Selected quad for the lemma: power_n
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A38778
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A voice from heaven to th[e] common-wealth of England with additions.
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Evans, Arise, b. 1607.
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1653
(1653)
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Wing E3470; ESTC R25074
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31,492
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57
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out of the bottomlesse pit Rev. 9. 2. 3. 11. Rev. 11. 7. out of the sea out of the earth Rev. 13. 1. 11. it still comes from beneath which signifies it comes from the locall and vulgar people whose ignorance is set forth by a Gulph or bottomlesse pit which know nothing in comparison of God what 's good for themselves therefore the power that is of men that is of the Dragon or of the Beast or of the devill is one and the self-same thing and the different terms given to it is only to illustrate shew the evill of it Therefore I conclude that this State is that Beast Rev. 13. and I will prove it thus 1. The Beast had a seat of great authority Rev. 13. 2. so hath this State for it hath judged and condemned a King and put him to death by that seat ordained for their honor I I mean the High Court of Justice so called 2. The Beast beheaded them that were most eminent in opposing him Rev. 20. 4. so did did the State behead all that by the sentence of the said High Court suffered death 3. The Beast is not one man but a great number of men compact together Rev. 13. 18. So the State is a great number of men of equall authority 4. The Beast is said to change times and laws Dan. 7. 25. so do the State they will have no Christmas no Easter no Whitsuntide and the ancient Lawes and Customes of England they change 5. The Beast by the successes of his wars is wondred at by all that worship him Rev. 13. 4. so this State is wondred at for his wars and prosperity therein 6. The Beast opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped So that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God 2 Thes. 2. 4. Now I must speak of the Pope that he comes very neer this mark for when a King doth not comply with the Pope he is murthered or poysoned by some of the Popes adherents But the Pope seems as Pilate Mat. 27. 24. to wash his hands from the bloud and if they be found that commit the murther they suffer death and are not protected Here the Pope doth the same thing but he doth it not to glory in before the world and to justifie or shew himself a God thereby for he doth it privately neither is it done to any whom the Pope doth acknowledge himself inferiour to but only to such Kings or persons as did acknowledge the Pope their superiour once But this State who first reverenced the King as was due and afterwards erected a Tribunal on purpose and bringing him before it condemned to die by a law glorying in it before the world that what they did God did and that none ever did the like before neither could any do the like but God is the same that sits in the Temple of God and shews it self to be God For the Parliament house where they now sit was a church or chappell founded by King Edward the 3. as may appear by divers antient Records Here you may see there are consecrated or dedicated places now and that that place must needs be the Temple of God where the Beast sits 2 Thes. 2. 4. And ye have the same Temple mentioned Rev. 11. 19. Rev. 14. 15. 17. Rev. 5. 8. I do not hereby excuse the Pope only I shew you that this State is the little Horn that exalts it self highest Dan. 8. 9 10 11 12. Dan. 7. 8. which by the Fathers is called the great Antichrist 7. The Beast had horns like a Lamb but spake like a Dragon Rev. 13. 11. So the State are meek men like Lambs in outward appearance but in their Votes Dragons speaking against the most HIGH his will and power and Kingdome And many other marks I could shew you but I shall here forbear You that look for Christs personall reigne here on earth know that it shall be in the Kingly power established here again when this State is dissolved You that look for the conversion of the Jews know that the aforesaid King is the means appointed by God to effect it You that would know how long this State shall flourish Dan. 7. 25. a time times and the dividing of time Dan. 12. 6. 7. a time times and a halfe Rev. 12. 14. a time times and half a time John gives us this above in the same words as Daniel doth and then interprets it unto us Rev. 11. 2. Rev. 13. 5. to be 42. moneths and that in plain is three yeares and a half therefore in September next 1652. if not before look for mishaps to the States affairs Now I commit you all to God who is only wise and knows all his works and can save beyond mans expectation There is another book of the Authors that will come forth shortly being a Narrative of his life the manner of his Calling and Visions Postscript I Beseech you consider seriously Rev. 17. where ye have the State of Rome and the State of England interwoven till you come to ver. 12. for I find this State to be the worst part of Popery risen up in another shape First consider Rev. 17. 12. Here are ten Kings yet have no Kingdome he doth not say in the plurall number Kingdoms but in the singular Kingdome these saith he receive power as Kings at one hour with the Beast From this place it is evident that these ten are noble persons or men of power in regard of their compliance and giving their strength to the State Ver. 13. Received power to be as Kings that same hour when England was made a State Ver. 14. Ye have these ten make war with the Kingly power Ver. 15. Ye have the State sitting over Nations and Tongues that is over Wales Scotland and Ireland Ver. 16. 17. These ten great ones which were the making of the State shall now hate her and make her desolate For saith he God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will and to agree and give their Kingdome unto the Beast untill the words of God shall be fulfilled Consider then these ten have interest but in one Kingdome called their Kingdome Rev. 17. 17. Now the Kings that are under the Pope are proper Kings and have each of them a Kingdom so that if he had means such Kings he would have said Kingdoms neither can it be meant of these proper Kings that they received their power at one hour with the Pope for they came to their power some by conquest some by bloud some at one time and some at another Therefore I beseech you once more seriously to consider this rlace and remember what the Evangelist saith before it Rev. 17. 9. Here is the mind which hath wisdome Ezek. 21. 26. 27. Speaking of the power saith he I will overturn overturn overturn it and it shall be no more untill he come whose right it is and I will
to dispute for the justnesse of his cause God loosened his tongue and he spake fluently as many can witnesse First when he went for shelter into the Scots army Mr. Henderson the greatest Champion Minister in Scotland slew himself in disputing and striving with the King Secondly Mr. Cook that drew his charge in his charge against the King calls him a second Solomon for wisdome Thirdly Mr. Lilly in his book called Monarchy or no Monarchy is forced to say of the King He was a man inclined to no vice Fourthly the Plea for the Commonwealth of England Colonel Ioyce saith that the King was of a far more excellent spirit than M. Love who was the most valiant Minister in all England and suffered for it Would ye have an able wise faithfull wise undefiled good spirited perfect man in all things justified of God of men of his most deadly enemies Look upon K. Charles he is so justified of all Again consider his great faithfulnesse as he was was engaged to defend the faith and church of Christ committed to his trust at his Coronation after he lost his Armies and three Kingdoms and was in the custody of the Parliaments Army he might have had his three Kingdoms again restored to him upon terms destructive to the faith and Church of Christ but rather then so he chuseth to lose his Kingdoms and also his life for the defence of the faith and church committed to his trust who ever did the like and what glory is too great for such a King Again consider how perfect his love was not only to his friends but also to his most deadly enemies who took his life and Kingdoms from him I mean you Souldiers So far was he from seeking revenge upon you for all you did against him that he praiseth you for gallant valiant men and wishes that he had had such men as ye may see in his book and last speech to his Son and therefore ought not you in equity to requite him with the like love and though you cannot give him his life again yet to be a means to cause him that is his name to reign For you see by the Word of God that he must reign and will not you now you see 't is right be the instruments to bring it to passe There be two Commandements that sound in mine ears continually One is this Thou shalt not fellow a multitude to do evill neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgement Exod 23. 2. The other is Thou shalt not hate thy Brother in thine heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy Neighbour and not suffer sin upon him Lev. 19. 17. My silence is a sin unto me I should hate you if I did not tell you the truth The States flatterers say that the power is radical in the people derivative in the Parliament But the word of God saith that the power is radicall in God derivative in Kings and that promotion comes not from the East nor from the West that is from any people but God is the Judge he puts down one and sets up another Psa. 75. 5 6 7. and by me Kings reign Pro. 7. 15 16. Power belongs to God Psa. 72. 11. For this cause Melchisedeck is said to be from all eternity lest any should argue and say that he had his Kingly power from men Heb. 7. 1 2 3. For a man to make a thing better than himself and then fear honor and obey it as his God is the grossest idolatry and men do so when they claim the power to set up rulers Hos. 8. 4 5 6. for men to make themselves gods is idolatry Rulers are called Gods Psal. 82. 6. therefore those people are idolaters that take upon them to set up Rulers for themselves and God will require it Again I say that power which is of men is opposite to that which is of God neither can both stand together Christ saith intimating the power of John Baptist Luk. 1. 77. was it from heaven or of men Mat. 12. 25. is all one as if he had said Is it from heaven or of hell for what 's opposite to heaven but hell again saith he Act. 5. 38 39. if this Councell be of men 't will come to nought but if it be of God it will stand is all one as if he had said if it be of the devill it will come to nought but if it be of God it will stand for what 's opposite to God but the devill Some will say there is no power but of God Rom 13. 1. Therefore the States power is of God I answer that which is of men is not of God The States power is of men therefore not of God but in this sense ' is of God God by his foreknowledge did foresee this State and permitted it to continue so long But that God is the author of this State is denied For 't is clear that the Dragon gave him that is the Beast or State his power and his seat and great authority Rev. 13. 2. Therefore they have not their authority or power to act of God but they have their power permitted to continue so long a time as the devils had a time which they claim Mar. 1. 24. Mat. 8. 29. But Paul understood that the power of the Romans was of God for it was enclosed in Caesar and Caesar was a King John 19. 12. 15. and Paul calls him the Minister of God Rom. 13. 4. because he had not his power of men but of God But saith he the powers that be Rom. 13. 1. hence you draw your conclusion that the States power is to be submitted to though it be of men I say no for he speaks there of the power which is of God a Kingly power and all the stop in these words the powers that be is in regard Caesar was not a Christian but a heathen and therefore not altogether right yet he calls him the Minister of God in regard his power was of God and not of men therefore thus much the Apostle saith here that the power that is of God and not of men you must submit unto in outward affairs though the King be a Heathen and whereas he saith Rom. 13. 1. there is no power but of God he doth absolutely deny this power as it is now the States power to be any thing else but a jugling shew of Sathan admired at by them that perish as he defines it 2 Thes. 2. 8 9 10. it hath all power in shew yet it is but a deceiveable lying wonder of no substance As Juglers make us believe they have many rare things but when we need such things alas there 's nothing at all Now the power that is of God alwayes descends from heaven as you may see Rev. 10. 1. Rev. 11. 1. 2 3 4 5 6. Rev. 18. 1. Rev. 20. 1. intimating that it comes from God alone But the other power is said alwayes to ascend