AN ANSWER To one part of The Lord Protector 's SPEECH OR A VINDICATION OF THE Fifth Monarchy-men In reference to an Accusation of evil charged upon them in his Speech to the Parliament in the Painted Chamber the 4 of September 1654. Published by John Spittlehouse To the end all men may see the strong endeavours that have been used to obstruct the Kingly interest of Jehovah the Lord Christ in the world by blowing the bellows of a Persecution against those that desire he should reign over all the Nations of the earth by his holy just and perfect Laws and Ordinances recorded in the sacred Scriptures to that very end and purpose Luke 19. 27. But those mine enemies that would not that I should reign over them bring them hither and slay them before me Dan. 6. 5. Then said these men We shall not finde any occasion against this Daniel except we finde it against him concerning the law of his God Printed at London for Livewel Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head-alley 1654. The Epistle to the Reader INasmuch as Satan knowing his time is but short Rev. 12. 12. doth now more then ever transform himself into an Angel of light to the end he may the more cunningly and smoothly deâ—â—â—e the very elect if it were possible Matth. 24. 24. or otherwise stir up his Instruments to persecute the Man-childe in his Members who is now about to rule all nations with a rod of iron Rev. 12. 5. It therefore neerly concerneth the people of God to stand upon their guard by contending earnestly for the faith in hearing testimony to those Prophecies that tend to the exaltation of the Lord Jesus unto his Kingly office and interest in the world in these last days Upon which very account I have in the strength of JEHOVAH given this following Answer to his Charge of Evil against the Fifth Monarchy-men Knowing that the righteous in such cases ought to be as bold as lions and not to fear such persons whose power is permissive Ioh. 19. 10 11. and limited Matth. 10. 28. as is the power of Satan Iob 1. 12. and 2. 6. As also from the encouragement of the Spirit of God communicated unto us by the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 1. 27 28 29. where he saith God hath chosen the FOOLISH things of this world to confound the WISE and God hath chosen the WEAK things of this world to confound the MIGHTY and the BASE things of this world and things which are DESPISED hath God CHOSEN yea things which ARE NOT to bring to nought things WHICH ARE that no flesh might glory in his presence Even so Amen An Answer to part of the L. Protectors Speech Speech WE may reckon among those spiritual evils an EVIL that hath more refinedness in it more colour for it and hath deceived more people of integrity then the rest have done For few have been catched with the former mistakes but such as have apostatized from their holy profession such as being corrupt in their consciences have been forsaken by God and left to such noy some Opinions But I say there are â—thers more refined many honest people whose hearts are sincere many of them belonging to God and this is the MISTAKEN NOTION of the FIFTH MONARCHY Resp Reader inasmuch as the FIFTH MONARCHY-MEN are here involved among other persons and opinions as the Levellers whose principle he saith is To make the Tenant of as liberal a fortune as the Landlord 〈◊〉 conceive it meet to speak something thereunto by way of P 〈…〉 And albeit we abominate any wicked action under the no 〈…〉 of Leveling c. yet we could tell the Accuser that there is a Leveling principle of an higher nature which it seems he had forgot viz. such a leveling as hath not onely in the notion but even in action reduced the Tenant into the condition of the Landlord and the Landlord into the condition of the Tenant the Servant into the condition of the Master and the Master into the condition of the Servant which will clearly appear by comparing the ranks estates and conditions of divers at the present with what they were before the Wars and that not in posse but in esse visible to all men 2. As to his charge of disrespect to the Authority of the Nation as to the Magistrate to the ranks and orders of men whereby England hath been known for hundreds of yeers as A Nobleman a Gentleman a Yeoman that being a good interest of the Nation and a great one surely the old Proverb is here verified viz. The Priest hath forgot that ever he was Clerk for was not the lineal race of Kingship as good and great an interest as any of the other yea far greater and yet who hath been more instrumental to raze out the Kingly line of the Stewarts in this Nation root and branch then himself as also to plant himself in their stead But this must not be counted any disrespect to Magistracie no the poor Levelers that have brought a Noble to nine-pence in stead of multiplying Nine-pence to a Crown as some have done they must now bear the blame for all such-like actions Albeit there are lyers if he himself have not said that the nation would never be at quiet whilst there was a name of a Lord in the land 3. Whereas he chargeth others with a spirit visibly acting those things foretold by Peter Jude and the Apostle Paul to Timothy sure I am that multitudes of godly people in this Nation are verily perswaded that he chargeth others with many things which might as properly be fixed to And therefore if such as put the day of Christ far from them or such as having escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord Jesus and are now again entangled in them and overcome or such as are lovers of themselves or covetous or proud or boasters or blasphemers or covenant-breakers or false accusers or fierce or despisers of those that are good or traytors or heady or high-minded or lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God or speakers of lyes in hypocrisie or turners with the d 〈…〉 vomit or with the sow that was washed to the wallâ—wing 〈…〉 the mire be the persons he intendeth his charge against we shall desire some would begin to look at home for the Apostle Paul doth judge persons worthy of reproof who think themselves to be guides of the blinde and a light to them that sit in darkness an instructer of the foolish a teacher of babes c. if such shall teach or reprove others and withal teach not themselves if they shall preach A man should not steal and yet they to steal themselves c. as the Saying is Thou mayst not but I may 4. Whereas he chargeth other persons with laying the ax to the root of the Ministery as Antichristian and Babylonish I desire to know how much short he himself would have proved of such a Principle had they not
that they would not permit the same in any they could most confide in or could have most personal assurance of Could not Jesus Christ I say have reigned WITHIN VS in the hearts of his people in this Commonwealth if the late King had yet kept his Crown and Head upon his shoulders Is it possible that any mortal man should hinder such a reign And if not why was Caesar destroyed without to let in Christ within Could his persecuting the people of God have done it Surely no experience hath taught that the blood of the Martyrs hath been the seed or increase of the Church And doubtless the Scots knew as well as himself and the Army That there was no king but Jesus as to A SPIRITVAL ACCOVNT or GOVERNMENT WITHIN VS and therefore doubtless did not contest against such a Government Nay is it not clear from their fore-mentioned exceptions that their Quarrel or rather the Quarrel of the Lord Jesus as they at least pretended was for the subversion of whatsoever was Antichristian in point of External Ordinances and for the establishment of the Ordinances of Jesus Christ ACCORDING TO HIS WORD 3. Had not himself and the Army been really convinced that MONARCHY IT SELF as it hath reference to Dan. 2. 34 35 44. and 7. 18 22 26 27. was at its period what ground had they to fight against MONARCHY IT SELF or to revenge the BLOOD OF THE SAINTS upon the KINGS OF THE EARTH either from Scripture or primitive practioâ— of Saints whose usual custom was in such cases aut fugere aut pati to flee or suffer and not to oppose wicked Princes upon such an account knowing that the Lord had permitted them for a time to exercise such wickedness Revel 17. 21 13. But contrariwise that they were convinced of the truth thereof or at least plaid the part of the greatest hypocrites that ever were upon the face of the earth witnessing their stiling themselves The Army of the Lamb as also their aforesaid expressions witness also their notorious Appeal at Dunbar where they owned no king but Jesus and the Scots a Personal interest of man as also the glorious decision of that controversie on the No king but Jesus his side and that to the admiration of all men witness also his own expression in his Speech made to the short-liv'd Parliament July 4. 1653. p. 24 25. where he saith We know who they are that shall war with the Lamb against his enemies they shall be a people called chosen and faithful and hath in the Military way c. I believe you know it he hath acted with them and for them c. Indeed I think there is something at the door * I wish we could once see it within-door we are at the threshold And therefore it becomes us to lift up our heads and to encourage our selves in the Lord c. And we have some of us thought it our duty to endeavour this way not vainly looking on that prophecie of Daniel Chap. 1. 44. and that Scripture may be fulfilled now to us 4. But to stoop a little to his sense of the mistaken notion as he is now pleased to term it by way of derision now he hath compassed his own ends by it Did this Notion lead him forth to destroy kings for their lusts and corruptions and the same lusts and corruptions yet â—eigning in the world and particularly in Certainly we are little bettered by the expence of so much blood and treasure that hath been shed and spent since the Wars began The Lord be merciful to such persons and give them grace to repent if it be his will or otherwise as shall most conduce for his glory and the good of his people Speech But for men to intitle themselves upon this principle that they are the onely men to rule Kingdoms govern Nations and give Laws to people to determine of property and liberty and every thing else upon such a pretence as this truely they had need to give clear manifestations of Gods presence with them before wise men will receive or submit to their conclusions Resp 1. The time was that some c. were as little thought upon to be so exercised as we Besides this charge against us is at the very best erroneous we might say For our principle doth not lead us forth to intitle our selves to such Offices it being the Word of God that inrights us thèreunto a donation from God himself and not from a few favourites for carnal ends and interests And that we are so vide one of his Doctors opinions viz. Mr. Tho. Goodwin in his Sermon preached in Crooked-laâ—e London upon Rev. 5. 9 10. touching the very subject we contest for viz. The Fifth Monarchy where in p. 4. treating upon vers 10. Thou hast made us unto our God kings and priests and we shall REIGN ON EARTH he saith That the lowest interpretation that can be given of these words must be this We shall have a hand IN GVIDING THE AFFAIRS OF THE EARTH Again p. 15. I say There is an eminent kingdom for the Saints to have on the EARTH Thus much I say me thinks should be evident to every mans understanding P. 18. So that the plain Doctrine or Observation is but this That there is in the end a kingdom to come here for the Saints That after all the kingdoms of the world have had their time and their date by which the Saints have been all along opprest and injured there is even ON EARTH a kingdom to be given unto them When all Nations shall be converted unto God and the Saints in them to be the prevailing party in the world The Scripture seems to run much this way P. 26. And there is all the reason in the world for it besides what I have mentioned out of the Scripture For in that the Saints have been opprest here in this world it is a righteous thing with God to give that generation rest and that they should have their turn after all kingdoms are dissolved That what Adam lost should be restored to them again c. And that promise if you look in Isâ— 65. I am sure you will finde to be made to MEN ON EARTH for he saith plainly They shall build HOVSES and inhabit them and they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them c. And this as an answer to all the prayers that have been put up as that Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven The whole Sermon will far more abundantly satisfie in this particular if our adversaries please to peruse it And therefore by the same rule that they pretended to be drawn forth to fight for this MONARCHY OF JESVS CHRIST we are drawn forth to promote those LAWS and ORDINANCES which are peculiar thereunto and which they fought for and from which they have now shamefully apostatized putting that day now afar off as in 2 Pet. 3. 3 4 5 c. which they then
learned to cry up Oliver in stead of Charles The time was * Vide p. 23 of his speech July 4. 1653. when he said It was not in his heart to speak for a Ministery †And what are the present Clergie of this nation other deriving it self through the Papacie and pretending to that which is so much insisted upon as succession It was also thought at that time a fit Querie by him to the old Parliament Whether the next Parliament they intended were Page 15. of that Speech not like to consist of all Presbyters or whether those qualifications then making by them would hinder them or * Note Presbyters and neuters joyned together Neuters c. they having deserted this cause and interest upon the kings account and upon that closure with them and the neighbour-nation And thereupon professed that they had as good have delivered up their Cause into the hands of any as into the hands of interested and * It seems they are not so now byassed men for it is one thing to live friendly and brotherly to bear with and love a person of another judgement in Religion another thing to have any so far set in the saddle upon that account as that it should be in them to have all the rest of their brethren at * I think they have little leâ— now mercy But this by the way I shall now apply my self wholly to the peculiar Charge against the Fifth Monarchy-men In which I shall take notice 1. What they are not 2. What they are 3. Their notion 1. He saith They are not such as have been catched with the former mistakes viz. those before mentioned by him in his Speech 2. As to what they are he also saith 1. that they are people of integrity 2. Such as have not apostatized from their holy profession 3. Not such as have been corrupt in their consciences having been forsaken by God 〈◊〉 to noysome Opinions 4. Honest people 5. Such whose 〈…〉 e sincere 6. Such as belong unto God And is there any 〈…〉 ese particulars but what he himself might very well entertain without any disparagement to his Greatness Again being such persons by his own confession they may the more justly reprove him or any other that walk contrary hereunto and that according to the Apostles fore-mentioned instance 3. Whereas he termeth their principle the MISTAKEN NOTION of the FIFTH MONARCHY I shall speak thereunto when I come to his Reasons for so saying Speech A thing pretending to more spirituality then any thing else a notion I hope we all HONOR WAIT and HOPE for That Jesus Christ will have a time to set up his reign in our hearts by subduing those corruptions and lusts and evils that are there which reign now more in the world then I hope in due time they shall do And when more fulness of the Spirit is poured forth to subdue iniquity and bring in everlasting righteousness then will the approach of that gloâ—y be Resp Reader in this expression thou mayst observe these particulars 1. That our notion pretends to more spirituality then any other And in this particular we think he is not very much mistaken witness our Declaration which Saâ—â— Richardson one of the Elimaâ—'s Act. 13. 8. of this Commonwealth hath scandalized as a Libel notwithstanding those mens names prefixed to it with thousands that approve thereof where we demonstrate to all the world our desires that God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ would cast down all those earthly carnal cruel and political combinations of men of all sorts that would not have him to reign over us but set up themselves and their corrupt interests in the room of that scepter of righteousness which he hath given into the hands of his dear Son and that he would give us Magistrates as at the first and Rulers as at the beginning viz. Ministers of the Vnction and Magistrates of the Vnction such as fear God and hate covetousness And we hope there is no evil in all or any of these requests 2. He saith it is such a notion as he himself both honoreth waiteth and hopeth for viz. the subduing of corruptions and lusts and iniquity and to bring in everlasting righteousness And what is it more that we desire If therefore there be evil in such desires he hath hereby declared himself as guilty thereof as we Speech The carnal divisions and contâ—ntions among Christians so common are not the symptomes of that kingdom Resp 1. If carnal divisions be not signes of the approach of that kingdom or Monarchy of our Lord Jesus upon earth then why was it that we levied war against our brethre 〈…〉 Scotland so called and that upon the account of the kingly 〈◊〉 of Jesus Christ upon earth as in the Declaration of the Army to Scotland p. 36 37 38 39. where they affirm they were stirred up by the Lord to assist the Parliament against the King for this end to bring about the destruction of Antichrist and the deliverance of his * What were the Scots then in the Armies esteem true Church and People And that upon this simple account it was they engaged in the wars of the three nations against all opposers of this work of Jesus Christ having these things singly in their eye viz. the destruction of Antichrist and the advancement of the kingdom of Jesus Christ and deliverance and reformation of his Church and the establishment of CHRISTS ORDINANCES ACCORDING TO HIS WORD c. All which they declare with the loss of many precious Saints p. 38. as also that they engaged against the late king and HIS MONARCHY as As well against his Monarchy 〈◊〉 himself one of the ten horns of the Beast guilty of the blood of the Saints which act they say they are confident God will own against all kingdoms and nations that will oppose them and that will not suffer Jesus Christ to be king as also that the Lord had made them instrumental to vex all in his sore displeasure that take counsel against Christ whom the Lord hath anointed and decreed king and that they were not meerly the servants of men and that they had not onely PROCLAIMED Jesus Christ king of Saints to be OVR KING but that they would submit to him alone upon his OWN TERMS and admit him onely to the exercise of his ROYAL AVTHORITY As also in p. 40. where they beseech the Scots to LOOK ABOUT THEM for that our Lord Jesus was coming 2. If this kingdom of Jesus Christ they so cried up and proclaimed did onely extend to a spiritual notion of Government WITHIN VS what necessity was there for him and the Army to have been so instrumental as they have to pluck up Kingly Government by the roots in this Commonwealth as also against all arbitrary or absolute power in any single person whatsoever as tyrannical and vassalizing the Saints and people of God in this Commonwealth and
PRESBYTERY is as neer of kin to Prelacy as Prelacy to Popery it ought as well to be abrogated root and branch as PRELACY being both DAUGHTERS to that MOTHER OF HARLOTS Rev. 17. 5. to that MYSTERY OF INIQUITY and ABOMINATION OF THE EARTH Yea doubtlesse it may confidently be affirmed that what Church soever doth yet retain the CONSTITUTION of the Church of Rome since its APOSTACY albeit never so much refined in other particulars as relinquishing its Ordination c. which the Presbyterians c. have not done is still to be esteemed as Babylonish and Antichristian And the like may also be said in point of Regulating the Civil Laws of Commonwealths derived from the Assirian or BABYLONISH MONARCHY erected by Nimrod Gen. 10. 9 10. which though the Magistrate should refine never so much yet it is but a REFINING OF BABEL for whilst there is any thing in them that may be termed HVMANE either in Civil or Ecclesiastical Laws that may be said to be added or detracted from the Law of God comprised in the Old and New Testament they by so doing bring themselves under the Curse of God Deut. 22. 26. Gal. 3. 10. Therefore we may safely assert that by how much the present Magistrates of this Commonwealth do judge themselves to be the members of the body of Christ or that the God of Heaven and Earth is their God or expect to have God dwell in them and walk in them or they to be his people they ought to come wholy out of the BABYLONISH and ANTICHRISTIAN ESTATE whether in reference to CIVIL or SPIRITVAL GOVERNMENT yea to bee such SEPARATISTS from them as not to touch them in the least but to pluck them up ROOT and BRANCH And so wholy conform themselves to the word of God for their SOLE RVLE and direction therein which if they will yet submit unto the Apâ—stle averreth that the Lord Christ hath promised to receive them into his â—ingdomâ— and to be a Father unto them and that they shall be his children 2 Cor. 6. 27 28. But that this will not easily be assented unto by the present Powers of the world is cleerly made out unto us by another of his own created * Whose expressions will need no Interpreter Doctors viz. Mr. John Owen in his Sermon upon Heb. 12. 27. page 25. where he saith That that which doth and shall stick upon Potentates to their ruine is not so much their own or any other interest as the Dregs of the Papal Antichristian interests thrust into their Oaths and Obligations for I shall only propound some Queries no other end in the world BVT TO KEEP THE LORD JESVS OVT OF HIS THRONE And hereupon it was saith he in his Sermon upon Ezek. 17 24 page 12. that the late King had learned a saying from his Predecessors No Bishop no King supposing his MAIN INTEREST to lye in holding up PRELACY a mere INCROACACHMENT upon the INHERITANCE OF CHRIST Christ coming to take his OWN shakes the other in peeces Again saith he those who would have been our Oppressors Were not those the Presbyterian Priests c. in Scotland but that God hath crushed the Cockatrice in the shell and filled the pit with their dead bodies which they had digged for us they also had prepared a PROCRVSTES BED a heavy yoak a Beast that had it grown to perfection would have had HORNS and HOOFS And in maintaining this they think their GREAT INTEREST TO LYE And in holding this fast are they after all their Associations broken in peeces Again in page 21. of that Sermon What was the corrupted design of many in Scotland that they might set up a SON of Was it corrupt in them then not in your selves now TABEAL in England and THEMSELVES to be GREAT VNDER HIM and that they and their Partakers might IMPOSE on the residue of the Nations especially in the things of God Their great desire that things should be thus corrupts their minds to think that it ought to be so Hence AMBITION TO RVLE and to have all under their power even in conscience is quickly mistaken for zeal for the Kingdome of Christ inthroning of Tyranny is Loyalty and all according to Covenant As if men had sworn to be good to themselves and to be true to their own interest all their dayes which surely none need to be sworn to Thus mens minds and judgements are distempered by their lusts and interests which makes them frame a way for God to proceed in And this is the reason saith he page 25. of his Sermon Heb. 12. 27. that the Lord Jesus by his MIGHTY POWER at Wherein is it altered since that time his bringing in of his VNMOVABLE KINGDOM will shake the HEAVENS and the EARTH of the NATIONS even because in their * PRESENT CONSTITVTION they are DIRECTLY FRAMED to the INTEREST OF ANTICHRIST which by notable advantage at their FIRST MOVLDING and CONTRIVED INSINVATIONS ever since hath so riveted it self into the very FVNDAMENTALS of them that no digging or Mining without an EARTHQVAKE will cast up the FOVNDATION * What cal you them foundation stones stones thereof because as is their interest so is their acting the present powers of the Nations stands in DIRECT OPPOSITION to the bringing in of the KINGDOME OF CHRIST Again Page 27. of that Sermon Are not most Potentates tyed by OATH or OTHER COMPACT to maintain either the WHOLE or some part of the OLD TOWER under the Vid. Art 35. Government Reader compare these expressions with the late transactions name of RIGHT OF HOLY CHURCH Prelats and the like And can any expect that such as these should take up the DESPISED QUARREL OF THE SAINTS against that FLOURISHING QUEEN Doubtlesse NO SUCH FRUIT WILL GROW ON THESE TREES before they are THROUGHLY SHAKEN All carnal Interests will doubtlesse be shaken with that of Babylon Many of Gods people are not weaned from the things that are seen No sooner is one CARNAL FORM SHAKEN OUT but they are ready to CLEAVE TO ANOTHER Yea to warm themselves in the FEATHERED NESTS OF UNCLEAN * Is it not so at this day BIRDS All flâ—shly Dominion within doors and all Civil Dominion that opposeth without doors shall be shaken Now these things are so glued also to mens earthly possessions the talons of the birds Who are those birds of prey unless the souldier priesâ— and lawyer of prey having firmly seized on them that THEY also must be shaken with them Reader consider these expressions of Mr. Owens seriously and then tell me whether he had not a good ghess of what we have seen since the preaching of these Sermons come to pass I presume Mr. Tho. Goodwin and himself c. little thought then that their own words should now have been brought in testimony against them But the heart of man is deceitful above all things Now that this shaking here spoken of is not to be taken in Mr. Owen's
sense p. 14. of that Sermon where he saith It is not a destruction or total amotion of the great things of the Nations but a change translation or new molding of them that is here intimated they shall saiâ—h he be shuffled together * Not altogether it seems almost into their primitive confusion and come out new molded for the interest of the Lord Jesus Again all the present States of the world are cemented together by Antichristian lime c. that unless they be so shaken as to have every cranny searched and brushed they will be no quiet Note the Brush habitation for the Lord Christ and his People I thus answer 1. In that the holy Ghost speaking of the time wherein these things shall be accomplished as in Isa 65. 17. saith Behold I create new heavens and a new earth Mark and the former shall not be remembred nor come into mind And Rev. 21. 1. I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away If then they are so to pass away as not to be remembred nor come into Gods nor his peoples mindes how are they in the least to be retaiâ—ed Is it the intent of God in that text think you onely to pull down the Titles of Kings and to set up a Title of Protector in stead thereof or to pull down Bishops and set â—ehold Mr. Owen's new heaven and new earth up a Scoteh Synod or Court of Tryers in stead thereof Is that your brush whereby the Antichristian lime is to be taken away I am sure the holy Ghost speaking of the destruction of Babylon Isai 13. 19 c. saith that it shall be as when God over threw Sodom and Gomâ—rrha that it shall NEVER be inhabited nor dwelt in from generation to generation c. as also that he will not make use of one stone thereof either for a Foundation-stone or a Corner-stone but to be an everlasting desolation Jer. 51. 25 26. And yet it seems he would have the whole fabrick to stand onely the â—rannies thereof to be searched the lyme onely to be brushed off The old Tower he mentioned it seems is not Babylonish no it is onely the lime or mortar wherewith it is daubed together A very Scholastical Exposition And thus have I laid down some of the Grounds and Reasons why we desire the subversion of whatsoever is of Man either in our Civils or Spirituals unless in things circumstantial as dependencies upon the Statuteâ— Judgments and Ordinances of Jehovah the Lord Christ and that from the testimony of the holy Scripture which we take to be sufficient to perswade all that are real Christians to own embrace and put in practice and consequently that whosoever pretendeth that they are Christians and yet refuse so to do do thereby clearly declare themselves notorious hypocrites as also professed exâ—mies to Jehovah the Lord Christ and that by his own attestation Luke 19. 27. Speech And perhaps would bring in the Judaical Law in stead of our known laws and setled among us Resp I had thought the Laws of God had been as well known unto those that profess themselves Gods people as any other Laws whatsoever yea above all other Laws whatsoever and especially by such an one as accounteth himself to be a father to the family of Gods people I remember it was a duty incumbent upon fathers of particular families in the Israel of God to teach the Laws Staâ—utes and Judgâ—â—â—ats of Jehovah diligently unto their children and to talk of them when they sate in their houses and when they walked by the way and when they lay down and when they rose up and to binde them for signes upon their hand and as frontlets between their eyes and to write them upon the posts of their houses and on their gates Deut. 6. 6 7 8 c. I read it was also the custom of their Magistrates to instruct the people in the said Laws as in Neb. 8. 1 2 3 c. It is also said of godly David that the Laws of God were his meditation day and night and that he desired them more then gold yea then much fine gold * Then the king of Spain's gold in the Indiâ—s yea that they were sweeter unâ—â— him then honey or the honey-comb And therefore I admire to hear one so seemingly-eminent to plead a greater knowledge to the Laws of Heathens and Antichristians Yea I appeal to any Rational man whatsoever whether any man would be thought to be in his wits to give those Characters to the known Laws of England as he is pleased to term them though I think they were never yet defined as David hath done to the Laws of God And if not then I desire to know whether of the two ought to be best known unto us and put iâ— practice by us or why the Law of Nature ought not to be the Rule and Square of natural actions which that the Judicial Law is is clearly proved from Rom. 2. 14. For when the Gentiles that knew not the Law did by nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves which shâ—w the works of the Law written in their hearts their consciences also bearing them witness and their thoughts in the mean time accâ—sing or excusing one another And what other Law was this he speaketh of then the Law of God Again what other Law was the old world judged by then the aforesaid law of Nature Doubtless they were not condemned and executed by the righteous Judge of all the world Gen. 11. 25. without a Law and is it to be conceived that he would judge by any other Law then his own and was that Law as to the Civil part thereof ever yet repealed by God or Christ Nay doth not the Lord Christ tell us himself that he came not to destroy the Law Matth. 5. 17 18 19. Yea so far was he from so doing as that contrariwise he affirmeth that whosoever should break the least of them and teach men so shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven I would gladly know then by what authority from God any that account themselves Christians do make Laws for their fellow-servants and subjects yea is it not clearly evident that by so doing they usurp the Authority and Power of Christ the alone Law-giver And if but one then not two or more Yea do they not by so doing dâ—throâ—e and degrade the Lord Jesus of his Legislatorship and Judicature which the Father hath given unto him Joh. 5. 22. Isaâ— 9. 6. Dan. 7. 13 34. 1 Tim. 6. 13 14 15. Rev. 11. 15. and 17. 14. and 19. 11 16. Indeed were I at Constantinople I should not much wonder if the Great â—urk and his Mahometan Clergie should question me for what I have said in reference to the law of God but to hear a Christian Magistrate c. contaminate the laws of God and