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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66765	Paralellogrammation an epistle to the three nations of England, Scotland, and Ireland, whereby their sins being parallel'd with those of Judah and Israel, they are forewarned, and exhorted to a timely repentance, lest they incur the like condempation : to render it the more effectual, some considerable notions are therein expressed touching ceremonies, and things indifferent, the Lords supper, the civil government, the taking of oaths, the mark of the beast, the library of conscience, the great Sabbath, and the two witnesses, with other particulars of concernment interwoven / written by Geo. Wither.	Wither, George, 1588-1667.	1662 (1662)	Wing W3176; ESTC R11575	78,735	140

Plaisters and like the old Egyptians their true types encrease the works of Bondage and Slavery to the suppressing of GOD's People within their Jurisdictions because they perceive them endeavouring to separate from them But the time is near wherein the true Israelites and their Oppressors will receive the Rewards respectively prepared and due unto them by GOD's Judgments promenced against the one and his gracious Promises to the other though his Enemies struggle yet against him like Pharoah and his Armies in the Red Sea when their Chariot-wheels were taken off and while the waves on either side stood heaped up ready to swallow them The Grand City being divided into three parts will ere long fall with every subordinate Power Kingdom City and Society thereto belonging and wo to all them who have not separated from her by repentance Her abominations are come into remembrance before GOD Her sins are almost full ripe and she is become an habitation of Devils and a receptacle for every unclean bird all Nations have drunk the Cup of her Fornications and are besotted and bewitched with her Sorceries and Inchantments The Merchants of the Earth are enriched by the abundance of her carnal Delicacies and by her Traffick in spiritual and temporal Merchandizes for they have traded together not only for Gold Silver Pretious Stones Pearls fine Linnen Silks Purple Scarlet Vessels of Brass Iron Wood and Marble Spices Odours Oyntments Oyl Wine Wheat Beasts and Chariots but also for the Bodies and Souls of men according to what was prophesied pretending to settle upon their Chapmen Possessions in Heaven that they might cheat them and their Heirs of their Inheritances upon Earth Their Formal Devotions being of the same nature and value with such as were in use among the old Heathen Idolaters and for the most part borrowed from their Idol Temples will not avail them in the day of their Visitation but be cast out as unholy things fit for nothing but to be trampled under foot and destroyed with all those Trumperies which the Founders of the Mystery of Iniquity have raked together out of Judaism and Gentilism to trim up a will-Worship They who dote on them shall perish with them and GOD's People whom they now oppress and reproach shall be delivered from their scorns and oppressions If they with whom GOD hath intrusted the Civil Power shall joyn with her in oppressing his People he himself will deliver them from all their oppressive Actings and Constitutions who by a corrupt exercise of their Authority are more or less at enmity with his Kingdom and persecutors of his Saints as turbulent and seditious Persons for professing their Consciences and not complying with them in their Abominations and vain Inventions repugnant to the dictates of his Word and Spirit who is their Soveraign Paramount Yea so many of the Civil Governors and Magistrates as in their publick or personal actings adhere finally to Antichristianism in the essentials thereof shall be therewith destroyed But they who Conform to the Kingdom and Government of Christ shall be thereunto admitted and therewith honoured Be wise therefore O ye Kings and learn what ye are to do you that are Judges of the People Let not the Kings and Rulers of the Earth bind themselves together in their Counsels against the LORD and his Anointed nor the murmuring People imagine vain things For GOD who sits in Heaven derides their attempts and maugre all their opposition will set his King upon the holy Hill of Sion Psal 2. Amen These things considered our future Repentance and Reformation will not alone consist in forsaking our Transgressions against the moral Law and the impudent prophaness whereof we are guilty by meer carnal sins but in timely disserting also every spiritual wickedness by coming out of Babylon and desisting from complying with her and especially by razing out the Mark of the Beast if we have in any mode received it which is not to be performed by a local departure or separation but by a relinquishment of their Superstitions and Idolatries and by avoiding the mark of the Beast both in the hand and forehead which I conceive not to be any thing forcibly imposed upon men against their wills as Oaths Stigmatizings or Conformity with them in things indifferent But I judge that Mark to be a voluntary approving the Power of the Beast and an adhering to him or his Image by justifying their tyrannies professing their Idolatries and by openly or secretly persecuting the followers of the LAMB For these Qualifications knit together with an c will make such a perfect Character whereby to distinguish them from the Disciples of Christ that they shall be priviledged to buy and sell or to enjoy any place of Power Honour or Profit within his usurped Jurisdiction which he exerciseth at several times and under various Notions For I conceive that the first and second Beast mentioned in the Revelation as also the Image of the Beast The Skarlet Whore with her Cup of Fornications The Red Dragon The False Prophet the seven Heads the ten Horns the smoke which ascended out of the Bottomless Pit and the Locusts proceeding out of that smoak do all together make up but one Mystical Body of Iniquity as it was by degrees produced active and manifested in several times according to the true nature thereof in every particular part The first Beast being the fourth and last humane tyranny described by Daniel in the last of the four Beasts whereof he had a Vision in the Raign of Belshazer is that Monster out of which all the Appurtenances of the said Mystery successively branched The second Beast is that mixture of temporal and spiritual Oppressions and Wickednesses which sprouted up from the first by Sa●anical Delusions and fleshly Impostures It is called the Image of the Beast because of the manifold resemblances which it retains of heathenish Romes Cruelties Pride and Superstitions and their forming of it into that Image was partly as I judge to colour and countenance their Novelties and wicked Impostures with an appearance of venerable Antiquity and with a successive Authority which is one of their chief boasts and it was partly to share also among themselves the Dignities and Profits which were formerly enjoyed by the Flamines Arch-Flamines and other Priests among the Gentiles who had large Priviledges and Possessions It is expressed by a Red Dragon in respect of the bloody Persecutions thereby raised in the Primitive Church It is called a Whore arrayed in Scarlet with a golden cup of Fornications in her hand to signifie the carnal Pompe and Pleasures whereby it should infatuate and bewitch the great men of the World It is likened to a False Prophet to intimate the counterfeit Sanctity and Gravity whereby it should delude foolish Kings and Nations The Smoke ascending out of the bottomless Pit implies the Jugglings and Sophistications whereby they should becloud the Truth and darken mens understandings with fictitious Glosses and false Interpretations The

Locusts presignified that innumerable company of Locust-like unprofitable Cardinals Abbots Prelates Monks Fryars Jesuites and such-like devouring Animals as were afterward bred and brought forth in that smoke and now swarm into every part of the World to the devouring not only of the Fruits of the Earth but to the destroying of the Fruits of Grace likewise in the bud and blossome The seven Heads signified their usurping old Romes claim of Supremacy over all Kings and Nations in the Earth when her seven Hills wore the Imperial Crown The ten Horns may betoken that addition of temporal Power which it would acquire by subjecting and enslaving Kings Kingdoms and Republicks to the throne of Antichrist and by joyning the temporal Sword to the imaginary Keyes of St. Peter until the gross Impostures of that man of Sin or mystical Whore should be by them discovered as they will be ere long provoking the Kings of the Earth rather out of self respects then in any regard of Christs Kingdom to begin to hate the Strumpet and prey upon her flesh I am suspitious that I may be suddenly deprived of the Means and Liberty which I yet have to express my mind in publick Therefore being unwilling to leave unmentioned any Notion coming at this time to my Remembrance whereby Repentance may be hastened Concord increased and things prevented which may be destructive to common Peace And in regard teeming Transgressions are or may be at this time occasioned by the Imposing and Refusing of Oaths to the multiplying of troubles and Imprisonments not only upon persons who are thought unpeaceably affected but to the oppressing and total ruining also of many innocent Families whose Masters are conscientiously afraid of all Oaths I am resolved notwithstanding it may be to my personal disadvantage to declare my Judgment concerning that and some other Particlars which I conceive may conduce to the dis-insnaring of many whose misunderstandings have exposed themselves and others to great hazards My personal refusing or taking of such Oaths as I hear are tendred cannot bring either outward detriment or profit unto me because I have neither Estate or Liberty which will be thereby lost or saved nor so much as hope of any future Preferment in the World therefore without self-ends I do voluntarily declare for the sake of others only not judging the Consciences of any who are of another opinion that I think if the Supream Power or Person be doubtful upon probable grounds of any Subjects Loyalty they or he may for their own or the Publick security and safety require it by an Oath so far forth as the Laws of GOD Nature and the Nation do oblige or permit For Allegiance and Fealty are due from all Subjects to the Power and Persons whom GOD hath set over them so long as he continues a visible possessionary Power able to Protect them out of an Usurpers hands yea so long as he is present with them to encourage them in their Loyalty by his Righteous actings or Sufferings therefore I know no reason why an Engagement by Oath should be denied to him or them who have bound themselves by the like Obligation to be their Leige Lords and to Govern them according to the Laws of GOD and their Country Upon this consideration I never refused the Oath of Allegiance to any possessionary Power or Person claiming or exercising a Soveraign Authority without opposition and I conceive I deserved as little blame in so doing as is usually imputed to the Inhabitants of a besieged City submitting to their Conquerors when they are over-powred by an Enemy and disserted by their Officer in Chief for who is bound to resist when the LORD of Hosts appears against them Of the Oath of Supremacy I made as little scruple For as I understand it and as King James expounded the same it intends no more than the other except only an exclusion of all Forreign Powers if as I think it is it be the same Oath which was heretofore tendred to me when I was a Commissioner of the Peace That Oath as I remember enjoyned an acknowledgement of the King's Power over all Persons within his own Dominions as head Governor subordinate to Christ only in all Causes whatsoever whether Ecclesiastical or Civil and not as many fancy that he hath a Power over the Causes or a Co-headship with Christ for these were ridiculous Claims and Acknowledgements in regard no Natural or Politick-head can suit with the Spiritual and Mystical Body of Christ Jesus nor the Power of any Earthly King make a Righteous Cause to be unjust or an unjust Cause to be righteous though it be too often made so to appear by an abused Authority of which abuse there is at this present great likelihood and jealousie touching a Cause now depending and relating to Persons in this Jayl wherein I am a Prisoner and I am suspitious that somewhat is endeavouring which may redound to the dishonour of GOD and the King All Oaths given or taken contrary to Law being void ipso facto as soon as they are taken ought to be repented of by those who took them either ignorantly or through fear and make them to be the greater offenders who Impose them though that doth not totally excuse the Takers of such Oaths upon compulsion Indeed so little regard is made of Oaths in these dayes in many Cases especially by Witnesses and Jurors in Courts of Judicature that it was never more truly averred of any Land than now of this that it mourneth because of Oaths For every man's Estate Life and Credit is in hazard by Suborners and false Witnesses insomuch that it were well with us if the severity of Tennes and Tenedia Bipermis were here revived to terrifie Forswearers and false-Witnesses lest impudent perjur'd Persons swear honest men out of all they have An Oath though it be abused is the usual and lawful medium both by divine and humane Authority to evidence Truths in Controversie between man and man and relating to the Common Peace and in my Judgment not unlawful in private Differences when in Charity and Reason it is needful to ascertain matters of Consequence the doubting whereof may be hurtful to him who is incredulous of what is affirmed or else of what may be injurious to another person For though our Saviour said that whatsoever in our Communication to which his words are to be restrained is more than YEA and NAY cometh of evil yet a further Asseveration may not be absolutely evil being necessitated either by an evil Custom in him who Swears when there is no need of an Oath or else by an evil causless distrust in the Hearers and therefore in serious Matters as it appears by Christ's own practice in such cases more is sometimes requisite than a bare Asseveration The word Verily double which is equivalent with Infaith and Introth in our language was often added by him in his Affirmations to confirm them and the former may without just blame

PARALELLOGRAMMATON An EPISTLE to the three Nations of England Scotland and Ireland whereby their Sins being Parallel'd with those of Judah and Israel they are forewarned and exhorted to a timely Repentance lest they incur the like Condemnation To render it the more effectual some Considerable Notions are therein expressed touching Ceremonies and things indifferent The LORD's Supper The Civil Government The taking of Oaths The Mark of the Beast The Liberty of Conscience The great Sabbath and the Two Witnesses with other Particulars of Concernment interwoven Written by GEO. WITHER If this be not of GOD 't is evil And was inspired by the Devil But whence it was it will be known For that which is of GOD hee 'l own Ezek. 3. 17. Son of man I have made thee a watchman to these Nations Therefore according to my Word give them Warning from me If thou warn them and they turn not from their wickedness they shall surely die in their iniquity but thou hast delivered thy Soul Be not afraid of them nor of their words nor of their looks though they be a rebellious People and as Bryars and Thorns unto thee Ezek. 2. 6. Imprinted MDCLXII years after the Birth of Christ to prepare for the year MDCLXVI after his Passion The Printer to the Reader THe Author hereof intending whilst he was Prisoner in Newgate that this Epistle should be committed to any one who would honestly and conscientiously undertake the Publication thereof it came a while after the date to my hands But finding it not authorized to be imprinted I was for a time fearful to make an Impression thereof yet having seriously perused it I thought the same so pertinent to GOD's Glory and the present condition of these Nations not to permit such necessary Precautions Forewarnings and Exhortations to be smothered that I have adventured upon what such a seeming Transgression may make me liable unto hoping there being no prohibition to the contrary the publick benefit will more than recompence the Offence if it shall be offensive to any in regard I have done it conscientiously and not in contempt of Orders which are otherwhile by ingogitancy or casualty obstructive to their own good intentions by whom they are made Let therefore the Approvableness of the matter and my well-meaning excuse me and let us make such good use thereof that we may be all the more excusable to GOD and men This is all I have to say but that it was not my fault it could not be finished at the Press until this third day of May 1662 being long time after the date of the Epistle So Farewel This for a Postscript hereunto I 'le add Which from the Author by report I 've had He that this Book by parcels do●h peruse May both the Author and himself abuse In the way of this Address to his own Country-men the Author humbly tenders this following Epigram To the Pastors Elders and other Members of the French and Dutch Congregations inhabiting within the Islands of Great Britain I Have but seen your Countries not yet known Their Constitution as I do mine own And therefore justly cannot to your Nations As I might unto these make Applications But they and we have been professed One In Faith and Christian Love some years now gone And I shall do the best of my endeavour That so again it may be and for ever The Jewish Prophets very often hinted What being heeded well might have prevented The Judgments afterward inflicted on Egypt Damascus Tyre and Babylon With other Neighbouring Nations So might I Had I the self-same gift of Prophecy Presage to you what darkly I foresee Their Lot in probability will be When we have drawn forth our unless with heed They seek how to avert what may succeed And prosecute what Prudence doth require When men behold their Neighbours house on fire Your Countries may perhaps discern by this Some things that are among themselves amiss And by the Constellations in our sphear What Exhalations are engendring there If you so think and shall it not contemn Let it communicated be to them For whatsoere I either seem or am From whom to you these Premonitions came They may be of concernment and are sent In hearty Love and with a good intent If you with Love vouchsafe them good regard I have my whole aim and a full reward The sev'ral Churches and the sev'ral States Of Protestants will have the self-same Fates Throughout all Europe with small difference Unless they in another mode commence Than yet they do and sensible become Of that which they are lately fallen from For self-love and neglecting of each other Will singly ruine all or altogether I somewhat have to utter if GOD shall Enable me to those without our Pale But they so wholly seem to have forgot Piedmonts late Case and Germany's sad Lot That they must see a Storm again appear Before ought can be spoke that they will hear Our Corosives if ev'r we shall be so Have made us sit that Plaisters may unto Our Ulcers be apply'd They smart and prick I therefore am become an Emperick And this Catholicon as it befalls Was pressed from between the Prison walls Which is not only at this time a Den Of Thieves but also cram'd with honest men Newgate March 8 1662. Your Servant in the Love of Christ Jesus George Wither PARALELLOGRAMMATON An Epistle Exhortatory and Premonitory to all the Nations in the three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland with the Dominions and Territories to them belonging The Muses language suits with few of those Who most need this I therefore now in Prose Express my mind My Pen LORD so direct That what I write may have some good effect GEORGE WITHER an unworthy Servant of Jesus Christ and of all his Servants called through that Annointing of the holy Spirit whereby every true Professor of Christianity is qualified for the work of his Generation wisheth Grace and Peace in the same Christ Jesus to all the Inhabitants of England Scotland and Ireland with the Colonies and Territories to them belonging Providence dearly beloved Brethren hath so disposed of me that I have neither Civil nor Martial employment as heretofore nor Parochial Congregational or Oeconomical charge incumbent upon me or so much as any certain place of Residence upon Earth except a Prison confining me to a local or particular duty relating to others nor Estate or Affairs in the world to intangle me Therefore being a Freeman in the Spirit though in corporeal Bands for discharging my Conscience and obeying GOD rather than Men and left at large in respect of other obligations I conceive my self bound to bestow the little remainder of my life in some National Services whereby GOD may be glorified my Brethren edified and my Country preserved from Destruction I am not altogether unknown unto you For I undertook long since to be a Remembrancer to these Islands of Great Britain with a Resolution to execute that Office

to Reign 666 years after he had attained to his full power Nevertheless let not that infringe the patience of any For though GOD is absolute in fulfilling the times promised for the benefit of his Elect he doth not so oblige himself to those times which concern the lengthning out the Kingdoms of his Enemies but that they may be shortned by their own actions according to this saying The wicked live not out half their time It is probable that our Chronology is defective some Chronologers differing in their Accompt hundreds of years and they about 80 or 40 years who differ least Or if it were not so the time of our suffering may be shortned for the sake of GOD's Elect yea Christ hath promised that it shall be shortned for their sake Matth. 24. 22. And probably the shortning the last dayes of Tribulation will be occasioned by GOD's permitting his and their Adversaries to be so violent and infatuated in their furious prosecutions of malicious Designs to uphold their Tyranny when they feel it tottering that they themselves will thereby shorten their own time And that the Kingdoms of the Devil Antichrist and the World will be so divided and confounded in their Designment and Prosecutions that they shall help destroy themselves and their Kingdoms by their own Actings and by provoking GOD according to his Conditional Decrees to come in when Evil is at the highest pitch of Malignity to make it evident that by his Power and Goodness alone Good becomes prevalent against Evil. And probably some Dispensations of Mercy in that kind will be vouchsafed as to the weakning of Antichrist's kingdom betwixt this time and the year 1666 according to our Computation after the birth of Christ But that Number of the Name or Power of the Beasts whose time of tyrannizing is thereby limitted from the last of the times of the distinct highest Exaltations of the two Beasts until the full end of their Powers will not be until so many years after the Passion of our Saviour if I have not mis-grounded my Judgment as I believe I have not For at the time of Christ's Passion the last of those Earthly Monarchies which have oppressed the Saints was at the highest and ever since it hath declined Their longest time of continuance as I conceive being mystically numbred out unto them in their own Numerals which put altogether in order according to their distinct Valuations singly can make no more as these their Characters demonstrate than M. D. C. L. X. V. I which is a M. years for the continuance of Heathen Romes tyranny after it was at highest until it was swallowed up by that Beast which arose out of it for old Romes Tyranny continued in the Civil Government of that Empire after Christian Emperours had the Title The remainder of the aforesaid sum being DCLXVI is the time of the Reign of Antichrist or the Man of Sin after he attained to an absolute Supremacy which will have an end in or about the Seventeenth hundred year after Christ's Nativity by our Accompt if Chronologers have not misreckoned the times This is my Judgment of the Number of Beast When that day comes I believe the Souls under the Altar will no more cry How long LORD We shall not then think the dayes or years of our suffering for Righteousness sake were over many nor will the Scoffers then ask any more in derision Where is the Promise of his Coming Then how long or short a time soever it be during which the present or the last Tryal of the Saints must continue Let us consider how little a few years more or less are in respect of Eternity and of how small consequence all that is which we can suffer in comparison of that reward which is prepared for those who overcome by patience What can we lose Or what have they lost who have been translated out of this life by the cruelty of their Persecutors but that which would have been a greater disadvantage had it not been lost Perhaps that experience which I have had in my particular of GOD's extraordinary strengthning me in my Sufferings by the encrease of Hope and Consolations vouchsafed may be believed by some to the augmentation of their constancy and comfort I do therefore unfeignedly profess though I profess it in much frailty of the Flesh That if GOD continue his Mercy begun which I doubt not of and shall give me a full draught of those Cordials whereof he hath vouchsafed me a Taste I think I should not repine to undergo for his Glory the heat of those terrible dayes which are begun or near approaching For I conceive it will not be much hotter than the Fiery Furnace which was heated sevenfold more than usually for Shadrach Mesech and Abednego and I beleive that to strengthen and preserve me I should have the same Companion they had in that Fiery Tryal if it might be so much to GOD's glory Let not then the length or sharpness of any Persecution discourage from a Constant waiting upon GOD whose Grace will be a sufficient Assistance in all Probations Nor let your imperfect apprehensions of those mysterious expressions whereby the estate of that Sabbath or Kingdom afore-mentioned is described mislead you either into a distrust of the reality thereof or into any carnal mis-belief misteachings or mis-actings by a vain curiosity of seeking to know further than is plainly revealed before the time For Fancy is apt to make many erroneous representations and that which shall be is darkly expressed for the exercise of our Faith and we can no more apprehend it as it is being in the state wherein we yet are than Children of a month old can declare what manner of life they shall here live when they come to ripe years It may suffice that so much is declared and unfolded by what is fulfilled and so demonstrated by Allusions to things of which we highly esteem that it may assure us there is an unspeakable glory and happiness prepared for all those who believe and suffer for Righteousness sake Our sight is yet too weak to behold it Our hearts are too narrow to apprehend it and that hour of the day is not yet come which will manifest to any so much as will hereafter be made evident to all But that we may not make our Afflictions and Troubles greater than else they would be and our Consolations less than they might be by our own defaults and so imbitter our Spirits against the Truth and each other that Repentance and Reformation be obstructed thereby and lest also through defect of true Piety towards GOD or of true Charity to Men we be found rather sufferers altogether for our sins than for Righteousness sake to the making of our sorrows endless in this life as it happeneth to many or to the rendring of us more wicked and cruel when our Sufferings be removed than we were before to the perpetuating of an unhappy condition hereafter Be

Adultery and all other meer carnal sins put together yea more heinous than those the Jews committed by their Idolatries killing the Prophets and crucifying Christ in the flesh for the last was but a sin against his Humanity and their Idolatries but the ascribing some part of that honour to Creatures which was due to GOD onely whereas the limiting of GOD's Universal Grace in Christ with the concommitant Doctrines and the Consequences thence raised and the imputing to GOD an eternal Reprobation of the greatest part of Mankind before they had done good or evil and for those sins also which they blasphemously say he necessitated them to commit to shew his Justice and manifest his hatred to sin is a dispoiling GOD of his Divine Nature of his Goodness and an ascribing unto him that which belongs only to the Devil Oh the Patience of GOD What can be so abominable They do not only make Reprobation older than the father of it the Devil but make GOD also the Author of his wickedness in necessitating him to be a Devil and consequently Author of all the wickedness committed by all the Devils in Hell and all the wicked men upon Earth which appears to me so horrible an Impiety that I wonder not to see the World so full of Plagues and Sins and Sins Sinners become such Plagues to each other as they are nor can I believe there will ever be less Plagues where that Blasphemy is professed and indulged as Orthodox Doctrine until it be repented of nor shall I marvel if my words be misunderstood and my good meanings mis-interpreted if GOD's Word be so mistaken and his Love so ill rewarded I know the bitterness and uncharitableness of their spirit who shall be obstinate in this Judgment yet am neither afraid nor ashamed for any respects to declare my Conscience herein or in whatsoever else I think may concern GOD's Glory and the Peace of my Country If I think any to be in an Errour I will peaceably do the best I can to reclaim them but attempt nothing to destroy them for that is an Antichristian Principle and I abhor it Oh let us be more heedful to avoid it and more conscientious in acknowledging our Destruction to be only and originally of the Devil and of our selves I confess that GOD who would have all men to be saved hath provided means of salvation for all without excluding any who first excludes not himself by his personal sins and impenitency and that our manifold sins may be forgotten I desire we may henceforward believe both his preventing and assisting Grace shall be vouchsafed to all those who shall ask for it in Faith or have not wilfully rejected it being offered In like manner for I now come to the second branch of my Memorandum if we desire an external Peace may be setled and continued so among us that we may serve the LORD in Holiness and Righteousness let us be conscientiously careful that we intrench not injuriously upon the Civil Government whereto GOD hath subjected us how oppressive soever it shall be or seemeth to be unto any of us in particular during the time wherein GOD gives it a Soveraignty over us For all Power was and is of him by his Grace or Permission not only that which was Patriarchal in Adam and Noah with that which was established for a time in Moses Joshua and the Judges of Israel and that which is called Ecclesiastical in the visible Church of Christ but all those tyrannizing Powers Governments and Governors also which have been in the world ever since the Creation until now were gracious or permissive effects of that longing after the knowledge of Good and Evil which corrupted our first Parents whose Posterity were permitted to elect such Governments and Governors as they best liked till some of them lost that Priviledge by their own folly as the Jews and others have done Thus it was in all times and Nations after the natural and Paternal Government ceased by the death of Adam and Noah except that which was Supernaturally Constituted over the Jews in the dayes of Moses That and the Paternal Government being conferred the one by Grace and the other by Nature were Branches of the Fifth Monarchy as many now call the Kingdom of Christ which indeed is the Alpha and Omega the first and the last ever one and the same in regard that Providential Government which is and was in GOD the Father by right of Creation and exercised imperfectly by Adam Noah Moses and his Successors was translated to GOD the Son who is the only and true Catholick King though Antichrist hath given that Title to one of his Vassals yea though this Government hath seemed a long time suspended and been intruded upon by the Usurpation of Tyrants in most parts of the world ever since the dayes of Nimrod he will at last assume his Kingdom and the Government thereof in his own Person when the time appointed is come In the mean space his Father and He himself have permitted others to make Kings and to be Kings and Governors according as they could effect it by their own Policy and Power This was one product of eating the forbidden Tree and of man's desired knowledge of Good and Evil especially his experience in what is evil hath been much advanced in all Nations and Generations by the Exorbitances of such Governors and by the Popular Idolizing and base flattering their Kings and Governors into a foolish conceit they were more than Men and by deifying them as the Romans and others did until they became worse than Beasts and little better than Devils to the rest of Mankind in which sordid Flattery the Priests in all times were most instrumental Therefore GOD permitted for a punishment of their wickedness and folly and to perfect their desired knowledge of Good and Evil as aforesaid the Kingdoms of the Earth as it is said Dan. 4. 17. to be governed by the basest of men which will never be otherwise until the People shall reform themselves by a true Self-denial and until that is fulfilled which hath been prefaged in these Verses A King shall willingly un-self un-King And thereby grow far greater than before The Clergy to contempt themselves will bring And thereby Piety shall thrive the more When a King or the Civil Governor or Governors by whatsoever Title they Reign shall quite lay aside all those tyrannous Prerogatives which were usurped by the Emperours and Kings of the Nations who knew not GOD and when they shall Govern according to the divine Law which he hath declared in his Evangelical Word and had once written in the hearts of men then shall a Righteous Government be established and when the Clergies Prevarications shall bring upon them a general Contempt such an endeavour will be in season When this comes to pass which is contingent and may be or not be Righteousness will begin to flourish or else never until Christ assumes his Universal

spiritual Rights and Freedoms one by one That unnecessary cost which many thousands are or may be enforced unto by their Visitations Inquisitions Articles vexatious Prosecutions in several Courts their numerous exacting Officers and by Bribes to supercede or take off the Process Censures and Mulcts cannot be sum'd up besides the charge of all these and those other burdensome Impositions laid upon the People since Antichrist got power Among the rest that one of Imposing the observation of Holy Dayes as they call them above the seventh part of time set apart by ancient Christians in place of the Jewish Sabbath amounts yearly to an incredible sum and by my calculation to a greater burden than the Excise and all other Taxes For it deprives the People of above the 12th part of those dayes wherein GOD by the old Law allowed them to do what they had to do in their temporal Affairs And if we could cast up into one sum what the labour of every man woman beast teem of horses and oxen probably ariseth unto in those many dayes which are superstitiously dedicated to Saints and Angels together with the sinful or vain expences which they occasion by drunkenness gaming and other vanities and mischiefs during those dayes it would appear such an annual charge beside hindrances in Trading and losses at Harvest and Seed-times that being added to all the other Impositions Services and Payments lawfully and unlawfully laid upon the Nation it would in my judgement seem greater than ever was charged upon any People who were not absolute Slaves nevertheless that superstitious observation was not to be murmured at if it tended ought to the Glory of GOD or but to the benefit of any part of Mankind except those who are enemies to the Kingdom of Christ That such Oppressions might be prevented and redressed when begun GOD left not them who should be Kings and Governors over his People at large as the Kings of the Nations were but gave them beside many other exemplary Paterns of Righteousness the Law of a Just Monarchy in Deut. 17. 15. before the coming of Christ and many Evangelical Precepts since whereby they and their Substitutes under them ought to be regulated And in all times divine Providence hath raised up some as well in the Campe like Eldad and Medad as in the Tabernacle to be Remembrancers of what ought to be done They have also those Ministers of the Gospel who instead of those Priests whose lips were heretofore to preserve knowledge by whom they may and ought to be assistant with their Counsel which would not be in vain if consulted But hereupon ariseth a Question lately put to my Conscience which may perhaps be of concernment at this time if I could give a satisfactory answer thereunto for which cause I will endeavour it so far forth as my Judgment extends The Question is Whether they who being called to a Spiritual Function to minister in things relating to the Kingdom of Christ and the divine Service of GOD may intermedle in the administrations touching the Kingdoms of Men or in civil and common matters seeing it seems to be an undertaking to serve two Masters which may occasion the neglect of the one or of the other I Answer it may or it may not be so according to the mind and sincerity of the Undertaker The State of Venice rarely admit any of the Clergie to be of Counsel in their Civil Affairs because they are jealous of the Popes Interest among them yet I remember they had one by whose wisdom and faithfulness they were more advantaged than by any one Counsellour that ever they had But this was a rare Bird Rara Avis terris nigroque similima Cigno Many such are not bred at a time in one Nest The Woods yield few white Ravens and as few white Dawes are bred in Churches yet I have seen both If he that is called to the Ministry of the Gospel shall ambitiously desire wordly honours or profits which he formerly enjoyed not or shall not willingly for-go what he formerly possessed when he is called to follow Christ and finds it is or may be his hindrance therein he cannot as I believe with a good Conscience either keep that which he had or accept of other temporary Dignities or Profits But if he be born to any temporal honour or estate or shall have them bestowed on him by his Prince who may have need of his Service in the administration of Justice or of other Civil Affairs without his own desire or seeking and conscientiously believes he may thereby the better serve his Master Christ Jesus he ought in my understanding to keep what he had and accept of what is tendred rather than reject it provided he be watchful that honors corrupt not his manners nor his Riches choke the seeds of Grace and that when he serves his Prince or Country in a temporal capacity he leans not to them and forsakes his best Master making use of his additional power to the disadvantage of Christs Kingdom provided also that when he serves his Prince or Country in a temporal capacity he so remembers his spiritual Engagement that he humble himself into a parity with his fellow Commissioners ordained by Christ as meekly as if he had no temporary additions or priviledges more than they so totally laying them aside in the execution of his spiritual Function that he may not over-awe them in their Votes or so much as seem to think them any appurtenances thereto Where this Moderation is with sincerity preserved both GOD and the King may be the better served then Peoples Christian and Civil Liberties be the more secured and both Parties be as mutually helpful as one hand in washing the other This I conceive is as lawful and as agreeable to the will of GOD and a good Conscience with the provisoes afore-mentioned for preservance of the Civil politick Body and of peace in the Church as it was for Jehojeda the High Priest to intermedle together with his Priestly Office in the administration of the Civil Government for preservation of the King and Kingdom of Judah or as it was for Paul and other Disciples who officiated in preaching the Gospel to exercise their Mechanick Trades for the subsistance of their bodies which was less considerable than the well-being of the Saints in their bodily concernments As there be no worse Counsellours than Priests if they be corrupt and wicked so there be none better if they be prudent and sincere and therefore I grudge them not a double honour who are approved such But when the most ambitious and the most covetous self-seekers of a Formal Ministry shall be only or chiefly consulted withal who endeavour the establishing of their own Ecclesiastical Constitutions or Popish Canons shall be joyned to a Civil Government by their own procurement or by other indirect means with persons who for the most part wholly intend also the settlement of their Politick ends there can be nothing