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
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
Power and Authority given by Satan was to speak great things and Blasphemies and to make War with the Saints And again of the two Horned Beast v. 12. It is said that he exerciseth all the Power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the first Beast before him and causeth the earth and them that dwel therein to worship the first Beast whose deadly wound was healed which cannot be understood of legal Power such as we are required to be subject to but such wicked and unrighteous Power as is used in requiring adoration of Idols and urging it either by meer force without any Law or by devellish Acts to entice men thereto Which was in the Roman Heathen Emperors from Satan who is said to cast the Christians into Prison Revel 2. 10. by stirring up the Pagan Emperors and their subordinate Rulers to do it and yet their Civil Power as is confessed was the Ordinance of God 6. It is supposed that then when the Powers of the great Image or old Rome became a mixt Antichristian estate and not before they became the Ordinance of Hell to which there is no Subjection due But they do not tell us when this was nor can tell And is it not then blind fury that hurries men to such frantick determinations as to date the relaxation of so plain a precept as that Rom. 13. 1. is from such a time as they know not when it begins and to infer thence a warrant for some supposing themselves Saints upon no better evidence than their conceit of Gods Revelation of this by his Spirit from his word to attempt the smiting of all the Powers of the great Image Civil and Ecclesiastical whose derivation is from Rome others not excepted nor freed the Kingdoms of the Romish Iron Legs or the Roman Kingdom divided into the Eastern and Western Monarchies wherein the whole Dominion Power and Monarchy of the Ottoman Family or that of the Turkes is comprehended and the Beasts ten Horns or Antichrists Civil Powers equivalent to the ten Toes and also the little Horn together with all powers whatsoever that shall be found opposers of the Lords Kingdom whether they be of the golden Babylonish Silver Persian Brasen Grecian or Iron Roman Dan. 2. and ch 7. Revel 13. Comprehending the whole Kingdom of Antichrist in the Civil and Ecclesiastical parts thereof made up of persons and things though they grant that some of these were the Ordinance of God to whom every soul was to be subject and those only to cease to be to whom the Dragon gives his Power Revel 13. 2. which who they are and when this Power was given by the Dragon they are not able to give any assurance of 7. It is supposed that the Civil Powers now even in this Nation are a mixt Antichristian state and that their Power is from the Dragon since this mixture though not before But with what colour can they make those powers Antichristian who do maintain the faith of Christ To have their Power from Rome who have denied obedience to the Bishop of Rome To be a mixt Antichristian state who cause their subjects to abjure the Popes Supremacy To have their power from the Dragon who do by their Lawes the Execution of them pull down the worship of Idols and punish with death Diabolical Arts Quarrels perhaps are against the Kings Supremacy over Ecclesiastical persons and in Ecclesiastical causes as if it made a mixt Antichristian state so as that what is denied to the Pope is given to the King But this objection was so fully answered by Dr. John Rainold in his conference with Hart the Jesuite in the Tower ch 10. that Hart himself was satisfied that it was not so Perhaps some others imagin that in the making of Bishops there is an adulterating of the pure Civil power and an Antichristian mixture of Civil and Ecclesiastical power but this also is but a mistake that which is meerly Ecclesiastical therein being left to Ecclesiastiques to do Yet were it granted there were some mixture of Civil and Ecclesiastical power that this should make the Civil powers Antichristian is without all reason affirmed Were the Fathers of the Family or the first-born sons both Rulers Oeconomical and Priests to offer sacrifice Melchizedec a King and a Priest David a King and a Prophet therefore Antichristian will they count all preachers who are masters and parents and husbands by reason of this conjunction of these different functions in their persons therefore Antichrian Are not or have not there been many of them who perhaps have been of the fraternity of the Quinto-Monarchians themselves who have had commands in the Army and yet have been Preachers yea taken upon them to be Elders in the Churches and to have had ordination by laying on of hands who yet have not been judged by reason of this mixture Antichristian Are not then these men very partial who condemn that in one which they do not in another conniving at if not approving that in such as favour their party which they do count inveigh against as a most heinous crime deserving extermination in them that side not with them Much more abominable is it that they should impute that power by which peace is kept justice is done humane society is preserved to the Dragon and not see it to be from the Devil that they stir up hatred in the world and practise murthering of innocent men yea of those who are by God made Rulers over them whom they should obey assist and defend 8. It is supposed that the mixture of Civil powers by them imagined makes them who otherwise had been the Ordinance of God to be the Ordinance of Hell and their power from the Dragon though promoting Idolatry and persecuting Christianity by the Roman Ethnick Emperors did not make void their being the Ordinance of God nor the duty of Christians Subjection to them As if the shedding of the blood of the Saints and setting up Idols were not more from Satan and more inconsistent with Civil powers than an usurpation of an Ecclesiastick office or Uzziahs presumption to burn incense God would not have David build him a Temple because he had shed blood not because he was as it is likely Author of fetching the Ark to him in a Cart he and all Israel attended the carrying of it playing before the Lord on all manner of instruments Sure this Doctrine smells rank of Pharisaism to break the Commandments of God for mens traditions to disanul the duty of Subjects to their Civil Parents because of some supposed inordinate mixture Yea is not this the very venom of Antichristian Papal listing up of themselves above all that is called God not only to excommunicate and depose Emperors for simony as the Popes termed it because they gave Bishops investiture into their Bishopricks or for Heresy or favouring hereticks in not destroying them but also to proclaim War against them and attempt to kill them by reason of mixture or
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
benefit in the event as it is said Rom. 8. 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to purpose The Saints shall inherit all things but they must overcome first Revel 21. 7. By the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their Testimony not loving their lives unto the death Revel 12. 11. No where is there a promise of the rights and priviledges of civil Government to the Saints on earth 5. If the holy scripture makes it an ill character of a man and an accursed condition to have his treasure on earth his portion in this life his good things here to be his danger and an ill foreboding sign to be rich that the desire and care of these things intangle and insnare men choke the word of God that it becomes unfruitful then sure they have not regained the rights and priviledges in respect of Government in the second Adam But the former is true as is manifest in these Scriptures Matth. 6. 19 20 24 25. and 13. 22. Mark 10. 22 23 24. Psal. 17. 14. Luke 6. 24 25. and 16. 25. 1 Tim. 6. 9 10. therefore also the later and therefore we may more truly say that the men who make this claim do indeed unsaint themselves 6. If it be Gods design to have for the most part the holy Saints to be of the meanest sort then sure they have not regained the rights and priviledges in respect of civil government and possessions in this life But the former is true as appears by these Scriptures 1 Cor. 1. 26 27 28 29. You see your Calling Brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called But God hath chosen the foolish things of the World to confound the things that are mighty and base things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen and things which are not to bring to nought things which are that no flesh should glory in his presence Jam. 2. 5. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and Heirs of that Kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him Therefore the Saints regain not priviledges of government in this life If the Saints and Princes of this world are often distinguished then Saints as such have not regained the rights and priviledges in respect of government in this life But they are so distinguished 1 Cor. 2 6 8. Therefore the Consequent is right 8. If Saints receive that Kingdom which cannot be shaken then their interest is not in the Kingdoms of this world that come to nought 1 Cor. 2. 6. But the former is true Heb. 12. 28. Therefore also is the later 9. If Christ have made the Saints Kings and Priests to his Father not to men a royal Priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ then that which Christ hath effected for the Saints is not the gaining of the rights and priviledges in respect of civil government But the former is true Rev. 1. 6. and 5. 10. 1 Pet. 2. 5. 9. therefore also the later is true 10. If the Saints be exceeded in wisdom and power fit for civil government by the men of this world then sure Christ did not regain for them the rights and priviledges in respect of civil government in this world For sure if he had gained the end he would have provided and ordered the means as is done by him in respect of the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven or eternal life But the antecedent is true as appears by our Saviours words Luk. 16. 8. the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light and all experience in all ages which shews how few of them are fit for managing of civil government therefore the rights and priviledges in respect of civil government in this life are not provided for them 11. If the rights and priviledges in respect of civil government were gained for the Saints then doubtlesse Christ would have directed them in the way and means to have attained them but that he hath no where done but left all Nations to their own constitutions and waies of government therefore Christ hath not gained for the Saints the right to civil government 12. If the rights and priviledges in respect of civil government were gained by Christ for the Saints then they that are not Saints are not Governors of right then no King is rightly a King no Master rightly a Master no Husband rightly a Husband or Father rightly a Father or Tutor rightly a Tutor but a Saint But this is false as hath been shewed abundantly before the Scripture acknowledging yea the Quinto-Monarchians themselves acknowledging even the powers that were the Emperors of Rome though bloudy Persecutors of the Saints the Ordinance of God therefore Government civil is not the Saints right and priviledge 13. If the Saints had regained by Christ the rights and priviledges in respect of Government then they had right to require Tribute and service of men and consequently what they impose is due to them and then they should not be guilty of unrighteousness theft purloining though they took from infidel masters or other unbelievers But the Scriptures make believers or Saints culpable for extortion theft purloining covetousness defrauding as well as others 1 Cor. 5. 11. Ephes. 4. 28. 1 Thes. 4. 6. 2 Thes. 3. 6. 10. 12 Tit. 2. 10. therefore they have not the rights and priviledges in respect of Government 14. If the Saints have regained the priviledges and rights in respect of civil government in Christ then either as Saints or under some other consideration if under some other consideration then it is not by reason of their sanctity or their interest in Christ if as Saints then all Saints have these rights of Government and if so a child that is a Saint a Wife a Servant over an infidel Father Husband Master which would invert all order and make voyd all the precepts of obeying Parents Ephes. 6. 1. submitting to Husbands Eph. 5. 22. obedience to Masters Eph. 6. 5. all which are grosly absurd making void the commandments of God for human traditions 15. If the Saints have the rights and priviledges in respect of government regained in Christ then either Saints by profession or real only not the former for such are hypocrites children of Hell more than others and therefore Christ hath purchased nothing for them by his death or intercession not the later for then rights and priviledges in respect of government should be a nemo scit a thing which no man can judge of but he who can search the heart and try the reigns but rights and priviledges in respect of Government are things necessary to be known that we may know to whom we are bound to be subject to pay tribute to address our selves to for justice and other ends and uses of Empire 16.