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
hatred as we see and find a Remnant do at this day p. 55. The Lord will use and engage his people to act in and perform such a destroying work upon the world as this work of the stone is namely the total commotion and dissolution of the old Heavens and old Earth and all the created powers ruling therein because it is the decree determination promise and appointment of the Father p. 56. The Lord by these figurative expressions holds forth the dissolution of all old things formal Antichristian Church-state Ordinances Worship Discipline and Doctrine all beast-like wordly Governments Institutions Laws politick Constitutions Powers c. In a word the Heavens and the Earth of all the Nations Isai. 5. 30. p. 57. So that Jesus Christ will admit of no competitors but will have the sole legislative power and exercise of the chief Magistracy and be Lord Paramount over the whole Earth and therefore God is engaged to appear with his smiting Stone to make way for this glorious Mountain of peace p. 59. That all the blood of Gods people is found in Babylon For they i. e. her Civil powers Revel 16. 6 7. have shed the blood of the Saints and Prophets Revel 17. 6. ch 18. 24. 19. 1. Jer. 50. 14. now therefore God by way of recompence retaliation hath ordained that the Saints shall be his instruments by which he will execute his vengeance upon the powers of the World who are all of them Murtherers accordingly God commands his people 't is their duty to obey to reward Babylon double as she rewarded them Revel 18. 6. and they shall give her blood to drink p. 62. The call which the stone shall have to act in its smiting work is for the greatest part thereof now pertinent and fitly applicable to a faithful remnant now extant in England and fulfilled in and upon them and also seeing that the signes laid down in the word of God for the time of the end are in a grâ—at measure now fulfilled and accomplished in Englands Remnant therefore we conclude and assert that 't is lawful and warrantable and is a duty incumbent for captivated Sion and oppressed Saints to stand up in Gods name and fear and deliver themselves and that glorious Gospel of the Kingdom now by them declared to the world from persecution oppression and that long Captivity and Bondage which she hath remained in and to break the Yoak of the oppressor which is now upon her Neck according to the word commandment of the Lord. Zach. 2. 7. Isai. 52. 2. We are perswaded that the work of the Stone is the present work of this generation and our present work and do accordingly exhort the Saints to arise to fall upon the enemy p. 63. The Saints in order to this smiting work shall be converted from all the Civil power and Rule of Antichrist and the ten Horned Beast upon which the mystery harlot sitteth p. 65. That it is their duty to withdraw their Hands Hearts Affections Purses and prayers from the Civil power or power of the Beast that they shall quit all their interest and claim in and to the old Heavens and Earth and state of things shall forsake Father Mother c. And shall convert Houses Lands Possessions and Enjoyments commanded to be prudently beat into Swords and Spears into one common stock to be consecrated for the management of this great Affair p. 66. And in such a practise they shall be no loosers Christ will give them an hundred fold even the spoile of all their great and rich Enemies who are his opposers and in the end an eternal Crown The Saints are with Moses to refuse Court Honour and favor and preferment Egyptians wisdom Learning Revenues and great Riches with David to leave their common duties as matters of small value and little concernment in comparison of this noble and worthy imployment to fight against the Philistines so are the Civil powers or common Enemy to the Common-wealth of Israel p. 71 We do profess we cannot be content or satisfied until Christs Kingdom flourish but will in Gods name and strength press forward till we come to the mark which is the state of the true rest so we call that Kingdom and power where the Saints shall cease from all their labours in and with Christ. p. 69. Doth not the Lord call the Saints to arise also unto the prey p. 71. The work of God against Nations Provinces Universities Corporations Cities Townes Kings Rulers chief Captains mighty Men in Church and Common-wealth Enemies of Christ's Kingly Office shall be the lesson of faithful Saints the true way will be discovered and made plain all Rebels and Traitors open and prophane more close pretenders and formally Godly discovered hatred in and among his Saints against those several parts forms powers of Babylon doleful howling and mourning among the Merchants of Babylon who are the great and rich men whose hearts dwell on the Earth p. 75. The Saints must separate not only from the Romish Universal National Provincial and Diocesan Church-state of Babylon and Antichrist together with their Discipline Doctrine Worship and Ceremonies But also and more particularly which is most properly a work precedent to be done by the Saints in order to the smiting work of the Stone from the national and parochial Parish Church State and assemblies forms and classes of this and other Antichristian Nations which we call the Politick and no more than Civil Stratagem and cunning invention of Antichrist to divide unto himself the whole Land for gain whereby all men to the lowest ranck are compelled forcibly to contribute to the maintenance of his false Prophet and so wickedness is established by a Law Again further from those Churches that are select more pure as being seemingly refined which are the gathered in a pastoral way reducing things to primitive practise so far as they are corrupted and adulterated and found opposers of the Kingly Office of Jesus Christ in and over the whole world and more especial in the Administration of this part or dispensation of that Kingdom to wit that of the Stone or War against his Enemies for even in this generation there be a sort of people and those we hope godly that do acknowledge and wait in the expectation of the later yea and hold forth the personal appearance of our Lord as King yet nevertheless oppose and deny and quite leap over this Stone and its work thereby endeavouring to render the Saints useless and uncapable of destroying Babylon which must make â—way and without which we cannot attain to the peaceable and more glorious Administration of this Kingdom by removing those Mountains Hils and powers of darkness which do oppose and hinder it p. 76. And from those humane heathenish and Antichristian wayes means and helps for the attainment whereof men study which they practise in the Schools and Universities of these Nations as things necessary for the Fitting Preparing
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
Judges And yet the evils we have seen are small in comparison of what the Jewes felt by the factions there when Jerusalem was besieged by Titus But the evils which would come on the world by the insurrection of the Quinto-Monarchians if their project did take place would far exceed them their design being an universal destruction of them that oppose them in all the world and when the conscience is perverted there being no stay to mens furious zeal If any say that they would only smite oppressors of the Saints I reply by their own rules they are bound to separate from those Churches which are select and more pure as being seemingly refined which are the gathered in pastoral way reducing things to primitive practise so far as they are corrupted and adulterated and found opposers of the Kingly office of Jesus Christ in and over the whole world and more especial in the administration of this part or dispensation of that Kingdom to wit that of the Stone or War against his enimies for even in this generation there be a sort of people and those we hope godly that do acknowledge wait in the expectation of the later yea and hold forth the personal appearance of our Lord as King yet nevertheless oppose and deny and quite leap over this Stone and its work thereby endeavouring to render the Saints useless and uncapable of destroying Babylon which must make way and without which we cannot attain to the peaceable and more glorious administration of this Kingdom by removing those Mountains Hills and powers of darkness which do oppose and hinder it Banner displayed p. 75. There are no Churches or at leastwise very few of the pastoral way in these Nations or elsewhere but have something of Antichrist in them having forsaken and apostatized from the primitive and first love and have and do in many principle and practises strike hands with the interest of Antichrist and mystery of iniquity 2 Thes. 2. 3 4. p. 79. We accompt it a duty for the Saints to separate from all the forms practises doctrines and spirit of the Antichrist in the world in their brethren in the Churches c. And to be plain we accompt him and that spirit which either in act or deed wilfully and obstinately denies the smiting work of our Lords Kingdom Antichristian inasmuch as that such would alwaies have Christ his Saints his cause in and on the earth a sufferer but the scripture clearly manifests the contrary p. 81 82. now then if men be they never so holy as they hope a sort of people be who oppose deny and quite leap over the Stone and its smiting as they confess there are no Churches or very few of the pastoral way in these Nations and elsewhere but have opposed them yet are Antichristian they by their principles are to smite them and so must oppress Saints as well as others And if any Saints be civil powers Ecclesiastical Rulers Governors in Corporations Graduates in Universities Pastors in Churches as no doubt thousands are who love the Lord Jesus and wait for his appearing and Kingdom yet these must be smitten too And who can secure in such confusions as would arise upon the Quinto-Monarchians smiting work any man yea of their own party from violence and slaughter when there is nothing but rage in private persons whose proceedings are in heat of mad zeal without any distinction by legal trial and just judgment or certain Rule Sure no Tyrants have ever done more mischief than this way of the Fifth-Monarchy-Men would do if it were prosecuted nor is any doctrine more hellish Antichristian and damnable than this that tends to overthrow all the civil powers Lawes Doctrines Forms Degrees Offices in Church and State which these term the spirit of Antichrist in the world And if it were supposed that these furious zelots should accomplish their design after the mixture of hypocrites and the rabble of the worst most foolish men who could hope there would be any peace good order or justice in the world or any remainder of sober men The world would be an Acheldama or field of blood which they impute to the Nations of Europe even the Protestant and the prevailing persons to use their own phrase Blood-Monsters and instead of a visible Kingdom of Christ in the earth a solitude Chaos tohu vebohu as was afore the first creation and the Kingdom of Antichrist or the Devil would be set up under pretence of making Christs enemies his footstool What Lawes Order or Rule tending to further Religion or Righteousness can any expect from men of such cauterized consciences as not to discern the mischievousness of such doctrine and practises as these have vented especially after they have inured themselves to shedding of blood and rapine with extremity § 11. The 9th and 10th arguments against the smiting work of Quinto-Monarchians from the meekness peaceableness and patience of Saints TO these arguments which have been confirmed I shall add a ninth taken from the opposition of spirit and practise which their doctrine begets to the precepts of meekness and peaceablness which the Gospel requires of Christians and to which it assigns blessedness Our Lord Christ in his sermon on the Mount Matth. 5. 5. saith Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth v. 9. Blessed are the peace-makers for they shall be called the Children of God v. 22. He forbids rash anger contemptuous speech and opprobrious language v. 23 24 25. requires speedy endeavours of reconciliation with adversaries nor is it any thing against this precept of Christ that he tels us Luke 12. 49. 51. I am come to send fire on the earth and what will I if it be already kindled Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth I tell you nay but rather division For these expressions do not shew his approbation of division but his foresight of it not as a thing which he affected or as a thing desirable of it self or which he studied to promote but as a thing which he knew was unavoidable in the event that while he endeavoured to promote the truth of the Gospel by accident divisions would follow not from his doctrine which was the Gospel of peace but through the perversness of mens spirits who would oppose it But that it was the will of Christ that all Christian Saints should be meek and peaceable appears from the many precepts injoyning them in the Apostles writings Rom. 12. 18. If it be possible as much as lieth in you live peaceably with all men Rom. 14. 17. For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost v. 19. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace Gal. 5. 19 20. The workes of the flesh are hatred enmities variance wrath strise seditions divisions or factions v. 22. 23. The fruit of the spirit is love joy peace meekness Heb. 12. 14. Follow peace with
hope wherein those whom they believe to be godly oppose them and their violence of spirit beyond all sobriety in moving persons so earnestly to that smiting work in this age upon no better grounds than their own conjecture though they foresaw it would bring common calamity and the bodies and lives of godly persons perish by reason of their opposition to this Stone which shewes they were resolved to smite all that stood in their way though godly as it fell out in the year 1660. Mr. Tillinghast in his first Sermon p. 26. saith the work of Christs Kingdom the glorious beginning of it shall be about the time of the Jewes coming in and p. 39. saith the Lord make us wait on him for his own time and yet Serm. 3. gives signes of its being near even in this generation which he makes it the duty of Saints to observe though not one of the signes is from any Revelation of God but from things which may happen and have without such signification as he would put upon them I omit what Mr. Mede in his letter to Arch-Bishâ—p Usher and in other writings and many others write of the mystical numbers in Daniel and in the Revelation which I would not have slighted so as to give no heed to them it being not in vain that the Holy Ghost hath delivered them to us only this I conceive it very dangerous and unsafe to make them the warrant or motive to such an attempt as the smiting of civil powers or the beginning of any War against the known Rules of scripture and Lawes of civil Government it being in it self wicked shewing bitter furious zeal without the wisedome from above and likely hereafter as it hath done formerly to others to bring destruction of soul and body on the agents and much misery on others whether opponents or neuters § 14. Many things are groundless and false which the Quinto-Monarchians suppose and take as articles of their faith concerning the Fifth-Monarchy and its setting up TO the uncertainties and falsities about the smiting work of the Stone whereby the evil of their attempt is demonstrated I shall next add the uncertainties or falsities of those things which thâ—y make as articles of their faith about the Stones becoming a Mountain and filling the whole earth Where 1. they shew their inadvertency in making Gentile Saints who are but subjects the Stone meant Dan. 3. 34 35. Excluding the Jewes from being the Stone in the beginning whereas the Stone is expresly termed the Kingdom which shall stand for ever v. 44 45. which cannot be understood of the Saints who are subject they are not the Kingdom nor do they stand for ever though they receive a Kingdom that cannot be shaken Heb. 12. 28. But the Stone is Christ the King and his Dominion which must fill the whole earth with Subjects Lawes and Administrations of Rule and Justice which cannot be said of the Saints Gentile or Jewish Which inadvertency causeth them to speak confusedly p. 19 20. and throughout their Book termed the Baaner of truth displayed sometimes terming the Stone Christ sometimes his Kingdom sometime the Gentile Saints sometimes the Jewes joyned to the Gentiles Now the same Stone which smites the great Image becomes a great Mountain and fils the whole earth but this is not true of the Gentile Saints or Jew and Gentile joyned together they become not a great Mountain nor fill the whole earth therefore they smite not the Image 2. That the Stone or fifth Kingdom is an outward visible Kingdom not the spiritual Kingdom which was begun by Christ in the days of his flesh is much insisted on as the chief ground of their faith and hope in this matter But in the Banner of truth displayed p. 20. in answer to the question what this Stone is They say this Stone is called in Scripture the Kingdom of Christ and the Kingdom of Christ this stone Dan. 2. 44 45. Matth. 21. 43 44. which they say hath a twofold dispensation i. e. 1. An internal dispensation or the inward Kingdom which is the Kingdom of Christ in the hearts of his Saints and in and over his Church 2. An external dispensation 1. Of war in subduing and conquering his stubborn enemies and opposers in the world whereby they shall be compelled to yield and shall become subjects though Kings and Princes 2. Of peace upon the earth in and over the whole world which is the new creation and restitution of all things where will be perfection no sin among the Saints immortality no mortal nor corruptible thing where death shall have no sting nor grave victory but all shall be swallowed up in Christs fulness which is victory And for this they cite many scriptures in the margin Now 1. I grant that the stone Dan. 2. 44 45. is the Kingdom of Christ or of God Mat. 21. 43 44. 2. The distinction of the internal external Kingdom is not denied 3. Nor do I oppose the double dispensation of this Kingdom 4. Nor do I deny the description of either dispensation But 1. hence I infer that the stone Dan. 2. 44 45. notes the internal Kingdom or the dominion Christ had by the preaching of the Gospel termed the Gospel of the Kingdom Matth. 24. 14. meant Matth. 21. 43 44. For 1. that Kingdom is meant there and no other which was to be taken from the Jews but that could be no other than the internal Kingdom for no other Kingdom was then among them but it therefore no other is there meant 2. That Kingdom was there meant which was to be given to another Nation meaning the Gentiles but that was no other but the internal 3. That Kingdom is there meant whose fruits were to be brought forth by the Nation to whom it was to be given now the fruits of the Kingdom are expressed to be righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. which belong to the internal Kingdom and therefore no other there meant Which thing is also confirmed by other passages of Scripture as namely that of our Saviour Luk. 17. 20. When he was demanded when the Kingdom of God should come he answered them and said The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation or with outward shew therefore the Kingdom of God meant in the Gospel is not the outward visible Kingdom which the Quinto-Monarchians expect which is also proved from v. 21. where it is added Neither shall they say Lo here or lo there for behold the Kingdom of God is within you or among you which could be no other than the Kingdom set up by the preaching of the Gospel To which is to be added Christs good confession before Pontius Pilate John 18. 36. Kingdom is not of this world if my Kingdom were of this world then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews but now is my Kingdom not from hence Wherein our Lord Christ declares his Kingdom foretold by
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
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