Kings one hour with the Beast c have one mind give their power and strength unto the Beast which could not be understood of the Roman Pagan Emperors who received not power and strength from Kings but gave power to them so as that they ruled under them by their power and therefore is to be interpreted of later times which the event shews to be most probable to have been the times wherein the Kings of Europe having divided the Roman Empire into ten Kingdoms did yet all of them sooner or later adhere to and support the Papal Dominion which brought in errors heresies idolatries and superstitions which have and yet do corrupt the western Churches and for maintenance of which a sea of blood hath been shed by the instigations of Friers Jesuites and other Emissaries of Rome Upon these especially Brightman Mede and some others conceived the third vial to be poured out But all are so far from making the Rivers which shed the blood of the Saints and Prophets to whom blood was given to drink to be the Civil powers that Brightman makes the pouring out of this vial to have been begun by Q. Elizabeth and the Parliament 1581. making the reconciling of the English Subjects to Rome a capital offence and makes the then Lord Treasurer William Cecil the Angel of the Rivers by reason of the book put forth by him termed the English Justice wherein the putting to death of Romish Emissaries is defended Which is also the opinion of Mede though he add also the memorable overthrow of the Spaniard in 1588. the English and the Dutch whom Robert Parker conceives resembled by the Angel of the waters as seated in a watery Country by sea and land abundantly pouring out the Cup of the mighty hand of God But be the civil powers the shedders of the blood Rev. 16. 6. and 17. 6. and 18. 24. and 19. 2. yet it can with no colour be charged on those civil powers that have not in obedience to the Pope acted this tragedy but have opposed it and avenged the blood of the Saints by execution of just laws made against the Instigators and actors in the shedding of the blood of Protestants I cannot take upon me to absolve the civil powers from the guilt of shedding the blood of Saints and Prophets as being ignorant how far any have been actors therein or connived thereat nor do I know what Gods way may be of imputing the blood-shedding of Saints and Martyrs though by Ancestors hundreds of years ago upon the posterity succeeding Christs sentence against Jerusalem Matth. 23. 34 35. 37. makes me astonished and to say as David Ps. 119. 120. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy Judgments and with Daniel ch 9. 8 to say O Lord to us belongeth confusion of face to our Kings to our Princes and to our Fathers because we sinned against thee Yet hoping that the Princes and people of these Nations have been humbled and are before God at this day for the evils committed by their forefathers under the Papacy I trust I may add with Daniel v. 9. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses though we have rebelled against him Sure I am it is a bold presumption which the Quinto-Monarchians have no warrant for to charge the blood of Martyrs shed long before their times on the civil powers of this Generation unless they were privy to some overt act whereby they have shewed their approbation of it and their readiness to tread in the same steps 4. It is said that therefore God by way of recompence and retaliation hath ordained that the Saints shall be his instrument by which he will execute his vengeance upon the powers of teh world who are all of them Murtherers Accordingly God commands his people and t is their duty to obey to reward Babylon double as she rewarded them yea and double unto her with all those plagues deaths and stripes that she hath inflicted on you Revel 18. 6. And they shall give her blood to drink and she shall be burnt with fire for strong is the Lord that judgeth her To which I reply 1. that all this runs upon a palpable mistake that the powers of the world or the civil powers are the Babylon which is to be rewarded double Rev. 18. 6. whereas it is manifest that the Babylon to be rewarded double is that great mighty city v. 10. out of which Gods people are to come v. 4. which is to be utterly burnt with fire though the inhabitants are also included whose sins reached up to Heaven v. 5. Glorified her self v. 7. yet the civil powers of the world cannot be meant there sith it is said v. 9. And the Kings of the earth who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her shall bewail her and lament for her when they shall see the smoke of her burning standing a far off for the fear of her torments 2. It is another mistake as if God had ordained that the Saints or Gods people without any other circumscription should be his instrument by which he will execute his vengeance upon Babylon For though it be spoken to the people of God Revel 18. 5. To reward Babylon as she rewarded them in the cup she hath filled fill her double yet it be said Revel 17. 16. And the ten Horns which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will and to agree and give their Kingdom unto the Beast until the words of God shall be fulfilled Whence it appears that it is so far from truth that the civil powers of the world are Babylon and are to be destroyed in order to Babylons downfall that they are distinct from Babylon so as to stand a far off and lament her some of them and others are to be instruments of burning her with fire And therefore although the people of God which are to come out of Babylon those who are with the Lambe called faithful and chosen Rev. 17. 14 may be with the Kings that burn her and being escaped out of Babylon may be instrumental to its destruction being joyned with the Kings yet it doth not appear that God hath ordained the Saints who are only private men and no Kings shall do it by themselves by their own power but in conjunction with them or subordination to them and therefore in the executing of vengeance on Babylon there will be execution by the civil powers of the world not upon them and Saints are bound in order to this smiting work to maintain civil powers not to smite them or separate from them 3. Though the words Revel 18. 6. be in the Imperative mood yet it doth not thence necessarily follow that it is Gods command to his people which it is their duty to obey or else they sin
by the Saints even those who are private persons and that the civil powers shall be smitten by them to which they are subject But for this they having nothing but an obscure prophecy to rely upon and it not agreeing with plain precepts which forbid resistence to the higher powers that are this their impious Collection is deservedly to be exploded and detested A fifth is that this smiting work shall be done by the Saints afore Christs coming and in preparation thereto But this agrees not with the Apostles words 1 Cor. 15. 24. where it is made Christs work to put down all Rule and all Authority and Power which will not be till the end and then Christ or his Father shall put all his enemies under his feet which cannot be the work of the Saints For one of the enemies is death v. 26. which none in his wits will say can be destroyed by Quinto-Monarchian Saints they perhaps may bring death on themselves and others but sure they cannot destroy death who cannot raise from the dead Besides the scripture makes the coming of Christ and his Kingdom comtemporary 2. Tim. 4. 1. therefore not to be effected by the Saints on earth by any preparatory work of theirs A sixth uncertainty or falsehood which moves them to so much zeal for their smiting work is that they have fancied it to be the work of the present generation which Mr. Tillinghast much insists on in his Sermon on Matth. 16. 3. concerning the signs of the times but upon how slender reasons may be shewed in what followes sure when our Lord Christ made the time of his coming unknown to Angels and the son of man and known only to the Father Mark 13. 32. he would have us not be curious to know it but watch that we be not surprised by it And sith after all the labours of the learnedst and most prying inquisitors all the Prophetical numbers about this thing of the ruin of Babylon and Christs personal Kingdom on earth have been so uncertainly calculated that mens expectations have been deluded it is great rashness for any to pitch on a certain year or age much more to attempt such audacious and horrid things as the smiting of civil powers in a preposterous way which attempt of theirs becomes the more inexcusable in that their own writing entituled The Banner of truth displayed shewed their uncertainty and unresolvedness both in the manner extent and time of this smiting work For whereas they apply that of Dan. 2. 34 35. 44 45. concerning the stones smiting of the great Image so that the Iron the clay the brass the silver and the gold was broken to pieces together and became like the chaff of the sommer threshing-floors and the wind carried them away that no place was found for them unto the Saints even Gentile Saints smiting of all parts of the fourth Monarchy all the civil powers of Europe which they count Roman Babylon and Antichristian yet p. 40 41. they make the conversion of the ten horns Rev. 17. 16 17. to be one gradation of the stones growth which although they would not have to be the present powers of the ten horns nor yet multitudes of people in the ten horns but some out of all the ten horns whom the Lord will have mercy on shall be chosen by Christ in which respect it is said the ten horns yet they admit that the powers of the ten horns which the text expresly v. 12. 13. terms ten Kings which had received then no Kingdom but receive power as Kings one hour with the Beast who have one mind and shall give their power and strength unto the Beast and are according to them part of the fourth Monarchy to be utterly destroyed shall be subdued by the Saints and as now they are Antichristian and fight for the Beast against the Lamb so shall they become Christians and fighters for the Lamb against the Beast which is utterly inconsistent with the being broken in pieces together by the stones smiting so as to become like the chaff of the sommer threshing-floor and the wind carry them away that no place be found for them if the stones smiting them be their subduing by the Saints And for the time of the beginning of their smiting work which p. 46. they make the ending time of the mystical numbers spoken of by Daniel and John for the accomplishment of those great things which God hath declared by the mouth of all his holy Prophets to be brought to pass in these later daies Dan. 12. 11. Rev. 11. 2 3. 12. 6. and 13. 5. which they make a great argument and quickning motive to the Saints to look about them and for the stone to arise and smite the compleated Image and break in pieces the iron teeth of the ravenous beast that so deliverance may be brought they grant this thing which they lay down as a call to the stone is doubtful to most and p. 47. tell us that in this particular their judgment and opinion do most accord with Mr. Tillinghast his Calculation according to which those things named spoken of to come to pass at the end of those numbers would in all likelyhood have their accomplishment together with the said numbers the year of Christ 1656. But the event disproving it they will not engage further therein but set down other signs which are signs only from themselves and not from any divine revelation and yet p. 52. conclude This present generation in which we live is the ending time of those mystical numbers forementioned the expiring time of Antichrist wherein God will begin to put a period to the Beasts tyranny and powers And therefore cannot but assert that the consideration of these things is a great call and motive to the stone to arise and be doing which work we call the fifth Kingdom in its first dispenspensation preparing way for the second and more glorious dispensation But after mentioning the compleat and effectual call that the stone shall have to be a clear light into that time it shall smite and into the work of that time together with power from on high whereby it shall be emboldened and fitted to smite as aforesaid and also a fit and leading providence or opportunity preparing way for its breaking forth with these golden characters of power wisdom and glory and then adding some examples of Gods former providence they say let the stone wait for the accomplishment of these particulars afore it smite add their humble conceit then mind those who at present are the gainsayers and imbittered opposers of this work and yet hope and believe they are godly of this their faith and hope lest they split themselves upon this stone becoming their rock of offence and so their bodies and lives perish upon such an account in this day of common calamity that hasteth upon the whole world By which may be perceived their uncertainties in that which they call their faith and
providence hath cast us under is the overturning dispensation the time of War and beating of Plough-shares into Swords which Christ and the Scriptures speak of that day in which Christ will appear in his stone the stone of Israel against the powers of the world to the end he may be invested in his possessions which is the Kingdom and Dominions and their greatness under the whole Heavens and therefore we conclude that it is an unlawful thing and therefore men ought not to contribute to the upholding and maintaining of those powers which shall be broken by this dispensation left happily they be found fighters against God p. 6. The will of man having been corrupted ever since the fall of man the Lawes that proceed from that will must need be so p. 11. We say the oppressor which makes us to groan is Babylon in her several parts and powers in England Rulers Lawyers Priests and Soldiers for the present Government in England must of necessity be confessed to be either a part of the ten Horns of the ravenous fourth Beast or else that wicked little Horn Dan. 7. Because they are the last evil powers that shall be over the Nations of Europe and therefore we may safely conclude this to be an Assyrian else we must conclude him to be a part of that Kingdom set up by the God of Heaven but that cannot be because he rules by the Lawes of his Predecessors and shall Christ be beholding to Antichrist for Lawes No certainly he is of the fourth and therefore we need not run far to look this oppressor having already found him to be the present Government with its dependents and appurtenances being a piece of that monstrous Beast whom the Dragon i. e. the Devil Revel 20. 2. Assignes Power and Seat and great authority unto who branches himself into so many Monarchical Governments in the Nations of Europe and which men would perswade us to submit to as being lawful and of God but they execute the Laws of Antichrist and rule for him in Tyranny oppression and persecution by politick Laws which they make and for which the Priests and Lawyers plead and mercinary Soldiers and Officers execute p. 12. The persons oppressed we take it are the most spiritual enlightned Saints in these Nations whose spirits and affections are stirred up to follow Christ in the work of the Generation the good interest now contended for whom we call the Generation of publick spirited Saints The administration of Christs visible Kingdom and rule over the Nations is endeavoured to be suppressed in this juncture of time And not only the thing it self is opposed as dangerous and endeavoured by Matchiavil's principle argument and power as heretical as monstrous but the Doctrine and Gospel of that Kingdom and Office of Christ which shall be preached for a witness to all Nations is slighted and rejected by self-interested men and contemned by most p. 13. They have made a Law that those that shall speak against the powers must be Traytors which in effect is to make those Traytors that speak for this Kingdom The conversion of the Gentiles and poor ignorant sinners to the Faith of Christs visible Kingdom is opposed And p. 14 The establishment of Justice and righteousness in the world and therfore with us arise for the lot of our inheritance prepare therefore your victuals your purse and your scrip but especially your sword though you sell your coat for it p. 23. The Parliament as being built upon the old foundation was a part of the beast p. 24. It is clear that the dispensation of the Stone shall begin to smite the power of the Beast or Civil power and that quarrel is begun and taken up and continued chiefly against that power p. 25. Found to be from Hell and not from Heaven p. 27. The glass of the beasts powers being almost run out in these Nations what remains but that the Saints take into their own possession the Kingdom and power which is their birth-right as freemen of the Common-wealth of Israel and Heirs of the whole world with Christ Gal. 3. 29. which the Beast and his powers hath unjustly detained from them some hundreds of years p. 28. That the work of this Stone is a smiting work or a work wherein the Saints imployed shall visibly appear in a military posture for Christ which we call the great combat between Christ and the Kings and Rulers of the world For the Saints shall fall upon or smite that great Image the Feet and Toes thereof and the whole Roman Monarchy as now divided or all those powers whose derivation is from Rome others not excepted nor freed shall be thereby smitten we mean the Kingdoms of the Romish Iron-legs or the Roman Kingdom divided into the Eastern and western Monarchies wherein the whole Dominion Power and Monarchy of the Ottoman Family or that of the Turks is comprehended and the Beasts ten horns or Antichrists civil powers equivalent to the ten toes and also the little Horn together with all powers whatsoever that shall be found opposers of the Lords Kingdom whether they be of the golden Babylonish silver Persian brasen Grecian or Iron Roman Dan. 2. and ch 7. Revel 13. ch 17. So that we comprehend the whole Kingdom of Antichrist in the Civil Ecclesiastical parts thereof made up of Persons and things p. 29. The fifth Kingdom which is Christs with its holy just and righteous Lawes and Officers must arise with destruction to and stand up in place of the 4th Kingdom and the Lawes and Officers thereof p. 30. Because it is the purchase of the blood and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. p. 15. Now then we say that called the Ordinance of God proves the Ordinance of the Devil and though the powers of the great Image might be taken for the Ordinance of God so long as they kept their pure civil and unmixed state so saith Paul the powers that be i. e. the civil powers of old Rome tho a bloody persecutor and devourer of the creation and good heritage are ordained of God yet when the power of Rome adulterated from its pure civil state and becomes a mixt Antichristian state the Beast and a Whore then it is said of that Beastly Antichristian power that the Dragon or Satan gave him his power and Seat and great authority and what then is this save the Ordinance of Hell God hath revealed this by his Spirit from his word unto a little remnant who see the rottenness and hellish foundation of all the Civil powers of the Beast And how great an argument is this also to us that the rise and work of the Stone is near Which is principally against the Civil power p. 52. It is certain that it is a duty in Saints to hate Gods Enemies yea and more particularly to hate the Civil or Beast-like power because it is that which upholds the great Whore and is a fighter against Christs Kingly office even with a perfect
few mens hands to beggar the whole these take towls and customs of their brethren p. 14. Why may not the Soldiers pull the Judges out of Westminster Hall and take all their rusty Records Laws c. And make a fire on them That so we may have honest godly Laws according to the Scriptures and reason In the preface to the 8 last Sermons of Mr. Tillinghast who was much for the Fifth-Monarchy are these words Let none take offence at this language for I cannot forbear vilifying the Kingdoms of the fourth Beast when my thoughts are upon the magnifying of the Kingdom power and glory of Jesus Christ our Lord. And if the Virgin daughter of Sion without any disparagement to her holy modesty might of old be allowed by God himself to dispise the great King of Assyria and to laugh him to scorn I know no reason to the contrary but one of the Lambs followers may without breach of rule in an holy triumph of faith express contempt of the Kings of the Earth who are all of them the lovers of the Mother of Harlots and Abomination of the Earth In the first Sermon p. 2. Of the third edition 1659. Mr. Tillinghast saith Davids Kingdom was a type of Christs Kingdom and indeed whereas this Kingdom here Jerem. 33. 20 21. Promised is shadowed forth by that of David it doth hold thus much that the Kingdom is not only a spiritual Kingdom but an outward visible Kingdom for such a throne and Kingdom Davids was p. 14. Yet the woman hath not had her day upon the Serpent but there is a time wherein the woman must have a day upon the Serpent to break his head therefore there is such a Kingdom wherein the Saints of Jesus Christ shall crush all the enemies of Jesus Christ in the world p. 39. The Devil plays his game thus in the new Testament times he made men to look for an outward Kingdom only when Christ was about to set up a spiritual Kingdom now that Christ would set up an outward Kingdom saith the Devil look only to the spiritual Kingdom p. 41. Gods Peoples faith is not grounded on fancies but they see and know that God is doing some glorious thing in the world he is overturning Kingdoms and setting up the Kingdom of his Son Serm. 3. p. 57. He conceives The work of Christs visible Kingdom over the world the work of the present time one great article of our faith the work that God doth call his Children to at this day and he calls upon them from Heaven to attend to that they are to expect it before Christ come forth bring his Kingdom with him p. 60 61. He distinguisheth in Christs visible Kingdom between the Kingdom of the Stone and of the Mountain this he calls the Kingdom of glory wherein the Saints shall not work but receive that the working Kingdom of the Saints wherein Saints are by the Lord imployed to do some notable service against his coming which is the breaking down the great Image the bringing down all his enemies that when he comes he may find them his footstool for he is to fit at the Fathers right hand until all his enemies be made his footstool it 's a Kingdom wherein Plow-shaers are to be beaten into Swords there shall be wonderful use of Swords Weapons of War out of Daniel 12. 12 13. He gathers the beginning of each of these p. 62. Truly I look upon it as being a main and principal part of that faith once delivered to the Saints as touching the fifth Kingdom p. 63. Though this Stone fundamentally is Christ himself yet considered as smiting the great Image it can be no other but Christ mystical Christ in his members and the cutting out of this Stone cannot be meant as some would have it of Christs first coming p. 65. Now if it can be made appear that that with which the fifth Kingdom doth begin the work of the great Image the over-turning the Thrones of the Kings is to be performed by the Saints as chief instruments in the management of it then it follows of necessity there must be such a thing as the Civil and Military power to be in the hands of the Saints and that before the day of Christs appearance they must have this power in their hands for the performance of that work and if so then it 's not evil for the Saints and People of God to seek for it to pray for it to plead for it for it 's to come into their hands for the doing of their work before the day of Christs appearance And then endeavours to prove that this work with which the fifth Kingdom doth begin is a work to be performed by Saints as the chief and principal instruments in the doing of it p. 74. There 's the coming forth of Christ when his enemies by his Saints are made his footstool p. 79. He gives some figues that this work is near at hand and p. 82. He makes this to be a general sign that never was there a principle that did run so much among the Churches of Christ as this hath done within these twelve months I have set down the words of those persons that I shall oppose in their positions that I may not be thought to impose upon them Out of them it is manifest that they assert that all the powers not only Ecclesiastical but also Civil and Military of the Nations even the Protestant as well as the Turkish and Romish Kingdoms are Antichristian and all their Laws Officers Schools Corporations Titles Priviledges Degrees and ranks of men in their politick and military as well as Ecclesiastical state Babylonish from the fourth Monarchy that those that they call publick spirited Saints of this age distinct from Notional professors and formally Godly are to hate separate from them deny any assistance to them rise up against them to destroy them utterly to smite them in order to the setting up a fifth Monarchy of Christ's visible Kingdom on earth that the Saints may be a free Common-wealth of themselves subject to no Laws but Christ's and free from all oppressions of men § 3. The Doctrine of smiting Powers is proved from Scripture Precepts to be Wicked THis Doctrine is damnable and Antichristian as is proved by these Arguments following whereof the first is taken from those Precepts of the New Testament and the Old which forbid such disobedience vilifying refusing assistance smiting of Powers over us Dignities Officers but command Honour Obedience Assistance Fear to Powers Dignities and their Laws and may be thus formed That Doctrine is damnable and Antichristian which commendeth and urgeth Practises and Actions contrary to the Precepts of Christ his holy Apostles and other holy men in the holy Scriptures This Proposition is of it self manifest unlesse that be not acknowledged damnable which is condemned by so holy persons nor Antichristian in a large sense which is flatly opposite to Christ's and his holy
called ch 8. 10. The host of Heaven v. 24. The holy People or People of the holy ones ch 9. 15 16 19 24. Gods People and their City Jerusalem called by Gods name his Sanctuary the holy City ch 11. 28. 30. The holy Covenant ch 12. 7. the holy People Yea sundry of those that are much followed in this argument as Mr. Mede Comment on Revel 16. 12. do conceive that by the Kings of the East who shall have their way prepared for expedition against the Beast are meant the Jews And sundry Prophecies there are in the Old and New Testament which do seem to foretel the Kingdom to be restored to Israel according to the question Acts 1. 6. And therefore the more likely when they are converted to Christ if any Saints on Earth to be chief instruments of destroying Babylon which hath oppressed them Or that fourth Kingdom which hath been as strong as Iron and broken in pieces and subdued all 9. It is supposed that this smiting work is the work of this generation and to be begun by the pretended publick spirited Saints of this Nation Whereas Mr. Tillinghast himself Serm. 1. p. 25. saith the work of Christs Kingdom the glorious beginning of it it shall be about the time of the Jews coming in And indeed the coming in of the Jews shall be a very great advancement of this Kingdom I omit what Mr. Parker conceives of the Waldenses and others as long since beginning and carrying it on There is nothing yet appears but a violent heady presumptuous spirit in those persons who have thought themselves fit to begin the work nor in the times but the commotions that have been which gives colour to this supposition § 6. Quinto-Monarchians Hypotheses about the Civil Governments being from the Fourth Monarchy Rome and the Dragon are shewed to be groundless 10. IT is supposed That the Civil Powers that be are of old Rome or the Fourth Monarchy or as they speak growing upon the old Root of wickednesse and bitternesse or being a remnant of the old foundation which is their expressions in the Banner displayd p. 1. There will be no rest till the fourth Kingdom which divides it self into two iron legs ten toes and a little horn be wholly destroyed in all the laws constitutions Governments and reliques thereof p. 29. The fifth Kingdom which is Christs with its holy just and righteous Laws and Officers must arise with destruction to and stand up in the place of the fourth Kingdom and the Laws and Officers thereof shew to be the Laws Constitutions Governments and orders of the Roman Empire and they assert a Legislative Power to make Laws to govern the Nations only in Christ and his Laws and Officers only are to have place and in the Book entituled The Standard set up Printed 1657. p. 15. they say That the Scriptures being given by Inspiration of God with his Holy Spirit are the revealed will and Rule of this Legislator to be constantly owned and submitted unto in times of War and Peace as a constant standing Rule for the inward and outward man wherein are Laws Statues Precepts and Judgments for all cases conditions and actions of Civil Military and Spiritual concerns either in particular or more general terms For so they were to the Common-wealth of Israel the only type of the Lambs Government But these suppositions in a great part are notoriously false For the Government by King Lords and Commons as it is constituted in England is quite different from old Rome whether under the Caesars or Popes not derived from them but from the Saxons of Normans or some other of the ancient Rulers of this Island nor are the Laws of England by which it is governed in civil Affairs the Laws of the Emperors which are that which we call the Civil Law consisting of the Edicts and constitution of Roman emperors nor the Canon Law consisting of Popes Decrees and Decretals but the Common and Statute Laws of these Nations which he that reads the Chronicles of England the Writings of Sir Thomas Smith of the Common-wealth of England Mr. Cambdens Britannia Sir Edward Cookes Institutes the Preface of Sir John Davis to his Irish Reports the Book of Statutes may easily perceive to have another original and to be much different from them If there were no more but the daily practice of the Courts of Justice and the manner of choosing making Judges and Officers to refute this Calumny it were enough to shew the grosse falshood of this supposition And yet were the Laws and form of Government the same with old Rome they were not therefore Antichristian and we released from obedience to them For not only Christ and his Apostles required obedience to them but also S. Paul both made use of them and commended them Acts 16. 37. and 22. 25. and 25. 10 11 16. which if they had been Antichristian as they give out clamorously but ignorantly and to be opposed with greatest hatred doubtlesse they would not have done As for the other part of the supposition though we grant that our Lord Christ is the supreme Legislator and wherein he hath determined any thing his Laws are to stand in force above and against all constitutions and Laws of men yet we find not that Christ did or intended to make any particular Laws for thousands of things which pertain to Civil Government no nor for many things pertaining to Gods worship and Church-Government which yet require a determination by some Laws or Rules for good order to be kept thereabout When one of the company said unto him Master speak to my Brother that he divide the inheritance with me he said unto him man who made me a Judge or divider over you Luk. 12. 13 14. Nor did the Apostles or the Governors after them or Christians as such intermeddle with making laws or judging civil Affairs any farther than they were intrusted either by the Roman Governors or according to Christs appointment Matth. 18. 15 16 17. or the Apostles directions about composing differences between Christians 1 Cor. 6. 1. c. or the exercise of Ecclesiastical censure or miraculous power did require Though it is not to be denied that in aftertimes too much of this work was either commited by Christian Emperors or assumed by the Rulers and Governors of Christian Churches especially by Popes of Rome to the great detriment of Christianity As for the holy Scriptures though we acknowledge their sufficiency for a rule in matters of Faith and holy life in order to the end wherefore they were inspired of God to wit the honouring and serving of God and our own salvation yet we do not find in them sufficient Laws in particular for the governing of all civill Commonwealths but that Judges and Officers notwithstanding what we find in the books of Mâ—ses and the Prophets and other holy writings would be to seek how to pass sentence and to administer Justice in thousands of cases that
confessed the powers of the great Image bloody persecutors and devourers of the creation and Gods Heritage and I may add as wicked and impure in their lives as they were afterwards yea and as Monstrously Idolatrous as afterwards The Emperors then took to themselves the Title of Pontifex Maximus which was kept till the Christian Emperors time and that Title imported their power and inspection about the Idolatrous rites of the Romans whereby they took charge of the worship of Jupiter and other Roman Deities and were zealous for it so as to persecute them to death with extream cruelty who would not offer incense to their Idols nor swear by them yea they did some of them urge Jews and other people to worship either themselves or their Statues as Gods as Caligula Domitian and caused the abomination and desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet to stand in the holy place of which our Saviour foretels Matth. 24. 15. And though the Popish Idolatry in the worshiping of the Host bowing down to Crucifixes Images praying to deceased Saints creeping to Crosses adoring of Reliques and other superstitions of the Romanists be horribly impious and their cruelty in destroying them that will not adore their consecrated Host be very satanical and so their power and the exercise of it whereby they take on them to condemn as Hereticks them that will not worship their Idols and whereby Princes at their beck do execute their sentences cruelly be from Satan or the Dragon in the use of it in these things yet it is doubted whether the Popish Idolatry be greater or so bad as the Heathenish Idolatry of the Romans in St. Paul's time Yea Dr. John Burges in his Answer rejoined to the reply to Dr. Morton's defence of the Ceremonies ch 4. sect 28. hath maintained against Mr. Parker that the popish Idolatry is not as vile in it self as ever was any of Turks or Pagans And it is plain that in the Revelation the power of the Emperors as they used it in persecution of Christians for not worshipping Idols is ascribed to the Divel before the pretended mixt Antichristian state as well as after Revel 2. 10. Behold the Divel shall cast some of you into prison when he did it by the Pagan Emperors and their Officers v. 13. I know thy works and where thou dwellest even where Satans throne is and thou holdest fast my Name and hast not denied my Faith even in those daies wherein Antipas was my faithfull Martyr who was slain among you where Satan dwelleth On which saith Brightman it is not obscure why it is called the throne of Satan For the City where the heathen Emperors had their seat who professedly warred against the Lamb is called the throne of the Dragon ch 13. 2. so of the daughters and lower Cities those which come nearer to the mind of this Prince because they yield a Palace more prepared for the Divel are notified by the same name And Revel 12. 3. where it is said Behold a great red Dragon having seven heads ten horns seven Crowns upon his head on its saith Mede A wonder or representation of the Empire of Rome Heathen worshiping the Dragon the large Annotations on the Bible A great red Dragon the Heathen Roman Emperors succeeding one another who did the Divel service as in other things so chiefly in persecuting the Church v. 9. ch 2. 10. The like if need were might be shewed to be the opinion of Brightman Diodatâ— Pareus Piscator and others By which and many other passages in holy Scripture it may appear that the heathen Emperors had that power whereby they persecuted the Church of Christ from Satan and were as great Idolaters as those under the Papacy and were as serviceable to the Divel and yet are granted to be the Ordinance of God and though the Powers of the great Image even the Iron legs yet were not to be resisted but the saints even every soul the holy Apostles themselves not excepted were to be subject to them under pain of damnation Whence it follows that there is no warrant for English pretended or real Saints to smite the present Powers to oppose resist overthrow the present Laws Government and Governors though it were yielded which is not that they were part of the fourth Monarchy kept not their pure civil and unmixed State were oppressors shed the blood of the Saints and what ever else the Quinto-Monarchians do object against them Doubtless however Sir Walter Raleigh have aggravated the cruelties of King Henry the 8th of England and perhaps others may represent in the most odious manner the government of other Princes yet they exceed not Nero Domitian and other of the Roman Heathen Emperors in cruelty to the Christian believers nor in uncleanness and unrighteousness and yet St. Paul and St. Peter and our Lord Christ himself command subjection even to such And therefore these things cannot release the Quinto-Monarchians from subjection but their pleas for their smiting work are proved to be damnable and Antichristian 12. It is supposed when the power of Rome was adulterated from its pure civil State and becomes a mixt Antichristian State the Beast and a Whore which they conceive of the present civil powers of the Nations even the Protestant and particularly those of England then it is said of that beastly Antichristian power that the Dragon or Satan gave him his Power his Seat and great Authority and what then is this save the Ordinance of Hell To examine this it is to be observed 1. That they suppose it was the civil power of Rome which is meant Revel 13. 1. 2. by the beast and that it is meant of the civil powers since they became in name Christian. Which I will not gainsay because of the words of the Angel Revel 17. 12. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten Kings which have received no Kingdom as yet but receive power as Kings one hour with the beast though there are or have been that understand by it Heathen Emperors afore they embraced Christianity or an Emperor not yet extant that I may omit other conjectures and therefore this is not to be taken as so certain that on it should be grounded so strange a work as the smiting of all the civil powers of Europe which is deduced from it 2. It is supposed that then the civil Powers were adulterated from their pure civil and unmixed estate By pure civil and unmixed estate they must mean if I be not mistaken that afore that time the Roman Emperors did not meddle with the matters of Religion or of the Church which is most notoriously false for they took the title of Pontifex Maximus ruled in the business of the worship of their Gods did forbid Christian worship and persecuted Christians to the death And that they did afterwards which is also false For the Emperors Christian did reject that title and demolished the temples of Idols promoted the Christian worship contended
with the Bishops that did set up Images in the Churches and if by the mixture be meant their assuming Ecclesiastical power I suppose these Objectors will not charge them with this it being to their great vexation that the Bishops especially the Bishops of Rome claimed and usurped authority over Emperors and Kings as he doth at this day to excommunicate them if they reconciled not themselves to them to depose them and many of the Emperors and Kings did contend against this usurpation in many sore Wars If by mixture of State be meant the assisting of the Popes to destroy the opposers of the Papacy I acknowledge it true that there were too many that did so But in this there was no mixture of civil Ecclesiastical power but rather a concurrence the Ecclesiastical keeping to themselves the judgment of Heresies and putting upon the secular power the execution of their sentence whereby they did debase the civil power in making it subservient to them but made no mixture of State Which appeared in that some of the civil powers that kept their civil government as before yet did oppose this usurpation in Popes and Prelates in making them their Executioners to destroy those who were judged Hereticks by them and therefore this act of theirs was the evil of those persons that did it but not of the civil Government it self 3. It is supposed that then the civil powers were the beast and a whore Which no doubt alludes to that which we read Revel 17. 1 2 c. of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters and v. 3. 7. the whore is resembled by a woman sitting upon a scarlet coloured beast and v. 18. it is said and the woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth Which few do deny to be meant of Rome some of the learned Papists themselves granting it to be meant of Rome though they would have it believed that Rome is so called the Whore while it was heathen not since it became Christian. Others there are chiefly Those of the Protestant Churches who do conceive by the Whore is meant Rome Papal as conceiving the descriptions ofher and her practises cannot be applied to Rome as it was Paganish or Ethnick Whether this or the other or any other opinion be right it is not needful now to discuss It is sufficient that the Civil Powers of Rome whether Ethnick or Christian or in a future estate cannot well be termed the Beast and a Whore too sith the text makes them distinct or if they may yet sure the Civil Powers are not the Whore sith it is said v. 2. The Kings of the earth have committed fornication with the Whore and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication therefore the Kings of the earth and inhabiters of the earth must not be confounded with the Whore And v. 16. It is said And the ten Horns who are ten Kings which had received no Kingdom then v. 12. And therefore not while Rome was Ethnick but after it's being Christian Which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire Therefore the Kings which are the Civil Powers are not the same with the Whore but though at first beguiled by her shall at last hate and consume her when they shall be undeceived 4. It is supposed that then the Power of Rome when adulterated from its pure Civil Estate became a mixt Antichristian state or a beastly Antichristian Power What is meant by Antichristian state or Antichristian Power is not easy to resolve It is true the Apostle John makes mention of many Antichrists that should come in the last time among which his words intimate that there should be a special Antichrist that they had heard should come 1 John 2. 18. And v. 22. He saith He is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son And ch 4. v. 3. He saith And every Spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God And this is that Spirit of Antichrist whereof ye have heard that it should come and even already is it in the world And in his second Epistle v. 7. For many deceivers are entered into the world who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh This is a or the Deceiver and an or the Antichrist which words seem to import that those erroneous seducing teachers whether gnosticks or other who were risen in that time when these Epistles were written were it is likely called Antichrists from their opposition to the true Doctrine concerning the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh-Nevertheless many of the ancients in after ages did often give hints of the expectation of Christians commonly entertained whether from St. Johns words or some other tradition that there would arise some more remarkable Antichrist who should whether by Power or deceit corrupt or infest the Church of Christ beyond what was done in his daies And this hath been imagined by some of them should be a Roman the same with the man of sin 2 Thes. 2. 3. That wicked or lawless one v. 8. the Beast Revel 13. 11. And the Whore of Babylon Revel 17. 5. which in many ages the great corruptions in the Popes of Rome and their Courts caused to be applied ever and anon by some or other of the best and learnedst of their times to the Popes and Papacy And since the time of Luther it hath been almost generally received by Protestant Writers of all sorts that the Popes and Papacy especially since Pope Boniface the third usurped the Title of Oecumenical Bishop as proper to his See and Gregory the seventh the Power of deposing Emperors and Boniface the eight the welding of both swords Civil and Ecclesiastical are the Antichrist Man of sin Beast and Whore of Babylon foretold that he should come by St. Paul and St. John And not a few very learned and sober godly men both of Bishops and Presbyters in England Ireland France and other Nations have asserted it by Preaching and writing and have made it one of their chief pleas for their refusing communion with and enmity against the late Bishops of Rome and the Papal Church although some of late have thought otherwise and have endeavoured to apply those passages to some other whether rightly or not I do not now determin Whence it hath come to pass that as the Papists who still adhere to the Bishop of Rome as Christs Vicar and St. Peters Successor swallow down all that comes from Rome be it never so vain and erroneous so on the other side those who have been induced by the arguments inforced from the places of holy scripture alledged to conceive that the Popes or Papacy or Roman Synagogue have been and are the Antichrist Man of sin Babylon the Whore therein mentioned have been apt to
disclaim not only Ecclesiastical Rulers but also civil powers in order to their smiting work and also to smite them is damnable and Antichristian Nor can here the pretences of their being of the fourth Monarchy from Rome Oppressors Idolaters Antichristian salve the matter fith those Priests of the Jewes and Roman Governours to whom Christ yeiled Subjection were as bad and every way as obnoxious to their criminations of the present Governours as any now be Assuredly the present Governours in these Nations cannot be charged with such things as Pilate Caiaphas and the rest of those Governors to whom Christ was subject were chargable wth without extream impudence This argument is further confirmed from the examples of all the holy Apostles Martyrs and Confessors in the primative times of Christianity Instances might be given in James Peter Paul who doubtless could as easily have killed their persecutors as Ananias and Sapphira or strucken them blind as St. Paul did Elymas the Sorcerer yet submitted themselves to imprisonment pleaded their cause before Roman Rulers appealed to Caesar suffered even to death In the times following the Christians served under the persecuting Roman Emperors in their Wars and though they were in number many dispersedover their Empire and had Arms in their hands whereby they might in appearance have been able to have defended themselves against the violence of their persecutors yet they chose to suffer under the tyrannous Emperors that then were rather than to rise up against them to revenge themselves because their Christian profession did forbid them as Tertullian Apolog. c. 37. ad scapulam c. 2. Cyprian ad Demetr and others plead for them Out of these and other examples which might be produced we may argue thus That Doctrine which teacheth men to do contrary to the examples and profession of our Lord Christ Jesus his Apostles Martyrs Confessors Saints in the first and best ages of Christianity is damnable and Antichristian But such is the Doctrine of the Quinto-Monarchians concerning their smiting of civil powers as is manifest by comparing them therefore it is damnable and Antichristian § 8. More arguments are urged from censures and determinations in the New Testament A Fourth argument I deduce from those places of holy scripture which censure condemn and denounce woe unto those practises which the Doctrine of the Quinto-Monarchians incites men to and they magnify as the fruits of Gods Spirit The Apostle Peter 2 Epist. 2. 9 10 11. The Lord knowes how to deliver the Godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and dispise Government or Dominion presumptuous are they self-willed they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities whereas Angels which are greater in power and might bring not a railing accusation against them before the Lord. Which is seconded by St. Jude v. 8 9 10. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh despise Dominion and speak evil of dignities Yet Michael the Arch-Angel when contending with the Devil he disputed about the body of Moses durst not bring against him a railing accusation but said the Lord rebuke thee But these speak evil of the things they know not In which passages those holy Apostles rank the despisers of Dominion those that speak evil of dignities not among the Saints but amongst the most accursed reprobates though those Dominions and dignities were as bad as might be in respect of their personal qualities and actions yea the Arch-Angels example is brought in as not daring to bring against the Devil himself when there was a contention about Moses his body a railing accusation but referred it to the Lord to rebuke him teaching thereby that such terms as contain threatning contempt reproach of Governors and dignities are altogether unsuteable to Saints and such as they should not dare to utter though they contended with the Devil himself much less with men that are in Power and Authority much less to smite them and directing how to deal with them when they be injurious to wit to defer their cause to God for his suppression of them and threatning wo to the practisers of contempt of Dominion and speaking evil of dignities All which are contrary to the Doctrine of Quinto-Monarchians who revile dispise threaten them commend the smiting of them as the generation work promise rewards to them that do it Whence I infer that Doctrine which animates men to such practises as are damned by the holy Apostles St. Peter and St. Jude is damnable and Antichristian But such is the Doctrine of Quinto-Monarchians concerning their vilifying and smiting civil powers therefore it is damnable and Antichristian If any object our Saviours answer Luk. 13. 32. to some Pharisees who said to him get thee out and depart hence for Herod will kill thee bidding them go ye and tell that Fox behold I cast out Devils and I do cures to day and to morrow and the third day I shall be perfected I answer these words do not at all contain any vilifying of the Kingdoms of the fourth Beast or contempt of the Kings of the earth But a reproof of Herods evil qualities of craft and crueltie and a professed resolution of his going on in his work with undanted magnanimity till the time came of his laying down his life with a prediction that it should not be where Herod had jurisdiction but at Jerusalem As for that which we read Isai. 37. 22. This is the word of the Lord which he hath spoken concerning Sennacherib King of Assyria the Virgin the daughter of Sion hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorn the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee it gives no allowance for one of the Lamb's followers to express contempt of the Kings of the earth though they were all of them as they are unjustly charged the lovers of the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the earth this being a breach of a plain rule in the New Testament requiring subjection to them and condemning contempt of them which is not in a holy triumph of faith but rather in a proud self magnifying or factious animosity not a deriding of their threats and Blasphemous desparaging of God as was that which the Prophet from God fore-told the Jews should do to a King that had no Authority over them but was an hostile Invader of them and by express warrant from God but a vilifying of the powers that are termed the Kingdom of the fourth Beast as opposite to the Kingdom power and glory of Jesus Christ our Lord though the Apostle Peter expressely bid Honour the King even then when the King was of the fourth Beast as they speak and opposite to the Kingdom power and glory of Christ Jesus The Prophet Isaiah never taught the Jewes to vilify Manasseh his Kingdom or Authority notwithstanding his reprehension of his wickedness and prediction of his calamity And in
injury oppression or persecution though it extended to the slaying the Lords Priests to an endeavour to slay the annointed Captain of the Lords Host is not to be attempted by a private person or subject but to be referred to the Lord. Therefore the Doctrine of Quinto-Monarchians urging subjects and private persons to smite their superior civil powers and to avenge the supposed injuries and persecutions of Saints by their own hands is contrary to Christ's his Apostles and Davids determinations in the holy Scriptures and consequently damnable and Antichristian That which I find alledged for their practise is in these words The Banner of truth displayed p. 59. All the blood of Gods people is found in Babylon For they i. e. her civil powers Revel 16. 6 6. have shed the blood of the Saints and Prophets Rev. 17. 6. ch 18. 24. and 19. 1. Jer. 50. 14. now therefore God by way of recompence and retalliation hath ordained that the Saints shall be his instruments by which he will execute his vengeance upon the powers of the world who are all of them murtherers accordingly God commands his people and 't is their duty to obey to reward Babylon double as she rewarded them yea and double unto her all those plagues deaths and stripes that she hath inflicted on you Revel 18. 6. and they shall give her blood to drink and she shall be burnt with fire for strong is the Lord that judgeth her Wherein many things are taken as granted which are false and the whole if it were granted would be insufficient to acquit them from guilt of opposing Christs precepts in that way of recompence and retaliation which they incite to 1. That all the powers of the world are murtherers Which proposition contains such a crimination as God only is fit to charge them with if it were true sith he only knows all the powers of the world and is privy to all their thoughts designs and actions 2. That the civil powers of the world are Babylon or her civil powers Now Babylon is termed the great which shall become the habitation of Divels Rev. 18. 2. and I think it is undoubted with all sorts of Writers and intelligent persons that Babylon the great there meant is the same with the woman Rev. 17. 4. termed v. 1. The great whore upon whose forehead was a name written Mystery Babylon the great the mother of Hariots and abominations of the earth v. 5. which is interpreted v. 18. And the woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth Which commonly those who are acquainted with the Histories of the times in which St. John received his Revelation even Papists themselves do take to be Rome known to be the only City which sate on seven mountains as v. 9. is expressed and reigned then over the Kings of the earth But how all the powers of the world now in being or the Nations of Europe even the Protestant should be Babylon or her civil powers or as elsewhere they say the streets of that great City and Rome-Babylon is unintelligible to me Rome it self and that which is called the Patrimony of St. Peter and the territories in Italy now subject to the Pope may be termed Babylon and the Civil powers therein may be termed her Civil powers and perhaps all the territories subject to the Pope in Ecclefiastical affairs may be meant by the streets of the great City mentioned Revel 11. 8. because they yield subjection to the Roman Pope in spirituals But how the States which do reject the Pope's power in Temporals as the King of France or the Duke and Senate of Venice who stood out against Pope Paul the fifth when he interdicted them because they would not repeal their Laws or release their prisoners though Ecclesiasticks should be termed the civil powers of Rome-Babylon is not easie to be understood much less how the Kings of England Denmark Sweden and such other Protestant States Nations and Princes as have rejected the Popes jurisdiction and authority both in civil and Church matters and impose oaths of disclaiming the Popes supremacy in Spirituals and their authority in Temporals through their Dominions on their Subjects should be nevertheless the civil powers of Babylon and their Countries the streets of the great City Rome-Babylon is it conceiveable by me If the Predecessors of these did subject themselves to the Pope in former ages yet they are not therefore termed Babylon but Kings of the earth who commit fornication with her and give their power to her but neither of these can be said of those Princes though Successors to them who have abandoned the Popes errors and corruptions in Religion and his jurisdiction wholly 3. It is suggested that all the blood of Gods people is found in Babylon For they i. e. her civil powers Rev. 16. 6 7. have shed the blood of the Saints and Prophets Rev. 17. 6. ch 18. 24. and 19. 1. Jer. 50. 14. And it is true that Jer. 50. 14. it is said put your selves in array against Babylon round about all ye that bend the bow shoot at her spare no arrows for she hath sinned against the Lord. But this is not meant of Rome-Babylon nor of her civil powers but of Babylon in Chaldaea many thousand miles distant from Rome and long before these daies or St. Johns wasted And yet it is not said of that Babylon that it shed the blood of the Saints and Prophets though I deny not she is charged with the blood of the Inhabitants of Zion Jerusalem-Israel Jer. 51. 35. 49. It is rather charged on Jerusalem by Christ that she killed the Prophets and stoned them that were sent unto her that upon her might come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias Son of Barachias whom ye saith Christ slew between the Temple and the Altar Matth. 23. 34 35. 37. It is said Rev. 16. 4 5 6. And the third Angel poured out his vial upon the Rivers and Fountains of waters and they became blood And I heard the Angel of the waters say thou art righteous O Lord which wast art and shalt be because thou hast judged thus For they have shed the blood of Saints and Prophets and thou hast given them blood to drink for they are worthy And it is most probable though there be that conceive the Rivers and Fountains of water to have been the Cities and Provinces of the Roman Empire under the Pagan Emperors and that to them is ascribed the sheding of the blood here mentioned that this is meant of the Papal Empire sith it is the same which is charged on the woman Revel 17. 6. and Babylon Rev. 18. 24. who must be different from Rome Pagan by reason of the things said Rev. 17. 10 11 12. concerning the ten Kings which had then received no Kingdom when St. John received this Revelation but should receive power as
all men James 3. 17. The wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable v. 18. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace 1 Pet. 3. 10 11. He that will love life and see good daies let him seek peace and ensue it From hence I argue that doctrine is damnable and Antichristian which is opposire to Christs and his Apostles commands approbation and beatification concerning meekness and peaceableness But such is the doctrine of the Quinto-Monarchians which stirs up enmities and hostility among men teacheth separations from men even such as they hope are godly from Churches gathered in a pastoral way reducing things to primitive practise and breaths out nothing but Wars and smiting of all that denie or oppose their smiting work which are as contrary to meekness and peaceableness as hot to cold black to white Therefore their doctrine is damnable and Antichristian Nor can they be acquitted by alleging such texts as Psal. 139. 21 22. and 137. 9. Amos. 5. 15. Hab. 2. 6 7 8. Revel 17. 16. unless they can shew all civil powers extant and those whom they hope to be godly Churches gathered in a pastoral way reducing things to primitive practise yet count enemies to Christs Kingdom because they oppose that which these call the smiting work of the Stone to be indeed haters of God and Babylon and also that these are the Stone or the ten Horns that are to hate the Whore and make her desolate Till this be done which I expect to be done at later Lammas we may say as Christ did ye know not what spirit ye are of or rather determin that they are indeed of an Antichristian or Diabolical spirit For a further inforcing of this argument I shall adjoyn a tenth taken from those many texts of scripture especially in the New Testament which both require patience in the Saints and assigne blessedness to it and make suffering the portion of the Saints and necessary to their entrance into the Kingdom of God that to continue till Christs coming Matth. 5. 10 11 12. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven Luke 21. 19. In your patience possess your souls Acts 14. 22. Paul and Barnabas confirmed the souls of the Disciples and exhorted them to continue in the faith and that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God 2 Thes. 1. 4 5. So that we our selves glory in you in the Churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God that ye may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God for which ye also suffer 2 Tim. 3. 12. Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution Heb. 12. 6. Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every Son whom he receives James 1. 4. Let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing James 5. 7. Be patient therefore brethren unto the coming of the Lord. Hence I argue those who teach smiting when Christ and his Apostles teach patience those who count them Antichristian who would have Christ his Saints his cause in and on the earth a sufferer though Christ and his Apostles call it Christian to suffer and require patience until the coming of the Lord these teach doctrine which is indeed damnable and Antichristian But so do the Quinto-Monarchians as may be seen before Sest 2. Therefore the doctrine of their smiting work is damnable and Antichristian § 12. The Eleventh and Twelfth arguments from contrariety to the Martyrs agreement with Papists THIS also leads us to an eleventh argument which is from the constant profession of the Saints and Martyrs in all ages that they were to suffer for the Kingdom of God not to fight for it so speaks St. John Revel 1. 9. I John who also am your Brother and companion in Tribulation and in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ was in the Isle that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the Testimony of Jesus Christ. Where he makes these conjunct the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ and styles himself their Brother and companion in Tribulation and in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ therefore he took all that were Brethren to be companions therein and these to be conjoyned together This was the profession of the Saints in the times of the ten great persecutions as may be seen in the writings of Justin Martyr Tertullian Cyprian and such as wrote Apologies for the Christians and the Acts and monuments of the Church which relate their practise suteable to their profession even when they were armed and were a considerable part of the Emperors Armies yet exposed themselves rather to butchery than they would attempt to fight Yea when the Beast was risen to whom the Dragon gave his power and his seat and great authority from which time as is shewed before Sect. 4. the Quinto-Monarchians make civil powers not to be the Ordinance of God but Antichristian and the Ordinance of Hell yet the Holy Ghost foretels not the smiting work of the Stone or turning their Plow-shares into Swords for the pulling down civil powers and setting up the fifth Kingdom on earth but saith Revel 13. 10 He that killeth with the Sword must be killed with the Sword Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints Which shewes that even they were not to set up the Kingdom of Christ by fighting but by patience and faith And Revel 14. 12. after the prediction of the fall of Babylon and the daughter of those who worship the Beast and his Image and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name it is added Here is the patience of the Saints Here are they that keep the Commandments of God the faith of Jâ—sus shewing that even in those times the Saints would patiently suffer not avenge themselves by smiting or by destroying civil powers seek to set up Christs Kingdom on earth the contrary whereto is taught by the Quinto-Monarchians and thereby the generation of the just even the holy Martyrs their profession and practise is condemned which is damnable and Antichristian On the other side which yeilds a twelfth argument these â—enents of the smiting of civil powers to set up Christs Kingdom tend to the justifying or countenancing of the Popish former and later doctrine and practises wherein they have challenged and usurped a power over Emperors and Kings to depose and deprive them of life when they have opposed the Popes Authority or the Roman Church and Religion which opposition was counted by them to be against the Kingdom of Christ and thought
in ordine ad spiritualia as they spake they might dispose of their Kingdoms as the Vicars of Christ and visible Monarchs of the Universal Church Which things these Fifth-Monarchy-Men count Antichristian and therefore their teaching and doing the like upon pretence of setting up of Christs Kingdom on earth is by parity of reason there being not better proof for the one than for the other damnable and Antichristian § 13. The smiting work of Quinto-Monarchians is grounded on falsities or uncertainties concerning the agents means and time of smiting mentioned Dan 2. 34. 44 45. HItherto I have prosecuted those arguments against the Quinto-Monarchians doctrine and practise which shew it to be damnable and Antichristian in respect of the act it self of smiting civil powers I shall add further more arguments against them shewing the falsity and uncertainty of those grounds and principles on which their determinations concerning separation from smiting of civil powers rest The first whereof is that afore the Fifth-Monarchy be set up and in order thereto afore Christs coming all civil powers that are now extant as part of the fourth Monarchy are to be disannulled Which hath no foundation but in their own fancy or hatred of the civil powers as withstanding their design For it is said Revel 17. 16 17. That the Kings which formerly supported Babylon shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will and to agree and give their Kingdom unto the Beast until the words of God be fulfilled and Revel 18. 9. It is said That the Kings of the earth who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her shall be wail her and lament for her when they shall see the smoke of her burning which shewes that Kings even those that have joyned with Babylon shall remain after her fall yea and some Kings shall be the instruments of her destruction And the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 24. tells us Then cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God even the Father when he shall have put down all Rule and all Authority and Power Which words plainly intimate that afore the end when Christ shall deliver up the Kingdom to God even the Father all Rule and Authority and Power shall not be put down Which may be also gathered from Revel 11. 15. where it is said And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great voices in Heaven saying the Kingdoms of the world are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever which is said v. 18. To be the time of the dead that they should be judged and therefore till that time there shall be the Kingdoms of this world and consequently civil powers A second is That civil powers are to be dissolved by men Whereas this is still asserted in Scripture as Gods prerogative that the most High ruleth in the Kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will Dan. 4. 25. 32. 34 35. and 5. 21. And even in the business of the fourth Monarchy the stone that is said to smite the image upon his feet is said to be cut out of the mountain without hands Dan. 2. 34. 45. which is more likely to be meant of Christ who was cut without hands out of the mountain that is without natural generation as other men whether by the Mountain be meant Eternity or Heaven or the Roman Empire or the Universe of human kind as I conceive then of any other man or men And if it be meant of the Kingdom as v. 44. doth expound it that it shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms it must be meant in respect of Christ the King whose dominion is set up by the God of Heaven and not by men and therefore take it any way agreeable to the Text the stones breaking in pieces and consuming all the Kingdoms must not be expounded of Subjects now calling themselves Saints destroying civil powers to which they are subject A third is That men shall dissolve civil powers by fighting with swords which is very false For the stone that smote the Image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth which if it be understood of Christs spiritual Kingdom it smote the Image by preaching the Gospel by which the power of the Idols who ruled in those Kingdoms was cast down and by it the stone became a great mountain and filled the whole earth if it be meant of smiting hereafter it is to be as 2 Thes. 2. 8. it is said that wicked one the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming or if it be meant of the Saints as Mr. Thomas Parker conceives they are thus cut out by professed separation and victorious exemption without hands that is by the only power and finger of Almighty God as it is interpretted Dan. 2. v. 44 45. Thus saith he in his Exposition of that Vision they began to be cut out anno 1160 in the Waldenses and continue so unto this day And the extraordinary hand of God was seen therein as the strange arising growth prevailing of them doth manifestly declare But their absolute cutting out an exemption from the power of Antichrist is that which is to be expected at the term of the slaughter of the two Prophets when their rising by the power alone of God Almighty without the help of man is thus described Revel 11. 11. And after three daies and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them and they stood upon their feet and great fear fell upon them that saw them they ascended up to Heaven in a Cloud and their enemies beheld them And the same hour was there a great Earth-quake and the tenth part of the City fell and in the Earth-quake were slain of men or names of men as in the Greek expounded by Mr. Mede men of name seven thousand presently after which it followes The Kingdoms of the world are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ. Now be the Earth-quake as Mr. Mede thinks a great commotion of the Nations and alteration of Politique Affairs or some thing else it is caused by Gods power either without man or only by the witnesses and their testimony and if the falling and slaughter thereby be in whole or in part the smiting of the Stone Dan. 2. 34. 44 45. as it is probable it is not by fighting sure not by such as overthrowes civil powers for they shall be altered and be instrumental to destroy Babylon Revel 17. 16 17. And therefore this which is the hinge on which the smiting work of Quinto-Monarchians turns being very uncertain or rather very false all their inferences thereupon must of necessity be groundless and unwarrantable A fourth is that the smiting work ascribed to the Stone shall be
the Prophets not to be of this world that is an earthly Kingdom but a heavenly which is opposed to that which is of this world John 8. 23. The same thing might be gathered from the speeches of Christ John Baptist and the Apostles in many places especially the parables of Christ which shew that by the Kingdom of God or of Heaven is meant that dominion Christ hath over his Church by his Word and Spirit which being the same with the Stone Dan. 2. 44. 45. it follows that it began in Christs daies on earth and that the smiting and filling the whole earth by the stone was effected by the preaching of the Gospel which prevails against the power of darkness and brings into the Kingdom of the Son of Gods love Col. 1. 13. which I say not to exclude the Kingdom of Christ by such external discipline or rule as is meant 1 Cor. 4. 20. when the Apostle saith For the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power but to shew what kind of Kingdom is meant Dan. 2. 44. 45. by the stone which I may truly say is become a stone of stumbling and rock of offence to the Quinto-Monarchians instead of the corner stâ—ne of the Kingdom of Christ on which they might be built to salvation 2. I add that Christ doth smite his enemies by the material sword and by war and that there is such an external dispensation of it in respect of which some passages which in the new Testament speak of the coming of his Kingdom in power are to be understood as when he miserably destroyed those wicked men which slew the Son of God and cast him out of the Vineyard which is expressed by the stones grinding to powder or dashing to pieces Matth. 21. 41. 44. which to be meant of the Jews and their destruction by the Romans appears from Luke 20. 16. 18 19. Matth. 21. 45. The like is to be said of Christs Kingdom in destroying the persecuting Emperors and Roman Empire by the sword of their own Soldiers and chiefly by Constantine the great his victories over Maxentius and Licinius to whose time that is applyed by Mr. Mede which we read Revel 12. 10 11. And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven now is come salvation and strength and the Kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ. And the like is to be conceived at the making the whore desolate Rev. 17. 16. it is not denied that this shall be by war but none of these wars were or are to be managed by Saints as Saints OF private persons subjects to other Lords The Saints overcame the Dragon Rev. 12. 11. not by war but by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death It is said Rev. 17. 14. that the ten Kings shall make war with the Lamb which is most likely to be meant of their persecuting the Lamb's followers unto the death and the Lamb shall overcome them for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and therefore hath all power in his hands of Angels and men to execute his purpose and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful as appears by their adhering to the Lamb unto the death Rev. 2. 10. by which they are Conquerors and are crowned no where are they said to overcome by fighting with the sword As for the rewarding double by Gods people to Babylon Rev. 18. 6. it is answered before Sect. 9. 3. The description made of the external dispensation of the Kingdom in peace may be allowed But then it will not agree to the thousand years reign mentioned Rev. 20. 6. For in that time there shall not be such a reign over the whole world as that there shall be no enemies nor sin if so how should Satan when he is loosed out of Prison at the expiration of the thousand years deceive the Nations which are in the four quarters of the earth Gog and Magog to gather them to battel the number of whom is as the sand of the Sea and they go up on the breadth of the earth and compass the Camp of the Saints about and the beloved City and then fire comes down from God out of Heaven and devours them Rev. 20. 7 8 9 Sure these things shew that in the thousand years reign the Kingdom of Christ shall not be so universal and entire but that in the four quarters of the earth the Indians in the East the Tarters in the North the Americans in the West and the Moors in the South shall remain a wicked people and at last be raised up by the Divel to destroy the people of God which it is likely shall have a reign on the earth a thousand years when the Jews shall be converted and the Turkish tyranny and Papal cruelty and delusions shall cease by such waies as divine providence shall order and then by divine vengeance from Heaven shall be destroyed But for the external dispensation of the Kingdom of God in peace as they describe it it can agree to no time but the universal resurrection and last judgment in which alone is nothing mortal no sin which follows after the thousand years reign and Gogs and Magogs destruction Rev. 20. 11 12 13 14 15. 3. The Quinto-Monarchians suppose That towards the end of the fourth Monarchy the stone that is Christ in the Gentile Saints shall smite the Iron legs toes of the Roman Empire then begin the fifth Monarchy which after the smiting of them the Saints shall take and so be universal Monarchs or have the universal Kingdom which shall stand for ever Now they are quite mistaken in the time and means of the stones smiting and the Saints taking the Kingdom For the smiting was to begin as Mr. Mede observes in his Discourse on Mark. 1. 14 15. In the daies of Christ on earth when the fourth Monarchy was at the heighth not in its declining For the stone that is the fifth Kingdom was begun in the daies of these Kings that is the last of them not after them and that our Saviour plainly declares when after that John was put in Prison he came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and saying the time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand Repent ye and believe the Gospel In which words our Saviour declaring the time to be fulfilled and the Kingdom of God to be approaching plainly shewes that then was the time of which Daniel said ch 2. 44. And in the daies of these Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed and the Kingdom shall not be left to other people it shall not have any successor but it shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever it shall be unshaken though the Earth and the Heavens be once more shaken Heb. 12. 26 27 28. And for
the time of the Saints of the most high taking the Kingdom and possessing the Kingdom for ever even for ever and ever Dan. 7. 18. it is expressed v. 13. to be when one like the Son of man came with the Clouds of Heaven and came to the ancient of days and they brought him near before him which in the New Testament is applied to Christs second coming Matth. 24. 30. and 26. 64. Mark 13. 26. and 14. 62. Luke 21. 27. Revel 1. 7. Acts 1. 11. 1 Thes. 4. 17. which Mr. Mede in his fourth letter to Mr. Hayn proves to be at Christs second coming by the brightness of which shall be the consumption of the man of sin 2 Thes. 2. 8. and at his appearing shall be his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4. 1. and then shall the Saints of the most high which overcome sit with him in his Throne even as he also overcame and is set down with his Father in his Throne Revel 3. 21. To them he will give power over the Nations to Rule them with a Rod of Iron so that as a potters vessel they shall be broken to shivers even as he received of his Father Revel 2. 26. 27. then the Kingdoms of the world shall be the Lords and his Christs and he shall reign for ever and ever the Lord God Almighty takes to him his great power and reigns and the Nations were angry and his wrath was come and the time of the dead that they should be judged and that he should give the reward unto his servants the Prophets and to the Saints and to them that fear his name small and great and should destroy them which destroy the earth Revel 11. 15. 17 18. And Revel 20. 4. the Thrones are said to be set as Dan. 7. 9. And they sate upon them and judgment was given to them as Dan. 7. 26. then the Dominion or Kingdom given To the Saints who are troubled rest shall be given by God with the Apostles when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels 2 Th. 1. 7. The Saints shall judge the world 1 Cor. 6. 2. And Jesus said unto them verily I say unto you that ye which have followed me in the regeneration when the Son of man shall fit in the Throne of his glory ye shall also fit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Matth. 19. 28. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations And I appoint unto you a Kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me that ye may eat and drink at my Table in my Kingdom and fit on Thrones judging the Tribes of Israel Luke 22. 28 29 30. And for the means of obtaining this Kingdom as it is said the Stone was cut out of the mountain without hands that is human help so it is said in the daies of these Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed Dan. 2. 44 45. which therefore our Lord called the Kingdom of Heaven and gives the reason because his Kingdom was not of this world nor from hence John 18. 36. but from Heaven And where it is said that the Saints of the most high shall take the Kingdom and possess the Kingdom for ever even for ever and ever Dan. 7. 18. it is added v. 21 22. I beheld and the same horn made war with the Saints and prevailed against them until the ancient of daies came and judgment was given to the Saints of the most high and the time came that the Saints possessed the Kingdom v. 26 27. But the judgment shall fit and they shall take away his dominion to consume and to destroy it unto the end And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all Dominions shall serve and obey him The Saints take it not by their getting it but by gift not by conquest but donation Suteably in the new Testament Luk. 12. 32. Fear not little Flock for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom Matth. 25. 24. Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Out of which passages we may well infer 1. that it is great temerity in the Quinto-Monarchians to be so peremptory as they are in setting down the time of the Saints taking the Kingdom especially if we consider that when our Lord Christ was asked immediately afore his ascension into Heaven Lord wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel He said unto them it is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power Acts 1. 6 7. wherein he gives us to understand that the times and seasons of restoring the Kingdom to Israel are put by the Father in his own peculiar power and therefore were not to be then known to the Apostles nor to us till by the events shewing the foregoing signs and the special instinct of Gods Spirit was shewed the just period of the mystical numbers in which they are to be fulfilled 2. We may infer that it is very great folly pride and arrogant presumption for a number of Gentile Saints in an Island or Continent to think to smite the fourth Monarchy by Arms which is to be destroyed by the Spirit of the Lords mouth and the brightness of his coming and to take to themselves a Kingdom which God only can give and to set up Christs Kingdom which God makes his prerogative Ps. 2. 6. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion Ps. 110. 1 2. The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool The Lord shall send the Rod of thy strengh out of Zion Rule thou in the mids of thine enemies and to think to do this by armes a feeble means which is to be done not by might nor by power but by his spirit The monstrous arrogance of this attempt is made the more hainous 1. because when it hath been begun heretofore by any they have found God against them the Lord by his providence dissipating their counsels and frustrating their attempts so as that in fine they have only brought ruin to themselves and occasioned hatred of the wayes of God and a hard hand in civil powers on the innocent Which argument although it do not Universally hold that what succeeds not well in the event pleaseth not God yet is good against these men who have no other ground or warrant to their attempts but the opinion they have of Gods putting it into their heart and assurance of his help this being their own speech Banner displayed p. 89. So that we make our conclusion with Manoahs Wife of old if the Lord were pleased to kill us or suffer our enemies to kill us he would
swords Spiritual and Temporal therein lifting himself above all that is caled God or is worshipped 2 Thes. 2. 4. It is true that it is said Heb. 1. 2. God hath in these last dayes spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all things But this inheritance is either as he is the Son of God according to his divine nature or his inheritance at his exaltation into Heaven in that sense in which he is said to be made head over all things to or for the Church Ephes. 1. 22. which is to be understood in respect of that power over Angels and Men so far as concerns their Administation of all things for the welfare of his Church in neither of which are the Saints Heirs with him But in neither of these senses nor in any other sense or place of scripture is he said to be the Heir of the world so as that he should regain the rights and priviledges in respect of civil Government lost in Adam nor where Abraham is promised to be Heir of the world Rem 4. 13. is it meant in respect of the civil Government of the world but as the text shews that he should be Heir of the world that is the blessing of righteousness should be to Jewes and Gentiles throughout the world walking in the steps of his examplary faith whereby they become his seed 3. It asserteth that Saints regained the rights and priviledges in respect of Government in the second Adam or Lord from Heaven which is a false and a most arrogant presumptuous position For 1. If Christ have not regained it for them then they have not regained them in him But that Christ hath not regained it for them is already proved in overthrowing the second supposition therefore Saints have not regained in Christ the rights and priviledges in respect of Government civil 2. If Government civil were not lost in Adam then it is not regained in Christ but civil Government and natural were not lost in Adam as is before proved in this section therefore they were not regained in Christ. 3. If the rights and priviledges of civil Governments were not regained in Christ to the Apostles then they were not regained in Christ to any Saints For none had more regained for them by Christ than the Apostles nor any of the Saints excelled them if any can shew better charters or patents from Christ for such rights and priviledges then the Apostles let them shew them the holy scripture tells us that God hath set in the Church first Apostles 1 Cor. 13. 28. they are in the foundations Eph. 2. 20 Revel 21. 14. But that the Apostles had not the rights and priviledges in respect of civil Government on earth afore Christ's coming in the Clouds is proved before from Christs words Matth. 20. 25 26. from Rom. 13. 1. where every Soul even an Apostle saith Chrysostome is to be subject to the Higher Powers from St. Paul his acknowledgments and example of subjection from St. Peters precept and example Whence we account the Popes of Rome to have the forehead of and impudent Whore when they claim in St. Peters right the Universal Monarchy of the whole Church and superiority above Emperors and Kings and directly or indirectly in order to spirituals power to dispose of civil Governments to translate the Empire depose Princes give away Kingdoms command Emperors to make an expedition to the holy Land and many more things as if they were his right as successor to St. Peter to whom Christ promised the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven not of earth If this claim be justly as it is judged to be an Antichristian Babylonish usurpation it is by parity of reason More Antichristian and Babylonish for the Quinto-Monarchans to challenge the rights and priviledges in respect of Government to be gained to them under the name of Saints when they can shew no such donation from Christ or any act of acquisition whereby he obtained it for them or any conveyance of it to them or any Saints till Christs appearing The Apostles shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel but not till the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the Throne of his golory Matth. 19. 28. termed his Kingdom Luke 22. 30. The Saints shall Judge the world but not till the time come they shall Judge Angels 1 Cor. 6. 2 3. In the interim their condition is to be humbled under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt them in due time 1 Pet. 5. 6. James 4. 10. 4. If the portion of the Saints which is regained for them by Christ be in spiritual blessings in heavenly things and no where in temporal Dominion in this life then it is false that Saints regained the rights and priviledges in respect of Government in the second Adam or Lord from Heaven but the antecedent is true as appears by the many promises to them which assign spiritual blessings to them as their portion Where the Apostle Paul mentions the blessings given to the faithful in Christ Jesus he saith Ephes 1. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritural blessings in heavenly places or things in Christ and then recites them without mention of any earthly power or preferment In the new covenant set down Heb. 8. 10 11 12. Spiritual grace is promised but not earthly greatness and riches as in the old Where our Lord Christ Matth. 5. assignes blessedness to holy persons he placeth it in other things then the Kingdoms of this world He saith v. 5. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth but no where the Dominions of the earth The Apostle saith 1 Tim. 4. 8. Bodily exercise profiteth little or for a little time but godliness is profitable for all things or for every time having the promise of the life that now is and that which is to come But how to understand this our Saviour tells us Mark 10. 29 30. There is no man that hath left House or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother or Wife or Children or Lands for my sake and the Gospels but he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time Houses and Brethren and Sisters and Mothers which cannot be understood in the same kind but in that which is equivalent Children and Lands with persecutions and in the world to come eternal life We are Heirs with Christ but 't is If so be that we suffer with him that we may be glorified together Rom. 8. 17. Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the World or Life or Death or things present or things to come all are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3. 23 24. But all are not theirs to dispose them or to rule over them they cannot dispose of life or death things to come nor have rule over Paul or Cephas But God doth order and dispose them for their
of them who delivered themselves from exile by voluntary embracing of the allowance of Cyrus and other Persian Kings Their claim also of the Kingdom and power in these Nations as the Saints birthright as freemen of the Common-wealth of Israel and heirs of the whole world with Christ Gal. 3. 29. is alike ridiculous For they are no otherwise freemen of the Common-wealth of Israel than in a Metaphor taking the Church of God for the Israel of God and Church members freemen of the Common-wealth But this belongs to every Christian at least who is really such in the whole world and then if freedom should infer soveraignty they should be Kings because freemen which is a meer non sequitur Gal. 3. 29. speaks not of the inheritance of the whole world but of the promise which is of the spirit v. 14. not of the dominion of the whole world The rest of their arguings are like these as will appear in that which follows § 16. The Reasons and Arguments of Fifth-Monarchy Men for their separation and smiting civil powers are shewed to be vain IT remains now that I consider what I meet with in the writings I have seen for the Quinto-Monarchians separation from and smiting civil powers and acting in the behalf of the Fifth-Monarchy or visible Kingdom of Christ on earth as they term it and the Saints taking it into their possession The reasons of their separation and engaging against all civil powers are in the Banner of truth displayed p. 84 85 86 87 88. Whereof the first is this Because the Fifth Kingdom which is Jesus Christ's and the Saints together with the Lawes and Ordinances thereof is to take place of the Roman Kingdom which is the Kingdom of the Beast and Antichrist with destruction thereto together with all the Lawes and Ordinances thereof Dan. 2. 44. ch 7. 18. 26 27. Isa. 2. 3. 1 Cor. 6. 2. Heb. 12. 28. Answ This is granted and it is in part fulfilled by the setting up of Christs Kingdom by preaching the Gospel and is yet to be fulfilled at Christs appearing of the former of which Dan. 2. 44. Isai. 2. 3. Heb. 12. 28. are meant of the later Daniel 7. 18. 26 27. 1 Cor. 6. 2. None of the texts term civil powers in England the Kingdom of the Beast and Antichrist or the Roman Kingdom nor prove the Fifth Kingdom is to be set up by separation from civil powers or engaging against them which were to be proved and therefore if that which is said to be an undeniable truth among the Saints yet sith those Saints are not infallible and other Saints perhaps doubt of it as judicious as themselves it should have been proved and also their inference thence cleared unless they had been resolved to deceive or remain deceived 2. Because the civil power is that which doth oppose the righteous Kingdom of Jesus Christ not only deteining his right interest title and birthright of inheritance from him as much as in them lies which is as great an evil as if they should effectually accomplish their wicked design but also do make War against the Lamb Christ Jesus and the Saints his followers Rev. 17. 14. Psal. 2. 1 2 3. Are we the friends and subjects of Jesus Christ Why then are we found the friends and subjects of men How can this be Can we serve Christ and Belial Let Saints therefore be convinced of this namely that the civil powers are Christs enemies it is they that labour to prevent the rise and breaking forth of that Kingdom and neer unto the time of its firm establishment their combination will be very high great I saw the Beast which all grant to be the civil or at leastwise the civil and Ecclesiastcal power and the Kings of the earth and their Armies gathered together to make War against him that Sate on the Horse and against his Army Rev. 19. 19. If so then it consequently follows that 't is the Saints great duty to withdraw from this Beast the Kings of the earth their Armies strength and power neither are they upon pain of his highness great displeasure to maintain or help and abet or assist any such Armies or powers who are raised or continued to make War against him lest they be found Traitors secretly assisting his enemies and so fighters against his glory power Crown and Scepter Answer This is a very deep charge but so confused and in Generals that it serves the more fitly to hide the deceit of the accusers it being true Dolus versatur in generalibus their 's guile in accusations which are only in Generals tending to make any suspected or accused against whom they have a prejudice and the more defficult for the accused to defend himself If it be meant of the Popish Prelates and Princes or Mahometan or Pagan it is not denied if it be meant of the Protestant civil and Ecclesiastical powers it should be shewed which of them and in what facts they do those things here charged on them Perhaps they that are accused are not guilty or if they be guilty yet not of such facts as amount to what is here imputed to them Sure every injurious act to a Saint makes not the power an enemie to Christ nor every unrighteous Law or Act which may hinder the progress of Christs Kingdom doth so oppose the righteous Kingdom of Christ as to be construed not only the deteining of his right interest title and birth-right of inheritance from him but also making War against the Lamb Christ Jesus and the Saints his followers much less to be taken for an opposition to Christs Kingdom as much as in them lies and as great an evil as if they should accomplish their wicked design Possibly this opposition which they accuse powers of is nothing else but an opposition to the wild and frantick actings of Fifth-Monarchy Men which if so they rather are to be said to further the righteous Kingdom of Christ than oppose it and the Fifth-Monarchy Men be more truly chargeable with the making War against the Lamb Christ Jesus and the Saints his followers Possibly the Quinto-Monarchians do charge powers with these things only out of uncertain rumors and reports yea perhaps only out of prejudice which is too too frequent though it be but a Divelish practice in many that are reputed Saints Surely these consulters in a secret conventicle where the powers cannot be heard speak for themselves are not competent accusers to arraign and Judges too to condemn their superiors if I may not be allowed to call them their betters This is indeed an intolerable and damnable presumption both to God and Man Nor is there any thing in the texts that is for their purpose the former Revel 17. 14. being meant only of those Kings who received power as Kings one hour with the Beast and give their power and strength to the Beast which sure cannot be meant of the Protestant Princes or Prelates or Powers it being
Champney the validity of their succession by the ancient Canons which the Papists allow nor are the Ministers ordained by the Bishops Priests to offer sacrifice for the quick and dead as Popish Priests nor hath the Common prayer Book the Sacrifice properly so called the adoration of the host invocation of Saints and other rites which make the Masse abominable nor is the Church of England made national as subject to the Pope or communicating with the Roman Church in the Trent doctrine and therefore are not chargeable with the Antichristian forms Church state and worship of Babylon nor the civil powers which require conformity thereto to be judged to compel mens persons to Antichristianism But perhaps we shall find Mr. Tillinghast arguing to better purpose That which I meet with as tending to the justifying of the Quinto-Monarchians way is in the 3. of the 8. sermons published since his death p. 57. of the 3. edition in which he tels his auditors that he did conceive it to be one great article of his and their faith that the work that God doth call his Children to at this day and he calls upon them from Heaven to attend to had been the work of Christs visible Kingdom over the world which he takes for granted nor in that do I at present oppose him though I do not assert such a visible Kingdom as he believes nor do I gainsay his distinction p. 59. Of two parts of Christs Kingdom one of the Stone the other of the Mountain used before by Mr. Mede but deny that in the Kingdom of the Stone the Saints are imployed in a glorious work for Christ to pluck down all that Jesus Christ when he comes may have his enemies his footstool and that the command is beat your Plow-shares into Swords intimating that in the time of this Kingdom there shall be wonderful use of Swords Weapons of War p. 60. But that which I oppose is his speech p. 63. And though this Stone Dan. 2. 34. fundamentally is Christ himself yet considered as smiting the great Image it can be no other but Christ mystical in his members and the cutting out of this Stone cannot be meant as some would have it of Christs first coming for these reasons first because the Kingdom of the Stone it doth arise in the dayes of the ten Antichristian Kings And in the dayes of these Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom What Kings are these These Kings are not the Four Monarchies for the Kingdom of God was not set up in the time of those Monarchies but in the fourth and last only and here is spoken of Kings in the plural Number those Kings therefore are the ten Antichristian Kings which are set forth by ten toes where the work begins and the first stroak is struck and are called the ten Horns in another place and in Dan. 7. Those ten Horns are interpreted ten Kings and in the time of those Kings the Stone is cut out they are the ten Antichristian Kings and if so the Stone cannot be so early cut out as the birth of Christ for that was long before the ten Antichristian Kings had being or existence in the world therefore the Kingdom of the stone must be cut out later Answ These Kings cannot be meant of any other than the Kings and Kingdoms which the Kingdom of the Stone shall break in pieces which are v. 45. the Iron the Brass the Clay the Silver and the Gold and not the toes only and therefore must be meant of the four Monarchies and not only of the ten Antichristian Kings And in the days must be understood Synecdochically one of them as when Jephthab is said Judg. 12. to be buried in the Cities of Gilead that is in one of them Jonah was gon down into the sides of the Ship Jonah 1. 5. that is one of the sides and of which Mr. Mede in his answer to Mr. Hayn hath given more instances and proved it to be meant of the last of those Kings which he determines to be the Roman against Mr. Haynes holding it to be the Kings of Alexanders Successors and that it must needs be referred to Christs incarnation or preaching which he shewes in his exercitation on Mark 1. 15. to have been by Christ himself signifyed when he said the time is fulfilled that is the time foretold Dan. 2. 44. And the Kingdom of God is at hand which the God of Heaven will set up The plural Number notes not the ten Horns for these Kings can be meant of no other than the four Monarchies or Kings which are mentioned in the plural Number not because the Kingdom was set up in all their dayes but in the dayes of the last into which the power of the rest came and by smiting of it they were all broken to pieces Secondly Saith he Because Daniel doth not see the Stone to smite until such time as he had a view and representation of the great Image in all the parts of it before him He saw it all come forth and exist in its state before the Stone smites therefore I conclude that the cutting out of the Stone was not until every part of it was come forth and was in being in the world But if so be we conceive the cutting out of the Stone to be as high as Christs coming then was the Stone cut out long before the last part of the great Image the Iron and the Clay was in being and if the Stone was cut out so long before then did the Stone lye still and not do its work for many hundred years for the very first stroke the Stone strikes is upon the feet of Iron and Clay which it could not do before they were in being Answ If the argument be good from the seeing together of all the parts of the Image to the coexistence of the things represented then all the four Monarchies should exist together because they were represented and viewed together which is absurd 'T is true the Stone was not cut out till all the Monarchies were in being yet it was cut out afore every state of the last Monarchy was in being The Stone is said to smite the Image in the feet not because it began not to smite till the last state and period of the fourth-Monarchy But because the former Monarchies were brought under the power of the fourth and rested upon the fourth as the head and other parts of the body do upon the feet and so by smiting it the Whore is cast down If this reason were good Christs Kingdom should not begin till every part or state of the fourth-Monarchy were existent and then the Saints should not begin to smite till the existence of the last of the ten Kings which is unknown to them and then he could not conclude it must be the work of this generation Thirdly saith he because Daniels smiting stone that he speaks of in the 2. ch and his Ancient of daies siting that
Ex AEd. Lamb. Feb. 29. 1663. Imprimatur Geo. Stradling S. T. P. Rever in Christo Pat. D. Gilb. Archiep. Cant. à Sac. Domest Saints no Smiters OR SMITING CIVIL POWERS Not the Work of SAINTS BEING A TREATISE Shewing the Doctrine and Atempts of QUINTO-MONARCHIANS OR FIFTH-MONARCHY-MEN About Smiting Powers to be damnable and Antichristian By JOHN TOMBES B. D. Matth. 26. 52. Then said Jesus unto him Put up again thy Sword into his place for all they that take the Sword shall perish with the Sword LONDON Printed by R. D. for Henry Eversden at the Greyhound in St. Paul's Church-yard 1664. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EDWARD EARL of CLARENDON LORD CHANCELLOR OF ENGLAND BY Divine Providence declared in my Writings upon His Majesties return into this Kingdom I was engaged in the asserting the Oath of His Majesty's Supremacy which drew upon me a necessity of arguing the point of taking any Oath at all in somewhat an ample Treatise about Swearing which being presented to him it pleased His Majesty to accept of Since which time I have employed much of my study in a Treatise of the Kingdom of God and the seeking it But having made some entrance into it and finding it likely to become too large for the end intended to wit the undeceiving of those who under pretence of setting up the Kingdom of God think it their duty to demolish all present Powers as Antichristian they being persons averse from reading any thing that is prolix I have chosen rather to cut this part out of the whole piece than to stay the finishing of the rest Such as it is I presume to present it to your Honour in humble gratitude for that voluntary unthought of favour towards me which moved you of your own accord and goodness to insinuate to His Majesty your ancient knowledge and later apprehensions of me by which means I have enjoyed that peace which is through His Majesties goodness yet vouchsafed me which I humbly crave your Honour to accept of from Your Honours devoted and deeply obliged Servant in our Lord JOHN TOMBES The Contents § 1. THe Occasion of this Treatise is declared § 2. The words of Quinto-Monarchians expressing their opinions about seeking Christs Kingdom in this Age are recited § 3. Their Doctrine about smiting Civil powers is proved from Scripture precepts to be wicked § 4. The exceptions of Fifth-Monarchy-men and others against the first Argument are refelled § 5. Suppositions implied in the Quinto-Monarchians exceptions about the stone and its smiting Dan. 2. 34 35 44 45. are shewed to be mistakes or uncertainties § 6. Quinto-Monarchians Hypotheses about the Civil Governments being from the 4th Monarchy Rome and the Dragon are shewed to be groundless § 7. More Arguments are urged against Quinto-Monarchians Doctrine from precepts and examples of holy persons § 8. More Arguments are urged from Censures and determinations in the New Testament § 9. Quinto-Monarchians Doctrine of smiting Civil Powers inciteth to resisting of evil and self-revenging forbidden by Christ and his Apostles § 10. Quinto-Monarchians Doctrine tends to Murder and ruine of humane Society § 11. The 9th and 10th Arguments from the meekness peaceableness and patience of Saints are urged against the smiting work of Quinto-Monarchians § 12. The 11th and 12th Arguments from the contrariety of the Martyrs example and agreement with Papists Doctrine and practice are urged against the Quinto-Monarchians § 13. The smiting work of Quinto-Monarchians is grounded on falsities or uncertainties concerning the Agents means and time of the smiting Dan. 2. 34 35 44 45. § 14. Many things are groundless and false which the Quinto-Monarchians suppose and take for Articles of their faith concerning the Fifth Monarchy and its setting up § 15. The claim which the Quinto-Monarchians make to Civil Government on earth in the Saints afore Christ's coming is false § 16. The Reasons and Arguments of Fifth-Monarchy Men for their separation and engaging against Civil powers are shewed to be vain Saints no Smiters Smiting CIVIL POWERS not the work of SAINTS OR A Treatise shewing the Doctrine and Attempts of Quinto-Monarchians to be Damnable and Antichristian § 1. The Occasion of this Writing is declared IT was our Saviors injunction to his Disciples Matth. 6. 33. that they should first seek the Kingdom of God it was his care to direct how they were to seek it to wit by Prayer for its coming preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom suffering patiently for it and living holily according to his Precepts and Example And accordingly the holy Apostles Martyrs Confessors and Believers in Christ have in the several Ages since Christs appearing in the flesh promoted the Kingdom of God by these means Nevertheless to omit other Instances whether of former or later times there hath been a company of men in this Nation noted by the Name of Fifth-Monarchy-men or Quinto-monarchians who have in Sermons and in Printed Writings asserted another way which is like the barbarous proceedings of Turks or bloudy Papists of setting up the supposed visible Kingdom of God by bodily weapons fighting against all the present Civil Powers on Earth as Antichristian and in most cruel manner killing all that oppose them and determining this to have been the Generation work they were to prosecute in this Age. By what degrees and means they came to such monstrous Opinions they can best tell who have been acquainted with them The cursed effects of such Opinions as have been hatched and vented by the men of that perswasion after sundry other attempts before that time frustrated brake out in the beginning of January 1660. in the City of London a small number of men dementate by those Conceits in a most horrid furious manner making a most bloudy Insurrrection in a most violent audacious way not to be parallel'd Those Principles by which they acted and their Practises were to my knowledge opposed some years before in some of the Congregations to which some of the Assertors had joined themselves and they thence solemnly ejected and their Doctrine in the Confessions of Faith of those Congregations and some other Apologetical and Polemical Writings rejected and impugned And after that Insurrection presently those persons who were obnoxious to suspition and obloquy as abettting or fomenting that Attempt by reason of their dissent from the received way of Ecclesiastical Rites and Government did by humble Apologies and otherwise acquit themselves from that crimination Nevertheless having met with some of the Writings of the men whose Principles animated that Rising and fearing that there may yet some sparks of that fire lie unquenched after the publishing of some Writings against the Papists to shew the insufficiency of their proofs for the Truth Visibility Holiness Infallibility of their Church Supremacy of their Pope the certainty of their unwritten Traditions necessity of receiving the Trent Faith and joining to the Roman Church as it is now governed and some other against Quakers about the Light within each man as an
insufficient Rule to guide us to God about the Oaths of the King's Supremacy and Allegiance to him and upon that occasion somewhat an ample Treatise about Swearing asserting That under the Gospel there is yet a lawfull use of swearing being now debarred of other Ministerial imployment I have conceived it a necessary work to shew the weakness of those suppositions upon which the Quinto-monarchians have been drawn to such an hideous practice as that accursed action forementioned was § 2. The words of Quinto-monarchians expressing their Opinions about seeking Christ's Kingdom in this Age are recited THere was a Book printed made in the year 1656. as is noted pag. 18. bearing this Title The Banner of Truth displayed or a Testimony for Christ and against Antichrist being the substance of several Consultations holden and kept by a certain number of Christians who are waiting for the visible appearance of Christs Kingdom in and over the World and residing in and about the City of London In the first page of the Epistle Dedicatory are these words And truly it evidently appeareth that Rome and the Nations of Europe commonly called the Protestant but are the Antichristian Countries which are the streets of the Great City and Rome-Babylon are the Akeldama or Field of bloud And some pages after mentioning powers since the rise of the Beast with ten horns and ten crowns and their success it is said Now for that we apprehend that the present Generation in which we live is that time in which this great work of Reformation rending and tearing the very foundations of the Beasts Civil power up by the roots the fall of the tenth part of Rome's Dominions a great slaughter amongst the great men and implacable Enemies of Christ and the final result the Kingdoms of the world becoming Christ's possession will begin and that time in which the first dispensation of our Lord's Kingdom shall take place and that it shall not pass before these things be fulfilled Therefore we are against these Governments as now constituted and growing upon the old root of wickednesse and bitternesse that time out of mind have brought forth and produced nothing but bloud-Monsters and to Rule by those Laws that Bastards Tyrants and Conquerors have made for their Lusts sake in opposition to the Law and the Testimony Isay 8. 20. We cannot contend for any Government whatsoever that is of Mans erecting building and planting where any thing of this old Foundation may remain and be left and which good men moral men civil men may exercise upon a meerly civil accompt for all men as they are men have lost their rights and priviledges in respect of Government in the first Adam but Saints have regained them in the second Adam or Lord from Heaven and by force and vertue of mens Laws though but the best of those Laws those called fundamental so they are where no more righteous is found for the Lord will pluck up and destroy root and branch and the Lord will not have a stone of Babels confused building for a corner nor a stone for a foundation We cannot therefore but as in duty by our Allegiance to this King bound proclaim That Jesus Christ is the only lawful and true begotten Heir and lawful King and Potentate of these three Nations and of all the Nations of the Earth and as he is the seed of Abraham shall possesse the Earth yea and the very Gates of his Enemies and that the sole Legislative power of the Nations is and doth of right appertain and belong to him and shall be exercised by him Dan. 7. 27. Jer. 10. 7. Isa. 9. 6 7. Gal. 3. 16. c. Hence then it necessarily follows That those beast-like powers now in being in the world and those if any which shall succeed upon that bottom that Rebel-like will not assign their said power Crowns and Scepters to this great Monarch are and shall be deemed and adjudged Traytors and proceeded against accordingly by vertue of this Kings Laws And truly we are soberly and humbly bold in the Lord Jehovah's strength to assert That the Saints of the most High be they who or where they will and faithfull remnant are a people distinct from the world and formal Professors and are but Pilgrims and strangers in this state of affairs men of another Kingdom and World and are by themselves a Common-wealth and Free-State and therefore 't is to be desired from good and sound grounds that they would exercise that Royal Authority which God has given unto them and invested them with as they are Saints by calling And upon this accompt we humbly conceive that 't is lawful for them to use all honest and just means to defend themselves and offend their enemies and to contend against those that do or shall oppose them in their work and business which is according to the pattern shewed unto them in the Mount and Law of Christ ordained and declared throughout the Scriptures It is observable that we are even already arrived the overturning daies we mean those times in which God will begin to smite the Governments and powers of the great Image which is a little after expressed thus the total annihilation and subversion of all the powers of this World of what quality soever ruling either in Antichrists earth or civil State or in his Heaven or Christ-state by the first dispensation of Christs visible Kingdom which we have spoken of or that of the stone Hence it is that we bear a constant and publick testimony against powers as the subject of Gods displeasure and that which must be plucked up We expect the Gentile Saints shall begin this great work In the Book it self having p. 1. said They were resolved to proceed in their way of Consultation for the clearing up these matters of their faith and principles of their hope they thus write That there is oppression in the earth in all Nations as also in England at this present time is undeniable for no man can say that there is no oppression unless we will also affirm that there is no Dragon in power no Antichrist Beast Babylon Whore nor false Prophet which how absurd a thing it is let all judge But the Man of Sin is still in the Seat of Authority the Governments of these Nations are Antichristian therefore oppression is not ceased Neither will there be any lasting Cessation of cruelty untill the fifth Kingdom be set up when the whole Earth shall be at rest and the fourth Kingdom which divides it self into two Iron legs ten toes and a little horn be wholy destroyed in all the Laws Constitutions Governments and Reliques thereof for the Spirit and life that is in that Beast or Kingdom is the Spirit of the old Dragon who is the Devil and Satan that old Serpent whose seed do continually war against the Woman which is Christs Mystical body there being great enmity between them two p. 4. That dispensation which Jehovah by his
hatred as we see and find a Remnant do at this day p. 55. The Lord will use and engage his people to act in and perform such a destroying work upon the world as this work of the stone is namely the total commotion and dissolution of the old Heavens and old Earth and all the created powers ruling therein because it is the decree determination promise and appointment of the Father p. 56. The Lord by these figurative expressions holds forth the dissolution of all old things formal Antichristian Church-state Ordinances Worship Discipline and Doctrine all beast-like wordly Governments Institutions Laws politick Constitutions Powers c. In a word the Heavens and the Earth of all the Nations Isai. 5. 30. p. 57. So that Jesus Christ will admit of no competitors but will have the sole legislative power and exercise of the chief Magistracy and be Lord Paramount over the whole Earth and therefore God is engaged to appear with his smiting Stone to make way for this glorious Mountain of peace p. 59. That all the blood of Gods people is found in Babylon For they i. e. her Civil powers Revel 16. 6 7. have shed the blood of the Saints and Prophets Revel 17. 6. ch 18. 24. 19. 1. Jer. 50. 14. now therefore God by way of recompence retaliation hath ordained that the Saints shall be his instruments by which he will execute his vengeance upon the powers of the World who are all of them Murtherers accordingly God commands his people 't is their duty to obey to reward Babylon double as she rewarded them Revel 18. 6. and they shall give her blood to drink p. 62. The call which the stone shall have to act in its smiting work is for the greatest part thereof now pertinent and fitly applicable to a faithful remnant now extant in England and fulfilled in and upon them and also seeing that the signes laid down in the word of God for the time of the end are in a grâ—at measure now fulfilled and accomplished in Englands Remnant therefore we conclude and assert that 't is lawful and warrantable and is a duty incumbent for captivated Sion and oppressed Saints to stand up in Gods name and fear and deliver themselves and that glorious Gospel of the Kingdom now by them declared to the world from persecution oppression and that long Captivity and Bondage which she hath remained in and to break the Yoak of the oppressor which is now upon her Neck according to the word commandment of the Lord. Zach. 2. 7. Isai. 52. 2. We are perswaded that the work of the Stone is the present work of this generation and our present work and do accordingly exhort the Saints to arise to fall upon the enemy p. 63. The Saints in order to this smiting work shall be converted from all the Civil power and Rule of Antichrist and the ten Horned Beast upon which the mystery harlot sitteth p. 65. That it is their duty to withdraw their Hands Hearts Affections Purses and prayers from the Civil power or power of the Beast that they shall quit all their interest and claim in and to the old Heavens and Earth and state of things shall forsake Father Mother c. And shall convert Houses Lands Possessions and Enjoyments commanded to be prudently beat into Swords and Spears into one common stock to be consecrated for the management of this great Affair p. 66. And in such a practise they shall be no loosers Christ will give them an hundred fold even the spoile of all their great and rich Enemies who are his opposers and in the end an eternal Crown The Saints are with Moses to refuse Court Honour and favor and preferment Egyptians wisdom Learning Revenues and great Riches with David to leave their common duties as matters of small value and little concernment in comparison of this noble and worthy imployment to fight against the Philistines so are the Civil powers or common Enemy to the Common-wealth of Israel p. 71 We do profess we cannot be content or satisfied until Christs Kingdom flourish but will in Gods name and strength press forward till we come to the mark which is the state of the true rest so we call that Kingdom and power where the Saints shall cease from all their labours in and with Christ. p. 69. Doth not the Lord call the Saints to arise also unto the prey p. 71. The work of God against Nations Provinces Universities Corporations Cities Townes Kings Rulers chief Captains mighty Men in Church and Common-wealth Enemies of Christ's Kingly Office shall be the lesson of faithful Saints the true way will be discovered and made plain all Rebels and Traitors open and prophane more close pretenders and formally Godly discovered hatred in and among his Saints against those several parts forms powers of Babylon doleful howling and mourning among the Merchants of Babylon who are the great and rich men whose hearts dwell on the Earth p. 75. The Saints must separate not only from the Romish Universal National Provincial and Diocesan Church-state of Babylon and Antichrist together with their Discipline Doctrine Worship and Ceremonies But also and more particularly which is most properly a work precedent to be done by the Saints in order to the smiting work of the Stone from the national and parochial Parish Church State and assemblies forms and classes of this and other Antichristian Nations which we call the Politick and no more than Civil Stratagem and cunning invention of Antichrist to divide unto himself the whole Land for gain whereby all men to the lowest ranck are compelled forcibly to contribute to the maintenance of his false Prophet and so wickedness is established by a Law Again further from those Churches that are select more pure as being seemingly refined which are the gathered in a pastoral way reducing things to primitive practise so far as they are corrupted and adulterated and found opposers of the Kingly Office of Jesus Christ in and over the whole world and more especial in the Administration of this part or dispensation of that Kingdom to wit that of the Stone or War against his Enemies for even in this generation there be a sort of people and those we hope godly that do acknowledge and wait in the expectation of the later yea and hold forth the personal appearance of our Lord as King yet nevertheless oppose and deny and quite leap over this Stone and its work thereby endeavouring to render the Saints useless and uncapable of destroying Babylon which must make â—way and without which we cannot attain to the peaceable and more glorious Administration of this Kingdom by removing those Mountains Hils and powers of darkness which do oppose and hinder it p. 76. And from those humane heathenish and Antichristian wayes means and helps for the attainment whereof men study which they practise in the Schools and Universities of these Nations as things necessary for the Fitting Preparing
and qualifying a man how carnal soever to be a Preacher of the Gospel as they say And this together with the Offer of some large stipend or yearly salary and fat benefice is their call to Preach therefore we disown and abominate their qualifications and their call as an accursed thing Yet mistake us not we are not against humane learning and the knowledge of the languages but do repute it honourable good and commendable yet when it is abused and the plea of necessity put upon it in that habit we utterly declaim against it as a derogation to the holy spirit and its Office who gave out the Scripture and imprints them in the hearts of the godly for all scripture is given by the inspiration of God and cannot be convincingly and profitably expounded by mans Art and Learning p. 77. Separation is to be from the parochial Church and Hireling Ministry of England their Ordination and Institution After they have for some time been trained up in the Arts and Sciences of Egypt in the Universities they take their several degrees and commencements Masters of Art Batchelors of Divinity or godliness and in case they sit long under the skirts of the great Whore she makes them Doctors in Divinity Men skilful and perfect in Heavenly Mysteries These are those that during the defection and apostacy are the Rabbies which look more after the Fleece than the Sheep Lording it over Gods heritage We therefore are against those degrees Offices Places and their vain which are indeed Blasphemous Titles which they arrogate from God and Jesus Christ the great Prophet and Teacher of his People Gal. 1. 1. Matth. 23. 8. Joh. 3 9 10. Rev. 1. 9. p 79. The enlightened Saints or the more pure and holy part of those called the gathered and which are corrupted Churches in these Nations or elsewhere ought to separate and withdraw from the more grosse dark defiled and corrupted part of the said Churches because there are no Churches or at leastwise very few of the pastoral way in these Nations or elsewhere but have something of Antichrist in them having forsaken apostatized from the primative and first love and have and do in many principles practise strike hands with the interest of Antichrist and mystery of iniquity 2 Thes. 2 3 4. p. 83. Our position we give thus that in this ending time of the mystical numbers wherein the Stone shall arise the Saints must disown and in the strength of God separate from and according to that power which God shall give unto them by his Spirit engage against all and all manner of Civil power of what quality soever now lift up over the whole Earth or any part Kingdom Nation or Corner thereof together with all its dependents Upholders Lawes and Appurtenances whatsoever whose derivation has been from Satan ruling in all the several Parts Powers and Forms of the devouring fourth Beast And which are of and belonging to that Beast though descended into the very lowest last and most refined and pretended Christian-like power of that Beast As having their root and foundation upon Satan the great Dragon p. 81 82. We accompt it a duty for the Saints to separate from all the forms practises Doctrines and spirit of the Antichrist in the world in their Bretheren in the Churches c. And to be plain we accompt him and that spirit which either in act or deed wilfully and obstinately denies the smiting work of our Lords Kingdom Antichristian inasmuch as that such would alwaies have Christ his Saints his cause in and on the earth a sufferer But the Scripture clearly manifests the contrary Agreeably to these positions or rather exceeding them are the speeches of some whether Levellers or Quinto-Monarchians in the first and second part of Pamphlets printed 1648 1649. p. 1. The creature man was priviledged with being Lord over other inferior creatures but not over his own kind for all men being alike Priviledged by birth so all men were to enjoy the creatures alike without propriety one more than another p. 3. The Beast hath its power from the Dragon Revel 13. 4. And the Dragon Revel 20. 2. is the Devil so that it is plain that Kings are of the Beast and the Beast is of the Devil and it is as plain they that worship the King worship the Beast and they that worship the Beast worship the Devil Revel 13. 4. Now let us a little behold our English powers all that which is called Magistracy is from the Kings Patent and his is from the Devil for the Kings Predecessors the outlandish Bastard William came to be King by conquest and murther now murtherers are saith Jesus the Devils Children for saith he the Devil was a murtherer from the beginning and he abode not in the truth Now Kings are utterly against the truth and persecutors of the Saints for saith Jesus they shall bring you before Kings so that Kings are enemies unto the Kingdom of Christ taking licenses and grants patents and Charters from the King is taking the Beasts mark p. 8. We take this power of William the Conqueror to be that little horn in Dan. 7. 24. p. 13. Kings Lords and Commons the little Horn. Part. 2. p. 5. Titles of honour are termed vain titles forbidden by our Saviour as heathenish although some good men were Kings yet it was not in regard to their Office but persons for in that they were Kings they were Tyrants p. 6. It was wickedness in the Israelites in advancing a man one of their own kind in the place of a God and so to Idolize their own flesh above God p. 7. Kings are the worst of men p. 8. Lawyers being worse than the Devil who scorns to take a penny Fees to torment any but will do it freely p. 9. Pharaoh-like they have their Juglers who can play the Hocus Pocus and invent a thing they call Religion like Jereboams Calves who the first invented state worship p. 10. All those oppressors before named do live altogether out of Gods way and in Rebellion to his Lawes first because they live without a calling and so are idle being Vagabonds and wasters of the creatures by drunkenness pride gluttony and so but vermin in a Commonwealth and by their own Law ought to be put into a house of Correction and to be made work Jesus Christ alone is Lord and King over man and all men are equals p. 11. All men are to enjoy alike freedoms and none more than another so that they are equal and none have to do to command another no more than another him but in a joynt union and agreement that any be set up it is but a trusted humane power and they but servants to the whole and may be removed at pleasure p. 13. There are Vice-Kings viz. Those that are Deputies as Mayors in Cities and Towns Corporate that are Kings of patents which patents are meer monopolies and serve to inhance Trading and Commodities in a
lib. 1. c. 6. I rest on that on which after Chrysostom Cajetan Isidor Clarius Aretius Mountagu Gataker and Heinsius Exercit Sacr lib. 5. c. 13. pitch that by reason of the confusion that then was in the Government the High Priests then not succeeding according to the Law of God in the Family of Aaron nor continuing during life but by bribes and evil arts being promoted and removed by the Kings and Governors at pleasure insomuch that as Heinsius speaks it is manifest there was then such Anarchy that dâ—ily as it were they were and were not High Priests Besides Paul's long absence from Jerusalem his unacquaintance with affairs there especially in the government of the Temple and Council of the Jews the place manner of sitting habit not distinguishing him from the rest it may well be conceived that he did not then distinctly know Ananias to be the High Priest nor perhaps one of the Council regularly constituted though it be said v. 1. He earnestly beheld the Council And it to me seems the more likely that he did not perceive him to be High Priest because he directs his speech to them with the same compellations as he did Acts 22. 1. under the titles of Men and Brethren without distinguishing him from the rest or any respective speech to them as a regular Court of justice but as a company gathered together by the chief Captain to accuse and examine him not to judge him Which is the more likely by reason of what he did v. 6. in bespeaking them under the title of Men Brethren and perceiving them to be of different parties he used art to set them at variance and to break up the Assembly in a confused manner which he would not have done had it been a Court legally set However we determin of St. Pauls knowledge of Ananias it is clear that he doth not impute his speech v. 3. to Prophetick liberty as Grotius imagines when he saith in his Annot. on Acts 23. 3. utitur jure Prophetae nor justify it but corrects it and imputes it to his ignorance and adds the command of the Law Exod. 22. 28. For it is written thou shalt not speak evil of the Ruler of thy people following therein the Greek version the whole verse being Thou shalt not revile the Gods that is as is conceived Judges or God nor curse the Ruler of thy People Which being alledged by St. Paul as in force and applyed to himself as thereby condemning his speech of opprobrious and threatning language if it were not excused by his ignorance doth plainly prove that a Ruler of the People though an Ecclesiastick and climbing to the place by indirect means unrighteously judging opposing the truth the Kingdom and Apostle of Christ yet should not be reviled or with menaces terrified or cursed but being in the possession of a Rulers place be regarded in words and actions as a Ruler To which I shall add some more passages of the old Testament St. Pauls allegation of this shewing that they are moral and still binding Christians Eccl. 10. 20. Curse not the King no not in thy thought or conscience and curse not the rich in thy Bed-chamber for a bird of the ayr shall carry the voice and that which hath wings shall tell the matter Eccles. 8. 2. I counsel thee to keep the Kings commandment and that in regard of the Oath of God Out of all which I conclude that the minor of my argument is sufficiently proved that the Doctrine which commendeth and urgeth such disobedience vilifying refusing assistance smiting of Powers whether Civil or Ecclesiastical or military as thâ— words cited by me do is contrary to the Precepts of Christ his holy Apostles and other holy men in the holy Scriptures and consequently damnable and Antichristian § 4. The Exceptions of Fifth-monarchy-men and others against the first Argument are refelled AGainst this Argument which overthrows also the Doctrines of Jesuited Pontificians and other opposers deposers and smiters of Kings and other Rulers there are sundry exceptions taken One exception is that those Precepts were for that time when the Christians were unable to resist But this is prevented by the Apostles words Rom. 13. 5. Ye must needs be subject not only for wrath but also for conscience sake Another that these Precepts tie us to submit to these Rulers and not to resist them till they cease to be Rulers which they do when excommunicate deprived by the Pope But if the Pope be comprehended under every soul as Chrysostom conceived even the Apostles were then the Pope himself is to be subject to Rulers and consequently cannot depose them nor hath the Scripture given this power to the Pope or Man to depose them it being God's prerogative as is said Psal. 75. 7. God is the Judge he putteth down one and setteth up another Another evasion is that subjection is required to Rulers while they are a terror to evil works not to good but not when they oppresse are enemies to Gods People Christ's Kingdom then they cease to be Rulers but this is prevented by the Apostle who saith the Powers that be are ordained of God and therefore to them as they are subjection is to be given and resistence is forbidden by S. Paul But the chief exception is that which p. 51 of the Banner displayd is in these words Now then we say that called the Ordinance of God proves the Ordinance of the Devil and though the Powers of the great Image might be taken for the Ordinance of God so long as they kept their pure civil and unmixed state so saith Paul the Powers that be i. e. the Civil Powers of old Rome tho a bloudy Persecutor and devourer of the Creation and God's Heritage are ordained of God yet when the Power of Rome adulterated from its pure civil state and becomes a mixt Antichristian state the Beast and a Whore then it is said of that beastly Antichristian Power that the Dragon or Satan gave him his power and his seat and great Authority and what then is this save the Ordinance of Hell To which I reply If I understand them aright this is their meaning that the powers of the great Image that is the Kings Emperors and Rulers of the world then ceased to be Gods Ordinance and became the Ordinance of Hell when that was fulfilled which we read Revel 13. 2. which they take for granted was when the Empire of Rome or the ten Kings that arose out of the division of it did give their power and strength as it is Revel 17. 13. unto the beast mentioned v. 11. which it 's without doubt with them to be the Bishop of Romes pretended supremacy dominion Oecumenieal Vicarship by which Christian Religion was corrupted mixed with Paganish and Jewish rites and the ten Kings and their Kingdoms made dependent on the Pope And consequently subjection and assistance is not due to the Civil or Ecclesiastical or Military powers or Laws that now
Judges And yet the evils we have seen are small in comparison of what the Jewes felt by the factions there when Jerusalem was besieged by Titus But the evils which would come on the world by the insurrection of the Quinto-Monarchians if their project did take place would far exceed them their design being an universal destruction of them that oppose them in all the world and when the conscience is perverted there being no stay to mens furious zeal If any say that they would only smite oppressors of the Saints I reply by their own rules they are bound to separate from those Churches which are select and more pure as being seemingly refined which are the gathered in pastoral way reducing things to primitive practise so far as they are corrupted and adulterated and found opposers of the Kingly office of Jesus Christ in and over the whole world and more especial in the administration of this part or dispensation of that Kingdom to wit that of the Stone or War against his enimies for even in this generation there be a sort of people and those we hope godly that do acknowledge wait in the expectation of the later yea and hold forth the personal appearance of our Lord as King yet nevertheless oppose and deny and quite leap over this Stone and its work thereby endeavouring to render the Saints useless and uncapable of destroying Babylon which must make way and without which we cannot attain to the peaceable and more glorious administration of this Kingdom by removing those Mountains Hills and powers of darkness which do oppose and hinder it Banner displayed p. 75. There are no Churches or at leastwise very few of the pastoral way in these Nations or elsewhere but have something of Antichrist in them having forsaken and apostatized from the primitive and first love and have and do in many principle and practises strike hands with the interest of Antichrist and mystery of iniquity 2 Thes. 2. 3 4. p. 79. We accompt it a duty for the Saints to separate from all the forms practises doctrines and spirit of the Antichrist in the world in their brethren in the Churches c. And to be plain we accompt him and that spirit which either in act or deed wilfully and obstinately denies the smiting work of our Lords Kingdom Antichristian inasmuch as that such would alwaies have Christ his Saints his cause in and on the earth a sufferer but the scripture clearly manifests the contrary p. 81 82. now then if men be they never so holy as they hope a sort of people be who oppose deny and quite leap over the Stone and its smiting as they confess there are no Churches or very few of the pastoral way in these Nations and elsewhere but have opposed them yet are Antichristian they by their principles are to smite them and so must oppress Saints as well as others And if any Saints be civil powers Ecclesiastical Rulers Governors in Corporations Graduates in Universities Pastors in Churches as no doubt thousands are who love the Lord Jesus and wait for his appearing and Kingdom yet these must be smitten too And who can secure in such confusions as would arise upon the Quinto-Monarchians smiting work any man yea of their own party from violence and slaughter when there is nothing but rage in private persons whose proceedings are in heat of mad zeal without any distinction by legal trial and just judgment or certain Rule Sure no Tyrants have ever done more mischief than this way of the Fifth-Monarchy-Men would do if it were prosecuted nor is any doctrine more hellish Antichristian and damnable than this that tends to overthrow all the civil powers Lawes Doctrines Forms Degrees Offices in Church and State which these term the spirit of Antichrist in the world And if it were supposed that these furious zelots should accomplish their design after the mixture of hypocrites and the rabble of the worst most foolish men who could hope there would be any peace good order or justice in the world or any remainder of sober men The world would be an Acheldama or field of blood which they impute to the Nations of Europe even the Protestant and the prevailing persons to use their own phrase Blood-Monsters and instead of a visible Kingdom of Christ in the earth a solitude Chaos tohu vebohu as was afore the first creation and the Kingdom of Antichrist or the Devil would be set up under pretence of making Christs enemies his footstool What Lawes Order or Rule tending to further Religion or Righteousness can any expect from men of such cauterized consciences as not to discern the mischievousness of such doctrine and practises as these have vented especially after they have inured themselves to shedding of blood and rapine with extremity § 11. The 9th and 10th arguments against the smiting work of Quinto-Monarchians from the meekness peaceableness and patience of Saints TO these arguments which have been confirmed I shall add a ninth taken from the opposition of spirit and practise which their doctrine begets to the precepts of meekness and peaceablness which the Gospel requires of Christians and to which it assigns blessedness Our Lord Christ in his sermon on the Mount Matth. 5. 5. saith Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth v. 9. Blessed are the peace-makers for they shall be called the Children of God v. 22. He forbids rash anger contemptuous speech and opprobrious language v. 23 24 25. requires speedy endeavours of reconciliation with adversaries nor is it any thing against this precept of Christ that he tels us Luke 12. 49. 51. I am come to send fire on the earth and what will I if it be already kindled Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth I tell you nay but rather division For these expressions do not shew his approbation of division but his foresight of it not as a thing which he affected or as a thing desirable of it self or which he studied to promote but as a thing which he knew was unavoidable in the event that while he endeavoured to promote the truth of the Gospel by accident divisions would follow not from his doctrine which was the Gospel of peace but through the perversness of mens spirits who would oppose it But that it was the will of Christ that all Christian Saints should be meek and peaceable appears from the many precepts injoyning them in the Apostles writings Rom. 12. 18. If it be possible as much as lieth in you live peaceably with all men Rom. 14. 17. For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost v. 19. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace Gal. 5. 19 20. The workes of the flesh are hatred enmities variance wrath strise seditions divisions or factions v. 22. 23. The fruit of the spirit is love joy peace meekness Heb. 12. 14. Follow peace with
hope wherein those whom they believe to be godly oppose them and their violence of spirit beyond all sobriety in moving persons so earnestly to that smiting work in this age upon no better grounds than their own conjecture though they foresaw it would bring common calamity and the bodies and lives of godly persons perish by reason of their opposition to this Stone which shewes they were resolved to smite all that stood in their way though godly as it fell out in the year 1660. Mr. Tillinghast in his first Sermon p. 26. saith the work of Christs Kingdom the glorious beginning of it shall be about the time of the Jewes coming in and p. 39. saith the Lord make us wait on him for his own time and yet Serm. 3. gives signes of its being near even in this generation which he makes it the duty of Saints to observe though not one of the signes is from any Revelation of God but from things which may happen and have without such signification as he would put upon them I omit what Mr. Mede in his letter to Arch-Bishâ—p Usher and in other writings and many others write of the mystical numbers in Daniel and in the Revelation which I would not have slighted so as to give no heed to them it being not in vain that the Holy Ghost hath delivered them to us only this I conceive it very dangerous and unsafe to make them the warrant or motive to such an attempt as the smiting of civil powers or the beginning of any War against the known Rules of scripture and Lawes of civil Government it being in it self wicked shewing bitter furious zeal without the wisedome from above and likely hereafter as it hath done formerly to others to bring destruction of soul and body on the agents and much misery on others whether opponents or neuters § 14. Many things are groundless and false which the Quinto-Monarchians suppose and take as articles of their faith concerning the Fifth-Monarchy and its setting up TO the uncertainties and falsities about the smiting work of the Stone whereby the evil of their attempt is demonstrated I shall next add the uncertainties or falsities of those things which thâ—y make as articles of their faith about the Stones becoming a Mountain and filling the whole earth Where 1. they shew their inadvertency in making Gentile Saints who are but subjects the Stone meant Dan. 3. 34 35. Excluding the Jewes from being the Stone in the beginning whereas the Stone is expresly termed the Kingdom which shall stand for ever v. 44 45. which cannot be understood of the Saints who are subject they are not the Kingdom nor do they stand for ever though they receive a Kingdom that cannot be shaken Heb. 12. 28. But the Stone is Christ the King and his Dominion which must fill the whole earth with Subjects Lawes and Administrations of Rule and Justice which cannot be said of the Saints Gentile or Jewish Which inadvertency causeth them to speak confusedly p. 19 20. and throughout their Book termed the Baaner of truth displayed sometimes terming the Stone Christ sometimes his Kingdom sometime the Gentile Saints sometimes the Jewes joyned to the Gentiles Now the same Stone which smites the great Image becomes a great Mountain and fils the whole earth but this is not true of the Gentile Saints or Jew and Gentile joyned together they become not a great Mountain nor fill the whole earth therefore they smite not the Image 2. That the Stone or fifth Kingdom is an outward visible Kingdom not the spiritual Kingdom which was begun by Christ in the days of his flesh is much insisted on as the chief ground of their faith and hope in this matter But in the Banner of truth displayed p. 20. in answer to the question what this Stone is They say this Stone is called in Scripture the Kingdom of Christ and the Kingdom of Christ this stone Dan. 2. 44 45. Matth. 21. 43 44. which they say hath a twofold dispensation i. e. 1. An internal dispensation or the inward Kingdom which is the Kingdom of Christ in the hearts of his Saints and in and over his Church 2. An external dispensation 1. Of war in subduing and conquering his stubborn enemies and opposers in the world whereby they shall be compelled to yield and shall become subjects though Kings and Princes 2. Of peace upon the earth in and over the whole world which is the new creation and restitution of all things where will be perfection no sin among the Saints immortality no mortal nor corruptible thing where death shall have no sting nor grave victory but all shall be swallowed up in Christs fulness which is victory And for this they cite many scriptures in the margin Now 1. I grant that the stone Dan. 2. 44 45. is the Kingdom of Christ or of God Mat. 21. 43 44. 2. The distinction of the internal external Kingdom is not denied 3. Nor do I oppose the double dispensation of this Kingdom 4. Nor do I deny the description of either dispensation But 1. hence I infer that the stone Dan. 2. 44 45. notes the internal Kingdom or the dominion Christ had by the preaching of the Gospel termed the Gospel of the Kingdom Matth. 24. 14. meant Matth. 21. 43 44. For 1. that Kingdom is meant there and no other which was to be taken from the Jews but that could be no other than the internal Kingdom for no other Kingdom was then among them but it therefore no other is there meant 2. That Kingdom was there meant which was to be given to another Nation meaning the Gentiles but that was no other but the internal 3. That Kingdom is there meant whose fruits were to be brought forth by the Nation to whom it was to be given now the fruits of the Kingdom are expressed to be righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. which belong to the internal Kingdom and therefore no other there meant Which thing is also confirmed by other passages of Scripture as namely that of our Saviour Luk. 17. 20. When he was demanded when the Kingdom of God should come he answered them and said The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation or with outward shew therefore the Kingdom of God meant in the Gospel is not the outward visible Kingdom which the Quinto-Monarchians expect which is also proved from v. 21. where it is added Neither shall they say Lo here or lo there for behold the Kingdom of God is within you or among you which could be no other than the Kingdom set up by the preaching of the Gospel To which is to be added Christs good confession before Pontius Pilate John 18. 36. Kingdom is not of this world if my Kingdom were of this world then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews but now is my Kingdom not from hence Wherein our Lord Christ declares his Kingdom foretold by
18 19. would have Christians to be subject to them for conscience towards God therefore they had a right of Government over them who were infidels even by Gods appointment Yea the Fifth-Monarchy-Men themselves in the Banner displayd p. 51. acknowledge that the powers of old Rome the a bloody persecutor were ordained of God Rom. 13. 1. and therefore even infidel powers have right and priviledge of Government by their own concession And indeed the Apostles determinations 1 Cor. 7. 17 18 20 21 22 24. are plain resolutions that the Christian calling doth neither make men free nor servants nor alter their civil relations but that the Christian is as he was neither better nor worse in that regard 2. If infidels were usurpers of Government then what ever sentence they past it was unjust though it were never so right in respect of the cause it being done by him that was no Judge whereas the scripture makes even the infidel powers Gods Ministers revengers or doers of right unto wrath unto him that doth evil Rom. 13. 4. 3. If they were usurpers then did Christ ill to bid to pay tribute to Caesar to acknowledge Pilates power given him from above John 19. 11. Paul to appeal to Caesar and to say he stood before Caesars judgment Seat where he ought to be judged Acts 25. 10 11. he should not have said I think my self happy King Agrippa because I shall answer for my self before thee this day Acts 26. 2. nor to Felix Acts 24. 10. Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a Judge unto this Nation I do the more chearfully answer for my self he should have declined his audience or sentence as being coram non judice or have termed him a man without any shew of reverence or respect as the Quakers are wont to do or have termed him Antichristian or Babylon as the Quinto-Monarchians do the civil powers now extant In a word no honour should be due to an unblieving Prince though St. Peter bids honour the King 1 Pet. 3. 17. and the arguments urged before Sect 3. should be evacuated 4. If all right and privledges in respect of Government in the first Adam were lost among infidels so as that all infidel judges were usurpers then among them Judges were not unjust though they did not right to the wronged because they had no power and so the Judge who feared not God nor regarded man had not been rightly termed by our Lord Christ an unjust Judge Luke 18. 6. for not avenging the Widdow Nor Pharoah or Abimelech justly punished for not restoring Abrams Wife nor any just War between the King of Sodom and other Kings nor had Ephron the Hittite any just possession of the Cave Abraham bought nor any just contract between Isaac and Abimelech nor did David justly defend Toi against Hadadezer nor is there any justice in contracts or comerce with infidels to be observed nor they capable of doing right or wrong if there be no just legislative power or power of judicatory among them but they bear the sword if not in vain yet unjustly and therefore are ill charged by St. Paul Rom. 1. 28. To be filled with all unrighteousness A third position which with inconsiderate men takes as being in shew agreeable with scripture and tending to Christs honour though as they mean and use it it is both false and pernicious is that Jesus Christ is the only lawful and true begotten Heir and lawful King and potentate of these three Nations and of all the Nations of the Earth and as he is the seed of Abraham shall possess the Earth Yea and the very gates of his enemies and that the sole legislative power of the Nations is and doth of right appertain and belong to him and shall be exercised by him Dan. 7. 27. Jerem. 10. 7. Isai. 9. 6 7. Gal. 3. 16. c. From whence it hath been usual with the men of this persuasion not only to style Christ King Jesus which is his right but also to disavow any other King but King Jesus as if the owning of any other as King in these Nations were indeed a renouncing Christ from being their King Now it is to be granted 1. That the Lord Jesus Christ not only as he is the Son of God but also as man is of right and is to be acknowledged the Prince of the Kings of the Earth Revel 1. 5. To whom all power in Heaven and Earth is given Matth. 28. 18. God hath made him Lord and Christ Acts 2. 36. He is Lord of all Acts 10. 36. Nor is it denyed that the texts quoted do belong to him or that he is the Heir of all the Nations of the Earth as he is the seed of Abraham to whom the promises were spoken Yet the words Daniel 7. 27. mention his Kingdom not till the judgment sit and they shall take away the Dominion of the little Horn to consume and to destroy it unto the end and therefore assert not the exercise of the Kingdom there meant as yet The words Jerem. 10. 7. are impertinently alledged concerning Christs being King of Nations as the seed of Abraham sich they are spoken only of the Divine nature in opposition to the Idols of the Nations The words Isai. 9. 6 7. foretold Christs Kingdom in the daies of his flesh which Christ himself saith was not of this world but such as belonged to him as the Child born of the increase of whose Government there should be no end The words Gal. 3. 16. are true of Christ personal but so also as that they have respect to all believers as Abrahams seed by faith v. 7. 29. and that they are not to be understood of a visible Monarchy acquired by fighting of which the Quinto-Monarchians dream but of the inheritance of the righteousness by faith which should be to all Nations v. 28. in which respect Abraham also is said to be the Heir of the world Rom. 4. 13. 2. It is not to be denied that all Kings ought to acknowledge Christ their superiour and themselves to be subordinate to him and that those who will not acknowledge the holding of their power Crownes and Scepters under this great Monarch and for him shall be deemed and adjudged by Christ as Traitors to him and proceeded against accordingly by him according to his Lawes and the threatning Luke 19. 27. But 1. this will be done by him in such way as he thinks good he hath not made any Saints on earth Judges over Kings whether they be Traitors to Christ or not nor allowed them to proceed against them nor hath he assigned any time wherein he will proceed against them afore the great day of judgment in which he will judge the Saints as well as Kings and will damn them that pretending themselves Saints shall take upon them Christs peculiar Office to judge their Kings and execute judgment that is outrage and murder on their Governours to whom Christ requires
erroneous Revolters from pure worship true doctrine and true Christian conversation in duties of love and righteousness walk on every side that a small number of Saints in profession should have more enemies against them if they did live by themselves on earth as an entire and independent Common-wealth If in Christs retinue there were a Judas can any company of Saints secure themselves from hypocritical members and their treachery Sure the little flock of Christ is more beholding to Kings and Rulers and Laws and Government though with some rigour and persecution than they are sensible of or thankful for as they should be We have seen how unsuccessful endeavours have been to reform Churches to rectify Governments as we desire how like Tinkers work alterations in them have been that while one hole is stopped two are made how many various forms of Government have been devised whereof one hath opposed the other that while they have been hammering on a new frame all hath fallen to pieces every one likely agreeing about what they would not have few about what they would have And therefore it would be more agreeable to the mind of God for Christians now though under many grievances and pressures to subject themselves peaceably even to hard Rulers and as God admonished the Jews in Babylon to pray for their peace for in their peace they should have peace and to seek the peace of them Jer. 29. 7. till God call them out of Babylon by his providence and not either by flying from them as enemies desert their station wherein by their abiding they might perhaps through their good conversation amend them or by their patience pacify them or by reviling provoke them or by conspiracies or tumults incense them against them much less after the Quinto-Monarchians furious manner take up arms to make themselves a Free-state and Lords of the world The fifth position is that Saints regained the rights and priviledges in respect of Government in the second Adam or Lord from Heaven which position is deduced out of the former but is false and pernicious For 1. it supposeth that the rights and priviledges in respect of Government were lost in the first Adam which is before proved false 2. That the second Adam or Lord from Heaven hath regained them whereas there is no Text of Scripture that doth mention that this was the end of his coming into the world to get for himself or for his Disciples the actual regiment or government of the Natitions of the world in an outward manner by making and executing Laws about civil affairs nor was this ever claimed by Christ or his Apostles but when he perceived that they would come and take him by force to make him a King he departed again into a mountain himself alone John 6. 15. and when one of the company said unto him Master speak to my Brother that he divide the inheritance with me he said unto him man who made me a Judge or Divider over you Luke 12. 13. 14. which plainly shews Christs refusal of medling with civil affairs though it were but by speaking for one brother to another yea and his disclaiming any civil office or judicature as not belonging unto him And his whole estate of life and deportment in the daies of his flesh was altogether incongruous to a civil government or rule nor did he ever disturb Herod Pilate the high Priests or Elders of the Jews about their government but only he once drave the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple by special instinct and rode on an Asse into Jerusalem to shew his right as the Son of David and freely reproved the wickedness of the Jewish Rulers and Pharisees yet still requiring those that were healed of leprosy to go to the Priests and shew themselves to them for a testimony to them that he was not against the observance due by the Law to them It is indeed said Rom. 14. 9. That to this end Christ both died and rose and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and living But this cannot be meant in respect of civil government on earth and the rights and priviledges thereof but the spiritual rule he hath over them now and the great dominion he shall have at the universal Judgment when at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow of things in Heaven and things in earth and things under the earth and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Phil. 2. 10. 11. yea this thing was the very stumbling block of the Pharisees by reason of which they denied his Kingdom and his being the Messiah because he did not take upon him civil rule nor by human forces subdue the Romans as David the Philistines but by invisible power cast out Divels healed diseases rebuked storms and multiplyed loaves and did such other acts and gave such laws as were altogether unsutable to the King and Kingdom which they fancied and expected So that this conceit of Christs regaining the rights and priviledges in respect of Government which was lost in the first Adam meaning the outward visible government of the world in respect of civil affairs is but a Jewish opinion altogether disagreeing with Christian Doctrine It is true that the Apostles minds did oftentimes hanker after it contending sundry times who should be chiefest among them and the two brethren James and John by their Mother asking the two nearest places to Christ in his Kingdom but they were checked by Christ expresly telling them that to sit at his right hand or his left was not his to give but for whom it was prepared of his Father Matth. 20. 23. shewing thereby that in his present state he had no such Kingdom or Throne as they dreamed of nor was to have nor the disposal of such places as they ambitiously sought but told them of their suffering afflictions and to all his Apostles said Ye know that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them and they that are great exercise authority upon them but it shall not be so among you v. 25 26. yea when they would know who should be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven he called a little child unto him and set him in the midst of them and said verily I say unto you except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 18. 1 2 3 4. declaring plainly that all affecting government and superiority in this world was contrary to his Kingdom and therefore the monstrous ambition of Quinto-Monarchians of getting into their hands the Kingdoms of this world is as contrary to Christianity as bitter to sweet darkness to light or rather indeed Antichristian or Babylonish being under another disguise the same with the Popes claim of Universal Monarchy as Vicar of Christ of having both
If Saints have the rights and priviledges in respect of Government then those only have power to make Governors as Kings and their Officers who make Saints especially Preachers Ministers and Pastors of Churches But the Scripture makes this no part of a Ministers work he is not to intangle himself in affairs of this life 2 Tim. 2. 4. this is never intimated to have been done or that it should be done they are said to be of God his ministers not the Ministers of the Saints or Pastors of Churches nor did ever any pretend it to be the right of Church Officers to constitute Kings and civil Governors till the Popes of Rome usurped that power to create the Emperors whose Predecessor Gregory the great acknowledged the Emperor Mauricius to be his Lord and the like was done by other Popes to the Emperors of Rome until the time of Hildebrand named Gregory the seventh whom Becket in England followed taking upon him to annul the English Laws and asserting the Kings power to be from the Church 17. If the rights and priviledges in respect of Government be the Saints then they cease to be Governors when they cease to be Saints and so the opinion heretofore charged unjustly on Wickleff that a Prelate or Prince falling into mortal sin should be disavowed which is even by Romanists decried then might those that have power to excommunicate and to declare them Hereticks Apostates depose them yea then should Princes be at the mercy not only of Popes but also of every Ecclesiastical Consistory yea they themselves should be bound in such cases to lay down their Government and Ecclesiastical Rulers and godly persons to abandon them as being no Governors of right because no Saints which would make Governments which are the great supporters of human society to be the weakest and silliest invention among men not like the Ordinance of God by whom Kings reign and Princes decree justice Prov. 8. 15. but rather a device of Idiots bring the greatest confusions and mischiefs incident to human affairs deter infidel Princes to become Christians if they see they must possesse their Dominion at the will of Ecclesiasticks with many other great absurdities We find in Scripture Kings have deposed Priests as Solomon did Abiathar by Gods allowance but no where Priests to have deposed Kings with any approbation This hath been but of late a thing hatch'd at Rome and fetch'd from Hell 17. If the Saints have the rights and priviledges in respect of Government regained in Christ then is temporal dominion founded in grace But that is not true sith it is given out of common providence for the good of human society not out of special love to the Saints For it is one of the things that is for the benefit of the bad as well as the good as the shining of the Sun and the falling of the rain Matth. 5. 45. and therefore the benefit of it is sometimes denied to the good and granted to the bad so that in these things all are alike one event is to the righteous and the wicked Eccles. 9. 2. 18. If government of others were the Saints right God would not have made Saul King nor David acknowledged him King over Israel nor adjudged him to death that slew him nor would God have termed Cyrus his Shepheard Isa. 44. 28. his anointed Isa. 45. 1. nor Daniel have said to Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 2. 37. thou O King art a King of Kings for the God of Heaven hath given thee a Kingdom power and strength and glory or to Darius O King live for ever Dan. 6. 21. 19. If the Saints have regained in Christ the rights and priviledges in respect of Government then all offices of government or some only if all then every Saint is of right a King and so a King by inheritance succession or election is no more a King than the meanest Saint yea than a child if a Saint and so no wo when the King is a child contrary to Eccles. 10. 16. then one person hath no more right to an office than another which would introduce anarchy and take away all government which is indeed the event to which Fifth-monarchy-mens principles and actings tend under shew of the Saints right to put power into the hands of the most violent Spirits whereby all orderly government will be demolished and tyranny of a few with the common robbery of all promoted If some only have rights to some offices and priviledges in respect of government who shall distinguish how shall the right of each be tried what Court shall there be to decide controversies of this kind Is there any that hath discerning of Spirits to find out each ones fitness Is there any Oracle of God any Priest by Urim and Thummim who can declare what is to be done Sure such devices are not of God but of Satan which tend to unsettle things placed in order and involve men in inextricable difficulties not to be avoided without a miracle Lastly If the Saints have regained rights and priviledges in respect of Government in Christ then are those unjustly debarred from them who are Saints But the Quinto-Monarchians in their Banner of truth displayed do not only declare the Saints are to separate from the Romish Universal national Prelatical Parochial Presbyterian Churches but also from the congregational Churches though they hope godly if they oppose them or concur not with them in their smiting work though they be brethren in the Churches yet they accompt him and that spirit which either in act or deed wilfully and obstinately as blessed be the Almighty they did both before by the Quinto-Monarchians own confession and in the year 1660 denies the smiting work of our Lords Kingdom as they pretend it to be though it be but their own work and for themselves moved by their own Phrenetick fury or intemperate blind zeal Antichristian terming them formally godly if they be not as violent as themselves and degrading them as if they had no sanctity who are not sâ—â—dementate as themselves which shews that they account them only for Saints that are of their spirit and mind and appropriate the rights and priviledges in respect of government to those of their party excluding those who join not with them though confessedly godly and brethren for whom they cannot deny Christ hath regained as much as for themselves which shews their injustice if not hypocrisy and overthrows their assertion that the Saints as Saints have regained in Christ the rights and priviledges in respect of government sith they will have no Saints but their own party to have regained them The sixth position to which all their consultation and doctrine tends and which is indeed the venom and poyson of all their tenents boyled up to the heigth is that the Kingdom and power in these Nations is the Saints birthright as freemen of the Common-wealth of Israel and heirs of the whole world with Christ Gal. 3. 29. whence 't is that
expresly declared by the Apostles Acts 4. 25 26 27. to have been fulfilled in the conspiracy of Herod and Pontius Pilate the Gentiles and Princes of Israel putting Christ to death The other text Revel 19. 19. is confessedly meant of Christs enemies that shall be near the time of the rise of the Kingdom of Christ and therefore is madly applied to a duty of Non-assisting or ressisting present powers It 's against all Rules but those of frayes when Tinkers and Pedlers and the rabble Rout fall to fighting to strike Richard for Robert to oppose the present powers in this Generation the civil and Ecclesiastical because the Beast and the Kings of the earth and their Armies shall be gathered together to make War against him that sate on the Horse and his Army No marvel men that thus argue should hate Lawyers and Universities which would hisse out such Law and Logick no marvel godly Brethren desert them when they vent such things as befit Devils rather than Saints and better agree with the doctrine of Hell than of the Church of Christ to whom that may be applied which Christ saith Revel 2. 9. I know the Blasphemy of them which say they are Jewes and are not but are the Synagogue of Satan As for us who have not known the depths of Satan as they speak we judge we may be friends and subjects of men even such as do oppose the righteous Kingdom of Jesus Christ if we do not concur with them nor love nor favour nor yeild obedience to them in that opposition we may be subject to them in the things of men though we oppose them according to our duty as did the three Children Dan. 3. 16 17 18. in the things of God when they act contrary thereto Nor need we fear to be charged with serving Christ and Belial or being found secret or open Traitors to Christ while we assist them in matters of civil Government and good order of Churches though they be adversaries to some truths we hold or some practises which we conceive and perhaps are our duty The power is not Belial alwaies when those that have the power be men of Belial A believing servant may serve with a good conscience an unbelieving Master enough hath been said of this before I am ashamed that any that hath the name of a Protestant or Saint should thus argue and it is altogether inexcusable in these men who acknowledge in this their writing that the persecuting powers in the Apostles dayes were the Ordinance of God to which Christians should be subject Rom. 13. 1. 3. Say they because the very life well-being rest and happiness of the Saints both in the external and internal sence consisteth and is laid and wrapt up in the Kingdom of Christ which is granted they add and not in this Kingdom of Antichrist and Babylonish state which is a filthy and polluted thing Heb. 11. 26 27. 2 Pet. 3. 13. But how doth it appear that the present civil powers are the Kingdom of Antichrist and Babylonish state or that owning or assisting them is resting in such a Kingdom or state Sure Heb. 11. 26 27. 2 Pet. 3. 13. there 's not a word to prove that which they take for granted yea we may perhaps better retort this reason and say it is the happiness of Saints to separate from these Fifth-Monarchy-men who instead of the Kingdom of Christ would bring us into the Kingdom of Antichrist and Babylonish state by inciting us to separate from and smite civil powers and charge them as denying the power and authority of Christ who would have to Caesar the things of Caesar given even from this their own speech of forbidding us to be under the power of men which is Gods Ordinance Rom. 13. 1. And though the followers of Christ ought to travel and cry and be restless until the man-child be brought forth to rule the Nations and until Zions righteousness go forth as brightness and her salvation as a Lamp that burneth Mic. 4. 10. Isa. 62. 1. c. yet are they not to give their goods or to use their endeavours to further the Quinto-Monarchians project Nor do the words Micah 2. 10. warrant them to relinquish powers which be over them but we may justly exhort all holy persons in the words of Moses Numb 16. 24 26. Get you up from about the Tabernacle of the Quinto-Monarchians who are seditious against their Governors as Corah Dathan and Abiram were depart I pray you from the tents of these wicked men though pretended Saints and touch nothing of theirs lest ye be consumed in all their sins 4. Say they Because 't is prophesied of the Saints that they shall take the Kingdom power and dominion from the Beast Dan. 7. 18. 26. we therefore conclude that 't is a duty incumbent upon the Saints of the later daies to endeavour the translation of the Kingdom and power from the Beast to Jesus Christ else how shall they fulfil the Word of God which is a sure word of prophecy now how can Saints be instrumental in this great work except they first perform this act of separation which being done renders them in a great measure ready for that which follows Answ It is prophesied of the Saints of the most High that they shall take the Kingdom and possess the Kingdom for ever even for ever and ever But it is not said that the Kingdom they shall take shall be the visible Kingdom on earth after or towards the time of the end of the fourth or Roman Monarchy or that the Saints are the Gentile Saints or the Gentile Saints of this Age or this Island or of the City of London or that they shall take it from the Beast or that the Beast is the civil power of England or that they shall take it by their separation or smiting work or that the Saints shall take away the Dominion of the Horn to consume and to destroy it unto the end by some fighting Act of theirs or any such as the Quinto-Monarchians design But in the reading and meaning of those words there is so much difficulty and uncertainty that no sober person would ever have made such an inference as these men make from it For first it is not very certain whether the fourth Beast be the Kingdom of the Seleucidae or the Roman Kingdom though I incline to the later 2. It is uncertain whether the little Horn be Antiochus Epiphanes or the Roman Papacy though I incline to the later 3. Nor is it certain that it is to be read the Saints of the most High shall take the Kingdom which I follow with our interpreters the same persons being to take the Kingdom who are to possess it for ever and not as some read they shall take the Kingdom of the Saints of the most High meaning the four Beasts shall take the Kingdom of the Jewes 4. Nor is it certain that v. 26. when it is said they shall take away his
he speaks of in the 7. ch they must of necessity be one and the same they are contemporary for they do one and the same work the very work that is done by the one is done by the other The stone smites the toes of the fourth Monarchy and Daniels Ancient of daies sitting casts down the Thrones and Judges and destroys the fourth Beast here 's one and the same work therefore they are one and the same time the time of the cutting out of the stone is the same with the time of the sitting of the Ancient of daies Now if they are the same in time the stone cannot be cut out so high as Christs first coming for the Ancient of daies sitting it's clear it is not till the ending time of the fourth Monarchy then comes the Ancient of daies and sits in judgment and casts down and destroys the beast and not before therefore the cutting out of the stone cannot be the first time but at the close of the fourth Monarchy Answ. The casting down of the Thrones is not the putting down of the Thrones of the ten Kings but in allusion to the manner of settling or placing seats for the Sanhedrin to sit on it is said the Thrones were set as it is observed by Mr. Mede Comment on Reâ— 20. and the Ancient of daies did sit or v. 26. But the Judgment shall sit which is the same with Rev. 20. 4. And I saw Thrones and they sat upon them and judgment was given unto them Now the time of the sitting Dan. 7. 9. is the time when one like the Son of man came with the clouds of Heaven and came to the Ancient of days and they brought him near before him And there was given him dominion and glory and a Kingdom that all people nations and languages should serve him which to be referred to the time of Christs second coming when all rule and authority power shall be put down and every knee shall bow to him is intimated by our Lord Christ himself allusively to this of Daniel expressing his second coming by the coming in a cloud Luke 21. 24. in the clouds of Heaven Matth. 26. 64. If then the stone be not cut out till then it will not be cut out till Christs second coming and so no smiting work till then which is absurd and contrary to this Authors own tenet But neither is it true that the Ancient of days sitting and the stones smiting do one and the same work if by the same work be meant the same numerical action the Agents being not the same the sitting is of the Ancient of daies who is not the same with the stone but he that cuts out the stone or the God that sets up the Kingdom If it be meant of the same work that is the same event fact or accomplishment then there 's no necessity that they should be contemporary that is in the same age as the building of the Temple was the same work yet not the time of laying the foundation and finishing it the same the raising up the fourth Monarchy was the same work yet not the several governments of it contemporary and in like manner the demolishing of it is the same work yet part of it to be done by Christ at his first coming and part at his second and so the cutting out of the stone may be at his first coming and the sitting of the Ancient of daies at his second and it 's not necessary that the Fifth-Monarchy should begin at the later end of the Fourth Monarchy or the smiting work be the overturning the Thrones of the Kings to be performed by the Saints as chief instruments in the management thereof nor doth it follow of necessity there must be such a thing as the civil and military power to be in the hands of the Saints and that before the day of Christs appearance for the performance of that work which is the thing he contends for and endeavours to prove by these eight reasons First Because the work of breaking the great Image is done by the stone cut out of the Mountain it 's not done by mountains considered as mountains it 's not done by Nations considered as Nations Kingdoms considered as Kingdoms for then it would be done by the Mountain but it 's done by a stone cut out of the mountain by a people pickt out by God himself out of the Nations and Kingdoms of this world formed and united together by God himself which shall fall upon the great Image and break it to pieces i'ts these that do this work and further it 's cut out without hands Dan. 2. 34. 45. that is without worldly powers but more immediately by God without the hands of men It s clear it shall be by the Saints as chief principal and leading instruments because they are called the stone in relation to the Lord Jesus Christ called a stone of whose nature and image the Saints are partakers not so the Nations between whom and Christ there 's no agreement Answ. This reason proves not the Saints to be meant by the Stone nor that they are to break the Image but the contrary For they are not cut out withâ—ut hands but are begotten by men in the ordinary way of generation nor if this Authors way should be meant of smiting the Image by civil or military power should they break the Image without hands but with hands not is there a word in the Text that shews the Saints to be meant by the Stone much lesse the Saints of the later times of the fourth Monarchy or of this Nation or that it excludes Kings who may be Saints and Christs instruments to break the Image for they may be Saints and if not instruments of Christ as Cyrus was to break the Babyloman Monarchy and to restore the Jews and therefore there is no consequence in this reasoning which is out of figurative expressions to proper though the thing be not interpreted so but only imagined by this Arguer without any cogent reason It 's done by a stone cut out of the mountain therefore by a people pickt out by God out of the Nations for neither doth the Text expound mountain by the Nations and Kingdoms of this world nor by the Stone a people pickt out but the stone may be meant of Christ personal or his Kingdom as the text explains it and he be cut out that is formed without hands in his Mothers womb as when David said he was curiously wrought in the lower parts of the earth Psal. 139. 15. and the Kingdom cut out of the Mountain that is set up among men without hands by the God of Heaven by the preaching of the Gospel and by the power of his spirit Zech. 4. 6. The 2. reason from Dan 7. 21 22 25 26 27 is the same with the 4. in the Banner displayed and is fully answered before in this section The 3. reason is That Generation of men shall destroy the
Kingdom of the Beast in the time when his Kingdom is to be destroyed that did bear witness against the Beast for Christ all the time his Kingdom stood This is grounded upon Revel 11. Which tels us that the witnesses for 1260 dayes prophefied in the end of this time they are kil'd by the Beast they rise up again and rising up they knock the Beast down for immediately thereupon the tenth part of the City fell and there was a great Earth-quake there were slain of men seven thousand and great fear fell upon all the rest and they gave glory to the God of Heaven this is not done by worldly powers but the witnesses therefore they that have born witness against the Beast shall give the deadly blow to the Beast Answ. If this reason were good it should be done by the Saints that have been not by those that shall be by them risen again not to be born hereafter by them that have born witness all the time the Beasts Kingdom stood not by them that only stand up near the time of the end it shall be done by supernatural or prophetical power not by civil and military which this author contends for In a word in all this there is nothing but uncertainty concerning these witnesses who they are whether already existent or future the Beast meant the time of their prophesying and the event and the manner and means of its accomplishing and therefore this proof is ignoti per ignotius of a thing unknown by that which is more unknown which is vain Fourthly saith he The Angel that enlightens the earth with the glory of the truth of the Lord that is that Angel or instrument that shall ruin Babylon Rev. 18. 1. But the earth hath not been enlightened with the glory of God by the generation of the world but the world hath been enlightened by the generation of the faithful that God hath revealed his truth to and this Angel that enlighteneth the earth with the glory of God gives the deadly blow unto the Beast there where light comes forth God will carry on the work by those hands Answ. The Angel is another Angel therefore not the generation of the faithful coming down from Heaven therefore not a man having great power therefore not using humane Weapons enlightens the earth with his glory it is not said with the truth or glory of God nor enlightening men by revealing Gods truth to them nor that he gives the deadly blow to the Beast but only that he cried mightily with a strong voyce saying Babylon is fallen therefore this proves not that a company of private Saints in the ending time of the Fourth-Monarchy shall destroy it by a military or civil power yea if where light comes forth God will carry on the work by those hands all the preachers of the truth shall be instrumental to the ruin of Babylon and that by preaching not a company of private Saints by fighting The fifth reason from Revel 18. 6. is fully answered before sect 9. The 6. is The work of God against Rome shall be so mannaged as there may be singing of Hallelujabs in the Churches for the carrying it on this is clear from Revel 19. 1. But now if this should be done only by the clattering of a company of Nations falling upon the Beast and ruining him what singing would there be in the Churches for this What would there be more in this then in the work of Cyrus destroying Babylon or in Alexanders destroying the Medes and Persians Monarchy or in the Romans destroying the Grecians Monarchy For that was a part of Gods decree as well as this what should the people therefore now sing Hallelujahs more for more than in those times But because of the difference of the instruments things done in a more holy sanctified way to a more pure end and there shall be more of the Image of God appear upon those that shall do this work now and therefore they shall sing Hallelujahs otherwise the work did not go beyond the work that had been done before Answ. When the work of destroying Babylon was done by Cyrus there was singing of Hallelujahs as was foretold Jerem. 51. 1. and that because it was the work of God who ever were the instruments And indeed that is the reason expresly given Revel 19. 1 2. not this which is here imagined contrary to the express text Revel 17. 16 17. yea it is more joyous to the Saints and more redounds to Gods glory that he ruines Babylon by those that did support her as that by death procured by Satan God destroyed him that had the power of death And this was Gods way in destroying the former Monarchies and therefore is more likely to be his way in destroying this not a work by other meanes then the former though exceeding or going beyond it in the conspicuity of it and consequents of it and therefore occasioning more praise to God and not for the holiness of the instruments which the text mentions not Seventhly saith he The Kingdom of the stone when it comes to smite Rome then shall be in it a resemblance as it were of the reign of Christ and the glory of the Kingdom of the Mountain therefore it is said in v. 6. For the Lord God omnipotent raigneth which could not be said if the work were done by a company of carnal Nations and yet this is before the end before Christs coming for after this appearance we have the Bride making her self ready and the Kings of the earth come together to destroy the Bride preparing for her Husband and then you have Christ coming forth in his fury destroying his enemies and rescuing his Bride But before that day there shall be such a glorious appearance in the world and such power in the hands of the people of God that it shall be said when men look upon it The Lord God omnipotent raigneth the Lord Jesus Christ who is King of the world and King of Saints raigneth therefore it shall be done by Saints as leading instruments Answ. Such an acclamation is usual upon any glorious work of God as Exod. 15. 18. and in the Psalms often and therefore it is but a vain conceit as if that speech could not be used unlesse the Saints were leading instruments In this book of the Revelation we have acclamations where no act is expressed of the Saints as Rev. 4. 8 9 11. and 5. 9 10 12 13. and 7. 12. and 11. 15 17. and 12 10. and 15. 3 4. and 16. 5 7. 'T is granted that before Christs coming upon the ruin of Babylon there will be occasion of the acclamation Rev. 19. 6. but not because private Saints shall destroy Babylon by their smiting work but because Gods power and might is thereby manifested and the dominion of God will be thereby promoted Eighthly saith he Look through the old and new Testament where ever we have a description of the persons that shall do the
glorious work of God at the last day and you shall ever find them described and characterized as Saints as Zech. 9. 13 against thy Sons O Greece that is against the Turkish power Obad. 18. 21. when all his enemies are brought down and become his footstool then shall he come forth and take the Kingdom and the Kingdom shall be the Lords sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool then the Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion rule thou in the midst of thine enemies there 's the coming forth of Christ when his enemies by his Saints are made his foot-stool Micah 4. 11 12. Thou shalt beat in pieces many people Jacob is his battle ax Jer. 51. 20. Rev. 15. 2 6. Rev. 14. 1 2 3 4 5. Answ. Psal. 110. 1 2. it is not said by the Saints Christs enemies are made his foot-stool nor Jer. 51. 20. is meant of Jacob but of Cyrus or the King of Babylon as Mr. Gataker in his Annot. Zech. 9. 13. Obad. 18. 21. Micah 4. 11 12. if meant of a time to come is to be verified of the Jews and not of Gentile Saints Rev. 14. 1 2 3 4 5. if the same with Revel 7. 4. is meant also of the Jews if of others neither there nor Rev. 15. 2. is any act ascribed to them but acclamation to God for his work why the seven Angels Rev. 15. 7. should be any other than holy spirits I see no reason and therefore this reason is impertinent and none of them prove that which he undertook To the objection from Rev. 17. 16. that the horns shall do it he answers the meaning is this that the ten horns as conquered to the Lamb and the power of them being gotten into the power of the Lamb so shall the horns be turned against the Whore which we cannot see at present I reply this is enough to prove that they be not Saints as Saints that shall burn the Whores flesh with fire that Saints shall not do it without Kings and therefore are not to attempt it without them much less to destroy them that they are rather to serve them and to acknowledge what they have done and may see though they see not all done they would have done If for present they see not the horns ruled by the Lamb the seeing of which only prejudice hinders neither do we see such Saintship in the Quinto-Monarchians as by their own rules should qualify them for the smiting work or setting up Christs Kingdom but rather such a spirit as tends to ruine it To the objection from John 18. 36. he saith my Kingdom is not of this world that is of this Monarchy all the world being put for the Roman Monarchy Luke 2. 1. whereto I reply Christ saith his Kingdom is not of this world in opposition to from above as is manifest from John 8. 23. and the phrase not from hence and his proof from his servants not fighting for his rescue which is sufficient to shew that his Kingdom should not be from his Servants nor by fighting nor is the particle now used to intimate that either his Kingdom should be from hence or his servants fight but only is used to declare his present state without intimation of any thing concerning the future as John 9. 41 c. He then adds something about the signs of the nearness of the Kingdom and omitting the computation of the time from the numbers left us in Scripture which I have considered before sect 13. there are ten signs set down of the nearness of it taken from accidents and observations of men favourers of his opinion and opponents of it with his judgment concerning them and their signification none of which but may happen and have happened concerning other things which have failed and been found mistakes in the conclusion and being not certain evidences or prognosticks as miracles prophesying and such like signs I therefore let them pass as things either false and perhaps unrighteous censures or uncertain and unfit for mine or any mans examination or judgment but Gods only and contenting my self to have demonstrated that the holy Scriptures yield them no warrant to separate from or engage against the civil powers set over them I shall commend this work to the Lord for his blessing praying God to teach those who have been or are led away with the Quinto-Monarchians opinion to prove all things and to hold fast that which is good 1 Thes. 5. 21. FINIS Errata PAg. 7. l. 39. r. and God's p. 17. l. 2. d. to p. 19. l. 4. r. Judge p. 25. l. 7. r. to determin p. 27. l. 3. r. Dan. 2. p. 45. l. 13. r then p. 45. l. 7. r. our p. 51. l. 39. r. heat p. 57. l. 25. r. it is p. 60. l. 28. d. time p. 65. l. 2. r. and agreement l. 32. r. danger p. 84. l. 22. r. oppose p. 90. l. 10. r. an l. 41. r. spiritual p. 94. l. 6. r. reins p. 111. l. 10. r. there 's p. 102. l. 4. these words are to be inserted who oppose the Beast if the Beast be the Pope and Papacy The next Psal. 2. 1 2 3. cannot be meant of the Protestant Princes or Prelates p. 111. l. 40. r. whole See Dr. Homes Resur reveal lib 7. ch 3. â—ee Bp. â—aveant's â—eterin 30. p. Anâ—rew's esp ad â—ellarm polog 13. p. 99.