their shepherd to feed them with knowledge and understanding in this point and therefore accordingly I spent some time in clearing it up unto the Congregation in a second Epistle written in answer unto theirs It seems some of them through anacquaintedness with Scripture-distinctions in this doctrine and otherwise did not make a right interpretation of the Truths therein expressed but mistooke my minde and meaning and so whether weakly or willingly divulged or suffered to be divulged abroad some passages in the Letter which ought not to have been done considering the Letter was intended for their use and edifying onely and not for open publication I had some hint of this in a short time but not being conscious to my self of any alteration in the least no not in thought and purpose of heart toward a compliance and well knowing that no part of the Letter could signifie any such thing if rightly understood I neglected the rumour as onely one of the petty stratagems of the devil whereby to do me some mischief But afterward finding that that secret whisper and murmur was ripened suddenly into an infamous report Letter after Letter also representing this as of very sad consequence to that Name and Cause for which I am bound with this Chain I was brought under a necessity of presenting to publick view the Epistle it self so far as it concerns this Cause Especially when I finde it certified that one well known to all sorts of people in the City coming where several were together in company did in a laughing and scoffing maner draw forth a paper and say There was my Recantation pretending it was mine own Letter or a Copy of it wherein I wrote That I was now satisfied that the Government was a lawful authority c. It appears to me that the envious One and his Emissaries are altogether in extreams in their suggestions against my Good Name sometimes the world must be made believe yea and the Elect also that I am against Magistracie and Ministery that I am an enemy to Government a most dangerous man in my Principles that way c. Again sometimes it is for his advantage to perswade such as would have it so that I am come over to my Adversaries and Oppressors of mine own accord and that suddenly too without any Overtures made or Arguments used to draw me to a compliance or conformity But how improbable and irrational a practice such an hasty return would appear to solid Christians to be I refer it to themselves to say and judge No blessed be the Lord I shall not so far be forsaken by him or left to my self as to gratifie the foes and grieve the friends of my dear Redeemer by turning Apostate after all my sufferings in so good a Cause HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR HIS SERVANT yea let all my Friends and Enemies also know assuredly that I stand my ground by divine assistance yea I get ground and am abundantly confirmed that I am out of the reach of the earthly powers insomuch that if they should slay me they could not hurt me Let God in all things be glorified by Jesus Christ to whom also be glory for ever Amen The Epistle followeth together with a further manifestation of the Truth This following is a true Copy of the Epistle so far as concerns the matter in hand which I have divided into Sections for methods sake in the explanation of my meaning Grace mercy and peace from the ever-over-flowing Fountain to every son and daughter of the living God Sect. 1 HAving lately even in my last unto you declared among other things that purpose and determination concerning my Bonds and Imprisonment which I have according to my best understanding taken up upon Scripture-ground I shall now proceed to add something for the rectifying of some mistakes about the present powers and the image of the Beast It falling in properly upon this occasion for me to speak something to you concerning those Truths which do lie somewhat remote and out of the way of ordinary observation Sect. 2 The judgement of the Congregation appears by their Letter to me to be this viz. That you cannot do any thing toward my enlargement prayer excepted without owning the Powers in Being the doing of which say you is accounted a bowing the knee to the image of the Beast Now for the better clearing up of the minde of God in this dark and doubtful matter I shall plainly declare as follows Sect. 3 First I do not know by whom the ownnig of the Powers in Being is accounted a bowing the knee to the image of the Beast It was never neither is it like to be mine Opinion and whether you mean some of your Number or of other Congregations I cannot tell if I had particularly known I should have given a particular Answer for as for my self I do own the Powers in Being according as God himself hath commanded and have done all along I have and do render to all their Dues Tribute to whom Tribute is due Custome to whom Custom Fear to whom Fear Honour to whom Honour Sect. 4 And therefore secondly the doing of this that is Owning the Powers in Being is not ought not to be accounted a bowing the knee to the image of the Beast to own those Powers aforesaid is a plain duty not to be dispensed with by any Law of man whatsoever where as to worship or bow the knee to the Beast is a known sin forbidden in the Word of God By the Powers in Being I understand the Army as Supream and all those who joyne with them to carry on the work of justice and of mercy according to the indubitable principles of right reason and equity for Rulers saith the Apostle are not a terror to good workes but to the evil and so far as the Powers answer those principles they are Powers and the Ordinance of God and there is no more reason to resist them then there is to resist righteousness and truth whilst and so long as they answer the ends for which they were ordained and you know I never taught you to rise up against them in the least Sect. 5 If any would ask me How I can be said to own the Powers and yet preach against them and for the destroying of them thus one after another I answer I do in this matter as the Prophets and Apostles and Martyrs and upright and understanding Saints in all ages did before me for I make no question but they owned the Powers then in Being according to their own Doctrine and principles and yet at the same time preached and prophesied against them for their abominations both to their faces and behinde their backs also and this was done by the Lords faithful servants in all ages but I confess it did cost them very dear some their lives others their liberties others their ther substance c. where as the Court-Chaplains the Parish-Clergie and the Apostate Independents take a very
destroyed his Game which had been so gainful for so many ages I mean the winning of so many Peter-pence Annates money for polls and other trinkets c. but the King would needs be head of the Church in the Popes stead and so by his Court of Augmentations inriched himself with those Revenues which belonged to the Monastries and the Pope yet this was little ease to the people for what a Tyrant this King also was to his Subjects especially to the best of the Saints the scourge with six Coards as I remember it was called and Sir Walter Rawleigh in his Preface to the History of the world will well inform us Q. Mary oppressed the Saints with fire fagot Q Eliz. a moderate higher Power yet the people of God under the name of Puritan under great bondage His Daughter Mary also sacrificed the lives of the choycest Saints for the service of that Beast But I hasten Indeed his Daughter Queen Elizabeth who being more in good earnest for the best cause then in the world called the Interest of the Protestants against the House of Austria and the Catholique Popish league in France governed the Nation more honorably and was a better Higher Power than any I read of before or since in the Catalogue of Monarchs King Edw. 6. died in his nonage and yet it is well known what havock was made of the Nonconformists under the notion of Puritans in her time how were they oppressed and persecuted by the Prelates and what Burthens and Impositions what Costs and Charges they were put to in respect of their non-compliance with the Ceremonies is remembred to this day the lives of some of the choycest Saints were taken away for bearing testimony for the Lord Jesus against the Lords spiritual as the Prelates were called and their abominations and other abuses in the Court. Thus you see how the Disciples indured a very heavy yoke of bondage even in that period of time when the fourth Beast was most tame and most gentle namely in Q. Eliz. time and reign Before I pass from this Point The two Scotish Kings lay heavy yoaks upon the Saints K. James a soat oppressor of the Nonconformists I must give a short remembrance of the two Scotish Kings and their Government Not long after King James came to the English Throne ther were suspended silenced deprived turned out of house and harbor c. almost two hundred of the choycest Preachers throughout the Nation men of the best Gifts eminent for Godliness sound in the Faith most succesful in the Ministry and why was the condition of these precious ones so much worse than that of their Brethren because they would not worship the Beast because they could not subscribe to the Ceremonies of the Church of England c. therefore they must be impoverished by Fines Attendance Fees Mulcts and Penalties Besides the common burthen of the Nation in point of Taxes the Saints help to maintain their Brethren the Preachers who were silenced and put out of all which they were oppressed with This undoing of many Families occasioned the godly people to distribute to their necessities some of my Kindred to my knowledge have given several of them yearly allowances for twenty or thirty years together after the King and Bishops had taken away their livelihood for non-conformity It is incredible to the young generation of Disciples what the best sort of Saints have suffered since the tenth year of Queen Elizabeth And though I am not of that age as to remember any publique Transactions in the reign of this first Scotish King yet by History by Books of another nature by converse with antient intelligent Professors I do so well understand the heavy Oppressions and Persecutions of the best people in the Nation that I do judge and publiquely declare it were a very noble enterpize to collect a faithful history of the sufferings of the servants of God for testifying against the Beast and the false Prophet so boldly so constantly and so successfully this last hundred years or since the tenth year of the Queen aforesaid However when the Judge of the quick and the dead shall ingage in this work 1 Cor. 4.5 of bringing to light the hidden works of darkness and of revealing all the plots of the Kings and Prelates for the crushing and suppressing of the truth and those Saints that owned it the admiration will be unspeakable Oh what a cloud of witnesses will then appear with Christ in glory who in the world have been over-clouded with shame and most infamous reproach Col. 3.4 with all disgrace imaginable But whether am I carried excuse this sudden digression K. Charls an unreasonable raiser of taxes and observe with me that Charles his Son who reigned in his stead walked in the waies of his Fore-fathers and how far he went beyond his Predecessors in imposing illegal Burthens upon the people I leave to * Lawyers are acquainted with his projects to get mony from the people Lawyers to compute who are more versed in those Affairs But I know that it was a sad time with the most zealous heavenly Christians with the most eminent preachers and Professors Will. Laud a great persecutor and oppressor of the Saints by fines imprisonment visitations c. the persecution was so hot under William Laud both when he was Lord Bishop of London and afterwards of Canterbury that thousands of good people did transport themselves to strange remote Countries some fled to neighbor Nations to get out of his reach this was great oppression as for those that staid behind they hid themselves in corners were put to great cost and charges upon the account of their non-conformity besides what burthens were laid upon their shoulders in common with other people they were taxed fined sequestred and squeezed by the Prelates Courtâ— and Officers most unreasonably How many turned out of doors for not reading the Book of Sports allowed upon the first day of the week Yea the very visiting and speaking or shewing any kindness or countenance to Mr. Burton Mr. Prin and Dr. Bastick as they journied into banishment through the Countries cost many precious souls very dear as will appear in fulness of time to all the world After this The Classical Directory the common Prayer books successor cost the Nation a great sum a costly Common Prayer for Scotland was formed and imposed seconded with a great Army which and all the illegal Taxations before as for Knighthood at the beginning of his Government the Isle of Ree Ship-money c. had made the very common carnal people to see the English Government inclining to the French Garb where the Taxes are endless easeless and remediless as the poor Peasants may well compute Thus I have drawn this line of the HISTORY OF TAXES AND TRIBUâ—ES of ARBITRARY LEVIES AND IMPOSITIONS through so many ages tracing this hateful monster from its cradle in Souls time who was the
as far as my heavenly Father pleaseth I rejoyce I have any thing to suffer the losse of in so excellent and honourable a Cause as this is wherein with my Fellow-sufferers I am imbarked But having treated thus largely from the word of God and from Authentick Histories which are excellent Interpreters of Prophecies concerning these troublesome Inmates which have gotten into our houses and bowels which sit upon our skirts so constantly at every turn of Government and though we should speak them never so fair they will not depart till they are forced out by Judges as at the first and by Councellors as at the beginning Quest Moreover having also declared my practise in paying Taxes and suffering imprisonment without resistance It may be asked of me by some knowing Saints What are the particular grounds and reasons of your practice in this particular Ans The reason of paying tribute without resistance The return I give to such a Question is this according to the Apostle I AM SVBJECT TO THE POWERS IN BEING BECAVSE I MVST NEEDS BE SVBJECT PARTLY FOR WRATH PARTLY FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE Rom. 13.5 read and consider that sentence I explain my Answer thus First I am subject for wrath * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or because of wrath that is the wrath of the fourth Beast or Roman spirit in the powers for if I should have resisted when the Pursevants came to attach my body for my spirit indeed blessed be the Lord was and is out of theirs and their Masters reach their Roman wrath would have shewed it self presently by wounds or bruises or other outragious violence now I was not prepared to stand upon my guard as others have done in the like case neither did I intend to flee or make any escape for I was not afraid having done no evill for which I should be afraid of the powers Now I knowing that there was a power in being and apprehending that I could not glorifie God better for the present than by suffering I quietly and exceeding cheerfully submitted and obeyed the Order in the Authority whereof as to them they had apprehended me and went along with the poor creatures without gain-saying I had a blessed Catalogue of suffering Saints beside the King of Saints whose examples were very encouraging in conjunction with so good a Cause And thus I was and am still subject for wraths sake as it is translated or because of wrath for what single person can stand before the wrath of the Powers of this world during that time of Domination which is allotted to them he must needs be subject or come under their ordering as the word implies because of wrath their wraths not Gods thus I understand the place In the next place I say I am subject to the Powers in being because I must needs be subject NOT ONELY for wraths sake BVT ALSO for conscience sake or because of conscience that is as the wrath of violent men have a kind of compulsive power which will necessitate single persons or unarmed persons to yeeld to those who have power which is a real acknowledgement that they are the Higher Powers who bear all before them So in like manner but in a different way of working Conscience in a godly man and a knowing Christian hath a constraining power which will produce a resignation of our selves up to the will of God who is Lord of the Conscience and he perswading me upon plain grounds in his word to suffer under the fourth Kingdom for the service of himself and his Son I chearfully obey and forbear all words and actions of opposition after the manner of men untill the Dominion be taken away to consume and destroy it utterly as other Kings and Kingdoms have been destroyed heretofore And so I acknowledge there are Higher Powers in being and I finding and feeling it so to be am subject because it must be so not onely for wrath sake but for Conscience sake also and as Peter saith for the Lords sake 1 Pet. 2.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is a further obligation upon a Christian to suffer patiently those abuses which are offered to his person Relations good Name Estate or any thing that is his Nevertheless this I add That I groan all this while with other oppressed creatures Rom 8.19 20 21 22 23. for the manifestation of the glorious liberty of the Sons of God For certainly the creature being made subject to tyranny and the cruel lusts of proud men NOT WILLINGLY but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope cannot but in the light and power of that Spirit which is in them cry out in Faith and earnest expectation COME LORD JESVS COME QVICKLY and let all the followers of the Lamb say Amen And let all the wonderers after the Beast fill up the measure of their Fathers in reproaching imprisoning oppressing and otherwise persecuting the Saints of the most High and receive that recompence of reward which is meet Object If any shall here object and say Why did we fight against the King you your self did â—ppose him you preached other Doctrine in those times and if we must be so subject now and yeeld to the present Powers without resistance as you have said and done of late is not this a contradiction to former Principles and practices c. Answ All particular persons of whom I alwaies speak and it must be remembred I mean the Saints of the most High did yeeld subjection to the King yea and to the Prelates actively or passively without resistance those who were Non-conformists then to the Antichristian power as I am now did suffer patiently and chearfully as Christ left them an example this was so while the King was the only supreme Power in being and untill God raised up a Horn of Salvation for them and then as I said before the Puritans joyned with Parlamentary Power against Regal Power exercised contrary to Law and Justice and I was one of the number being lawfully called to oppose tyranny by the authority of the highest Court and I never did nor do repent of that ingagement against that party c. Whereas now there is no visible Powers in being to relieve me and other oppressed servants of the Lord it is with us now as it was under the old Monarchy there are no Saviors no Deliverers our Deliverers are become our Persecutors Zach. 1.2 or 3 last verses and there is no power to refist or oppose for the spirit of the Horns as Zacharias calls the persecuting Powers is gotten into the Carpenters the Carpenters are at length metamorphozed into pushing and goring Horns But when soever God shall provide new Carpenters to fray away these Horns that scatter the true Israel no question but Israel will be willing to be delivered and to take them Captives whose Captives they were and to rule over their oppressors as they did about fourteen years ago Obj. 2. But it may be
people to maintain them in their câ—stly trade of fornication each with other but more of this hereafter But because those Truths which concern the time of the end in Daniel and the Revelation cannot be so well understood by the Saints who are unskilfull in that part of the word of righteousness therefore they shall do well to enquire of those who by reason of use Heb 5 13 14. have their senses exercised in those most excellent mysteries And if they look up to the Lord with unfeigned desire not to be taken in that snare which shall come upon the Inhabitants of the earth do read those Books concerning the accomplishment of these promises as the Eunuch did Isaiahs who knows but the Lord may provide a Philip to open and interpret those mysteries to satisfaction beyond all expectâ—tion Generation work in three books of great use in these times by Jo. Tillinghast And because by special providence I have received refreshment three several times by three several Books written by Mr. Tillinghast concerning Generation-work theâ—eâ—ore I recommend them to the Saints The first time was when I was conflicting with strong temptations to intermit my method of Teaching concerning the present Truth and work of Christ and the Spirit of God meeting my spirit in reading the first of Jeremy Jer. 1.7 8 9 10. 17.18 19. 2 Cor. 10.5 and helping me to subdue those carnal reasonings The first part of Generation-work was unexpectedly brought to my hands at that very juncture of time when I had been a thinking that I was alone in this business The next season was exactly when I was apprehended and committed to the Messengers house An Introduction to this Altogether-causelesse long Imprisonment as the Lord knows to whom I have Appealed even then also unexpectedly was the second part brought unto me first in sheets and before the publication the third time when I was shut up a close prisoner in this strong Castle and none of the Saints suffred to come at me as formerly and at that very time the third part was conveyed to me I look upon it as very instructing to me that they should be published at those seasons when they might be most useful for the incouragement of so weak a Worm I could not but take this opportunity to bear testimony to my dearly beloved Brother and Fellow-labourer in the present work of Christ and Fellow-student in this present Truth which shall prosper and prevail in despight of Men and Devils even to the darkning of that Pomp and Splender of the Kingdom of the Beast and to the subverting of that Power and Policy which now delude and govern the Nations Rev. 16.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His Kingdom became darkned or was made dark and that in such a marvellous manner and method of proceeding as shall amaze the wisest Princes of this world when they enter into a deep consideration of the same But that I may if the Lord please convey a little light into the understanding of my Brethren in this Cause This I say at present When the people of God are come out of Babylon and have once made a further and more compleat separation from that Scarlet Bloudy Drunken Strumpet Rev. 18.4.6 SO AS THAT THEY PARTAKE NOT IN THE LEAST OF ANY OF HER SINS when they are by the Lord put into a capacity of rewarding her as she hath rewarded them and their elder Brethren in the generations before them Then and not till then will the Saints throw the Burden off from their own shoulders and the iron yoke of Taxes and Tribute and of other Bond-serviâ—e Jer. 51.57 upon her neck and upon the necks and the shoulders of her Princes of her wise men her Captains and her Râ—lers and of her mighty men Oh Dear Brethren shall we live to see that day What a sight is here It is Spectaculum dignum Deo the Lord Jesus who sits on the right hand of the Father expecting to see his foes made his footstool Heb. 10.12 13 Isa 37.22 Rev. 17.5 will take great delight to see The Virgin Daughter of Sion despising the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the earth to laugh this proud Lady of Kingdomes to scorn to behold the Daughter of Jerusalem to shake her head at this persecuting City she and her Lovers shall bee like ashes under the soals of the feet of this Ransomed and Redeemed people Therefore be of good courage Mal. 4 3. oh yee oppressed Saints fear not for Jehovah Elohim will make your Horn iron and your Hoof brasse and you shall beat in peeces many people but remember you consecrate not their gain to your selves as the new Model hath done Mich 4.13 which will not turn to so good account as they think for but to the Lord of the whole earth who expects to be honored with the first fruits of all your increase I read of three sorts of Princes first Three kinds of Priâ—ceâ— and but one kind good The Princes of Babylon mentioned even now Secondly The Princes of the Degenerated Jews And thirdly Jehovans Princes 1 The Princes of Babylon are altogether for the spoyl and the prey for the crushing of the people so that they were and are abundant in treasures and there is no measure of their covetousnesse Jer. 51.13 2 The Princes of the Jews revolted from the Lord Her Princes speaking of Jerusalem saith the Prophet within her are ROARING LIONS Her Judges are EVENING WOLVES they gnaw not the bones till the morning Zeph. 3.3 Jerusalem is called An oppressing City Her Princes are Lions c. 3 Jehovahs Princes Ezek. 45. In the Land shall be the Princes possession in Israel and MY PRINCES saith the Lord SHALL NO MORE OPPRESS MY PEOPLE Ezek. 45.8 9. Ezek 48.35 and the name of that City shall be called The Lord is There where the Lord is and where his Princes are there shall be no more any oppression and spoyl The Prophet goes on Thus saith the Lord God Let it suffice you Oh Princes of Israel Remove violence and spoyl and execute Judgement and Justice TAKE AWAY YOUR EXACTIONS FROM MY PEOPLE saith the Lord God When you see Princes and Rulers squeezing the people raising of Taxes compelling the poor Parishioners to pay treble Damages for not paying the Popes Tithes while you feel the Publican and the Excise-man countenanced and incouraged in their vexatious Collections and exactions upon the poor of the people Think with your selves these are not the Princes of Jehovah but either they are the Princes of Babylon directly and professedly or else the Princes of Apostatized Israel who have the name of Christians but the nature of Tyrants But on the other side when you see an Higher Power incouraging the Lords people to come out of Babylon effectually and for ever when you see the chief Magistrates in their own persons to renounce all communion with the enemies of Christ and to
and as it were Catholique Dominion was given to the Assyrians and Babylonians the next to the Medes and Persians The third to the Macedonians or Grecians The fourth to the Romans These four successively each in their times according to the All-wise appointment of the will of God were Lords of the world Dan. 2. Dan. 7. Dan. 11. The people of God were not free from these yokes of bondage as you have read already in the former Section Prop. or Obser 3. The Roman Monarchy the last of the four Kingdoms or Beasts as the Spirit of God doth expresly call them was at its full growth or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 about the time of the birth of the Prince of the Kings of the earth Numb 24.17 just at the Meridian of the Roman glory did the Star of Jacob arise and shine but with a very dim light to the sight of the world for yet he had not manifested forth his glory as afterward he did Joh. 2.11 This is plain as from other Histories so from Luk. 2.7 first verses Where all the world you find was to be taxed by the Decree of Augustus Caesar who now was in peaceable possession of the Roman Empire Anthony and Lepidus being overcome The Kingdom of Heaven it seems which shall break in peeces all these Kingdoms was designed to be set up at that instant conjuncture of time when this Monarchy was grown to its full perfection But more of this in due time and place if the Lord so please Prop. or Obser 4. This fourth Beast both killed the Lord Jesus and Millions and Myriards of his Discipes for the first 300 years after Christ as the Ecclesiastical Story of the Ten first Persecutions doth at large declare In process of time after various forms and shapes assumed as in Rev. 17.10 He appears at length with seven Heads and ten Horns and upon his Horns ten Crowns c. Rev. 13.2 3. To this Beast there described the Dragon gives his Power or Host his Throne and great Authority and so prosecutes on the behalf of the Dragon the old trade of deceiving the Nations and persecuting the Saints of the most High especially he falls upon those in every age who are zealous contenders for the present truth of every age Rev. 11. Rev. 13. Rev. 17. Prop. or Obser 5. These North-west Nations are undoubtedly some of those ten Horns which have given their power and strength to the Beast to make war with the Lamb and his followers And the evidence of Prophecy and History is so strong in this particular that all the Protestant Interpreters whom I have conversed with do agree in this Truth That the Race of Kings in this Island have together with the other Kings of Europe agreed and given their Kingdom to the Beast Rev. 17.13 and whether it be wholly taken from him again I mean in this Nation to this day is worthy a grave and serious examination Prop. or Obser 6. Now more particularly King Charls was within the compass of these Prophecies for he was not for the setting up of the Kingdom of Christ No not so much as in appearance or pretence much less in heart The spirit of the fourth Beast was plainly to be discerned in him by those who were wise and had their spiritual senses at their right hand For the wise shall understand faith Daniel but none of the wicked shall understand Dan. 12. But observe carefully that which followeth Prop. or Obser 7. This King Charles was fourteen or fifteen years since acknowledged an Higher Power in these Nations being in quiet possession of the best Title to Govern and to Rule the people of any other But the Decrees of the most High for this age being to take place he was necessitated to call a Parlament and to give it an existence in conjunction with the free people of the Nation they being the two legal efficient causes thereof So here was another Higher Power in being sent by him and the people as the Apostle distinguisheth the Powers according to the known Law of the Land This we have heard and seen and it was and is still marvellous in our eyes Prop. or Obser 8. This second Higher Power as I express it did contend with him who helped to make them a Power and to give them their lawful existence in that capacity This power after many bloody conflicts by their Forces did take away his Dominion to consume and to destroy it to the end then there was we thought an end of Kingship and this second Power declared themselves the Supreme Authority of the Nation changing the Government from the notion of King and Kingdom into that of a Commonwealth This was a great and wonderfull work of God which we are to consider with great regard Prop. or Obser 9. This Higher Power now supreme had impowred and Authorized after the Essexian Army was not found a fit Instrument for the work the new modeld Army and so they became a second higher Power in the Nation also sent by the Parlament as the Parlament was sent by the King and People But yet and for a good space they were and they acted as subordinate to the Supreme Civil Authority Nevertheless in process of time after most admirable Vicissitudes this military subordinate higher Power did take away the Parlaments Dominion to confume and to destroy it to the end I say they pluckt up the supreme Power so owned by themselves by the very roots even as they had eradicated Monarchy and damned it for ever as much as in them lay Prop. or Obser 10. Hereupon no Antient Legal Civil higher Power or supreme Authority was in being And that there might be a total destruction or dissolution of the old Fabrick to the foundation yea of the foundation and all The Souldiers took upon them to set up an Assembly somewhat like a Parlament which by major Vote called themselves by that name but how improperly not to say ridiculously let Law and Custom speak for neither King nor people did put forth any causal vertue towards their production as by Law they ought But to be short the Souldiery quickly pulled them down again like King Charles who by his Prerogative when the Parlament had no mind to humor his lusts would dissolve them at his pleasure Thus you by this time do not onely understand that they are supreme as I assert but you see quibus viis modis by what waies and means they are gotten into the Throne Now can any Christian nay can any rational Creature find fault with me for observing these wondrous works of the great Jehovah Can they find in their hearts to be angry with me for calling aloud to all the Saints and others too if they had ears to hear in Davids words Come behold the works of the Lord what desolations he hath made in the earth Psal 46.8 and as he cries out Psal 66.57 Come and see the works of God he hath been terrible
or for the doing of such things I do not find any honest man rising up against them but this will not signifie in the least any such thing as an approving of them to be lawfull Powers as I have shewed before and as it may be further instanced in their Predecessors who though they did many excellent things in their day yet because they miscarried in other respects the Lord did find them out and took a convenient time to lay their honor and power in the dust Let this suffice at present for I must now dispatch this Section There is one Objection onely which possibly may lie upon the spirits of some choyce servants of the Lord and this it is Object Although Christ and his Disciples did submit to the Higher Powers in their day yet it doth not seem to be a pattern for us upon whom the ends of the world are come For first We have resisted the Powers in our day and are blameless in the account of the most judicious Teachers which are among us And Secondly If we should submit as they in the primitive times how could vengeance be executed upon Babylon and her Adherents the Kings of the earth according to the Prophecies in the Word Ans 1. I grant it is most true there is ground to expect a time when we shall no more be subject to the Fourth Beast and his little Horn which time you must think those who suffer in all Countries under Papal and Regal Tyranny do long after but till that time you see that the two witnesses do suffer under the prevailing power of their Adversaries Ans 2. But for satisfaction of those who have not considered the matter viz. the different estate of the Saints in different times It is to be remembred and well observed That Jeremy in the beginning of their captivity did by the word of the Lord direct the Jews to seek the peace of the City whither he had caused them to be carried away captives and to pray unto the Lord for it Jer. 29.7 for in the peace thereof shall yee have peace Jer. 29.7 But now if you turn to Psal 137.8 9. you shall find there was a time to come when the Jews should be contrary minded to that passage before mentioned saying Oh Daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones You see what different language and carriage here is in reference to the same City and Power at different seasons yea Jeremy himself who sent word that they should pray for Babylon as you have heard at the beginning of the seventy years sent another message contrary to it not long after I will fix but upon one passage or two Jer. 51.33 It is time to thresh Babylon saith the Lord and the time of her harvest shall come Again vers 35. The violence done unto me and unto my flesh be upon Babylon shall the Inhabitant of Zion say and my blood be upon the Inhabitants of Caldea shall Jerusalem say Here is very differing language from the former message this cannot be praying for the City it is no less than cursing of Babylon as you plainly see Even thus it is with the true Israelites of the New Testament-times when they were first of all persecuted by the Roman Power they could not prophecy nor pray for the ruin of Rome it was not the truth and work of that age and so there was neither light nor spirit for any such enterprize but now it is seasonable in this day and I am perswaded if it were possible for the Apostles to be and to come among the living Saints in this Nation who have not defiled their Garments upon the dunghil of this world nor betrayed the Cause of Christ wherewith they have been intrusted they would incourage them to spend their arrows and not spare against this mystical Babylon they would own that cause and work truth for which we indure so great oppressions and persecution and therefore although I must needs be subject till the time of deliverance come and that deliverance shall come by Instruments annointed of God as Cyrus was yea with a better annointing yet because by a spiritual instinct flowing from that Divine Nature whereof through rich Grace I do partake I do know assuredly that we shall be so far ere it be long from praying for the Powers under the little Horn that we shall reward them as they have rewarded us Therefore I say do I thus speak and thus write and pray with other enlightened and enlivened Saints Pour out the remaining vials of thy wrath upon the PRESENT POWERS of the Earth who will not have Christ to reign over them and let all the followers of the Lamb say Amen Thus I have finished the explanation of the fourth Section of the Epistle with such further manifestation of the truth in this point as for the present I am furnished withall from the word and Spirit of the Lord and therefore I shall pass on to the next SECT V. IN this part I am willing to give an account to those who are dark in this matter Quest How I can justifie my practice of preaching down the Powers in being as my manner was when as my declared Principlet are and have been constantly to own them and therefore not to resist or rise up against them how can these things stand together It seems a Paradox if not an impossible thing in reason that the same man at the same time should both own the Powers and endeavor their destruction Thus no question many will query concerning this matter Answ 1. If it were needful I might easily shew how common a thing it is for two contrary qualities to be in the self-same subject at the same time in divers respects and in different degrees but those School-distinctions are not for the edifying of such kind of inquirers as I intend satisfaction to and therefore I shall first put them in mind of that which is in the Letter and then explain my meaning by particular instances in the word Answ 2. The sum of what I wrote is this That the Prophets Apostles and Martyrs in all ages i. e. since Kings and such like Arbitrary Powers were over the Saints did own the Powers in being in their daies and yet at the self same time they Preached and Prophecied against them for their Abominations and so have I done and will do the Lord assisting according to their examples This is the sum of the Answer in the Letter Now I will endeavor to illustrate that which seems so dark to others I begin with Samuel First He owned Saul as an Higher Power annointed and appointed of God to rule over his people as you find in 1 Sam. 9.17 and 1 Sam. 12.5 in this last Chapter you shall find these words to the people That yee may perceive and see
readers observe the emphasis for the Jewish Powers were apt to put it off to Pilate for he condemned him and crucifying was not the Jewish manner of execution of Malefactors besides they had not power of life and death for the Romans had reserved that to themselves as a peculiar character of the supreme Power and of their absolute Sovereignty yet Peter chargeth the High Priest and the Council with the murthering of Christ you may observe how near this accusation went Act. 5.33 for the Text saith Vpon the hearing of this they were cut to the heart and took counsel to slay them But now according to the principles and speeches of many wise English-men Peter and John might be thought not to use so much subtilty and discretion in the presence of the Rulers whereby they might have kept out of prison at leastwise out of danger of death for were not they Ministers of the Gospel What need they have spoken such words as must needs provoke the Higher Powers especially after they had born their Testimony once and again they might have forborn for the future seeing no good came of it we in this age have found out a better way of preaching for we know how to order things so as that if we preach never so often before the Higher powers guilty of very grosse wickedness as the word of God and our consciences tell us yet we will not cut them to the heart as Peter and John and Stephen did we will preach the Gospel The Truth is I fear this will appear a real truth when all secret things come to be revealed but as for thousands of the English Parsons and Vicars and Curates and State-Lecturers or Augmentation-men I am far from doubting of their compliance with any Powers which get the uppermost it s no matter how or which way instead of appearing for the present work and truth of Christ against the present Rulers they appear for the present profit of their several and respective Benefices and therefore we must not expect they should be followers of the Apostles as they followed Christ in bearing witness against the wickedness of great and small without respect of persons Object But yet again there are others who come with another ridiculous Objection in this manner Although it be a truth that the Ministers of Christ the Prophets and Apostles c. were very zealous against the Higher powers because of their abominations yet what they spake was to their faces and not behind their backs as all the Instances given by you do declare they did not disgrace or arraign them as it were at the Bar of the Vulgar as you do and your Fellow-sufferers this comes from some who do not well know what to say with reason Answ 1. For answer to this The Higher Powers are seldome found to send for plain-dealing Preachers to pray or prophesie in their Chapels or if it happen that they hear them once it s very improbable that they shall be sent for a second time and then how should the servants of the Lord declare the Lords Message in their hearing Answ 2. We have Instances from the Prophets and Apostles in this particular also Amos prophesied the destruction of Jeroboam while he himself was absent for it may be the King and his Courtiers would not hear Amos who was but a Herds-man and a Gatherer of Sycomore-fruit yet it was a testimony against them though they were absent whom it most concerned so that we Prisoners are not the first who have declared approaching destruction to the Higher Powers in their absence Moreover Christ called Herod a Fox or that Fox and Paul called Caesar Lion behind their backs And why do not our angry Brethren say they might have forborn such kind of language they not being present at least they should not have called the two Highest Powers among Jews and Gentiles by the reproachful names of two wild Bâ—asts and those too such Beasts of prey And why do they not find fault with Peter and John with Paul and Barnabas who in their Sermons to the people had no more good manners than openly to declare the Higher Powers guilty of Murther and the worse kind of Murther and this behind their backs and that in the presence of Thousands See Acts 3.17 and Acts 13.27 28. There Paul chargeth them in another Country and amplifieth the matter against them But further in their prayers to God they named Herod and Pontius Pilate in relating their wicked combination against the life of Christ And I know no reason why we may not pray and preach after that manner as the first Christians did who I am sure were more full of the Holy Spirit then any of us They were bold and resolute and whether the Higher Powers were absent or present it was alike â—o them Certainly open Murther and open Hypocrisie and Apostacy and Perjury and Treason against the King of Glory must be openly and publickly witnessed against before God Angels and all the world Shall the Rulers be so bold as to commit open abominations before all the people and shall not the Ministers of Christ who are called thereto be as bold and declare as openly against those abominations and that before all the people whether the guilty ones be in the hearing or not God forbid that we should forbear to bear our publick Testimony against publick wickednesse Object But others who understand themselves better than the former sort of fault-finders have a greater charge than those before mentioned for say they We may upon occasion declare openly against those who so sin without respect of persons whether they are present or absent but what have we who are ministers of Christ to do to intermeddle in State-matters or State-Affairs the compass of their Commission will not warrant them to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bishops in another mans Diocess or Province The whole work of a Minister of the Gospel is reduceable to two heads To bring Souls in to Christ and to build them up in Christ and whatsoever is besides this is beside the Cushion Many other words there are and may be excogitated to represent it as a very odious matter for Ministers to meddle in State-Affairs Cannot they be content if they have liberty to preach the Gospel and if they would keep to that and leave the Government of the Nations to be managed by the Higher Powers they need not be apprehended imprisoned c. as they are so that they may thank themselves With much more such stuff as this Answ I perceive plainly that these kinds of Preachings and Discoursings have such a plausible veri-similitude that they are beleeved by many honest hearts to be as true as Gospel namely That those Ministers are to be blamed as too pragmatical who insist upon such points and very worthy to taste and feel the coercive power of the Civil Magistrate insomuch that we are under a very great disadvantage for the present But
States and Governments from that Antichristian morter For certainly it may be easily demonstrated that it appertains properly to their Office and as a principal part of it in these last times to discover the Man of sin to find out Antichrist in all his subterfugies and diverticles to trace and hunt him in all his windings and turnings for what sort and generation of men will the Lord 〈◊〉 and annoint to deal with this great Enemy of Jesus Christs if not the Ministers of the Gospel And if it be true that this Doctor hath written elsewhere as undoubtedly it is from Scripture-ground namely that the Pope hath expresly bargained for his own interest and provided that that should have the chiefest place in all Oaths and Bonds that were betwixt Princes and people then we must look into the Affairs of States and their Laws and Administrations and where-ever we find any thing of that Son of perdition that horned Beast c. to detect him and his legerdemain and call upon the people of God to help pull down all those things which are of Babylon and the Beast though it be of the very fundamental constitution of the Kingdom and State which we have detected by the help of the Word and Spirit That Scripture Rev. 17. doth express the truth which you have read in a few excellent words These saith the Spirit that is the Ten Horns or Kings have one mind and will give their power and strength unto the Beast And they according to what is prophetically spoken have long fince given their power and strength unto the Beast but we hope it will be taken from the Beast ere it be long but the words of the Apostle John by the Spirit are far more emphatical than they are rendred by the Kings Translators I could methinks read them thus They shall deliver up that their Power and Authority unto the Beast i. e that Power which they received as in the former verse for they received power as Kings one hour with the Beast which implies they received not their Power at first from the Beast for you see they and the Beast came into the world much about a time but afterward these Kings come to be of one mind 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which intimates they give their Power and Authority upon deliberation they know what they do it is an act of State and then they come to be of one and the same mind at length what one doth all will do and so they agreed to give up first their Militia or Military power to the Beast their Armies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See Mede on Rev. 13 2. and indeed histories are full of this truth for the Militia of each and of all these Kings was at the beck of this Beast Upon these two or three words they shall give up their Power or Hosts â—o the Beast large Volumes of histories to shew the accomplishment of this Prophecy might easily be written by me or any other who had leasure and skill to collect and sum up what is upon record in those Kingdoms here intended And besides they give away or deliver up their Authority for so I render it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so it is rendred in Rev. 13.2 This signifies the Civil Power and in the 17. verse of this chapter it is their Kingdom so they part with all to the Beast 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they give all up as men do when they pass away their Lands under hand and seal they were their own Kingdoms which they gave away but it may be asked what folly was this I answer it was not folly in their opinion all was for the good of the Catholick Church the Spouse of Christ this was suggested and they beleeved it whereas in truth these Kings fel in league with this beautiful bold Strumpet and committed fornication with her and so being intangled in her love did not regard what costs they were at to satisfie their lusts but bestowed all they had upon the beast that carried her and all for this drunken Harlots sake and for her use Indeed it is wonderful to read and to consider how the Kings of the earth have committed fornication with that great whore of Babylon and how the Nations also have been made drunk with the impoysoned intexicating wine of her fornications for they did always follow the examples of their Kings or chief Rulers Regis ad exemplum and how the Merchants of the earth have waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies Now then in the name of the Lord let this Question be asked shall not the Ministers of the Gospel in opening and applying the Scriptures which concern this matter indeavor by all means to break the league betwixt this whorish woman and her Lovers or Paramors these Kings of the earth Is it not their duty and office to recover the Nations from their drunkenness who dare forbid the true Ministers of Christ to intermeddle in those Affairs of State which are managed for the interest of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters I declare it before the world we will meddle with them more and more as we grow and increase in the knowledge and understanding of those Oracles and Prophecies which concern the ten Horns And whether I live or die let the present and approaching Generation know that the Ministers of the Gospel shall be imployed by their Lord the Prince of the Kings of the earth as some of his principal instruments to pluck up pull down and break in peeces the governments of the Nations for Antichrist is got into the bowels foundations establishments of their powers and it is our business it is our proper work as you heard to seek him out and reveal him in the sight of all the Nations of the earth These Pastors and Teachers in regard their flocks are to be used in the destroying of the Babylonish Strumpet must search every cranny as the Doctor speaketh they shall to this end be indued with such power and with such a Spirit from on high as that in a sense and in a degree they shall be as exact accurat and curious as the Jews use to be in seeking and searching every hole corner and cranny of their houses for the finding and purging out of the leavened bread according to that command of God Exod. 3.7 There shall no leavened bread be seen with thee neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters The manner of doing this is set down at large by Writers what care and industry was used to clear their houses of the leaven aforesaid And as Paul exhorted the Church of Corinth to purge out the old leaven that they might be a new lump So shall the Ministers of Christ ere long call upon the Nations and Statesmen therein to purge out the old leaven of Antichristianism yea all the old leaven and the new leaven and as the Prophet Jeremiah saith there must not be left