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 qualifying a man how carnal soever to be a Preacher of the Gospel as they say And this together with the Offer of some large stipend or yearly salary and fat benefice is their call to Preach therefore we disown and abominate their qualifications and their call as an accursed thing Yet mistake us not we are not against humane learning and the knowledge of the languages but do repute it honourable good and commendable yet when it is abused and the plea of necessity put upon it in that habit we utterly declaim against it as a derogation to the holy spirit and its Office who gave out the Scripture and imprints them in the hearts of the godly for all scripture is given by the inspiration of God and cannot be convincingly and profitably expounded by mans Art and Learning p. 77. Separation is to be from the parochial Church and Hireling Ministry of England their Ordination and Institution After they have for some time been trained up in the Arts and Sciences of Egypt in the Universities they take their several degrees and commencements Masters of Art Batchelors of Divinity or godliness and in case they sit long under the skirts of the great Whore she makes them Doctors in Divinity Men skilful and perfect in Heavenly Mysteries These are those that during the defection and apostacy are the Rabbies which look more after the Fleece than the Sheep Lording it over Gods heritage We therefore are against those degrees Offices Places and their vain which are indeed Blasphemous Titles which they arrogate from God and Jesus Christ the great Prophet and Teacher of his People Gal. 1. 1. Matth. 23. 8. Joh. 3 9 10. Rev. 1. 9. p 79. The enlightened Saints or the more pure and holy part of those called the gathered and which are corrupted Churches in these Nations or elsewhere ought to separate and withdraw from the more grosse dark defiled and corrupted part of the said Churches because there are no Churches or at leastwise very few of the pastoral way in these Nations or elsewhere but have something of Antichrist in them having forsaken apostatized from the primative and first love and have and do in many principles practise strike hands with the interest of Antichrist and mystery of iniquity 2 Thes. 2 3 4. p. 83. Our position we give thus that in this ending time of the mystical numbers wherein the Stone shall arise the Saints must disown and in the strength of God separate from and according to that power which God shall give unto them by his Spirit engage against all and all manner of Civil power of what quality soever now lift up over the whole Earth or any part Kingdom Nation or Corner thereof together with all its dependents Upholders Lawes and Appurtenances whatsoever whose derivation has been from Satan ruling in all the several Parts Powers and Forms of the devouring fourth Beast And which are of and belonging to that Beast though descended into the very lowest last and most refined and pretended Christian-like power of that Beast As having their root and foundation upon Satan the great Dragon p. 81 82. We accompt it a duty for the Saints to separate from all the forms practises Doctrines and spirit of the Antichrist in the world in their Bretheren in the Churches c. And to be plain we accompt him and that spirit which either in act or deed wilfully and obstinately denies the smiting work of our Lords Kingdom Antichristian inasmuch as that such would alwaies have Christ his Saints his cause in and on the earth a sufferer But the Scripture clearly manifests the contrary Agreeably to these positions or rather exceeding them are the speeches of some whether Levellers or Quinto-Monarchians in the first and second part of Pamphlets printed 1648 1649. p. 1. The creature man was priviledged with being Lord over other 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 p. 3. The Beast hath its power from the Dragon Revel 13. 4. And the Dragon Revel 20. 2. is the Devil so that it is plain that Kings are of the Beast and the Beast is of the Devil and it is as plain they that worship the King worship the Beast and they that worship the Beast worship the Devil Revel 13. 4. Now let us a little behold our English powers all that which is called Magistracy is from the Kings Patent and his is from the Devil for the Kings Predecessors the outlandish Bastard William came to be King by conquest and murther now murtherers are saith Jesus the Devils Children for saith he the Devil was a murtherer from the beginning and he abode not in the truth Now Kings are utterly against the truth and persecutors of the Saints for saith Jesus they shall bring you before Kings so that Kings are enemies unto the Kingdom of Christ taking licenses and grants patents and Charters from the King is taking the Beasts mark p. 8. We take this power of William the Conqueror to be that little horn in Dan. 7. 24. p. 13. Kings Lords and Commons the little Horn. Part. 2. p. 5. Titles of honour are termed vain titles forbidden by our Saviour as heathenish although some good men were Kings yet it was not in regard to their Office but persons for in that they were Kings they were Tyrants p. 6. It was wickedness in the Israelites in advancing a man one of their own kind in the place of a God and so to Idolize their own flesh above God p. 7. Kings are the worst of men p. 8. Lawyers being worse than the Devil who scorns to take a penny Fees to torment any but will do it freely p. 9. Pharaoh-like they have their Juglers who can play the Hocus Pocus and invent a thing they call Religion like Jereboams Calves who the first invented state worship p. 10. All those oppressors before named do live altogether out of Gods way and in Rebellion to his Lawes first because they live without a calling and so are idle being Vagabonds and wasters of the creatures by drunkenness pride gluttony and so but vermin in a Commonwealth and by their own Law ought to be put into a house of Correction and to be made work Jesus Christ alone is Lord and King over man and all men are equals p. 11. All men are to enjoy alike freedoms and none more than another so that they are equal and none have to do to command another no more than another him but in a joynt union and agreement that any be set up it is but a trusted humane power and they but servants to the whole and may be removed at pleasure p. 13. There are Vice-Kings viz. Those that are Deputies as Mayors in Cities and Towns Corporate that are Kings of patents which patents are meer monopolies and serve to inhance Trading and Commodities in a
Judges And yet the evils we have seen are small in comparison of what the Jewes felt by the factions there when Jerusalem was besieged by Titus But the evils which would come on the world by the insurrection of the Quinto-Monarchians if their project did take place would far exceed them their design being an universal destruction of them that oppose them in all the world and when the conscience is perverted there being no stay to mens furious zeal If any say that they would only smite oppressors of the Saints I reply by their own rules they are bound to separate from those Churches which are select and more pure as being seemingly refined which are the gathered in 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 enimies for even in this generation there be a sort of people and those we hope godly that do acknowledge 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 way and without which we cannot attain to the peaceable and more glorious administration of this Kingdom by removing those Mountains Hills and powers of darkness which do oppose and hinder it Banner displayed p. 75. There are no Churches or at leastwise very few of the pastoral way in these Nations or elsewhere but have something of Antichrist in them having forsaken and apostatized from the primitive and first love and have and do in many principle and practises strike hands with the interest of Antichrist and mystery of iniquity 2 Thes. 2. 3 4. p. 79. We accompt it a duty for the Saints to separate from all the forms practises doctrines and spirit of the Antichrist in the world in their brethren in the Churches c. And to be plain we accompt him and that spirit which either in act or deed wilfully and obstinately denies the smiting work of our Lords Kingdom Antichristian inasmuch as that such would alwaies have Christ his Saints his cause in and on the earth a sufferer but the scripture clearly manifests the contrary p. 81 82. now then if men be they never so holy as they hope a sort of people be who oppose deny and quite leap over the Stone and its smiting as they confess there are no Churches or very few of the pastoral way in these Nations and elsewhere but have opposed them yet are Antichristian they by their principles are to smite them and so must oppress Saints as well as others And if any Saints be civil powers Ecclesiastical Rulers Governors in Corporations Graduates in Universities Pastors in Churches as no doubt thousands are who love the Lord Jesus and wait for his appearing and Kingdom yet these must be smitten too And who can secure in such confusions as would arise upon the Quinto-Monarchians smiting work any man yea of their own party from violence and slaughter when there is nothing but rage in private persons whose proceedings are in heat of mad zeal without any distinction by legal trial and just judgment or certain Rule Sure no Tyrants have ever done more mischief than this way of the Fifth-Monarchy-Men would do if it were prosecuted nor is any doctrine more hellish Antichristian and damnable than this that tends to overthrow all the civil powers Lawes Doctrines Forms Degrees Offices in Church and State which these term the spirit of Antichrist in the world And if it were supposed that these furious zelots should accomplish their design after the mixture of hypocrites and the rabble of the worst most foolish men who could hope there would be any peace good order or justice in the world or any remainder of sober men The world would be an Acheldama or field of blood which they impute to the Nations of Europe even the Protestant and the prevailing persons to use their own phrase Blood-Monsters and instead of a visible Kingdom of Christ in the earth a solitude Chaos tohu vebohu as was afore the first creation and the Kingdom of Antichrist or the Devil would be set up under pretence of making Christs enemies his footstool What Lawes Order or Rule tending to further Religion or Righteousness can any expect from men of such cauterized consciences as not to discern the mischievousness of such doctrine and practises as these have vented especially after they have inured themselves to shedding of blood and rapine with extremity § 11. The 9th and 10th arguments against the smiting work of Quinto-Monarchians from the meekness peaceableness and patience of Saints TO these arguments which have been confirmed I shall add a ninth taken from the opposition of spirit and practise which their doctrine begets to the precepts of meekness and peaceablness which the Gospel requires of Christians and to which it assigns blessedness Our Lord Christ in his sermon on the Mount Matth. 5. 5. saith Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth v. 9. Blessed are the peace-makers for they shall be called the Children of God v. 22. He forbids rash anger contemptuous speech and opprobrious language v. 23 24 25. requires speedy endeavours of reconciliation with adversaries nor is it any thing against this precept of Christ that he tels us Luke 12. 49. 51. I am come to send fire on the earth and what will I if it be already kindled Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth I tell you nay but rather division For these expressions do not shew his approbation of division but his foresight of it not as a thing which he affected or as a thing desirable of it self or which he studied to promote but as a thing which he knew was unavoidable in the event that while he endeavoured to promote the truth of the Gospel by accident divisions would follow not from his doctrine which was the Gospel of peace but through the perversness of mens spirits who would oppose it But that it was the will of Christ that all Christian Saints should be meek and peaceable appears from the many precepts injoyning them in the Apostles writings Rom. 12. 18. If it be possible as much as lieth in you live peaceably with all men Rom. 14. 17. For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost v. 19. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace Gal. 5. 19 20. The workes of the flesh are hatred enmities variance wrath strise seditions divisions or factions v. 22. 23. The fruit of the spirit is love joy peace meekness Heb. 12. 14. Follow peace with
are being built or erected upon the old foundation of the fourth Monarchy in this supposed mixt estate but they are warranted and bound as being the Stone expressed Dan. 2. 34 44 45. to smite destroy utterly dissolve the powers of the fourth Monarchy which they conceive to be all the present in their persons Offices Laws Titles priviledges and whole constitution and to take to themselves all the power and dominion in the earth in order to the erecting of the Fifth-Monarchy which they call Christs visible Kingdom upon earth Now surely such a monstrous giant-like claim as this exceeding any of the proud claims of Nebuchadnezzar or any of the Persian Roman Turkish Monarchs had need of very good cards for it some unquestionable Charter or grant of Heaven especially when it so flatly opposeth such plain precepts as I have alledged to the contrary which unless they be proved to be relaxed or repealed by a Divine sentence testified by some infallible evidence of miracles or otherwise such as Christ and his Apostles had do prove that this claim and the Doctrine that teacheth such practises as they incite men to is from the Devil himself who is the great Abaddon or destroyer of the World Sure Christ when he bid his Disciples teach men to observe all that he had commanded promising to be with them all daies unto the end of the world Matth. 28. 20. And S. Paul when he thus wroâ—â— to Timothy 1 Epist. ch 6. 13 14. I give thee charge in the sight of God who quickeneth all things and before Jesus Christ who before Pontius Pilate witnâ—ssed the good confession that thou keep this Commandment whereof Prayer and thanksgiving for Kings and all that are in Authority 1 Tim. 2. 1 2 3. Obedience to Masters 1 Tim. 6. 1. are a part without spot unrebukeable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ did conceive their commands to be binding until Christs second coming And sith he only hath power to repeal release dispense with a Law who hath a power either legislative or declarative of Law superiour or equal to his who gave or at first Authoritatively declared it it can be no less than Pope-like or Dictator-like arrogance in some persons upon pretence of a peculiar Revelation to them no way demonstrated but in an obscure claucular meeting for consultation imagined to be communicated to them determin that which St. Paul said was the ordinance of God to be the ordinance of Hell because they say it and to exceed the Pharisees in arrogance whom our Saviour chargeth with hypecrisie for making the commandment of God of none effect by their tradition though it were the tradition of their Elders or chief Rabbins or Doctors Matth. 15. 6 7. This bidding defiance to all the Powers of the Earth and this taking on them to make void so plain Precepts of Christ and his Apostles without any other proof than they bring is in my apprehension one of the greatest pieces of pride and arrogancy that I have met with and as great a delusion as I think this age hath afforded § 5. Suppositions implyed in the Quinto-Monarchians exceptions are shewed to be uncertain as those about the Stone it's smiting Dan. 2. 34. 44. NEvertheless let us examine what they say of which some things are supposed some things are inferred The things supposed and inferred are these 1. That the fourth Kingdom mentioned Dan. 2. and 7. Is the Roman Empire which I will not deny though there be not a few very learned men that take the fourth Monarchy to be the Empire of the successors of Alexander the great and that upon such reasons as might make sober men not too peremptory in the contrary opinion much less to make the future smiting of it an article of faith and the visible Kingdom of Christ to succeed it 2. That the Kingdom mentioned to be set up Dan. 2. 44. shall be an external visible Kingdom on earth which is yet more doubtful being more controverted among godly learned men and that upon such weighty considerations on both sides as may make considerate men if not to suspend their judgement yet not too resolutely to assert it nor obtrude it with such zeal as the Quinto-Monarchians do as an article of faith and build such mighty attempts commotions in the world and hopes on so uncertain a foundation 3. That In the daies of these Kings must be meant at the end of the fourth Monarchy when all the materials of the Image shall be broken in pieces and scattered so as no place was found for them Whereas it is far more probable that it was set up when Christ began to Preach the Gospel as John Baptist and our Lord intimated when he invited men to repent and believe the Gospel for the Kingdom Heaven was at hand very likely alluding to those places in Daniel ch 2. 44. In their daies the God of Heaven shall set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed and therefore called the Kingdom of Heaven to distinguish it from the Kingdoms of men set up by them not by the God of Heaven whereto the like is Dan. 7. 14. And seems to be referred to the spiritual Kingdom of Christ which the Saints of the most High do take as the Author to the Hebrews ch 12. 28. saith Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom which cannot be shaken let us have or hold fast grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear which no man doubts to be meant of the receiving the Kingdom of Christ by faith in him upon the Preaching of the Gospel 4. There is a distinction made between the Kingdom of the Stone and the Kingdom of the Mountain as if they were either several Kingdoms or at least of several conditions and qualifications whereas the text doth distinguish them no otherwise than in their extent not one spiritual the other visible external the one the working Kingdom the other the Kingdom of glory 5. That the Stone which must do the smiting and breaking work is not Christ personal only but also Christ mystical with his members or to use the words of Mr. Tillinghast 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 But sure in this they are mistaken this work being made in scripture Christs own peculiar work Matth. 21. 42 43 44. Jesus saith unto them did ye never read in the scriptures the Stone which the builders rejected the same is become the head of the Corner This is the Lords doing and it is Marvellous in our eyes Therefore I say unto you the Kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof And whosoever shall fall on this Stone shall be broken but on whomsoever it shall fall it will grind him to powder or dash him to pieces In which passage it is apparent that by the
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
against God to reward Babylon but it may be understood as a prediction of what should be not as a command of what ought to be done by them as their duty as the like expressions Jerem. 50. 2. 14 15. 21. 26 27 28 29. which are imitated Rev. 18. 4. 6. Revel 19. 17. Isai. 56. 9. are to be expounded or as a permission allowing a person to do it as when St. Paul saith 1 Cor. 10. 27. Whatsoever is set before you eat asking no question for conscience sake which doth not injoyn them to eat whatsoever was set before them so as that if they did not eat it would be their sin for then they should be required to be gluttons but is an indulgence to them allowing them liberty to eat as a thing not unlawful but indifferent which unless further admonished they might eat without scruple of conscience 4. That it is not a command to the people who did come out of Babylon nor their act to reward double to Babylon and fill to her double but a prediction of what shall be done by others may be gathered in that the reward to them is to be construed to have been the slaughter of them and the cup which Babylon filled was the cup of blood which she was to drink of Revel 16. 6. now then those persons who were rewarded to whom this cup was filled by Babylon are such as had been put to death by Babylon and therefore could not reward her double or fill her double in the cup which she hath filled unless they were raised from the dead and consequently could not be the same individuals who are invited to come out of Babylon Revel 18. 4. 5. Upon this consideration it is also probable that the rewarding and filling Revel 18. 6. is ascribed to the Martyrs killed because God did it by reason of the cry of their blood which is intimated by the words v. 20. Rejoyce over her thou Heaven and ye holy Apostles and Prophets for God hath avenged you on her and other words Revel 11. 18. do intimate the same Which if true is nothing to the smiting work of the Quinto-Monarchians by military power turning their Plow-shares into swords but only intimates the efficacy of the blood of Martys to bring divine vengeance on Babylon 6. But were it granted that the people of God invited to come out of Babylon Revel 18. 4. were the same numerical persons who are commanded to reward Babylon double and to fill her double in the cup which she hath filled and they are to do this by smiting with the sword yet this is nothing to the Fifth-Monarchy-Men in England unless they should be in Babylon at that time when Gods people should come out of her and did so come out of her And therefore there is no command Revel 18. 6. for them to smite till then but they are to put up their sword into the sheath and to lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty under their Governors else they will be guilty of resisting and self-revenging condemned by Christ and his Apostles which was to be proved § 10. Quinto-Monarchians Doctrine tends to murder and ruine of humane society HEnce also a seventh argument is deduced that the smiting work to which the Doctrine of Quinto-Monarchians incites is wilful murder yea the most horrible murder that ever was except his who was a murderer from the beginning John 8. 44. or theirs who crucified the Lord of glory For it incites to a professed smiting and spoyling of all the civil powers on earth even those to whom they are bound to be subject by all Lawes of Religion nature country and reason and to act these things with all extremity out of imagined zeal for Christ which if it be not according to knowledge is a fire of Hell which will hardly be ever quenched and in prosecution thereof to smite those who resist them which must of necessity be all those who adhere to civil powers who will be doubtless the most conscientious Saints on earth and the greatest part of mankind which must needs be wilful Murder and Robbery if they have no warrant to do it But they have none neither Revel 18. 6. nor any other scripture or Revelation of God that we or they do know nor Lawes of nature or men do in the least warrant or permit it but all condemn it And therefore if they should be permitted to act their design which God forbid there would be more destruction and wasting than ever yet was made by men since the world began and more truly they might be termed Babylon in whom the blood of the Saints is found than any civil powers yet extant now murder-makes persons the Children of the Divil there being no sin more resembling him John 8. 44. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer and ye know saith St. John 1 Epist. ch 3. 15. That no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him therefore such are no Saints but Antichristian and the Doctrine moving to it is damnable and Antichristan To which I shall add an eighth argument taken from the direful effects to which the Quinto-Monarchians Doctrine of overturning and smiting civil powers and Lawes tends which are all the miseries which anarchy and confusion brings on the world even to the destruction of the Church of Christ on earth or rather according to the project they propound humane society if not the extirpation of mankind For by taking away civil powers safety of persons and all comforts of life are either taken away or much endangered When the Prophet Isaiah threatned calamity to the people of the Jewes Isai. 3. 1 2 3 4 5. He tels them the Lord the Lord of hosts doth take away the mighty man and the man of War the Judge and the Prophet and the prudent and the ancient the Captain of fifty and the honourable man and the Counsellor and the cunning Artificer and the eloquent Orator and I will give Children to be their Princes and Babes shall rule over them and the people shall be oppressed every one by another and every one by his neighbour the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient and the base against the honourable Whereby it may be perceived that God took it to be a curse next after the taking away the stay and the staff the whole stay of bread and the whole stay of water to take from the Jewes their Rulers Teachers Nobles Scholars and therefore there cannot be a greater calamity to a people after the destruction of the fruits of the earth whereby famine comes than to smite time their civil powers and eminent persons who have been the Protectors and Guides of the people For then people become Murderers and Robbers one of another and all places are filled with fears dangers cries and miseries of all sorts The evils we have felt in our own civil Wars shew what misery it is to have Soldiers rule and not Princes and
all men James 3. 17. The wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable v. 18. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace 1 Pet. 3. 10 11. He that will love life and see good daies let him seek peace and ensue it From hence I argue that doctrine is damnable and Antichristian which is opposire to Christs and his Apostles commands approbation and beatification concerning meekness and peaceableness But such is the doctrine of the Quinto-Monarchians which stirs up enmities and hostility among men teacheth separations from men even such as they hope are godly from Churches gathered in a pastoral way reducing things to primitive practise and breaths out nothing but Wars and smiting of all that denie or oppose their smiting work which are as contrary to meekness and peaceableness as hot to cold black to white Therefore their doctrine is damnable and Antichristian Nor can they be acquitted by alleging such texts as Psal. 139. 21 22. and 137. 9. Amos. 5. 15. Hab. 2. 6 7 8. Revel 17. 16. unless they can shew all civil powers extant and those whom they hope to be godly Churches gathered in a pastoral way reducing things to primitive practise yet count enemies to Christs Kingdom because they oppose that which these call the smiting work of the Stone to be indeed haters of God and Babylon and also that these are the Stone or the ten Horns that are to hate the Whore and make her desolate Till this be done which I expect to be done at later Lammas we may say as Christ did ye know not what spirit ye are of or rather determin that they are indeed of an Antichristian or Diabolical spirit For a further inforcing of this argument I shall adjoyn a tenth taken from those many texts of scripture especially in the New Testament which both require patience in the Saints and assigne blessedness to it and make suffering the portion of the Saints and necessary to their entrance into the Kingdom of God that to continue till Christs coming Matth. 5. 10 11 12. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven Luke 21. 19. In your patience possess your souls Acts 14. 22. Paul and Barnabas confirmed the souls of the Disciples and exhorted them to continue in the faith and that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God 2 Thes. 1. 4 5. So that we our selves glory in you in the Churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God that ye may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God for which ye also suffer 2 Tim. 3. 12. Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution Heb. 12. 6. Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every Son whom he receives James 1. 4. Let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing James 5. 7. Be patient therefore brethren unto the coming of the Lord. Hence I argue those who teach smiting when Christ and his Apostles teach patience those who count them Antichristian who would have Christ his Saints his cause in and on the earth a sufferer though Christ and his Apostles call it Christian to suffer and require patience until the coming of the Lord these teach doctrine which is indeed damnable and Antichristian But so do the Quinto-Monarchians as may be seen before Sest 2. Therefore the doctrine of their smiting work is damnable and Antichristian § 12. The Eleventh and Twelfth arguments from contrariety to the Martyrs agreement with Papists THIS also leads us to an eleventh argument which is from the constant profession of the Saints and Martyrs in all ages that they were to suffer for the Kingdom of God not to fight for it so speaks St. John Revel 1. 9. I John who also am your Brother and companion in Tribulation and in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ was in the Isle that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the Testimony of Jesus Christ. Where he makes these conjunct the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ and styles himself their Brother and companion in Tribulation and in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ therefore he took all that were Brethren to be companions therein and these to be conjoyned together This was the profession of the Saints in the times of the ten great persecutions as may be seen in the writings of Justin Martyr Tertullian Cyprian and such as wrote Apologies for the Christians and the Acts and monuments of the Church which relate their practise suteable to their profession even when they were armed and were a considerable part of the Emperors Armies yet exposed themselves rather to butchery than they would attempt to fight Yea when the Beast was risen to whom the Dragon gave his power and his seat and great authority from which time as is shewed before Sect. 4. the Quinto-Monarchians make civil powers not to be the Ordinance of God but Antichristian and the Ordinance of Hell yet the Holy Ghost foretels not the smiting work of the Stone or turning their Plow-shares into Swords for the pulling down civil powers and setting up the fifth Kingdom on earth but saith Revel 13. 10 He that killeth with the Sword must be killed with the Sword Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints Which shewes that even they were not to set up the Kingdom of Christ by fighting but by patience and faith And Revel 14. 12. after the prediction of the fall of Babylon and the daughter of those who worship the Beast and his Image and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name it is added Here is the patience of the Saints Here are they that keep the Commandments of God the faith of Jâ—sus shewing that even in those times the Saints would patiently suffer not avenge themselves by smiting or by destroying civil powers seek to set up Christs Kingdom on earth the contrary whereto is taught by the Quinto-Monarchians and thereby the generation of the just even the holy Martyrs their profession and practise is condemned which is damnable and Antichristian On the other side which yeilds a twelfth argument these â—enents of the smiting of civil powers to set up Christs Kingdom tend to the justifying or countenancing of the Popish former and later doctrine and practises wherein they have challenged and usurped a power over Emperors and Kings to depose and deprive them of life when they have opposed the Popes Authority or the Roman Church and Religion which opposition was counted by them to be against the Kingdom of Christ and thought
by the Saints even those who are private persons and that the civil powers shall be smitten by them to which they are subject But for this they having nothing but an obscure prophecy to rely upon and it not agreeing with plain precepts which forbid resistence to the higher powers that are this their impious Collection is deservedly to be exploded and detested A fifth is that this smiting work shall be done by the Saints afore Christs coming and in preparation thereto But this agrees not with the Apostles words 1 Cor. 15. 24. where it is made Christs work to put down all Rule and all Authority and Power which will not be till the end and then Christ or his Father shall put all his enemies under his feet which cannot be the work of the Saints For one of the enemies is death v. 26. which none in his wits will say can be destroyed by Quinto-Monarchian Saints they perhaps may bring death on themselves and others but sure they cannot destroy death who cannot raise from the dead Besides the scripture makes the coming of Christ and his Kingdom comtemporary 2. Tim. 4. 1. therefore not to be effected by the Saints on earth by any preparatory work of theirs A sixth uncertainty or falsehood which moves them to so much zeal for their smiting work is that they have fancied it to be the work of the present generation which Mr. Tillinghast much insists on in his Sermon on Matth. 16. 3. concerning the signs of the times but upon how slender reasons may be shewed in what followes sure when our Lord Christ made the time of his coming unknown to Angels and the son of man and known only to the Father Mark 13. 32. he would have us not be curious to know it but watch that we be not surprised by it And sith after all the labours of the learnedst and most prying inquisitors all the Prophetical numbers about this thing of the ruin of Babylon and Christs personal Kingdom on earth have been so uncertainly calculated that mens expectations have been deluded it is great rashness for any to pitch on a certain year or age much more to attempt such audacious and horrid things as the smiting of civil powers in a preposterous way which attempt of theirs becomes the more inexcusable in that their own writing entituled The Banner of truth displayed shewed their uncertainty and unresolvedness both in the manner extent and time of this smiting work For whereas they apply that of Dan. 2. 34 35. 44 45. concerning the stones smiting of the great Image so that the Iron the clay the brass the silver and the gold was broken to pieces together and became like the chaff of the sommer threshing-floors and the wind carried them away that no place was found for them unto the Saints even Gentile Saints smiting of all parts of the fourth Monarchy all the civil powers of Europe which they count Roman Babylon and Antichristian yet p. 40 41. they make the conversion of the ten horns Rev. 17. 16 17. to be one gradation of the stones growth which although they would not have to be the present powers of the ten horns nor yet multitudes of people in the ten horns but some out of all the ten horns whom the Lord will have mercy on shall be chosen by Christ in which respect it is said the ten horns yet they admit that the powers of the ten horns which the text expresly v. 12. 13. terms ten Kings which had received then no Kingdom but receive power as Kings one hour with the Beast who have one mind and shall give their power and strength unto the Beast and are according to them part of the fourth Monarchy to be utterly destroyed shall be subdued by the Saints and as now they are Antichristian and fight for the Beast against the Lamb so shall they become Christians and fighters for the Lamb against the Beast which is utterly inconsistent with the being broken in pieces together by the stones smiting so as to become like the chaff of the sommer threshing-floor and the wind carry them away that no place be found for them if the stones smiting them be their subduing by the Saints And for the time of the beginning of their smiting work which p. 46. they make the ending time of the mystical numbers spoken of by Daniel and John for the accomplishment of those great things which God hath declared by the mouth of all his holy Prophets to be brought to pass in these later daies Dan. 12. 11. Rev. 11. 2 3. 12. 6. and 13. 5. which they make a great argument and quickning motive to the Saints to look about them and for the stone to arise and smite the compleated Image and break in pieces the iron teeth of the ravenous beast that so deliverance may be brought they grant this thing which they lay down as a call to the stone is doubtful to most and p. 47. tell us that in this particular their judgment and opinion do most accord with Mr. Tillinghast his Calculation according to which those things named spoken of to come to pass at the end of those numbers would in all likelyhood have their accomplishment together with the said numbers the year of Christ 1656. But the event disproving it they will not engage further therein but set down other signs which are signs only from themselves and not from any divine revelation and yet p. 52. conclude This present generation in which we live is the ending time of those mystical numbers forementioned the expiring time of Antichrist wherein God will begin to put a period to the Beasts tyranny and powers And therefore cannot but assert that the consideration of these things is a great call and motive to the stone to arise and be doing which work we call the fifth Kingdom in its first dispenspensation preparing way for the second and more glorious dispensation But after mentioning the compleat and effectual call that the stone shall have to be a clear light into that time it shall smite and into the work of that time together with power from on high whereby it shall be emboldened and fitted to smite as aforesaid and also a fit and leading providence or opportunity preparing way for its breaking forth with these golden characters of power wisdom and glory and then adding some examples of Gods former providence they say let the stone wait for the accomplishment of these particulars afore it smite add their humble conceit then mind those who at present are the gainsayers and imbittered opposers of this work and yet hope and believe they are godly of this their faith and hope lest they split themselves upon this stone becoming their rock of offence and so their bodies and lives perish upon such an account in this day of common calamity that hasteth upon the whole world By which may be perceived their uncertainties in that which they call their faith and
hope wherein those whom they believe to be godly oppose them and their violence of spirit beyond all sobriety in moving persons so earnestly to that smiting work in this age upon no better grounds than their own conjecture though they foresaw it would bring common calamity and the bodies and lives of godly persons perish by reason of their opposition to this Stone which shewes they were resolved to smite all that stood in their way though godly as it fell out in the year 1660. Mr. Tillinghast in his first Sermon p. 26. saith the work of Christs Kingdom the glorious beginning of it shall be about the time of the Jewes coming in and p. 39. saith the Lord make us wait on him for his own time and yet Serm. 3. gives signes of its being near even in this generation which he makes it the duty of Saints to observe though not one of the signes is from any Revelation of God but from things which may happen and have without such signification as he would put upon them I omit what Mr. Mede in his letter to Arch-Bishâ—p Usher and in other writings and many others write of the mystical numbers in Daniel and in the Revelation which I would not have slighted so as to give no heed to them it being not in vain that the Holy Ghost hath delivered them to us only this I conceive it very dangerous and unsafe to make them the warrant or motive to such an attempt as the smiting of civil powers or the beginning of any War against the known Rules of scripture and Lawes of civil Government it being in it self wicked shewing bitter furious zeal without the wisedome from above and likely hereafter as it hath done formerly to others to bring destruction of soul and body on the agents and much misery on others whether opponents or neuters § 14. Many things are groundless and false which the Quinto-Monarchians suppose and take as articles of their faith concerning the Fifth-Monarchy and its setting up TO the uncertainties and falsities about the smiting work of the Stone whereby the evil of their attempt is demonstrated I shall next add the uncertainties or falsities of those things which thâ—y make as articles of their faith about the Stones becoming a Mountain and filling the whole earth Where 1. they shew their inadvertency in making Gentile Saints who are but subjects the Stone meant Dan. 3. 34 35. Excluding the Jewes from being the Stone in the beginning whereas the Stone is expresly termed the Kingdom which shall stand for ever v. 44 45. which cannot be understood of the Saints who are subject they are not the Kingdom nor do they stand for ever though they receive a Kingdom that cannot be shaken Heb. 12. 28. But the Stone is Christ the King and his Dominion which must fill the whole earth with Subjects Lawes and Administrations of Rule and Justice which cannot be said of the Saints Gentile or Jewish Which inadvertency causeth them to speak confusedly p. 19 20. and throughout their Book termed the Baaner of truth displayed sometimes terming the Stone Christ sometimes his Kingdom sometime the Gentile Saints sometimes the Jewes joyned to the Gentiles Now the same Stone which smites the great Image becomes a great Mountain and fils the whole earth but this is not true of the Gentile Saints or Jew and Gentile joyned together they become not a great Mountain nor fill the whole earth therefore they smite not the Image 2. That the Stone or fifth Kingdom is an outward visible Kingdom not the spiritual Kingdom which was begun by Christ in the days of his flesh is much insisted on as the chief ground of their faith and hope in this matter But in the Banner of truth displayed p. 20. in answer to the question what this Stone is They say this Stone is called in Scripture the Kingdom of Christ and the Kingdom of Christ this stone Dan. 2. 44 45. Matth. 21. 43 44. which they say hath a twofold dispensation i. e. 1. An internal dispensation or the inward Kingdom which is the Kingdom of Christ in the hearts of his Saints and in and over his Church 2. An external dispensation 1. Of war in subduing and conquering his stubborn enemies and opposers in the world whereby they shall be compelled to yield and shall become subjects though Kings and Princes 2. Of peace upon the earth in and over the whole world which is the new creation and restitution of all things where will be perfection no sin among the Saints immortality no mortal nor corruptible thing where death shall have no sting nor grave victory but all shall be swallowed up in Christs fulness which is victory And for this they cite many scriptures in the margin Now 1. I grant that the stone Dan. 2. 44 45. is the Kingdom of Christ or of God Mat. 21. 43 44. 2. The distinction of the internal external Kingdom is not denied 3. Nor do I oppose the double dispensation of this Kingdom 4. Nor do I deny the description of either dispensation But 1. hence I infer that the stone Dan. 2. 44 45. notes the internal Kingdom or the dominion Christ had by the preaching of the Gospel termed the Gospel of the Kingdom Matth. 24. 14. meant Matth. 21. 43 44. For 1. that Kingdom is meant there and no other which was to be taken from the Jews but that could be no other than the internal Kingdom for no other Kingdom was then among them but it therefore no other is there meant 2. That Kingdom was there meant which was to be given to another Nation meaning the Gentiles but that was no other but the internal 3. That Kingdom is there meant whose fruits were to be brought forth by the Nation to whom it was to be given now the fruits of the Kingdom are expressed to be righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. which belong to the internal Kingdom and therefore no other there meant Which thing is also confirmed by other passages of Scripture as namely that of our Saviour Luk. 17. 20. When he was demanded when the Kingdom of God should come he answered them and said The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation or with outward shew therefore the Kingdom of God meant in the Gospel is not the outward visible Kingdom which the Quinto-Monarchians expect which is also proved from v. 21. where it is added Neither shall they say Lo here or lo there for behold the Kingdom of God is within you or among you which could be no other than the Kingdom set up by the preaching of the Gospel To which is to be added Christs good confession before Pontius Pilate John 18. 36. Kingdom is not of this world if my Kingdom were of this world then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews but now is my Kingdom not from hence Wherein our Lord Christ declares his Kingdom foretold by
If Saints have the rights and priviledges in respect of Government then those only have power to make Governors as Kings and their Officers who make Saints especially Preachers Ministers and Pastors of Churches But the Scripture makes this no part of a Ministers work he is not to intangle himself in affairs of this life 2 Tim. 2. 4. this is never intimated to have been done or that it should be done they are said to be of God his ministers not the Ministers of the Saints or Pastors of Churches nor did ever any pretend it to be the right of Church Officers to constitute Kings and civil Governors till the Popes of Rome usurped that power to create the Emperors whose Predecessor Gregory the great acknowledged the Emperor Mauricius to be his Lord and the like was done by other Popes to the Emperors of Rome until the time of Hildebrand named Gregory the seventh whom Becket in England followed taking upon him to annul the English Laws and asserting the Kings power to be from the Church 17. If the rights and priviledges in respect of Government be the Saints then they cease to be Governors when they cease to be Saints and so the opinion heretofore charged unjustly on Wickleff that a Prelate or Prince falling into mortal sin should be disavowed which is even by Romanists decried then might those that have power to excommunicate and to declare them Hereticks Apostates depose them yea then should Princes be at the mercy not only of Popes but also of every Ecclesiastical Consistory yea they themselves should be bound in such cases to lay down their Government and Ecclesiastical Rulers and godly persons to abandon them as being no Governors of right because no Saints which would make Governments which are the great supporters of human society to be the weakest and silliest invention among men not like the Ordinance of God by whom Kings reign and Princes decree justice Prov. 8. 15. but rather a device of Idiots bring the greatest confusions and mischiefs incident to human affairs deter infidel Princes to become Christians if they see they must possesse their Dominion at the will of Ecclesiasticks with many other great absurdities We find in Scripture Kings have deposed Priests as Solomon did Abiathar by Gods allowance but no where Priests to have deposed Kings with any approbation This hath been but of late a thing hatch'd at Rome and fetch'd from Hell 17. If the Saints have the rights and priviledges in respect of Government regained in Christ then is temporal dominion founded in grace But that is not true sith it is given out of common providence for the good of human society not out of special love to the Saints For it is one of the things that is for the benefit of the bad as well as the good as the shining of the Sun and the falling of the rain Matth. 5. 45. and therefore the benefit of it is sometimes denied to the good and granted to the bad so that in these things all are alike one event is to the righteous and the wicked Eccles. 9. 2. 18. If government of others were the Saints right God would not have made Saul King nor David acknowledged him King over Israel nor adjudged him to death that slew him nor would God have termed Cyrus his Shepheard Isa. 44. 28. his anointed Isa. 45. 1. nor Daniel have said to Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 2. 37. thou O King art a King of Kings for the God of Heaven hath given thee a Kingdom power and strength and glory or to Darius O King live for ever Dan. 6. 21. 19. If the Saints have regained in Christ the rights and priviledges in respect of Government then all offices of government or some only if all then every Saint is of right a King and so a King by inheritance succession or election is no more a King than the meanest Saint yea than a child if a Saint and so no wo when the King is a child contrary to Eccles. 10. 16. then one person hath no more right to an office than another which would introduce anarchy and take away all government which is indeed the event to which Fifth-monarchy-mens principles and actings tend under shew of the Saints right to put power into the hands of the most violent Spirits whereby all orderly government will be demolished and tyranny of a few with the common robbery of all promoted If some only have rights to some offices and priviledges in respect of government who shall distinguish how shall the right of each be tried what Court shall there be to decide controversies of this kind Is there any that hath discerning of Spirits to find out each ones fitness Is there any Oracle of God any Priest by Urim and Thummim who can declare what is to be done Sure such devices are not of God but of Satan which tend to unsettle things placed in order and involve men in inextricable difficulties not to be avoided without a miracle Lastly If the Saints have regained rights and priviledges in respect of Government in Christ then are those unjustly debarred from them who are Saints But the Quinto-Monarchians in their Banner of truth displayed do not only declare the Saints are to separate from the Romish Universal national Prelatical Parochial Presbyterian Churches but also from the congregational Churches though they hope godly if they oppose them or concur not with them in their smiting work though they be brethren in the Churches yet they accompt him and that spirit which either in act or deed wilfully and obstinately as blessed be the Almighty they did both before by the Quinto-Monarchians own confession and in the year 1660 denies the smiting work of our Lords Kingdom as they pretend it to be though it be but their own work and for themselves moved by their own Phrenetick fury or intemperate blind zeal Antichristian terming them formally godly if they be not as violent as themselves and degrading them as if they had no sanctity who are not sâ—â—dementate as themselves which shews that they account them only for Saints that are of their spirit and mind and appropriate the rights and priviledges in respect of government to those of their party excluding those who join not with them though confessedly godly and brethren for whom they cannot deny Christ hath regained as much as for themselves which shews their injustice if not hypocrisy and overthrows their assertion that the Saints as Saints have regained in Christ the rights and priviledges in respect of government sith they will have no Saints but their own party to have regained them The sixth position to which all their consultation and doctrine tends and which is indeed the venom and poyson of all their tenents boyled up to the heigth is that the Kingdom and power in these Nations is the Saints birthright as freemen of the Common-wealth of Israel and heirs of the whole world with Christ Gal. 3. 29. whence 't is that
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.