Progenitors with the same implacable enmity to the power of the Gospel And is there not a cry for all this How long Lord holy and true dost thou not avenge our blood on them that dwell in the earth Rev. 6. 10. Doth not Sion cry the violence done unto me and my children be upon Babylon and my blood upon those heavens of the Nations and will not the Lord avenge his elect that cry unto him day and night will he not do it speedily will he not call the fowls of Heaven to eat the flesh of Kings and Captains and great men of the Earth Rev. 19. 18. Will he not make the Heavens like the wood of the Vine c. and what of all this Doctour The time shall come to discover her slain and not the simplest Hereticks as they were counted shall have his blood 〈…〉 enged Neither shall any attonement he made for this blood or expiation be allowed whilest a Toe of the image or a Bone of the Beast is left unbroken Again p. 13. No kind of government in Europe or line of Governors so ancient but that the Beast is as old as they and had a great influence into their constitution or establishment to provide that it might be for his own interest where the Pope hath not expressely bargained for his own interest and provided that he should have the chief place in all the Oaths and bonds that were betwixt Prince and People either by pretended collation of Right to pacifie the Consciences of blood-thirsty Potentates in the undertaking and pursuing their unjust Conquests or foolish Mitred confirmations of sword purchases he hath got them framed to his own end and purpose which was to bring in all these Nations into subjection to his Babylonish usurpations Which those Kings finding no way inconsistent with their own designes did willingly promote labouring to enforce all Consciences into subjection to the Romish Sea Hence it is that such an interposition was made of the rights of Holy Church That is Babylon the Mother of Harlots in all the Types Oathes and Bonds between Prince and People and for the advancement of the righteous judgements of God That the sons of men may learn to fear and tremble before him And it may be observed that that which doth and shall stick upon Potentates to their ruine is not so much their own or any other interest as the dregs of that Papall Antichristian interest thrust into their Oathes and Obligations for no other end in the world but to keep the Lord Jesus out of his Throne And this is a reason why the Lord Jesus by his mighty power at the bringing in of his unmoveable Kingdom will shake the Heavens and Earth of the Nations Reas Even because in their present constitutions they are directly framed to the interest of Antichrist which by notable advantages at their first moulding and contrived insinuation ever since hath so rivited it self into the very fundamentals of them that no digging nor myneing with an earthquake will cast up the foundation stones thereof c. Because as is their Interest so is their Acting The present powers of the Nations stand in direct opposition to the bringing in of the Kingdome of Christ At which time saith the Doctor Two things there are that will be confessed incumbent on him in this day of his advancement 1. The bringing home of his antient people to be one fold with the fulnesse of the Gentiles raising up the Tabernacle of David and building it as in the dayes of old In the accomplishment of innumerable promises and answer to millions of prayers Doctor in this you and your brother yet hath not cut a thred but proceed Doctor Now there are two main hinderances of this work that must be removed the first whereof is 1. Real The great river Euphrates the strength and fulnesse of those streams do yet rage so high that there is no passage for the Kings of the East to come over wherefore this must also be dryed up as other waters were for their forefathers of old Rev. 16. 12. and doubtlesse this is spoken in allusion to Abrahams going over that River into Canaan when the Church of God in his family was there to be erected whence he was called the Hebrew that is the Passenger i. e. over that River Gen. 14. 13. And then it may well enough denote the Turkish power which proud as it is at this day possessing in peace all those Regions of the East yet God can quickly make it wither and be dryed up Or to the deliverance of the Jews in Babylon when it was taken and destroyed by the drying up of the streams of that river and so the yoke of her tyranny broken from the Churches neck Jer. 51. 31. c. And so it can be no other but the power of the Romish Babylon supporting the Kings of the Nations Which must therefore be shaken and dryed up 2. Moral Or the Idolatry of the Gentile worshippers The Jews stick hard as yet at this That God should abolish any kinde of worship which himself instituted But that he should ever accept any falsworship which he had once strictly prohibited and no where to this day appointed To this they will never be reconciled Now such is all the invented idolatrous worship which the Kings of the earth have sucked in from the Cup of Fornications held out unto them in the hand and by the Authority of the Roman Whore This still they cleave close unto and will not hearken to the Angel preaching the everlasting Gospel that men should worship him who made the Heavens and the Earth and the Sea and the fountains of Water Rev. 13. 6 7. i. e. The God of Heaven in Jesus Christ according to his holy just and righteous laws statutes judgements and Ordinances as afore mentioned in opposition to all their Jeonolatry Artolatrys Hagiolatry Stanrolatry and Masse abomination This then must also be removed And because as it hath been said it is so rivited and cemented into and with all the Orbs of the Nations Heaven and Earth i. e. the politick or humane Frames of Government which they have made for * themselves and their interests they therefore must be shaken and brought to destruction before it can be effected The second thing he hath to accomplish is the Tremendous totall Destruction of the man of Sin and all his adherents that are not obedient to the Heavenly call Rev. 18. 4. c. Doct. Pray what is your meaning by the adherents of Babylon Resp Are not most Potentates tyed by Oath or other compact either to maintain the whole or some part of the old Tower under the name of Right of Holy Church Prelates and the like true Doctor they are Query It is clear then that you include all sorts of Governours and Governments to be adherents to the Papal power or mystery Babylon the great the Mother of Harlots and abomination of the the earth who support Prelacy
fruit of their pride as in Pride bringeth confusion Prov. 16. 8. Zeph. 2. 10. so that whereas they looked to gain credit they found shame and confusion Like as when Saul had thought he had made a goodly place for Simile himself as triumphing for his late victory over Amaleck Even then he was rejected for being King 1 Sam. 15. 28 for his not obeying A warning for tyrants the command of the Lord against his professed enemies All which one would think to be fair warnings to the like disobedient Sauls of the times And in particular at Black-hall the Lord give them grace to consider thereof if they be not past repenting Again That the Kings of the earth were the original or root of Idolatry and Tyranny is also asserted and proved by King Solomon in his book titled Wisdome cap. 13. 14. where speaking of this Kings the Original of Idolatry Tyranny subject he saith That the devising of Idols were the beginning of spiritual fornication and the inventions of them the corruption of life for neither were they from the beginning neither shall they be for ever For by the vain-glory of men they entered into the world And therefore shall they come shortly to an end For a Father afflicted with untimely mourning when he had made an Image of his childe soon taken away Now honoured him as a God which was then a dead man And delivered to those that were under him Ceremonies and Sacrifices Thus saith Solomon in processe of time an ungodly custome grown strong was kept as a law And graven images were worshipped by the commandement of Kings or Tyrants whom men could not honour because they dwelt far off Therefore they took the counterfeit of his Visage from far and made an expresse Image of a King whom they honoured or worshipped to the end that by this their forwardnesse they might flatter him that was absent as if he were present Also the singular diligence of the Artificer did help to set forward the ignorant to more superstition Reason For he paradventure being willing to please one in Authority forced all his skill to make the resemblance of the best fashion and so the multitude being allured by the grace of the work took him now to be a God which a little before was but honored as a man And this saith he was an occasion to deceive the world Reason For men serving either Calamity or Tyranny did attribute to stocks and stones the incommunicable Name Moreover saith Solomon this was not enough for them that they erred in the knowledge of God but whereas they lived in the great war of Ignorance these so great plagues called they peace For whilest they slew their children in sacrifices and used secret ceremonies or made revilings of strange rites They kept neither lives nor mariages any longer undefiled Note The violation of the first principle of Nature leads to the breach of the second But either one slew another treacherously or grievâ—d him by Adultery So that there remained in all men without exception blood man-slaughter theft and dissimulation corruption unfaithfulnesse tumults perjury disquieting of good men forgetfulnesse of good turns defiling of souls changing of kinds disorder in marriages adultery and shamelesse uncleanenesse Argum. For the worshipping of Idols of what sort so ever not to be named is the beginning the cause and the end of all evill But the Kings of the earth were the Authors Contâ—mners and promoters of Idols and Idol-worship as hath been shewed Therefore the Kings or Tyrants of the earth were the beginning the cause and the end of all evill And thus I have proved and that by the testimony of â— King that the Principles of the Kings or Tyrants of the earth are directly opposite to the two Grand Principles of Nature i. e. To love God above all and our Neighbours as our selves And this Doctrine is also plentifully confirmed by the Apostle Paul in Rom. 1. from v. 18. to ult which is well worthy also of perusal as to this particular and now I shall proceed to the Second particular in order i. e. Assert That Jehovah the Lord Christ is determined to have a generall reckoning day with those persons and things that have so confronted him and his Laws i. e. these two Principles of Nature with the Decalogue and Statutes and Judgements depending thereupon as hath been shewed And this is also proved by the testimony of King Solomon in the aforesaid book cap. 13. and cap 14. where having treated of the two sorts of Idolatry i. e. of worshipping of the creature and likewise of the Image of the creature he concludes That the ungodly and his ungodlinesse are both alike hatefull to God for that which is made shall be punished together with him that made it Look to it then Idol-makers for black will be your day when the onely wise Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords shall by his Saints bring your actions to the touchstone of the Scriptures But least they shall say this Testimony of Solomons which I have cited the rather because he is a bird of their own feather in point of Title is Apochrypha I shall commend unto them the testimony of that Grave Orthodox Divine new created Doctor and singular Dean in England for you must understand all the rest were Popish and superstitious which I have done the rather in regard of that great repute he hath for a learned Rabby to the end what is said by him may gain the more credence with his Masters and fraternity with the rest of the Rabble Rout of Locusts Caterpillers and Canckerworms of the Nation And for their better attention I do also hereby give them to understand and that the expressions I shall mention are extracted out of a Sermon preached by him before no lesse persons than the House of Parliament from Heb. 12 26 27. i. e. Whose voice then shook the earth but he hath promised saying yet once more and I shake not the earth but the heavens also and this word yet once more signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken as of things that are made that those things which cannot be shaken may remain In the Explanation of which words he useth these following expressions i. e. as the Apostle here applyes part of the Prophet Haggai so that Prophefie even in the next words gives light into the meaning of the Apostle look what Heavens and Earth the Prophet speaks of of this and no other speaks the Apostle The Spirit of the Lord in the Scriptures is his own best interpreter see then the order of the words as they lye in the Prophet Haggai cap. 6. 7. I will shake Heaven and Earth I will shake all Nations God then shakes Heaven and Earth when he shakes all Nations that is he shakes the Heaven and Earth of the Nations I will shake Heaven and Earth I will shake all Nations is a Pleonasme For I will
The Royall ADVOCATE OR An Introduction to the Magnificent and Honourable Laws of Jehovah the Lord Christ now contaminated and despisâ—d by the present Armymâ—n of this NATION Asserting and Controverting the Holinesse Righteousnes Perfectnesse and Vniversallity thereof of Diviâ—â— Right In opposition to the Heatheâ—ish and Anticâ—ristian Laws Traditions and vaine imaginations of the past and present pretended Christian Magistrates of this Naâ—â—â—n which they yet so much dote upon and endeavour â—â—â—upport against the alone Law giver Lâ—rd oâ— heaven and earth God of Gods King of Kings and Lord of Lords Published by John Spittle-house now a prisoner for his Testimony agâ—iâ—st the Idolatry and Tyranny of the present Army men Priests Lâ—wyers c. For the Information of the followers oâ— thâ— Lambe now appearing as the Lyon of the tribe of Judah Mat. 15. 7 8. Ye Hypocrâ—â—es well did Elâ—â—â—h prophesie of you saying This people draweth nigh unto mâ— wiâ—h their mouth and honoureth me with â—heir liâ—s but their heart is far from me But in vain do they worship me teaching for Doctrines the commandements of men whether in things Civill or Spirituall Mat. 23. 13 14. Wo unto you Scribes Pharisees Hypocrites for ye shut up â—he Kingdome of Heaven against men for ye neither go in your selves neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in Therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation LONDON Printed for the Authour and are to be sold at the Crown in Popes-Head-Alley 1655. To the now contaminated Saints and Servants of God and yet faithfull followers of the Lamb in this crooked and perverse generation under the notion of the fifth Monarchy-men and enemies of all Magistracy and Ministry with all others whom it may concern Dear Brethren and Friends THe Providence of God is not unaptly compared to the wheels of a Clock which albeiâ— they run variously yet they agree harmoniously to the producing of that end to which they are appointed and therefore notwiâ—hstanding the affairs of this Nation have for some time had a contrary motion to the general expectation of the people of God which probably hath been the cause of all the flaggings and secret murmuâ—ings and repinings among them as though the Lord had forgotten to be gracious or to perform his peromises yet if we search narrowly into the mind and â—ill of Jehovah we shall prove no better by our incredulity than the Disciples of our blessed Saviour Luk. 24. 25. i. e. fools and and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets and the Lord Jesus and his Apostles have spoken shall come to passe in the last dayes as for instance the present Apostacies of the Army and several of the foolish though virgin Churches in this Nation in point of external ordinances i. e. those that have lately subscribed their approbation of this present Government we now live under to be of God and such as ought to be complied with as the Saints have formerly done to the Governments of Heathen Potentates without the least consideration of the prohibition which the Lord Jesus hath made and appointed against the worship of the Beast and his Image oâ— that receiveth his mark in his forehead or in his hand or his Name or number of his name and that under the pain and penalty of drinking of the wine of the wrath of God powred out without mixture into the cup of his indignation and that they shall be tormented wiâ—h Fire and Brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb and that the smoak of their torment shall ascend up for ever and ever and that they shall have no rest day nor night who worship the Beast and his Image c. Rev. 14 9 10 1â— hath doubtlesse been a great stumbling block in the way of Gods people â—o what they are now in expectation of and therefore to the end that all men may see and know that the present Government runs paralel with the Beast and that the saâ—â—â—â—proâ—â—â—â— â—â—â—one presumptuously are guilty of the aforementioâ—â—â— punishâ—â—â—â—s â—or so doing wil appear 1. From the ingagement of the Army against the late King and his Monarchy as one of the ten horns of the Beast guilty of the blood of the Saints 2. By the joynt con 〈…〉 of those very persons whom it is to be feared have now presumptuously worshipped the Image of the Beast c. witnesse their preaching praying fasting and fighting against that Government the image of which they now so much hug and imbrace and are now grown so shamefully impudent as to declare the same to be of God 3. By the Descent of the present Government from the fall of Adam iâ— having run through the veins of all the Idolaters and Tyrants that have been unto this day as in the ensuing Treatiâ—e will appear and that by the Testimony of the Grand new â—â—â—atâ—â— Docâ—our of the times Mr. John Owen who hath been very much assisting unto me in the proof thereof as you will also find 4. By the clear Testimony of Mr. Tillinghast in his Epistle to his late Book titled the Knowleâ—â— of the times so that the apostacies of the aforenamed person and persons if rightly used may rather conduce to the great advantage of Gods people and to the strengthening and confirming of the faith and confidence of those that hold fast their integrity i. e. that the Great day of the Lord is at hand and that judgement is now begun at the house of God that the Lords fire is now kindled in Sion and his furnace hâ—ating in Jerusalem that the Refiners fire is now melting away the tinne and drosse from 〈…〉 s jewels that the Fullers sope is now scowring up the garments of the Saints making them white and clean i. e. by a pure and unspotted life and conversation that they may now be as a City set upon the top of an hill or as a Candle put into a Candlestick to give a light to the inhabitants that they may approve themselves children of the light and of the day that their light may so shine before men that they may see their good actions and so be a means to stir them up to glorifie their Father which is in heaven for our blessed Saviour hath foretold that it shall be in the last dayes or time of his coming to judgement as it was in the dayes of Noah Mat. 24. 37. c. at which time it is clear from Gen. 6. that there hapned a very great apostacy in those persons who went under the Notion of the sons of God v. 2. by means of which the sins of that world became ripe for judgement every imagination of the thoughts of their hearts being then evil and that continually v. 5. and therefore seeing the said Prophâ—sie is now so evidently fulfilled before our eyes both in reference to the Army onely a few cordiall and thrice noble Commanders who rather than they would become a reproach and scandal to
by the Apostles of the Lord Jesus under the dispensation of the Gospel-state Proof The Characters of a right 5th monarchy man Gal. 5. 22. The fruits of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace long-suffering Gentlenesse Goodnesse faith Meeknesse Temperance Against which there is no Law And they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof if we live in the Spirit let us walk in the spirit Let us not be desirous of vain-glory provoking one another envying one another Jam. 2. 8. If ye fulfill the Royall Law according to the Scriptures Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self thou shalt do well But if ye have respect to persons ye commit sin and are convinced of the Law as transgressors for whosoever shall keep the whole Law and offend in one point He is guilty of all Reason For he which said Do not commit Adultery said also Do not kill Now if thou commit no Adultery yet if thou kill c. thou art become a transgressour of the Law 1. Pet. 1. 22 23. Seeing ye have purified your selves in obeying the trâ—th through the Spirit unto unfained love of the brethren so that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently Cap. 3. 8. c. Be ye all of one mind having compassion one of another Love as brethren be pitifull be courteous not rendring railing for railing but contrary-wise blessing knowing that ye are thereunto called that ye should inherit a blessing For he that will love life and see good dayes let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that he speak no guile Let him eschew evil and do good let him seek peace and ensue it Read the following words 1 John 3. 14. We know we have passed from death to life because we love the Brethren v. 27. whoso hath this worlds goods and seeth his brother hath need and shutteth his bowels of compassion Bar Quakers in this particular towards him how dwelleth the love of God in him My little children let us not love in word neither in tongue but in deed and in truth c. v. 33. And this is his Commandement that we should believe on the name of his son Jesus Christ and love one another as he gave us commandement and he that keepeth his commandements dwelleth in him and he in him and hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us Cap. 4. 17. Beloved let us love one another for love is of God and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God he that loveth not knoweth not God For God is love c. Ecclesiastes 12. 13. Let us hear the conâ—lusion of the whole matter Fear God and keep his commandements For this is the whole duty of man c. Assert 5 V. That in processe of time these two generall Principles were branched by the alone Law-giver into ten Precepts or words commonly termed the Decalogue or Ten Commandements Exod. 20. 1. c. God spake all these words saying Proof I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Egypt and out of the House of Bondage 1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me 2. Thou shalt not make to thee any graven Image or any likenesse of any thing that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth Thou shalt not bow thy self to them nor serve them For I the Lord thy God am a jealous Reason God visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandements 3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain For the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in Reason vain 4. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day Six dayes shalt thou labour and do all thy work thou nor thy son northy daughter thy Man-servant nor thy maid-servant nor thy cattel nor thy strangers that are within thy gaâ—es For in six days the Lord made heaven Reason earth the sea all that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it 5. Honour thy Father and Mother Reason That thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee 6. Thou shali not kil 7. Thou shalt not commit Adultery 8. Thou shalt not steal 9. Thou shalt not bear false witnesse against thy neighbour 10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife nor his Man-servant nor his maid-servant nor his ox nor his Asse nor any thing that is thy neighbours Assert 6 VI. That the Lord Jesus came not to destroy this Law Proof Mat. 5. 17. Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfill for verily I say unto you till heaven and earth passe one jot or one tittle in no wise shall passe from the Law till all be fulfilled wherefore whosoever shall break one of these least Commandements and teach men so shall be called least in the Kingdome of heaven But whosoever shall do and teach them shall be also called great in the Kingdome of heaven Assert 7 VII That the Apostles of our blessed Saviour did establish this Law under the Gospel Proof Rom. 2. 11 12 c. For there is no respect of persons with All the world liable to be judged by Gods Law The Law not made void through faith God for as many as have sinned without Law shall perish without Law and as many as have sinned in the Law shall be judged by the Law Rom 3. 19. c. Is he the God of the Jews onely is he not also of the Gentiles yea of the Gentiles also seeing it is one God which shall justifie the Circumcision by faith and the uncircumcision through faith Do we then make void the Law through faith God forbid Yea we establish the Law Assert 8 VIII That the Law which God gave unto Moses in Mount Sina were of three sorts i. e. the Moral the Judiciall and the ceremoniall Law The Contents of the Morall Law The Morall Law prescribeth a perfect Rule of righteousnesse discerning things that are Right and Just from the contrary both towards God and man both in reference to externall and internall duties requiring obedience under pain of everlasting death The Contents of the Judiciall Law The Judiciall Law belonged to the Civil State and were such Ordinances The Judiciall consists of Rules of Equity and Justice as contained rules of equity for the judging and deciding of civil controversies and questions decreeing punishments for the transgressions of the Morall and Ceremonial Lawes and consequently the very Bond of them Laws keeping the people in order and Obedience The Contents of the Ceremoniall Law The
Ceremoniall Law concerned such Rites and sacrifices as belonged to the externall worship of God prescribed to the people of the â—ews in reference to the promised seed of the woman which was to bruise the Serpents head Gen. 3. 14 15. and to typifie his coming to this end as also to distinguish them from other Nations in the world and to be signes and Symbols unto them of the Spiriâ—uall graces of the New Testament to be fulfilled by the Messiah The Ceremoniall Law utterly abolished As touching the Ceremoniall Law it is utterly abolished so that there is no place for them under the Gospel Neither can they be revived without derogation to the Gospel of Christ as the Apostle saith if ye be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing Gal. 5. 2. for when the body is come the shadow must be done away but the Cremonies were shadows the body is Christ Col. 2. 17. 1. Their Temple signified the body of Christ in his Church their Holy place HEAVEN or the bodies of the Saints 1 Cor. 6. 19. Know ye not that your bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost which is in you c. their sacrifices the passion of Christ Heb. 9. 26. 28. their expiation the Remission of sinnes Heb. 22. c. these things then being fully verified and fulfilled in Christ have no more place in the Church 2. These Ceremonies served onely for that carnall people which were as children kept in Bondage under the Elements and Rudiments of the world Gal. 4. 3. But now we are no longer under Tutours and Governours the time appointed of the father being expired but are set free and redeemed by Christ 3. A third Reason for the abolishing of them is in respect of that people to whom they were prescribed as a mark and Cognizance to discern them from all other nations But now this distinction also being taken away and the wall of partition being broken down Jew and Gentile being now made all one in Christ by faith that also is abolished which discerned them from other people Reason 4 For the Causes being changed for the which the Law was made there must needs be also an Alteration of the Law it self The Moral Law remaineth in full force in point of obedience The Moral Law remaineth yet in full force and is not abrogated in respect of obedience which thereunto is still required under the Gospel But in respect of the Curse * Christ hath onely taken away the Curse and malediction of the Morall Law and malediction which Christ hath taken away so that it is most true which our blessed Saviour Saith He came not to destroy the Law but to fulfill it Mat. 5. 17 18 19. he hath fulfilled it first in his own person in keeping it 2. in paying the punishment for us which was due by the Law to the transgressors thereof 3. inabling us by his grace to walke in obedience to his Law Why it pleased God to give his written Law into the World 1. God did not give the moral law in writing in that he was either mutable in changing his first determination or that in processe of time he had found out a more profitable way then he knew before as some have wickedly objected of old and now revived by the The Ranters and Quakers Tenent Ranters and Quakers of this Apostate Generation saying that by the light of Nature before the Flood Men discerned good from evill just from unjust so that the old world sinning against the law of Nature was justly punished it being imprinted in their hearts they shewing the effects of that Law written in their hearts their consciences also bearing them witnesse Answer 1. But because the law of Nature was now much obscured and almost quite obliterated by reason of the Idolatry and Tyranny that was then spread over the earth which flowed from the corruption of nature Therefore the Lord thought it needfull to give it forth by a Visible writing thereof in two Tables of Stone To his then onely peculiar people who from that very cause was selected out of the world Gen. 17. 1 2 4. Exod. 15. 26. and 20. 2 3. Deut. 5. 1 2 3. and 6. 12 c. 2. Least men should complain that somewhat was wanting in the heart therefore to take away all pretext of ignorance the Lord gave his written Law so that all men in generall are left without excuse 3. Because it was to prepare and make way for the Gospel to shew that we have not strength in our selves to fulfill the law in reference to the spirituall part thereof and so it was our Schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ Gal. 3. 24. 4. It was given as a supply of the weakness and ignorance of man that whereas there was no certain rule before to know what was good and what was evill but men according to their blinde phantasie and carnal imagination placed happinesse some in one thing and some in another the written law was to correct their erronious opinions to teach one constant certain rule of truth and virtue Reason For although in Civill and Politick matters the esteemed wise among the Heathen by their depraved light of nature and experience had attained to some degree of knowledge therein yet they were utterly ignorant of the true knowledge thereof and worship which God required therein all which is explained in the law with the statutes and judgments annexed thereunto So that in doing of this the Lord is said to commit the greatest treasure in the world to mankinde as Moses affirmeth Deut. 4. 8. What Nation is there so great that hath Statutes and judgments so righteous as all the Law that I set before you this day The fourfold use of the moral law in the fourfold State of man First As man was in his creation and state of Innocency he received two benefits by the knowledge of the law which was grafted in him by creation For 1. thereby he was made conformable to the image of God And so directed as that he should not have swerved from the will of his creator 2. He had assurance so long as he walked in obedience thereunto of certain eternity never to have tasted of Death Corruption or Mutability For he that keepeth the Law shall live thereby Secondly in Mans corrupt and decayed estate the law served to restrain the evill i. e. the written Law and therefore the Apostle saith that the Law is not given to a righteous man but to a lawless and disobedient 1 Tim. 1. 9. as also to discover unto them their sins and hence the same Apostle saith without the law sin is dead Rom. 7. 8. i. e. sin was not known to be sin for saith he I had not known Lust except the Law i. e. the written Law had said Thou shalt not commit vers 7. Here then that Soul-destroying notion of Quakisme is confuted The Quakers opinion confuted which alloreth men that are in this corrupt and
Assertion he is as like to maintain as any I know for a Stipends sake he cannot avoid but must per Force subscribe that the said statutes and Judgements are of as large an extent as the Moral Law it self acknowledged by him i. e. Obligatory Universal and Eternal and Binding all Nations Object 2 All Nations have a latitude left them of making such Civil Laws as they shall think convenient for the better Government of themselves according to Prudence and Discretion provided they be not contrary to that Royal Law Respon Prag I here challenge thee and all thy Mastâ—â—s which in Court City or Country Vniversities or Innes of Court by what names or titles so ever dignified or distinguished to shew me one Text of Scripture that granteth any such latitude to Magistrates by the alone Law-giver as they are or ought to be his Ministers or servants to put his Laws in execution but contrary-wise such Actions are so abominable in the eyes of Jehovah the Lord Christ as that he hath denoted a curse against those that do take upon them either to adde or detract that either swerve to the right hand or the left from those Laws Statutes and Iudgements prescribed by him for proof hereof see Deut. 27. 26. Gal. 3. 10. No Monsieur Prag those that are Dispensers of Iehovahs lawes must not make Laws for him whether in reference to Statute or Iudgement he is as able to prescribe his punishment as his Law without their help or assistance And therefore it was that our blessed Saviour so much inveighed against the Scribes Pharises hypocrites of his time of abode here on earth like unto Needhams forementioned Masters for that they had not onely transgressed the Commandements of God by their vain Traditions or Expositions but he had even made them thereby of none effect Mat. 13. 3 4 5 c. So that I affirm that Clause in Needhams Objection i. e. For the better Government c. to be absolute blasphemy for that by so saying in plain terms that his aforesaid Masters are Wiser than the Great God of Heaven and Earth in reference to the composing of all Government for the sonnes of men and therefore according to the Statute and Iudgement appropriated by Iehovah in such Cases he ought to be put to death vid. Lev. 24. 11. 15. 23. as also for his scurrilous expressions against Moses and the Laws given by God unto him to communicate to the people for he that despised Mose's Law was to dye without mercy under the testimony of two or three witnesses which Judgement will doubtlesse fall upon the heads of Needham c. In so saying he clearly giveth the Apostle Paul the lye who asserteth That the foolishnesse of God is wiser than the wisdome of men 1. Cor. 1. 25. The meanest of the Divine Orders being far beyond the wisest of his or his Masters vain imaginations so that by such their deceived foolish hearts they onely contract to themselves that Heathenish Character i. e. by professing themselves * Rom. 1. 2 2. wise to be Downright Foolish for in such Cases the Apostle doth positively affirm that the wisdome of the world viz. Athenian like Wisdome is foolishnesse to God for it is written I will destroy the wisdome of the wise whether in Civil or spirituall matters I will bring to nought the Councels of the prudent Where is the wise where is the Scribe where is the disputer or Needhams of this world hath not God made Foolish the Wisdome or politick carnal wisdome of this World and therefore he concludeth that not many after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called by God to be made Instruments in his work or service whether in Civils or Spiritualls but contrarywise hath made choice of that which is Foolish in the esteem of Needham and his Masters whether in reference to persons or things to confound that which they esteem wisdome that no flesh might glory in his presence vide Rev. 27 28 29. 1. I doe therefore hereby affirm that God that gave life and limbs unto men c. hath onely power to dispose of them and none else and that he that taketh away either the life or limb of any man other wise than God himself hath appointed or given direction in the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament either by general rule or particular precept is a Murtherer and a Tyrant 2. I do also hereby affirm that whosoever doth not take away life or limb in such cases as the alone law-giver hath appointed is an unjust Judge And that he will be punished by Jehovah the Lord Christ for so doing Reason For he hath said Yee shall do no unrighteousnes in judgment thou shalt not respect the person of the poore nor honour the person of the mighty Levit. 19. 15. But in Righteousnesse shalt thou judge thy Neighbour A text that ere long may be urged against those that have urged it against others vid. Abridg. Remonst Albans pag. 10. with severall other scriptures to such purpose And hence it was that Moses charged the Judges of Israel saying Heare the cause between your brethren and judge Righteously between every man and his brother and the stranger that is with him and yee shall not respect persons in Judgment but yee shall heare the small as well as the great you shall not be afraid of the face of man Deut. 1. 15 16 17. Reason For the judgment is Gods 3. That in all other cases the Magistrate being the Minister or servant of God or at least ought so to be Rom. 13. 4. ought to execute justice as the alone Law-giver their Lord and Master hath prescribed which they cannot do otherwise than by putting his laws in execution according to those statutes and judgments established by God himself and not according to theiâ— own lusts and humours as our present Magistrates do at this day punishing severall things by death which the alonâ— Law-giver hath appointed other punishments and severall things with other punishments for which the alone Law-giver hath appointed death Reason For it is required in a disposer that he should be found faithfull 1 Cor. 4. 2. But Gods will otherwise appeareth not then in his word or law Therefore who so doth not accordingly doth not perform the will of the alone Law giver in his word or Law and consequently of the number of those Magistrates mentioned by Solomon in his book titled Wisdome cap. 6. 1. to whom he saith by way of rebuke and admonition Heare therefore O yee Kings and understand learn ye that be Judges of the ends of the earth give ear you that rule the people and glory in the multitude of Nations for power is given you of the Lord and soveraignty from the highest i. e. the Constitution of Authority or Magistracy Rom. 13. 3 4. and that according to the Armies own construction of that place in their Abridgment of the Remonstrant Albans wherein pag. 6. they
say that Paul speaks in that place of Authority c. Magistracy in its constitution not of a Person abusively exercising it to be Gods instrument of Good to every one and an incourager of good in every man and an envying to evill who will try your work or pollicy and search out your Counsel then Counsellours look to your selves you had need then to treble your guards about you Reason Because being Ministers of his Kingdom the Kingdome will be then found to be the Lords and not theirs who are now Usurpers both over it and the Lords Goverment which he hath appointed for it ye have not judged right wherein have they not judged right nor kept the Law What will become of those Magistrates then that have neither kept the Law i. e. that have not judged according to the Law of the alone Law giver neither have judged according to their own Laws surely the following judgment will fall with a Witnesse upon such Magistrates Nor walked after the Counsel of God no nor of good men neither but of a company of fawning Parrasites the Frogs Locusts Caterpillars and Cankerworms of Nations horribly and speedily will he come upon you For a sharp judgment shall be to them that are in high places for mercy will pardon the meanest such as may not properly be termed the makers and judges of Heathenish Laws i. e. the petty-foggers of the Laws and governments of man i. e. such as are not Commissionated to such purpose but mighty men shall be mightily tormented Reason For he that is Lord Oneral shall fear no mans person How not the person of O. P. c. Neither shall he stand in aw of any mans greatnesse but sure he dare not meddle with his Highnesse that is a degree above greatnesse for he hath made the small and great and earth for all a like how for all alike that 's a strange saying indeed surely the Lord will be a leveller with a witnesse But a sore tryall shall come upon the mighty Let her alone untill that day The Fox fares bâ—st when he is threatned most These are but Bug-bear-expressions to frighten children valiant Heroes fears them not me vive fiat saith Nero and his Comrades let this day of judgment come in their time so much do they fear it tush they are onely mock-beggers and scar-crows they see by reason and experience that all things continue as they were from the beginning of the Creation let a company of dreaming Prophets say what they will doth God take notice of idolatry or Tyranny as the simple vulgar term it Tush he seeth no such thing there is no such knowledge in the most high and if he do know yet doubtles he hideth away his face and will not see it For surely otherwise he would not have suffered it so long to have been practiced as he hath done away therefore with all such Fancies and let us look after our present work to suppresse such sawcy insolent fellows that dares to cite such Treasonable Texts to the â—nd they may affright us What! doth not our Prognosticatours tell us that our Government is permanent and will not admit of alteration for many hundreds of years what then ought we to give heed to such bablers Unto you O Kings saith Solomon do I speak that Ye may learn wisdome and not fall away How now Solomon do you give us this Counsel surely this book was made when you were in your doling condition when you began to have one leg in the grave it was not so with you when your Government lashed your brethren as with whips when your provision for one day was thirty measures of fine floure and threescore measures of meal ten fat oxen and twenty oxen out of the pasture besides Harts and Robucks and Fallow-deere and fatted fowl when you had forty thousand stalls of horses for your Chariots and twelve thousand horsemen when you had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines No this was when you began to surfet of your pleasures and therefore to cry all is vanity and vexation of spirit well when we have taken our fill of pleasure as you did we shall peradventure take your advise in the mean time give us leave to satisfie the lusts of our own hearts and if not know we will take leave and so farewell Solomon Seeing that which is not of of faith or firm perswasion is sin Rom. 14. 23. and faith must be grounded upon the Word as being wrought by the Word Rom. 10. 16 17 18. The Magistrate cannot justifie his Acts of Justice in the sight of God unlesse he can warrant the same from the word of God and what word is there for taking away the life of a man for simple theft c. with several other things now acted by the present Magistrates of this Nation as I shall undertake to prove if ever providence call me thereunto 5. In as much as God hath created man in his own Image Gen. 1. 26. c. which Image is in Mans Soul animating his body This Image I say ought not to be defaced and dissolved but by warrant and direction from the word of God and consequently in all other Cases where the Great Law-giver hath as well prescribed the Punishment as the Offence i. e. the judgement or punishment as the Precept or Statute and that who so doth not so is a Rebell and Traitor to the alone Law-giver whose servant he ought to be in all faitfulnesse and not an Vsurper of his Masters Authority or Legislatorship as our present Magistrates are at this day Object Mordecay and Daniel having place of Government under the Babylonish and Persian Kings did no doubt administer Justice according to the Laws and Customes of that Country Therefore the Laws of the Heathens were assented unto by godly persons Resp The Case is now far different for those Emperours or Kings were Heathen but the present Magistrates of this Nation are at least in pretence Christians and therfore for them above all other to act by and according to those Heathenish Laws and Customes doth render them to be Worse than the very Heathen Reason For the Heathens did make and act by such Laws meereâ—y out of blind ignorance Acts 17. 30. and therefore God is said to wink thereat but since hath commanded All Men every * None then can plead excuse where to repent of such their wickednesse because he hath Appointed a day in which he will Iudge the World in Righteousnesse which can be done by no other than his own Holy Iust perfect and Righteous Laws by the Man whom he hath ordained c. but the present Magistrates of this Nation or Supreme power which I take with Mr. Feak to reside in the Army or Chief Officers thereof they do it Presumptuously witnesse their Declarations Remonstrances c. in which they have Notoriously proclaimed to All the World that they have fought to set up the Lord Iesus Christ to be
no sooner had the * Gal. 6. 10 As we have opportunity let us do good Opportunity put into his hand of magnifying the Law of God and making it Honorable but forthwith put it in practice which sad experience teacheth our Army-Men have not albeit all their opportunities vows and protestations to that purpose as before expressed whereas it is the mind of God that if a man vow or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond that he break not his word but do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth Numb 30. 2. Again Deut. 23. 21. When thou shalt vow unto the Lord thy God thou shalt not slack to pay it for the Lord thy God shall surely require it of thee and it will be sin to thee again Ecclesiast 5. 4 5 6. When thou vowest a vow unto God defer not to pay it for he hath no pleasure in Fools Pay that which thou hast vowed better it is thou shouldest not vow than that thou shouldest vow and not pay Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin neither say thou before the angel that it was an error wherefore should God be angry at thy voyce and destroy the work of thy hand All that your Swords have gotten you Godly David telleth God that he will pay the vows which he made to him when he was in trouble but it seems our Army-men are content with Nebuchadnezzar to proclaim the God of Daniel to be worshipped in their Dominions provided he will be content to have it done after the Baylonish fashion Otherwise they have no more to say unto him Again it is worthy our observation what notabe Jugglers Instance the Kings or Tyrants of the earth have ever been with God as for instance in Dan. 2. 47. we find Nebuchadnezzar having lately received a favour from Daniels God in reference to the knowledge of his dream openly declaring that of a truth Daniels God was a God of Gods and a Lord of Kings and a revealer of Secrets and yet notwithstanding all this in the third verse following we find the same Nebuchadnezzar erâ—cting an image of Gold and compelling the worshipâ—ers of Daniels God to fall down and worship it An Act not much unsuitable to the present actions of our Army-men who having formerly proclaimed Jesus Christ as aforesaid Comparison by way of thankfulnesse for their wonderful preservations from so many eminent dangers and to exalt and magnifie him onely and that by his own Way or Rule of Worship in and by his own Laws and Ordinances contained in the holy Scriptures that they would suppresse whatsoever was contrary thereunto both in Church and State but the Nine Dayes Wonder being over forthwith cast all their Ingagements behind their backs and instead of performing thereof turn direct Antipodians or Retrogradians by setting up an image of some things that had been destroying and not onely so but also commanding obedience thereunto witnesse the late Gooernment they have erected 3. Albeit Mordecay and Daniel did act according to the Laws and Customes of that Country during their captivity in that place that doth not in the least argue or conclude that the Laws of the Babylonians and Persians should now be promoted among us Reason For what should we do with their Laws without their Idols for their Laws were their Religion by which they worship Flesh God or King or Tyrant at whose Lust and Pleasure the lives of men were sacrificed to appease his wrath or their graven and molten gods with the Rites and Ceremonies appertaining thereunto Therefore in as much as we do at least pretend that we do not worship their gods what use have we of their Laws or Religion whether in reference to their idolatries or Tyrannicall worship required by them So that the necessary Consequent of what hath been said will be that so many of this Nation as own that God which made his own Law in Mount Sina by which he will be worshipped as also how his Subjects shall demean themselves one towards another and which was established and ratified by his sonne and our Saviour in Mount Olivet and also by his Apostles as hath been proved That they henceforth indevour the promotion of those Holy Just and perfect Laws with all their might and power and contrary-wise to suppresse all such persons and things that are opposite thereunto whether in Church or State Object Our Saviour commandeth us to give tribute to Cesar and the Apostle injoyned obedience to the higher powers which doth bear the Sword and that for conscience sake Rom. 13. all which giveth Approbation to the Laws of Nations Resp The people of God were then as I have said under the power of Heathen Magistrates and therefore to the end they might procure unto themselves a great and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty 1 Tim. â—2 2. Our Lord Jesus and his Apostles admonished them in such cases not to oppose or resist them and indeed who would not feed a hungry and greedy Lion rather than to be torn in pieces and devoured by him But all this doth not in the least prove that the Laws of Cesar or the Image thereof are better than the Laws of God or that the people of God having now under God freed themselves from the Dominion of Cesar should now by force be brought back again to worship and adore the image and Superscription of Cesar under a Cesarian Habit that they should submit to the Laws Customes and Traditions of those false gods they have Conquered and Neglect the Laws Statutes and Judgements of that God by whose might and power they have conquered these false gods and their worshippers for if so what is it other than to imitate those disobedient Israelites who joyned in league with the Canaanites whom the Lord signed for destruction and with them to worship Baalim and the Groves Judges 3. 6 7. Therefore such whom the Lord hath made instrumentall either by word or sword to extirpate the name and person of Cesar out of this nation ought doubtles to persevere therein until they have as well extinguished and blotted out his Image and Superscription in whomsoever and whatsoever they see or find it to be fixed in and that to All Ends and purposes For without all Controversie the one is altogether as lawfull if not More than was the other yea doubtlesse it is a far lesse resisting of Magistracy to destroy the Image and Superscription of Cesar than it was to destroy His Name and Person but the Army affirmed it was no resisting of Magistracy to destroy the person and name of Cesar therefore it will be no resisting of Magistracy in the other to destroy the Image and Superscription in whomsoever and whatsoever they find it For in such Cases the Army hath concluded it as a Maxime that it is no resisting * Note to side with just Principles i. e. in such Cases whereupon the life and death of True
Religion whether in reference to God or our neighbour doth depend and that in such Cases men are bound in duty and conscience both to God and their Neighbour where no effectuall help doth from elsewhere appear not to be wanting in any thing they can either do or say to hold off impending Ruine from an Honest People and a good Cause but that as in publick fires all ought to lift up their Voice and Hand bringing what Ladders Buckets or what other assistance they can vid. Abridgement Remon Albans p. 1. as did say they part of the people in Arms or an ARMY interposing against the Standing Authority for the life of good Jonathan 1 Sam. 14. 45. And the People said unto Saul shall Ionathan dye who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel God forbid as the the Lord liveth there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground for he hath wrought with God this day So the People rescued Jonathan that he dyed not From which with severall other Presidents in the said abridgement it is clearly apparent that an Honest and just cause doth justifie the Means that may accomplish it as also the instruments that acteth therein what then is there wanting but the sword of the Lord and of Gedeon to destroy all ungodlinesse and unrighteousnesse of man from off the face of the earth and to erect those holy just and perfect Laws Statutes and Ordinances of Iehovah the Lord Christ instead thereof Object The Moral Law was ratified by Jesus Christ and his Apostles but not the judiciall Law you plead for yea Jesus Christ doth in severall places null some of the Statutes and Judgemenâ—s which were constituted and appointed by Moses as in Mat. 5. 38. where he saith ye have heard that it hath been said An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth as in Exod 21. 22 23 24 25. Lev. 24 19 20. Deut. 19. 20 but I say unto you that ye resist not evil but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek turn to him thâ— other also Resp Our blessed Saviour doth here neither abrogate the Statute nor the Iudgement depending on that precept Thou shalt not kill but onely freeth the same from the Traditions and interpretations of the Scribes and Pharises Hypocrites of those times who took and gave liberty to foster and follow private revenge and therefore in as much as vengeance is Gods and in that he saith he will repay it by his instruments i. e. by such Magistrates as shall put his Laws in execution The Lord Jesus doth hereby rebuke them for taking on them to revenge their particular and private injuries and so to arrogate to themselves that power that belonged to him and consequently to his Lawfull Deputies the Civil Magistrate and not that he doth here in the least take off the punishment that God by Moses had appointed in such cases i. e An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth c. Reason For if so then it would unavoidably follow that every man that listeth may strike out the eyes and teeth of his Neighbour at pleasure as also that the person so offended should be so far from seeking revenge on the offender as that he is ingaged by our Saviour to provoke the offender to do him more mischief by turning unto him the other cheek to be smitten and if this be not the meaning then I would gladly know what course men should take in point of such injuries offered unto them That may be collected from this expression of our Saviour afore mentioned If it be replyed that complaint is to be made to the Civil Magistrate to the end he may do Justice therein on the person offending Resp I demand by what Rule for it is clearly evident to all that are rationall that those words of our blessed Saviour will bear no such construction but quite contrary-wise that the person so injured should endeavour to provoke the offender to do him more mischief Again put case that an Appeal is to be made to the Civil Magistrate if that Civil Magistrate to whom the Appeal is made be an Administrator or Executioner of the Laws of the alone Law-maker and giver what other punishment ought he inflict than that which he findeth prescribed in his Masters Laws so that in sâ—ch case Magistrates must either of necessity wholly omit any punishment for such like offences or they must judge by the standing Rule prescribed in the Law of God contained in the five books of Moses So thâ—n without all Controversie where Jehovah hath as well prescribed the punishment as the offence it ought not to be altered by any Magistrate whatsoever and therefore for any Magistrate to assume the impudence to dissolve those things that God hath so joyned together by the dictates of their own phantasie or light of Nature within them is no other than by professing themselves wise to become fools Again the Apostle James affirmeth That there is but one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy It is therefore an absolute usurpation of Gods Legislative power to save or destroy by any other means or rule than that great and onely Law-giver hath prescribed Again in point of common sence to whom can it rather refer to give rules of direction for what offence mans life shall be saved or other punishments to be inflicted and for what his life shall be taken away then to that holy just and righteous Law-giver who is the Author and giver of life and at whose will and pleasure mans life and limbs ought to be taken away and not otherwise And therefore I do hereby aver that whosoever shall henceforth contaminate or despise the aforesaid statutes and judgments doth directly derogate from Gods Authority and subjection who is the onely and sufficient Law-giver as also from the sufficiency of his Laws which is ten thousand times more perfect than any other constitution whatsoever and will thereby bring upon themselves an unavoidable destruction And it is well worthy our observation that whilest the present Army owned those judicials I plead for to be from heaven and a rule for all Rulers and that who so was not ever under them owned not his subjection to God They urged no other rule of justice to try the late King by as is clâ—erly manifest in that paper titled the Abridgment of the Râ—monst Albans where they cite multitudes of presidents out of holy writ to prove him guilty of death but not one statute law of the Nation No they were then out of date with them but now temporamutantur c. And the world is run round again since that time Object Jesus Christ and his Apostles never commanded the practice of the Judicial Laws you speak of therefore not to be urged under the Gospel Respon I have proved from Jesus Christ himself that he came not to destroy the morall percepts and consequently not those statutes and judgments which are in separably annexed
was not yet come that his Kingdome should be on the earth he being before that time to become a sufferer both in his own person and in his Members by that Roman power then in being at the end whereof i. e. at the expiration of the Little Horns Dominions Dan. 7. it shall arise out of the ruine thereof and so by gradation spread it self over the face of the whole earth as in v. 25 26 and 27 of that chapter Object The Severity of Mose's Judicials ought not to be practiced under the Gospel as the continuall practice of the Church sheweth as Paul willeth the incestuous person onely to be excommunicated 1 Cor. 5. there was then no Law in force to put such to death Resp This conceipt was the first ground of the Manichean Heresie for in making of difference in the proceedings of Justice under the Law and under the Gospel against one and the same Transgression they thereupon laid a foundation for the setting forth of two gods the one severe and the other mercifull whereas the Lord Jesus doth rather aggravate than mitigate the punishments of the Judiciall Laws as in the explication of that Precept Thou shalt not kill He to shew the latitude or complement or full extent of the mind of his Father therein saith that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of Judgement and whosoever shall say to his brother Racha shall be in danger of the Councel but whosoever shall say thou fool shall be in danger of hell-fire hence John saith He that hateth his brother is a murtherer in Gods esteem Again v. 27. in his Exposition of that Precept Thou shalt not commit adultery He saith that Whosoever looketh after a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart c. And hence the Apostle Peter speaking of lascivious persons saith They have eyes full of adultery 2 Pet. 2. 14. In which expressions Christ sheweth that the Moral Precept extendeth as well to the inward as outward man and that he will punish the transgressions of the one as of the other the one by the Civil magistrate and the other by his Church and not in the least mitigateth the punishments of the fruits of the flesh i. e. Theft Aultery Fornication Vncleannesse Lasciviousnesse Idolatry Withcraft c. And as touching the incestuous person I have laid down a sufficient Reason why the Church could not punish him with death they having not the power to put the Laws of God in execution as also in that their Civil Magistrate did not act by Gods Laws but were unjust Judges so that it may as well be argued and concluded from Pauls expression elsewhere i. e. Let him that stole steal no more but rather let him labour with his hands c. That Theft under the Gospel is to be no other wayes punished by the Civil Magistrate than by an admonition to steal no more therefore those that affirm that the punishments of the Judiciall Law is mitigated by Christ and his Apostles under the Gospel would do well from the mouth of God to shew in what it is mitigated or to whom and whether to all or to some sinnes onely and why not all as well as some and how it can be in some particulars and not in all or each of them or how it can be under the Gospel and not declared by Christ and if by him then how can he be said to establish the Law and yet destroy all in part and whether Idolatry Blasphemy Murther Adultery Theft c. be not the same in Gods esteem now as formerly in England as in Judea and if so then why not the same punishments here as there for the violation thereof with much more that might be urged to this purpose Object If those Statutes and Judgements annexed to the Moral Law for the breach of the Moral Precept were now to be instituted it would overthrow all the constitutions of Government in Christendome yea in the whole world and so bring all the Magistrates of the earth into a Chaos of confusion and destruction with all their adherents and that both in things Civil and Ecclesiasticall Resp That is no more than God hath appointed and determined shall come to passe at bringing in of the Kingdome of the Man-child who is to rule all Nations with a rod of iron Psal 2. 9. and 72. 8. Rev. 2. 27. and 19. 15. and therefore for the further clearing up of this Assertion I shall set before you 1. Who are the professed Antâ—gonists of the Man-child with the matters or things whereby they have all along resisted and opposed his government and Subjects 2. The determinate purpose of the Man-child i. e. the Lord Jesus to subvert and destroy those persons and things which have and do so confront him and his Members i. e. his Church or people 3. The manner how he will effect it in all the Nations of the earth 4. The persons by whom he will effect it And first of the first in order to which I Assert Assert That the Kings or Tyrants of the earth have in all ages been the Grand Antagonists to the Kingdome and Government of the Lord Jesus and that both in things spirituall and Civil in the things appertaining to our duty towards God and our Neighbour comprised in the two Tables of the Moral Law But before I proceed to the proof of this Assertion I shall in the first place give you to understand that I take these two Tables of the Moral Law or ten Commandements with the Statutes and Judgements afore mentioned to be the Royal Law or Government of Jehovah the Lord Christ and that those Statutes and Judgements are that Civil Law by which he will rule the Nations with a rod of iron in that they produce the sword of Justice in the hands of the Civil Magistrate which sword of Iustice I say is that iron Rod formerly mentioned and no other thing and hence it is the Saints are said to have a two edged sword in their hand as well as the high prayses of God in their mouths Psal 149. the one edge offensive and the other defensive I also take the Gospel or New Testament to be the Spirit of the The Gospel the spirit of the Law Law and this Assertion our blessed Saviour himself confirms Joh. 6. 63. where he positively affirmeth that the Words which he spake they were Spirit and they were Life which is also confirmed by the Apostles in v. 68. where they say whither shall we go from thee for thou hast the words of eternal life c. But the Gospel or New Testament is the Counterpain of those words so spoken by him and his Apostles which they have left unto us ratified by signes and miracles to be a Lanthorn to our feet and a light unto ourpaths in the things that the Lord Christ expecteth to be done by his body the Church so that the
Doctrine of the New Testament I likewise take to be Christs Golden Scepter which he holds forth to all Nations and especially unto his Spouse the Church which with the Ordinances contained therein I take to be the two edged sword of his mouâ—h mentioned Rev. 19. 13 15 21. Having thus given you my thoughts touching the two grand Principles of nature in reference to our duty to God and our neighbour I shall proceed to the two Direct Opposites thereof i. e. 1. Idolatry or false worship as to God 2. Tyranny or Inhumanity as to our Neighbour Which two Principles I do hereby aver to be of and from the Devil and consequently that those that put them in practice are the Servants or Ministers of the Devil and professed Antagonists to the Government of Iehovah the Lord Christ which he hath appointed to govern the sons and daughters of men by whether in reference to himself or their Neighbour Now for proof of the forementioned Assertion I shall give a brief Narrative of the first Originall of Idolatry and Tyranny after the Flood Iehovah having destroyed the Old world with a Deluge of water by reason of the Abominable Apostacies of the sonnes of God or Professours of Gods worship Noah and his family onely excepted yet notwithstanding that so notorious president of sin and punishment no sooner was the present world repopulated and that in a small measure but the depraved light of Nature the Ranters and Quakers present adored light which is no better than the darknesse of hell or bottomles pit notwithstanding the voluntary humiliation of the Quakers at this day to colour it over the Devil having now put his angel of light 's habit upon the Ranters back or Principle i. e. an externall shew of holinesse or voluntary humility as in Col. 2. 18 19. where he exhorteth the true body or Church of Jesus Christ saying let no man beguil you of your reward in a voluntary humility or self-denyall in the things of this life or worshipping of Angels or figments or Notions of the mind intruding into those things that they have not seen notwithstanding all their pretence of seeing Vainly puft up with a fleshly mind Pure Quakers as can be spit out of the Devils mouth as wofull experience will shortly teach them they being as I hear Mr. Iohn Goodwin lately and truly characterised them The last born of the Devil The Quakers Tenent is the Devils last game he hath to play The Devil as I have said having put upon their accused Principle his most beautifull robe of delusion which the Lord preserve all good people from I say no sooner was the present world repopulated and that in a small measure but the aforesaid depraved light of Nature now so rampant and idolized among the Apostate Professors of these dayes in mankind became subject to the like temptations and delusions of Satan which brought them into the like abominable practises of violating the two forementioned grand Principles of nature by practising Idolatry and Tyranny The originall of which defection or wicked practice after the Flood upon a publick account is by Historians fixed on Nimrod The ground of this their Assertion they take from Gen. 10. 8 9 10. Where Cush is said to beget Nimrod and that he began to be a Mighty one in the Earth and a mighty hunter before the Lord and the beginning of his Kingdome was Babel 1. Hierome in Tract Gen. saith that Nimrod was the first man after the Flood that exercised Tyranny which before was not practised 2. Iosephus saith he provoked men to pride and contempt of God teaching them to ascribe their Happinesse to themselves and not unto God 3. Hugo Annot. in Gen. saith he brought in Idolatry teaching men to worship the â—ire that was so commodious unto them which practice saith he the Caldeans followed 4. Whereas Nimrod is stiled a Mighty Hunter before the Lord Augustine rendereth it against the Lord but the proper meaning is that it is spoken by a Metaphor because he hunted men as Beasts are chased in which sense David saith that Saul hunted him as Partridges are hunted in the mountains and that in the very sight and presence of God he practised Idolatry and Tyranny so that from Nimrods Idolatrous and Tyrannical Dominion it grew into a Proverb to resemble an Idolater and cruel oppressour to Nimrod Behold then all ye Idolaters or false worshippers and Tyrants or cruell oppressors the Root from which you had your Sap and Growth from that time to this present day Bâ—hold also the first Metropolis or City of refuge that this your great Grandsire prepared to secure himself from danger the Greatest Tyrants ever providing the greatest security for themselves knowing they are neither in favour with God or good men and hence it is they ever fortified themselves with strong Cities c. being afraid even of their own shadows witnesse the Hand-writing upon the wall which made Belshazzars countenance to change yea put him into such anagony and that in the height of all his jolily as loosed even the very joynts of his loyns so that his knees smote one against another Dan. 5 6. yea it put both him and his Nobles in such a fright that it was high time for them to call aloud for their Astrologers Caldeans and southsayers and yet all to no Purpose Lillies Art was then non-plust with its Albumazar as also in Nebuchadnezzars Dream touching the Fifth Monarchy which shamefull disparagement to their diabolical profession makes them they could never endure a dreaming Prophet since and especially if it savours of that fifth Monarchy Dream as expounded by Daniel cap. 2. 34 35 44 45. which Dream is certain and the interpretation thereof sure maugre all the Diabolicall instruments in the world by what name or title soever they are called And hence it is that all the Tyrannicall and Idolatrous Governments The Rise of Pagan Babylon that were from Nimrod to Constantine the Roman Emperor which I term the Old Pagan state or Government had their Rise and being from Nimrod and that City and Tower of Babel and therefore commonly called in Scripture the Queen or Mother of Idolatry and Inhumanity and consequently of all Idolaters and Tyrants the issue of that hellish spawn And in like manner I also take the Rise of that Autichristian The Rise of Antichristian Babylon Babylon tituled in Rev. 17. 5. Mystery Babylon the great the Mother of harlots and abomination of the earth to be meant of Rome in point of situation and the Nimrod thereof to be Constantine who after he had swallowed up the floods of water cast by the Dragon after the woman Rev. 12. from v. 13. to ult which I take to be by his Conquest over the persecutours of the Christians he is said to give unto the Beast which rose out of the waters cap. 13. 1 2. his power and seat and great Authority by which act of his became the mixture
of Iron and Potters clay together in the images feet foretold by Daniel cap. 2. 33 41 42 43. which Iâ—on and Potters clay I take to be the mixing of the Civil and Ecclesiastical powers together which from that time have been continued to this present day Having thus stated the Rise both of the Pagan and Antichristian Babylon I shall in the next place enlarge my self a little in reference to each of them to the end that by a better knowledge thâ—reof the people of God may be more induced to abominate and detest them as also to execute the Judgement upon them and their supporters and adherents as it is written Psal 149. with multitudes of other Scriptures to that purpose and first of the first A brief Narrative of Pagan Babylon viz. of Pagan Babylon with its Adherents As to what this Nimrod was Who Nimrod was some take him to be the same which Forreign stories call Belus and that he was the first founder of the Idols in the Eastern Countries who were derived from him as Belial Beelzebub Belphegor but it will appear by what follows that Nimrod was before Belus 2. Touching Babel the beginning of Nimrods Kingdome it Of Babel in general was so called not from Belus as some would have it but from the Confusion of Languages as the ancient Saxon word Babel doth seem to import which word was usually menâ—ioned by them to such persons as spake confusedly to whom they would say why Babel ye or why confuse ye the true etimology of the word being why Babel ye or why do ye imitate those persons at Babel who spake so confusedly as thâ—t they could not be understood by their Auditors but to put all out of doubt the Scripture doth clearly testifie as much Gen. 11. 9. in these words therefore is the name of it called Babel because there the Lord confounded the Languages of all the earth and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of the earth 3. Touching the building of the City of Babel or Babylon the Of the City and Tower of Babel first Metropolis of Idolatry and Tyranny Quintus Curtius ascribeth it to Belus lib. 4. Berosus cited by Josephus to Nebuchadnezzar lib. 1. cont Appian from Dan 4. 30. where Nebuchadnezzar is presented saying is not this great Babel which I have builded for the House of the Kingdome the might of my power and the honour of my Majesty Berosus Arrianus maketh all three builders of Babylon As 1. That Nimrod began the Tower anno 131. after the Flood 2. That Belus built the City who saith he reigned after Nimrod 65 years and that he himself i. e. Belus reigned 56 yeers 3. That Semyramis the wife of Ninus which reigned 24 yeers much inlarged the City and fortified it Aâ—ter all this when the Assyrian Kings had made Niniveh the imperial seat so that Babylon was much neglected and decayed at last Nebuchâ—dnezzar having conquered the City of Niniveh re-â—dified Babylon as before mentioned and hereto agreeth Iosephus Oâ—osinus lib 6. and August lib. 16. de Civit. Dei cap. so that the beginning and Foundation was laid in Nimrod as in Gen. 10. 10. which saith That the beginning of his Kingdome was Babel 4. As touching the way and means this Nimrod took to set How Nimrod became a Monark up his Idolatrous and tyrannical government I shall likewise set forth to the end that the present Idolaters or false worshippers and Tyrants or civil oppressors of the times may compare their present conditions and actions with their predecessors at the erecting of their great grand-mother Babell Nimrod having by his craft and policy wound himself so into the affections of the people as to be made their Captain-General Or Ring-leader of that company and calling to mind how the old world was drowned and destroyed for Idolatry and Inhumanity which designe he had now in his heart to practice as his predecessors of the old world had done before him though covertly and therefore under a * Nimrods Policy pretence of making themselves famous in the earth to all posterity And thereupon stirred up the rude multitude under this plausible pretence to build him a City and a Tower that might not only free him from the danger of men but also from fear of any thing that God could do unto him as also that he might with more boldnesse effect his wicked and ungodly enterprises And this he did in * One tyrant taketh example by another imitation of the Tyrants of the old world i. e. the Gyants or Apostate sons of God of whom it is reported that they had a City called Enos in the Mountains of Libanus that ruled over the whole world But it is to be understood that this Nimrod could not fortifie his City Tower and Palace with Demy Cannon and such like Artillery for the use of such engines of cruelty were not then found out but since the Devil for the better encouragement of servants hath now supplied them with plentifull store thereof for such purpose c. I shall now in large something in reference to the Tower in the attempting and erecting whereof these following sins concurred with which I shall also mentioned to the end the present Nimrods or Idolatrous tyrannical Babel-builders of the times may ruminate thereon and consider how far short they now are if any of Nimrods then condition 1. In the building of this Tower his impiety appeared in attempting it in despite of God As the Prophet Isaiah according to The impiety of tyrants this pattern bringeth in the King of Babylon vanting himself saying I will ascend unto the clouds I will be like the Most High 2. His vanity appeared in seeking to be made famous on earth and not by good actions to be made glorious in heaven he thought to Their vanity exalt himself by building and not by loving God above all and his neighbour as himself 3. His disobedience appeared in that it was Gods ordinance Their disobedience that the earth should be replenished by them and yet they wilfully oppose the Counsel of God by resolving not to depart from them as in v. 6. where they say Let us build a City and Tower whose top may reach to heaven that we may get us a name least we be scattered 4. Herein his impudence was also discovered For whereas Their impudence pride and voluptuousnesse he should have been convicted in his conscience for his pride and arrogancy Rom. 2. 15. he openly proclaimed his ambition voluptuousnes c. to all posterity proceeding to such a violence therein that nothing could now restrain him as neither the fear of God nor the fearfull looking for of judgment and fiery indignation 2 Pet. 3. 10. to be poured out upon him as in Heb. 5. 26 27. But contrariwise whatsoever he had proudly devised he would as impudently practise The confusion of their language was therefore a
Souldiers with your rhethorical Artillery But in the interim let us lay before them the following words of the Prophet v. 21. They shall not build and another inhabit they shall not plant and another eat for as is the dayes of a Tree are the dayes of my people And my elect shall long enjoy the works of their hands It appeareth then there must be Mechanical persons in this glorious state which the two learned Doctors assert is to be for the following words saith They shall not labour in vain nor bring forth trouble Reas For they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord and their off spring with them they are then to procreate children under this glorious estate and condition vid. cap. 66. 22. And it shall come to passâ— that before they shall call saith the Lord I will Answer And whilâ—st they are yet spealing I will hear there is then to be the use of Ordinances under this glorious state and condition and pray c. The Wolf and the Lamb shall feed together and the Lyon shall eat straw with the Bullock and dust shall be the Serpents meat i. e. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain saith the Lord. They shall then beat their swords into plow-shares and their spears into pruning hooks Nation shall not lift up sword against Nation neither shall they learn war any more Gentlemen you will stand in need of all your Rhethorick when you go about to convince the Souldiery of putting this Doctrine in practice But if this scripture be fulfilled and this glorious time is now under this present Government Why do they not as it is here directed by the spirit of God to be done And now Doctor I shall proceed to your confirmation of this grand doctrine from the New Testament to which purpose I finde you to instance 2 Pet. 3. 13. Where the Apostle having before in that cap. put the people of God in minde by way of remembrance touching the glorious kingdom and state which you and your brother Doctor hath affirmed must be and which I am sure yet is 〈◊〉 Reas For the Soldiers swords are not yet 〈◊〉 to Plow-shares nor their Spears into Pruning-books c. witneâ—â—â— the intolerable taxes yet to support them The Apostle I say having put the people of God in remembrance of the words which are spoken by the Holy Prophets and likewise of the commandment of them the Apostles of the Lord Jesus to such purpose and that they should not be danted touching the accomplishment thereof notwithstanding scoffing and mocking and blasphemiâ—g of the scoffing Ishmalites and railing and blasphemous Rabshakahs that should happen to be neer the time of its approach Who walking after their own lusts will say where is the promise of his coming for since the fathers fell asleep all things have continued as they were from the beginning For this they are willingly ignorant of that by the word of God the Heavens were of old and the Earth standing out of the waters and in the water whereby the world that then was being overflowed with water perished But the heavens and earth which are now by the same word are kept in store reserved unto fire against the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men but beloved faith the Apostle be not ignorant of this one thing that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day for the Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slacknesse but is long-suffering to us ward not wiling that any should perish but thaâ— all should come to repentance but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in the which the Heavens shall passe away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat and the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godlinesse looking for and hoping unto the coming of the day of God wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat Neverthelesse we according to his promise look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth Righteousnesse not Idolatry and Tyranny Now for the better understanding of the Rabbies meaning tâ—â—ching the new Heaven and new Earth here mentioned I shall 〈◊〉 another passage of his in pag. 12. of that book where he having asserted that it is not to be meant of the material Heaven and Earth produceth this Scripture to prove the same i. e. Isa 51. 15 16. I am the Lord that divided the sea whose waves roared the Lord of Hosts is his name and I have put my words in thy mouth and have covered thee with the shadow of my hand that I might plant the heavens and lay the Foundations of the Earth and say unto Sion thou art my People In these words saith the Doctour by a Repetition of what he hath done he establisheth his people in expectation of what he will do And 1. He minds them of that wonderfull deliverance from an Army behind them from an ocean before them by his miraculous preparing dry paths for them in the deep I am the Lord who divided the sea whose waves roared 2. Of his greatnesse acquainting them with his mind i. e. his Laws and Ordinances at Horeb I have put saith he my words in thy mouth 3. Of that favourable and singular protection afforded them in the wildernesse when they they were encompassed with enemies round about I covered thee with the shadow of mine hand Query Now saith the singular Dean c. to what end was all this Resp Why saith he meaning the Lord by the Prophet that I might Plant the Heavens and Lay the Foundations of the Earth Query What of those material visible Heavens and Earth 2460 years before at least were they planted and established Resp It is all saith the Rabby but making of Sion a people which before was scattered in distinct Families Query And how was this done quoth the Doctour Resp Why the Heavens are planted or a glorious frame of Government and Policy is erected among them and the multitudes of their people are disposed into an orderly Common-wealth Note to be a firm Foundation and Bottome for the Government among them So that from what the Doctor hath here asserted it is as clear as the Sun in its brightest Lustre that the Frame of Government for the unmovable Kingdome or Jesus Christ or the fifth Monarchy Are those Laws Statutes and Judgements which were given by Jehovah at Horeb and revived and ratified by the Lord Jesus at Mount Olivet Mat. 5. For those are they the Doctour terms the firm Foundation a firm Foundation for an unmovable Kingdome And this Doctrine is also ratified by the Prophet Malachy c. 4. where speaking of the dissolution of those old Heavens and old
that at the Ruine of Babylon the Kings of the earth who have committed fornication and lived delitiously with her shall bewail her and lament for her Rev. 10. 9. 20. as also the Merchants of the earth as from v. 11. to v. 20. as also the Harpers mufitians pipers and Trumpeters of Babylon i. e. all her dependents and therefore it is contrary to common sence that they should be active in her destruction Rev. 6. 15 16 17. 5. In that this Supper of the Lamb or the day of Christs power the fowls that fly in the middest of heaven are invited to eat of the Flesh of Kings and the flesh of Captains and the Flesh of mighty men and the Flesh of Horses and them that sit on them and the Flesh of all men both free and bond small and great Therefore it is impossible that they should be instrumental for Christ against Babylon but contrary-wise antagonists thereunto which with the former Reasons given by the Doctor doth clearly hold forth that the Lord Jesus will not make use of any of the present authorities or powers of the world to bring this utter desolation upon Babylon for in so doing they should fight against themselves Object The Text saith peremptorily that the ten horns shall hate the Whore and make her desolate and naked and shall eat her Flesh and burn her with fire which manifestly implies that the horns shall continue till her destruction if not longer and that they shall be the notable instruments that God will make use of in her Ruine Resp The spirit of God in the Scriptures doth not clash against it self in this particular any more than where it saith we are justified by works and not by faith onely Jam. 1. 24 25. as also by faith without the deeds of the Law Rom. 3. 18. as also freely by grace v. 24 Tit 3. 7. the first being a visible or demonstrative Justification the second a Justification in a mans own Spirit and the third a Testification of the Spirit of God evidencing or witnessing the truth thereof wrought by Christ to that spirit of man Rom. 8 16. So in this particular where the ten horns are said shall hate the Whore c. I say is impossible it should be meant of these very horns that I have mentioned for those Reasons I have laid down and therefore it must unavoidably be meant of some other Horne viz. powers as by the Lords assistance I shall prove from Rev. cap. 17. in v. 12. of which chapter it is said The ten horns which thou sawest are ten Kings which have received no Kingdome as yet but receive power as Kings one houre with the beast these shall make war with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them Gedeons number from 32000 to 300. Read Judges 1. c. and see if you be Lappers for the Lord will save Israel by no other Such as have burning Lamps in their earthen pitchers in the earthly tabernacles of their flâ—sh Reas For he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful c. Note 1. The three characters of the Lambs army least any presume to come to the Marriage Supper to eat the Flesh of Kings and Captains Rev. 19. 17 18. without a wedding garmâ—nt vide Luke 14. to this purpose from v. 15. to v. 25. Mat. 22. from v. 1. to v. 15 for many will be called but few chosen they must be such as will forsake all to follow the Lamb where ever he goeth you see what became of the Merchants Farmers and effeminate persons they must be such as if they have not a sword they must sell their coat and buy one Luk. 22. 36. they must be such as will leave the dead to bury their dead Mat. 8. 22. such as will beat their plow-shares into swords and their pruning hooks into spears such as of weak are made strong Joel 12. 3. c. but to the matter in hand I say that by the afore mentioned Scripture it doth clearly appearâ— that the Battel betwixt the Kings of the earth and the Lamb and his Army is to be fought before they are said to hate the Whore c. as in v. 16. untill which time God hath put it into their hearts to fulfill his will and to give their Kingdome unto the beast untill the word of God shall be fulfilled v. 17. So that I gather from hence That as the Conquest of the Lambs Army extends it self over the Dominions of the Beast and her supporters viz. The Civil Governours and Governments of the earth with their people and multitudes implyed by the waters on which the whore sitteth v. 15. 1. and that the Laws Statutes Judgements and Ordinances of Jehovah the Lord Christ is planted instead thereof by so much the said Nations or earthly powers shall be said to hate the whore and make her desolate and naked and eat her flesh and burn her with fire that is they shall see so much excellency in those Laws Statutes Judgements and Ordinances beyond all what they injoyed under their former Governments as that they shall abhor and detâ—st both their Governours and Governments whether Civil or Ecclesiastical the one surmounting the other as far as the light of the Moon excels the smallest star 1. When they shall have Judges as at the first and Rulers as at the beginning Isa 1. 26. Not the Arbitrary powers of the Kings of the Nations which were brought into the Common-wealth of Israel contrary to the mind of God 1 Sam. 8. as for Saul to take their sons and appoint them for himself for his Chariots and for his Horsemen and some to run before his Chariot or to make foot-boyes of free born Israelites to appoint Captains over thousands and Captains over fifties to eare his ground and to reap harvest and to make his instruments of war to take their daughters to be confectionaries and to be Cooks and to be Bakers to take their fields and their vineyards and their Olive-yards even the bâ—st of them and give them to his servants to take the tenths of their seed and of their vineyards and give them unto his Officers and to his servants c. No the Israelites knew no such servitude in Samuels dayes if they had Surely Samuel would not have set that Goverment before them as so strange a thing No honest Samuel who could say in the integrity of his heart whose ox have I taken or whose Asse have I taken or whom have Y defranded used no such Tyranny Good man he could govern the people without any of these Kickshaws neither do we read of any of the Judges of Israel that ever kept a standing Army notwithstanding they were invironed with enemies on every side but that when need required they unanimously joyned themselves together for the defence of each other and so freed themselves from expence in that kinde neither do I ever read of one Tax
written and to which purpose he hath also commissionated them Rev. 18. 6 7 8. But before I speak to the Commission it is worthy of our best observation to take notice of the just and righteous dealings of God unto the inhabitants of Babylon for I say before he giveth out his Commission to his Saints who are to judge the world 1 Cor. 6. 2. and to be the rod of his strength Psal 110. 2. His battel-Axe weapon of war will break in pieces the horse and his rider c. Jer. 51. 20. 21 c. he doth in the first place send his Messengers from his Churches with great power to enlighten them with his Glory crying mightily with a strong voice saying Babylon is fallen is fallen and is become the habitation of Devils and the hold of every soul spirit and a cage of every unclean and hatefull bird Reas For all nations have drunk of the wrath of the wine of her fornication and the Kings of the earth have committed fornication with her and the Merchants of the earth are waxen rich through the abundance of her delicates and this I take to be by way of Aggravation to shew her abominations and how ripe she is for Judgement and executions as also to strike a terrour in the hearts of the people of God that are yet in her of what rank soever which having done in 4. and 5. v. he sendeth other Messengers to call the people of God out of her saying Come out of her my people God hath his people in Babylon Reason 1. That ye do not partake of her Sinnes 2. That ye receive not of her Plagues Those then that partake of her sins shall rrceive of her plagues Reason For her sins have reached unto heaven and God hath remembred her iniquity after which fair warning he forthwith giveth his Commission to his Saints in these words Reward The Saints Commission against Babylon and all her adherents her as she rewarded you and double unto her double according to her works in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double how much she hath glorified her self and lived delitiously so much Torment and Sorrow give her Reason For me saith in her heart I sit a Queen and am no widow and shall see no sorrow Therefore shall her Plagues come in one day viz. this day of vengeance Death and mourning and famine and she shall be utterly burnt with fire Reason For strong is the Lord God that judgeth her so that it is clear this Judgement and Vengeance is to be inflicted upon Babylon and her adherents by way of recompence for the further confirmation whereof see these following Scriptures id est Psalme 2. 4 5. He that sitteth in Heaven shall laugh the Lord shall have them in derision then shall he speak unto them viz. to the Kings of the earth and the Rulers v. 2. in his wrath and vex them in his sore displeasure Psal 139 8 9. O Daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones Isa 54. For my sword shall be bathed in heaven viz. in the Pagans and Antichristian heaven or Church Behold it shall come down upon Idumea and upon the people of my curse to Judgement The sword of the Lord is filled with blood it is made fat with fatnesse c. and the Vnicorns shall come down with them and the Bullocks with the Bulls and their Land shall be soaked with blood and their dust made fat with fatnesse Reason For it is the day of the Lords vengeance and the year of recompence for the Controversies of Sion c. the remainder of that cup Isa 47. 1 2 3. Come down and sit in the dust O Virgin daughter of Babylon sit on the ground there are no thrones O daughter of the Caldeans for thou shalt no more be called the tender and delicate take the Milstone and grind meal and cover thy locks c. Thy nakednesse shall be uncovered yea thy shame shall be seen I will take vengeance c. vid. cap. 49. 26 Jer. 50 35 36. A sword upon the Caldeans-saith the Lord and upon the Inhabitants of Babylon and upon her Princes and upon her wise men a sword is upon their lyers viz. her Astrologers c. they shall dote A sword upon her mighty men her Army-men and they shall be dismayed A sword upon their Horses and their Chariots and upon all the mingled people good and bad that shall be found in her Rev. 18. 4. and they shall become as women there will be no fear of Laodiceans the Merosh * As in the Epistle Churches that hath one word for God and another for Baal of those that halt between Christ and Antichrist that can swallow a Parsonage c. and yet be a Church-gatherer in the world and not of the world the Hocus Pocus Christians of the times A sword upon the Treasurers and they shall be robbed it will be an ill day with Treasurers it seems let them therefore look to it A drought upon her Waiters i. e. her Clergy men of all sorts and sises vid. Rev. 18. Reason For it is a Land of graven Images i. e. either of Idolatry or Tyranny and they are mad upon their Idols Jer. 5. 30. 31. Therefore the wild beast of the Desart with the wild beasts of the Island shall dwell there and the owls shall dwell therein and it shall be no more inhabited for ever neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrhah and the Neighbour Cities thereof saith the Lord so shall no man abide there neither shall any son of man dwell therein Again the Lord speaking of his people Jer. 51. c saith I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Caldea all these evils they have done unto Sion in your sight saith the Lord Behold I am against thee O destroyinng Mountain saith the Lord which destroyest all the earth and I will stretch out my hand upon thee and roll thee down from the Rocks and will make thee a burnt mountain Note and they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner nor for a foundation not the least grain of humane invention either in things appertaining to Babylon whether in its Civill or Ecclesiasticall estate where the Lord hath given a câ—ear and expresse command himself But thou shalt be desolate for ever saith the Lord. Zach. 12. 2. Behold I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all people round about it c. and in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it in that day saith the Lord will I smite every * Mat. 18. 7. Luke 17. 1. 2. horse with
astonishment Note and his Rider with madnesse no great fear then of such Horses and Riders for it seems both Horse and Man will be confounded to move against the Holy just and perfect Laws of Jehovah the Lord Christ if they do woe and sadnesse will be unto them yea it had been better that a Milstone had been tyed about their neck and that they had been cast into the bottome of the sea than to offend one of those little ones that shall be made instrumentall for Babylons destruction Rev. 6. 12. c. And I beheld when he had opened the sixth Seal and loe there was a great earthquake and the Sun became black as sackcloth of hair and the Moon became as blood and the starres of heaven fell unto the earth even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figges when she is shaken with a mighty wind and the heavens departed as a scroll that is rolled together and every mountain and Island were moved out of their places and the Kings of the earth and the greatmen and the rich men Weep and howl you rich men for the miseries that are now coming upon you for your riches are corrupted and your Garments moth-eaten your gold and silver is canckred and the rust of them shall be a witnesse against you and shall eat your flesh as it were with fine Jam. 5. 1 c. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last dayes c. and chief Captains i. e. Generals Lieutenant-Generals Commissary-Generals c. and Colonels of Armies and the mighty men whether in point of honour or estate hid themselves in the dennes and in the Rocks of the mountains and said unto the Mountains and Rocks fall on us and hide us from the wrath of the Lamb. Reason For the Greatest day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand Repent therefore that your sinnes may be blotted out at the day of refreshing of the Lords people from himself lest he tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver you and know it will be a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the great God of heaven and earth the Lord in much mercy set these these things home upon your hearts and souls lest you be found fighters against the Lord of Hosts the God of Battel who is able to consume you with the blast of his nostrils Lastly as to the means whereby these great transactions shall be accomplished by the poore weak few and contemptible number of the Army of the Lamb the Learned Doctour Owen hath given us a brief and full answer i. e. Such as are the things shaken such must their shaking be i. e. Spiritual if Spiritual Natural if Naturall Civil if Civil hence it is that the great Champion of the truth is discovered unto us by these following characters i. e. And I saw saith John and behold a white Horse and he that sat upon him was called faithful and true note this fifth Monarchy-man and in Righteousnesse doth he judge and make war his eyes were as a Flame of Fire and on his Head were many Crowns and he had a Name written that no man knew but himself and he was clothed with a vesture dipt in blood and his Name is called the Word of God Note The Word of God must then be the Rule and Sinew of all the Actions of the fifth Monarchy men they must onely execute the Judgement written bringing all the actions of Babylon and her Adherents to the Touchstone of the Scriptures as for example in reference to the Political Government of the World they are to produce Jam. 4. 12. There is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy and from thence demand of the Civil Magistrate by what Rule or Authority he maketh his own Laws seeing he petends himself a Minister or Servant unto the alone Law-maker and consequently to put his Laws in-execution and thus they will be struck as dumb as doore nails for in this case they have nothing to plead but the authority and custome of their Ancestours and their Ancestors from Nimrod and Nimrod from the Apostate sons of God in the old world and they from the Corruption and vain imaginations of fall'n man and fall'n man from the suggestions and delusions of Satan and so primarily from the Devil Again in point of Ecclesiastical Government and Doctrine the fifth Monarchy-men are to produce Mat. 15. 8. In vain do ye worship me teaching for doctrine the Traditions or commandements of men and so keep them close to the word of God and not to suffer them to continue as they are i. e. partly Jure Divino and partly Jure Humano as the Presbyterians do acknowledge their Government to be and so down with it even to the ground for being found in Babylon they and their Government must be destroyed with Babylon as the learned Doctour hath asserted and clearly proved and so consequently to all other false worships or Governments whatsoever and hence it is that the Lambs followers are said to be clothed in white Linnen white and clean all their Acts will be done in truth and righteousnesse the white Linnen is the righteousnesse of the Saints Rev. 19. 8. 2. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword that with it he should smite the Nations and he shall rule them with a Rod of iron here we see the word maketh way for the material sword which the Rod of iron doth clearly import so that as the Doctour saith the Civil part of Antichrist must be conquered with the iron Rod and the Ecclesiastical part with the sword that proceedeth out of the Lambs mouth viz. the Holy Scriptures and this doth further appear from Psal 149. 6 7 8 9. as also from the following words of the afornamed chapter of Rev. 19. i. e. v. 17 18 19 20. which must unavoidably be applyed to the Conquest of the material sword in that the other i. e. the remnant are said to be slain with the sword of him that sate upon the Horse which sword proceedeth out of his mouth as in v. 13. as also in v. 16. And therefore O Babylon whether Pagan or Antichristian I do hereby in the name of the Lord Jesus bid defiance to thee in whomsoever thou refidest whether by Idolatry or false worship or whether by Tyranny or cruel Dominion being in opposition to the two grand Principles of nature i. e. of loving God above all and our neigbours as our selves and consequently to the bringing of the unmovable Laws and Ordinances of the unmovable Kingdome of the Lord Jesus upon earth and now in daily expectation by his Saints and therefore I advise thee as the Lord did Niniveh by the Prophet Nahum to consider Art thou better than Populus No-Ammon that was situate among the Rivers that had the waters round about it whose Rampart was the sea and her wall was from the sea Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength and it was infinite Put and Lubim were the helpers yet was she carried away she went ino captivity her young children were also dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets and they cast lots for their Honourable men and all her great men were bound in chains thou also shalt be drunken thou shalt be hid thou also shalt seek strength because of the enemy and all thy strong holds shall be like fig-trees with the first ripe figs if they be shaken they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater Behold thy people in the midst of thee are women the gates of thy Land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies the fire shall devour thy Bars Draw the Waters for the Siege fortifie thy strong holds with Demy Canon c. Go Into clay and tread morter make strong the Brick-kil there shall the fire devour thee it shall eat thee up as Canker-worm make thy self many as the Canker-worm make thy self many as the Locust yet for all this before two years be expired the Laws and ordinances of Jehovah the Lord Christ shall be magnified and made Honourable in this Nation and Idolatry and Tyrany shall be extinguished even so Amen FINIS Postscript I Am desired to give the people of God to understand that the last news-book published by one Walker an Ironmonger and a notorious lying Pamphleter and yet an approved Preacher by the High Court of Tyers iâ— lieu of his large obedience to the Beast now up comprehended seventeen or eighteen large Lyes in fourteen or fifteen Lines in his passages relating to Mr. Rogers and the Members of his Society which were lately sent for to O. C. and that Mr. Rogers was so far from being put to silence by O. C. as Walker doth impudently assert as that he gave a full undenyable and pregnant Testimony to the very faces of those that are got into power against the Apostacies of the Army their Breach of Declarations Blasphemy lying persecution â—â—lf-seeâ—ing and other crying sinnes proving that the now prisoners of the Lord suffer for an essential truth and fundamental point of faith which Mr. Rogers challenged to dispute with any man upon even groundâ— and that this lively testimony was continued in the strength of the anointing to the very last keeping and gaining Câ—ound upon the Antagonists Thus much is thought meet at present to undeceive the people of God in City and Countrey untill the truth hereof do more largely appear J. S.