is none other that may save thee in all thy Cities Hol. 13.9 10. Again the people of the Nation of England need not so much to wonder and be disturbed at what the Lord hath done for it was always Gods way and work if any King displeased him he would pull him down and set up another whom he pleased yea even the basest of men therefore saith Dan. 2.21 He changeth the times and seasons he removeth kings Witness also his dealing with the Kings of Israel First his rejecting of Saul from being King and rending the kingdom from him and giving of it to his neighbour 1 Sam. 15.23 28. Secondly The Lord rent the kingdom again from David's house for Solomons Idolatry 1 King 11.11 and gave it to Jeroboam his servant which came to pass ver. 30 31. Thirdly The Lord took away the kingdom from his house in the days of his son Nadab and gave it Baasha the son of Ahijah 1 King 15.25 26 27 28. Fourthly He took it away from him and gave it to Zimri his servant See 1 King 16.2 3 15. And for his wickedness he gave it to Omri ch. 16.22 23. Again The Lord took away the kingdom from the house of Omri in Ahabs days it was prophesied and accomplished in the days of Joram See King 9.6 7 8 9. to the end Thus it is cleerly proved that God alone ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he pleaseth But it will be Objected That God did this to them for their wickedness but who can say King Charles was so wicked Answ. As for his wickedness it 's possible to make it appear he had some but I shall leave that to God to judge of onely this I dare assirm that some of the fore-named Kings were as good and as holy men as King Charles and did as many good things for the honour and glory of God in their generation as ever he did and had as much of the knowledge of God in them and more then ever he had as it appeareth by Saul 1 Sam. 10.9 10 11 12 13. David and Solomon Therefore for shame let not that be pleaded for if Saul onely for sparing the sheep and oxen with a good intent to offer sacrifice to God with them and for shewing mercy to Agag King of the Amalekites must have his Kingdom rent from him 1 Sam. 15.19 20 21 22. because he had left undone the commandment of God surely then it may be proved by the things already declared against Charles Stuart in print to the view of all men to which I refer you that he was so great a sinner that the great God that searcheth the hearts and is a true beholder of the inward parts of man hath seen so much evil in him as might in justice move him to take away his Kingdom and Dominion from him and lay his honour in the dust and will without question at the great day make it appear to the faces of all them that do oppose him to whom I leave it with what is written and proceed to the second which is to consider what it is to rule with God We read Hos. 11.12 the words of the Lord by the Prophet are these Ephraim compasseth me about with lyes and the house of Israel with deceit but Judah yet ruleth with God and is faithful with the Saints From whence I thus reason That that power which is faithful with the Saints or to the Saints to protect them in well-doing that Power doth rule with God Secondly those people that do the good and acceptable will of God by keeping the holy and righteous commands of God given by Jesus Christ in these last days Heb. 1.1 2. with Act. 3.22 23. they are the righteous and holy people and the Saints of God and that Power and Authority that protects and preserves such a people in so doing doth protect and preserve the Saints But the present power and Authority of this Nation of England do protect such a people in so well doing Therefore they rule with God and are faithful to the Saints and do hereby honour God by having respect to his children and them that fear him And they which honour me I will honour saith the Lord but they which despise me shall be lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 2.50 And such a Power we must needs be subject to not onely for fear of wrath but also for conscience sake for they are not a terrour to good works but to the evil Again those Rulers that are a terrour to good works do not rule with God for Rulers And Powers ordained of God are not a terrour to good works but to evil See Rom. 13.1 2 3. Therefore saith the Lord Prov. 29.2 When the righteous are in authority the people rejoyce but when the wicked bear rule the people mourn And the truth is were it not to suppress the wicked that would destroy the Saints as Cain slew his brother Abel there should need no Power nor Law amongst men but the law of Love for the law was not made for the righteous man but for the lawless and disobedient c. And the powers that are ordained of God were not ordained to be revengers of wrath upon good men that keep the Commandments of God but upon evil men that break them And thus it is plain that those Magistrates and Rulers which are faithful with the Saints to preserve and keep them in well-doing That Power is of God and ruleth with God and it shall stand against all opposers And we may safely conclude That that Power which is used to vex persecute and destroy the Saints and honest men searing God is not of God and therefore it shall not stand But the Power in King Charles his days was so used as many honest conscientious men can testifie by woful experience therefore it was not of God and is thrown down But it will be objected that now since the King is gone there is as great persecution taxing and oppressing of men as ever To which I abswer I positively deny that honest conscientious men that fear God and desire to live in peace are persecuted as before But indeed if any conspire and rebel against this present power of the Nation of England so wonderfully set up and preserved by God himself it is their policie and good wisdom to suppress such malignant spirits by confining their persons to such places as they may do least hurt in and by sequestring their estates to make use of them for the best advantage of the Commonwealth And indeed to that end they are a power ordained of God even to take vengeance and execute wrath upon them that do evil Therefore if any man would not fear the present Power let him do that which is good and he shall have praise of the same See Rom. 13.2 3 4. Secondly whereas many complain of Taxes and oppression by Taxes more then ever I answer There was never such occasion for Taxes as
is a Crown of righteousness and glory that in due time we shall reap if we faint not Therefore dear friends let not us be ignorant of Gods great work which he is now a working upon the face of the earth but let us that be children of the day be sober and watch knowing that these are the days of vengeance in which all things must be fulfilled that are written in the Prophets and the signes of the coming of the Lord are upon the face of the earth even distress of Nations and perplexity Kingdom against Kingdom and City against City and mens hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth but yet let us remember the promises Rom. 10.13 It shall come to pass that whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved and again Heb. 13.5 6. he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee so that we may boldly say The Lord is our helper and we will not fear what man can do unto us therefore let us remember the words of our Lord Christ Luke 21.28 When these things begin to come to pass then look up and lift up your heads knowing that your Redemption draweth nigh Wherefore this is my humble advice to all that fear the Lord that we labour now to approve our Consciences before God by being to him that Redeemed us a peculiar people zealous of good works knowing that is the end of our Redemption and preservation Tit. 2.14 Let us therefore consider that Christ is that great Prophet by whom God hath spoken to us in these last days Heb. 1.12 And that we are commanded to hear him in all things whatsoever he shall say unto us Act. 3.22 23. And his sheep are they that hear his voice and follow him Joh. 10.27 and the voice of a stranger will they not follow vers. 5. and we are his friends if we do whatsoever he hath commanded us Joh. 15.14 and he that hath his commandments and keepeth them it is he that loveth him Joh. 14.21 for this is the love of God that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous 1 Joh. 5.3 But he that saith he loveth Christ or knoweth Christ and keepeth not his commandments is a lyer and the truth is not in him 1 Joh. 2.4 5. with Joh. 18.24 and whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God 2 Joh. 9. and if any shall come to you and preach any other doctrine then what is already preached receive him not ver. 10. yea if we or an Angel from Heaven shall preach any other Gospel then that which we have preached to you saith Paul let him be accursed as we said before so say I now again let him be accursed Gal. 1.9 10. for how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation as was first preached by the Lord himself and was confirmed to us by them that heard him God bearing them witness both with signes and wonders and divers gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his own will Heb. 2.3 4. Wherefore dear brethren and beloved in the Lord let us contend earnestly for the faith that was once delivered to the Saints Jude vers. 3 4. even as it was delivered at the first by the Lord himself and his holy Apostles For there are certain men crept in unawares which do turn this grace of our Lord Jesus Christ into wantonness and deny the Lord that bought them in their actions although they confess him in their words and do also think to make us forget and deny him by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour as the Lord saith Jer. 23.27 Let us therefore seeing we know these things before beware lest we also being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from our own stedfastness but let us grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ let us abide in his love by keeping his commandments Joh. 15.10 and continue his friends by doing whatsoever he hath commanded us ver. 14. so shall we have a good conscience void of offence towards God through our Lord Iesus Christ and boldness and access with confidence through faith in his blood unto that throne of grace where he ever liveth to make intercession for us To him be glory for ever Lastly we must exercise a good conscience towards man even by doing to all as we would they should do to us but in a special manner we ough to have respect unto the Magistrates whom God hath set over us to do to them even as we would they should do to us viz. If we would that they should protect and preserve us in well-doing we ought also to assist and aid them both with persons and estates without which they are not able to suppress wicked and ungodly men they being without us but private or particular persons Therefore I desire that all christians may be put in minde to be subject to principalities and powers and to obey magistrates to be ready to every good work and not to speak evil of any man to be no brawlers but gentle shewing all meekness to all men Tit. 3.1 2. We know also that there is no power but is of God for the powers that be are ordained of God and therefore he that resisteth them resisteth the ordinance of God especially when Rulers are not a terrour to good works but to the evil therefore we must needs be subject to such not onely for wrath but also for conscience sake let us consider them as the servants of God set over us for our good to take vengeance and execute wrath upon them that do evil Let us render to all their due tribute to whom tribute is due custom to whom custom fear to whom fear honour to whom honour belongeth see Rom. 13. But I know some will object that we ought indeed to pay tribute and custom to whom it is due and to give honour to whom honour belongeth but it belongs not to this present Power and Authority for the Scripture saith that we should Fear God and Honour the King and that we should be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake and to the King as supreme But these have rebelled and slain their King therefore neither honour obedience nor tribute belongs to them To which at present I answer That to the end this stumbling-block may be taken away and a right understanding may come in the place and a true affection to these present Rulers may be begotten in the hearts of those people that stumbled and a general reconciliation might speedily be brought forth amongst all men I have presumed to present these ensuing lines to their view knowing before that enemies will except against the most perfect Truth and soundest Reason witness their excepting against the Word of God but friends will bear with infirmities Wherefore I desire you that are
friends when you have read and considered what I have written and tried it by the Word of God if then you shall finde any thing too light or useless that you will impute it to that imperfect part which in some measure doth dwell in all men and remain fully assured that what I want in words and expressions is fully made up in my affection toward the State and Commonwealth in general Thus destring that what is according to Truth and sound Reason may be profitable to all I commit what is written to your serious consideration and impartial judgement and you into the hands of the Lord and remain to the utmost of my power Your faithful brother stedfast in the faith of the Gospel of Iesus Christ And his servant for your sakes HENRY HAGGAR The Particulars of the Book are in order at followeth I. THat it is God alone that ruleth in the Kingdoms of men and they have nothing to do to question him how whether it be by Kings as supreme Heads as in and after the days of Saul David and Solomon or by the Elders of the people to rule and judge them as before there was any King but God himself in Israel II. What it is to rule with God III. What was the original of Monarchy amongst men or whence it first came that a man should bear the name of King over the people of God IV. Who is of the Royal blood V. Who is now the Lords Anointed VI What is Gods desine against the Kings and Rulers of the Nations in these last days VII Wherfore he will destroy them VIII What they may or should do to escape the hand of God lifted up against them IX What the Saints and people fearing God should do in these days of vengeance X. Their duty to this Present Power acknowledged and they vindicated from the reproaches and slanders falsly cast upon them by wicked men Viz. That they are the false Prophets of the last times and those that cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine of Christ and the ignorant and unlearned that Peter speaks of which wrest the Scripture to their own destruction and despise Government and are not afraid to speak evil of dignities and will not obey Magistrates but have slain their King c. No King but JESVS c. ANd now according to the method propounded I shall proceed to shew first that it is God alone that ruleth and men have nothing to do to question how whether it be by Kings as supreme heads as in and after the days of Saul David and Solomon or by the Elders of the people to rule and judge them as before there was any King but God himself in Israel But now let me not be mistaken and abused as if I went headlong without wisdom or the fear of God to rail against kingly power or Kings like those that spake evil of things they know not for I approve of Kings and Rule by Kings as well as of ruling or judging the people by Elders but it must always be considered in all ages and generations of the world what Rule and Rulers God doth approve of for it is he that setteth up one and pulleth down another and he it is that ruleth in the kingdoms of men and giveth them to whomsoever he will yea and setteth over them the basest of men Dan. 4.17.25 And now let us consider if the God of heaven did in that age take away the Kingdom and Dominion of the whole earth from Nebuchadnezzar that head of gold and turn him out a grasing among the Oxen and give his kingdom to whomsoever he pleased then let not men in this generation think it strange though God Almighty hath taken away the kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland which are but a small part of the earth from Charles Stuart and given them to the honorable Parliament which were indeed at first confirmed by him before his evil Counsel had drawn him away from them therefore none can say they gathered together without him to conspire against him for they gathered together to him and were confirmed by him and with him and he with them and so were a lawful Assembly of Magistrates according to the Law of God and a lawful Parliament according to the Law of Nations and from this lawful Assembly and powers ordained of God he withdrew and by evil Councel rent himself from them and would come no more at them notwithstanding all the invitations they gave him in all humility as will yet appear by their Propositions and Remonstrances all which plainly sheweth the immediate hand of God against him and against his family his sins and the sins of his forefathers being now at the full And further let it be considered that God will have the living men to know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will yea and settetth over it the basest of men Dan. 4.17 Now if the Lord will take a Kingdom from a King and give it to the basest of men how can the most honourable of men help it They may gnaw their tongues for anger and blaspheme the God of Heaven yea they may be found fighters against God as many have been but they shall not prosper as we see they have not in our days consider it for it was not because they wanted the noble blood for they had the King himself and the greatest Nobles in the Land with them neither was it because they wanted stout men of resolved spirits for they had of the prime of the Nation as they themselves have oftentimes boasted and for the number of men they far exceeded and the affections of the Country were generally towards them therefore it was the immediate hand of God against them who in his time pulleth down one and setteth up another whom he pleaseth who at this time hath pulled down the King and Lords of this Nation and hath and will make the Elders thereof Rulers and Judges in their places and who can say to him What doest thou Be wise now therefore O ye kings and be instructed ye that are judge's of the earth Psal. 2.10 Be still and know that he is God learn to know that The Lord of hosts is with us and the the God of Jacob is our refuge Psal. 46.10 11. Again that God alone is King and ruleth the Nations how he pleaseth or by whom he pleaseth is evident by considering that in 1 Sam. 12.12 where the Lord by Samuel reproveth the children of Israel for chusing another King besides himself in these words And you said Nay but a king shall reign over us when the Lord your God was your king And again he saith When they said Give us a King they rejected the Lord that he should not reign over them 1 Sam. 8.7 Therefore the Lord lamenteth over them saying O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thine help I will be thy king for there
coming of Christ did ever bear the name of the Lords Anointed so much as in the type but onely those that were Kings and had rule over Gods own peculiar people Abrahams seed which teacheth us thus much That none are now the Lords Anointed but he onely he that is Lord and King over the house of Israel Abrahams seed which in Christ the Lord that was borne King of the Jews Mat. 22. whom God hath Anointed himself not with oyle-olive sweetly perfumed but with the oyle of gladness above his fellows Heb. 1.9 even with the Holy Spirit of wisdome and understanding and of Counsel and might and of knowledge and the fear of the Lord See Act. 10.30 with Isa. 11.2 5. he is the Lords Anointed to whom God hath given a name above every name and him hath God highly exalted and set him at the right hand of his Majesty on high far above all Principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not onely in this world but also in that which is to come Psa. 2.9 10 11. with Eph. 1.20 21 22. And to him hath God committed all power in Heaven and in Earth Mat. 28.10 to give commandments to the sons of men for whom he hath dyed Act. 3.22 23 24. and also to reward them that observe and do them with the things promised which is to partake of the same eternall life and glory with himself that the Father hath given him according to these Scriptures Psal. 103.17 18. Rom. 2.6 7. chap. 8.17.1 Pet. 1.3 4 Rev. 2.26.27 chap. 3.21 22 chap. 22.14 and to reward those that know him not and obey not his holy Gospel according to their works Rom. 2.8 9. To those that are contentious and obey not the truth but obey unrighteousness he will render indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil whether Jew or Gentile and will destroy them with an everlasting destruction from the presence of God and the glory of his power And this honour and glory he received from God the Father in the holy mount when Peter James John were eye-witnesses of his Majesty and that voyce they heard that came from the excellent glory saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased 2 Pet. 1.16 17 18. This is the Lords Anointed who is the onely King of Kings and Lord of Lords by whom Kings raigne and Princes decree Justice even all the Judges of the earth Counsel is his and sound wisdome he is understanding and he hath strength Prov. 8.14 15 16. he loves them that love him and those that seek him early shall find him But those his enemies that will not that he should Reigne over them shall be brought and slaine before him Luke 19.27 And thus have I shown and clearly proved by the Scriptures that Christ is the Lords anointed King onely and alone and none of the Kings of the Nations can have any right to such a title any otherways then the Saints and all that fear God in generall have which is by partaking of the same anointing Spirit through believing as it is written The anointing that ye have received of him abideth in you and you need not that any man teach you but as that anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth 1 John 2.27 And againe he saith We have an unction from the holy One vers. 20. and he that stablisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us is God who hath also sealed us and given us the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts 2 Cor. 1.21 22. and this anointing is as proper to a Begger as to a King if he be a believer and if a King be an unbeliever he hath no Right at all to it for there is no respect of persons with God but he hath chosen the poor in this world rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdome prepared for them that love him James 2.5 And he hath revealed his Truth to Babes and Sucklings and hid it from the wise and prudent Insomuch that Paul saith that none of the Princes of this world knew it For had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory 1 Cor. 2.7 8. Therefore saith James 1.9 10. Let the Brother of low degree rejoyce in that he is exalted but the Rich in that he is made low For God will raise them both up to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus Eph. 2.6 And he will make them partakers of his fulness and members of his Body of his flesh and of his Bones Chap. 5.30 Therefore let the Kings Princes and Rulers of the Nations be wise and learn to know what the Lord meaneth when he faith Touch not mine Anointed and do my Prophets no harm For he that once reproved Kings for their sakes and slew great and Famous ones for them Psal. 105.14.15 with 136.17 18. is now about to reprove all the Kings upon the face of the Earth for their sakes as I shall now make it appear by shewing Gods dedesigne against them in these last days And first The designe of God and his purpose is in this last age of the world to staine the pride of all their Glory and to bring into contempt all the honorable of the Earth Isa. 23.9 and to pour contempt upon Princes and to cause them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way and to set the poor on high from affliction and to make him families like a flock Psa. 107.40 41. Again the purpose of the Lord is to sacrifice the flesh of Kings and mighty men and the Chiefe of the Earth and to give their flesh to be meat to the fowls of Heaven Rev. 19.17 18. with Ezek. 19.17 18. where he saith They shall eat the flesh of the mighty and dâ—ink the blood of the Princes of the earth Now if the Lord will do these things to the great and mighty Kings and Princes of the earth who then can give them honour and deliver them in the day of his wrath And that the Lord will do it consider further what is written Jer. 25.31 32. A noise shall come from the ends of the Earth for the Lord hath a controversie with the Nations he will plead with all flesh he will give them that are wicked to the sword Thus saith the Lord of hosts Behold evil shall go forth from Nation to Nation This the Lord will do untill he have stained the pride of all their glory viz. untill he have taken away their Kings wherein they glory and of whom they so much boast That this is so consider the fore-going words They shall eat the flesh of Kings and Princes and mighty men and chief Captaines and of all that stand up with them against the Lord And for further confirmation of these words consider what is written Ier. 25.15 Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel to me Take the wine-cup of this fury
at mine hand and cause all the Nations to whom I send thee to drink it Consider what Nations ver. 18.19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26. First Jerusalem and the Cities of Judah and the kings and Princes thereof to make them a desolution an astonishments and hissing and a curse as it is at this day We are sure this is true that they are a hissing and a curse at this day why then should the other be so incredible namely that he will destroy all the Kings of the Nations with their honorable Princes if they stand up against him and against his Anointed as followeth Pharoah King of Egypt and his Servants and his Princes and all his people and all the mingled people and all the Kings of the Land of Vz and all the Kings of the Land of the Philistines and Ashkolon and Azzah and Ekron and the remnant of Ashdod Edom and Moab and the children of Ammon and all the Kings of Tyrus and all the Kings of Zidon and the Kings of the isles beyond the sea Dedan and Tema and Buz and all that are in the utmost corners the Lord will find them out and all the Kings of Arabia and all the Kings of the mingled people that dwel in the desert and all the Kings of Zimri and all the Kings of Elam and all the Kings of the Medes and all the Kings of the north far and near one with another and all the Kingdoms of the world that are upon the face of the earth c. To all these was the Prophet sent to declare to them the words of the Lord of hosts the God of Israel namely that they should drink and be drunken and spue and fall and rise no more because of the sword which I will send among them The certainty of it doth further appear in the 28 29 verses where he saith If they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drinke then shalt thou say to them Thus saith the Lord of hosts Ye shall certainly drink for lo I begin to bring evil upon the City which is called by my name viz. Jerusalem and shall ye be utterly unpunished Ye shall not be unpunished for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth saith the Lord of hosts Thus is the designe of the Lord of hosts made plain by the Holy Scriptures of truth and not by any cunning devised fables or fancies of my own brain These sayings are faithfull and true therefore they will come to pass in their appointed times And that they are not yet come to pass is plaine to all that do understand for most of the Kings of the nations are yet in their pompe and glory and are enemies to the Lords Anointed therefore he will avenge himself upon them speedily for these be the days of vengence in which all things that are written in the Prophets against the enemies of Christ must be fulfilled Luke 21.22 And now in the earth is distress of nations and perplexity and mens hearts failing them for feare and for looking after the things that are coming on the earth For the signes of the coming of the Lord are now amongst us even here in England and the beginning of sorrows is in the nation the Lord hath now begun to make us drink of this bitter cup and it will be great mercy if we drink no deeper notwithstanding some murmur and complain it is because their eyes are not open to see God's designe now upon the face of the earth if they did they would see more cause to give thanks to the Lord for his mercies then to murmur against him for his favourable and gentle chastisements he hath not dealt so with every nation and if England escape thus it will be very strange to me and so I beleive it will be to all that rightly understand what God is now doing and his work which he will accomplish upon the face of the earth yet before the end for he hath not yet made a man more precious then fine gold even a man then the golding wedge of Ophir Isa. 13.11 12. neither hath he made the earth empty and laid it waste and scattered the inhabitants thereof Is 24.1 2 3. but when it shall thus be in the midest of the land among the peoples there shall be as the shaking of an olive-tree and as the gleaning of the grapes when the vintage is ended they shall lift up their voice and sing for the majesty of the Lord ver. 13.14 Therefore let the wicked and ungodly men that know not Christ and obey not his holy Gospel but are enemies and will not that he should reigne over them let them howl for sorrow of heart for their sorrows are begun and the day of the Lord is at hand and it shall come as a destuction from the Almighty then shall all their hands be faint and every mans heart shall melt and they shall be afraid pangs of sorrow shall take hold of them they shall be in pain as a woman in travel they shall be amazed one at another and their face shall be as flames Isa. 13.6 7 8. But let those that feare the Lord and keep his commandements rejoyce and lift up their heads for the day of their Redemption draweth nigh For it shall come to pass even in those days that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved Luk. 21.28 Act. 2.21 The next thing in order to be observed is wherefore God will destroy them Answ. Because in all ages they have been his enemies and the persecuters of him and his Saints Those they were that in the time of the Law being deluded and blinded by the false prophets did persecute and kill the prophets of the Lord as in Ahabs days Zedekiahs days and Jehoiakims days Ier. 26.29 chap. 37.12 13 14 15. with 1 King 9.9 10. and chap. 24.25 26 27. They also were the men in Christs days which by wicked hands brought him to his end as it is written Act. 4.26 The Kings of the earth stood up and the Rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ for of a truth against thy holy child Jesus whom thou hast anoninted both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and people of Israel are gathered together c. This is the generation the Lord speaks of Mat. 23. calling of of them Serpents and generation of vipers saying to them How can you escape the damnation of hell because they had slain the Prophets and righteous men that lived in their days and in the days of their forefathers This is that wicked spirit of persecution which all along from Cain to the end of the world hath reigned and will reigne in the hearts of all ungodly men and women to persecute and kill the Saints Therefore saith Paul Gal. 4.29 As then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit even so it is now and Christ
saith The time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think he doth God good service And these things will they do unto you because they have not known the Father nor me Joh. 16.2.3 And indeed who have been the chiefest actors in it but the Kings and Princes of the nations which as Paul saith knew not God nor the hidden wisdom of God for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory 1 Cor. 2.7 8. and the reason why they did not know it was because they suffered the wicked priests and false prophets of the times to blind the eyes of their minds lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine into their souls 2 Cor. 4.3 4. And this they effected by handling the word of God deceitfully changing the truth into a lye teaching for doctrines the commandments of men in stead of the commands of God given us by Christ So walking in cratiness smoothing over their deceits with a company of good words and false speeches thereby deceiving the hearts of the simple and through covetousness and sained words have made merchandise of their souls Rom. 16 17 18 with 2 Pet. 2.2 3. and indeed it 's no marvell though it be thus for it is the policy of Satan to gain the Kings and rulers of the nations to him self for by that meanes he can easily suppress the people of God living under them and also delude and deceive those that have not the knowledg of God amongst them by the examples of them in authority for look what religion the Kings and rulers of the nations are of the same generally the people are as for example The Kings of Israel and the rulers there of if they were good the people were the better but if they were evill the people were generally wicked and therefore it is said 1 King 14.15 16. The Lord shall smite Israel as a reed is shaken in the water and he shall root up Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers and he shall give up Israel because of the sins of Jereboans who did sin and who made Israel to sin We may likewise observe the same in Judah in the days of Rehoboam the son of Solomon 1 King 14.21 22 23 24. in these words And Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord and provoked him to jealousie with their sins which they had committed above all that their fathers had done c. The same things may be observed by us of late days here in England for in the days of Edward the sixth the people were Protestants but in Queen Marys days they were Papists for shee and the Rulers were soland in Queen Elizabeths days again Protestants for she and the rulers were so Thus we see it is the fashion of the nations and of our nation of England also to be of that Religion that their Kings Nobles and Rulers were and great reason for first its praise-worthy and highly commendable in the sight of men to be so secondly it is the way to live in peace and to escape the crose of Christ But let us remember that what is highly esteemed in the sight of men is abomination in the sight of God Luk. 16.16 Again the Lord will avengâ— himself upon them because they have persecuted his Saints without a cause as is written Psal. 119.161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause because they have given their power to the beast and suffered that serpentine and viperous generation of false prophets and deceivers to make use of them to persecute and destroy the Saints and Children of the most high God notwithstanding he hath said Psa. 116.15 Right dear and precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints and that he will require it at the hands of this generation Mat. 23.33 34 35 36. with Rev. 18.24 where he saith that in her was found the blood of all the Saints and Prophets and all that are slain upon the earth Eightly It is to be considered what the Kings and rulers of the nations may or should do to escape the hand of God lifted up against them for although there be a generall distruction pronounced against the Kings and Princes of the nations their sins and the sins of their fore-fathers being at the full without respect of persons yet it is not without respect of their conditions but except they repent as Christ saith they shall all perish Luke 13.5 as we also see in Jon. 3.4 When the Lord by the Prophet had pronounced destruction to Nineveh within fourty days yet we see when they acknowledged their sins and humbled themselves before the Lord he was pleased to forgive them and spare their King and their City according to his gratious promise as we may read Ier. 18.6.7 8.9 10. in these words At what instant I shall speak concerning a Nation on a Kingdom to pluck up or to pull down and destroy it if that Nation against whom I have pronounced turn from their evil I will repent of the evil I thought to do unto them And at what instant I speak concerning a nation and a Kingdom to build and plaint it if that nation do evil in my sight that it obey not my voice then will I repent of the good wherewith I said I would benefit them Thus we see the Lord hath gratiously left open a door of repentance for them to escape thorow although it s to be feared that very few will make use of it notwithstanding my humble advice is to all in generall that they will let the counsell of the Lord be acceptable unto them which in these words is expressed Be wise now therefore ye Kings and be instructed ye that are Judges of the earth Serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling Psa. 2.10 11. Break of your sins by righteousness and your iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor if it may be a lengthening of your tranquility Dan. 4.27 for who can tell whether God will turn and repent and turne away from his fierce anger that they perish not Seeing also he hath said Jer. 18.8 If that nation against whom I have spoken turne from their evil I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them But more particularly I shall apply my self to the honourable Rulers of this nation whose happiness with the prosperity of the whole nation I much long after and dayly pray for the continuing and perfecting of and to that end I shall make bold to put your Honors in mind of these following particulars not as one proudly taking in hand to teach you but humbly and in the fear of God to advise you as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord First That you will fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your hearts and consider what great things he hath done for you for if you and the nation shall still do wickedly we shall be consumed 1 Sam.
do not believe and obey the things written and commanded in the holy Scriptures for as Christ saith to the Sadduces They erre not knowing the Scriptures 4. I understand that the great difference amongst men lyeth in the practical part of Religion for the Devill and wicked men do not care how much truth men know and believe so they practise none for the greater is their condemnation But if any come to practise it by keeping the commandments of God by which doing they exercise a good conscience towards God and are blameless and righteous before him as Zacharias and Elizabeth were Luke 15. then presently persecution ariseth for Satan well knoweth that to believe and obey both will bring a man to happiness in dispite of him and therefore it is that the poor Saints are so much persecuted for practising nothing but what is written in the word of God and was practised before in the days of Christ and his Apostles But let men take heed how they offend those which earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints not in King Henries or Queen Elizabeths days onely but I mean all that was first preached and practised by the Lord and his holy Apostles even as it was delivered at first Therefore my prayer shall be for all those in Authority That they may learn to know that they are ordained of God to judge between man and man and not between God and man and to rule over mens bodies not souls But this I speak in the behalf of those which go not beyond the Scriptures and do not presume above what is written but if any deny them I have nothing to say for them they must answer for themselves when they are called to it Thus hoping that the Magistrates in generall will be as willing to protect all people fearing God and walking according to the rule of his word as they are willing to pray for and assist them in time of need I shall conclude this matter and proceed to the next particular viz. to shew what is the Saints duty and how they ought to behave themselves in these dangerous days and perilous times briefly in these words First let not our hearts be troubled at the wars and rumours of wars distresse of nations and perplexity that is now upon the face of the earth for all these things must come to pass but the end is not yet Mat. 24.6 7 8. for these are the beginnings of sorrow and the days of vengeance in which all things must be fullfiled that are written in the Prophets Luke 21.22 Therefore the second thing we are to be exhorted unto is to take heed to our selves lest at any time our hearts be overcharged with surfetting and drunkenness and the cares of this life and so we be taken unawares in that snare that shall come upon all them that dwell upon the face of the whole earth which do not take heed Therefore let us watch and pray always that we may be counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass on this side the grave and that we may have our part in the Resurrection of the Just and stand before the Son of man with great boldness Luke 21.34 35 36. for they which have their part in the first Resurrection are blessed and happy and shall shine forth as the Sun in the kingdome of their Father when our vile bodies shall be changed and made like the glorious body of the Lord as it is written Rev. 20.6 Mat. 13.43 with Phil. 3.21 But the wicked shall not be able to stand in the Judgement nor sinners in the congregation of the Righteous in that day when the Heavens shall depart or pass away with a great noise and the elements shal melt with servent heat the earth with the works therein shall be burnt up At which time the dead both great and small must all appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ to receive according to their deeds done in the flesh whether they be good or bad The consideration of which righteous judgement to come made Felix tremble although he was a judge therefore dear Christians and all that feare God and believe that all these things shall come to pass let us us as Peter saith 2 Pet. 3 10 11 12. consider what manner of persons we ought to be in all holy conversation and godliness looking for and making haste unto the coming of this great day of God for it 's the property of the wicked to put the evil day far from them but let us so much the more as we see the evil day approaching prepare to meet the Lord by putting off the work of darkness and putting on the armour of light walking honestly as the children of the day Laying aside all superfluity of naughtiness and receiving with meekness that ingrafted word of God which is able to save our souls And forasmuch as we know that godliness is great gaine having both the promise of this life and that which is to come let us put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness and let us be clothed with humility then shall we be fit and ready to meet the Lord at his coming and to look death in the face whensoever it shall approach Let us take heed of lying and deceit and let no corrupt communication proceed out of our mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying and building up each other in our most holy faith and let all bitterness and wrath and evil speaking filthiness foolish talking and jesting be put away from us and not once be named amongst us as becometh Saints for for these things sake cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience let us not therefore be partakers with them but see that we walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise children of the light redeeming our time because the days are evil And in a common calamity many times all things fall out alike to all and as dieth the wiseman so dyeth the fool and there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked to the clean and to the unclean to him that sacrificeth and to him that sacrificeth not and to him that sweareth as to him that feareth an oath so that no man knoweth either love or hatred by all the things that are before him in this present evil world Eccle. 9.1 2 3. But this we know through believing that our Lord Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from them and all the corruptions and pollutions that are therein through lust and by him is given unto us exceeding great and pretious promises that by them we might be made partakers of the divine nature Let us therefore give all diligence to add to our faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to that temperance and patience and godliness and brotherly kindness and love that we may be fruitfull in the knowledge
of Christ and abound in the work of the Lord for asmuch as we know our labour shall not be in vaine and if we do these things we shall never fall but an entrance shall be opened to us abundantly into the everlasting Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1 so that we may stand by saith and rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God even that eternal weight of glory the Apostle speaketh of 2 Cor. 4. 16 17 18. which will make our affliction seem light and momentary and though our outward man should perish yet our inward man will be dayly renewed Let us therefore consider these things lest we faint and be weary in our minds and that we may lift up our heads and rejoyce knowing the day of our Redemption draweth nigh Thus having laboured to stir up your pure minds in some measure by way of remembrance I shall proceed to the last particular namely the vindication of the Saints from the false aspersions cast upon them by wicked ignorant men First they assirme that we will not obey Magistrates but have rebelliously rose up against and prevailed over the King to the taking away of his life and therefore they conclude that we are those that dispise dominion and ars not afraid to speak evil of dignities To which answer This is no more true then that which Ahab spake of Elijah when he told him that it was he that troubled Israel 1 King 18.17.18 and therefore the same answer may well serve us viz. That it is not we that have troubled the Nation by fearing God and keeping his Commandments which are written in his Word of Truth for that is the whole duty of man Eccle. 12.13 but it was he and his fathers house in that he had forsaken the commandments of the Lord and brought in the commandments and traditions of men in stead therof as Ahab followed after Baalim and therefore in vain did they worship God as Christ faith But let our accusers remember those prophane days of Liberty which were set up by Authority and Books of liberty read in stead of preaching by which they strengthened the hands of the wicked that they could not turne from their wickedness for they thought all was well so long as it was set up and allowed by Authority and read by the Parish-Priest Secondly Let them remember the persecuting of them that feared the Lord in those days by banishment imprisonment and spoiling their goods and some by death whose blood cried for vengeance in the eares of the Lord with the prayers sighs and grones of the other banished out of their native Countrey from friends and acquaintance and those in Prison the wife being separated from her loving husband and the husband from his dear wife the children from their parents and parents from their children being thereby made uncapable of getting a livelihood in the world even to the utter undoing of many and all because they would but search into the Scriptures for eternal Life further then the Bishops and the King and his counsel would have them By all which it is evident that it is the just hand of God that hath taken vengeance upon his Teachers and Counselers and will yet find out more of them and that not onely in this Land but in other Nations also untill he hath stained the pride of all their glory and brought into contempt all the honorable of the earth the which is sufficiently proved before in the sixth and seventh particulars of this Book Thirdly Let them consider the abundance of wickedness that was at Court in his days what gluttony drunkenness pride swearing lying whoring carding dicing and all manner of unlawfull gaming allowed of practised and maintained by him his Courtiers and their attendance all which with the reft of their wickedness procured the just judgement of God upon them for because of these things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience Eph. 5.3 4 5 67. Againe whereas they accuse us of speaking evill of dignities and for resisting of powers I answer It 's false for there is no power but of God the Apostle saith Rom. 1.3.1 2. And how to know what power is of God he sheweth in the 3 4 verses in these words for Rulers and powers that are of God are not a terrour to good works but to the evil Therefore if thou doest that which is good thou shalt have praise of the same for he is the servant of God to thee for good and is for the praise of them that do well and for the punishment of them that do evil And saith the Apostle To such a power we must needs be subject not onely for wrath but also for conscience sake Object But the powers that are be of God and must be obeyed though they should be wicked Answ. I deny it for wicked men in Authority commanding wicked things ought not to be obeyed but opposed either actively by doing or passively by suffering Therefore said the Apostle to the Magistrates Act. 4.19 Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken to you more then to God judge you And again Chap. 5.28 29. Peter and the other Apostles told the Magistrates they ought to obey God rather then them Thus we see Magistrates are not to feared and obeyed because they are Magistrates and powers but because they are good Magistrates and powers ordained of God such as are for the praise of them that do well and a terrour to them that do evill 1 Pet. 2.14 Therefore saith the Apostle Rom. 13.3 they that do well shall not need to be afraid of the powers that are of God but we know by wofull experience that those that did well had most cause of fear and were in greatest danger therefore that power was not of God and is cast down Againe if we must understand it in their sence viz. that all powers are of God and must be obeyed because they are powers then we shall prove the Devil and all wicked men as theives and murtherers must be obeyed for the Devil is both a Prince and a power even the Prince of the darkness the Prince of the powers of the aier the Spirit that now worketh in the hearts of the children of disobedience Eph. 2.2 but now I hope none will say that because he is a power that therefore he ought to be obeyed or that he is of God But if the other argument be true this must needs follow but men reason thus because they are ignorant and are indeed of the number of those that speak evil of things they understand not and shall utterly perish in their own corruptions except they repent 2 Pet. 2.12 for indeed these men know not neither do they consider what God hath done in former ages much less what he is doing and will do yet before the end of all things and therefore speak they evil of things they know not and as Peter saith