then he that cannot read a letter as Levit. 4. 3. 27. 28. if a Priest sin it requires a greater expiation he must offer a Bullocke whereas if a poore man sin through ignorance a Kid was sufficient He that with David meditates in Gods precepts and delights in his holy Law and Statutes Psal 119. 15. shall find that in Iudgement the person of the poore is not to be respected nor the person of the mighty to be honored but in righteousnes every man to be judged Levit. 19. 15. Kings to dye for murder as well as others and higher scaffolds to be erected for them then others by reason of their high birth that Iustice upon them may be more conspicuous another generation will as much wonder that Wise Royalists should be taken with such fond arguments as we doe now admire that our ancestors should so long beleeve Transubstantiation A Kings unaccountablenes and a Popes Infallibilitie being all one in the ballance of reason Did not the people disobey a man after Gods own heart in the case of Ionathan and yet vaine men to preach passive obedience where a power shall be assumed above Law to pardon murderers dissolve Parliaments contending for a negative voice to make solemne elections of Knights and Burgesses in Parliament ludibrious and no more then a spiders webb The Patriarks untill Moses time governed in their severall lines and families according to the minde of God never refusing to give an accompt of all they did to those whom they were over in the Lord Indeed the Nimrods and the Pharaohs exercised and usurped authoritie over poore creatures and finding Nimrods Monarchy Gen. 10. in the 16. Chap. we finde Warrs foure Kings fighting against five but for the great Empires of the Assirians oh Assiria the Rod of mine anger Medes and Persians Graecians and Romans that have been in the world there is no more ground in Scripture to make such Imperiall Government to be of God then there is for the Popes supremacie they that expect another Antichrist are as blind as the poore Iewes that looke for another Messias and I hope it will be granted me that Antichristian goverment is no more of Gods ordaining then the Divell may be said to be Gods ordinance because he is permitted to doe mischiefe for a time and though we read Gen. 21. 26. That good Abram and Isaac made a Covenant with King Abimelecke that does not prove him to be a King of Gods appointment for he had either made himselfe a King by force or else being a valiant man poore people were constrained to run to such for protection and to put their lives liberties and estates under their power to prevent a greater mischiefe and being so subjected the Nimrods have dealt from time to time no better with them then the Lyons with poore beasts which they get into their denns devoure them at their pleasures thinking it a great curtesie if they reserve them to the second course as Poliphemus promised Vlysses to keep him for the last bit or if they afford them food and rayment it is but as the Turks use their slaves feed them fat that they may the better endure their blowes it is the text of the Civill Law that all is the Emperours and what the people enjoy is of curtesie for sayes the Emperour I expect all and were it not for me another Nimrod should dispoile them of all and so hee that steales a Goose and leaves a few feathers behind him thinks the poore woman is much beholding to his gentlenes but let such titles claimes be examined by the Word of God Before wee come to King Moses wee read of many Kings of Edom and Dukes that descended of Esau Genes 36. c. he is Esau the father of the Edomites but not a word that this goverment was approved by God and what good did Pharoah ever doe but at the instance of Ioseph in giving a habitation and maintenance to Iacob and his Children Genes 47. It is possible that Tirants may at the crave and Rogation of worthy men consent to the enacting of some wholesome Lawes still keeping the Militia in their owne hands to have a power to destroy all when they please Exod. 1. 8. There arose up a new King over Aegypt which knew not Ioseph but oppressed Gods people and hee said unto his people behold the people of the Children of Israel are more and mightier then wee come on let us deale wisely with them Reason of state put Iesus Christ to death verse 14. All their service wherein they made them serve was with rigour then the Lord being moved with compassion towards the Israelites respected their crye he appeared to Moses saying that he would send him to Pharoah to bring them out of Egypt Exod 3. 11. So that Moses was the first King or Ruler of Gods making but Moses like unto his Saviour Christ Iesus was not willing to be King Exod. 4. 10. I am not eloquent sayes Moses but slow of Speech and Gods anger was kindled against him humble pride is proud humility when God calls to any imployment a Christian may not deny the worke of God upon his owne spirit but see what a gallant publique spirit King Moses had Exod. 5. 22. 23. Lord sayes hee I can doe no good for thy people it is the greatest griefe to a man of honour that hee cannot see through his busines to the furthest end of it and when he cannot with Paul doe that good which he would such a man hath a divine calling and see how Moses stands for the peoples libertie Exod. 10. 9. Hee would not accept of his owne libertie without the peoples rights but was willing to loose his owne naturall life to save them spiritually The next Ruler to him of Divine ordination was his successour Iosua Deut. 34. 9. as God had been with Moses guideing his heart and hand to governe the people by the law of right reason not assuming any unaccomptable authoritie over them but to speake and act in such evidence and demonstration of the spirit and power to them that the most ignorant amongst them might easily perceive that Moses intended the peoples good and if any one could have given advice how to have eased them or comforted them in the least kinde more then he did hee would no doubt have hearkened unto it and when the people murmured as for this Moses wee know not what hee is hee drew no sword against them to hurt them but prayed for them and cryed over them so then the Lord appointed Iosua to succeed Moses and the people accepted of him and approved of Gods election Iosua 1. 15 16 17 18. is a very sweet Covenant and agreement made between Magistrates and people not a word of passive obedience to doe Iosuas will or suffer his displeasure but the people promised to hearken unto him as they did to Moses onely the Lord thy God be with thee as he was
more then ordinary trouble have recovered them it cannot but be a purgatory to an Ingenious spirit certainly that Iudge which helps a man to his right and thereby preserves a family from beggery deserves as much as he that cures a man of a desperate fever But I Sam. 8. Is the Statute Law concerning Kings where it cleerely appeares that the first generation of Monarchs and the rise of Kings was not from above not begotten by the Word and Command of God but from the peoples pride ardent importunity they were mad for a King to be like unto the Heathens I beseech you observe the story it is a Chapter that deserves to be written in Capitall letters of Gold and if it were convenient to appoint the reading of it but once a moneth in the publique meeting places I am confident it might be of great advantage in the satisfying men of perverse spirits for let the most violent assertors and contenders for Monarchy but seriously consider and be intreated to heare it as the Word of God 1 Thess 2. 13. and they must needs be convinced that they which endeavour to destroy a Parliament consisting of Godly Wise and Iudicious men that are willingly bound by the same Lawes which are made for others abhorring all thoughts of unaccomptablenes and to set up a King who fights for a boundlesse prerogative to doe what he pleases on earth giving an accompt thereof only to God as if hell were made only for them who must not be toucht nor be punished in this life for any of their abominations doe cast off and reject the God of Iustice and mercy for when good Samuels rule the people it is God that rules in them and by them and there is nothing so contrary to the gracious Nature of God as the violence oppression and Legall Thefts of the wicked Nimrods of the world and then marke the doome of their favorits Iohn 12. 48. he that rejecteth mee and receiveth not my words hath one that Iudgeth him the word that I have spoken the same shall Iudge him in the last day First it is very observable what it was that bred a dislike of the Iudges ver 3. they turned aside after lucre and tooke Bribes and perverted Iudgement which Samuel did not ver 5. when Common-wealths men turne private wealths men and more minde the Trimming of their owne Cabbins then the Ship of State then the people cry out make us a King to Iudge us like all the Nations as if they should say better have one Tirant then thirty Tirants in Athens better fill one purse then many now the Lord Commands Samuel to protest solemnly against Monarchy that they may not pretend ignorance but be left inexcusable and then if they will have a King hearken unto them sayes the Lord ver 7. which is no approbation of Monarchy as some vainely argue the Lord therein dealing with them as a tender wise Physician when the impatient Patient cryes out for wine which will encrease the disease the Physician to satisfie his importunitie gives him a little wine which he knowes rather encreases then asswages the disease but knowes that if he have it not his impatience may worke a greater mischiefe ver 19. Nay but we will have a King over us are words of men possessed with afrensie give us a King or wee shall run madd for him wee will have one whatsoever it cost us that we may be like all the Nations shall France and Spayne have Kings and we none will they take away our God from us from vers 11. to 17. Samuel describes a lively portraiture and lineament of a Kings prerogative which are principally three as you may please to observe first a prerogative over mens persons to imprison any one whom the King pleases Hee will take your sons upon pretence of disobedience or for reason of State either intowre him or send him beyond sea if he were a Commonwealths man which in Court language is as much as to say a dangerous man ver 11. 13. and 16. Secondly in point of Militia ver 12. Hee will ap point the Capitaines the Kings Councell called that an inherent priviledge as an inseperable accident and incident to the Crowne without which he is no King and then having the sword it is no head matter to command all the money in the Land Thirdly in point of Interest and propertie ver 14. 17. he will take a tenth of all the Corne Wine and Cattle if the Iudgement of Ship-money had not been reversed a tenth would not have sufficed I meane that senseles Iudgment which I cannot mention without indignation that men should be so silly to talke of building of ships when the Land was ready to be invaded or in eminent danger as if it were a time to looke after leather to make buckets when a house is on fire It seems to me that the holy Spirit in expressing those three grand prerogatives that the Kings of the Gentiles would pretend unto had an eye to the present age wherein wee live and therefore many booke learned Royalists not being able to answer this Scripture have declared their Iudgements to be whether their hearts and pens were of the same minde Ilargue not that the Lord did allow of such a Goverment and ver 11. hee will take your sonns which is to be meant by usurpation contrary to the Law of God Deut. 17. 20. See the learned Annotations upon that Chapter very excellent not what they ought to doe in right but that they would so doe in fact they read hee shall take your sons and ver 15. hee will take a Tenth that he shall and may take a Tenth as if they had a Commission from heaven so to doe and to fortifie that opinion they alleige Deut. 17. 14. When thou art come unto the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee and shalt possesse it and shalt dwell therein and shalt say I will set a King over mee like as all the Nations that are about me v. 15. Thou shalt in any wise set him King over thee whom the Lord thy God shall choose one from among thy brethren shalt thou set King over thee thou mayest not set a stranger over thee which is not thy brother ver 16. but he shall not multiply horses to himselfe not cause the people to returne to Egypt to the end that hee should multiply horses for as much as the Lord had said unto you yea shall henceforth returne no more that way ver 17. Neither shall he multiply wives to himselfe that his heart turne not away neither shall he greatly multiply to himselfe silver and gold ver 18. And it shall be when he sitteth upon his Throne of his Kingdome that he shall write him a copie of this Law in a booke out of that which is the Priests the Levites ver 19. and it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the dayes of his life that hee may learne
to feare the Lord his God to keep all the words of this Law and these Statutes to doe them ver 20. that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren and that he turne not aside from the Commandement to the right hand or to the left to the end that he may prolong his dayes in his Kingdome he and his Children in the midst of Israel And they read those words I will set a King over me which is spoken by the people Thou shalt set a King over thee as if God had commanded a Kingly Goverment in Canaan which was only permissive as the sin of Adam let them have a King at their owne perill saith the Lord The Lord foresaw that the Israelites would rebell and cast off a happy Goverment by the heads of the people and Iudges and God permits it and Moses speakes of the election and dutie of a King the election is from the people they will have a King whether the Lord will or no where by the way wee may take notice how bold many have beene and poore deluded Royalists still are to wrest the Scripture for the advancement of Monarchy when men dare say that in the Hebrew it is that Moses commands them to elect a King which the holy Scripture reproves in them as the greatest insanity madnes in the world that when they may have honest Religious men to go in out before them that will not oppresse them nor exalt themselves above their brethren that they will notwithstanding inslave themselves to the Arbitrary and lawlesse Iusts of one man and his posteritie whether they be Idiots Children knaves Theeves Murderers Fornicators Gluttons Drunkards Idolators or Women which though never so wise Religious and mercifull as by reason of the tendernes of their spirits and want of temptation I believe there are more godly women then men in the world yet it is against the law of God and Nature to make Millions of men subject to the commands of a woman but blessed be God that the knowledge of the Hebrew language is not necessary to bring an English man to heaven Iosua had the honour to conduct them into Canaan and they tooke it into possession but there was a remnant of the Canaanites left unsubdued to prove them as the law is Deut. the 20. from the 16. 10 the 18. which I the rather mention for the Illustration of the equitable proceedings in Ireland the Lambe Iudges and makes war in Righteousnes Revel 19. 11. Every Souldier hath been as a Iudge to execute the Iudgment written Psal 149. 9. farre be it from Gods servants to slay the righteous with the wicked Genes 18. 23. No such beatificall sight as to see a Murderer that hath imbrued his hands in the effusion of Innocent blood to suffer the most painefull and shamefull death that can be imagined but the Children of those Murderers ought not to be put to death for their originall sin as we read in the case of Amaziah 2 Kings 14. 5. 6. And it came to passe as soone as the Kingdome was confirmed in his hand that hee slew his servants which had slaine the King his Father But the Children of the Murderers he slew not according unto that which is written in the booke of the law of Moses wherein the Lord commanded saying the Fathers shall not be put to death for the Children nor the Children be put to death for the Fathers but every man shall be put to death for his owne sinne Deut. 24. 16. And many that by reason of their wicked principles and adherence to the Pope are not fit to be trusted in Garisons yet receive rents for their houses or estates there Ezek. 18. 20. The soule that sinneth it shall dye the sonne shall not beare the iniquity of the Father neither shall the Father beare the iniquitie of the Son the righteousnes of the righteous shall be upon him and the wickednes of the wicked shall be upon him Now by the equitie of that law Deut. 20. 16. where Gods people shall reside they being chief in Command may and ought for their owne securities expell delinquents and malignants out of London or any Garrison in England or Ireland for a time or for ever as may conduce to the Weale publique and their owne safeties whose lives are so precious in the Lords esteeme But here I meet a Goliah in the way that threatens much but the spirit of God is not in it and therefore it is but as a statue that God had given the land of Canaan by promise to Israel and therefore they might justly maintaine a warr to destroy the Canaanites Hittites Amorites Perizites Hivites and Iebusites and there being no command to destroy the Gibeonites Deut. 20. 17. therefore the league with them was lawfull Ios 9. wherein the warr may be judged lawfull on both sides for Iosua to fight having a command from God and the Canaanites to defend their possession not knowing of any such command but is there the same reason to destroy ancient Monarchyes when they oppose Iesus Christ and wil not suffer his people to enjoy their liberties which he hath purchased for them by his precious blood Answer Yes doubtlesse there are as evident promises for the Churches of Christ in this age of the world to be redeemed out of Antichristian bondage by the Moseses Iosuas Sampsons Gideons Iepthahs and Samuels which the Lord shall raise up to be instruments in his hand to save his people as there were in Moses and Iosuas ages that the Church of Israel should be delivered from the Egyptian slavery and reason to me cleerely makes it out that if a promise of an earthly Canaan were a ground of the Churches Warre much more their spirituall liberties that if I may defend my house by force from theeves and robbers certainly I may defend my selfe in the exercise of my spirituall liberties which are ten thousand times deerer to me if I may fight for a peece of glasse may I not engage for a precious pearle that is invalluable The Kings of Canaan might have pleaded antiquity succession and the peoples consent which no King can plead against Gods people in the matter of their spirituall priviledges God will have the Monarchs of the world know that whatever Civill right they may pretend to their Kingdomes where they have by force or flattery gained the peoples consent as the honest man parts with his purse to save his life yet they must not upon paine of forfeiting their Royalties persecute his friends and servants Kings that stile themselves Defenders of the Faith if they prove offendors of the faithfull God will take away their Kingdomes in a way of Iustice and righteousnes when any of the 10. Kings having formerly given their power and strength to the beast Revel 17. 12. shall afterwards cut off his head as Henry the eight used the Pope in taking away his supremacy and making himselfe head of the Church by Act of
where is there any Monarch in the world that assumes a power of accompting onely to God but hath in him the sensuallitie of a swine the filth and uncleanenes of a Leopard the crueltie and inexorablenes of a Tiger Beare or Lion the subtiltie and craft of a Fox the skittishnes and stubbornes of a Mule or an Asse and in what things they have common together with beasts they are worse then beasts for beasts will not be druncke with their drinke as the drunkard corrupts himselfe in his drinke Iude 10. they speake evill of that they know not and what they naturally know as brute beasts in those things they corrupt themselves if it would be such a judgement that a man would be willing to endure any misery in the world rather then to have his body turned into the fashion of a beast and if our Ancestors have been so diligent to destroy Woolves and such noxious creatures that whosoever should bring in the head of a Woolfe was to have a reward for it what a madnes or lethargie is it in men that would be counted rationall not onely to suffer Tirants and mysticall Woolves to domineere with a rod of iron when God gives them an opportunitie of extirpation root and branche but to contend against their brethren to set up a Tirant to rage like the waters because they cannot bring in an overflowing Tide and streame to breake downe the banks of honestie and equitie what was it that made David wish Psal 55. 6. compared with Ier. 9. 1. to 6. and Psal 59. Oh that I had the wings of a Dove that I might fly into the wildernes and there abide are not wild beasts in their proper element in a wildernes as fishes in the Sea true but the goverment of Saul and his prerogative creatures was more cruell then the fierce Lion that will either pitie the crouching passenger or not prey upon him till hunger require it and then put him out of his paine in an instant but Tirants and such are all that will not be accomptable to the people keep men in prison many yeares to satisfy their insatiable cruelties and torture poore creatures by lingring deaths denying them the favour of expedition in that kinde therefore David sayes Psal 22. 20. Deliver my soule from the sword my darling from the power of the dog the spirit of God in David calls Saul a dog better sayes David to fall into the hands of a Tiger and wilde beasts then live under a Tirannicall goverment there is a famous story of some Spaniards that being besieged by a Tirant and in danger to be taken the young men first tooke all the old people in the City and let them blood to death and cut off their heads killing them with the fairest and easiest deaths that could be next they tooke all the treasure and riches in the City and set it on fire and then they tooke poyson and poysoned themselves and the survivor opened the gates and killed himselfe so as the enemy had nothing but rubbish and ashes of two evills choosing the least old and yong and all the City to be destroyed together rather then to fall into the hands of a Tirant where no Iustice can be had the Lord cōtinue and increase the same gallantry and noblenesse of spirit in the English nation rather to endure any misery in the world then ever to admit any more of a Tirannicall Goverment for that is to make our selves lower then beasts which are not devoured by those of the same kinde to make one man more then a man with Titles of Sacred Majestie and Gracious Highnes Incompitible with a state of humanity Now I beseech you have patience a little longer to observe what strange creatures the Kings of Israel were and then let every honest hearted man but aske himselfe some such questions as these whether it is not likely that God would give his owne people as good Kings as to any other Nation Secondly if God was so exceedingly wroth with his owne children for desireing a King whether will he not be more angry with us if wee should not take warning by Gods people Note therefore that when King Ahab was dead Iehoram raigned in Israel 2 Kings 3. 1. 6. and because there was a famine in the Land the first newes is that Elisha the Prophet must be slaine 2 Kings 6. 31. 32. then he said God do so and moreover also to me if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day but Elisha sat in his house and the Elders sat with him and the King sent a man from before him but ere the messenger came to him he said to the Elders see yee how the son of a murderer hath sent to take away my head take heed all yee fighters for the son of a murderer in the 8. Chap. ver 15. Hazael kills King Benhadad and Elisha told him what a Tirant he would be against Israel and wept for griefe to thinke how Hazael when he came to be King should oppresse and Tirannize over them then ver 12. sayes Hazael why weepeth my Lord he answered because I know the evill that thou wilt doe unto the children of Israel their strong holds wilt thou set on fire and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword and wilt dash their children and rip up their women with child ver 13 14 15. And Hazael said but what is thy servant a dog that he should do this great thing and Elisha answered the Lord hath shewed mee that thou shalt be King over Syria so hee departed from Elisha and came to his master who said to him what said Elisha to thee and he answered hee told mee that thou shouldest surely recover and it came to passe on the morrow that he tooke a thicke cloath and dipt it in water and spead it on his face so that hee died and Hazael raigned in his steed As if a King should take the Sacrament upon it that hee intends no more hurt to the Parliament then to his owne children and the very same day grant comissions to slay and murder the most saithfull patriots but see what credit there is to be given to such mens vowes and protestations 2 Kings 10. 32. Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel Iehu was next made King by the Souldiours and 2 King 9. 24. Iehu drew a bow with his full strength and smote Iehoram betweene his Armes and the Arrow went out at his heart and he sunck down in his Chariot then Iehu followes after Ahaziah King of Iudah and smites him and he died at Megiddo 2 Kings 9. 27. and Iehoahaz succeeds Iehu in the Kingdome of Israel 2 Kings 10. then Chap. 11. Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah arose and destroyed all the seed Royall onely Ioash who with his nurse was hid and peserved from the massacre and was afterwards annointed King and the people clapt their hands and said God save
the King 2 Kings 11. 12. and blew their Trumpets then Athaliah rent her cloathes ver 14. and cryed Treason Treason she might with more reason have cryed out away with Kingly goverment that occasions so many murders treacherie villanous conspiracies who to get into the throne and to secure their stations and maintaine their pompe and grandor must destroy poore Innocents and all that stand in their way of absolute Dominion In Chap. 12. 2. Iehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord yet ver 20. his servants arose and made a conspiracie and slew Ioash in the house of Millo which goeth down to Silla if God sometimes gives a good Iosiah an Edward the sixt or a good Queene Elizabeth the office is not sanctified by the person when princes professe love to the people It is but sowing the seeds of future troubles and miseries for when Kings are good the people are never jealous of their liberties and faire language and a few good Acts and actions bring the people into a fooles paradise the prerogative then taking ten times firmer deeper root in such Halcyon dayes and certainly the Tares Wormewood Gall Colloquintida and bitter fruits which England hath lately tasted of and reaped in such aboundance were sowne set and planted in those calmer times and the precious blood that hath been shed is no doubt the seeds time of freedome and glory to the Nation the ground worke of those precious durable priviledges that English-men shall hereafter enjoy but see Chapter 13. Iehoahaz son of Iehu was King in Israel ver 2. and he did that which was evill in the sight of the Lord and followed the sins of Ieroboam the son of Nebat which made Israel to sin he departed not there from and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel and ver 3. he delivered them into the hand of Hazael King of Syria and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael all their dayes it would make the very bowels liver and intralls of a Christian to yearne and stir within him to consider how poore creatures from time to time have been punisht for the wickednesse of their Kings sayes David 2 Sam. 24. 17. Indeed I have done wickedly but these sheep what have they done Let thine hand be against me and my Fathers house against a Kingly goverment Next comes Amaziah upon the stage of Monarchy 2 Kings 14. and his comendation is for doeing Iustice upon those that killed his father and sparing the children of the murderers according to the Law of Moses that the Fathers shall not be put to death for the Children nor the Children for the Fathers but every man shall be put to death for his owne sin ver 6. but vaine man that he was to thinke to prosper knowing how greatly God was displeased with his office ver 19. the people made a conspiracie against him in Ierusalem and he fled to Lachish and they slew him there and they brought him on horses and buried him at Ierusalom as Rich. the third slaine at the battaile at Bosworth-field by Henry the seventh was throwne over a horse like a Calfe and carried to Leister there interred then ver 23. there was Ieroboam the second King of Israel he did that whch was evill in the sight of the Lord and departed not from all the sins of Ieroboam the son of Nebat that made Israel to sin ver 24. then in chap. 15. 3. 4. Azariah son of Amaziah raigned in Iudah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord according to all that his Father Amaziah had done save that the high places were not removed the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places so the Lord smote him that he was a Leper to the day of his death and dwelt in a severall house apart by himselfe scarce a king of them that died like other men for hee that will take upon him to be above other mens judgements and only to account to Heaven is not worthy the society of men ver 8. Zachariah the son of Ieroboam reigned in Israel and ver 9. 10. he did that which was evill in the sight of the Lord as his Father had done hee departed not from the sin of Ieroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sinne how made them to sin is not example a morall violence that where the King is wicked the people must needs be so or is sin taken there for punishment that the people are punisht for the Kings enormities but ver 10. Shallum the son of Iabeâ—h conspired against him and smote him before the people and slew him and reigned in his steed what would the people stand by and see Shallum kill their King and then presently make him King how violently and insensately are men set upon Monarchy that though they feele all the Plagues of Egypt upon them for it yet they will have a King like the Heathens but how fared it with King Shallum ver 13. he reigned but a moneth in Samaria for Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah and came to Samariah and smote Shallum there and slew him and reigned in his steed but how does Menahem comport himselfe in his Kingship ver 16. then Menahem tooke Tipsah and all that were therein and the Coasts thereof from Tirzah because they opened not to him and all the women therein that were with child he ript them up then ver 19. 20. Pul the King of Assyria came against him and he exacted a thousand Talents of silver of the rich men of Israel fifty shekells of silver thence they tooke the President for Ship-money to tirannize and bring themselves and the people into danger and then take what they please from the people to procure forraigne forces to assist King Menahem to confirme the Kingdome in his hand but ver 22. this bloody man slept with his fathers and his son Pekahiah raigned in his steed blessed God! that such a cruell monster should dye a dry death but if Murderers and Tyrants were alwayes punisht in this world men would thinke that there were no other hell for them and yet if they were not commonly punisht here many men would believe that there was no God well Pekahiah reigned two yeares and did mischief enough to have destroyed Israel because no doubt they might have cast off Monarchy but would not doe justice upon their King therefore the Lord stirred up particular men still to doe it ver 25. Pekah the son of Remaliah a Captaine of Pekahiah conspired against him and smote him and killed him in Samaria in the Palace of the Kings house with 52. more and reigned in his roome a good riddance of the King and his Cavaliers but the more unwise they to give them no worse Epithete being Gods people to suffer Pekah to be their King for he abounded in wickednes and in his dayes ver 29. seven Cities of Israel
inspiration wrote to the Saints at Rome was to satisfie them in any doubt that might arise by their living under Imperiall Goverment to tell them that untill God did finde out a way to free them from hard Taske-masters they must submit for conscience sake if Nero would send to them for halfe their goods it was better for them to part quietly with them then to resist and so to loose their lives for what could two or three hundred Christians doe to oppose the Emperours power however he was none of their Lord they set him not up but they came in by blood and conspiracies or els the Romans elected them the Christians were meerely passive in the Goverment and in conscience ought to pay tribute to them not as if the Goverment was approved by God but because it was Gods will that Christians should with as much peace and quietnes as the world would affoard thē passe the time of their sojorning here in feare wherein the Saints lookt at the performance of the promises of God and the will and minde of their heavenly Father which they found in Scripture to be that as the people of God had suffered under the Egyptian power those Pharoes and hard taske-masters and so under the Babylonish power in the captivitie and had suffered and were trampled upon by the Assyrian Persian and Grecian Monarchs so likewise they were to suffer and to be oppressed by the Roman power as we read Dan. 7. where by the vision of the foure Beasts is represented the foure Monarchs men of bestiall spirits that create a propertie by force as amongst the beasts possession is the onely right but sayes Daniel it must not be so alwayes for ver 18. and 26 27. But the Saints of the most High shall take the Kingdom and possesse the Kingdom for ever even for ever and ever but the Iudgement shall sit and they shall take away his dominion to consume and destroy it unto the end and the Kingdom and dominion and the greatnes of the Kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all dominions shall serve and obey him see Dan. 2. 44. now this is a truth that the Malignants exceedingly vex and fret at Psal 2. 1 2 3 4. why doe the Heathen rage and the people imagine a vaine thing the Kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take councell together against the Lord and against his Annointed saying Let us breake their bonds asunder and cast away their cords from us he that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh the Lord shall have them in derision then shall he speake unto them in his wrath and vex them in his sore displeasure ver 6. Yet I will sayes the Lord set King Iesus upon his holy hill of Sion The Monarchs of the world thinke to intaile their Crowns so fast upon their posterity and make Lawes like the Medes and Persians to be unchangeable and men may thinke to establish Royall Statutes and make firme Decrees that Monarchy shall stand but the Lord will blow upon them It is admirable to consider that Scripture of Ier. 29. Babylon was to be destroyed as it is Psal 137. 8. 9 O daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us happy shall hee be that dasheth thy little ones against the stones and yet for the 70. yeeres the people of God must be patient and pray for the peace of that City where they were captives doe but read that excellent place Ier. 29. from the 4. to the 7. 10. If the Parliament had complyed with the late King and set him upon the throne it had been putting a golden Scepter into the hand of Anti-Christ and a reed into the hand of Christ to have called Christ master but to have Crowned him with thornes and a mortall man with Gold it had been but mocking and scoffing at the promises of Iustice Holines Purity Peace Plenty and freedom from oppression which the people of God are to enjoy upon the earth for doe but consider how ridiculous it is to call those Defendors of the Faith that are offendors of the faithfull that make the Saints offendors for a word that hate the Saints as men naturally hate poyson from whence it followes that the darknes and dissatisfaction which hath been upon the spirits of many Christians concerning the Iustice done upon the late King proceeds from their not understanding the Scriptures not distinguishing the times and seasons which the Lord hath appointed for his people when to be in a suffering condidition and when to be in a prosperous condition the primitive Christians were predestinate to be conformed to the image of their head Iesus Christ in a patient suffering Rom. 8. 2. 9. under Tirants but in these later times the Saints are to get victory over the Beast and the Kings of the earth shall bring their glory to Gods people Revel 21. 24. the Churches of Christ shall not any longer as sucking Lambes be in feare of wolves or as tender kids in the pawes of Beares nor as a prey to the mouthes of Lions but those that oppresse the Lords people shall be fed with their own flesh and drunke with their own blood as with sweet wine and all the world shall know that the Lord is the Saviour and the Redeemer of his people the mighty one of Iacob Esay 49. 26. as it is Gods prerogative to binde the Divell in chaines so the Saints shall binde Kings on earth let Malignants mocke and jeare at the Saints and servants of the most high God minde what the Scripture sayes Psal 149. 1 2 6 7 8 9. ver prayse the Lord sing unto the Lord a new song and his praise in the congregation of Saints let Israel rejoyce in him that made him let the Children of Sion be joyfull in their King Let the high praises of God be in their mouths a two edged sword in their hands to execute vengeance upon the heathen and punishments upon the people to binde their Kings with chaines and their Nobles with fetters of iron to execute upon them the Iudgement written this honour have all his Saints prayse yee the Lord that as Paul was delivered from the mouth of the Lion so the Saints shall be delivered from all the Lions and beasts of prey for God will ere long visit Babylon and all those Kings that have been druncke with the blood of the Saints and then all men that are of the same spirit as the holy Apostles were as all Christians are animated by the same spirit as the members by the same soule shall rejoyce Rev. 18. 20. and it is a speciall duty of Christians to express their joy by singing exaltations in the Lord Rev. 19. 1 2 3. and for the effecting of so glorious a work the Lord will plead with fire and sword with