if it were true all unbelievers would be usurpers But this is false For 1. the government of Husbands over Wives remains to infidels the Author to the Hebrewes ch 13. 4. tels us that marriage is honourable in all therefore in infidels If not then the Apostle 1 Cor. 7. 13. did not rightly determine that the woman which had a husband that believed not if he were pleased to dwell with her was not to put him away or leave him which supposeth that the right and power of a husband remained in him though an infidel for where the bond of marriage continues the right and priviledge in Government belonging to it still continues The same also is to be said concerning the right priviledge of a parent in respect of the child it remains as well to infidels as believers and also Masters over servants For even such as were evil or froward from whom they were likely to suffer yet the Apostle 1 Peter 3.
few mens hands to beggar the whole these take towls and customs of their brethren p. 14. Why may not the Soldiers pull the Judges out of Westminster Hall and take all their rusty Records Laws c. And make a fire on them That so we may have honest godly Laws according to the Scriptures and reason In the preface to the 8 last Sermons of Mr. Tillinghast who was much for the Fifth-Monarchy are these words Let none take offence at this language for I cannot forbear vilifying the Kingdoms of the fourth Beast when my thoughts are upon the magnifying of the Kingdom power and glory of Jesus Christ our Lord. And if the Virgin daughter of Sion without any disparagement to her holy modesty might of old be allowed by God himself to dispise the great King of Assyria and to laugh him to scorn I know no reason to the contrary but one of the Lambs followers may without breach of rule in an holy triumph of faith express contempt of the Kings of the Earth who are all of them the lovers of the Mother of Harlots and Abomination of the Earth In the first Sermon p. 2. Of the third edition 1659. Mr. Tillinghast saith Davids Kingdom was a type of Christs Kingdom and indeed whereas this Kingdom here Jerem. 33. 20 21. Promised is shadowed forth by that of David it doth hold thus much that the Kingdom is not only a spiritual Kingdom but an outward visible Kingdom for such a throne and Kingdom Davids was p. 14. Yet the woman hath not had her day upon the Serpent but there is a time wherein the woman must have a day upon the Serpent to break his head therefore there is such a Kingdom wherein the Saints of Jesus Christ shall crush all the enemies of Jesus Christ in the world p. 39. The Devil plays his game thus in the new Testament times he made men to look for an outward Kingdom only when Christ was about to set up a spiritual Kingdom now that Christ would set up an outward Kingdom saith the Devil look only to the spiritual Kingdom p. 41. Gods Peoples faith is not grounded on fancies but they see and know that God is doing some glorious thing in the world he is overturning Kingdoms and setting up the Kingdom of his Son Serm. 3. p. 57. He conceives The work of Christs visible Kingdom over the world the work of the present time one great article of our faith the work that God doth call his Children to at this day and he calls upon them from Heaven to attend to that they are to expect it before Christ come forth bring his Kingdom with him p. 60 61. He distinguisheth in Christs visible Kingdom between the Kingdom of the Stone and of the Mountain this he calls the Kingdom of glory wherein the Saints shall not work but receive that the working Kingdom of the Saints wherein Saints are by the Lord imployed to do some notable service against his coming which is the breaking down the great Image the bringing down all his enemies that when he comes he may find them his footstool for he is to fit at the Fathers right hand until all his enemies be made his footstool it 's a Kingdom wherein Plow-shaers are to be beaten into Swords there shall be wonderful use of Swords Weapons of War out of Daniel 12. 12 13. He gathers the beginning of each of these p. 62. Truly I look upon it as being a main and principal part of that faith once delivered to the Saints as touching the fifth Kingdom p. 63. Though this Stone fundamentally is Christ himself yet considered as smiting the great Image it can be no other but Christ mystical Christ in his members and the cutting out of this Stone cannot be meant as some would have it of Christs first coming p. 65. Now if it can be made appear that that with which the fifth Kingdom doth begin the work of the great Image the over-turning the Thrones of the Kings is to be performed by the Saints as chief instruments in the management of it then it follows of necessity there must be such a thing as the Civil and Military power to be in the hands of the Saints and that before the day of Christs appearance they must have this power in their hands for the performance of that work and if so then it 's not evil for the Saints and People of God to seek for it to pray for it to plead for it for it 's to come into their hands for the doing of their work before the day of Christs appearance And then endeavours to prove that this work with which the fifth Kingdom doth begin is a work to be performed by Saints as the chief and principal instruments in the doing of it p. 74. There 's the coming forth of Christ when his enemies by his Saints are made his footstool p. 79. He gives some figues that this work is near at hand and p. 82. He makes this to be a general sign that never was there a principle that did run so much among the Churches of Christ as this hath done within these twelve months I have set down the words of those persons that I shall oppose in their positions that I may not be thought to impose upon them Out of them it is manifest that they assert that all the powers not only Ecclesiastical but also Civil and Military of the Nations even the Protestant as well as the Turkish and Romish Kingdoms are Antichristian and all their Laws Officers Schools Corporations Titles Priviledges Degrees and ranks of men in their politick and military as well as Ecclesiastical state Babylonish from the fourth Monarchy that those that they call publick spirited Saints of this age distinct from Notional professors and formally Godly are to hate separate from them deny any assistance to them rise up against them to destroy them utterly to smite them in order to the setting up a fifth Monarchy of Christ's visible Kingdom on earth that the Saints may be a free Common-wealth of themselves subject to no Laws but Christ's and free from all oppressions of men § 3. The Doctrine of smiting Powers is proved from Scripture Precepts to be Wicked THis Doctrine is damnable and Antichristian as is proved by these Arguments following whereof the first is taken from those Precepts of the New Testament and the Old which forbid such disobedience vilifying refusing assistance smiting of Powers over us Dignities Officers but command Honour Obedience Assistance Fear to Powers Dignities and their Laws and may be thus formed That Doctrine is damnable and Antichristian which commendeth and urgeth Practises and Actions contrary to the Precepts of Christ his holy Apostles and other holy men in the holy Scriptures This Proposition is of it self manifest unlesse that be not acknowledged damnable which is condemned by so holy persons nor Antichristian in a large sense which is flatly opposite to Christ's and his holy
hatred as we see and find a Remnant do at this day p. 55. The Lord will use and engage his people to act in and perform such a destroying work upon the world as this work of the stone is namely the total commotion and dissolution of the old Heavens and old Earth and all the created powers ruling therein because it is the decree determination promise and appointment of the Father p. 56. The Lord by these figurative expressions holds forth the dissolution of all old things formal Antichristian Church-state Ordinances Worship Discipline and Doctrine all beast-like wordly Governments Institutions Laws politick Constitutions Powers c. In a word the Heavens and the Earth of all the Nations Isai. 5. 30. p. 57. So that Jesus Christ will admit of no competitors but will have the sole legislative power and exercise of the chief Magistracy and be Lord Paramount over the whole Earth and therefore God is engaged to appear with his smiting Stone to make way for this glorious Mountain of peace p. 59. That all the blood of Gods people is found in Babylon For they i. e. her Civil powers Revel 16. 6 7. have shed the blood of the Saints and Prophets Revel 17. 6. ch 18. 24. 19. 1. Jer. 50. 14. now therefore God by way of recompence retaliation hath ordained that the Saints shall be his instruments by which he will execute his vengeance upon the powers of the World who are all of them Murtherers accordingly God commands his people 't is their duty to obey to reward Babylon double as she rewarded them Revel 18. 6. and they shall give her blood to drink p. 62. The call which the stone shall have to act in its smiting work is for the greatest part thereof now pertinent and fitly applicable to a faithful remnant now extant in England and fulfilled in and upon them and also seeing that the signes laid down in the word of God for the time of the end are in a grâ—at measure now fulfilled and accomplished in Englands Remnant therefore we conclude and assert that 't is lawful and warrantable and is a duty incumbent for captivated Sion and oppressed Saints to stand up in Gods name and fear and deliver themselves and that glorious Gospel of the Kingdom now by them declared to the world from persecution oppression and that long Captivity and Bondage which she hath remained in and to break the Yoak of the oppressor which is now upon her Neck according to the word commandment of the Lord. Zach. 2. 7. Isai. 52. 2. We are perswaded that the work of the Stone is the present work of this generation and our present work and do accordingly exhort the Saints to arise to fall upon the enemy p. 63. The Saints in order to this smiting work shall be converted from all the Civil power and Rule of Antichrist and the ten Horned Beast upon which the mystery harlot sitteth p. 65. That it is their duty to withdraw their Hands Hearts Affections Purses and prayers from the Civil power or power of the Beast that they shall quit all their interest and claim in and to the old Heavens and Earth and state of things shall forsake Father Mother c. And shall convert Houses Lands Possessions and Enjoyments commanded to be prudently beat into Swords and Spears into one common stock to be consecrated for the management of this great Affair p. 66. And in such a practise they shall be no loosers Christ will give them an hundred fold even the spoile of all their great and rich Enemies who are his opposers and in the end an eternal Crown The Saints are with Moses to refuse Court Honour and favor and preferment Egyptians wisdom Learning Revenues and great Riches with David to leave their common duties as matters of small value and little concernment in comparison of this noble and worthy imployment to fight against the Philistines so are the Civil powers or common Enemy to the Common-wealth of Israel p. 71 We do profess we cannot be content or satisfied until Christs Kingdom flourish but will in Gods name and strength press forward till we come to the mark which is the state of the true rest so we call that Kingdom and power where the Saints shall cease from all their labours in and with Christ. p. 69. Doth not the Lord call the Saints to arise also unto the prey p. 71. The work of God against Nations Provinces Universities Corporations Cities Townes Kings Rulers chief Captains mighty Men in Church and Common-wealth Enemies of Christ's Kingly Office shall be the lesson of faithful Saints the true way will be discovered and made plain all Rebels and Traitors open and prophane more close pretenders and formally Godly discovered hatred in and among his Saints against those several parts forms powers of Babylon doleful howling and mourning among the Merchants of Babylon who are the great and rich men whose hearts dwell on the Earth p. 75. The Saints must separate not only from the Romish Universal National Provincial and Diocesan Church-state of Babylon and Antichrist together with their Discipline Doctrine Worship and Ceremonies But also and more particularly which is most properly a work precedent to be done by the Saints in order to the smiting work of the Stone from the national and parochial Parish Church State and assemblies forms and classes of this and other Antichristian Nations which we call the Politick and no more than Civil Stratagem and cunning invention of Antichrist to divide unto himself the whole Land for gain whereby all men to the lowest ranck are compelled forcibly to contribute to the maintenance of his false Prophet and so wickedness is established by a Law Again further from those Churches that are select more pure as being seemingly refined which are the gathered in a pastoral way reducing things to primitive practise so far as they are corrupted and adulterated and found opposers of the Kingly Office of Jesus Christ in and over the whole world and more especial in the Administration of this part or dispensation of that Kingdom to wit that of the Stone or War against his Enemies for even in this generation there be a sort of people and those we hope godly that do acknowledge and wait in the expectation of the later yea and hold forth the personal appearance of our Lord as King yet nevertheless oppose and deny and quite leap over this Stone and its work thereby endeavouring to render the Saints useless and uncapable of destroying Babylon which must make â—way and without which we cannot attain to the peaceable and more glorious Administration of this Kingdom by removing those Mountains Hils and powers of darkness which do oppose and hinder it p. 76. And from those humane heathenish and Antichristian wayes means and helps for the attainment whereof men study which they practise in the Schools and Universities of these Nations as things necessary for the Fitting Preparing
and resistence is condemned v. 3. from the use of the Powers or Rulers who are not only by Office but also in act not a terror to good works but to evil For though it were true those Rulers that then were in matters of Religion and in things that pertained to their own profit and lust were towards some a terror to good works and abettors of many wicked and injurious practises yet in the general they did not terrifie sober industrious and peaceable persons but those who did actions contrary to them and did reward and praise them that were useful for the Common-wealth and therefore they that did well as Saints or Christians should do they had no reason out of fear to resist them but in well doing to expect praise from them 8. From their deputation from God to do justice v. 4 6. The Apostle argues further the necessity of subjection to them and the impiety of resisting them telling them that the Ruler was God's Minister 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 three times he gives him these titles and that to do justice for him and therefore he that resists him resists God and this cannot be with impunity God not permitting his bearing the Sword for him to be in vain but so ordering it that he is and shall be an Avenger unto wrath unto him that doth evil All these Arguments whereby the Apostle enforceth his Precept both for the positive part requiring subjection and the negative denying resistence do shew that the Apostle was very earnest in pressing this duty of subjection to civil Magistrates which it is probable he did the more importunately urge in this Epistle because it was written to the Romans who were Inhabitants in that City where were most oppressions and villainies committed of any part of the world and in that time whether in Claudius or Nero's reign in which the Powers that were the Caesars or Emperors and Rulers under them were as monstrously vitious wicked unrighteous tyrannous and cruel enemies to Christians as in any time and therefore the Roman Christians might be tempted to think that sure they were not to be subject to such but were to resist them Nor doth the Apostle only in this place urge the duties of subjection and non-resistence of Civil Powers but also strictly injoins Titus in his Epistle to him c. 3. 1. to put the Christians over whom he was in mind of this that they should be subject to Principalities and Powers to obey Magistrates intimating thereby that Christians had need to be minded of it because it was a necessary duty notwithstanding provocations to the contrary To these Precepts of the Apostle Paul I shall add the plain Precepts of S. Peter 1 Epist. c. 2. v. 13 14 15 16 17. where he thus chargeth Christians Submit yoursâ—lves to every Ordinance of man or humane creature for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as Supreme or unto Governors as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well For so is the will of God that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men As free and not using your liberty for a Cloak of malicâ—ousness but as the servants of God Honour all men love the Brotherhood fear God honour the King In which words S. Peter commands subjection to every Ordinance of man where as the Adversaries forbid subjection to any humane Creature or Ordinance any Government whatsoever that is of mans erecting building and planting The Apostle bid be subject for the Lord as Jehosaphat said to the Judges 2 Chron. 19. 6. Take heed what ye do for ye judge not for man but for the Lord who is with you in the Judgement but the Adversaries say subjection is against the Lord The Apostle bids submit to the King as supreme or excelling they say submit not to the King he is not supreme nor excels none hath any just title to rule now Kings are from the Dragon the worst of men the Saints are to smite them he saith Submit to Governors as unto them that are sent by him they say submit not to them because sent by him for they and all that own them are Antichristian The Apostle saith they are sent by him for the punishment of evil dâ—ers and the praise of them that do well these say they are sent to oppresse the Saints and to uphold Babylon The Apostle saith that so is the will of God that ye submit to Kings and Governors sent by him they say It is the will of God that ye oppose smite them The Apostle saith that ye may so put to silence the ignorance of foolish men they say by so doing ye shall promote the interest of Babylon The Apostle joins these Fear God honour the King and in like manner Solomon Prov. 24. 21. My Son fear thou the Lord and the King they say Fear God vilifie destroy the King Now it is to be observed that the Caesars Powers Rulers Principalities who then bare the sword the Kings and Governors then sent by the King were the Roman Emperors Kings and Governors under them who were all of them great Idolaters took the Title of Pontifex Maximus as being chief about the Idol service of Jupiter and other Heathen Gods none of them Christians by profession or Jews but enemies to both and fierce and cruel persecutors of Christians and some of them so unrighteous and vitious that one of them particularly Nero was adjudged by the Senate hostis patriae the enemy of his Countrey in whose time St. Paul and St. Peter are thought to have written their Epistles yet did they require subjection to them and therefore to teach they are to be resisted and smitten for those qualities to whom the Apostles notwithstanding them require subjection honour and payment of tribute is with most impudent face to gainsay the Apostles Doctrine And because that it seems out of doubt to them that Ecclesiastical Rulers should be vilified opposed as being Antichristian being conceived to be against their imagined Fifth-Monarchy I will add the words of St. Paul upon occasion of the High Priest Ananias his commanding them that stood by him to smite him on his mouth for saying I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day whereupon he said to him God shall smite thee thâ—u whited wall for sittest thou to judge me after the Law and commandest thou me to be smitten contrary to the Law which occasioned them that stood by to say revilest thou Gods High Priest In reply whereto correcting himself St. Paul said I wist not brethren that he was the High Priest For it is written thou shalt not speak evil of the Ruler of thy People I acknowledge there is not a little difficulty to acquit St. Paul from falsehood or dissembling in saying He knew not that Ananias was the High Priest sundry waies are conceived which may be seen in Mr. Gataker's Cinnus
the time of the Saints of the most high taking the Kingdom and possessing the Kingdom for ever even for ever and ever Dan. 7. 18. it is expressed v. 13. to be when one like the Son of man came with the Clouds of Heaven and came to the ancient of days and they brought him near before him which in the New Testament is applied to Christs second coming Matth. 24. 30. and 26. 64. Mark 13. 26. and 14. 62. Luke 21. 27. Revel 1. 7. Acts 1. 11. 1 Thes. 4. 17. which Mr. Mede in his fourth letter to Mr. Hayn proves to be at Christs second coming by the brightness of which shall be the consumption of the man of sin 2 Thes. 2. 8. and at his appearing shall be his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4. 1. and then shall the Saints of the most high which overcome sit with him in his Throne even as he also overcame and is set down with his Father in his Throne Revel 3. 21. To them he will give power over the Nations to Rule them with a Rod of Iron so that as a potters vessel they shall be broken to shivers even as he received of his Father Revel 2. 26. 27. then the Kingdoms of the world shall be the Lords and his Christs and he shall reign for ever and ever the Lord God Almighty takes to him his great power and reigns and the Nations were angry and his wrath was come and the time of the dead that they should be judged and that he should give the reward unto his servants the Prophets and to the Saints and to them that fear his name small and great and should destroy them which destroy the earth Revel 11. 15. 17 18. And Revel 20. 4. the Thrones are said to be set as Dan. 7. 9. And they sate upon them and judgment was given to them as Dan. 7. 26. then the Dominion or Kingdom given To the Saints who are troubled rest shall be given by God with the Apostles when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels 2 Th. 1. 7. The Saints shall judge the world 1 Cor. 6. 2. And Jesus said unto them verily I say unto you that ye which have followed me in the regeneration when the Son of man shall fit in the Throne of his glory ye shall also fit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Matth. 19. 28. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations And I appoint unto you a Kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me that ye may eat and drink at my Table in my Kingdom and fit on Thrones judging the Tribes of Israel Luke 22. 28 29 30. And for the means of obtaining this Kingdom as it is said the Stone was cut out of the mountain without hands that is human help so it is said in the daies of these Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed Dan. 2. 44 45. which therefore our Lord called the Kingdom of Heaven and gives the reason because his Kingdom was not of this world nor from hence John 18. 36. but from Heaven And where it is said that the Saints of the most high shall take the Kingdom and possess the Kingdom for ever even for ever and ever Dan. 7. 18. it is added v. 21 22. I beheld and the same horn made war with the Saints and prevailed against them until the ancient of daies came and judgment was given to the Saints of the most high and the time came that the Saints possessed the Kingdom v. 26 27. But the judgment shall fit and they shall take away his dominion to consume and to destroy it unto the end And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all Dominions shall serve and obey him The Saints take it not by their getting it but by gift not by conquest but donation Suteably in the new Testament Luk. 12. 32. Fear not little Flock for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom Matth. 25. 24. Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Out of which passages we may well infer 1. that it is great temerity in the Quinto-Monarchians to be so peremptory as they are in setting down the time of the Saints taking the Kingdom especially if we consider that when our Lord Christ was asked immediately afore his ascension into Heaven Lord wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel He said unto them it is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power Acts 1. 6 7. wherein he gives us to understand that the times and seasons of restoring the Kingdom to Israel are put by the Father in his own peculiar power and therefore were not to be then known to the Apostles nor to us till by the events shewing the foregoing signs and the special instinct of Gods Spirit was shewed the just period of the mystical numbers in which they are to be fulfilled 2. We may infer that it is very great folly pride and arrogant presumption for a number of Gentile Saints in an Island or Continent to think to smite the fourth Monarchy by Arms which is to be destroyed by the Spirit of the Lords mouth and the brightness of his coming and to take to themselves a Kingdom which God only can give and to set up Christs Kingdom which God makes his prerogative Ps. 2. 6. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion Ps. 110. 1 2. The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool The Lord shall send the Rod of thy strengh out of Zion Rule thou in the mids of thine enemies and to think to do this by armes a feeble means which is to be done not by might nor by power but by his spirit The monstrous arrogance of this attempt is made the more hainous 1. because when it hath been begun heretofore by any they have found God against them the Lord by his providence dissipating their counsels and frustrating their attempts so as that in fine they have only brought ruin to themselves and occasioned hatred of the wayes of God and a hard hand in civil powers on the innocent Which argument although it do not Universally hold that what succeeds not well in the event pleaseth not God yet is good against these men who have no other ground or warrant to their attempts but the opinion they have of Gods putting it into their heart and assurance of his help this being their own speech Banner displayed p. 89. So that we make our conclusion with Manoahs Wife of old if the Lord were pleased to kill us or suffer our enemies to kill us he would
they say 't is to be desired from good and sound grounds that they would exercise that royal authority which God has given unto them and invested them with as they are Saints by calling which is to defend themselves and offend their enemies and to contend against those that do or shall oppose them in their work and businesse which is to smite powers and to take the Kingdoms of the world into their own possession the glass of the Beasts power being almost run out in these Nations p. 27. the call which the stone shall have to act in its smiting work is for the greatest part thereof now pertinent and fitly applicable to a faithful remnant now extant in England and fulfilled in and upon them and also seeing that the signs laid down in the word of God for the time of the end are in a great measure now fulfilled and accomplished in England's remnant therefore we conclude and assert that 't is lawful and warrantable and is a duty incumbent for captivated Sion and oppressed Saints to stand up in Gods name and fear and deliver themselves and that glorious Gospel of the Kingdom now by them declared to the world from persecution oppression and that long captivity and bondage which she hath remained in and to break the yoke of the Oppressor which is now upon her neck according to the word and Commandment of the Lord Zech. 2. 7. Isa. 52. 2. we are perswaded that the work of the stone is the present work of this generation and our present work and do accordingly exhort the Saints to arise to fall upon the enemy p. 62. Now these positions conceits and exhortations are impious and vain For 1. it is proved before that their separation from their brethren deserting their Superiors to whom they owe subjection their reviling and speaking evil of powers their taking up arms against them are not honest and just means 2. It is not proved that the smiting work Dan. 2. 34 35. is that work which they exhort to 3. Nor is it proved to be the work of Saints as Saints 4. Nor is there any thing they produce that shews it to be the work of this generation 5. Nor any thing that shews that it is pertinent and fitly applicable to a faithful remnant now extant in England 6. Nor can any thing be deduced from the signs laid down in the word of God which they only say are in a great measure fulfilled and accomplished in England 's remnant for the time of the end to warrant their acting sith no signs are sufficient for acting against plain precepts without a clear Commission by extraordinary revelation or miraculous power much lesse when they are not wholly fulfilled and that accomplishment they are encouraged by is taken either from conjectural calculations of mystical numbers or from the heat of some perhaps real Saints excited by the oratory and confidence of their magnified Teachers and Leaders opposed by other sober and considerate persons as godly though not so hot-spirited as themselves which heat hath cooled much and many have been withdrawn from them as themselves complain and experience shews which also hath proved that they have much deluded themselves and others who have rested upon their calculation of mystical numbers 7. Nor is there any thing deprehended in those whom they call the faithful remnant in England why they should be called to this work rather than others of former time or in other Countries For though they magnify them that are of their party as pretious Saints publick-spirited self-deniers illuminated disparaging others as formal professors leavers of their first love and the like yet experience hath proved them to be but as other men or rather many of them to have been worse than others far from Saints and a faithful remnant and by their uncharitablenesse rashnesse cruelty contempt of and disobedience to their Governors to have been more like Divels than Saints 8. The falling off of many who perhaps inclined to them and favoured their design apprehending it to have been at first out of good meaning and to a good end but since finding it to have been out of a factious spirit and tending to blood and rapin likely to beget when the rabble of loose persons agents for Rome and men of desperate fortunes should with a shew of sanctity and zeal for Christ join with them an horrible wasting and depraedation of mens estates which these men as holy as they would be taken to be its likely aimed at when they used those words p. 66. In such a practise they shall be no losers Christ will give them an hundred fold even the spoil of their great and rich enemies who are his opposers and in the end an eternal Crown together with an universal enmity and dreadful anarchy have deserted them is a good evidence of the madnesse and impiety of their assertion and exhortation 9. It is evident that they have been deluded in their conceits and their wild positions and attempts by the want of power and authority which are necessary for that work which they imagined the faithful remnant in England called to For as the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 4. 20. the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power and therefore there being no such power of calling down fire from Heaven of smiting the earth with plagues or any other extraordinary power such as is foretold of the two witnesses Rev. 11. or in the Prophets Judges or Apostles sent by God we cannot take their attempts or call to be any other than heady rash not from Gods spirit but fond opinion of the power of their prayers because of their vehemency as Hackets was in Q. Elizabeths daies and Satans delusion of them 10. It is a very great delusion they are transported with which makes them imagin they shall by their arms subdue all the enemies of Christ make them the footstool of Christ and take the Kingdom which is made the work of God when he sends the rod of his strength in the day of his power in the day of his wrath Psal. 110. 1 2 3 5 6. which to attempt by themselves is a most monstrous giant-like enterprise 11. Nor is it a small vanity and folly in them to presume to antedate the Saints exaltation afore Christs appearing which is to be accomplished at his coming and in his Kingdom 12. It shews the want of sobriety in these men that they abuse holy scriptures and scripture expressions altogether impertinent to their purpose for so evil purposes as they alledge them As for instance in applying those words Zech. 2. 7. Isa. 52. 2. which are spoken of the people of the Jews and their delivery from the captivity of Babylon in Chaldaea or some other dispersion proper to them to the people of England which were never under such captivity making their subjection to civil Rulers Babylon which is Gods Ordinance and exhorting them to deliver themselves by arms in the imitation
glorious work of God at the last day and you shall ever find them described and characterized as Saints as Zech. 9. 13 against thy Sons O Greece that is against the Turkish power Obad. 18. 21. when all his enemies are brought down and become his footstool then shall he come forth and take the Kingdom and the Kingdom shall be the Lords sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool then the Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion rule thou in the midst of thine enemies there 's the coming forth of Christ when his enemies by his Saints are made his foot-stool Micah 4. 11 12. Thou shalt beat in pieces many people Jacob is his battle ax Jer. 51. 20. Rev. 15. 2 6. Rev. 14. 1 2 3 4 5. Answ. Psal. 110. 1 2. it is not said by the Saints Christs enemies are made his foot-stool nor Jer. 51. 20. is meant of Jacob but of Cyrus or the King of Babylon as Mr. Gataker in his Annot. Zech. 9. 13. Obad. 18. 21. Micah 4. 11 12. if meant of a time to come is to be verified of the Jews and not of Gentile Saints Rev. 14. 1 2 3 4 5. if the same with Revel 7. 4. is meant also of the Jews if of others neither there nor Rev. 15. 2. is any act ascribed to them but acclamation to God for his work why the seven Angels Rev. 15. 7. should be any other than holy spirits I see no reason and therefore this reason is impertinent and none of them prove that which he undertook To the objection from Rev. 17. 16. that the horns shall do it he answers the meaning is this that the ten horns as conquered to the Lamb and the power of them being gotten into the power of the Lamb so shall the horns be turned against the Whore which we cannot see at present I reply this is enough to prove that they be not Saints as Saints that shall burn the Whores flesh with fire that Saints shall not do it without Kings and therefore are not to attempt it without them much less to destroy them that they are rather to serve them and to acknowledge what they have done and may see though they see not all done they would have done If for present they see not the horns ruled by the Lamb the seeing of which only prejudice hinders neither do we see such Saintship in the Quinto-Monarchians as by their own rules should qualify them for the smiting work or setting up Christs Kingdom but rather such a spirit as tends to ruine it To the objection from John 18. 36. he saith my Kingdom is not of this world that is of this Monarchy all the world being put for the Roman Monarchy Luke 2. 1. whereto I reply Christ saith his Kingdom is not of this world in opposition to from above as is manifest from John 8. 23. and the phrase not from hence and his proof from his servants not fighting for his rescue which is sufficient to shew that his Kingdom should not be from his Servants nor by fighting nor is the particle now used to intimate that either his Kingdom should be from hence or his servants fight but only is used to declare his present state without intimation of any thing concerning the future as John 9. 41 c. He then adds something about the signs of the nearness of the Kingdom and omitting the computation of the time from the numbers left us in Scripture which I have considered before sect 13. there are ten signs set down of the nearness of it taken from accidents and observations of men favourers of his opinion and opponents of it with his judgment concerning them and their signification none of which but may happen and have happened concerning other things which have failed and been found mistakes in the conclusion and being not certain evidences or prognosticks as miracles prophesying and such like signs I therefore let them pass as things either false and perhaps unrighteous censures or uncertain and unfit for mine or any mans examination or judgment but Gods only and contenting my self to have demonstrated that the holy Scriptures yield them no warrant to separate from or engage against the civil powers set over them I shall commend this work to the Lord for his blessing praying God to teach those who have been or are led away with the Quinto-Monarchians opinion to prove all things and to hold fast that which is good 1 Thes. 5. 21. FINIS Errata PAg. 7. l. 39. r. and God's p. 17. l. 2. d. to p. 19. l. 4. r. Judge p. 25. l. 7. r. to determin p. 27. l. 3. r. Dan. 2. p. 45. l. 13. r then p. 45. l. 7. r. our p. 51. l. 39. r. heat p. 57. l. 25. r. it is p. 60. l. 28. d. time p. 65. l. 2. r. and agreement l. 32. r. danger p. 84. l. 22. r. oppose p. 90. l. 10. r. an l. 41. r. spiritual p. 94. l. 6. r. reins p. 111. l. 10. r. there 's p. 102. l. 4. these words are to be inserted who oppose the Beast if the Beast be the Pope and Papacy The next Psal. 2. 1 2 3. cannot be meant of the Protestant Princes or Prelates p. 111. l. 40. r. whole See Dr. Homes Resur reveal lib 7. ch 3. â—ee Bp. â—aveant's â—eterin 30. p. Anâ—rew's esp ad â—ellarm polog 13. p. 99.