lib. 1. c. 6. I rest on that on which after Chrysostom Cajetan Isidor Clarius Aretius Mountagu Gataker and Heinsius Exercit Sacr lib. 5. c. 13. pitch that by reason of the confusion that then was in the Government the High Priests then not succeeding according to the Law of God in the Family of Aaron nor continuing during life but by bribes and evil arts being promoted and removed by the Kings and Governors at pleasure insomuch that as Heinsius speaks it is manifest there was then such Anarchy that dâ—ily as it were they were and were not High Priests Besides Paul's long absence from Jerusalem his unacquaintance with affairs there especially in the government of the Temple and Council of the Jews the place manner of sitting habit not distinguishing him from the rest it may well be conceived that he did not then distinctly know Ananias to be the High Priest nor perhaps one of the Council regularly constituted though it be said v. 1. He earnestly beheld the Council And it to me seems the more likely that he did not perceive him to be High Priest because he directs his speech to them with the same compellations as he did Acts 22. 1. under the titles of Men and Brethren without distinguishing him from the rest or any respective speech to them as a regular Court of justice but as a company gathered together by the chief Captain to accuse and examine him not to judge him Which is the more likely by reason of what he did v. 6. in bespeaking them under the title of Men Brethren and perceiving them to be of different parties he used art to set them at variance and to break up the Assembly in a confused manner which he would not have done had it been a Court legally set However we determin of St. Pauls knowledge of Ananias it is clear that he doth not impute his speech v. 3. to Prophetick liberty as Grotius imagines when he saith in his Annot. on Acts 23. 3. utitur jure Prophetae nor justify it but corrects it and imputes it to his ignorance and adds the command of the Law Exod. 22. 28. For it is written thou shalt not speak evil of the Ruler of thy people following therein the Greek version the whole verse being Thou shalt not revile the Gods that is as is conceived Judges or God nor curse the Ruler of thy People Which being alledged by St. Paul as in force and applyed to himself as thereby condemning his speech of opprobrious and threatning language if it were not excused by his ignorance doth plainly prove that a Ruler of the People though an Ecclesiastick and climbing to the place by indirect means unrighteously judging opposing the truth the Kingdom and Apostle of Christ yet should not be reviled or with menaces terrified or cursed but being in the possession of a Rulers place be regarded in words and actions as a Ruler To which I shall add some more passages of the old Testament St. Pauls allegation of this shewing that they are moral and still binding Christians Eccl. 10. 20. Curse not the King no not in thy thought or conscience and curse not the rich in thy Bed-chamber for a bird of the ayr shall carry the voice and that which hath wings shall tell the matter Eccles. 8. 2. I counsel thee to keep the Kings commandment and that in regard of the Oath of God Out of all which I conclude that the minor of my argument is sufficiently proved that the Doctrine which commendeth and urgeth such disobedience vilifying refusing assistance smiting of Powers whether Civil or Ecclesiastical or military as thâ— words cited by me do is contrary to the Precepts of Christ his holy Apostles and other holy men in the holy Scriptures and consequently damnable and Antichristian § 4. The Exceptions of Fifth-monarchy-men and others against the first Argument are refelled AGainst this Argument which overthrows also the Doctrines of Jesuited Pontificians and other opposers deposers and smiters of Kings and other Rulers there are sundry exceptions taken One exception is that those Precepts were for that time when the Christians were unable to resist But this is prevented by the Apostles words Rom. 13. 5. Ye must needs be subject not only for wrath but also for conscience sake Another that these Precepts tie us to submit to these Rulers and not to resist them till they cease to be Rulers which they do when excommunicate deprived by the Pope But if the Pope be comprehended under every soul as Chrysostom conceived even the Apostles were then the Pope himself is to be subject to Rulers and consequently cannot depose them nor hath the Scripture given this power to the Pope or Man to depose them it being God's prerogative as is said Psal. 75. 7. God is the Judge he putteth down one and setteth up another Another evasion is that subjection is required to Rulers while they are a terror to evil works not to good but not when they oppresse are enemies to Gods People Christ's Kingdom then they cease to be Rulers but this is prevented by the Apostle who saith the Powers that be are ordained of God and therefore to them as they are subjection is to be given and resistence is forbidden by S. Paul But the chief exception is that which p. 51 of the Banner displayd is in these words Now then we say that called the Ordinance of God proves the Ordinance of the Devil and though the Powers of the great Image might be taken for the Ordinance of God so long as they kept their pure civil and unmixed state so saith Paul the Powers that be i. e. the Civil Powers of old Rome tho a bloudy Persecutor and devourer of the Creation and God's Heritage are ordained of God yet when the Power of Rome adulterated from its pure civil state and becomes a mixt Antichristian state the Beast and a Whore then it is said of that beastly Antichristian Power that the Dragon or Satan gave him his power and his seat and great Authority and what then is this save the Ordinance of Hell To which I reply If I understand them aright this is their meaning that the powers of the great Image that is the Kings Emperors and Rulers of the world then ceased to be Gods Ordinance and became the Ordinance of Hell when that was fulfilled which we read Revel 13. 2. which they take for granted was when the Empire of Rome or the ten Kings that arose out of the division of it did give their power and strength as it is Revel 17. 13. unto the beast mentioned v. 11. which it 's without doubt with them to be the Bishop of Romes pretended supremacy dominion Oecumenieal Vicarship by which Christian Religion was corrupted mixed with Paganish and Jewish rites and the ten Kings and their Kingdoms made dependent on the Pope And consequently subjection and assistance is not due to the Civil or Ecclesiastical or Military powers or Laws that now
abhor any thing sometimes that which is otherwise right which they conceive to come from Rome or the Pope being terrified with the threatnings Revel 14. 9. 10 11. against those who worship the Beast and his Image and recieve his mark in their forehead or in their hand and warned by the voice from Heaven Revel 18. 4. Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues Which having been found by experience to be a very taking way especially with the vulgar and common sort of Schollars who are little versed in antiquity and know not the true state of the Roman Church in former ages nor by what degrees the corruptions thereof came to that height they are now attained to it is now a very common course with them who endeavour to render their opposites their Doctrine or practise odious and so to uphold their faction to fasten on them by clamour or calumnies or any other way they can the name of Antichristian Babylon the mark of the Beast and to perswade men that what they dislike is from Rome as being sufficient without any other proof to make them abominable and to be destroyed Thus in our daies with us some have cried down prelacy their Liturgy Ceremonies Ordination National Church it 's Government Ministry Titles and whatever belongs thereto as Antichristian others have done the like to the Presbyterial Classical Parochial Churches their Ministery Directory Government Maintenence others have done the same to the Congregational and in General Seekers and Quakers have in a Clamorous way like Scolds bespattered all that 's opposit to them with this reproach of Antichristian and at last these Fifth-Monarchy men have furiously battered Civil powers all that belongs to them with the engine of this odious brand of Antichristian and Babylonish whereby much irreconcileable hatred enmity and opposition is raised among Christians to the great dammage of Christian Protestant Churches and states and without the great power and goodness of God making way for some accommodation of these differences likely so to weaken and wast us by intestine broiles that we shall at last become a prey to the common adversary For my part it was still opposed by me long since when Saltmarsh wrote that I had proved Infant-Baptism Antichristian I made him alter it and when a meeting was for union between dissenters I urged thâ—s as one thing necessary that the term Antichristian should be forborn and when Richard Hubberthorn entituled his book against my serious consideration of the Oath of the Kings Supremacy Antichristianism reproved in my Epistle to the Reader before my Supplement I not only shewed the falsehood of his calumny but also endeavoured briefly to shew the evil of that course of defaming opposites and their tenents by that title I deny not but that there is sufficient cause given to Protestant Divines to charge the present Romanists with Antichristianism in the arrogant title given to the Pope of Universal Bishop in the assertion of his supremacy over all Churches his infallibility in their worship of Saints Angels Images in their doctrines of invocation of Saints humane merits and satisfactions for sin nor shall I deny but that there may be found some practises or doctrines among others which may in a qualified sense be termed Antichristian But to make the Protestant Churches or their Government Antichristian in State and to be separated from and to be destroyed when they hold the Faith of Christ aright because of some corruptions in points of Doctrine or Worship or Discipline which overthrow not the foundation of Christian Religion is intollerable much more to make civil powers who reject the Roman Popes supremacy and their doctrine and idolatrous worship to be Antichristian from Rome Babylon from an imagined mixture that is not or perhaps justifiable shews either phrensie or a meer proud arrogant factious and quarrelsome humor in them not to be born the title of Antichrist being as may appear by St. Johns words to be applyed to seducing Teachers not to civil powers though persecutors as the Roman Emperors then were yet by St. Paul termed the Ordinance of God 5. It is supposed That then when the Power of Rome adulterated from its pure Civil state became a mixt Antichristian state the Beast a Whore a Beastly Antichristian Power that the Dragon or Satan gave him his Power and his Seat and great Authority It is true that it is said that St. John saw a Beast arise out of the Sea having seven Heads and ten Horns and upon his Horns ten Crowns and upon his Heads the name of Blasphemy and that the Beast which he saw was like unto a Leopard and his feet were as the feet of a Bear his mouth as the mouth of a Lion And the Dragon gave him his Power and his Seat and great Authority Which description being like that whereby the Babylonian Persian and Greek Monarchies are characterized gives occasion to judge that the Beast mentioned Revel 13. 1. 2. was to be some future Civil Empire like to them and the having seven Heads and ten Horns and upon his Horns ten Crowns because of the descriptions Daniel 7. 23 24 25. and Revel 17. 3. 9. 12. Argnes that it was to be the Roman Empire divided into ten Kingdoms nor is it to be denied that Satan gave to this Beast his Power that is his forces and his Seat that is Rome and the Dominions belonging to it great Authority that is Power to command whereby the Idolatry termed Blasphemy which the Christian Emperors had cast down was revived and the persecution that for a time ceased was renewed But that this Power and Seat and great Authority was not given before by the Dragon to the Civil Powers of old Rome tho a bloody persecuter and devourer of the creation and Gods Heritage is to be denied For by comparing Revel 13. 1 2. with Rev. 12. 3 4. 7. It may be rather gathered that Satan had given the same Power Seat and great Authority to the Roman Emperors before as he did to the Kings after though it were exercised in another manner and upon other pretences The Power and Seat and Authority given by the Dragon is not to be meant of Civil Power to make Laws and to execute them for the well-ordering of Common-wealths and Civil states but the Power Force or Authority which was usurped by Nebuchadnezzar when he set up a golden Image to be worshipped and cast the three Jews into the fiery furnance and this may be gathered from v. 4 5. And they worshipped the Dragon which gave Power unto the Beast and they worshipped the Beast saying who is like unto the Beast Who is able to make Warr with him And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and Blasphemies and Power was given unto him to continue or to make War forty and two months Whereby may be perceived that the
Power and Authority given by Satan was to speak great things and Blasphemies and to make War with the Saints And again of the two Horned Beast v. 12. It is said that he exerciseth all the Power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the first Beast before him and causeth the earth and them that dwel therein to worship the first Beast whose deadly wound was healed which cannot be understood of legal Power such as we are required to be subject to but such wicked and unrighteous Power as is used in requiring adoration of Idols and urging it either by meer force without any Law or by devellish Acts to entice men thereto Which was in the Roman Heathen Emperors from Satan who is said to cast the Christians into Prison Revel 2. 10. by stirring up the Pagan Emperors and their subordinate Rulers to do it and yet their Civil Power as is confessed was the Ordinance of God 6. It is supposed that then when the Powers of the great Image or old Rome became a mixt Antichristian estate and not before they became the Ordinance of Hell to which there is no Subjection due But they do not tell us when this was nor can tell And is it not then blind fury that hurries men to such frantick determinations as to date the relaxation of so plain a precept as that Rom. 13. 1. is from such a time as they know not when it begins and to infer thence a warrant for some supposing themselves Saints upon no better evidence than their conceit of Gods Revelation of this by his Spirit from his word to attempt the smiting of all the Powers of the great Image Civil and Ecclesiastical whose derivation is from Rome others not excepted nor freed the Kingdoms of the Romish Iron Legs or the Roman Kingdom divided into the Eastern and Western Monarchies wherein the whole Dominion Power and Monarchy of the Ottoman Family or that of the Turkes is comprehended and the Beasts ten Horns or Antichrists Civil Powers equivalent to the ten Toes and also the little Horn together with all powers whatsoever that shall be found opposers of the Lords Kingdom whether they be of the golden Babylonish Silver Persian Brasen Grecian or Iron Roman Dan. 2. and ch 7. Revel 13. Comprehending the whole Kingdom of Antichrist in the Civil and Ecclesiastical parts thereof made up of persons and things though they grant that some of these were the Ordinance of God to whom every soul was to be subject and those only to cease to be to whom the Dragon gives his Power Revel 13. 2. which who they are and when this Power was given by the Dragon they are not able to give any assurance of 7. It is supposed that the Civil Powers now even in this Nation are a mixt Antichristian state and that their Power is from the Dragon since this mixture though not before But with what colour can they make those powers Antichristian who do maintain the faith of Christ To have their Power from Rome who have denied obedience to the Bishop of Rome To be a mixt Antichristian state who cause their subjects to abjure the Popes Supremacy To have their power from the Dragon who do by their Lawes the Execution of them pull down the worship of Idols and punish with death Diabolical Arts Quarrels perhaps are against the Kings Supremacy over Ecclesiastical persons and in Ecclesiastical causes as if it made a mixt Antichristian state so as that what is denied to the Pope is given to the King But this objection was so fully answered by Dr. John Rainold in his conference with Hart the Jesuite in the Tower ch 10. that Hart himself was satisfied that it was not so Perhaps some others imagin that in the making of Bishops there is an adulterating of the pure Civil power and an Antichristian mixture of Civil and Ecclesiastical power but this also is but a mistake that which is meerly Ecclesiastical therein being left to Ecclesiastiques to do Yet were it granted there were some mixture of Civil and Ecclesiastical power that this should make the Civil powers Antichristian is without all reason affirmed Were the Fathers of the Family or the first-born sons both Rulers Oeconomical and Priests to offer sacrifice Melchizedec a King and a Priest David a King and a Prophet therefore Antichristian will they count all preachers who are masters and parents and husbands by reason of this conjunction of these different functions in their persons therefore Antichrian Are not or have not there been many of them who perhaps have been of the fraternity of the Quinto-Monarchians themselves who have had commands in the Army and yet have been Preachers yea taken upon them to be Elders in the Churches and to have had ordination by laying on of hands who yet have not been judged by reason of this mixture Antichristian Are not then these men very partial who condemn that in one which they do not in another conniving at if not approving that in such as favour their party which they do count inveigh against as a most heinous crime deserving extermination in them that side not with them Much more abominable is it that they should impute that power by which peace is kept justice is done humane society is preserved to the Dragon and not see it to be from the Devil that they stir up hatred in the world and practise murthering of innocent men yea of those who are by God made Rulers over them whom they should obey assist and defend 8. It is supposed that the mixture of Civil powers by them imagined makes them who otherwise had been the Ordinance of God to be the Ordinance of Hell and their power from the Dragon though promoting Idolatry and persecuting Christianity by the Roman Ethnick Emperors did not make void their being the Ordinance of God nor the duty of Christians Subjection to them As if the shedding of the blood of the Saints and setting up Idols were not more from Satan and more inconsistent with Civil powers than an usurpation of an Ecclesiastick office or Uzziahs presumption to burn incense God would not have David build him a Temple because he had shed blood not because he was as it is likely Author of fetching the Ark to him in a Cart he and all Israel attended the carrying of it playing before the Lord on all manner of instruments Sure this Doctrine smells rank of Pharisaism to break the Commandments of God for mens traditions to disanul the duty of Subjects to their Civil Parents because of some supposed inordinate mixture Yea is not this the very venom of Antichristian Papal listing up of themselves above all that is called God not only to excommunicate and depose Emperors for simony as the Popes termed it because they gave Bishops investiture into their Bishopricks or for Heresy or favouring hereticks in not destroying them but also to proclaim War against them and attempt to kill them by reason of mixture or
injury oppression or persecution though it extended to the slaying the Lords Priests to an endeavour to slay the annointed Captain of the Lords Host is not to be attempted by a private person or subject but to be referred to the Lord. Therefore the Doctrine of Quinto-Monarchians urging subjects and private persons to smite their superior civil powers and to avenge the supposed injuries and persecutions of Saints by their own hands is contrary to Christ's his Apostles and Davids determinations in the holy Scriptures and consequently damnable and Antichristian That which I find alledged for their practise is in these words The Banner of truth displayed p. 59. All the blood of Gods people is found in Babylon For they i. e. her civil powers Revel 16. 6 6. have shed the blood of the Saints and Prophets Rev. 17. 6. ch 18. 24. and 19. 1. Jer. 50. 14. now therefore God by way of recompence and retalliation 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 and 't is their duty to obey to reward Babylon double as she rewarded them yea and double unto her all those plagues deaths and stripes that she hath inflicted on you Revel 18. 6. and they shall give her blood to drink and she shall be burnt with fire for strong is the Lord that judgeth her Wherein many things are taken as granted which are false and the whole if it were granted would be insufficient to acquit them from guilt of opposing Christs precepts in that way of recompence and retaliation which they incite to 1. That all the powers of the world are murtherers Which proposition contains such a crimination as God only is fit to charge them with if it were true sith he only knows all the powers of the world and is privy to all their thoughts designs and actions 2. That the civil powers of the world are Babylon or her civil powers Now Babylon is termed the great which shall become the habitation of Divels Rev. 18. 2. and I think it is undoubted with all sorts of Writers and intelligent persons that Babylon the great there meant is the same with the woman Rev. 17. 4. termed v. 1. The great whore upon whose forehead was a name written Mystery Babylon the great the mother of Hariots and abominations of the earth v. 5. which is interpreted v. 18. And the woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth Which commonly those who are acquainted with the Histories of the times in which St. John received his Revelation even Papists themselves do take to be Rome known to be the only City which sate on seven mountains as v. 9. is expressed and reigned then over the Kings of the earth But how all the powers of the world now in being or the Nations of Europe even the Protestant should be Babylon or her civil powers or as elsewhere they say the streets of that great City and Rome-Babylon is unintelligible to me Rome it self and that which is called the Patrimony of St. Peter and the territories in Italy now subject to the Pope may be termed Babylon and the Civil powers therein may be termed her Civil powers and perhaps all the territories subject to the Pope in Ecclefiastical affairs may be meant by the streets of the great City mentioned Revel 11. 8. because they yield subjection to the Roman Pope in spirituals But how the States which do reject the Pope's power in Temporals as the King of France or the Duke and Senate of Venice who stood out against Pope Paul the fifth when he interdicted them because they would not repeal their Laws or release their prisoners though Ecclesiasticks should be termed the civil powers of Rome-Babylon is not easie to be understood much less how the Kings of England Denmark Sweden and such other Protestant States Nations and Princes as have rejected the Popes jurisdiction and authority both in civil and Church matters and impose oaths of disclaiming the Popes supremacy in Spirituals and their authority in Temporals through their Dominions on their Subjects should be nevertheless the civil powers of Babylon and their Countries the streets of the great City Rome-Babylon is it conceiveable by me If the Predecessors of these did subject themselves to the Pope in former ages yet they are not therefore termed Babylon but Kings of the earth who commit fornication with her and give their power to her but neither of these can be said of those Princes though Successors to them who have abandoned the Popes errors and corruptions in Religion and his jurisdiction wholly 3. It is suggested that all the blood of Gods people is found in Babylon For they i. e. her civil powers Rev. 16. 6 7. have shed the blood of the Saints and Prophets Rev. 17. 6. ch 18. 24. and 19. 1. Jer. 50. 14. And it is true that Jer. 50. 14. it is said put your selves in array against Babylon round about all ye that bend the bow shoot at her spare no arrows for she hath sinned against the Lord. But this is not meant of Rome-Babylon nor of her civil powers but of Babylon in Chaldaea many thousand miles distant from Rome and long before these daies or St. Johns wasted And yet it is not said of that Babylon that it shed the blood of the Saints and Prophets though I deny not she is charged with the blood of the Inhabitants of Zion Jerusalem-Israel Jer. 51. 35. 49. It is rather charged on Jerusalem by Christ that she killed the Prophets and stoned them that were sent unto her that upon her might come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias Son of Barachias whom ye saith Christ slew between the Temple and the Altar Matth. 23. 34 35. 37. It is said Rev. 16. 4 5 6. And the third Angel poured out his vial upon the Rivers and Fountains of waters and they became blood And I heard the Angel of the waters say thou art righteous O Lord which wast art and shalt be because thou hast judged thus For they have shed the blood of Saints and Prophets and thou hast given them blood to drink for they are worthy And it is most probable though there be that conceive the Rivers and Fountains of water to have been the Cities and Provinces of the Roman Empire under the Pagan Emperors and that to them is ascribed the sheding of the blood here mentioned that this is meant of the Papal Empire sith it is the same which is charged on the woman Revel 17. 6. and Babylon Rev. 18. 24. who must be different from Rome Pagan by reason of the things said Rev. 17. 10 11 12. concerning the ten Kings which had then received no Kingdom when St. John received this Revelation but should receive power as
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
their subjection Sure Paul when he reasoned with Felix Acts 24. 25. did nor go about to terrify him with threatning of any judgment he or the Saints on earth had but minded him of the judgment to come Nor did our Lord Christ himself either to Pilate or the High Priest use any menacing speeches but only told the High Priest Matth. 26. 64. Hereafter ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of Heaven 2. This will nothing concern the King of these three Nations nor any other Kings or Rulers who do acknowledge they Rule under Christ and Rule for Christ and therefore cannot with any colour be adjudged as enemies to Christ by those who have no cognizance of the secrets of mens hearts nor any way or power of judicature in such things but must leave them to the trial of the Universal Judge 3. We grant that so far as Christ hath made any lawes pertaining to civil or Church Government Kings have no power to abrogate or alter them but are bound according to that Authority they have to see them executed and observed yea and to repress them that pretend themselves Saints as Traitors both to them and Christ from whom they have authority who appose their power and hinder their actings in that which is agreeable to Christs lawes For if they be not Officers under Christ as mediator which I assert not yet they are Rulers under Christ as the Son of God and will be owned and assisted by him in doing his work against any that pretends himself Christs Vicar or lurks under the Vizour of a Saint But as I said before Sect. 6. 1. The lawes of Christ are not sufficient without other lawes to settle and order thousands of particulars whether belonging to the Church or Common-wealth but that there is need of humane lawes to determin them 2. That the Jewish lawes are not fitted for the Government of Christian states and Churches of the Gentiles except in some few 3. That the Lord Christ and his Apostles did of purpose leave us at liberty concerning them lest the Gospel should be hindered by them and permitted all Nations to order their own lawes and civil Government according to general precepts of the word and the exigence of civil affairs 4. That to tie men to Mosaical civil precepts any further than the general equity of them requires would be to Judaize 5. That the most holy Saints that are on earth are and will be bound to observe humane lawes of their civil seperiors under pain of God wrath till Christ at his coming put down all rule and all authority and power 6. That it no whit detracts from Christs supreme dominion to have Kings to be Rulers under him and therefore we abhor that speech cited sect 2. Jesus Christ alone is Lord and King and all men are equals A fourth position deduced from the third is that the Saints of the most high are by themselves a Common-wealth and Free-state which is somewhat like the opinion of Papists who exempt men in holy orders from the secular power and it is not unlikely to have been instilled into the minds of Quinto-Monarchians by some of the popish party But is a false and foolish conceit refuted by all the arguments before produced requiring subjection to civil powers even such as are evil and proving even agreeably to the state of mankind corrupt that civil power and natural power of government belongs to Infidels over Saints and therefore Saints cannot without injury shake off the yoke of allegiance and obedience which is upon them by the imposition of civil and natural powers though unbelievers It is also foolish For 1. it supposeth Saints may be by themselves which is contrary to the express Doctrine of our Lord Matth. 13. 30. which tels us that the tares and the wheat are to grow together until the Harvest which he expounds after v. 40 41. that it shall be the end of the world afore the wicked and the children of the Kingdom shall be separated which he also teacheth by another parable v. 47 48 49 50. All those who are for gathered Churches though they would have none in Church communion but visible Saints yet are forced to acknowledge from these Scriptures that they must live together whether they will or no in the world and therefore this and indeed the whole project of the Quinto-Monarchians is but a fond dream and too like the Donatists and Circumcellions of old in Africa But were it granted that there may be or have been Plantations of godly persons unmixt yet experience hath shewed that even amongst them differences quickly arise by reason of different apprehensions and divisions and enmities and in a little time heats animosities factions oppositions and other corruptions follow Besides who can secure the generation following from corruption Moses and Joshuah settled the Common-wealth of Israel with order laws rites of Religion and all by immediate direction from God yet quickly did they corrupt themselves The like may be said of the times succeeding David and Solomon Our own times yield like instances that the posterity of the best and holiest Planters though free from many provocations which the people have from whom they remove yet in an age do degenerate from their predecessors holiness and in their manners and government become like other people And what we have seen in our daies of the giddiness shallowness instability selfishness of the choicest men for government and holiness whom men could find in a Nation should me thinks awaken men from continuing in that dream no better than the fancy of a golden mountain as if they might have a Common-wealth or Free-state or gathered Church by themselves on earth of pure Saints 2. But were this feasible that there were a Common-wealth or Free state of uncorrupt Saints by themselves on earth afore Christs appearing yet without such promise and provision made for them by Christ as we yet have no assurance of they would not subsist long but perhaps be as the Historians phrase is populus unius aetatis a people of one age by reason of the weakness they would have to resist their enemies which would be more in number than themselves perhaps a thousand fold and their enmity be encreased as Pharaoh's was to the children of Israel and either oppress them or destroy them If after the thousand years reign the Divel could go out to deceive the Nations which are in the four quarters of the earth Gog and Magog to gather them to battel their number being as the sand of the Sea and they go up on the breadth of the earth and compass about the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City Rev. 20. 8 9. It is much more likely while Satan is at liberty and millions of enemies infidel Pagans cruel Mahometans bloody Papists profane and vitious Protestants unquiet and unruly members in the gathered Churches loose Libertines and
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
of absolution merit Martyrdom and Heaven Answ I should not think it worth while to make any answer to this reason which proves that which is granted that the worshipping the Beast and his image the receiving the mark of the beast in his forehead or in his hand or the name of the beast or number of his name or the mark of his name makes men obnoxious to Gods wrath and proves not at all that which is to be proved that to have relation affection subjection to civil power or any of its appertainers is to worship the Beast and his Image to receive the mark of the Beast in the forehead or hand to receive the mark of his name his name or the number of his name but that I find this is made commonly the pretence of separations of every party and their oppositions thereupon Thus not only the Protestants separate from the Papists counting subjection to the Pope receiving the mark of the beast but also among Protestants dissenters term the practice they dislike and are averse from the mark of the beast whence especially the common sort who have most heat and least light as they are prejudiced so they inveigh against their opposites as the beast and the owning them as the re-receiving his mark So Brownists count any acknowledgment of Bishops receiving ordination from them using the Cross Surplice kneeling and such ceremonies as they injoin going to Common-prayer paying tythes being of a national or parish Church with many more things which they except against in Prelatical yea and Presbyterian and congregational government the worshiping the beast and receiving his mark which being got once into the heads of the common sort who usually talk much against that which they understand little inflames them with hatred against those they judge to be the beast and that which they think is his mark so as that without measure they inveigh against them delighting in satyrical scotts and jests put upon them in tales that disparage them are averse from any conference with them or hearing of them speak and altogether irreconcileable to them This fashion which heretofore was only used against Ecclesiasticks the Fifth-monarchy-men it seems have here taken up against the civil powers as useful for their demagogical design to affright the people and to hold them to their party But to shew the vanity of it it is to be observed that they apply the threatnings Rev. 14. 6 7 8 9 10. to the worshipping of the second beast described Revel 13. 11. and to the times near unto Christs coming now that beast by all the descriptions of it appears not to have gotten his power by the sword as civil powers have but by deceit as by pretended miracles v. 13. 14. whence he is termed the false Prophet Rev. 16. 13 14. which stirred up the Kings of the earth to make war against the Rider on the white horse Rev. 19. 19 20. the Whore with whom the Kings of the earth committed sornication Revel 17. 1 2. which being plainly expressed to be Rome or at Rome v. 18. cannot be applyed with any shew or colour to the civil powers of England or other Countries besides Rome especially the Protestants they being no Prophets nor using any arts or devices to draw men to the worship of the first beast or Dragon or to set up any forreign power but seeking to uphold their own civil power and requiring the subjects to renounce the Popes supremacy and power to depose them and therefore it is a most impudent false accusation to make the Protestant civil powers to be either the beast or the Kings that commit fornication with the Whore or the having relation affection subjection to them and their appertainers the worshiping the beast or his image or the receiving his mark name or number of his name But they say 6. We might also further add because the Civil power is that which enforces and compels the consciences and spirits of men to the Antichristian forms and worship of Babylon accordingly the great Harlot or Mystery of iniquity i. e. Antichristian worship and Church state rides upon the Beast Rev. 17. 3. that is she has the preheminence and makes the Beast use his sword for her advantage upon pain of excommunication curses and such like baubles Answ. The Beast which carrieth the Woman Rev. 17. 3 7. is said to have seven heads and ten horns and so is not the Beast with two horns like a Lamb Rev. 13. 11. but the first Beast Rev. 13. 1. of which they say That the Image Mark Name and Number of the Beast are of a later date than the first Beast and his ten horns and so consequently men in former generations might have worshiped the Beast and yet not his Image nor receive his mark c. But if the Beast might be then worshiped then might the Beast be worshiped when the Dragon gave him his Seat and Power and great Authority Rev. 13. 2. at which time they term the power of Rome the Ordinance of Hell p. 51. And if then the Civil power of Rome might be owned as the Ordinance of God Rom. 13. 1. when they compelled men to worship their Idols in like manner the Civil powers now should be owned as Gods Ordinance though they should compell men to the Antichristian forms and worship of Babylon which though idolatrous are not worse than the Pagan worship to which the persecuting Emperors did compell the Christians But however this Reason may give some colour for separating from those Kings and States which use the Roman Inquisition and force their Subjects to go to the Masse and to worship the consecrated wafer Cake which they call The Hoste and the Body of Christ and to acknowledge the Pope as the Head of the Universal Church the Roman Church as the Mother of all Churches which may be truly termed the Antichristian forms and worship of Babylon the mystery of iniquity the Antichristian worship and Church-state yet this doth not at all reach the Protestant Kings and Civil powers who do not enforce and compell men to these Antichristian forms and worship of Babylon nor support the great Harlot nor let her have the preheminence nor use their sword for her advantage nor regard her Excommunication Curses and such like baubles but use their power and sword against her deride her Excommunications Curses Indulgences and Threats and urge their Subjects to disclaim her jurisdiction and worship If any say that the Civil powers in England do compel men to be under Diocesan Bishops and Priests who have their succession and ordination from Rome and to be present at the Common Prayer which is nothing but the Masse translated out of Latine into English and to be members of a National Church which is Antichristian I answer that neither do the Bishops derive their succession from Rome nor is their consecration as the Roman with any oath to the Pope though Mr. Francis Mason have pleaded against
insufficient Rule to guide us to God about the Oaths of the King's Supremacy and Allegiance to him and upon that occasion somewhat an ample Treatise about Swearing asserting That under the Gospel there is yet a lawfull use of swearing being now debarred of other Ministerial imployment I have conceived it a necessary work to shew the weakness of those suppositions upon which the Quinto-monarchians have been drawn to such an hideous practice as that accursed action forementioned was § 2. The words of Quinto-monarchians expressing their Opinions about seeking Christ's Kingdom in this Age are recited THere was a Book printed made in the year 1656. as is noted pag. 18. bearing this Title The Banner of Truth displayed or a Testimony for Christ and against Antichrist being the substance of several Consultations holden and kept by a certain number of Christians who are waiting for the visible appearance of Christs Kingdom in and over the World and residing in and about the City of London In the first page of the Epistle Dedicatory are these words And truly it evidently appeareth that Rome and the Nations of Europe commonly called the Protestant but are the Antichristian Countries which are the streets of the Great City and Rome-Babylon are the Akeldama or Field of bloud And some pages after mentioning powers since the rise of the Beast with ten horns and ten crowns and their success it is said Now for that we apprehend that the present Generation in which we live is that time in which this great work of Reformation rending and tearing the very foundations of the Beasts Civil power up by the roots the fall of the tenth part of Rome's Dominions a great slaughter amongst the great men and implacable Enemies of Christ and the final result the Kingdoms of the world becoming Christ's possession will begin and that time in which the first dispensation of our Lord's Kingdom shall take place and that it shall not pass before these things be fulfilled Therefore we are against these Governments as now constituted and growing upon the old root of wickednesse and bitternesse that time out of mind have brought forth and produced nothing but bloud-Monsters and to Rule by those Laws that Bastards Tyrants and Conquerors have made for their Lusts sake in opposition to the Law and the Testimony Isay 8. 20. We cannot contend for any Government whatsoever that is of Mans erecting building and planting where any thing of this old Foundation may remain and be left and which good men moral men civil men may exercise upon a meerly civil accompt for all men as they are men have lost their rights and priviledges in respect of Government in the first Adam but Saints have regained them in the second Adam or Lord from Heaven and by force and vertue of mens Laws though but the best of those Laws those called fundamental so they are where no more righteous is found for the Lord will pluck up and destroy root and branch and the Lord will not have a stone of Babels confused building for a corner nor a stone for a foundation We cannot therefore but as in duty by our Allegiance to this King bound proclaim That Jesus Christ is the only lawful and true begotten Heir and lawful King and Potentate of these three Nations and of all the Nations of the Earth and as he is the seed of Abraham shall possesse the Earth yea and the very Gates of his Enemies and that the sole Legislative power of the Nations is and doth of right appertain and belong to him and shall be exercised by him Dan. 7. 27. Jer. 10. 7. Isa. 9. 6 7. Gal. 3. 16. c. Hence then it necessarily follows That those beast-like powers now in being in the world and those if any which shall succeed upon that bottom that Rebel-like will not assign their said power Crowns and Scepters to this great Monarch are and shall be deemed and adjudged Traytors and proceeded against accordingly by vertue of this Kings Laws And truly we are soberly and humbly bold in the Lord Jehovah's strength to assert That the Saints of the most High be they who or where they will and faithfull remnant are a people distinct from the world and formal Professors and are but Pilgrims and strangers in this state of affairs men of another Kingdom and World and are by themselves a Common-wealth and Free-State and therefore 't is to be desired from good and sound grounds that they would exercise that Royal Authority which God has given unto them and invested them with as they are Saints by calling And upon this accompt we humbly conceive that 't is lawful for them to use all honest and just means to defend themselves and offend their enemies and to contend against those that do or shall oppose them in their work and business which is according to the pattern shewed unto them in the Mount and Law of Christ ordained and declared throughout the Scriptures It is observable that we are even already arrived the overturning daies we mean those times in which God will begin to smite the Governments and powers of the great Image which is a little after expressed thus the total annihilation and subversion of all the powers of this World of what quality soever ruling either in Antichrists earth or civil State or in his Heaven or Christ-state by the first dispensation of Christs visible Kingdom which we have spoken of or that of the stone Hence it is that we bear a constant and publick testimony against powers as the subject of Gods displeasure and that which must be plucked up We expect the Gentile Saints shall begin this great work In the Book it self having p. 1. said They were resolved to proceed in their way of Consultation for the clearing up these matters of their faith and principles of their hope they thus write That there is oppression in the earth in all Nations as also in England at this present time is undeniable for no man can say that there is no oppression unless we will also affirm that there is no Dragon in power no Antichrist Beast Babylon Whore nor false Prophet which how absurd a thing it is let all judge But the Man of Sin is still in the Seat of Authority the Governments of these Nations are Antichristian therefore oppression is not ceased Neither will there be any lasting Cessation of cruelty untill the fifth Kingdom be set up when the whole Earth shall be at rest and the fourth Kingdom which divides it self into two Iron legs ten toes and a little horn be wholy destroyed in all the Laws Constitutions Governments and Reliques thereof for the Spirit and life that is in that Beast or Kingdom is the Spirit of the old Dragon who is the Devil and Satan that old Serpent whose seed do continually war against the Woman which is Christs Mystical body there being great enmity between them two p. 4. That dispensation which Jehovah by his
providence hath cast us under is the overturning dispensation the time of War and beating of Plough-shares into Swords which Christ and the Scriptures speak of that day in which Christ will appear in his stone the stone of Israel against the powers of the world to the end he may be invested in his possessions which is the Kingdom and Dominions and their greatness under the whole Heavens and therefore we conclude that it is an unlawful thing and therefore men ought not to contribute to the upholding and maintaining of those powers which shall be broken by this dispensation left happily they be found fighters against God p. 6. The will of man having been corrupted ever since the fall of man the Lawes that proceed from that will must need be so p. 11. We say the oppressor which makes us to groan is Babylon in her several parts and powers in England Rulers Lawyers Priests and Soldiers for the present Government in England must of necessity be confessed to be either a part of the ten Horns of the ravenous fourth Beast or else that wicked little Horn Dan. 7. Because they are the last evil powers that shall be over the Nations of Europe and therefore we may safely conclude this to be an Assyrian else we must conclude him to be a part of that Kingdom set up by the God of Heaven but that cannot be because he rules by the Lawes of his Predecessors and shall Christ be beholding to Antichrist for Lawes No certainly he is of the fourth and therefore we need not run far to look this oppressor having already found him to be the present Government with its dependents and appurtenances being a piece of that monstrous Beast whom the Dragon i. e. the Devil Revel 20. 2. Assignes Power and Seat and great authority unto who branches himself into so many Monarchical Governments in the Nations of Europe and which men would perswade us to submit to as being lawful and of God but they execute the Laws of Antichrist and rule for him in Tyranny oppression and persecution by politick Laws which they make and for which the Priests and Lawyers plead and mercinary Soldiers and Officers execute p. 12. The persons oppressed we take it are the most spiritual enlightned Saints in these Nations whose spirits and affections are stirred up to follow Christ in the work of the Generation the good interest now contended for whom we call the Generation of publick spirited Saints The administration of Christs visible Kingdom and rule over the Nations is endeavoured to be suppressed in this juncture of time And not only the thing it self is opposed as dangerous and endeavoured by Matchiavil's principle argument and power as heretical as monstrous but the Doctrine and Gospel of that Kingdom and Office of Christ which shall be preached for a witness to all Nations is slighted and rejected by self-interested men and contemned by most p. 13. They have made a Law that those that shall speak against the powers must be Traytors which in effect is to make those Traytors that speak for this Kingdom The conversion of the Gentiles and poor ignorant sinners to the Faith of Christs visible Kingdom is opposed And p. 14 The establishment of Justice and righteousness in the world and therfore with us arise for the lot of our inheritance prepare therefore your victuals your purse and your scrip but especially your sword though you sell your coat for it p. 23. The Parliament as being built upon the old foundation was a part of the beast p. 24. It is clear that the dispensation of the Stone shall begin to smite the power of the Beast or Civil power and that quarrel is begun and taken up and continued chiefly against that power p. 25. Found to be from Hell and not from Heaven p. 27. The glass of the beasts powers being almost run out in these Nations what remains but that the Saints take into their own possession the Kingdom and power which is their birth-right as freemen of the Common-wealth of Israel and Heirs of the whole world with Christ Gal. 3. 29. which the Beast and his powers hath unjustly detained from them some hundreds of years p. 28. That the work of this Stone is a smiting work or a work wherein the Saints imployed shall visibly appear in a military posture for Christ which we call the great combat between Christ and the Kings and Rulers of the world For the Saints shall fall upon or smite that great Image the Feet and Toes thereof and the whole Roman Monarchy as now divided or all those powers whose derivation is from Rome others not excepted nor freed shall be thereby smitten we mean the Kingdoms of the Romish Iron-legs or the Roman Kingdom divided into the Eastern and western Monarchies wherein the whole Dominion Power and Monarchy of the Ottoman Family or that of the Turks is comprehended and the Beasts ten horns or Antichrists civil powers equivalent to the ten toes and also the little Horn together with all powers whatsoever that shall be found opposers of the Lords Kingdom whether they be of the golden Babylonish silver Persian brasen Grecian or Iron Roman Dan. 2. and ch 7. Revel 13. ch 17. So that we comprehend the whole Kingdom of Antichrist in the Civil Ecclesiastical parts thereof made up of Persons and things p. 29. The fifth Kingdom which is Christs with its holy just and righteous Lawes and Officers must arise with destruction to and stand up in place of the 4th Kingdom and the Lawes and Officers thereof p. 30. Because it is the purchase of the blood and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. p. 15. Now then we say that called the Ordinance of God proves the Ordinance of the Devil and though the powers of the great Image might be taken for the Ordinance of God so long as they kept their pure civil and unmixed state so saith Paul the powers that be i. e. the civil powers of old Rome tho a bloody persecutor and devourer of the creation and good heritage are ordained of God yet when the power of Rome adulterated from its pure civil state and becomes a mixt Antichristian state the Beast and a Whore then it is said of that Beastly Antichristian power that the Dragon or Satan gave him his power and Seat and great authority and what then is this save the Ordinance of Hell God hath revealed this by his Spirit from his word unto a little remnant who see the rottenness and hellish foundation of all the Civil powers of the Beast And how great an argument is this also to us that the rise and work of the Stone is near Which is principally against the Civil power p. 52. It is certain that it is a duty in Saints to hate Gods Enemies yea and more particularly to hate the Civil or Beast-like power because it is that which upholds the great Whore and is a fighter against Christs Kingly office even with a perfect
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
few mens hands to beggar the whole these take towls and customs of their brethren p. 14. Why may not the Soldiers pull the Judges out of Westminster Hall and take all their rusty Records Laws c. And make a fire on them That so we may have honest godly Laws according to the Scriptures and reason In the preface to the 8 last Sermons of Mr. Tillinghast who was much for the Fifth-Monarchy are these words Let none take offence at this language for I cannot forbear vilifying the Kingdoms of the fourth Beast when my thoughts are upon the magnifying of the Kingdom power and glory of Jesus Christ our Lord. And if the Virgin daughter of Sion without any disparagement to her holy modesty might of old be allowed by God himself to dispise the great King of Assyria and to laugh him to scorn I know no reason to the contrary but one of the Lambs followers may without breach of rule in an holy triumph of faith express contempt of the Kings of the Earth who are all of them the lovers of the Mother of Harlots and Abomination of the Earth In the first Sermon p. 2. Of the third edition 1659. Mr. Tillinghast saith Davids Kingdom was a type of Christs Kingdom and indeed whereas this Kingdom here Jerem. 33. 20 21. Promised is shadowed forth by that of David it doth hold thus much that the Kingdom is not only a spiritual Kingdom but an outward visible Kingdom for such a throne and Kingdom Davids was p. 14. Yet the woman hath not had her day upon the Serpent but there is a time wherein the woman must have a day upon the Serpent to break his head therefore there is such a Kingdom wherein the Saints of Jesus Christ shall crush all the enemies of Jesus Christ in the world p. 39. The Devil plays his game thus in the new Testament times he made men to look for an outward Kingdom only when Christ was about to set up a spiritual Kingdom now that Christ would set up an outward Kingdom saith the Devil look only to the spiritual Kingdom p. 41. Gods Peoples faith is not grounded on fancies but they see and know that God is doing some glorious thing in the world he is overturning Kingdoms and setting up the Kingdom of his Son Serm. 3. p. 57. He conceives The work of Christs visible Kingdom over the world the work of the present time one great article of our faith the work that God doth call his Children to at this day and he calls upon them from Heaven to attend to that they are to expect it before Christ come forth bring his Kingdom with him p. 60 61. He distinguisheth in Christs visible Kingdom between the Kingdom of the Stone and of the Mountain this he calls the Kingdom of glory wherein the Saints shall not work but receive that the working Kingdom of the Saints wherein Saints are by the Lord imployed to do some notable service against his coming which is the breaking down the great Image the bringing down all his enemies that when he comes he may find them his footstool for he is to fit at the Fathers right hand until all his enemies be made his footstool it 's a Kingdom wherein Plow-shaers are to be beaten into Swords there shall be wonderful use of Swords Weapons of War out of Daniel 12. 12 13. He gathers the beginning of each of these p. 62. Truly I look upon it as being a main and principal part of that faith once delivered to the Saints as touching the fifth Kingdom p. 63. Though this Stone fundamentally is Christ himself yet considered as smiting the great Image it can be no other but Christ mystical Christ in his members and the cutting out of this Stone cannot be meant as some would have it of Christs first coming p. 65. Now if it can be made appear that that with which the fifth Kingdom doth begin the work of the great Image the over-turning the Thrones of the Kings is to be performed by the Saints as chief instruments in the management of it then it follows of necessity there must be such a thing as the Civil and Military power to be in the hands of the Saints and that before the day of Christs appearance they must have this power in their hands for the performance of that work and if so then it 's not evil for the Saints and People of God to seek for it to pray for it to plead for it for it 's to come into their hands for the doing of their work before the day of Christs appearance And then endeavours to prove that this work with which the fifth Kingdom doth begin is a work to be performed by Saints as the chief and principal instruments in the doing of it p. 74. There 's the coming forth of Christ when his enemies by his Saints are made his footstool p. 79. He gives some figues that this work is near at hand and p. 82. He makes this to be a general sign that never was there a principle that did run so much among the Churches of Christ as this hath done within these twelve months I have set down the words of those persons that I shall oppose in their positions that I may not be thought to impose upon them Out of them it is manifest that they assert that all the powers not only Ecclesiastical but also Civil and Military of the Nations even the Protestant as well as the Turkish and Romish Kingdoms are Antichristian and all their Laws Officers Schools Corporations Titles Priviledges Degrees and ranks of men in their politick and military as well as Ecclesiastical state Babylonish from the fourth Monarchy that those that they call publick spirited Saints of this age distinct from Notional professors and formally Godly are to hate separate from them deny any assistance to them rise up against them to destroy them utterly to smite them in order to the setting up a fifth Monarchy of Christ's visible Kingdom on earth that the Saints may be a free Common-wealth of themselves subject to no Laws but Christ's and free from all oppressions of men § 3. The Doctrine of smiting Powers is proved from Scripture Precepts to be Wicked THis Doctrine is damnable and Antichristian as is proved by these Arguments following whereof the first is taken from those Precepts of the New Testament and the Old which forbid such disobedience vilifying refusing assistance smiting of Powers over us Dignities Officers but command Honour Obedience Assistance Fear to Powers Dignities and their Laws and may be thus formed That Doctrine is damnable and Antichristian which commendeth and urgeth Practises and Actions contrary to the Precepts of Christ his holy Apostles and other holy men in the holy Scriptures This Proposition is of it self manifest unlesse that be not acknowledged damnable which is condemned by so holy persons nor Antichristian in a large sense which is flatly opposite to Christ's and his holy
and resistence is condemned v. 3. from the use of the Powers or Rulers who are not only by Office but also in act not a terror to good works but to evil For though it were true those Rulers that then were in matters of Religion and in things that pertained to their own profit and lust were towards some a terror to good works and abettors of many wicked and injurious practises yet in the general they did not terrifie sober industrious and peaceable persons but those who did actions contrary to them and did reward and praise them that were useful for the Common-wealth and therefore they that did well as Saints or Christians should do they had no reason out of fear to resist them but in well doing to expect praise from them 8. From their deputation from God to do justice v. 4 6. The Apostle argues further the necessity of subjection to them and the impiety of resisting them telling them that the Ruler was God's Minister 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 three times he gives him these titles and that to do justice for him and therefore he that resists him resists God and this cannot be with impunity God not permitting his bearing the Sword for him to be in vain but so ordering it that he is and shall be an Avenger unto wrath unto him that doth evil All these Arguments whereby the Apostle enforceth his Precept both for the positive part requiring subjection and the negative denying resistence do shew that the Apostle was very earnest in pressing this duty of subjection to civil Magistrates which it is probable he did the more importunately urge in this Epistle because it was written to the Romans who were Inhabitants in that City where were most oppressions and villainies committed of any part of the world and in that time whether in Claudius or Nero's reign in which the Powers that were the Caesars or Emperors and Rulers under them were as monstrously vitious wicked unrighteous tyrannous and cruel enemies to Christians as in any time and therefore the Roman Christians might be tempted to think that sure they were not to be subject to such but were to resist them Nor doth the Apostle only in this place urge the duties of subjection and non-resistence of Civil Powers but also strictly injoins Titus in his Epistle to him c. 3. 1. to put the Christians over whom he was in mind of this that they should be subject to Principalities and Powers to obey Magistrates intimating thereby that Christians had need to be minded of it because it was a necessary duty notwithstanding provocations to the contrary To these Precepts of the Apostle Paul I shall add the plain Precepts of S. Peter 1 Epist. c. 2. v. 13 14 15 16 17. where he thus chargeth Christians Submit yoursâ—lves to every Ordinance of man or humane creature for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as Supreme or unto Governors as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well For so is the will of God that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men As free and not using your liberty for a Cloak of malicâ—ousness but as the servants of God Honour all men love the Brotherhood fear God honour the King In which words S. Peter commands subjection to every Ordinance of man where as the Adversaries forbid subjection to any humane Creature or Ordinance any Government whatsoever that is of mans erecting building and planting The Apostle bid be subject for the Lord as Jehosaphat said to the Judges 2 Chron. 19. 6. Take heed what ye do for ye judge not for man but for the Lord who is with you in the Judgement but the Adversaries say subjection is against the Lord The Apostle bids submit to the King as supreme or excelling they say submit not to the King he is not supreme nor excels none hath any just title to rule now Kings are from the Dragon the worst of men the Saints are to smite them he saith Submit to Governors as unto them that are sent by him they say submit not to them because sent by him for they and all that own them are Antichristian The Apostle saith they are sent by him for the punishment of evil dâ—ers and the praise of them that do well these say they are sent to oppresse the Saints and to uphold Babylon The Apostle saith that so is the will of God that ye submit to Kings and Governors sent by him they say It is the will of God that ye oppose smite them The Apostle saith that ye may so put to silence the ignorance of foolish men they say by so doing ye shall promote the interest of Babylon The Apostle joins these Fear God honour the King and in like manner Solomon Prov. 24. 21. My Son fear thou the Lord and the King they say Fear God vilifie destroy the King Now it is to be observed that the Caesars Powers Rulers Principalities who then bare the sword the Kings and Governors then sent by the King were the Roman Emperors Kings and Governors under them who were all of them great Idolaters took the Title of Pontifex Maximus as being chief about the Idol service of Jupiter and other Heathen Gods none of them Christians by profession or Jews but enemies to both and fierce and cruel persecutors of Christians and some of them so unrighteous and vitious that one of them particularly Nero was adjudged by the Senate hostis patriae the enemy of his Countrey in whose time St. Paul and St. Peter are thought to have written their Epistles yet did they require subjection to them and therefore to teach they are to be resisted and smitten for those qualities to whom the Apostles notwithstanding them require subjection honour and payment of tribute is with most impudent face to gainsay the Apostles Doctrine And because that it seems out of doubt to them that Ecclesiastical Rulers should be vilified opposed as being Antichristian being conceived to be against their imagined Fifth-Monarchy I will add the words of St. Paul upon occasion of the High Priest Ananias his commanding them that stood by him to smite him on his mouth for saying I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day whereupon he said to him God shall smite thee thâ—u whited wall for sittest thou to judge me after the Law and commandest thou me to be smitten contrary to the Law which occasioned them that stood by to say revilest thou Gods High Priest In reply whereto correcting himself St. Paul said I wist not brethren that he was the High Priest For it is written thou shalt not speak evil of the Ruler of thy People I acknowledge there is not a little difficulty to acquit St. Paul from falsehood or dissembling in saying He knew not that Ananias was the High Priest sundry waies are conceived which may be seen in Mr. Gataker's Cinnus
Kingdom of God which is to be conceived the same with that Dan. 2. 44. is meant the Kingdom which was then among the Jews which was no other than the spiritual Kingdom of Christ and the Stone whose work is to grind to powder or dash to pieces which is to be conceived to be the same with the smiting and breaking Dan. 1. 34. 44. is that Stone which was rejected by the builders and should become the head of the Corner which is no other but Christ personal who was crucified by the Rulers of the Jews but raised up from death and set at Gods right hand and so became the Corner Stone of Gods spiritual House or Church as it is expresly expounded by Peter Acts. 4. 11. 1 Pet. 2. 4 5 6 7 8. And of him it is said that he shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself Philip. 3. 21. 6. It is supposed that this smiting work shall be by military Power or by fighting Whereas if the cutting of the Stone out of the Mountain be the setting up of the Kingdom it must be without hands Dan. 2. 34. 44 45. by the God of Heaven and therefore to be done some other way as Zech. 4. 6. The return of the Jews and their establishing in their Land under Zerubbabel should be not by might or Army nor by Power but by Gods spirit or as it is said Isai. 11. 4. Of Christ that he shall smite the Earth with the Rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked By his Preaching or by his Angels or by his Creatures as by flaming fire he may smite as when it is said 2 Thes. 1. 7 8 9 10. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengence on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe And thus shall Gog and Magog be smitten Revel 20. 9. When they shall go up on the breadth of the Earth and compass the Camp of the Saints about and the beloved City fire shall come down from God out of Heaven and devour them By these and other means the Stone may smite the Feet of the great Image without swords and such like military weapons and fighting and that be fulfilled which is promised Psal. 2. 9. Thou shalt break them with a Rod of Iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a Potters Vessels As he is described Revel 1. 16. That out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword so he warneth Revel 2. 16. Repent or else I will come unto thee quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth Yea when it is promised v. 26 27. He that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end to him will I give power over the Nations And he shall Rule them with a Rod of Iron as the Vessels of a Potter shall they be broken to shivers even as I received of my Father It is to be understood of their prayers as Revel 6. 10. Revel 8. 4 5. Revel 11. 5 6. as James 5. 17. Revel 12. 11. Not of Arms and Armies he that reads Revel 16 and 19. Chapters wherein is foretold the destruction of the Beast and the false Prophet may see more reason to conceive that Christ will do it by Plagues as God did the Egyptians by Moses or some other invisible way without the Saints or if he use the Saints he will do it by their Prayers and Testimonie without other fighting And therefore if it were granted That that with which the fifth Kingdom doth begin the work of the great Image the overturning the Thrones of the Kings is to be performed by the Saints as chief instruments in the mannagement of it yet it is not true which Mr. Tillinghast saith in his 3. Sermon p. 65. Then it follows of necessity there must be such a thing as the Civil and Military Power to be in the hands of the Saints and that before the day of Christs appearance they must have this Power in their hands for the performance of that work So that notwithstanding this pretence it is evil and horribly wicked for them that have called themselves the Saints and People of God to seek for it to pray for it to plead for it as the Fifth Monarchy Men have done contrary to the plain precepts of Christ and his Apostles seeking for it by killing innocent men under pretence of praying to God and keeping fasts cursing their Governors and pleading by revilings and false accusations and most horrid pervertings of holy scripture and self magnifyings for a power not belonging to them 7. It is supposed that if the smiting work be to be done by men it must be by Saints in their Notion But there is no proof of this or rather the words of scripture do plainly tell us that the work is to be done by those Kings which they conceive they should destroy as Antichristian in order to the setting up of the Fifth Monarchy For thus we read Revel 17. 16 17. And the ten Horns which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will and to agree and give their Kingdom unto the Beast until the words of God shall be fulfilled So that whereas these men imagin such an inconsistency with Gods purpose and glory to use the Kings and Governments which have supported the Whore of Babylon for her ruine and therefore incite men to such hatred and emnity against them and with much disdain stomack and bitter zeal not knowing what spirit they are of do vilify inveigh against and curse them and seek their total abolition glorying like frantick men in their own satanical spirit and designs they should rather endeavour to do such things as might make Princes favour them and hate the Whore and rather admire bless and magnify the Providence and work of God in using them as instruments to pull her down whose Predecessors out of their blind devotion set up the Whore and to protect the servants of God who were by their Ancestors destroyed 8. It is supposed that this smiting work is to be done by Gentile Saints who are such as they have characterized them But this hath no evidence to prove it For though I will not exclude the Gentile Saints from being meant Dan. 7. 18. 21 22 25 27. Yet it is very probable which Junius Piscator and others observe that by Saints in those places are specially meant the Jewish People
occur about Lands Wills Trades and other Actions which concern human affairs and society yea they that have perused the Talmuds and writings of the Jewish Doctors do find that notwithstanding the body of Laws given by God himself yet by reason of the varying of cases many resolutions there are added by their Judges or Lawyers which they receive as Laws And this was thought so necessary that God erected a Senate among them with strict injunction to the Jews to do according to the sentence which they of that place which the Lord shall choose should shew them and to observe to do according to all that they informed them Deut. 17. 10. which was in effect all one as to impower them to make Laws for them Sure notwithstanding the written Laws of Moses Solomon had been at a stand how to give sentence in the case of the two Harlots had not God given him an extraordinary Spirit of wisdom to do Judgment 1 Kings 3. 28. Nor can the Mosaical or Jewish Laws fit the government of this Nation unless there were the same distribution of Lands the same State of People and neighbour Nations the same manner of Trade and living as they had And it is to be considered whether this asserting of the Laws of the Jews as a constant standing rule to us Gentiles be not indeed the same error of Judaism which was condemned by the Synod at Jerusalem Acts 15. and the writings of the Apostles and counted as an Heresy which did evacuate the benefit of our Christian liberty which Christ hath purchased by losing of which we may forfeit our interest in Christ and their Lawes be so far from being the only Lawes fit for the Government of Christs Kingdom that they may in many things be most unfit and contention for them to be imposed on gentile belivers more justly to be counted Antichristian than the Civil Lawes of the Nations which they so much oppose as Antiehristian nor can those Lawes be fitted for the Kingdom of Christ which they look for For that Kingdom will be when all Christs enemies shall be made his Footstool Christ shall personally raign as they conceive on earth it shall be a Kingdom which shall have a sâ—at sâ—nless sorrowless deathless superiorless having no humane Ruling Majesty no Church censures no superiority of persons no fears no wants no desertions no painful labour no decay no procreation of Children as Dr. Homes reckons them in his Resurrection revealed lib. 5. c. 4. And therefore this supposition and the inference that is made thereupon is false and insufficient and it would be not only a sin against God but also a most extream degree of wickedness to destroy our Lawes Records Government upon this pretence and all men are truly bound in conscience to defend them and to oppose those as Antichristian and Enemies to Christs Kingdom who would disanul them As for the Common-wealth of Israel its being the only type of the Lambs Government Gal. 6. 16. it is so in respect of the spiritual Kingdom of Christ in which believers are an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ a Royal Preisthood to shew forth Gods praises 1 Pet. 2. 5. 9. and if this reason be of validity to tie us to their Lawes it will tie us to the Lawes about the Jewish Temple Priesthood Sacrifices and the rest of the Ceremonial Lawes which were to reduce us from Christ to Moses and compleat Judaism As then it was a pretious benefit which the Gospel brought that the Gentiles were not tied to those particular Lawes of Religious service which were required of the Jews that the Yoke was not put upon the Neck of the Disciples which neither the Fathers nor the Apostles were able to bear Acts 15. 10. but that many things even in Gods worship were to be determined by prudence of Rulers according as might best fit the service of God with respect to the condition of several people so much more in Civil affairs it was the great goodness of God and a great advantage to the furthering of Christs Kingdom among the Gentiles that the Gospel did not impose on the Nations either the Mosaical or any other particular Lawes or Civil Government but left them to their own Lawes and Government in such things and required Christians to submit to them without which there is no likelihood Christianity had been embraced as it was nor Christians to have subsisted and been multiplied among infidels as they were And therefore whereas the Quinto-Monarchians have made such great stirs as they have done not only for a reformation in Ecclesiastical discipline and worship but also to bring the Government and Lawes Civil to the Jewish platform in the holy scriptures which is their Diana they have therein followed their own fancy not the holy scriptures but to the great wrong of the Church of God and injury to his name and truth caused many to follow their pernicious ways by reason of whom the way of truth is evil spoken of so that of them may be verified which we read Rom. 3. 14 15 10 17. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness their feet are swift to shed blood destruction and misery are in their ways and the way of peace have they not known 11. It is granted by them that the powers of the great Image might be taken for the Ordinance of God so long as they kept their pure Civil and unmixed estate so saith Paul the powers that be i. e. the Civil powers of old Rome tho a bloody persecutor and devourer of the creation and Gods heritage are ordained of God In which passage they intimate 1. that the Civil powers of old Rome were a bloody persecutor and devourer of the creation and Gods heritage 2. That then they kept their pure Civil and unmixed estate 3. That so long though they were the powers of the great Image yet they might be taken for the Ordinance of God according to St. Paul Rom. 13. 1. 4. That therefore so long they were to be obeyed and not resisted For discovery of the fallacy that is in these speeches it is needful that it should be inquired into what they mean by the Civil powers of old Rome keeping their pure Civil and unmixed estate The opposite estate is thus expressed When the power of Rome adulterated from it's pure Civil state became a mixt Antichristian state the Beast and a Whore the power of Rome was in the Apostle Pauls time the power of the Emperors whether Caius Caligula Claudius Nero and the Senate and Consuls of Rome the Praetors Kings Presidents such as Herod Agrippa Pilate Felix Festus and others under them The unmixed estate seems to be their not taking upon them that which after the Emperors or Popes did when they became Antichristian Now sure what ever it were that after the Civil powers of Rome assumed or did it is certain that they were as it is
confessed the powers of the great Image bloody persecutors and devourers of the creation and Gods Heritage and I may add as wicked and impure in their lives as they were afterwards yea and as Monstrously Idolatrous as afterwards The Emperors then took to themselves the Title of Pontifex Maximus which was kept till the Christian Emperors time and that Title imported their power and inspection about the Idolatrous rites of the Romans whereby they took charge of the worship of Jupiter and other Roman Deities and were zealous for it so as to persecute them to death with extream cruelty who would not offer incense to their Idols nor swear by them yea they did some of them urge Jews and other people to worship either themselves or their Statues as Gods as Caligula Domitian and caused the abomination and desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet to stand in the holy place of which our Saviour foretels Matth. 24. 15. And though the Popish Idolatry in the worshiping of the Host bowing down to Crucifixes Images praying to deceased Saints creeping to Crosses adoring of Reliques and other superstitions of the Romanists be horribly impious and their cruelty in destroying them that will not adore their consecrated Host be very satanical and so their power and the exercise of it whereby they take on them to condemn as Hereticks them that will not worship their Idols and whereby Princes at their beck do execute their sentences cruelly be from Satan or the Dragon in the use of it in these things yet it is doubted whether the Popish Idolatry be greater or so bad as the Heathenish Idolatry of the Romans in St. Paul's time Yea Dr. John Burges in his Answer rejoined to the reply to Dr. Morton's defence of the Ceremonies ch 4. sect 28. hath maintained against Mr. Parker that the popish Idolatry is not as vile in it self as ever was any of Turks or Pagans And it is plain that in the Revelation the power of the Emperors as they used it in persecution of Christians for not worshipping Idols is ascribed to the Divel before the pretended mixt Antichristian state as well as after Revel 2. 10. Behold the Divel shall cast some of you into prison when he did it by the Pagan Emperors and their Officers v. 13. I know thy works and where thou dwellest even where Satans throne is and thou holdest fast my Name and hast not denied my Faith even in those daies wherein Antipas was my faithfull Martyr who was slain among you where Satan dwelleth On which saith Brightman it is not obscure why it is called the throne of Satan For the City where the heathen Emperors had their seat who professedly warred against the Lamb is called the throne of the Dragon ch 13. 2. so of the daughters and lower Cities those which come nearer to the mind of this Prince because they yield a Palace more prepared for the Divel are notified by the same name And Revel 12. 3. where it is said Behold a great red Dragon having seven heads ten horns seven Crowns upon his head on its saith Mede A wonder or representation of the Empire of Rome Heathen worshiping the Dragon the large Annotations on the Bible A great red Dragon the Heathen Roman Emperors succeeding one another who did the Divel service as in other things so chiefly in persecuting the Church v. 9. ch 2. 10. The like if need were might be shewed to be the opinion of Brightman Diodatâ— Pareus Piscator and others By which and many other passages in holy Scripture it may appear that the heathen Emperors had that power whereby they persecuted the Church of Christ from Satan and were as great Idolaters as those under the Papacy and were as serviceable to the Divel and yet are granted to be the Ordinance of God and though the Powers of the great Image even the Iron legs yet were not to be resisted but the saints even every soul the holy Apostles themselves not excepted were to be subject to them under pain of damnation Whence it follows that there is no warrant for English pretended or real Saints to smite the present Powers to oppose resist overthrow the present Laws Government and Governors though it were yielded which is not that they were part of the fourth Monarchy kept not their pure civil and unmixed State were oppressors shed the blood of the Saints and what ever else the Quinto-Monarchians do object against them Doubtless however Sir Walter Raleigh have aggravated the cruelties of King Henry the 8th of England and perhaps others may represent in the most odious manner the government of other Princes yet they exceed not Nero Domitian and other of the Roman Heathen Emperors in cruelty to the Christian believers nor in uncleanness and unrighteousness and yet St. Paul and St. Peter and our Lord Christ himself command subjection even to such And therefore these things cannot release the Quinto-Monarchians from subjection but their pleas for their smiting work are proved to be damnable and Antichristian 12. It is supposed when the power of Rome was adulterated from its pure civil State and becomes a mixt Antichristian State the Beast and a Whore which they conceive of the present civil powers of the Nations even the Protestant and particularly those of England then it is said of that beastly Antichristian power that the Dragon or Satan gave him his Power his Seat and great Authority and what then is this save the Ordinance of Hell To examine this it is to be observed 1. That they suppose it was the civil power of Rome which is meant Revel 13. 1. 2. by the beast and that it is meant of the civil powers since they became in name Christian. Which I will not gainsay because of the words of the Angel Revel 17. 12. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten Kings which have received no Kingdom as yet but receive power as Kings one hour with the beast though there are or have been that understand by it Heathen Emperors afore they embraced Christianity or an Emperor not yet extant that I may omit other conjectures and therefore this is not to be taken as so certain that on it should be grounded so strange a work as the smiting of all the civil powers of Europe which is deduced from it 2. It is supposed that then the civil Powers were adulterated from their pure civil and unmixed estate By pure civil and unmixed estate they must mean if I be not mistaken that afore that time the Roman Emperors did not meddle with the matters of Religion or of the Church which is most notoriously false for they took the title of Pontifex Maximus ruled in the business of the worship of their Gods did forbid Christian worship and persecuted Christians to the death And that they did afterwards which is also false For the Emperors Christian did reject that title and demolished the temples of Idols promoted the Christian worship contended
with the Bishops that did set up Images in the Churches and if by the mixture be meant their assuming Ecclesiastical power I suppose these Objectors will not charge them with this it being to their great vexation that the Bishops especially the Bishops of Rome claimed and usurped authority over Emperors and Kings as he doth at this day to excommunicate them if they reconciled not themselves to them to depose them and many of the Emperors and Kings did contend against this usurpation in many sore Wars If by mixture of State be meant the assisting of the Popes to destroy the opposers of the Papacy I acknowledge it true that there were too many that did so But in this there was no mixture of civil Ecclesiastical power but rather a concurrence the Ecclesiastical keeping to themselves the judgment of Heresies and putting upon the secular power the execution of their sentence whereby they did debase the civil power in making it subservient to them but made no mixture of State Which appeared in that some of the civil powers that kept their civil government as before yet did oppose this usurpation in Popes and Prelates in making them their Executioners to destroy those who were judged Hereticks by them and therefore this act of theirs was the evil of those persons that did it but not of the civil Government it self 3. It is supposed that then the civil powers were the beast and a whore Which no doubt alludes to that which we read Revel 17. 1 2 c. of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters and v. 3. 7. the whore is resembled by a woman sitting upon a scarlet coloured beast and v. 18. it is said and the woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth Which few do deny to be meant of Rome some of the learned Papists themselves granting it to be meant of Rome though they would have it believed that Rome is so called the Whore while it was heathen not since it became Christian. Others there are chiefly Those of the Protestant Churches who do conceive by the Whore is meant Rome Papal as conceiving the descriptions ofher and her practises cannot be applied to Rome as it was Paganish or Ethnick Whether this or the other or any other opinion be right it is not needful now to discuss It is sufficient that the Civil Powers of Rome whether Ethnick or Christian or in a future estate cannot well be termed the Beast and a Whore too sith the text makes them distinct or if they may yet sure the Civil Powers are not the Whore sith it is said v. 2. The Kings of the earth have committed fornication with the Whore and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication therefore the Kings of the earth and inhabiters of the earth must not be confounded with the Whore And v. 16. It is said And the ten Horns who are ten Kings which had received no Kingdom then v. 12. And therefore not while Rome was Ethnick but after it's being Christian Which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire Therefore the Kings which are the Civil Powers are not the same with the Whore but though at first beguiled by her shall at last hate and consume her when they shall be undeceived 4. It is supposed that then the Power of Rome when adulterated from its pure Civil Estate became a mixt Antichristian state or a beastly Antichristian Power What is meant by Antichristian state or Antichristian Power is not easy to resolve It is true the Apostle John makes mention of many Antichrists that should come in the last time among which his words intimate that there should be a special Antichrist that they had heard should come 1 John 2. 18. And v. 22. He saith He is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son And ch 4. v. 3. He saith And every Spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God And this is that Spirit of Antichrist whereof ye have heard that it should come and even already is it in the world And in his second Epistle v. 7. For many deceivers are entered into the world who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh This is a or the Deceiver and an or the Antichrist which words seem to import that those erroneous seducing teachers whether gnosticks or other who were risen in that time when these Epistles were written were it is likely called Antichrists from their opposition to the true Doctrine concerning the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh-Nevertheless many of the ancients in after ages did often give hints of the expectation of Christians commonly entertained whether from St. Johns words or some other tradition that there would arise some more remarkable Antichrist who should whether by Power or deceit corrupt or infest the Church of Christ beyond what was done in his daies And this hath been imagined by some of them should be a Roman the same with the man of sin 2 Thes. 2. 3. That wicked or lawless one v. 8. the Beast Revel 13. 11. And the Whore of Babylon Revel 17. 5. which in many ages the great corruptions in the Popes of Rome and their Courts caused to be applied ever and anon by some or other of the best and learnedst of their times to the Popes and Papacy And since the time of Luther it hath been almost generally received by Protestant Writers of all sorts that the Popes and Papacy especially since Pope Boniface the third usurped the Title of Oecumenical Bishop as proper to his See and Gregory the seventh the Power of deposing Emperors and Boniface the eight the welding of both swords Civil and Ecclesiastical are the Antichrist Man of sin Beast and Whore of Babylon foretold that he should come by St. Paul and St. John And not a few very learned and sober godly men both of Bishops and Presbyters in England Ireland France and other Nations have asserted it by Preaching and writing and have made it one of their chief pleas for their refusing communion with and enmity against the late Bishops of Rome and the Papal Church although some of late have thought otherwise and have endeavoured to apply those passages to some other whether rightly or not I do not now determin Whence it hath come to pass that as the Papists who still adhere to the Bishop of Rome as Christs Vicar and St. Peters Successor swallow down all that comes from Rome be it never so vain and erroneous so on the other side those who have been induced by the arguments inforced from the places of holy scripture alledged to conceive that the Popes or Papacy or Roman Synagogue have been and are the Antichrist Man of sin Babylon the Whore therein mentioned have been apt to
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
Kings one hour with the Beast c have one mind give their power and strength unto the Beast which could not be understood of the Roman Pagan Emperors who received not power and strength from Kings but gave power to them so as that they ruled under them by their power and therefore is to be interpreted of later times which the event shews to be most probable to have been the times wherein the Kings of Europe having divided the Roman Empire into ten Kingdoms did yet all of them sooner or later adhere to and support the Papal Dominion which brought in errors heresies idolatries and superstitions which have and yet do corrupt the western Churches and for maintenance of which a sea of blood hath been shed by the instigations of Friers Jesuites and other Emissaries of Rome Upon these especially Brightman Mede and some others conceived the third vial to be poured out But all are so far from making the Rivers which shed the blood of the Saints and Prophets to whom blood was given to drink to be the Civil powers that Brightman makes the pouring out of this vial to have been begun by Q. Elizabeth and the Parliament 1581. making the reconciling of the English Subjects to Rome a capital offence and makes the then Lord Treasurer William Cecil the Angel of the Rivers by reason of the book put forth by him termed the English Justice wherein the putting to death of Romish Emissaries is defended Which is also the opinion of Mede though he add also the memorable overthrow of the Spaniard in 1588. the English and the Dutch whom Robert Parker conceives resembled by the Angel of the waters as seated in a watery Country by sea and land abundantly pouring out the Cup of the mighty hand of God But be the civil powers the shedders of the blood Rev. 16. 6. and 17. 6. and 18. 24. and 19. 2. yet it can with no colour be charged on those civil powers that have not in obedience to the Pope acted this tragedy but have opposed it and avenged the blood of the Saints by execution of just laws made against the Instigators and actors in the shedding of the blood of Protestants I cannot take upon me to absolve the civil powers from the guilt of shedding the blood of Saints and Prophets as being ignorant how far any have been actors therein or connived thereat nor do I know what Gods way may be of imputing the blood-shedding of Saints and Martyrs though by Ancestors hundreds of years ago upon the posterity succeeding Christs sentence against Jerusalem Matth. 23. 34 35. 37. makes me astonished and to say as David Ps. 119. 120. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy Judgments and with Daniel ch 9. 8 to say O Lord to us belongeth confusion of face to our Kings to our Princes and to our Fathers because we sinned against thee Yet hoping that the Princes and people of these Nations have been humbled and are before God at this day for the evils committed by their forefathers under the Papacy I trust I may add with Daniel v. 9. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses though we have rebelled against him Sure I am it is a bold presumption which the Quinto-Monarchians have no warrant for to charge the blood of Martyrs shed long before their times on the civil powers of this Generation unless they were privy to some overt act whereby they have shewed their approbation of it and their readiness to tread in the same steps 4. It is said that therefore God by way of recompence and retaliation hath ordained that the Saints shall be his instrument by which he will execute his vengeance upon the powers of teh world who are all of them Murtherers Accordingly God commands his people and t is their duty to obey to reward Babylon double as she rewarded them yea and double unto her with all those plagues deaths and stripes that she hath inflicted on you Revel 18. 6. And they shall give her blood to drink and she shall be burnt with fire for strong is the Lord that judgeth her To which I reply 1. that all this runs upon a palpable mistake that the powers of the world or the civil powers are the Babylon which is to be rewarded double Rev. 18. 6. whereas it is manifest that the Babylon to be rewarded double is that great mighty city v. 10. out of which Gods people are to come v. 4. which is to be utterly burnt with fire though the inhabitants are also included whose sins reached up to Heaven v. 5. Glorified her self v. 7. yet the civil powers of the world cannot be meant there sith it is said v. 9. And the Kings of the earth who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her shall bewail her and lament for her when they shall see the smoke of her burning standing a far off for the fear of her torments 2. It is another mistake as if God had ordained that the Saints or Gods people without any other circumscription should be his instrument by which he will execute his vengeance upon Babylon For though it be spoken to the people of God Revel 18. 5. To reward Babylon as she rewarded them in the cup she hath filled fill her double yet it be said Revel 17. 16. And the ten Horns which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will and to agree and give their Kingdom unto the Beast until the words of God shall be fulfilled Whence it appears that it is so far from truth that the civil powers of the world are Babylon and are to be destroyed in order to Babylons downfall that they are distinct from Babylon so as to stand a far off and lament her some of them and others are to be instruments of burning her with fire And therefore although the people of God which are to come out of Babylon those who are with the Lambe called faithful and chosen Rev. 17. 14 may be with the Kings that burn her and being escaped out of Babylon may be instrumental to its destruction being joyned with the Kings yet it doth not appear that God hath ordained the Saints who are only private men and no Kings shall do it by themselves by their own power but in conjunction with them or subordination to them and therefore in the executing of vengeance on Babylon there will be execution by the civil powers of the world not upon them and Saints are bound in order to this smiting work to maintain civil powers not to smite them or separate from them 3. Though the words Revel 18. 6. be in the Imperative mood yet it doth not thence necessarily follow that it is Gods command to his people which it is their duty to obey or else they sin
in ordine ad spiritualia as they spake they might dispose of their Kingdoms as the Vicars of Christ and visible Monarchs of the Universal Church Which things these Fifth-Monarchy-Men count Antichristian and therefore their teaching and doing the like upon pretence of setting up of Christs Kingdom on earth is by parity of reason there being not better proof for the one than for the other damnable and Antichristian § 13. The smiting work of Quinto-Monarchians is grounded on falsities or uncertainties concerning the agents means and time of smiting mentioned Dan 2. 34. 44 45. HItherto I have prosecuted those arguments against the Quinto-Monarchians doctrine and practise which shew it to be damnable and Antichristian in respect of the act it self of smiting civil powers I shall add further more arguments against them shewing the falsity and uncertainty of those grounds and principles on which their determinations concerning separation from smiting of civil powers rest The first whereof is that afore the Fifth-Monarchy be set up and in order thereto afore Christs coming all civil powers that are now extant as part of the fourth Monarchy are to be disannulled Which hath no foundation but in their own fancy or hatred of the civil powers as withstanding their design For it is said Revel 17. 16 17. That the Kings which formerly supported Babylon shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will and to agree and give their Kingdom unto the Beast until the words of God be fulfilled and Revel 18. 9. It is said That the Kings of the earth who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her shall be wail her and lament for her when they shall see the smoke of her burning which shewes that Kings even those that have joyned with Babylon shall remain after her fall yea and some Kings shall be the instruments of her destruction And the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 24. tells us Then cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God even the Father when he shall have put down all Rule and all Authority and Power Which words plainly intimate that afore the end when Christ shall deliver up the Kingdom to God even the Father all Rule and Authority and Power shall not be put down Which may be also gathered from Revel 11. 15. where it is said And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great voices in Heaven saying the Kingdoms of the world are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever which is said v. 18. To be the time of the dead that they should be judged and therefore till that time there shall be the Kingdoms of this world and consequently civil powers A second is That civil powers are to be dissolved by men Whereas this is still asserted in Scripture as Gods prerogative that the most High ruleth in the Kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will Dan. 4. 25. 32. 34 35. and 5. 21. And even in the business of the fourth Monarchy the stone that is said to smite the image upon his feet is said to be cut out of the mountain without hands Dan. 2. 34. 45. which is more likely to be meant of Christ who was cut without hands out of the mountain that is without natural generation as other men whether by the Mountain be meant Eternity or Heaven or the Roman Empire or the Universe of human kind as I conceive then of any other man or men And if it be meant of the Kingdom as v. 44. doth expound it that it shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms it must be meant in respect of Christ the King whose dominion is set up by the God of Heaven and not by men and therefore take it any way agreeable to the Text the stones breaking in pieces and consuming all the Kingdoms must not be expounded of Subjects now calling themselves Saints destroying civil powers to which they are subject A third is That men shall dissolve civil powers by fighting with swords which is very false For the stone that smote the Image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth which if it be understood of Christs spiritual Kingdom it smote the Image by preaching the Gospel by which the power of the Idols who ruled in those Kingdoms was cast down and by it the stone became a great mountain and filled the whole earth if it be meant of smiting hereafter it is to be as 2 Thes. 2. 8. it is said that wicked one the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming or if it be meant of the Saints as Mr. Thomas Parker conceives they are thus cut out by professed separation and victorious exemption without hands that is by the only power and finger of Almighty God as it is interpretted Dan. 2. v. 44 45. Thus saith he in his Exposition of that Vision they began to be cut out anno 1160 in the Waldenses and continue so unto this day And the extraordinary hand of God was seen therein as the strange arising growth prevailing of them doth manifestly declare But their absolute cutting out an exemption from the power of Antichrist is that which is to be expected at the term of the slaughter of the two Prophets when their rising by the power alone of God Almighty without the help of man is thus described Revel 11. 11. And after three daies and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them and they stood upon their feet and great fear fell upon them that saw them they ascended up to Heaven in a Cloud and their enemies beheld them And the same hour was there a great Earth-quake and the tenth part of the City fell and in the Earth-quake were slain of men or names of men as in the Greek expounded by Mr. Mede men of name seven thousand presently after which it followes The Kingdoms of the world are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ. Now be the Earth-quake as Mr. Mede thinks a great commotion of the Nations and alteration of Politique Affairs or some thing else it is caused by Gods power either without man or only by the witnesses and their testimony and if the falling and slaughter thereby be in whole or in part the smiting of the Stone Dan. 2. 34. 44 45. as it is probable it is not by fighting sure not by such as overthrowes civil powers for they shall be altered and be instrumental to destroy Babylon Revel 17. 16 17. And therefore this which is the hinge on which the smiting work of Quinto-Monarchians turns being very uncertain or rather very false all their inferences thereupon must of necessity be groundless and unwarrantable A fourth is that the smiting work ascribed to the Stone shall be
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
the Prophets not to be of this world that is an earthly Kingdom but a heavenly which is opposed to that which is of this world John 8. 23. The same thing might be gathered from the speeches of Christ John Baptist and the Apostles in many places especially the parables of Christ which shew that by the Kingdom of God or of Heaven is meant that dominion Christ hath over his Church by his Word and Spirit which being the same with the Stone Dan. 2. 44. 45. it follows that it began in Christs daies on earth and that the smiting and filling the whole earth by the stone was effected by the preaching of the Gospel which prevails against the power of darkness and brings into the Kingdom of the Son of Gods love Col. 1. 13. which I say not to exclude the Kingdom of Christ by such external discipline or rule as is meant 1 Cor. 4. 20. when the Apostle saith For the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power but to shew what kind of Kingdom is meant Dan. 2. 44. 45. by the stone which I may truly say is become a stone of stumbling and rock of offence to the Quinto-Monarchians instead of the corner stâ—ne of the Kingdom of Christ on which they might be built to salvation 2. I add that Christ doth smite his enemies by the material sword and by war and that there is such an external dispensation of it in respect of which some passages which in the new Testament speak of the coming of his Kingdom in power are to be understood as when he miserably destroyed those wicked men which slew the Son of God and cast him out of the Vineyard which is expressed by the stones grinding to powder or dashing to pieces Matth. 21. 41. 44. which to be meant of the Jews and their destruction by the Romans appears from Luke 20. 16. 18 19. Matth. 21. 45. The like is to be said of Christs Kingdom in destroying the persecuting Emperors and Roman Empire by the sword of their own Soldiers and chiefly by Constantine the great his victories over Maxentius and Licinius to whose time that is applyed by Mr. Mede which we read Revel 12. 10 11. And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven now is come salvation and strength and the Kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ. And the like is to be conceived at the making the whore desolate Rev. 17. 16. it is not denied that this shall be by war but none of these wars were or are to be managed by Saints as Saints OF private persons subjects to other Lords The Saints overcame the Dragon Rev. 12. 11. not by war but by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death It is said Rev. 17. 14. that the ten Kings shall make war with the Lamb which is most likely to be meant of their persecuting the Lamb's followers unto the death and the Lamb shall overcome them for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and therefore hath all power in his hands of Angels and men to execute his purpose and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful as appears by their adhering to the Lamb unto the death Rev. 2. 10. by which they are Conquerors and are crowned no where are they said to overcome by fighting with the sword As for the rewarding double by Gods people to Babylon Rev. 18. 6. it is answered before Sect. 9. 3. The description made of the external dispensation of the Kingdom in peace may be allowed But then it will not agree to the thousand years reign mentioned Rev. 20. 6. For in that time there shall not be such a reign over the whole world as that there shall be no enemies nor sin if so how should Satan when he is loosed out of Prison at the expiration of the thousand years deceive the Nations which are in the four quarters of the earth Gog and Magog to gather them to battel the number of whom is as the sand of the Sea and they go up on the breadth of the earth and compass the Camp of the Saints about and the beloved City and then fire comes down from God out of Heaven and devours them Rev. 20. 7 8 9 Sure these things shew that in the thousand years reign the Kingdom of Christ shall not be so universal and entire but that in the four quarters of the earth the Indians in the East the Tarters in the North the Americans in the West and the Moors in the South shall remain a wicked people and at last be raised up by the Divel to destroy the people of God which it is likely shall have a reign on the earth a thousand years when the Jews shall be converted and the Turkish tyranny and Papal cruelty and delusions shall cease by such waies as divine providence shall order and then by divine vengeance from Heaven shall be destroyed But for the external dispensation of the Kingdom of God in peace as they describe it it can agree to no time but the universal resurrection and last judgment in which alone is nothing mortal no sin which follows after the thousand years reign and Gogs and Magogs destruction Rev. 20. 11 12 13 14 15. 3. The Quinto-Monarchians suppose That towards the end of the fourth Monarchy the stone that is Christ in the Gentile Saints shall smite the Iron legs toes of the Roman Empire then begin the fifth Monarchy which after the smiting of them the Saints shall take and so be universal Monarchs or have the universal Kingdom which shall stand for ever Now they are quite mistaken in the time and means of the stones smiting and the Saints taking the Kingdom For the smiting was to begin as Mr. Mede observes in his Discourse on Mark. 1. 14 15. In the daies of Christ on earth when the fourth Monarchy was at the heighth not in its declining For the stone that is the fifth Kingdom was begun in the daies of these Kings that is the last of them not after them and that our Saviour plainly declares when after that John was put in Prison he came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and saying the time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand Repent ye and believe the Gospel In which words our Saviour declaring the time to be fulfilled and the Kingdom of God to be approaching plainly shewes that then was the time of which Daniel said ch 2. 44. And in the daies of these Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed and the Kingdom shall not be left to other people it shall not have any successor but it shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever it shall be unshaken though the Earth and the Heavens be once more shaken Heb. 12. 26 27 28. And for
not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands neither would he have shewed us all these things nor would as at this time have told us such things as these Judges 13. 23. which shewes that the chief thing animating them to that bloody attempt was the opinion they had that their determinations were of God and that they were assured of help from him which was the very thing that Thomas Muncer and Hacket and such like unquiet spirits were of Satan incited by and ended in nothing but blasphemy of God and reproach of Religion 2. Their abuse of scriptures wrested by unstable and unlearned persons to their destruction arguing from obscure passages against plain precepts doth aggravate their evil acts it being no small evil to make the holy scriptures which are for humility meekness patience trust in God peaceableness an instrument to commotions disobedience to superiors shedding blood such like horrid wickedness So in the Banner despâ—ayed p. 19. Mal. 3. 3. Rev. 14. 4 5. are alledged to prove the Stone Dan. 2. 34 35. is Christ Jesus in the pure sanctified and refined Gentile Christians when the former speaks of the Sons of Levi and the other mentions the 144000. who it is likely are the same with 144000. Revel 7. 4. Sealed of all the Tribes of Israel and p. 59. the words of the Prophet Jerem. 51. 19 20 21 22 23. spoken either of Cyrus or the King of Babel are alleged to prove that the Lord hath elected and made choice of Zion his people to act in this work and service of smiting civil powers unto whom he saith thus thou art my Battle-Axe and Weapon of War So extremely are they deceived and deceive others 3. Which is the worse in them in that they urge their notions as matters of their faith when yet they use conjectural expressions p. 40. Probable conjecture p. 41. seems to favour p. 42. we do not ascertain or determin only suppose p. 44. This our opinion p. 48. we may probably conclude p. 55. humbly conceive about them and sometimes vent inconsistencies as that the stone is Christ and yet the Gentile Saints the Jewes excluded though they shall be the stone when made a Mountain with many more uncertainties about the stone the little Horn Dan. 7. and other things too tedious to be insisted on 4. To these we may add the uncharitable conceits of their Governors their Revilings of them their unquietness in separating from those that concur not with them their contention and ejection from their society such as do oppose them in their heady and violent practises all which shew that they are animated by the infernal spirit and not from above and in all likelihood have received their opinions and practises from Jesuites and Emissaries of Rome who have crept into societies of zealous Christians and sown their tares among them The Tenents about civil powers being too near of kin to one another § 15. The claim which Quinto-Monarchians make to Civil government on earth in the Saints afore Christs coming is false HAving shewed the sinfulness of smiting civil powers the vanity of the conceits about the Stone Dan. 2. 34 35. the falsity of the notions about the fifth-Monarchy I shall now examin their assertions about the Saints right to the Kingdom on earth before Christs coming about which are held many false and pernicious positions which I shall now discuss The first is that before cited by me sect 2. in these words The creature man was priviledged with being Lord over inferior creatures but not over his own kind for all men being alike priviledged by birth so all men were to enjoy the creatures alike without propriety one more than another Which position is manifestly false even concerning the state of nature uncorrupt For even then the man was the head of the woman as the Apostle asserts 1 Cor. 11. 3. and proves v. 8. 9. from the womans creation For the man is not of the woman but the woman of the man neither was the man created for the woman but the woman for the man which plainly proves a dominion and propriety of the man over and in the woman who is of his own kind and the contrary Doctrine would infer not only polygamy but also community of Wives which was the very Doctrine of the Nicolaitanes of which Christ saith in two Epistles Rev. 2. 6. 15. which thing I bate The same also may be said concerning Father and child even in nature uncorrupt if there had been any child born in that state they would not have been all alike priviledged by birth but the creature man was priviledged with being Lord over his own kind nor were all men to enjoy the creatures alike without propriety but one more than another the Father being priviledged by birth above his child so as to be Lord over his child and enjoy him with propriety and not another his child nor he anothers nor is it to be conceived but that in Goods Cattel and Fruits of the earth there would have been propriety in them so as that the Wife was to be at the Husbands disposing and allowance concerning them and the child at the Fathers 2. The second which is the Quinto-Monarchians opinion cited Sect. 2. is that all men as they are men have lost their rights and priviledges in respect of Government in the first Adam Which is false For 1. Our Lord Christ in the point of divorce doth determin that divorces allowed by the Jewes were not right because they agreed not with the law of marriage in the beginning Matth. 19. 4 5 6. which argument of our Lord rests on this proposition that what law was made in the beginning was in force still and consequently the right of Government which a Husband had above his Wife a Father above his Child continue still 2. If all rights and priviledges in respect of Government in the first Adam were lost then they are still lost to them that are not in Christ which if it were true all unbelievers would be usurpers But this is false For 1. the government of Husbands over Wives remains to infidels the Author to the Hebrewes ch 13. 4. tels us that marriage is honourable in all therefore in infidels If not then the Apostle 1 Cor. 7. 13. did not rightly determine that the woman which had a husband that believed not if he were pleased to dwell with her was not to put him away or leave him which supposeth that the right and power of a husband remained in him though an infidel for where the bond of marriage continues the right and priviledge in Government belonging to it still continues The same also is to be said concerning the right priviledge of a parent in respect of the child it remains as well to infidels as believers and also Masters over servants For even such as were evil or froward from whom they were likely to suffer yet the Apostle 1 Peter 3.
18 19. would have Christians to be subject to them for conscience towards God therefore they had a right of Government over them who were infidels even by Gods appointment Yea the Fifth-Monarchy-Men themselves in the Banner displayd p. 51. acknowledge that the powers of old Rome the a bloody persecutor were ordained of God Rom. 13. 1. and therefore even infidel powers have right and priviledge of Government by their own concession And indeed the Apostles determinations 1 Cor. 7. 17 18 20 21 22 24. are plain resolutions that the Christian calling doth neither make men free nor servants nor alter their civil relations but that the Christian is as he was neither better nor worse in that regard 2. If infidels were usurpers of Government then what ever sentence they past it was unjust though it were never so right in respect of the cause it being done by him that was no Judge whereas the scripture makes even the infidel powers Gods Ministers revengers or doers of right unto wrath unto him that doth evil Rom. 13. 4. 3. If they were usurpers then did Christ ill to bid to pay tribute to Caesar to acknowledge Pilates power given him from above John 19. 11. Paul to appeal to Caesar and to say he stood before Caesars judgment Seat where he ought to be judged Acts 25. 10 11. he should not have said I think my self happy King Agrippa because I shall answer for my self before thee this day Acts 26. 2. nor to Felix Acts 24. 10. Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a Judge unto this Nation I do the more chearfully answer for my self he should have declined his audience or sentence as being coram non judice or have termed him a man without any shew of reverence or respect as the Quakers are wont to do or have termed him Antichristian or Babylon as the Quinto-Monarchians do the civil powers now extant In a word no honour should be due to an unblieving Prince though St. Peter bids honour the King 1 Pet. 3. 17. and the arguments urged before Sect 3. should be evacuated 4. If all right and privledges in respect of Government in the first Adam were lost among infidels so as that all infidel judges were usurpers then among them Judges were not unjust though they did not right to the wronged because they had no power and so the Judge who feared not God nor regarded man had not been rightly termed by our Lord Christ an unjust Judge Luke 18. 6. for not avenging the Widdow Nor Pharoah or Abimelech justly punished for not restoring Abrams Wife nor any just War between the King of Sodom and other Kings nor had Ephron the Hittite any just possession of the Cave Abraham bought nor any just contract between Isaac and Abimelech nor did David justly defend Toi against Hadadezer nor is there any justice in contracts or comerce with infidels to be observed nor they capable of doing right or wrong if there be no just legislative power or power of judicatory among them but they bear the sword if not in vain yet unjustly and therefore are ill charged by St. Paul Rom. 1. 28. To be filled with all unrighteousness A third position which with inconsiderate men takes as being in shew agreeable with scripture and tending to Christs honour though as they mean and use it it is both false and pernicious is that Jesus Christ is the only lawful and true begotten Heir and lawful King and potentate of these three Nations and of all the Nations of the Earth and as he is the seed of Abraham shall possess the Earth Yea and the very gates of his enemies and that the sole legislative power of the Nations is and doth of right appertain and belong to him and shall be exercised by him Dan. 7. 27. Jerem. 10. 7. Isai. 9. 6 7. Gal. 3. 16. c. From whence it hath been usual with the men of this persuasion not only to style Christ King Jesus which is his right but also to disavow any other King but King Jesus as if the owning of any other as King in these Nations were indeed a renouncing Christ from being their King Now it is to be granted 1. That the Lord Jesus Christ not only as he is the Son of God but also as man is of right and is to be acknowledged the Prince of the Kings of the Earth Revel 1. 5. To whom all power in Heaven and Earth is given Matth. 28. 18. God hath made him Lord and Christ Acts 2. 36. He is Lord of all Acts 10. 36. Nor is it denyed that the texts quoted do belong to him or that he is the Heir of all the Nations of the Earth as he is the seed of Abraham to whom the promises were spoken Yet the words Daniel 7. 27. mention his Kingdom not till the judgment sit and they shall take away the Dominion of the little Horn to consume and to destroy it unto the end and therefore assert not the exercise of the Kingdom there meant as yet The words Jerem. 10. 7. are impertinently alledged concerning Christs being King of Nations as the seed of Abraham sich they are spoken only of the Divine nature in opposition to the Idols of the Nations The words Isai. 9. 6 7. foretold Christs Kingdom in the daies of his flesh which Christ himself saith was not of this world but such as belonged to him as the Child born of the increase of whose Government there should be no end The words Gal. 3. 16. are true of Christ personal but so also as that they have respect to all believers as Abrahams seed by faith v. 7. 29. and that they are not to be understood of a visible Monarchy acquired by fighting of which the Quinto-Monarchians dream but of the inheritance of the righteousness by faith which should be to all Nations v. 28. in which respect Abraham also is said to be the Heir of the world Rom. 4. 13. 2. It is not to be denied that all Kings ought to acknowledge Christ their superiour and themselves to be subordinate to him and that those who will not acknowledge the holding of their power Crownes and Scepters under this great Monarch and for him shall be deemed and adjudged by Christ as Traitors to him and proceeded against accordingly by him according to his Lawes and the threatning Luke 19. 27. But 1. this will be done by him in such way as he thinks good he hath not made any Saints on earth Judges over Kings whether they be Traitors to Christ or not nor allowed them to proceed against them nor hath he assigned any time wherein he will proceed against them afore the great day of judgment in which he will judge the Saints as well as Kings and will damn them that pretending themselves Saints shall take upon them Christs peculiar Office to judge their Kings and execute judgment that is outrage and murder on their Governours to whom Christ requires
swords Spiritual and Temporal therein lifting himself above all that is caled God or is worshipped 2 Thes. 2. 4. It is true that it is said Heb. 1. 2. God hath in these last dayes spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all things But this inheritance is either as he is the Son of God according to his divine nature or his inheritance at his exaltation into Heaven in that sense in which he is said to be made head over all things to or for the Church Ephes. 1. 22. which is to be understood in respect of that power over Angels and Men so far as concerns their Administation of all things for the welfare of his Church in neither of which are the Saints Heirs with him But in neither of these senses nor in any other sense or place of scripture is he said to be the Heir of the world so as that he should regain the rights and priviledges in respect of civil Government lost in Adam nor where Abraham is promised to be Heir of the world Rem 4. 13. is it meant in respect of the civil Government of the world but as the text shews that he should be Heir of the world that is the blessing of righteousness should be to Jewes and Gentiles throughout the world walking in the steps of his examplary faith whereby they become his seed 3. It asserteth that Saints regained the rights and priviledges in respect of Government in the second Adam or Lord from Heaven which is a false and a most arrogant presumptuous position For 1. If Christ have not regained it for them then they have not regained them in him But that Christ hath not regained it for them is already proved in overthrowing the second supposition therefore Saints have not regained in Christ the rights and priviledges in respect of Government civil 2. If Government civil were not lost in Adam then it is not regained in Christ but civil Government and natural were not lost in Adam as is before proved in this section therefore they were not regained in Christ. 3. If the rights and priviledges of civil Governments were not regained in Christ to the Apostles then they were not regained in Christ to any Saints For none had more regained for them by Christ than the Apostles nor any of the Saints excelled them if any can shew better charters or patents from Christ for such rights and priviledges then the Apostles let them shew them the holy scripture tells us that God hath set in the Church first Apostles 1 Cor. 13. 28. they are in the foundations Eph. 2. 20 Revel 21. 14. But that the Apostles had not the rights and priviledges in respect of civil Government on earth afore Christ's coming in the Clouds is proved before from Christs words Matth. 20. 25 26. from Rom. 13. 1. where every Soul even an Apostle saith Chrysostome is to be subject to the Higher Powers from St. Paul his acknowledgments and example of subjection from St. Peters precept and example Whence we account the Popes of Rome to have the forehead of and impudent Whore when they claim in St. Peters right the Universal Monarchy of the whole Church and superiority above Emperors and Kings and directly or indirectly in order to spirituals power to dispose of civil Governments to translate the Empire depose Princes give away Kingdoms command Emperors to make an expedition to the holy Land and many more things as if they were his right as successor to St. Peter to whom Christ promised the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven not of earth If this claim be justly as it is judged to be an Antichristian Babylonish usurpation it is by parity of reason More Antichristian and Babylonish for the Quinto-Monarchans to challenge the rights and priviledges in respect of Government to be gained to them under the name of Saints when they can shew no such donation from Christ or any act of acquisition whereby he obtained it for them or any conveyance of it to them or any Saints till Christs appearing The Apostles shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel but not till the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the Throne of his golory Matth. 19. 28. termed his Kingdom Luke 22. 30. The Saints shall Judge the world but not till the time come they shall Judge Angels 1 Cor. 6. 2 3. In the interim their condition is to be humbled under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt them in due time 1 Pet. 5. 6. James 4. 10. 4. If the portion of the Saints which is regained for them by Christ be in spiritual blessings in heavenly things and no where in temporal Dominion in this life then it is false that Saints regained the rights and priviledges in respect of Government in the second Adam or Lord from Heaven but the antecedent is true as appears by the many promises to them which assign spiritual blessings to them as their portion Where the Apostle Paul mentions the blessings given to the faithful in Christ Jesus he saith Ephes 1. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritural blessings in heavenly places or things in Christ and then recites them without mention of any earthly power or preferment In the new covenant set down Heb. 8. 10 11 12. Spiritual grace is promised but not earthly greatness and riches as in the old Where our Lord Christ Matth. 5. assignes blessedness to holy persons he placeth it in other things then the Kingdoms of this world He saith v. 5. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth but no where the Dominions of the earth The Apostle saith 1 Tim. 4. 8. Bodily exercise profiteth little or for a little time but godliness is profitable for all things or for every time having the promise of the life that now is and that which is to come But how to understand this our Saviour tells us Mark 10. 29 30. There is no man that hath left House or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother or Wife or Children or Lands for my sake and the Gospels but he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time Houses and Brethren and Sisters and Mothers which cannot be understood in the same kind but in that which is equivalent Children and Lands with persecutions and in the world to come eternal life We are Heirs with Christ but 't is If so be that we suffer with him that we may be glorified together Rom. 8. 17. Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the World or Life or Death or things present or things to come all are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3. 23 24. But all are not theirs to dispose them or to rule over them they cannot dispose of life or death things to come nor have rule over Paul or Cephas But God doth order and dispose them for their
benefit in the event as it is said Rom. 8. 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to purpose The Saints shall inherit all things but they must overcome first Revel 21. 7. By the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their Testimony not loving their lives unto the death Revel 12. 11. No where is there a promise of the rights and priviledges of civil Government to the Saints on earth 5. If the holy scripture makes it an ill character of a man and an accursed condition to have his treasure on earth his portion in this life his good things here to be his danger and an ill foreboding sign to be rich that the desire and care of these things intangle and insnare men choke the word of God that it becomes unfruitful then sure they have not regained the rights and priviledges in respect of Government in the second Adam But the former is true as is manifest in these Scriptures Matth. 6. 19 20 24 25. and 13. 22. Mark 10. 22 23 24. Psal. 17. 14. Luke 6. 24 25. and 16. 25. 1 Tim. 6. 9 10. therefore also the later and therefore we may more truly say that the men who make this claim do indeed unsaint themselves 6. If it be Gods design to have for the most part the holy Saints to be of the meanest sort then sure they have not regained the rights and priviledges in respect of civil government and possessions in this life But the former is true as appears by these Scriptures 1 Cor. 1. 26 27 28 29. You see your Calling Brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called But God hath chosen the foolish things of the World to confound the things that are mighty and base things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen and things which are not to bring to nought things which are that no flesh should glory in his presence Jam. 2. 5. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and Heirs of that Kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him Therefore the Saints regain not priviledges of government in this life If the Saints and Princes of this world are often distinguished then Saints as such have not regained the rights and priviledges in respect of government in this life But they are so distinguished 1 Cor. 2 6 8. Therefore the Consequent is right 8. If Saints receive that Kingdom which cannot be shaken then their interest is not in the Kingdoms of this world that come to nought 1 Cor. 2. 6. But the former is true Heb. 12. 28. Therefore also is the later 9. If Christ have made the Saints Kings and Priests to his Father not to men a royal Priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ then that which Christ hath effected for the Saints is not the gaining of the rights and priviledges in respect of civil government But the former is true Rev. 1. 6. and 5. 10. 1 Pet. 2. 5. 9. therefore also the later is true 10. If the Saints be exceeded in wisdom and power fit for civil government by the men of this world then sure Christ did not regain for them the rights and priviledges in respect of civil government in this world For sure if he had gained the end he would have provided and ordered the means as is done by him in respect of the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven or eternal life But the antecedent is true as appears by our Saviours words Luk. 16. 8. the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light and all experience in all ages which shews how few of them are fit for managing of civil government therefore the rights and priviledges in respect of civil government in this life are not provided for them 11. If the rights and priviledges in respect of civil government were gained for the Saints then doubtlesse Christ would have directed them in the way and means to have attained them but that he hath no where done but left all Nations to their own constitutions and waies of government therefore Christ hath not gained for the Saints the right to civil government 12. If the rights and priviledges in respect of civil government were gained by Christ for the Saints then they that are not Saints are not Governors of right then no King is rightly a King no Master rightly a Master no Husband rightly a Husband or Father rightly a Father or Tutor rightly a Tutor but a Saint But this is false as hath been shewed abundantly before the Scripture acknowledging yea the Quinto-Monarchians themselves acknowledging even the powers that were the Emperors of Rome though bloudy Persecutors of the Saints the Ordinance of God therefore Government civil is not the Saints right and priviledge 13. If the Saints had regained by Christ the rights and priviledges in respect of Government then they had right to require Tribute and service of men and consequently what they impose is due to them and then they should not be guilty of unrighteousness theft purloining though they took from infidel masters or other unbelievers But the Scriptures make believers or Saints culpable for extortion theft purloining covetousness defrauding as well as others 1 Cor. 5. 11. Ephes. 4. 28. 1 Thes. 4. 6. 2 Thes. 3. 6. 10. 12 Tit. 2. 10. therefore they have not the rights and priviledges in respect of Government 14. If the Saints have regained the priviledges and rights in respect of civil government in Christ then either as Saints or under some other consideration if under some other consideration then it is not by reason of their sanctity or their interest in Christ if as Saints then all Saints have these rights of Government and if so a child that is a Saint a Wife a Servant over an infidel Father Husband Master which would invert all order and make voyd all the precepts of obeying Parents Ephes. 6. 1. submitting to Husbands Eph. 5. 22. obedience to Masters Eph. 6. 5. all which are grosly absurd making void the commandments of God for human traditions 15. If the Saints have the rights and priviledges in respect of government regained in Christ then either Saints by profession or real only not the former for such are hypocrites children of Hell more than others and therefore Christ hath purchased nothing for them by his death or intercession not the later for then rights and priviledges in respect of government should be a nemo scit a thing which no man can judge of but he who can search the heart and try the reigns but rights and priviledges in respect of Government are things necessary to be known that we may know to whom we are bound to be subject to pay tribute to address our selves to for justice and other ends and uses of Empire 16.
of them who delivered themselves from exile by voluntary embracing of the allowance of Cyrus and other Persian Kings Their claim also of the Kingdom and power in these Nations as the Saints birthright as freemen of the Common-wealth of Israel and heirs of the whole world with Christ Gal. 3. 29. is alike ridiculous For they are no otherwise freemen of the Common-wealth of Israel than in a Metaphor taking the Church of God for the Israel of God and Church members freemen of the Common-wealth But this belongs to every Christian at least who is really such in the whole world and then if freedom should infer soveraignty they should be Kings because freemen which is a meer non sequitur Gal. 3. 29. speaks not of the inheritance of the whole world but of the promise which is of the spirit v. 14. not of the dominion of the whole world The rest of their arguings are like these as will appear in that which follows § 16. The Reasons and Arguments of Fifth-Monarchy Men for their separation and smiting civil powers are shewed to be vain IT remains now that I consider what I meet with in the writings I have seen for the Quinto-Monarchians separation from and smiting civil powers and acting in the behalf of the Fifth-Monarchy or visible Kingdom of Christ on earth as they term it and the Saints taking it into their possession The reasons of their separation and engaging against all civil powers are in the Banner of truth displayed p. 84 85 86 87 88. Whereof the first is this Because the Fifth Kingdom which is Jesus Christ's and the Saints together with the Lawes and Ordinances thereof is to take place of the Roman Kingdom which is the Kingdom of the Beast and Antichrist with destruction thereto together with all the Lawes and Ordinances thereof Dan. 2. 44. ch 7. 18. 26 27. Isa. 2. 3. 1 Cor. 6. 2. Heb. 12. 28. Answ This is granted and it is in part fulfilled by the setting up of Christs Kingdom by preaching the Gospel and is yet to be fulfilled at Christs appearing of the former of which Dan. 2. 44. Isai. 2. 3. Heb. 12. 28. are meant of the later Daniel 7. 18. 26 27. 1 Cor. 6. 2. None of the texts term civil powers in England the Kingdom of the Beast and Antichrist or the Roman Kingdom nor prove the Fifth Kingdom is to be set up by separation from civil powers or engaging against them which were to be proved and therefore if that which is said to be an undeniable truth among the Saints yet sith those Saints are not infallible and other Saints perhaps doubt of it as judicious as themselves it should have been proved and also their inference thence cleared unless they had been resolved to deceive or remain deceived 2. Because the civil power is that which doth oppose the righteous Kingdom of Jesus Christ not only deteining his right interest title and birthright of inheritance from him as much as in them lies which is as great an evil as if they should effectually accomplish their wicked design but also do make War against the Lamb Christ Jesus and the Saints his followers Rev. 17. 14. Psal. 2. 1 2 3. Are we the friends and subjects of Jesus Christ Why then are we found the friends and subjects of men How can this be Can we serve Christ and Belial Let Saints therefore be convinced of this namely that the civil powers are Christs enemies it is they that labour to prevent the rise and breaking forth of that Kingdom and neer unto the time of its firm establishment their combination will be very high great I saw the Beast which all grant to be the civil or at leastwise the civil and Ecclesiastcal power and the Kings of the earth and their Armies gathered together to make War against him that Sate on the Horse and against his Army Rev. 19. 19. If so then it consequently follows that 't is the Saints great duty to withdraw from this Beast the Kings of the earth their Armies strength and power neither are they upon pain of his highness great displeasure to maintain or help and abet or assist any such Armies or powers who are raised or continued to make War against him lest they be found Traitors secretly assisting his enemies and so fighters against his glory power Crown and Scepter Answer This is a very deep charge but so confused and in Generals that it serves the more fitly to hide the deceit of the accusers it being true Dolus versatur in generalibus their 's guile in accusations which are only in Generals tending to make any suspected or accused against whom they have a prejudice and the more defficult for the accused to defend himself If it be meant of the Popish Prelates and Princes or Mahometan or Pagan it is not denied if it be meant of the Protestant civil and Ecclesiastical powers it should be shewed which of them and in what facts they do those things here charged on them Perhaps they that are accused are not guilty or if they be guilty yet not of such facts as amount to what is here imputed to them Sure every injurious act to a Saint makes not the power an enemie to Christ nor every unrighteous Law or Act which may hinder the progress of Christs Kingdom doth so oppose the righteous Kingdom of Christ as to be construed not only the deteining of his right interest title and birth-right of inheritance from him but also making War against the Lamb Christ Jesus and the Saints his followers much less to be taken for an opposition to Christs Kingdom as much as in them lies and as great an evil as if they should accomplish their wicked design Possibly this opposition which they accuse powers of is nothing else but an opposition to the wild and frantick actings of Fifth-Monarchy Men which if so they rather are to be said to further the righteous Kingdom of Christ than oppose it and the Fifth-Monarchy Men be more truly chargeable with the making War against the Lamb Christ Jesus and the Saints his followers Possibly the Quinto-Monarchians do charge powers with these things only out of uncertain rumors and reports yea perhaps only out of prejudice which is too too frequent though it be but a Divelish practice in many that are reputed Saints Surely these consulters in a secret conventicle where the powers cannot be heard speak for themselves are not competent accusers to arraign and Judges too to condemn their superiors if I may not be allowed to call them their betters This is indeed an intolerable and damnable presumption both to God and Man Nor is there any thing in the texts that is for their purpose the former Revel 17. 14. being meant only of those Kings who received power as Kings one hour with the Beast and give their power and strength to the Beast which sure cannot be meant of the Protestant Princes or Prelates or Powers it being
Dominion is meant of the Saints For 1. it may be read as Junius reads it impersonally auferetur it shall be taken away not they shall take away 2. Nor is it likely that this should be attributed to the Gentile or Jewish Saints 1. Because it is an act beyond the power of Saints to take away the Dominion to consume and to destroy it to the end it being the same with the slaying of the Beast the destroying of his body and giving it to the burning flame v. 11 which is to be conceived to be done by the fiery stream which issued and came forth from before the Ancient of daies v. 10. and therefore by the immediate hand of God or his mighty Angels And in all likelihood it is then when he shall put down all Rule and all Authority and Power 1 Cor. 15. 24. which is made the act of God the Father v. 28. 2. This is confirmed because it is said But the judgment shall sit and they shall take his dominion away Now the sitting of the judgment was when the books were opened the thrones were cast down and the Ancient of daies did sit v. 9 10. which the comparing it with Revel 20. 12. doth evince to be at the last Judgment 3. This is also further proved in that the dominion given to the Son of Man after the destruction of the fourth Beast is said to be v. 13. 14. when one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of Heaven and came to the Ancient of daies and they brought him near before him which is to be understood as Mr. Mede proves in his Answer to Mr. Hayne and then the taking away shall be by Christ of the time when he shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire 2 Thess. 1. 7 8. and shall consume the wicked one with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy him with the brightness of his coming 2 Thess. 2. 8. which is a work beyond the power of Saints with bodily weapons or any might of theirs to effect 4. Where it is said Dan. 7. 27. that the people of the Saints of the most high shall have the Kingdom it is said it shall be given them not they shall acquire it or take it by their forcible or any other acting And therefore it is a most vain conceit that this thing is to be done by the Saints endeavour or that they are to fulfil the word of God or to imagine the word of God could not be fulfilled without them or they could be instrumental in this great work or that their act of separation from civil powers were necessary to it or it or their smiting work did render them in any measure ready for that which follows There are other uncertainties concerning the Saints whether they be not peculiarly the Jewish people or the Kingdom taken the spiritual Kingdom of Christ which the Hebrew Christians received Heb. 12. 28. of which I have spoken somwhat before and now omit that which I have said being sufficient to shew the futility of this fourth Reason 5. Their fifth Reason is as vain as the former yet because it is the Engine whereby perhaps well-meaning and tender consciences are frighted or drawn into their way it is necessary to be considered Because say they there are dreadful judgements pronounced in particular against those that shall be found owning submitting unto and supporting of the Civil Power in the daies of the Lords more glorious manifestation of himself and when he gives notice warning to all of those judgments which then he is about to bring upon his enemies by his Instrument proclaims the overthrow and down-fall of Babylon Rev. 14. 6 7 8 9 10. If any man worship the Beast and his Image and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God c. and shall be tormented with fire and brimstone which is the plague and pains of Hell Now we apprehend that this Scripture will be fulfilled upon those who shall be found worshippers of the Beast c. in the last ages of the world and not long before our King begin to take the power For mark it upon the rise of the first Beast Rev. 13. 1 2. with seven heads and ten horns ten Crowns c. all the world wondred after the Beast v. 3. or as in v. 8. all that dwell upon the earth whose names are not written in the Lambs book of life worship the Dragon and the Beast v. 4. Hitherto there 's no mention of Image and Mark but upon the rise of the second beast that comes out of the earth and has two horns like a Lamb c. v. 11. the case is changed and grows more difficult and dangerous for he doth not only v. 12. cause the earthlings to worship the first beast but in processe of time after he hath deceived them by his great wonders and miracles he makes them that dwell on the earth make an Image to the first Beast into which he infuses life and causes all that will not worship that Image to be killed proceeding further also he causes all small and great rich and poor free and bond to receive a mark in their right hand or forehead and no man is permitted to buy or sell save he that has the mark or the name of the Beast or the number of his name v. 13 14 15 16. Now by this time we are come somewhat near the end of his reign and the beginning of Christs Kingdom Now then we observe from hence 1. That the image mark name and number of the Beast are of a later date than the first Beast and his ten horns and so consequently men in former ages and generations might have worshipped the beast and yet not his Image nor receive his mark c. 2. By how much the nearer his end is by so much the more dangerous it is to worship him c. 3. That those who in the last daies near unto Christs coming shall have all these marks denotations and characters found upon them that is to say those that worship the beasts and mark the emphasis of the words his Image and receive his mark in his forehead or right hand shall drink the wine of Gods wrath and shall be tormented with fire and brimstone so that we conceive 't is the duty of Saints to consider these things and to separate from the beast his image mark number c. and to have no relation affection subjection to the beast and civil power or any of its appertainers though they lose their lives for it And then adds encouragements to adventure the losse of life rather than incur the danger of Gods wrath with assurance of glory to such as in doing that which they make the Saints duty lose their lives which is a device too like that of the Jesuites when they animate their Assassins to Regicide by promise
Champney the validity of their succession by the ancient Canons which the Papists allow nor are the Ministers ordained by the Bishops Priests to offer sacrifice for the quick and dead as Popish Priests nor hath the Common prayer Book the Sacrifice properly so called the adoration of the host invocation of Saints and other rites which make the Masse abominable nor is the Church of England made national as subject to the Pope or communicating with the Roman Church in the Trent doctrine and therefore are not chargeable with the Antichristian forms Church state and worship of Babylon nor the civil powers which require conformity thereto to be judged to compel mens persons to Antichristianism But perhaps we shall find Mr. Tillinghast arguing to better purpose That which I meet with as tending to the justifying of the Quinto-Monarchians way is in the 3. of the 8. sermons published since his death p. 57. of the 3. edition in which he tels his auditors that he did conceive it to be one great article of his and their faith that the work that God doth call his Children to at this day and he calls upon them from Heaven to attend to had been the work of Christs visible Kingdom over the world which he takes for granted nor in that do I at present oppose him though I do not assert such a visible Kingdom as he believes nor do I gainsay his distinction p. 59. Of two parts of Christs Kingdom one of the Stone the other of the Mountain used before by Mr. Mede but deny that in the Kingdom of the Stone the Saints are imployed in a glorious work for Christ to pluck down all that Jesus Christ when he comes may have his enemies his footstool and that the command is beat your Plow-shares into Swords intimating that in the time of this Kingdom there shall be wonderful use of Swords Weapons of War p. 60. But that which I oppose is his speech p. 63. And though this Stone Dan. 2. 34. fundamentally is Christ himself yet considered as smiting the great Image it can be no other but Christ mystical in his members and the cutting out of this Stone cannot be meant as some would have it of Christs first coming for these reasons first because the Kingdom of the Stone it doth arise in the dayes of the ten Antichristian Kings And in the dayes of these Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom What Kings are these These Kings are not the Four Monarchies for the Kingdom of God was not set up in the time of those Monarchies but in the fourth and last only and here is spoken of Kings in the plural Number those Kings therefore are the ten Antichristian Kings which are set forth by ten toes where the work begins and the first stroak is struck and are called the ten Horns in another place and in Dan. 7. Those ten Horns are interpreted ten Kings and in the time of those Kings the Stone is cut out they are the ten Antichristian Kings and if so the Stone cannot be so early cut out as the birth of Christ for that was long before the ten Antichristian Kings had being or existence in the world therefore the Kingdom of the stone must be cut out later Answ These Kings cannot be meant of any other than the Kings and Kingdoms which the Kingdom of the Stone shall break in pieces which are v. 45. the Iron the Brass the Clay the Silver and the Gold and not the toes only and therefore must be meant of the four Monarchies and not only of the ten Antichristian Kings And in the days must be understood Synecdochically one of them as when Jephthab is said Judg. 12. to be buried in the Cities of Gilead that is in one of them Jonah was gon down into the sides of the Ship Jonah 1. 5. that is one of the sides and of which Mr. Mede in his answer to Mr. Hayn hath given more instances and proved it to be meant of the last of those Kings which he determines to be the Roman against Mr. Haynes holding it to be the Kings of Alexanders Successors and that it must needs be referred to Christs incarnation or preaching which he shewes in his exercitation on Mark 1. 15. to have been by Christ himself signifyed when he said the time is fulfilled that is the time foretold Dan. 2. 44. And the Kingdom of God is at hand which the God of Heaven will set up The plural Number notes not the ten Horns for these Kings can be meant of no other than the four Monarchies or Kings which are mentioned in the plural Number not because the Kingdom was set up in all their dayes but in the dayes of the last into which the power of the rest came and by smiting of it they were all broken to pieces Secondly Saith he Because Daniel doth not see the Stone to smite until such time as he had a view and representation of the great Image in all the parts of it before him He saw it all come forth and exist in its state before the Stone smites therefore I conclude that the cutting out of the Stone was not until every part of it was come forth and was in being in the world But if so be we conceive the cutting out of the Stone to be as high as Christs coming then was the Stone cut out long before the last part of the great Image the Iron and the Clay was in being and if the Stone was cut out so long before then did the Stone lye still and not do its work for many hundred years for the very first stroke the Stone strikes is upon the feet of Iron and Clay which it could not do before they were in being Answ If the argument be good from the seeing together of all the parts of the Image to the coexistence of the things represented then all the four Monarchies should exist together because they were represented and viewed together which is absurd 'T is true the Stone was not cut out till all the Monarchies were in being yet it was cut out afore every state of the last Monarchy was in being The Stone is said to smite the Image in the feet not because it began not to smite till the last state and period of the fourth-Monarchy But because the former Monarchies were brought under the power of the fourth and rested upon the fourth as the head and other parts of the body do upon the feet and so by smiting it the Whore is cast down If this reason were good Christs Kingdom should not begin till every part or state of the fourth-Monarchy were existent and then the Saints should not begin to smite till the existence of the last of the ten Kings which is unknown to them and then he could not conclude it must be the work of this generation Thirdly saith he because Daniels smiting stone that he speaks of in the 2. ch and his Ancient of daies siting that
he speaks of in the 7. ch they must of necessity be one and the same they are contemporary for they do one and the same work the very work that is done by the one is done by the other The stone smites the toes of the fourth Monarchy and Daniels Ancient of daies sitting casts down the Thrones and Judges and destroys the fourth Beast here 's one and the same work therefore they are one and the same time the time of the cutting out of the stone is the same with the time of the sitting of the Ancient of daies Now if they are the same in time the stone cannot be cut out so high as Christs first coming for the Ancient of daies sitting it's clear it is not till the ending time of the fourth Monarchy then comes the Ancient of daies and sits in judgment and casts down and destroys the beast and not before therefore the cutting out of the stone cannot be the first time but at the close of the fourth Monarchy Answ. The casting down of the Thrones is not the putting down of the Thrones of the ten Kings but in allusion to the manner of settling or placing seats for the Sanhedrin to sit on it is said the Thrones were set as it is observed by Mr. Mede Comment on Reâ— 20. and the Ancient of daies did sit or v. 26. But the Judgment shall sit which is the same with Rev. 20. 4. And I saw Thrones and they sat upon them and judgment was given unto them Now the time of the sitting Dan. 7. 9. is the time when one like the Son of man came with the clouds of Heaven and came to the Ancient of days and they brought him near before him And there was given him dominion and glory and a Kingdom that all people nations and languages should serve him which to be referred to the time of Christs second coming when all rule and authority power shall be put down and every knee shall bow to him is intimated by our Lord Christ himself allusively to this of Daniel expressing his second coming by the coming in a cloud Luke 21. 24. in the clouds of Heaven Matth. 26. 64. If then the stone be not cut out till then it will not be cut out till Christs second coming and so no smiting work till then which is absurd and contrary to this Authors own tenet But neither is it true that the Ancient of days sitting and the stones smiting do one and the same work if by the same work be meant the same numerical action the Agents being not the same the sitting is of the Ancient of daies who is not the same with the stone but he that cuts out the stone or the God that sets up the Kingdom If it be meant of the same work that is the same event fact or accomplishment then there 's no necessity that they should be contemporary that is in the same age as the building of the Temple was the same work yet not the time of laying the foundation and finishing it the same the raising up the fourth Monarchy was the same work yet not the several governments of it contemporary and in like manner the demolishing of it is the same work yet part of it to be done by Christ at his first coming and part at his second and so the cutting out of the stone may be at his first coming and the sitting of the Ancient of daies at his second and it 's not necessary that the Fifth-Monarchy should begin at the later end of the Fourth Monarchy or the smiting work be the overturning the Thrones of the Kings to be performed by the Saints as chief instruments in the management thereof nor doth it follow of necessity there must be such a thing as the civil and military power to be in the hands of the Saints and that before the day of Christs appearance for the performance of that work which is the thing he contends for and endeavours to prove by these eight reasons First Because the work of breaking the great Image is done by the stone cut out of the Mountain it 's not done by mountains considered as mountains it 's not done by Nations considered as Nations Kingdoms considered as Kingdoms for then it would be done by the Mountain but it 's done by a stone cut out of the mountain by a people pickt out by God himself out of the Nations and Kingdoms of this world formed and united together by God himself which shall fall upon the great Image and break it to pieces i'ts these that do this work and further it 's cut out without hands Dan. 2. 34. 45. that is without worldly powers but more immediately by God without the hands of men It s clear it shall be by the Saints as chief principal and leading instruments because they are called the stone in relation to the Lord Jesus Christ called a stone of whose nature and image the Saints are partakers not so the Nations between whom and Christ there 's no agreement Answ. This reason proves not the Saints to be meant by the Stone nor that they are to break the Image but the contrary For they are not cut out withâ—ut hands but are begotten by men in the ordinary way of generation nor if this Authors way should be meant of smiting the Image by civil or military power should they break the Image without hands but with hands not is there a word in the Text that shews the Saints to be meant by the Stone much lesse the Saints of the later times of the fourth Monarchy or of this Nation or that it excludes Kings who may be Saints and Christs instruments to break the Image for they may be Saints and if not instruments of Christ as Cyrus was to break the Babyloman Monarchy and to restore the Jews and therefore there is no consequence in this reasoning which is out of figurative expressions to proper though the thing be not interpreted so but only imagined by this Arguer without any cogent reason It 's done by a stone cut out of the mountain therefore by a people pickt out by God out of the Nations for neither doth the Text expound mountain by the Nations and Kingdoms of this world nor by the Stone a people pickt out but the stone may be meant of Christ personal or his Kingdom as the text explains it and he be cut out that is formed without hands in his Mothers womb as when David said he was curiously wrought in the lower parts of the earth Psal. 139. 15. and the Kingdom cut out of the Mountain that is set up among men without hands by the God of Heaven by the preaching of the Gospel and by the power of his spirit Zech. 4. 6. The 2. reason from Dan 7. 21 22 25 26 27 is the same with the 4. in the Banner displayed and is fully answered before in this section The 3. reason is That Generation of men shall destroy the
Kingdom of the Beast in the time when his Kingdom is to be destroyed that did bear witness against the Beast for Christ all the time his Kingdom stood This is grounded upon Revel 11. Which tels us that the witnesses for 1260 dayes prophefied in the end of this time they are kil'd by the Beast they rise up again and rising up they knock the Beast down for immediately thereupon the tenth part of the City fell and there was a great Earth-quake there were slain of men seven thousand and great fear fell upon all the rest and they gave glory to the God of Heaven this is not done by worldly powers but the witnesses therefore they that have born witness against the Beast shall give the deadly blow to the Beast Answ. If this reason were good it should be done by the Saints that have been not by those that shall be by them risen again not to be born hereafter by them that have born witness all the time the Beasts Kingdom stood not by them that only stand up near the time of the end it shall be done by supernatural or prophetical power not by civil and military which this author contends for In a word in all this there is nothing but uncertainty concerning these witnesses who they are whether already existent or future the Beast meant the time of their prophesying and the event and the manner and means of its accomplishing and therefore this proof is ignoti per ignotius of a thing unknown by that which is more unknown which is vain Fourthly saith he The Angel that enlightens the earth with the glory of the truth of the Lord that is that Angel or instrument that shall ruin Babylon Rev. 18. 1. But the earth hath not been enlightened with the glory of God by the generation of the world but the world hath been enlightened by the generation of the faithful that God hath revealed his truth to and this Angel that enlighteneth the earth with the glory of God gives the deadly blow unto the Beast there where light comes forth God will carry on the work by those hands Answ. The Angel is another Angel therefore not the generation of the faithful coming down from Heaven therefore not a man having great power therefore not using humane Weapons enlightens the earth with his glory it is not said with the truth or glory of God nor enlightening men by revealing Gods truth to them nor that he gives the deadly blow to the Beast but only that he cried mightily with a strong voyce saying Babylon is fallen therefore this proves not that a company of private Saints in the ending time of the Fourth-Monarchy shall destroy it by a military or civil power yea if where light comes forth God will carry on the work by those hands all the preachers of the truth shall be instrumental to the ruin of Babylon and that by preaching not a company of private Saints by fighting The fifth reason from Revel 18. 6. is fully answered before sect 9. The 6. is The work of God against Rome shall be so mannaged as there may be singing of Hallelujabs in the Churches for the carrying it on this is clear from Revel 19. 1. But now if this should be done only by the clattering of a company of Nations falling upon the Beast and ruining him what singing would there be in the Churches for this What would there be more in this then in the work of Cyrus destroying Babylon or in Alexanders destroying the Medes and Persians Monarchy or in the Romans destroying the Grecians Monarchy For that was a part of Gods decree as well as this what should the people therefore now sing Hallelujahs more for more than in those times But because of the difference of the instruments things done in a more holy sanctified way to a more pure end and there shall be more of the Image of God appear upon those that shall do this work now and therefore they shall sing Hallelujahs otherwise the work did not go beyond the work that had been done before Answ. When the work of destroying Babylon was done by Cyrus there was singing of Hallelujahs as was foretold Jerem. 51. 1. and that because it was the work of God who ever were the instruments And indeed that is the reason expresly given Revel 19. 1 2. not this which is here imagined contrary to the express text Revel 17. 16 17. yea it is more joyous to the Saints and more redounds to Gods glory that he ruines Babylon by those that did support her as that by death procured by Satan God destroyed him that had the power of death And this was Gods way in destroying the former Monarchies and therefore is more likely to be his way in destroying this not a work by other meanes then the former though exceeding or going beyond it in the conspicuity of it and consequents of it and therefore occasioning more praise to God and not for the holiness of the instruments which the text mentions not Seventhly saith he The Kingdom of the stone when it comes to smite Rome then shall be in it a resemblance as it were of the reign of Christ and the glory of the Kingdom of the Mountain therefore it is said in v. 6. For the Lord God omnipotent raigneth which could not be said if the work were done by a company of carnal Nations and yet this is before the end before Christs coming for after this appearance we have the Bride making her self ready and the Kings of the earth come together to destroy the Bride preparing for her Husband and then you have Christ coming forth in his fury destroying his enemies and rescuing his Bride But before that day there shall be such a glorious appearance in the world and such power in the hands of the people of God that it shall be said when men look upon it The Lord God omnipotent raigneth the Lord Jesus Christ who is King of the world and King of Saints raigneth therefore it shall be done by Saints as leading instruments Answ. Such an acclamation is usual upon any glorious work of God as Exod. 15. 18. and in the Psalms often and therefore it is but a vain conceit as if that speech could not be used unlesse the Saints were leading instruments In this book of the Revelation we have acclamations where no act is expressed of the Saints as Rev. 4. 8 9 11. and 5. 9 10 12 13. and 7. 12. and 11. 15 17. and 12 10. and 15. 3 4. and 16. 5 7. 'T is granted that before Christs coming upon the ruin of Babylon there will be occasion of the acclamation Rev. 19. 6. but not because private Saints shall destroy Babylon by their smiting work but because Gods power and might is thereby manifested and the dominion of God will be thereby promoted Eighthly saith he Look through the old and new Testament where ever we have a description of the persons that shall do the