the having and using any such Dominion Lordship and Titles among them or allowing and giving it unto others And the Apostles according to the command of Christ have disclaimed all such Lordly power and charged all Church-Officers to do the same nor could any Church Officers have and exercise such a Power till the Dragon gave his Seat Power and Authority to the Beast of which Power is not here meant and so I have no occasion in this business to treat of it but of the Powers or Governours of the Commonwealth of which the Apostle directly speaketh and so every of them that in any Age or Nation are in being that which is in being possest of the Power it is ordered of God he in his Wisdom and Goodness seeth and so ordereth it as that which for accomplishing his ends is fitted for us and his will and Ordinance is That we acknowledge his Wisdom Soveraignty and Goodness in submitting to live peaceably and obedently under the same And he that resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God whence every Soul even of Believers ought to be subject to the Power in being and so the Apostles Prophets Evangelists and Elders were and the Church with all her Officers are to be subject to the Principalities and Powers that are in being and so to obey Magistrates As for fleshly Objections under pretence of Spirit by some Believers that which is said of the lowest in Power being much rather to be heeded in respect of them that are higher in Power we have answer given to them in Scripture If any say 1 Pet. 2.18 Col. 3.22 1 Tim. 6.1 I am a Believer and made free by Christ a Son of God and he that sits in the Chair of Government is an unbeliever and so in bondage to Satan it is not meet for him to govern me or for me to be subject to him It is answered Gal. 5.13 Job 4.17 The Liberty given us is not for an occasion to the flesh and shall mortal man be more pure than his Maker it is God that in his Wisdom and for his Ends hath set him in place of Government and thee in place of Subjection it is therefore right for all his works are right and thou that hatest right art of all others most unfit to govern Job 34 12.13-17.19-23.42 32. Therefore if thou countest God that set him in place of Government wise righteous holy and good count him God hath set as Governour above thee worthy all that esteem honour reverence and submission that by Gods command is due to the Governour But if thou have not this to object and the folly in thy deceitful heart move thee to a contrary reply saying I am a Believer and he in place of Government is a Believer also we are both free in Christ and there is no difference of bond or free in Christ we partake of the same Grace and priviledges and hope we have one Father one elder Brother and we are Brethren why should one Brother rule over another He taketh too much upon him Thou art answered 1 Tim. 6.2 3,4 Eph. 6.5 Col. 3.22 Philem. 12.13,14,15,16 He ruleth not over thy Faith and Conscience but over thy Body and outward affairs and to help thy understanding a distinction is afforded thee between In the Lord and In the Flesh and after the Spirit and according to the Flesh that we may not confound Adam and Christ the natural Man and the spiritual Man the Commonwealth and Christ Nature and Grace in one and so if those Sons of Adam that be our Governours be also Believers if the Governours of the Commonwealth be Members of the Church if he that sits as Man in place of Government be also in the Faith and so a Brother then Believers are to esteem love submit and obey so much the more cheerfully and the more readily because they are faithful and beloved so that if Governours possest of the Power of Magistracy be Heathen or Infidels yet the Power of Magistracy they are possest of is of God and ordered by God If the Magistrates be Believers and so Christians and Brethren their Christanity annibilates their Magistracy no more then Grace destroyeth Nature or the Church the Commonwealth but helps for the good and profitable exercise thereof and so without any question asking for Conscience sake about our submission to Principalities and Powers and obeying Magistrates What Religion do they most affect how are they qualified or disposed how came they to be possest of the Power by Birth and Inheritance or by Election of the people or by Conquest If God in his providence hath ordered that Power and possest such of that Power we are to look at the ordering hand of God and knowing him to be good to believe him to do good and so whether he hath ordered them for mercy or chastisement yet to submit to and not to resist the Powers but in all their commands that we may do though to our own damage obey them In things before commanded by God obey them more readily and cheerfully if any of their commands be to deny or dis-obey God yet resist not the Power but refuse doing the Command and submit to suffer the punishment they will inflict and this with patience before the Lord that comes so to try us and so if we will not lesist but please God it behoves us all every man and specially Believers so to be subject to the Higher Powers as is fully and plainly declared and commanded in places alledged Rom. 13 1-7 Tit. 3.1,2 1 Pet. 2 13,14-17 And many Evidences Demonstrations Reasons and Motives might be given to move and press as hereunto but that Explication would be tedious as to say 1. Jer. 27.5,6,7,8 The undoubted Soveraignty Right and Authority of the Lord the earth being his and they that dwell in it he having made all and being the upholder of all having also bought all men to be in his dispose so as he may put them under what Governours he please and those that will not serve those under whose Government he puts them wo will be unto them 2. Deut. 2.5,9 19-23 Josh 12. Ezek. 29.19 As he hath Right Authority and Wisdom Power and Godness to use it so he doth rule for ever by his Power and hath according to his will given the several parts of the earth first to one then to another to possess and govern Dan. 2.37 2 Chron. 36.33 and given Kingdoms and Commonwealths according to his will as in Scripture we may read at large 3. Isa 3.4,5,6 19.11,13 Deut. 28 48. Judg. 17 6. 18.1 21.25 Heb 1.14 Jer. 3.15 Pro. 29.2 11.10,11 When he is so provoked by a people that in displeasure he will chastise them though for gracious ends then he will give children or fools to be their Princes or Rulers or their enemies to rule over them or which is the heaviest of all deprive them of having any
and did in times past lovingly agree together in Union of Affection and Profession for this design and could bear some differences then in other Opinions where this design was found to be agreed in and then the burthen and trouble complained of was the imposition of superstitious Rites and Doctrines and Traditions of men the lordly Rule of BBs the evil proceedings of their Courts and want of Liberty to worship God according to our Conscience for attempting and pressing after which some were imprisoned and some lost blood and life some were silenced many cited and many drawn to their Courts and some excommunicated and some occasioned to flie into other Countries by reason of all which they that feared the Lord went under the terms of Puritans Precisians Factionists Schismaticks and disobedient to Authority and so made the odium and scorn of the common people derided abased c. and then glad in secret to meet for Fasting Prayers and Instructions In those dayes we loved one another and professed might we enjoy Liberty of Conscience for enjoyment of and fellowship in the Gospel bread and cheese mean fare and mean accommodations for the outward man should content us This was a time of sadness but now God hath tried us and we are found not upright in what we professed as our many discontents and complaints do testifie even now when God hath freed us from those burthens and complaints we then groaned under and given us a Protector and Government under which we enjoy more Liberty of Conscience and fellowship in the Gospel than we could then have thought of if we did not fall cut among our selves and because our particular lusts are not satisfied ready to fault and murmur against Governour and Government also as the Children of Israel did in the Wilderness against Moses after their great deliverance but their murmurings were against the Lord as it 's to be feared ours also will be found to be an ill requital of so great mercy once so highly prized and earnestly prayed for and now received so lightly esteemed it brings to my minde the saying of a godly Minister in those times who loved me and I him and having some communion together though our Habitations were far distant on occasion of some saying in which we fully agreed not I thank God saith he that such differences as this breeds no dis-union nor dis-affection between us I desire it might be so with all that fear the Lord but we have a common enemy meaning the BBs that persecutes us all and we may thank God for it for by that means we are kept at peace with and love to one another and if that common enemy be once removed then shall we fall out among our selves He that said this is now with God I that heard it am yet living on this earth to see his words verified I am sorry we make no better use of God's mercy and return so evil to him for so great good done us I pray God give us to be humbled for it and now in love and thankfulness to him and love to one another to lay aside vain-glory envy bitterness wrath anger evil speaking and help us to be kinde one to another and tender hearted not every one seeking his own things but each the good of other and then may we enjoy the benefit of the mercy given us and so be thankful for and live comfortably under the Government God hath so graciously set over us for which my Address is to you which one might think needless for such as we and if it be needful for some as it appeareth it is yet it is difficult for me to make it rightly because of the diversity of mindes among us I pray therefore bear with me and accept it while I endeavour it as well as I can and so I make my Address to 1. You reverend Fathers and Brethren whose minde and bent is set for a National Provincial and Classical Presbytery for Order and Government of Church-affairs and to have the Power of the Magistrate to confirm and stablish the same and so to give such Power to you that by the Power of the Magistrate imparted to you you may set up and carry an end the same and discontent if the Magistrate afford you not this Power Surely Order among Brethren and in Church-Assemblies and Affairs is needful desireable profitable and beautiful and even that in having Officers also yet that it is so needful desireable profitable and beautiful for outward Order to be alwayes in all Ages or in all Nations or in all Congregations or in every or all the parts of any one Country or Province the same I nowhere finde in Scripture 1 Cor. 14 26-40 11.2,3 4. but this I finde a true Church and for spiritual gifts highly enriched and commended and Order required and yet no outward Officers mentioned yea probable because of their divisions not betrusted to chuse their Officers till the Apostle came and set such things in order Act. 14 21-23 yet were they true Churches in Corinth as there were divers in other places that were true Churches for some time before they had any such outward Officers And I also read how in the same time and Age in another place that in the Church there was Bishops or Elders and Deacons or Ministers to help in Ministration Phil. 1.1 Act. 6 3-6 and especially for the relief of the poor and this a Church as much approved as any I know and yet I finde in Crete and Ephesus divers Churches that had Bishops or Elders and Deacons Tit. 1 5-xi and also a Bishop or Elder appointed to oversee all the Churches in that Province with their 1 Tim. 1 3-5 3 5. Bishops Deacons to admonish them both for right Doctrine and Manners and to be chief in helping them both for ordaining and confirming both of Elders and Deacons c. as Titus in Crete and Timothy in Ephesus 1 Cor. 12.28,29,30 Eph. 4 7-13 1 Tim. 3. 2 Tim. 2. 3 4 1-5 1 Tim. 6.11,14 To say Timothy and Titus did this as they were Evangelists is but a saying without proof for as the names of Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers were not appropriated to Ecclesiastically called Church-Officers but to all those so gifted by Christ and other Officers called Bishops Deacons or Elders and Deacons so the work of an Evangelist is set out plainly and fully to be in teaching c. and this the command to be kept till the appearing of our Lord Jesus and though men so gifted be fittest for such oversight also yet no necessity yea or possibility to have alwayes the like outward order in Church-Officers and Government though Churches differing in some outward form may be alike true and good both in Doctrine and manners and that among them all was done in Faith and Love by the Word and such spiritual power and weapons as the Word afforded them without
craving power of the Magistrates of the Commonwealths or desire of any part of their Sword to carry an end and manage their business with So it was in the beginning of the first Christian Churches in the best times so that reverend Fathers and Brethren you may perceive I do not fault but justifie rather the Order desired by you though the terms of expression of it be obscure yea I could as willingly be under the same so I might enjoy the soundness of Faith and Liberty of spiritual fellowship with Brethren of another outward Order as before to have been under the BBs with Freedom from their superstitious Injunctions and to enjoy the foresaid Liberty for the order and power of this and that is one and the same if rightly used onely called by different Titles but this is that which is faulty and occasions faultiness The desire of the Magistrates Power to impower you to establish and carry an end this Order for which you have neither Word nor Example of Christ or any his Apostles Prophets or Evangelists nor any thing like but the by-gone Law of the Aaronical Priesthood Oh my Fathers and Brethren did you so mourn for the Tyranny of this Power in the BBs hands and would you have it in yours was their lording Power over their Brethrens Faith and Conscience so evil in your eyes and will the same be good in your hands when onely the Title of Lord and some gross outward Superstitions are taken away was Liberty of Conscience for all Fearers of the Lord so good and much to be desired when that power was in their hands and is the same now a cursed Liberty and toleration for any but those that submit to have that Power in your hands and come under your Order when many tender Consciences of your godly Brethren can no more digest your Order than they could the former I hope the most of you by this time are better perswaded than to be soliciting the Governour to give Power into your hands to rule over your Brethren It 's enough we are protected and you have Liberty for going on and winning in all that by Word and good Conversation you prevail with to joyn in that Order I hope this contents you so that you will not murmur at but be thankful for the Government and press for no farther Power than the protection it so lovingly affords you as for those whose Spirits are still carried to enjoy that Power in their hands do they not hereby either justifie the Power they pretended against and so testifie it was not conscience of sinfulness in a lordly Power in Ministery of the Church nor the lordly Power they sought to pull down but the taking away those Persons and Titles and exalting themselves into the same Power or else their mindes are altered desiring to have that builded and established of which once they complained and sought to pull it down Surely such may thank God that the Governour affords them not their desires for did he they would hurt both him and themselves and others also as much as their fore-Fathers did but I hope there remains not many thus minded Therefore my request is That we may consider well the mercies God hath given us in the Government he hath set over us and what an Instrument of Mercy the Governour is made to us Surely we are eased of that which if our hearts were right was our greatest grief and complaint And there is Liberty for that desired Order as far as by Scripture Truth Teaching and holy Conversation and warrantize from God may be reached unto yea more then when we fasted and prayed we did expect in answer of our Prayer Let us not grutch our Brethren to enjoy the same mercy with our selves that prayed and have their Prayers answered with us but in thankfulness to him that answereth our Prayers praise God and thank him for our Government and pray for our Governour and live together in peace and love under his Government not biting one another lest we be consumed of one another and if we be perâ—ect and of one minde to glorifie God and live in peace the God of peace will be with us and bless our Protector and us also 2. And you beloved Fathers and Brethren whom some groundlesly call Independents I hope you have as much as your Souls desire of the Protector as Protector and in the Government in respect of your personal and social Concernments in that Liberty and protection that is afforded you seeing whatever by the Word and your holy Conversation according to the light and knowledge given you and blessing of success afforded you you have even outward Liberty to congregate and receive into your Congregations and to order for Offices and Exercise according to your Conscience and understanding of the Word and protection herein also I know you desire not worldly promotion nor any power of the Magistrate to Lord it over your Brethren that in some things dissent from you and accord not in all things in your Order in congregating and so you do readily that which my Address is for And so my Request to you is That we may in singleness of heart to God and love to one another persevere in Thankfulness and Prayers for the Instruments of our Mercy and not by discontented Thoughts suggested by any be waved but live peaceably with acknowledgement of the Mercy given us under the Government over us and that we may so do let us neither judge nor despise our Brethren fearing the Lord though in some things they dissent from us Rom. 14.1,18 walking according to the light they have received and not according to all that light we conceive our selves to have received nor murmur at or press the removal of some things that agree not with our Judgements about a publick Ministery in the Nation and the maintenance thereof You know that new Wine put in old Vessels will break the Vessel and both Wine and Vessel will be marred and every thing is beautiful in its time and some things of that Nature can yet hardly be done with Righteousness and besides as Christ is a Saviour so his followers principal aim in their agitations is saving and the sudden doing of some things of that Nature would produce raging hardening destroying rather than saving them till by degree they be brought to a fitter capacity And if we remember God's gracious order in dealing with us to bring us to that we now enjoy and wait with patience for others to win them with loving-kindness and minde God's hand who knows what is fittest for us and when and pray to our heavenly Father for blessing guidance and protecting of our Protector and his Council he that hath heard and answered us thus far will certainly so far as is good for us hear and answer us farther onely let us not undervalue but improve the opportunities already given us and so in thankfulness for walk submissively to and peaceably
AN ADDRESS FOR Submissive peaceable and loving living together Under the Present Government To the People of the COMMONWEALTH OF ENGLAND However by some called ROYALISTS PRESBYTERIANS INDEPENDENTS or FIFTH-MONARCHY MEN. By Tho. Moore Senior Hearken unto me that God may hearken unto you Let every soul be subject to the Higher Powers As much as is possible have peace with all men LONDON Printed by James Cottrel 1656. To all Christian Readers Beloved Christians WHereas many of the People of this Commonwealth have testified both their thankefulness for and submission to the present Government by making their Addresses or Recognitions to his Highness the PROTECTOR in one of which Recognitions my Name also is Be not you offended That I in testmony of thankfulness to God for his Mercies in and of desire of Love among our selves and peaceable living under the present Govâ—… 〈◊〉 do make my Address to you first giving my Ground and then making my Request to you with endeavour of answering what I conceive in any of us might hinder the Acceptance For any weaknesses of mine in this attempt let Charity prevail so far to pass hy as not to be prejudiced therewith but that which the Scripture calleth for and I according to the Scripture request accept my boldness in desiring of you I being for peace I pray let none of you be for war among our selves but each endeavouring peace that we may share in that Promise Blessed are the Peace-makers and so fear God and love one another and live in peace among our selves and the God of peace be with us which is the prayer of the least and unworthiest of all God's Mercies and Servants Tho. Moore Wittlesey April 7. 1656. Rom. 13.1,2 Let every soul be subject unto the higher Powers for there is no Power but of God the Powers that be are ordained of God whosoever theresore resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation MAnkinde being fallen under sin and death and so liable to have the curse death by sin deserved executed on them all Rom. 6.23 5.12,18 Heb. 10.6,9 Gal. 3.13 Rom 14.9 1 Cor. 6.19,20 2 Cor. 5.14,15 Jesus Christ the Son of God interposing hath for Mankind suffered that deserved death and curse and so redeemed Mankind from the curse of the Law and by his Death Resurrection and Sacrifice offered to God hath bought all Men of God and is become their rightful Lord inlightning and extending means to them that as they are not their own but his so they might live to him that is their Saviour and Lord. And God hath given all Power and Authority to him and all over into his dispose and made him Lord of all and doth by him uphold and order all things Mat. 11.27 28.18 Act. 2.36 10.36 Col. 1.17 Heb. 1.3 Psa 75.3 so that it is indeed by him whose Sacrifice was vertuous from his first undertaking though more manifested since acted that the Earth is upheld and the Inhabitants thereof and the Governments among them therein Prov. 8.15,16 By him Kings raign and Princes decree justice by him Princes rule and Nobles all the Judges of the earth And all that God doth in ordering the Sons of Men he doth it in and through his Son Christ and according to the Covenant and Agreement between the Father and the Son in the Sons first undertaking for Mankinde Joh. 5.19,20,22,23 and so and in that manner God ruleth for ever by his Power and his Kingdom ruleth over all Psal 66.7 103.19 Dan. 4.25,35,37 Psa 57.6,7 yea even in the Kingdom of Men and gives it to whomsoever he will and none can stay his hand and say unto him What dost thou So that prâ—mâ—tion cometh neither from the East West or South but God is Judge himself he putteth down one and setteth up another So that it is evident That there is no power but of God The words also here give us to understand it of the Dominion Rule Authority and Power of Magistrates called here The higher Powers as appointed and ordered by God that is the highest Power his Son the Great King that is higher than the highest of them Eccles 5.8 Rev. 11.15,17 but doth not yet take his great Power into his own hands personally to raign with his Saints but as he hath given the earth to the children of men so he giveth the Power of governing into the hands of some men whom he calleth Mighty Ones or Gods to judge among the Sons of men for God to give account to him when Christ comes personally to judge Psa 115.16 Psa â—â— so that the Powers that in any Age or Nation are in being for Magistracy in a Commonwealth they are of God and whether for mercy or chastisement they are ordered by God in the same love and to the gracious end in which he gave Christ made him Lord. And here to understand Powers for Magistracy in a Commonwealth is evident in the Text Verses following also in the Apostles charge to Titus to teach the same Doctrine to Believers Tit. 3.1 To put them in minde to be subject to Principalities to obey Magistrates And Peter also teacheth the same putting it as one chief part of an honest Conversation 1 Pet. 2.13 14,15,17 To submit our selves to every Ordinance of man that is humane Ordinance or Creature viz. Princes Magistrates Governours which God hath made instrumentally by Men whether by Birth Election or Conquest for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as supream or unto Governours as unto them that are sent or set in Office by him c. and shewing this to be the will of God c. he joyns these two together Fear God and honour the King which term by the whole context appears to be the chief Governour and those set in Office of Government by him for as History saith The chief Governours in those dayes were called Emperours but whether Emperour King Prince Protector Judge all are included in saying King or chief Governour Principalities Powers Magistrates and that these Powers are the Governours of Commonwealths is cleer in saying The Powers that are or are in being and so the like at any time in being for as for such kinde of Powers wielded with such a Sword in spiritual and Church-Astairs though before Christ offered up the acceptable Sacrifice there was something like in the Aaronical Priesthood though even then the Kings were in the Throne above them yet now Christ is come the High Priest after the Order of Melchizedec remaining himself the High Priest for ever having in that no Successor the Priesthood being changed there is of necessity a change of that Law Heb. 7.11 Mat. 20.25 28. Luk. 22 24 27 Mat. 8 12. 2 Cor. 1.24 1 Pet. 5.2,3 Rev. 13.1,2 8. 11.1,2 And Christ hath forbidden it to all Church-Officers in forbidding his Disciples and Apostles