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duty_n church_n civil_a magistrate_n 1,328 5 8.0220 4 true
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A28149 The Saints freedom from tyranny vindicated, or, The power of pagan caesars and antichristian kings examined and they condemned by the prophets and apostles, as no magistrates of God to be obeyed by saints for the Lords sake : being the coppy of an answer to a private letter, wherein the civil power of Satan and antichristian states is soberly debated ... / by a lover of truth. A. B. 1667 (1667) Wing B29; ESTC R12371 31,204 42

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of that Authority in Civil affairs though debarred the publick exercise of some acts or all acts by the Armies or Strength of Heathen Kings And because the Churches or Saints had not then power or strength to execute some Laws on offenders Note the Apostle prest the Saints to subjection as of duty to those Civil Rulers or Magistrates they had amongst themselves as Gods Ordinance to be obeyed for the Lords sake and Conscience sake as commanded by God Secondly It is evident both from the rise and exercise of power in Heathen Kings that they were not ordained by God Dan. 7 2 3 c. 2 Chr. 36. 17 c. Isa 10 5 6 c. and 42. 24 25. Ezek. 34. 23 24. to rule over his People under him neither had they power and authority to govern from God but only power and strength to burn destroy kill and captive the Lords People rebelling against him and so called Gods Staffe Hammer Saw c. not Fathers Shepherds c. Object But Paul exhorted Timothy That supplications and prayers should be made for all men for Kings and all that are in Authority or eminent place that we may lead a quiet and peaceable 1 Tim. 2. 1 2. Life Answ First If by Kings we understand the then Heathen Kings Paul may be understood to enjoyn the Saints to pray either for the conversion of their souls or restraint of their power that the Saints Peace and Godliness were not hindred viz. That God would not suffer those heathen Kings to put out their power and strength to persecute or hinder the Saints Peace Liberty and Holiness But this text asserts not the Divine Authority of heathen Kings to govern the Lords People or Saints to subject to them Secondly If the Apostle be taken as referring to any time when a Magistrate called King shall be called to rule over the Lords people in Authority or eminent place of Trust as appointed and ordained by God then it will be the duty of Saints to pray for such Magistrates That their Rule and Government may answer the end of their Power and Trust as Ordained by Rom. 13. 3 4 c. 1 Pet. 2. 13 14 God viz. Saints Peace and Holiness Object But the Apostle Peter also gave this in charge to Saints Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as Supream or unto Governours as to them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of them that do well 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. Answ First In this the Apostle is clear that he presseth Saints Subjection to Kings or Governours as called or sent of God Note for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise and encouragement of them that do well This is the currant of Scripture Secondly Note The Apostle presseth Saints Subjection to Kings or Governours as the Ordinance of Man or as Mans appointment in the State when they answer the ends of Civil Government as Ordained by God If we should take the Apostle exhorting Saints To subject to every Law and Ordinance of man for the Lords sake then the Laws of Men should be obeyed by Saints how unjust unnatural or contrary soever they were to the Laws of God but this is too gross and contrary to the currant of Scripture not answering the ends of Government as Ordained by God Thirdly If we take the Apostle speaking of Kings or Governours as the Ordinance of Man then the title King or Power of Kings is only humane and God hath left it in the wisdom power and will of a State or Body Politick to call to Office and Power one Person or a set number of Persons joyntly to rule over them as they judge best for the whole Note and also to dignifie and distinguish their Officers of State as they please and Saints are not hereby to be displeased but must submit for the Lords sake I am humbly bold thus to give my sence That both Paul in Rom 13. 1. and in his other Epistles Note as also Peter in this text had no respect to the Heathen Kings of that time but that both these Apostles do assert Magistracy to be the Ordinance of God amongst his People To suppress evil-doers and to encourage them that do well Rom. 13. 3 4. to which Magistrates the Saints owe subjection for the Lords sake Note This Apostle Peter also implieth That the designation of Magisterial Authority upon one person or upon several persons with the Names and Titles by which they are called or dignified are humane and left to men and therefore Saints should not deny subjection upon that account In the first constitution of the Jewish Polittick State God gave them Judges about the space of 450 years after which Deut. 16. 18 Act. 13. 20 21 c. 1 Sam. 8. 1 2 c. v. 19 22. upon the ill government of Samuels Sons Israel resolved to change the Government from Judge to King and God gave way to them But as God fore-saw that Israel would change the Government of State in which his secret counsel was fulfilled to bring in Davids Kingdom and make way for Christs Kingdom God enjoyned and commanded Israel that Deut. 17. 14 Kings should rule by the same Laws which he gave to the Judges The Apostle Peter then seeing or supposing that in after-time some difference might arise amongst Saints about Political Government or Governours viz. Whether the chief should be in one Person or in many and by what names they should be dignified Peter inferrs that this is in man to order ordain and appoint and therefore exhorts Saints not The Body or State Pol●●ick are the first Seat of Power ●y P●t●r to differ or dissent from what the Body of the People or State ordain and appoint in that matter so as the Governours do answer the ends of Government as ordained by God I must say I know not that this was questioned by Saints in Peters time Note but it may be a question amongst Saints in the Resurrection of the Witnesses and here is the Solution which is not again found in all the Scriptures And let me add these my thoughts That as Gods moral judicial Laws given to Israel are the Laws of Christs Kingdom Christ ratified and confirmed them in his Ministry and the Apostles gave many general directions to Saints about Political Government and Governours as Ordained by God Note but neither exprest or intended the then Heathen Kings in those directions Object But Rulers and Governours were commonly called Gods and it is not likely that they should be so dignified by holy men if they were not ordained by God and bare upon them some Image or Beam of Divine Soveraignty Answ We may grant that this high Title was asc●ibed to Rulers and Governours by David by Christ and by Paul referring Exod. 22. 28. Psal 82. 1 6. John 10. 34. Act. 23. 4 5. to Moses