18 19. would have Christians to be subject to them for conscience towards God therefore they had a right of Government over them who were infidels even by Gods appointment Yea the Fifth-Monarchy-Men themselves in the Banner displayd p. 51. acknowledge that the powers of old Rome the a bloody persecutor were ordained of God Rom. 13. 1. and therefore even infidel powers have right and priviledge of Government by their own concession And indeed the Apostles determinations 1 Cor. 7. 17 18 20 21 22 24. are plain resolutions that the Christian calling doth neither make men free nor servants nor alter their civil relations but that the Christian is as he was neither better nor worse in that regard 2. If infidels were usurpers of Government then what ever sentence they past it was unjust though it were never so right in respect of the cause it being done by him that was no Judge whereas the scripture makes even the infidel powers Gods Ministers revengers or doers of right unto wrath unto him that doth evil Rom. 13. 4. 3. If they were usurpers then did Christ ill to bid to pay tribute to Caesar to acknowledge Pilates power given him from above John 19. 11. Paul to appeal to Caesar and to say he stood before Caesars judgment Seat where he ought to be judged Acts 25. 10 11. he should not have said I think my self happy King Agrippa because I shall answer for my self before thee this day Acts 26. 2. nor to Felix Acts 24. 10. Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a Judge unto this Nation I do the more chearfully answer for my self he should have declined his audience or sentence as being coram non judice or have termed him a man without any shew of reverence or respect as the Quakers are wont to do or have termed him Antichristian or Babylon as the Quinto-Monarchians do the civil powers now extant In a word no honour should be due to an unblieving Prince though St. Peter bids honour the King 1 Pet. 3. 17. and the arguments urged before Sect 3. should be evacuated 4. If all right and privledges in respect of Government in the first Adam were lost among infidels so as that all infidel judges were usurpers then among them Judges were not unjust though they did not right to the wronged because they had no power and so the Judge who feared not God nor regarded man had not been rightly termed by our Lord Christ an unjust Judge Luke 18. 6. for not avenging the Widdow Nor Pharoah or Abimelech justly punished for not restoring Abrams Wife nor any just War between the King of Sodom and other Kings nor had Ephron the Hittite any just possession of the Cave Abraham bought nor any just contract between Isaac and Abimelech nor did David justly defend Toi against Hadadezer nor is there any justice in contracts or comerce with infidels to be observed nor they capable of doing right or wrong if there be no just legislative power or power of judicatory among them but they bear the sword if not in vain yet unjustly and therefore are ill charged by St. Paul Rom. 1. 28. To be filled with all unrighteousness A third position which with inconsiderate men takes as being in shew agreeable with scripture and tending to Christs honour though as they mean and use it it is both false and pernicious is that Jesus Christ is the only lawful and true begotten Heir and lawful King and potentate of these three Nations and of all the Nations of the Earth and as he is the seed of Abraham shall possess the Earth Yea and the very gates of his enemies and that the sole legislative power of the Nations is and doth of right appertain and belong to him and shall be exercised by him Dan. 7. 27. Jerem. 10. 7. Isai. 9. 6 7. Gal. 3. 16. c. From whence it hath been usual with the men of this persuasion not only to style Christ King Jesus which is his right but also to disavow any other King but King Jesus as if the owning of any other as King in these Nations were indeed a renouncing Christ from being their King Now it is to be granted 1. That the Lord Jesus Christ not only as he is the Son of God but also as man is of right and is to be acknowledged the Prince of the Kings of the Earth Revel 1. 5. To whom all power in Heaven and Earth is given Matth. 28. 18. God hath made him Lord and Christ Acts 2. 36. He is Lord of all Acts 10. 36. Nor is it denyed that the texts quoted do belong to him or that he is the Heir of all the Nations of the Earth as he is the seed of Abraham to whom the promises were spoken Yet the words Daniel 7. 27. mention his Kingdom not till the judgment sit and they shall take away the Dominion of the little Horn to consume and to destroy it unto the end and therefore assert not the exercise of the Kingdom there meant as yet The words Jerem. 10. 7. are impertinently alledged concerning Christs being King of Nations as the seed of Abraham sich they are spoken only of the Divine nature in opposition to the Idols of the Nations The words Isai. 9. 6 7. foretold Christs Kingdom in the daies of his flesh which Christ himself saith was not of this world but such as belonged to him as the Child born of the increase of whose Government there should be no end The words Gal. 3. 16. are true of Christ personal but so also as that they have respect to all believers as Abrahams seed by faith v. 7. 29. and that they are not to be understood of a visible Monarchy acquired by fighting of which the Quinto-Monarchians dream but of the inheritance of the righteousness by faith which should be to all Nations v. 28. in which respect Abraham also is said to be the Heir of the world Rom. 4. 13. 2. It is not to be denied that all Kings ought to acknowledge Christ their superiour and themselves to be subordinate to him and that those who will not acknowledge the holding of their power Crownes and Scepters under this great Monarch and for him shall be deemed and adjudged by Christ as Traitors to him and proceeded against accordingly by him according to his Lawes and the threatning Luke 19. 27. But 1. this will be done by him in such way as he thinks good he hath not made any Saints on earth Judges over Kings whether they be Traitors to Christ or not nor allowed them to proceed against them nor hath he assigned any time wherein he will proceed against them afore the great day of judgment in which he will judge the Saints as well as Kings and will damn them that pretending themselves Saints shall take upon them Christs peculiar Office to judge their Kings and execute judgment that is outrage and murder on their Governours to whom Christ requires
disclaim not only Ecclesiastical Rulers but also civil powers in order to their smiting work and also to smite them is damnable and Antichristian Nor can here the pretences of their being of the fourth Monarchy from Rome Oppressors Idolaters Antichristian salve the matter fith those Priests of the Jewes and Roman Governours to whom Christ yeiled Subjection were as bad and every way as obnoxious to their criminations of the present Governours as any now be Assuredly the present Governours in these Nations cannot be charged with such things as Pilate Caiaphas and the rest of those Governors to whom Christ was subject were chargable wth without extream impudence This argument is further confirmed from the examples of all the holy Apostles Martyrs and Confessors in the primative times of Christianity Instances might be given in James Peter Paul who doubtless could as easily have killed their persecutors as Ananias and Sapphira or strucken them blind as St. Paul did Elymas the Sorcerer yet submitted themselves to imprisonment pleaded their cause before Roman Rulers appealed to Caesar suffered even to death In the times following the Christians served under the persecuting Roman Emperors in their Wars and though they were in number many dispersedover their Empire and had Arms in their hands whereby they might in appearance have been able to have defended themselves against the violence of their persecutors yet they chose to suffer under the tyrannous Emperors that then were rather than to rise up against them to revenge themselves because their Christian profession did forbid them as Tertullian Apolog. c. 37. ad scapulam c. 2. Cyprian ad Demetr and others plead for them Out of these and other examples which might be produced we may argue thus That Doctrine which teacheth men to do contrary to the examples and profession of our Lord Christ Jesus his Apostles Martyrs Confessors Saints in the first and best ages of Christianity is damnable and Antichristian But such is the Doctrine of the Quinto-Monarchians concerning their smiting of civil powers as is manifest by comparing them therefore it is damnable and Antichristian § 8. More arguments are urged from censures and determinations in the New Testament A Fourth argument I deduce from those places of holy scripture which censure condemn and denounce woe unto those practises which the Doctrine of the Quinto-Monarchians incites men to and they magnify as the fruits of Gods Spirit The Apostle Peter 2 Epist. 2. 9 10 11. The Lord knowes how to deliver the Godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and dispise Government or Dominion presumptuous are they self-willed they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities whereas Angels which are greater in power and might bring not a railing accusation against them before the Lord. Which is seconded by St. Jude v. 8 9 10. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh despise Dominion and speak evil of dignities Yet Michael the Arch-Angel when contending with the Devil he disputed about the body of Moses durst not bring against him a railing accusation but said the Lord rebuke thee But these speak evil of the things they know not In which passages those holy Apostles rank the despisers of Dominion those that speak evil of dignities not among the Saints but amongst the most accursed reprobates though those Dominions and dignities were as bad as might be in respect of their personal qualities and actions yea the Arch-Angels example is brought in as not daring to bring against the Devil himself when there was a contention about Moses his body a railing accusation but referred it to the Lord to rebuke him teaching thereby that such terms as contain threatning contempt reproach of Governors and dignities are altogether unsuteable to Saints and such as they should not dare to utter though they contended with the Devil himself much less with men that are in Power and Authority much less to smite them and directing how to deal with them when they be injurious to wit to defer their cause to God for his suppression of them and threatning wo to the practisers of contempt of Dominion and speaking evil of dignities All which are contrary to the Doctrine of Quinto-Monarchians who revile dispise threaten them commend the smiting of them as the generation work promise rewards to them that do it Whence I infer that Doctrine which animates men to such practises as are damned by the holy Apostles St. Peter and St. Jude is damnable and Antichristian But such is the Doctrine of Quinto-Monarchians concerning their vilifying and smiting civil powers therefore it is damnable and Antichristian If any object our Saviours answer Luk. 13. 32. to some Pharisees who said to him get thee out and depart hence for Herod will kill thee bidding them go ye and tell that Fox behold I cast out Devils and I do cures to day and to morrow and the third day I shall be perfected I answer these words do not at all contain any vilifying of the Kingdoms of the fourth Beast or contempt of the Kings of the earth But a reproof of Herods evil qualities of craft and crueltie and a professed resolution of his going on in his work with undanted magnanimity till the time came of his laying down his life with a prediction that it should not be where Herod had jurisdiction but at Jerusalem As for that which we read Isai. 37. 22. This is the word of the Lord which he hath spoken concerning Sennacherib King of Assyria the Virgin the daughter of Sion hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorn the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee it gives no allowance for one of the Lamb's followers to express contempt of the Kings of the earth though they were all of them as they are unjustly charged the lovers of the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the earth this being a breach of a plain rule in the New Testament requiring subjection to them and condemning contempt of them which is not in a holy triumph of faith but rather in a proud self magnifying or factious animosity not a deriding of their threats and Blasphemous desparaging of God as was that which the Prophet from God fore-told the Jews should do to a King that had no Authority over them but was an hostile Invader of them and by express warrant from God but a vilifying of the powers that are termed the Kingdom of the fourth Beast as opposite to the Kingdom power and glory of Jesus Christ our Lord though the Apostle Peter expressely bid Honour the King even then when the King was of the fourth Beast as they speak and opposite to the Kingdom power and glory of Christ Jesus The Prophet Isaiah never taught the Jewes to vilify Manasseh his Kingdom or Authority notwithstanding his reprehension of his wickedness and prediction of his calamity And in
injury oppression or persecution though it extended to the slaying the Lords Priests to an endeavour to slay the annointed Captain of the Lords Host is not to be attempted by a private person or subject but to be referred to the Lord. Therefore the Doctrine of Quinto-Monarchians urging subjects and private persons to smite their superior civil powers and to avenge the supposed injuries and persecutions of Saints by their own hands is contrary to Christ's his Apostles and Davids determinations in the holy Scriptures and consequently damnable and Antichristian That which I find alledged for their practise is in these words The Banner of truth displayed p. 59. All the blood of Gods people is found in Babylon For they i. e. her civil powers Revel 16. 6 6. have shed the blood of the Saints and Prophets Rev. 17. 6. ch 18. 24. and 19. 1. Jer. 50. 14. now therefore God by way of recompence and retalliation hath ordained that the Saints shall be his instruments by which he will execute his vengeance upon the powers of the world who are all of them murtherers accordingly God commands his people and 't is their duty to obey to reward Babylon double as she rewarded them yea and double unto her all those plagues deaths and stripes that she hath inflicted on you Revel 18. 6. and they shall give her blood to drink and she shall be burnt with fire for strong is the Lord that judgeth her Wherein many things are taken as granted which are false and the whole if it were granted would be insufficient to acquit them from guilt of opposing Christs precepts in that way of recompence and retaliation which they incite to 1. That all the powers of the world are murtherers Which proposition contains such a crimination as God only is fit to charge them with if it were true sith he only knows all the powers of the world and is privy to all their thoughts designs and actions 2. That the civil powers of the world are Babylon or her civil powers Now Babylon is termed the great which shall become the habitation of Divels Rev. 18. 2. and I think it is undoubted with all sorts of Writers and intelligent persons that Babylon the great there meant is the same with the woman Rev. 17. 4. termed v. 1. The great whore upon whose forehead was a name written Mystery Babylon the great the mother of Hariots and abominations of the earth v. 5. which is interpreted v. 18. And the woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth Which commonly those who are acquainted with the Histories of the times in which St. John received his Revelation even Papists themselves do take to be Rome known to be the only City which sate on seven mountains as v. 9. is expressed and reigned then over the Kings of the earth But how all the powers of the world now in being or the Nations of Europe even the Protestant should be Babylon or her civil powers or as elsewhere they say the streets of that great City and Rome-Babylon is unintelligible to me Rome it self and that which is called the Patrimony of St. Peter and the territories in Italy now subject to the Pope may be termed Babylon and the Civil powers therein may be termed her Civil powers and perhaps all the territories subject to the Pope in Ecclefiastical affairs may be meant by the streets of the great City mentioned Revel 11. 8. because they yield subjection to the Roman Pope in spirituals But how the States which do reject the Pope's power in Temporals as the King of France or the Duke and Senate of Venice who stood out against Pope Paul the fifth when he interdicted them because they would not repeal their Laws or release their prisoners though Ecclesiasticks should be termed the civil powers of Rome-Babylon is not easie to be understood much less how the Kings of England Denmark Sweden and such other Protestant States Nations and Princes as have rejected the Popes jurisdiction and authority both in civil and Church matters and impose oaths of disclaiming the Popes supremacy in Spirituals and their authority in Temporals through their Dominions on their Subjects should be nevertheless the civil powers of Babylon and their Countries the streets of the great City Rome-Babylon is it conceiveable by me If the Predecessors of these did subject themselves to the Pope in former ages yet they are not therefore termed Babylon but Kings of the earth who commit fornication with her and give their power to her but neither of these can be said of those Princes though Successors to them who have abandoned the Popes errors and corruptions in Religion and his jurisdiction wholly 3. It is suggested that all the blood of Gods people is found in Babylon For they i. e. her civil powers Rev. 16. 6 7. have shed the blood of the Saints and Prophets Rev. 17. 6. ch 18. 24. and 19. 1. Jer. 50. 14. And it is true that Jer. 50. 14. it is said put your selves in array against Babylon round about all ye that bend the bow shoot at her spare no arrows for she hath sinned against the Lord. But this is not meant of Rome-Babylon nor of her civil powers but of Babylon in Chaldaea many thousand miles distant from Rome and long before these daies or St. Johns wasted And yet it is not said of that Babylon that it shed the blood of the Saints and Prophets though I deny not she is charged with the blood of the Inhabitants of Zion Jerusalem-Israel Jer. 51. 35. 49. It is rather charged on Jerusalem by Christ that she killed the Prophets and stoned them that were sent unto her that upon her might come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias Son of Barachias whom ye saith Christ slew between the Temple and the Altar Matth. 23. 34 35. 37. It is said Rev. 16. 4 5 6. And the third Angel poured out his vial upon the Rivers and Fountains of waters and they became blood And I heard the Angel of the waters say thou art righteous O Lord which wast art and shalt be because thou hast judged thus For they have shed the blood of Saints and Prophets and thou hast given them blood to drink for they are worthy And it is most probable though there be that conceive the Rivers and Fountains of water to have been the Cities and Provinces of the Roman Empire under the Pagan Emperors and that to them is ascribed the sheding of the blood here mentioned that this is meant of the Papal Empire sith it is the same which is charged on the woman Revel 17. 6. and Babylon Rev. 18. 24. who must be different from Rome Pagan by reason of the things said Rev. 17. 10 11 12. concerning the ten Kings which had then received no Kingdom when St. John received this Revelation but should receive power as
Kingdom of the Beast in the time when his Kingdom is to be destroyed that did bear witness against the Beast for Christ all the time his Kingdom stood This is grounded upon Revel 11. Which tels us that the witnesses for 1260 dayes prophefied in the end of this time they are kil'd by the Beast they rise up again and rising up they knock the Beast down for immediately thereupon the tenth part of the City fell and there was a great Earth-quake there were slain of men seven thousand and great fear fell upon all the rest and they gave glory to the God of Heaven this is not done by worldly powers but the witnesses therefore they that have born witness against the Beast shall give the deadly blow to the Beast Answ. If this reason were good it should be done by the Saints that have been not by those that shall be by them risen again not to be born hereafter by them that have born witness all the time the Beasts Kingdom stood not by them that only stand up near the time of the end it shall be done by supernatural or prophetical power not by civil and military which this author contends for In a word in all this there is nothing but uncertainty concerning these witnesses who they are whether already existent or future the Beast meant the time of their prophesying and the event and the manner and means of its accomplishing and therefore this proof is ignoti per ignotius of a thing unknown by that which is more unknown which is vain Fourthly saith he The Angel that enlightens the earth with the glory of the truth of the Lord that is that Angel or instrument that shall ruin Babylon Rev. 18. 1. But the earth hath not been enlightened with the glory of God by the generation of the world but the world hath been enlightened by the generation of the faithful that God hath revealed his truth to and this Angel that enlighteneth the earth with the glory of God gives the deadly blow unto the Beast there where light comes forth God will carry on the work by those hands Answ. The Angel is another Angel therefore not the generation of the faithful coming down from Heaven therefore not a man having great power therefore not using humane Weapons enlightens the earth with his glory it is not said with the truth or glory of God nor enlightening men by revealing Gods truth to them nor that he gives the deadly blow to the Beast but only that he cried mightily with a strong voyce saying Babylon is fallen therefore this proves not that a company of private Saints in the ending time of the Fourth-Monarchy shall destroy it by a military or civil power yea if where light comes forth God will carry on the work by those hands all the preachers of the truth shall be instrumental to the ruin of Babylon and that by preaching not a company of private Saints by fighting The fifth reason from Revel 18. 6. is fully answered before sect 9. The 6. is The work of God against Rome shall be so mannaged as there may be singing of Hallelujabs in the Churches for the carrying it on this is clear from Revel 19. 1. But now if this should be done only by the clattering of a company of Nations falling upon the Beast and ruining him what singing would there be in the Churches for this What would there be more in this then in the work of Cyrus destroying Babylon or in Alexanders destroying the Medes and Persians Monarchy or in the Romans destroying the Grecians Monarchy For that was a part of Gods decree as well as this what should the people therefore now sing Hallelujahs more for more than in those times But because of the difference of the instruments things done in a more holy sanctified way to a more pure end and there shall be more of the Image of God appear upon those that shall do this work now and therefore they shall sing Hallelujahs otherwise the work did not go beyond the work that had been done before Answ. When the work of destroying Babylon was done by Cyrus there was singing of Hallelujahs as was foretold Jerem. 51. 1. and that because it was the work of God who ever were the instruments And indeed that is the reason expresly given Revel 19. 1 2. not this which is here imagined contrary to the express text Revel 17. 16 17. yea it is more joyous to the Saints and more redounds to Gods glory that he ruines Babylon by those that did support her as that by death procured by Satan God destroyed him that had the power of death And this was Gods way in destroying the former Monarchies and therefore is more likely to be his way in destroying this not a work by other meanes then the former though exceeding or going beyond it in the conspicuity of it and consequents of it and therefore occasioning more praise to God and not for the holiness of the instruments which the text mentions not Seventhly saith he The Kingdom of the stone when it comes to smite Rome then shall be in it a resemblance as it were of the reign of Christ and the glory of the Kingdom of the Mountain therefore it is said in v. 6. For the Lord God omnipotent raigneth which could not be said if the work were done by a company of carnal Nations and yet this is before the end before Christs coming for after this appearance we have the Bride making her self ready and the Kings of the earth come together to destroy the Bride preparing for her Husband and then you have Christ coming forth in his fury destroying his enemies and rescuing his Bride But before that day there shall be such a glorious appearance in the world and such power in the hands of the people of God that it shall be said when men look upon it The Lord God omnipotent raigneth the Lord Jesus Christ who is King of the world and King of Saints raigneth therefore it shall be done by Saints as leading instruments Answ. Such an acclamation is usual upon any glorious work of God as Exod. 15. 18. and in the Psalms often and therefore it is but a vain conceit as if that speech could not be used unlesse the Saints were leading instruments In this book of the Revelation we have acclamations where no act is expressed of the Saints as Rev. 4. 8 9 11. and 5. 9 10 12 13. and 7. 12. and 11. 15 17. and 12 10. and 15. 3 4. and 16. 5 7. 'T is granted that before Christs coming upon the ruin of Babylon there will be occasion of the acclamation Rev. 19. 6. but not because private Saints shall destroy Babylon by their smiting work but because Gods power and might is thereby manifested and the dominion of God will be thereby promoted Eighthly saith he Look through the old and new Testament where ever we have a description of the persons that shall do the
insufficient Rule to guide us to God about the Oaths of the King's Supremacy and Allegiance to him and upon that occasion somewhat an ample Treatise about Swearing asserting That under the Gospel there is yet a lawfull use of swearing being now debarred of other Ministerial imployment I have conceived it a necessary work to shew the weakness of those suppositions upon which the Quinto-monarchians have been drawn to such an hideous practice as that accursed action forementioned was § 2. The words of Quinto-monarchians expressing their Opinions about seeking Christ's Kingdom in this Age are recited THere was a Book printed made in the year 1656. as is noted pag. 18. bearing this Title The Banner of Truth displayed or a Testimony for Christ and against Antichrist being the substance of several Consultations holden and kept by a certain number of Christians who are waiting for the visible appearance of Christs Kingdom in and over the World and residing in and about the City of London In the first page of the Epistle Dedicatory are these words And truly it evidently appeareth that Rome and the Nations of Europe commonly called the Protestant but are the Antichristian Countries which are the streets of the Great City and Rome-Babylon are the Akeldama or Field of bloud And some pages after mentioning powers since the rise of the Beast with ten horns and ten crowns and their success it is said Now for that we apprehend that the present Generation in which we live is that time in which this great work of Reformation rending and tearing the very foundations of the Beasts Civil power up by the roots the fall of the tenth part of Rome's Dominions a great slaughter amongst the great men and implacable Enemies of Christ and the final result the Kingdoms of the world becoming Christ's possession will begin and that time in which the first dispensation of our Lord's Kingdom shall take place and that it shall not pass before these things be fulfilled Therefore we are against these Governments as now constituted and growing upon the old root of wickednesse and bitternesse that time out of mind have brought forth and produced nothing but bloud-Monsters and to Rule by those Laws that Bastards Tyrants and Conquerors have made for their Lusts sake in opposition to the Law and the Testimony Isay 8. 20. We cannot contend for any Government whatsoever that is of Mans erecting building and planting where any thing of this old Foundation may remain and be left and which good men moral men civil men may exercise upon a meerly civil accompt for all men as they are men have lost their rights and priviledges in respect of Government in the first Adam but Saints have regained them in the second Adam or Lord from Heaven and by force and vertue of mens Laws though but the best of those Laws those called fundamental so they are where no more righteous is found for the Lord will pluck up and destroy root and branch and the Lord will not have a stone of Babels confused building for a corner nor a stone for a foundation We cannot therefore but as in duty by our Allegiance to this King bound proclaim That Jesus Christ is the only lawful and true begotten Heir and lawful King and Potentate of these three Nations and of all the Nations of the Earth and as he is the seed of Abraham shall possesse the Earth yea and the very Gates of his Enemies and that the sole Legislative power of the Nations is and doth of right appertain and belong to him and shall be exercised by him Dan. 7. 27. Jer. 10. 7. Isa. 9. 6 7. Gal. 3. 16. c. Hence then it necessarily follows That those beast-like powers now in being in the world and those if any which shall succeed upon that bottom that Rebel-like will not assign their said power Crowns and Scepters to this great Monarch are and shall be deemed and adjudged Traytors and proceeded against accordingly by vertue of this Kings Laws And truly we are soberly and humbly bold in the Lord Jehovah's strength to assert That the Saints of the most High be they who or where they will and faithfull remnant are a people distinct from the world and formal Professors and are but Pilgrims and strangers in this state of affairs men of another Kingdom and World and are by themselves a Common-wealth and Free-State and therefore 't is to be desired from good and sound grounds that they would exercise that Royal Authority which God has given unto them and invested them with as they are Saints by calling And upon this accompt we humbly conceive that 't is lawful for them to use all honest and just means to defend themselves and offend their enemies and to contend against those that do or shall oppose them in their work and business which is according to the pattern shewed unto them in the Mount and Law of Christ ordained and declared throughout the Scriptures It is observable that we are even already arrived the overturning daies we mean those times in which God will begin to smite the Governments and powers of the great Image which is a little after expressed thus the total annihilation and subversion of all the powers of this World of what quality soever ruling either in Antichrists earth or civil State or in his Heaven or Christ-state by the first dispensation of Christs visible Kingdom which we have spoken of or that of the stone Hence it is that we bear a constant and publick testimony against powers as the subject of Gods displeasure and that which must be plucked up We expect the Gentile Saints shall begin this great work In the Book it self having p. 1. said They were resolved to proceed in their way of Consultation for the clearing up these matters of their faith and principles of their hope they thus write That there is oppression in the earth in all Nations as also in England at this present time is undeniable for no man can say that there is no oppression unless we will also affirm that there is no Dragon in power no Antichrist Beast Babylon Whore nor false Prophet which how absurd a thing it is let all judge But the Man of Sin is still in the Seat of Authority the Governments of these Nations are Antichristian therefore oppression is not ceased Neither will there be any lasting Cessation of cruelty untill the fifth Kingdom be set up when the whole Earth shall be at rest and the fourth Kingdom which divides it self into two Iron legs ten toes and a little horn be wholy destroyed in all the Laws Constitutions Governments and Reliques thereof for the Spirit and life that is in that Beast or Kingdom is the Spirit of the old Dragon who is the Devil and Satan that old Serpent whose seed do continually war against the Woman which is Christs Mystical body there being great enmity between them two p. 4. That dispensation which Jehovah by his
few mens hands to beggar the whole these take towls and customs of their brethren p. 14. Why may not the Soldiers pull the Judges out of Westminster Hall and take all their rusty Records Laws c. And make a fire on them That so we may have honest godly Laws according to the Scriptures and reason In the preface to the 8 last Sermons of Mr. Tillinghast who was much for the Fifth-Monarchy are these words Let none take offence at this language for I cannot forbear vilifying the Kingdoms of the fourth Beast when my thoughts are upon the magnifying of the Kingdom power and glory of Jesus Christ our Lord. And if the Virgin daughter of Sion without any disparagement to her holy modesty might of old be allowed by God himself to dispise the great King of Assyria and to laugh him to scorn I know no reason to the contrary but one of the Lambs followers may without breach of rule in an holy triumph of faith express contempt of the Kings of the Earth who are all of them the lovers of the Mother of Harlots and Abomination of the Earth In the first Sermon p. 2. Of the third edition 1659. Mr. Tillinghast saith Davids Kingdom was a type of Christs Kingdom and indeed whereas this Kingdom here Jerem. 33. 20 21. Promised is shadowed forth by that of David it doth hold thus much that the Kingdom is not only a spiritual Kingdom but an outward visible Kingdom for such a throne and Kingdom Davids was p. 14. Yet the woman hath not had her day upon the Serpent but there is a time wherein the woman must have a day upon the Serpent to break his head therefore there is such a Kingdom wherein the Saints of Jesus Christ shall crush all the enemies of Jesus Christ in the world p. 39. The Devil plays his game thus in the new Testament times he made men to look for an outward Kingdom only when Christ was about to set up a spiritual Kingdom now that Christ would set up an outward Kingdom saith the Devil look only to the spiritual Kingdom p. 41. Gods Peoples faith is not grounded on fancies but they see and know that God is doing some glorious thing in the world he is overturning Kingdoms and setting up the Kingdom of his Son Serm. 3. p. 57. He conceives The work of Christs visible Kingdom over the world the work of the present time one great article of our faith the work that God doth call his Children to at this day and he calls upon them from Heaven to attend to that they are to expect it before Christ come forth bring his Kingdom with him p. 60 61. He distinguisheth in Christs visible Kingdom between the Kingdom of the Stone and of the Mountain this he calls the Kingdom of glory wherein the Saints shall not work but receive that the working Kingdom of the Saints wherein Saints are by the Lord imployed to do some notable service against his coming which is the breaking down the great Image the bringing down all his enemies that when he comes he may find them his footstool for he is to fit at the Fathers right hand until all his enemies be made his footstool it 's a Kingdom wherein Plow-shaers are to be beaten into Swords there shall be wonderful use of Swords Weapons of War out of Daniel 12. 12 13. He gathers the beginning of each of these p. 62. Truly I look upon it as being a main and principal part of that faith once delivered to the Saints as touching the fifth Kingdom p. 63. Though this Stone fundamentally is Christ himself yet considered as smiting the great Image it can be no other but Christ mystical Christ in his members and the cutting out of this Stone cannot be meant as some would have it of Christs first coming p. 65. Now if it can be made appear that that with which the fifth Kingdom doth begin the work of the great Image the over-turning the Thrones of the Kings is to be performed by the Saints as chief instruments in the management of it then it follows of necessity there must be such a thing as the Civil and Military power to be in the hands of the Saints and that before the day of Christs appearance they must have this power in their hands for the performance of that work and if so then it 's not evil for the Saints and People of God to seek for it to pray for it to plead for it for it 's to come into their hands for the doing of their work before the day of Christs appearance And then endeavours to prove that this work with which the fifth Kingdom doth begin is a work to be performed by Saints as the chief and principal instruments in the doing of it p. 74. There 's the coming forth of Christ when his enemies by his Saints are made his footstool p. 79. He gives some figues that this work is near at hand and p. 82. He makes this to be a general sign that never was there a principle that did run so much among the Churches of Christ as this hath done within these twelve months I have set down the words of those persons that I shall oppose in their positions that I may not be thought to impose upon them Out of them it is manifest that they assert that all the powers not only Ecclesiastical but also Civil and Military of the Nations even the Protestant as well as the Turkish and Romish Kingdoms are Antichristian and all their Laws Officers Schools Corporations Titles Priviledges Degrees and ranks of men in their politick and military as well as Ecclesiastical state Babylonish from the fourth Monarchy that those that they call publick spirited Saints of this age distinct from Notional professors and formally Godly are to hate separate from them deny any assistance to them rise up against them to destroy them utterly to smite them in order to the setting up a fifth Monarchy of Christ's visible Kingdom on earth that the Saints may be a free Common-wealth of themselves subject to no Laws but Christ's and free from all oppressions of men § 3. The Doctrine of smiting Powers is proved from Scripture Precepts to be Wicked THis Doctrine is damnable and Antichristian as is proved by these Arguments following whereof the first is taken from those Precepts of the New Testament and the Old which forbid such disobedience vilifying refusing assistance smiting of Powers over us Dignities Officers but command Honour Obedience Assistance Fear to Powers Dignities and their Laws and may be thus formed That Doctrine is damnable and Antichristian which commendeth and urgeth Practises and Actions contrary to the Precepts of Christ his holy Apostles and other holy men in the holy Scriptures This Proposition is of it self manifest unlesse that be not acknowledged damnable which is condemned by so holy persons nor Antichristian in a large sense which is flatly opposite to Christ's and his holy
with the Bishops that did set up Images in the Churches and if by the mixture be meant their assuming Ecclesiastical power I suppose these Objectors will not charge them with this it being to their great vexation that the Bishops especially the Bishops of Rome claimed and usurped authority over Emperors and Kings as he doth at this day to excommunicate them if they reconciled not themselves to them to depose them and many of the Emperors and Kings did contend against this usurpation in many sore Wars If by mixture of State be meant the assisting of the Popes to destroy the opposers of the Papacy I acknowledge it true that there were too many that did so But in this there was no mixture of civil Ecclesiastical power but rather a concurrence the Ecclesiastical keeping to themselves the judgment of Heresies and putting upon the secular power the execution of their sentence whereby they did debase the civil power in making it subservient to them but made no mixture of State Which appeared in that some of the civil powers that kept their civil government as before yet did oppose this usurpation in Popes and Prelates in making them their Executioners to destroy those who were judged Hereticks by them and therefore this act of theirs was the evil of those persons that did it but not of the civil Government it self 3. It is supposed that then the civil powers were the beast and a whore Which no doubt alludes to that which we read Revel 17. 1 2 c. of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters and v. 3. 7. the whore is resembled by a woman sitting upon a scarlet coloured beast and v. 18. it is said and the woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth Which few do deny to be meant of Rome some of the learned Papists themselves granting it to be meant of Rome though they would have it believed that Rome is so called the Whore while it was heathen not since it became Christian. Others there are chiefly Those of the Protestant Churches who do conceive by the Whore is meant Rome Papal as conceiving the descriptions ofher and her practises cannot be applied to Rome as it was Paganish or Ethnick Whether this or the other or any other opinion be right it is not needful now to discuss It is sufficient that the Civil Powers of Rome whether Ethnick or Christian or in a future estate cannot well be termed the Beast and a Whore too sith the text makes them distinct or if they may yet sure the Civil Powers are not the Whore sith it is said v. 2. The Kings of the earth have committed fornication with the Whore and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication therefore the Kings of the earth and inhabiters of the earth must not be confounded with the Whore And v. 16. It is said And the ten Horns who are ten Kings which had received no Kingdom then v. 12. And therefore not while Rome was Ethnick but after it's being Christian Which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire Therefore the Kings which are the Civil Powers are not the same with the Whore but though at first beguiled by her shall at last hate and consume her when they shall be undeceived 4. It is supposed that then the Power of Rome when adulterated from its pure Civil Estate became a mixt Antichristian state or a beastly Antichristian Power What is meant by Antichristian state or Antichristian Power is not easy to resolve It is true the Apostle John makes mention of many Antichrists that should come in the last time among which his words intimate that there should be a special Antichrist that they had heard should come 1 John 2. 18. And v. 22. He saith He is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son And ch 4. v. 3. He saith And every Spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God And this is that Spirit of Antichrist whereof ye have heard that it should come and even already is it in the world And in his second Epistle v. 7. For many deceivers are entered into the world who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh This is a or the Deceiver and an or the Antichrist which words seem to import that those erroneous seducing teachers whether gnosticks or other who were risen in that time when these Epistles were written were it is likely called Antichrists from their opposition to the true Doctrine concerning the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh-Nevertheless many of the ancients in after ages did often give hints of the expectation of Christians commonly entertained whether from St. Johns words or some other tradition that there would arise some more remarkable Antichrist who should whether by Power or deceit corrupt or infest the Church of Christ beyond what was done in his daies And this hath been imagined by some of them should be a Roman the same with the man of sin 2 Thes. 2. 3. That wicked or lawless one v. 8. the Beast Revel 13. 11. And the Whore of Babylon Revel 17. 5. which in many ages the great corruptions in the Popes of Rome and their Courts caused to be applied ever and anon by some or other of the best and learnedst of their times to the Popes and Papacy And since the time of Luther it hath been almost generally received by Protestant Writers of all sorts that the Popes and Papacy especially since Pope Boniface the third usurped the Title of Oecumenical Bishop as proper to his See and Gregory the seventh the Power of deposing Emperors and Boniface the eight the welding of both swords Civil and Ecclesiastical are the Antichrist Man of sin Beast and Whore of Babylon foretold that he should come by St. Paul and St. John And not a few very learned and sober godly men both of Bishops and Presbyters in England Ireland France and other Nations have asserted it by Preaching and writing and have made it one of their chief pleas for their refusing communion with and enmity against the late Bishops of Rome and the Papal Church although some of late have thought otherwise and have endeavoured to apply those passages to some other whether rightly or not I do not now determin Whence it hath come to pass that as the Papists who still adhere to the Bishop of Rome as Christs Vicar and St. Peters Successor swallow down all that comes from Rome be it never so vain and erroneous so on the other side those who have been induced by the arguments inforced from the places of holy scripture alledged to conceive that the Popes or Papacy or Roman Synagogue have been and are the Antichrist Man of sin Babylon the Whore therein mentioned have been apt to
Kings one hour with the Beast c have one mind give their power and strength unto the Beast which could not be understood of the Roman Pagan Emperors who received not power and strength from Kings but gave power to them so as that they ruled under them by their power and therefore is to be interpreted of later times which the event shews to be most probable to have been the times wherein the Kings of Europe having divided the Roman Empire into ten Kingdoms did yet all of them sooner or later adhere to and support the Papal Dominion which brought in errors heresies idolatries and superstitions which have and yet do corrupt the western Churches and for maintenance of which a sea of blood hath been shed by the instigations of Friers Jesuites and other Emissaries of Rome Upon these especially Brightman Mede and some others conceived the third vial to be poured out But all are so far from making the Rivers which shed the blood of the Saints and Prophets to whom blood was given to drink to be the Civil powers that Brightman makes the pouring out of this vial to have been begun by Q. Elizabeth and the Parliament 1581. making the reconciling of the English Subjects to Rome a capital offence and makes the then Lord Treasurer William Cecil the Angel of the Rivers by reason of the book put forth by him termed the English Justice wherein the putting to death of Romish Emissaries is defended Which is also the opinion of Mede though he add also the memorable overthrow of the Spaniard in 1588. the English and the Dutch whom Robert Parker conceives resembled by the Angel of the waters as seated in a watery Country by sea and land abundantly pouring out the Cup of the mighty hand of God But be the civil powers the shedders of the blood Rev. 16. 6. and 17. 6. and 18. 24. and 19. 2. yet it can with no colour be charged on those civil powers that have not in obedience to the Pope acted this tragedy but have opposed it and avenged the blood of the Saints by execution of just laws made against the Instigators and actors in the shedding of the blood of Protestants I cannot take upon me to absolve the civil powers from the guilt of shedding the blood of Saints and Prophets as being ignorant how far any have been actors therein or connived thereat nor do I know what Gods way may be of imputing the blood-shedding of Saints and Martyrs though by Ancestors hundreds of years ago upon the posterity succeeding Christs sentence against Jerusalem Matth. 23. 34 35. 37. makes me astonished and to say as David Ps. 119. 120. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy Judgments and with Daniel ch 9. 8 to say O Lord to us belongeth confusion of face to our Kings to our Princes and to our Fathers because we sinned against thee Yet hoping that the Princes and people of these Nations have been humbled and are before God at this day for the evils committed by their forefathers under the Papacy I trust I may add with Daniel v. 9. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses though we have rebelled against him Sure I am it is a bold presumption which the Quinto-Monarchians have no warrant for to charge the blood of Martyrs shed long before their times on the civil powers of this Generation unless they were privy to some overt act whereby they have shewed their approbation of it and their readiness to tread in the same steps 4. It is said that therefore God by way of recompence and retaliation hath ordained that the Saints shall be his instrument by which he will execute his vengeance upon the powers of teh world who are all of them Murtherers Accordingly God commands his people and t is their duty to obey to reward Babylon double as she rewarded them yea and double unto her with all those plagues deaths and stripes that she hath inflicted on you Revel 18. 6. And they shall give her blood to drink and she shall be burnt with fire for strong is the Lord that judgeth her To which I reply 1. that all this runs upon a palpable mistake that the powers of the world or the civil powers are the Babylon which is to be rewarded double Rev. 18. 6. whereas it is manifest that the Babylon to be rewarded double is that great mighty city v. 10. out of which Gods people are to come v. 4. which is to be utterly burnt with fire though the inhabitants are also included whose sins reached up to Heaven v. 5. Glorified her self v. 7. yet the civil powers of the world cannot be meant there sith it is said v. 9. And the Kings of the earth who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her shall bewail her and lament for her when they shall see the smoke of her burning standing a far off for the fear of her torments 2. It is another mistake as if God had ordained that the Saints or Gods people without any other circumscription should be his instrument by which he will execute his vengeance upon Babylon For though it be spoken to the people of God Revel 18. 5. To reward Babylon as she rewarded them in the cup she hath filled fill her double yet it be said Revel 17. 16. And the ten Horns which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will and to agree and give their Kingdom unto the Beast until the words of God shall be fulfilled Whence it appears that it is so far from truth that the civil powers of the world are Babylon and are to be destroyed in order to Babylons downfall that they are distinct from Babylon so as to stand a far off and lament her some of them and others are to be instruments of burning her with fire And therefore although the people of God which are to come out of Babylon those who are with the Lambe called faithful and chosen Rev. 17. 14 may be with the Kings that burn her and being escaped out of Babylon may be instrumental to its destruction being joyned with the Kings yet it doth not appear that God hath ordained the Saints who are only private men and no Kings shall do it by themselves by their own power but in conjunction with them or subordination to them and therefore in the executing of vengeance on Babylon there will be execution by the civil powers of the world not upon them and Saints are bound in order to this smiting work to maintain civil powers not to smite them or separate from them 3. Though the words Revel 18. 6. be in the Imperative mood yet it doth not thence necessarily follow that it is Gods command to his people which it is their duty to obey or else they sin
in ordine ad spiritualia as they spake they might dispose of their Kingdoms as the Vicars of Christ and visible Monarchs of the Universal Church Which things these Fifth-Monarchy-Men count Antichristian and therefore their teaching and doing the like upon pretence of setting up of Christs Kingdom on earth is by parity of reason there being not better proof for the one than for the other damnable and Antichristian § 13. The smiting work of Quinto-Monarchians is grounded on falsities or uncertainties concerning the agents means and time of smiting mentioned Dan 2. 34. 44 45. HItherto I have prosecuted those arguments against the Quinto-Monarchians doctrine and practise which shew it to be damnable and Antichristian in respect of the act it self of smiting civil powers I shall add further more arguments against them shewing the falsity and uncertainty of those grounds and principles on which their determinations concerning separation from smiting of civil powers rest The first whereof is that afore the Fifth-Monarchy be set up and in order thereto afore Christs coming all civil powers that are now extant as part of the fourth Monarchy are to be disannulled Which hath no foundation but in their own fancy or hatred of the civil powers as withstanding their design For it is said Revel 17. 16 17. That the Kings which formerly supported Babylon shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will and to agree and give their Kingdom unto the Beast until the words of God be fulfilled and Revel 18. 9. It is said That the Kings of the earth who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her shall be wail her and lament for her when they shall see the smoke of her burning which shewes that Kings even those that have joyned with Babylon shall remain after her fall yea and some Kings shall be the instruments of her destruction And the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 24. tells us Then cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God even the Father when he shall have put down all Rule and all Authority and Power Which words plainly intimate that afore the end when Christ shall deliver up the Kingdom to God even the Father all Rule and Authority and Power shall not be put down Which may be also gathered from Revel 11. 15. where it is said And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great voices in Heaven saying the Kingdoms of the world are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever which is said v. 18. To be the time of the dead that they should be judged and therefore till that time there shall be the Kingdoms of this world and consequently civil powers A second is That civil powers are to be dissolved by men Whereas this is still asserted in Scripture as Gods prerogative that the most High ruleth in the Kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will Dan. 4. 25. 32. 34 35. and 5. 21. And even in the business of the fourth Monarchy the stone that is said to smite the image upon his feet is said to be cut out of the mountain without hands Dan. 2. 34. 45. which is more likely to be meant of Christ who was cut without hands out of the mountain that is without natural generation as other men whether by the Mountain be meant Eternity or Heaven or the Roman Empire or the Universe of human kind as I conceive then of any other man or men And if it be meant of the Kingdom as v. 44. doth expound it that it shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms it must be meant in respect of Christ the King whose dominion is set up by the God of Heaven and not by men and therefore take it any way agreeable to the Text the stones breaking in pieces and consuming all the Kingdoms must not be expounded of Subjects now calling themselves Saints destroying civil powers to which they are subject A third is That men shall dissolve civil powers by fighting with swords which is very false For the stone that smote the Image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth which if it be understood of Christs spiritual Kingdom it smote the Image by preaching the Gospel by which the power of the Idols who ruled in those Kingdoms was cast down and by it the stone became a great mountain and filled the whole earth if it be meant of smiting hereafter it is to be as 2 Thes. 2. 8. it is said that wicked one the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming or if it be meant of the Saints as Mr. Thomas Parker conceives they are thus cut out by professed separation and victorious exemption without hands that is by the only power and finger of Almighty God as it is interpretted Dan. 2. v. 44 45. Thus saith he in his Exposition of that Vision they began to be cut out anno 1160 in the Waldenses and continue so unto this day And the extraordinary hand of God was seen therein as the strange arising growth prevailing of them doth manifestly declare But their absolute cutting out an exemption from the power of Antichrist is that which is to be expected at the term of the slaughter of the two Prophets when their rising by the power alone of God Almighty without the help of man is thus described Revel 11. 11. And after three daies and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them and they stood upon their feet and great fear fell upon them that saw them they ascended up to Heaven in a Cloud and their enemies beheld them And the same hour was there a great Earth-quake and the tenth part of the City fell and in the Earth-quake were slain of men or names of men as in the Greek expounded by Mr. Mede men of name seven thousand presently after which it followes The Kingdoms of the world are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ. Now be the Earth-quake as Mr. Mede thinks a great commotion of the Nations and alteration of Politique Affairs or some thing else it is caused by Gods power either without man or only by the witnesses and their testimony and if the falling and slaughter thereby be in whole or in part the smiting of the Stone Dan. 2. 34. 44 45. as it is probable it is not by fighting sure not by such as overthrowes civil powers for they shall be altered and be instrumental to destroy Babylon Revel 17. 16 17. And therefore this which is the hinge on which the smiting work of Quinto-Monarchians turns being very uncertain or rather very false all their inferences thereupon must of necessity be groundless and unwarrantable A fourth is that the smiting work ascribed to the Stone shall be
hope wherein those whom they believe to be godly oppose them and their violence of spirit beyond all sobriety in moving persons so earnestly to that smiting work in this age upon no better grounds than their own conjecture though they foresaw it would bring common calamity and the bodies and lives of godly persons perish by reason of their opposition to this Stone which shewes they were resolved to smite all that stood in their way though godly as it fell out in the year 1660. Mr. Tillinghast in his first Sermon p. 26. saith the work of Christs Kingdom the glorious beginning of it shall be about the time of the Jewes coming in and p. 39. saith the Lord make us wait on him for his own time and yet Serm. 3. gives signes of its being near even in this generation which he makes it the duty of Saints to observe though not one of the signes is from any Revelation of God but from things which may happen and have without such signification as he would put upon them I omit what Mr. Mede in his letter to Arch-Bishâ—p Usher and in other writings and many others write of the mystical numbers in Daniel and in the Revelation which I would not have slighted so as to give no heed to them it being not in vain that the Holy Ghost hath delivered them to us only this I conceive it very dangerous and unsafe to make them the warrant or motive to such an attempt as the smiting of civil powers or the beginning of any War against the known Rules of scripture and Lawes of civil Government it being in it self wicked shewing bitter furious zeal without the wisedome from above and likely hereafter as it hath done formerly to others to bring destruction of soul and body on the agents and much misery on others whether opponents or neuters § 14. Many things are groundless and false which the Quinto-Monarchians suppose and take as articles of their faith concerning the Fifth-Monarchy and its setting up TO the uncertainties and falsities about the smiting work of the Stone whereby the evil of their attempt is demonstrated I shall next add the uncertainties or falsities of those things which thâ—y make as articles of their faith about the Stones becoming a Mountain and filling the whole earth Where 1. they shew their inadvertency in making Gentile Saints who are but subjects the Stone meant Dan. 3. 34 35. Excluding the Jewes from being the Stone in the beginning whereas the Stone is expresly termed the Kingdom which shall stand for ever v. 44 45. which cannot be understood of the Saints who are subject they are not the Kingdom nor do they stand for ever though they receive a Kingdom that cannot be shaken Heb. 12. 28. But the Stone is Christ the King and his Dominion which must fill the whole earth with Subjects Lawes and Administrations of Rule and Justice which cannot be said of the Saints Gentile or Jewish Which inadvertency causeth them to speak confusedly p. 19 20. and throughout their Book termed the Baaner of truth displayed sometimes terming the Stone Christ sometimes his Kingdom sometime the Gentile Saints sometimes the Jewes joyned to the Gentiles Now the same Stone which smites the great Image becomes a great Mountain and fils the whole earth but this is not true of the Gentile Saints or Jew and Gentile joyned together they become not a great Mountain nor fill the whole earth therefore they smite not the Image 2. That the Stone or fifth Kingdom is an outward visible Kingdom not the spiritual Kingdom which was begun by Christ in the days of his flesh is much insisted on as the chief ground of their faith and hope in this matter But in the Banner of truth displayed p. 20. in answer to the question what this Stone is They say this Stone is called in Scripture the Kingdom of Christ and the Kingdom of Christ this stone Dan. 2. 44 45. Matth. 21. 43 44. which they say hath a twofold dispensation i. e. 1. An internal dispensation or the inward Kingdom which is the Kingdom of Christ in the hearts of his Saints and in and over his Church 2. An external dispensation 1. Of war in subduing and conquering his stubborn enemies and opposers in the world whereby they shall be compelled to yield and shall become subjects though Kings and Princes 2. Of peace upon the earth in and over the whole world which is the new creation and restitution of all things where will be perfection no sin among the Saints immortality no mortal nor corruptible thing where death shall have no sting nor grave victory but all shall be swallowed up in Christs fulness which is victory And for this they cite many scriptures in the margin Now 1. I grant that the stone Dan. 2. 44 45. is the Kingdom of Christ or of God Mat. 21. 43 44. 2. The distinction of the internal external Kingdom is not denied 3. Nor do I oppose the double dispensation of this Kingdom 4. Nor do I deny the description of either dispensation But 1. hence I infer that the stone Dan. 2. 44 45. notes the internal Kingdom or the dominion Christ had by the preaching of the Gospel termed the Gospel of the Kingdom Matth. 24. 14. meant Matth. 21. 43 44. For 1. that Kingdom is meant there and no other which was to be taken from the Jews but that could be no other than the internal Kingdom for no other Kingdom was then among them but it therefore no other is there meant 2. That Kingdom was there meant which was to be given to another Nation meaning the Gentiles but that was no other but the internal 3. That Kingdom is there meant whose fruits were to be brought forth by the Nation to whom it was to be given now the fruits of the Kingdom are expressed to be righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. which belong to the internal Kingdom and therefore no other there meant Which thing is also confirmed by other passages of Scripture as namely that of our Saviour Luk. 17. 20. When he was demanded when the Kingdom of God should come he answered them and said The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation or with outward shew therefore the Kingdom of God meant in the Gospel is not the outward visible Kingdom which the Quinto-Monarchians expect which is also proved from v. 21. where it is added Neither shall they say Lo here or lo there for behold the Kingdom of God is within you or among you which could be no other than the Kingdom set up by the preaching of the Gospel To which is to be added Christs good confession before Pontius Pilate John 18. 36. Kingdom is not of this world if my Kingdom were of this world then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews but now is my Kingdom not from hence Wherein our Lord Christ declares his Kingdom foretold by
of them who delivered themselves from exile by voluntary embracing of the allowance of Cyrus and other Persian Kings Their claim also of the Kingdom and power in these Nations as the Saints birthright as freemen of the Common-wealth of Israel and heirs of the whole world with Christ Gal. 3. 29. is alike ridiculous For they are no otherwise freemen of the Common-wealth of Israel than in a Metaphor taking the Church of God for the Israel of God and Church members freemen of the Common-wealth But this belongs to every Christian at least who is really such in the whole world and then if freedom should infer soveraignty they should be Kings because freemen which is a meer non sequitur Gal. 3. 29. speaks not of the inheritance of the whole world but of the promise which is of the spirit v. 14. not of the dominion of the whole world The rest of their arguings are like these as will appear in that which follows § 16. The Reasons and Arguments of Fifth-Monarchy Men for their separation and smiting civil powers are shewed to be vain IT remains now that I consider what I meet with in the writings I have seen for the Quinto-Monarchians separation from and smiting civil powers and acting in the behalf of the Fifth-Monarchy or visible Kingdom of Christ on earth as they term it and the Saints taking it into their possession The reasons of their separation and engaging against all civil powers are in the Banner of truth displayed p. 84 85 86 87 88. Whereof the first is this Because the Fifth Kingdom which is Jesus Christ's and the Saints together with the Lawes and Ordinances thereof is to take place of the Roman Kingdom which is the Kingdom of the Beast and Antichrist with destruction thereto together with all the Lawes and Ordinances thereof Dan. 2. 44. ch 7. 18. 26 27. Isa. 2. 3. 1 Cor. 6. 2. Heb. 12. 28. Answ This is granted and it is in part fulfilled by the setting up of Christs Kingdom by preaching the Gospel and is yet to be fulfilled at Christs appearing of the former of which Dan. 2. 44. Isai. 2. 3. Heb. 12. 28. are meant of the later Daniel 7. 18. 26 27. 1 Cor. 6. 2. None of the texts term civil powers in England the Kingdom of the Beast and Antichrist or the Roman Kingdom nor prove the Fifth Kingdom is to be set up by separation from civil powers or engaging against them which were to be proved and therefore if that which is said to be an undeniable truth among the Saints yet sith those Saints are not infallible and other Saints perhaps doubt of it as judicious as themselves it should have been proved and also their inference thence cleared unless they had been resolved to deceive or remain deceived 2. Because the civil power is that which doth oppose the righteous Kingdom of Jesus Christ not only deteining his right interest title and birthright of inheritance from him as much as in them lies which is as great an evil as if they should effectually accomplish their wicked design but also do make War against the Lamb Christ Jesus and the Saints his followers Rev. 17. 14. Psal. 2. 1 2 3. Are we the friends and subjects of Jesus Christ Why then are we found the friends and subjects of men How can this be Can we serve Christ and Belial Let Saints therefore be convinced of this namely that the civil powers are Christs enemies it is they that labour to prevent the rise and breaking forth of that Kingdom and neer unto the time of its firm establishment their combination will be very high great I saw the Beast which all grant to be the civil or at leastwise the civil and Ecclesiastcal power and the Kings of the earth and their Armies gathered together to make War against him that Sate on the Horse and against his Army Rev. 19. 19. If so then it consequently follows that 't is the Saints great duty to withdraw from this Beast the Kings of the earth their Armies strength and power neither are they upon pain of his highness great displeasure to maintain or help and abet or assist any such Armies or powers who are raised or continued to make War against him lest they be found Traitors secretly assisting his enemies and so fighters against his glory power Crown and Scepter Answer This is a very deep charge but so confused and in Generals that it serves the more fitly to hide the deceit of the accusers it being true Dolus versatur in generalibus their 's guile in accusations which are only in Generals tending to make any suspected or accused against whom they have a prejudice and the more defficult for the accused to defend himself If it be meant of the Popish Prelates and Princes or Mahometan or Pagan it is not denied if it be meant of the Protestant civil and Ecclesiastical powers it should be shewed which of them and in what facts they do those things here charged on them Perhaps they that are accused are not guilty or if they be guilty yet not of such facts as amount to what is here imputed to them Sure every injurious act to a Saint makes not the power an enemie to Christ nor every unrighteous Law or Act which may hinder the progress of Christs Kingdom doth so oppose the righteous Kingdom of Christ as to be construed not only the deteining of his right interest title and birth-right of inheritance from him but also making War against the Lamb Christ Jesus and the Saints his followers much less to be taken for an opposition to Christs Kingdom as much as in them lies and as great an evil as if they should accomplish their wicked design Possibly this opposition which they accuse powers of is nothing else but an opposition to the wild and frantick actings of Fifth-Monarchy Men which if so they rather are to be said to further the righteous Kingdom of Christ than oppose it and the Fifth-Monarchy Men be more truly chargeable with the making War against the Lamb Christ Jesus and the Saints his followers Possibly the Quinto-Monarchians do charge powers with these things only out of uncertain rumors and reports yea perhaps only out of prejudice which is too too frequent though it be but a Divelish practice in many that are reputed Saints Surely these consulters in a secret conventicle where the powers cannot be heard speak for themselves are not competent accusers to arraign and Judges too to condemn their superiors if I may not be allowed to call them their betters This is indeed an intolerable and damnable presumption both to God and Man Nor is there any thing in the texts that is for their purpose the former Revel 17. 14. being meant only of those Kings who received power as Kings one hour with the Beast and give their power and strength to the Beast which sure cannot be meant of the Protestant Princes or Prelates or Powers it being
expresly declared by the Apostles Acts 4. 25 26 27. to have been fulfilled in the conspiracy of Herod and Pontius Pilate the Gentiles and Princes of Israel putting Christ to death The other text Revel 19. 19. is confessedly meant of Christs enemies that shall be near the time of the rise of the Kingdom of Christ and therefore is madly applied to a duty of Non-assisting or ressisting present powers It 's against all Rules but those of frayes when Tinkers and Pedlers and the rabble Rout fall to fighting to strike Richard for Robert to oppose the present powers in this Generation the civil and Ecclesiastical because the Beast and the Kings of the earth and their Armies shall be gathered together to make War against him that sate on the Horse and his Army No marvel men that thus argue should hate Lawyers and Universities which would hisse out such Law and Logick no marvel godly Brethren desert them when they vent such things as befit Devils rather than Saints and better agree with the doctrine of Hell than of the Church of Christ to whom that may be applied which Christ saith Revel 2. 9. I know the Blasphemy of them which say they are Jewes and are not but are the Synagogue of Satan As for us who have not known the depths of Satan as they speak we judge we may be friends and subjects of men even such as do oppose the righteous Kingdom of Jesus Christ if we do not concur with them nor love nor favour nor yeild obedience to them in that opposition we may be subject to them in the things of men though we oppose them according to our duty as did the three Children Dan. 3. 16 17 18. in the things of God when they act contrary thereto Nor need we fear to be charged with serving Christ and Belial or being found secret or open Traitors to Christ while we assist them in matters of civil Government and good order of Churches though they be adversaries to some truths we hold or some practises which we conceive and perhaps are our duty The power is not Belial alwaies when those that have the power be men of Belial A believing servant may serve with a good conscience an unbelieving Master enough hath been said of this before I am ashamed that any that hath the name of a Protestant or Saint should thus argue and it is altogether inexcusable in these men who acknowledge in this their writing that the persecuting powers in the Apostles dayes were the Ordinance of God to which Christians should be subject Rom. 13. 1. 3. Say they because the very life well-being rest and happiness of the Saints both in the external and internal sence consisteth and is laid and wrapt up in the Kingdom of Christ which is granted they add and not in this Kingdom of Antichrist and Babylonish state which is a filthy and polluted thing Heb. 11. 26 27. 2 Pet. 3. 13. But how doth it appear that the present civil powers are the Kingdom of Antichrist and Babylonish state or that owning or assisting them is resting in such a Kingdom or state Sure Heb. 11. 26 27. 2 Pet. 3. 13. there 's not a word to prove that which they take for granted yea we may perhaps better retort this reason and say it is the happiness of Saints to separate from these Fifth-Monarchy-men who instead of the Kingdom of Christ would bring us into the Kingdom of Antichrist and Babylonish state by inciting us to separate from and smite civil powers and charge them as denying the power and authority of Christ who would have to Caesar the things of Caesar given even from this their own speech of forbidding us to be under the power of men which is Gods Ordinance Rom. 13. 1. And though the followers of Christ ought to travel and cry and be restless until the man-child be brought forth to rule the Nations and until Zions righteousness go forth as brightness and her salvation as a Lamp that burneth Mic. 4. 10. Isa. 62. 1. c. yet are they not to give their goods or to use their endeavours to further the Quinto-Monarchians project Nor do the words Micah 2. 10. warrant them to relinquish powers which be over them but we may justly exhort all holy persons in the words of Moses Numb 16. 24 26. Get you up from about the Tabernacle of the Quinto-Monarchians who are seditious against their Governors as Corah Dathan and Abiram were depart I pray you from the tents of these wicked men though pretended Saints and touch nothing of theirs lest ye be consumed in all their sins 4. Say they Because 't is prophesied of the Saints that they shall take the Kingdom power and dominion from the Beast Dan. 7. 18. 26. we therefore conclude that 't is a duty incumbent upon the Saints of the later daies to endeavour the translation of the Kingdom and power from the Beast to Jesus Christ else how shall they fulfil the Word of God which is a sure word of prophecy now how can Saints be instrumental in this great work except they first perform this act of separation which being done renders them in a great measure ready for that which follows Answ It is prophesied of the Saints of the most High that they shall take the Kingdom and possess the Kingdom for ever even for ever and ever But it is not said that the Kingdom they shall take shall be the visible Kingdom on earth after or towards the time of the end of the fourth or Roman Monarchy or that the Saints are the Gentile Saints or the Gentile Saints of this Age or this Island or of the City of London or that they shall take it from the Beast or that the Beast is the civil power of England or that they shall take it by their separation or smiting work or that the Saints shall take away the Dominion of the Horn to consume and to destroy it unto the end by some fighting Act of theirs or any such as the Quinto-Monarchians design But in the reading and meaning of those words there is so much difficulty and uncertainty that no sober person would ever have made such an inference as these men make from it For first it is not very certain whether the fourth Beast be the Kingdom of the Seleucidae or the Roman Kingdom though I incline to the later 2. It is uncertain whether the little Horn be Antiochus Epiphanes or the Roman Papacy though I incline to the later 3. Nor is it certain that it is to be read the Saints of the most High shall take the Kingdom which I follow with our interpreters the same persons being to take the Kingdom who are to possess it for ever and not as some read they shall take the Kingdom of the Saints of the most High meaning the four Beasts shall take the Kingdom of the Jewes 4. Nor is it certain that v. 26. when it is said they shall take away his
of absolution merit Martyrdom and Heaven Answ I should not think it worth while to make any answer to this reason which proves that which is granted that the worshipping the Beast and his image the receiving the mark of the beast in his forehead or in his hand or the name of the beast or number of his name or the mark of his name makes men obnoxious to Gods wrath and proves not at all that which is to be proved that to have relation affection subjection to civil power or any of its appertainers is to worship the Beast and his Image to receive the mark of the Beast in the forehead or hand to receive the mark of his name his name or the number of his name but that I find this is made commonly the pretence of separations of every party and their oppositions thereupon Thus not only the Protestants separate from the Papists counting subjection to the Pope receiving the mark of the beast but also among Protestants dissenters term the practice they dislike and are averse from the mark of the beast whence especially the common sort who have most heat and least light as they are prejudiced so they inveigh against their opposites as the beast and the owning them as the re-receiving his mark So Brownists count any acknowledgment of Bishops receiving ordination from them using the Cross Surplice kneeling and such ceremonies as they injoin going to Common-prayer paying tythes being of a national or parish Church with many more things which they except against in Prelatical yea and Presbyterian and congregational government the worshiping the beast and receiving his mark which being got once into the heads of the common sort who usually talk much against that which they understand little inflames them with hatred against those they judge to be the beast and that which they think is his mark so as that without measure they inveigh against them delighting in satyrical scotts and jests put upon them in tales that disparage them are averse from any conference with them or hearing of them speak and altogether irreconcileable to them This fashion which heretofore was only used against Ecclesiasticks the Fifth-monarchy-men it seems have here taken up against the civil powers as useful for their demagogical design to affright the people and to hold them to their party But to shew the vanity of it it is to be observed that they apply the threatnings Rev. 14. 6 7 8 9 10. to the worshipping of the second beast described Revel 13. 11. and to the times near unto Christs coming now that beast by all the descriptions of it appears not to have gotten his power by the sword as civil powers have but by deceit as by pretended miracles v. 13. 14. whence he is termed the false Prophet Rev. 16. 13 14. which stirred up the Kings of the earth to make war against the Rider on the white horse Rev. 19. 19 20. the Whore with whom the Kings of the earth committed sornication Revel 17. 1 2. which being plainly expressed to be Rome or at Rome v. 18. cannot be applyed with any shew or colour to the civil powers of England or other Countries besides Rome especially the Protestants they being no Prophets nor using any arts or devices to draw men to the worship of the first beast or Dragon or to set up any forreign power but seeking to uphold their own civil power and requiring the subjects to renounce the Popes supremacy and power to depose them and therefore it is a most impudent false accusation to make the Protestant civil powers to be either the beast or the Kings that commit fornication with the Whore or the having relation affection subjection to them and their appertainers the worshiping the beast or his image or the receiving his mark name or number of his name But they say 6. We might also further add because the Civil power is that which enforces and compels the consciences and spirits of men to the Antichristian forms and worship of Babylon accordingly the great Harlot or Mystery of iniquity i. e. Antichristian worship and Church state rides upon the Beast Rev. 17. 3. that is she has the preheminence and makes the Beast use his sword for her advantage upon pain of excommunication curses and such like baubles Answ. The Beast which carrieth the Woman Rev. 17. 3 7. is said to have seven heads and ten horns and so is not the Beast with two horns like a Lamb Rev. 13. 11. but the first Beast Rev. 13. 1. of which they say That the Image Mark Name and Number of the Beast are of a later date than the first Beast and his ten horns and so consequently men in former generations might have worshiped the Beast and yet not his Image nor receive his mark c. But if the Beast might be then worshiped then might the Beast be worshiped when the Dragon gave him his Seat and Power and great Authority Rev. 13. 2. at which time they term the power of Rome the Ordinance of Hell p. 51. And if then the Civil power of Rome might be owned as the Ordinance of God Rom. 13. 1. when they compelled men to worship their Idols in like manner the Civil powers now should be owned as Gods Ordinance though they should compell men to the Antichristian forms and worship of Babylon which though idolatrous are not worse than the Pagan worship to which the persecuting Emperors did compell the Christians But however this Reason may give some colour for separating from those Kings and States which use the Roman Inquisition and force their Subjects to go to the Masse and to worship the consecrated wafer Cake which they call The Hoste and the Body of Christ and to acknowledge the Pope as the Head of the Universal Church the Roman Church as the Mother of all Churches which may be truly termed the Antichristian forms and worship of Babylon the mystery of iniquity the Antichristian worship and Church-state yet this doth not at all reach the Protestant Kings and Civil powers who do not enforce and compell men to these Antichristian forms and worship of Babylon nor support the great Harlot nor let her have the preheminence nor use their sword for her advantage nor regard her Excommunication Curses and such like baubles but use their power and sword against her deride her Excommunications Curses Indulgences and Threats and urge their Subjects to disclaim her jurisdiction and worship If any say that the Civil powers in England do compel men to be under Diocesan Bishops and Priests who have their succession and ordination from Rome and to be present at the Common Prayer which is nothing but the Masse translated out of Latine into English and to be members of a National Church which is Antichristian I answer that neither do the Bishops derive their succession from Rome nor is their consecration as the Roman with any oath to the Pope though Mr. Francis Mason have pleaded against
their subjection Sure Paul when he reasoned with Felix Acts 24. 25. did nor go about to terrify him with threatning of any judgment he or the Saints on earth had but minded him of the judgment to come Nor did our Lord Christ himself either to Pilate or the High Priest use any menacing speeches but only told the High Priest Matth. 26. 64. Hereafter ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of Heaven 2. This will nothing concern the King of these three Nations nor any other Kings or Rulers who do acknowledge they Rule under Christ and Rule for Christ and therefore cannot with any colour be adjudged as enemies to Christ by those who have no cognizance of the secrets of mens hearts nor any way or power of judicature in such things but must leave them to the trial of the Universal Judge 3. We grant that so far as Christ hath made any lawes pertaining to civil or Church Government Kings have no power to abrogate or alter them but are bound according to that Authority they have to see them executed and observed yea and to repress them that pretend themselves Saints as Traitors both to them and Christ from whom they have authority who appose their power and hinder their actings in that which is agreeable to Christs lawes For if they be not Officers under Christ as mediator which I assert not yet they are Rulers under Christ as the Son of God and will be owned and assisted by him in doing his work against any that pretends himself Christs Vicar or lurks under the Vizour of a Saint But as I said before Sect. 6. 1. The lawes of Christ are not sufficient without other lawes to settle and order thousands of particulars whether belonging to the Church or Common-wealth but that there is need of humane lawes to determin them 2. That the Jewish lawes are not fitted for the Government of Christian states and Churches of the Gentiles except in some few 3. That the Lord Christ and his Apostles did of purpose leave us at liberty concerning them lest the Gospel should be hindered by them and permitted all Nations to order their own lawes and civil Government according to general precepts of the word and the exigence of civil affairs 4. That to tie men to Mosaical civil precepts any further than the general equity of them requires would be to Judaize 5. That the most holy Saints that are on earth are and will be bound to observe humane lawes of their civil seperiors under pain of God wrath till Christ at his coming put down all rule and all authority and power 6. That it no whit detracts from Christs supreme dominion to have Kings to be Rulers under him and therefore we abhor that speech cited sect 2. Jesus Christ alone is Lord and King and all men are equals A fourth position deduced from the third is that the Saints of the most high are by themselves a Common-wealth and Free-state which is somewhat like the opinion of Papists who exempt men in holy orders from the secular power and it is not unlikely to have been instilled into the minds of Quinto-Monarchians by some of the popish party But is a false and foolish conceit refuted by all the arguments before produced requiring subjection to civil powers even such as are evil and proving even agreeably to the state of mankind corrupt that civil power and natural power of government belongs to Infidels over Saints and therefore Saints cannot without injury shake off the yoke of allegiance and obedience which is upon them by the imposition of civil and natural powers though unbelievers It is also foolish For 1. it supposeth Saints may be by themselves which is contrary to the express Doctrine of our Lord Matth. 13. 30. which tels us that the tares and the wheat are to grow together until the Harvest which he expounds after v. 40 41. that it shall be the end of the world afore the wicked and the children of the Kingdom shall be separated which he also teacheth by another parable v. 47 48 49 50. All those who are for gathered Churches though they would have none in Church communion but visible Saints yet are forced to acknowledge from these Scriptures that they must live together whether they will or no in the world and therefore this and indeed the whole project of the Quinto-Monarchians is but a fond dream and too like the Donatists and Circumcellions of old in Africa But were it granted that there may be or have been Plantations of godly persons unmixt yet experience hath shewed that even amongst them differences quickly arise by reason of different apprehensions and divisions and enmities and in a little time heats animosities factions oppositions and other corruptions follow Besides who can secure the generation following from corruption Moses and Joshuah settled the Common-wealth of Israel with order laws rites of Religion and all by immediate direction from God yet quickly did they corrupt themselves The like may be said of the times succeeding David and Solomon Our own times yield like instances that the posterity of the best and holiest Planters though free from many provocations which the people have from whom they remove yet in an age do degenerate from their predecessors holiness and in their manners and government become like other people And what we have seen in our daies of the giddiness shallowness instability selfishness of the choicest men for government and holiness whom men could find in a Nation should me thinks awaken men from continuing in that dream no better than the fancy of a golden mountain as if they might have a Common-wealth or Free-state or gathered Church by themselves on earth of pure Saints 2. But were this feasible that there were a Common-wealth or Free state of uncorrupt Saints by themselves on earth afore Christs appearing yet without such promise and provision made for them by Christ as we yet have no assurance of they would not subsist long but perhaps be as the Historians phrase is populus unius aetatis a people of one age by reason of the weakness they would have to resist their enemies which would be more in number than themselves perhaps a thousand fold and their enmity be encreased as Pharaoh's was to the children of Israel and either oppress them or destroy them If after the thousand years reign the Divel could go out to deceive the Nations which are in the four quarters of the earth Gog and Magog to gather them to battel their number being as the sand of the Sea and they go up on the breadth of the earth and compass about the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City Rev. 20. 8 9. It is much more likely while Satan is at liberty and millions of enemies infidel Pagans cruel Mahometans bloody Papists profane and vitious Protestants unquiet and unruly members in the gathered Churches loose Libertines and