cast into the Lake that burneth with fire and brimstone The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death Prov. 21.6 What shall be given unto thee or what shall be done unto thee O thou false tongue sharp arrows of the Mighty with coals of Juniper Psal 120.3 and 4. If you do not speedily repent know that you shall cry out one day for a drop of Water to cool this lying flattering tongue But I know what your wicked hearts will answer Let us alone till then and we care not know therefore that not onely God but the People will abhor you the Lord hath denounced that curse against you Prov. 24.24 He that saith to the wicked thou art righteous him shall the People curse Nations shall abhor him 2. The just and lawful Titles of Good Magistrates are not due to wicked Magistrates but they forfeit their right thereto by their Tyranny and Oppression or other misgovernment And therefore we find the Prophets Christ and Apostles giving to wicked Magistrates Titles of ignominy and disgrace suitable to their merits Elijah tells wicked Ahab to his face Thou art he that troubleth Israel 1 King 18.18 Elisha calls King Jehoram The Son of a Murderer 2 Kings 6.32 Isaiah calls the Rulers of his time Rulers of Sodom Isa 1.10 Ezekiel calls the King of Israel Prophane wicked Prince Ezek. 21.25 Christ calls Herod Fox and bids them go and tell him so Luke 13.32 Paul calls the Roman Emperor A Lyon 2 Tim. 4.17 Yea the Apostles and many thousands of Christians together for so the company of Believers was Acts 2.41 with one accord in their Prayers mention Herod and Pontius Pilate by name spread their wickedness before God and desire the Lord To behold their Threats Acts 4.27 It was no wonder the holy Prophets were so persecuted by wicked Rulers since they were such faithful plain-dealing men that knew not how to give flattering Titles unto them but called them Rulers of Sodom Troublers of Israel Sons of Murderers and Prophane wicked Persons No wonder the Governours looked upon Christ and his Apostles with an Evil eye and punished them as Seditious men since they called them Foxes Lyons and gave them such reproachful Titles as they had deserved They hated plain-dealing and reproof as all Tyrants do and would be sure to suppress that spirit if they could which dared presume to reprehend their wickedness and yet these holy Men were not afraid to give them Titles of dishonour answerable to their merits Oh you wicked flatterers that daub with untempered morter and flatter great Men for advantage see here what the holy Prophets and Apostles did and take shame to your selves for your filthiness Wo to him that calleth good evil and evil good that putteth Darkness for Light and Light for Darkness Isa 5.20 Who justifie the wicked for reward and take away the Righteousness of the Righteous from him Your root shall be rottenness and your blossom dust The Lord is no respecter of Persons and hath forbid us to be so If Kings or great Men be wicked they deserve to be called as they are Nay take notice of this that when the Christians in their assembly lift up their voice with one accord to God and boldly prayed to the Lord To behold the Threats of Herod and Pontius Pilate whom they mentioned by Name relating their wickedness the Lord shewed how exceedingly he was pleased therewith in that as soon as the prayer was ended the place was shaken and they were all filled with the holy Spirit and great Grace was upon thâ—â— all Perhaps if there were more boldness in the Assemblies of the Saints at this day in bearing a faithful Testimony for God against these wicked Rulers there would be a greater Presence of the Spirit of God among them and greater measures of Grace upon them And in like manner have the faithful Servants of the Lord in all Ages born their Testimony against the wickedness of their Rulers The Title which John Knox that famous Servant of Jesus Christ and eminent Instrument of the Scotish Reformation frequently gave to the Tyrannous Queen who ruled the Land was Bondslave of Satan and he constantly prayed in publick in words to this purpose That God would deliver her from the Power of Satan to whom she was now a bondslave John Hus that glorious Martyr of Jesus Christ was not afraid to affirm to the Emperors face That wicked Kings were not worthily Kings before God Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. Pag. 807. And pag. 813. he sayes That Subjects and common People ought openly and publickly to detect and reprove the Vices of their Rulers having Power given them of Christ and Example of Paul so to do The Bishop of Burgen in his Oration which he made in the Counsel of Basil layes down this assertion It is absurd for a King to be of more Authority than his Kingdom and he that ruleth not for the Good of his Subjects is not to be counted a King but a Tyrant Eleutherius in the Letter which he sent to Lucius King of this Island about 170. years after the Death of Christ affirms the same in these words A King hath his Name of Ruling not of having a Kingdom and so long shall you be a King indeed while you rule well which if you do not the Name of a King shall not remain with you but you shall lose it Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. Pag. 139. Which Eleutherius is in high esteem by Ecclesiastical Historians for the Eminency of his Wisdom and Piety both as indeed that very Epistle doth sufficiently evidence he deserves to be Thus you see several eminent Lights in the Church of God concur in the same Perswasion That wicked Magistrates have no right to the Titles of such Magistrates as rule well Nay the Antient Laws of this Nation give full testimony to this Truth For in the Chapter of the Laws of King Edward commonly called the Confessor by whom most of the good Laws we enjoy were made treating of the duty of the King the Law saith thus The King because he is the Vicegerent of the highest King is appointed for this purpose to reverence and rule the Kingdom the Lords People and holy Church and to defend them from injurious persons to pluck away evil-doers utterly to scatter and destroy them which if he doth not perform the Name of a King shall not agree to him but he looseth the title of a King Well then let no man be so foolish and perverse as to charge this assertion with novelty or singularity for you see what abundant Evidence there is both from Scripture and Reason That a wicked and unrighteous King forfeits his right to the Title of a King And though the perfidious Parliament or rather mock Parliament have lately betrayed their own Trust and our Liberties making it Treason for us to mention the cruel Tyranny and Oppression we groan under yet by
Mene Tekel Or The Downfal of Tyranny A TREATISE wherein LIBERTY and EQUITY are Vindicated and TYRANNY Condemned by the Law of God and Right Reason And the Peoples Power and Duty to execute Justice without and upon Wicked Governors Asserted By Laophilus Misotyrannus Printed in the Year 1663. CHAP. I. Containing a Scriptural Description of Magistracy also shewing that it is an Ordinance of God what kind of Ordinance and in what respect it is an Ordinance of Man IT being the usual method of Architects when they undertake a piece of building in the first place to draw in a narrow compass a Platform of the same according to which they afterwards raise the Structure I think it not unprofitable for me to imitate them I shall therefore present you with a Platform of the following work I mean a Description of Magistracy which comprehends in a few words those several Particulars which are the subject of this Treatise Magistracy is an Ordinance of God for the right ordering of Commonwealths whereby such as are meet for Government are lawfully called to serve God and the People therein for his Glory and their Good in the execution of Judgement and protection of those committed to their charge and receive due Power Honour Tribute and Obedience therefore This Description takes in especially these seven Particulars 1. The Nature of Magistracy 2. The End of Magistracy 3. The Call of Magistrates 4. The Qualifications 5. The Relation of Magistrates 6. The Duty 7. The Due of Magistrates or what is due to them from the People which is as much as I judge necessary at this present season for the handling of this point I shall endeavour in the strength of God to treat of them all distinctly from Scripture and right Reason with what brevity and perspicuity this weighty and knotty Subject and the capacity of common Readers will allow The Lord open my understanding that I may understand the Scriptures which relate to this Subject and so guide me by his Spirit that knowing I may make known his mind concerning this great Ordinance of his which hath so long been abused and thereby instruct the Ignorant and convince the Gainsayers of those Truths which the Scriptures deliver concerning the same First Then to begin with the Nature of Magistracy It is an Ordinance of God for the right ordering of Commonwealths That Magistracy is an Ordinance of God is so clear from the abundant Testimony which the Scriptures give thereunto both in the old and new Testament and so Universally acknowledged by all sober and rational persons that I shall only mention a few Scriptures for proof of it and so proceed Deut. 16.18 Rom. 13.1 to 4. Titus 3.1 1 Pet. 2. 13 and 14. Quest But the Question will be what kind of Ordinance this is for we read of several sorts of God's Ordinances Ordinances of the Passeover Numb 9.12 Ordinances of the House of God Ezek. 44.5 Ordinances of Divine Service Heb. 9.1 Ordinances of Justice Isa 58.2 Answ It is an Ordinance of Justice or Righteousness instituted by God for the execution thereof that Commonwealths may be ordered in a just and righteous manner God is the God of Order and as he delights therein so hath he appointed Order for all his Creatures but especially for Man Order for every one as considered apart order for Societies of men and those of several sorts which I shall not here enumerate There are politick or civil Societies and in these men as men joyn together to live by Rules of common Right for civil Comfort and Security There are Societies Ecclesiastical in these men as Saints joyn together to live by Rules of Gospel-Order for the Glory of God and mutual edification in Faith and Holiness The former are usually termed Commonwealths the latter Churches which as they differ in name so also in nature as is hinted above having different Subjects Laws Governours Duties and Ends. The latter sort of Societies fall not under present consideration because Magistracy is an Ordinance instituted for all mankind and Magistrates have the care of men as men committed to their charge 2 Sam. 23.3 as is also clear by this that Heathen Magistrates if righteous are true Magistrates although I deny not but Saints as men are bound to submit to this great Ordinance as well as others and as they are members of civil Communities are obliged by those Rules of common right which other members are Politick or civil Societies usually termed Commonwealths are the proper Objects of this Ordinance which as they cannot subsist without Order and Government so according to their various inclinations and occasions constitute Governours over them according to those several forms and manners of Government which several Nations delight in And thus the very savage Indians and Americans themselves live in some measure of obedience unto this great Ordinance of God the Light of Nature convincing them that Government is necessary to their well-being shewing hereby the work of the Law written in their hearts as the Apostle speaks Rom. 2.15 for this Ordinance of Magistracy is a branch of that Law as you may see Deut. 16.18 and many other places But although Magistracy in the general be an Ordinance of God yet as to the several kinds and manners of it is an Ordinance or Constitution of man God having left men to their liberty to make choice of this or that manner of Government which in the best of their understanding seems most conducible to his Glory and their own security for God hath not left men to an absolute liberty to chuse what Government they please without respect to the ends of Government but all Nations and People are obliged by the Law of Nature seriously to consult and wisely to consider what form of Government is most expedient for them and best corresponding with the Ends of Government and to chuse that Now what-ever righteous form of Government a Nation chuses may in that sense be called their Ordinance or Constitution and yet as it is grounded upon the Law of God it is God's Ordinance also and obligeth all that live under it to subjection And this is the true meaning of that place 1 Pet. 2.13 to 16. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lord's sake it is not meant as the wicked Antichristian-Prelates would perswade the People to believe every Law of man good or bad righteous or unrighteous for we know that neither Christ the Prophets or Apostles would submit to wicked statutes or ordinances of their Governours but every righteous Constitution or kind of Government called the Ordinance of man because God hath left men to their liberty to chuse what species of Government may be most conducible to their own good Having given you a description of Magistracy and shewn you that it is an Ordinance of God what kind of Ordinance what is the proper Object of it and in what sence it is an Ordinance of man I shall close this
binds other Nations Sol. By the nature of the Law it is moral and so universal and perpetual There are indeed one or two Particulars that were peculiar to the Jewish State First They must set one over them whom the Lord should chuse which implieed that God intends out of his especial grace and favour to them as his Church to chuse the man himself for them sometimes yet they were to make him King but God doth not so for other Nations but hath left us to chuse for our selves according to the Light of Reason and Scripture Again their King was not to send the People to Egypt because the Lord had forbid the People of Israel to return thither any more which our King may do upon a just occasion but the substance of the Law is of a moral nature and obligeth all Kings and People whatsoever That the King should not multiply Silver Gold Wives or Horses to himself and thereby impoverish the People and suffer his heart to be drawn from God that he should have a copy of the Law of God and read therein all the dayes of his life learn to fear God and keep his Statutes and not lift up his heart above his Brethren is all Moral and doth oblige other Kings as well as the Kings of Israel That a People professing the true Religion should not set over them one of a strange Religion to bring in Idolatry and False-worship which was the intent of that clause Thou shalt not set a stranger over thee That they should take care to set up a man in the Throne who is able and willing to perform the Duties God requires of a King is all Moral and obligeth the People of England as much as it did the People of Israel The next Scripture I shall produce for confirmation of this Truth is 2 Sam. 23.3 The God of Israel said the Rock of Israel spake to me He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God You see here the Rock of Israel hath appointed two great Qualifications in those that rule over men Justice and the Fear of God Object These places shew only the Magistrates duty not any Qualifications necessary to the Office of a Magistrate this proves that Magistrates are bound to observe those duties not that the People are bound to chuse none but such men as are just and fear God to be Governours Sol. The very same Sophistry do the wicked and scandalous Priests use to cheat the poor People withal and lull them asleep that they may make a prey of them in the mean while The Lord sayes 1 Tim. 3. A Bishop or Overseer for so the word is in the Greek must be blameless vigilant sober of good behaviour apt to teach not greedy of filthy lucre not given to Wine no stricker but patient not a brawler nor covetous The Priest is a proud covetous drunken deboist person and the poor People must be compelled to own him for a Minister of Christ who hath never a Qualification of a true Minister in him if they complain we cannot own him for a true Minister a Minister must be thus and thus qualified he is the contrary they are answered O those are indeed the Duties of a Minister but not the Qualifications necessary to the Being of a Minister a man may be a true Minister if he be ordained though he walk contrary to these Duties and you are bound to own his Ministry nevertheless because it is an Ordinance of God So in this case we cannot deny say they but a Magistrate should be just ruling in the fear of God it 's his duty so to do but what if he be unjust and cast away the fear of God he is a true Magistrate notwithstanding and you are bound in Conscience to own his Authority as the Ordinance of God By this kind of Sophistry the Devil maintains his Kingdom and the Beast and False-Prophet theirs to the utter ruin of the Bodies and Souls of men These are the two grand Cheats wherewith the World is abused by wicked and unworthy persons pretending to Authority from God to govern both Church and State when they are utterly destitute of those Qualifications God hath laid down for the election of persons into those Offices and indeed it is hard to say which is the greater cheat of the two Blessed be God many discern the Cheat of an ignorant proud covetous and prophane Ministry and will not own it for an Ordinance of God I doubt not through God's assistance to make it evident to the World that a wicked tyrannous and oppressing Magistracy is no more Gods Ordinance than the other and that the People are bound to reject both and set up able men Men of Truth fearing God and hating covetousness in the Magistracy as well as Ministry and that all who are not thus qualified are but meer Counterfeits and Pretenders For whereas these men pretend that the Characters which the Scriptures give of true Magistrates and Ministers do only shew their duty not any Qualifications that are necessary to the constitution of them it is a meer falsity For the Spirit of God hath on purpose laid down Characters of a true Magistracy and Ministry that the People who have the Power of electing both put into their hands by God should not suffer his Ordinances to be prophaned but chuse Men after his heart for both functions of Magistracy and Ministry The Apostle commands Titus to ordain Elders in every City that is Ministers but upon this condition that there were any to be found that were qualified according to the mind of God Titus 1.5 to 8. and layes down several Characters to signifie what Qualifications God required in Ministers If any be blameless c. and so goes on with many Qualifications which you may read there and whereas the Apostle bids Titus ordain Elders he doth not mean Titus singly but joyntly with the consent of the Church as is intimated in that clause As I have appointed thee Now the Apostle would not appoint Titus to do otherwise than he himself did and the rest of the Apostles but it is plain that the People chose their Officers Acts 6.3 and 5 verses the whole multitude chose Stephen and the rest So Acts 14.23 When they had ordained them Elders in every Church 't is in your Translation but learned Beza renders it thus Communibus suffragis creantes eis Presbyteros they made them Elders or Ministers by common suffrage or consent the multitude gave their votes and chose them and then the Apostles confirmed them by Fasting and Prayer but this by the way However they were to be made yet not without Ministerial Qualifications Titus and the People together had no power to make an ignorant or scandalous man a Minister of Christ The very same doth the Scripture hold forth concerning Magistrates that the People are to look out Men rightly qualified with magistratical Endowments for the Office of Magistracy When