Selected quad for the lemma: law_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
law_n	king_n	power_n	will_n	7,770	5	6.4590	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91321	The out-cries of the poor, oppressed, & imprisoned; or A safe way to free the poor of this city and the whole nation of England, from begging and starving. Presented to the Council of Officers, Nov. 24. by William Pryor, and Thomas Turner. To which is annexed, A plea for the poor and helpless, against the enemies of their peace. By William Pryor.	Pryor, William.; Turner, Thomas, advocate of reform.	1659 (1659)	Wing P4132; Thomason E1010_23; ESTC R205529	9,498	16

World now Christ is smiting the Image of the beast on the feet what stumbling blocks the Emissaries of the man of Sin the Adversary to Truth and Peace casts in the way of the People of God into whose hearts God hath put it to fullfil his will that if possible they may be either induced to a confederacy with those that God hath appointed to utter ruin or else laying before them the want of Power I shall for brevity-sake take it for granted that it's Gods great design to smite the Image of the Beast in pieces Now the Particulars considerable are First What the Image of the Beast is in general Secondly To define by the Scriptures of Truth it 's Particular branches Thirdly To demonstrate how they are to be broken and by whom In Answer to the first of these what the Image of the Beast is in general These particulars are considerable First what the Beast is Secondly to define the word Image Thirdly to answer the Question First The Beast is the several Rulers of the World that keeps man in subjection contrary to the rules of Christ Jesus this might be demonstrated by a Cloud of witnesses denying Christ to be only Lord Jude 4. For which the Jews was destroyed in the Wilderness after delivered out of Egypt vers 5. And the Angels reserved in chains of darkness vers 6. The Priests for changing the Ordinances of the Lord Mal. 1.6 are made contemptible and base Chap. 2. vers 9. Such are compared to Brute Beasts by Jude vers 10. From all which I thus reason that those that deny Christ Jesus to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords are Beasts But those that leave the Laws of Jesus and establish their own fancies for Laws and compel subjection thereto denies Christ Jesus to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords Therefore they that leave the Laws of Jesus and establish their own and compel subjection thereto are Beasts And those Beasts in conjunction in their own Laws against the Laws of Jesus compleat the power of that Beast that ascended out of the bottomeless Pit spoken of Revel 13. Secondly For the word Image it hath only one general signification in Scripture it signifies Ruling or commanding see a proof of this Gen. 1.26 Let us make man in our Image saith the Lord and in the next words demonstrates how viz. Let him Rule or have Dominion over all Creatures c. Daniel interprets the word Image so Chap. 2.38 Christ is said to be the express Image of the Father Ruling all things c. So that the Answer to the Question is plain before us to all unbyassed understandings that the Image of the Beast in general is all those Laws that are established by the Beastly Powers of the world that are opposite to the Laws of God and of his Christ by the establishment of which Laws the Kingdomes of this World are said to he the Kingdomes of men Ruled by mens Laws administred by Ministers of mens appointing such as are ready to serve their wills and lusts by which the poor are trampled on and perish as at this day and Justice is turned away backward and truth faileth and he that seeks after Justice makes himself a prey and the Assyrian the politick vailed oppressor by heathenish institutions is upheld in his oppression c. by means of which the poor of the Lord are exposed to woful miseries some starved to death in their houses for want of bread others in the streets for want of harbor and others perish in prison and some rather than expose themselves to politick fury of heathenish instruments and institutions choose rather to leave their native country and sell themselves slaves into remote parts me-thinks the consideration of these should make hearts of flint relent But to proceed to the second generall viz. What the particular branches of this Image is Answer the Scripture concludes it in these four heads viz. Kingdome Power Strength and Glory I shall in the strength of the most high First demonstrate in part what we may understand by these branches distinct Secondly how they run parallel with the Kingdome power strength and glory of the World Thirdly demonstrate how they are against Christ Fourthly demonstrate them to be the cause of all Tyranny Theft Murder and Animosity Of these in order and First what we may understand by Kingdome in a Scripture account Answer Kingdome is a people in subjection to a Superiour be they few or many and hence it is that such a Superiour is said in a Scripture sense to be a King the Kings of the earth stood up the Rulers took Counsel together there Kings and Rulers are terms convertible he that 's a King is a Ruler and he that 's a Ruler is a King and the parties under their Rule are their Kingdome this being plain to every common capacity I shall wave it and proceed to Power what that is Answer it is command ordinance law or commission by which the Kings or Beastly Magistrates or Ministers of the World Rule their Kingdomes contrary to the Statutes Laws or Ordinances of God which are the higher Powers Rom. 13.1 To which all ought to be subject and for not subjecting receives to themselves condemnation or Judgment as at this day from whence come warrs saith the Apostle is it not from mens own lusts being led away from the pure Laws of God to the Laws of men that are to perish in the using Col. 2.22 Whence observe by the way That observing the Laws of man instead of the Laws of God is the cause of Warrs Contention Condemnation and Judgment Thirdly What we may understand by the strength of this Image Answer It is a sutable ability to force subjection to their Wills Laws or Edicts within their Jurisdictions or Territories this is visible in the Beast Revel 13.12 In causing the Earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first Beast by forcing subjection to his Laws Exercising all the first Beasts Power or Laws Blaspheming the Authority of God his Tabernacle and Worshipers making Warr with his Saints Revel 13.6 7. Lastly The glory of this Image is their people or Vassals ready subjecting to their Laws or Commands Solomon sayes the glory of young men is their strength and this strength united in ready and cheareful submission to the Laws or Commands of their Kings is their Glory How wonderful is this manifested in the Kingdoms of men at this day what glorying is there in Superiors when their Vassals are in subjection and what cruelty on the contrary is exercised when their wills are crost Now I shall only take a view of the particular Branches And then proceed to a demonstrating how they run parallel with the Kingdome Power Strength and Glory of the World at this day First then we may learn that the Beasts Kingdom is people Subjecting to the Kings of the Earth in Counsel against Christ Jesus the King of Kings Secondly That

the Beasts Power is the Laws of the Kings of the Earth contrary to the Statutes Laws and Ordinances of God and of his Christ Thirdly The Beasts strength is his ability to force Subjection to his Laws to the Blaspheming the Authority of God and his Tabernacle and his Worshipers and to make Warr with the Saints Fourthly The Beasts glory is peoples ready and volluntary Subjection to his Laws and Statutes Now a few words how the Kingdome Power Strength and Glory of the world run parallel with the particular Branches of the Beasts Image Consider I pray is not the Kings of the Earth now in consultation against the Lord and his Christ how they may hold up their Scepters by staving off his Scepter of Righteousness Oh what striving is there by men of all degrees though the Reines of all Government be broken still to keep up the power or Laws of the former Beasts who is there that appears for the Laws that administer Right to the poor equal with the Mighty are not Rulers of all degrees taking Counsel together to make up a Model of Government answerable to there fancies some for Holland other for Venus but a few for the Laws of King Jesus though often solemly engaged thereto with hands lifted up to the Most High how active are Priests and Lawyers of all degrees against taking away their Dianah by which they have their Wealth how do those Locusts and Catterpillars that live upon Simmony and the sins of the people strive to cast stumbling-blocks in the way of those whose hearts the Lord hath toucht with his work in hand in razing the Foundations of Babylon and filling to her double the Cup of his Indignation Yea how is the beastly strength of the world exercised even at this day against God against Christ against his Poor why is it that the releiving the poor and oppressed sticks so much in the Birth is it not because the Heathenish Institutions and Ministers are in the way why should the Rulers of the World be so backward in submitting to the higher Powers the Commands of God is it not because they love the praise of men more then God Oh that the gods of the World would in time consider how little stead those broken Reeds on whom they now lean will stand them in when they shall come to die like men will they not then repent there Blaspheming of the Authority of God by keeping up an Authority of man shaking hands with the deceivers of his people prophaning his Tabernacle thereby and his Worshipers to the involving of his Saints in Warr yea is not the self same beastly glory visible even to any unprejudiced Eye how willing are men of all degrees still to be Subject to the fore mentioned beastly Powers of the World pretend to be Christians and yet Traytors to Christs Laws is sad Christianity Thirdly The antipathy beween the Laws of God and of Christ and the Powers of the man of sin is thus manifested First The Laws of God and of Christ sayes pervert not the judgment of any of the Afflicted Prov. 31.5 The Laws of the Beasts of the World justifies the wicked for a reward and takes away the righteousness of the righteous from them Secondly the Laws of God sayes Open thy mouth wide for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction and plead the cause of the poor and needy Prov. 31.8 9. The beastly Laws of the World opens the mouth wide for those that have a large purse to plead their Cause whilst the poor are sent empty away Thirdly The Royal Laws of God sayes Loose the band of wickedness undoe the heavy Burthens and let the oppressed go free and break every yoak The beastly Laws of the world continues the wickeds bands the heavy burthens makes the oppresseds yoak heavier by the extorting fees of Lords Counsellors Attornies Clarks Criers Summoners Sheriffs Jailers c. The Laws of God sayes Deal thy Bread to the hungry and bring the poor that are cast out into thy house and cloath the naked and hide not thy self from thy own flesh The beastly Powers of the World feeds the Rich with delicates whilest the poor perish for lack of Bread take in the Rich for jollity sake whilst the poor perish in the streets cloath their Associates with Silk Purple and Scarlet with Gold and Precious things whilst the poor for lack of cloathing perish yea is not the poor their own flesh what devices is now amongst the great ones of the World to avoid the hearing the cryes of the poor The Laws of God sayes Thou shalt not despise the Persons of the poor nor honour the Persons of the Mighty Levit. 19. I need not demonstrate how contrary to this royal Law of Jehovah the beastly Ministers of the Powers of the world Act how is the poor and the poors Cause despised how are they destroyed by delatory promises and delayes of Justice and there poor Innocents exposed to the merciless cruelty of the ungodly and their poor Parents starved in Prison whilst the Persons of the Mighty are honoured I had almost said worshiped with bowing and cringing Idolatry the time would faile me to demonstrate in how many particulars the beastly Powers of the world are in direct opposition to the royal Laws of Jehovah and the poor whilst promised liberty from chains of Tyranny are made sick unto death with differred hopes c. I shall speak a few words in demonstrating the fourth Particular arising from the Branches of the Image of the Beast viz. That they are the cause of all Tyranny Theft Murder and Animossity First That they are the cause of Tyranny is manifested in these Particulars First In creating themselves Lords over the Lives Liberties Estates and Consciences of their Vassals the only design of the Kings of the earth Secondly Making Laws answerable to their wills or desires Thirdly Forcing Subjection This is the natural product of the Kings of the earth in Council against the Lord and against his Annointed especially when accompanied with Kingdome Power Strength and Glory by making themselves Lords over the lives of people they stir up to Warr to satisfie their Lust in inlarging their Territories Secondly by making themselves Lords over the Liberties of their Vassals they come to fill their Prisons by which men are exposed to misery and want which is the cause of Theft especially by those that have been two highly educated and maintained to dig and to begg they are ashamed who rather then starve fall to stealing which many times begets murther especially in hot spirits that will rather kill then be taken But further the beastly Rulers of the World when they have brought men into misery and want by Tyranny because they will be in direct opposition to the royal Law of Jehovah of restoring four-fold they make a Law that if men steal they shall be hanged so they necessitate them to steal by Tyranny and then

hang them for it and this begets anymosity secret hatred seeking for reveng the product of which is murder thus are the beastly Magistrates or Ministers of the World exercising their own beastly powers or Laws contrary to the Laws of God and of his Christ manifested to be the chief original cause of Tyranny Theft Murther and Anymosity And so I come to the third general how these beastly Powers of the world are to be broken by whom and for what First now they are to be broken Answer by the advancement of the Laws and Statutes of King Jesus which shall be for a Standard for his people by which Judgment will be laid to the line and righteousness to the plummet when the Kings of the aerth shall be ashamed Isa 52.15 And the refuge of lies discovered by the brightness of the appearing of Jesus when all creatures shall be tryed by the Spirit of Judgment and burning the Lord hath said it for as much as the people refuse the waters of Shiloh or the pure undefiled Laws of Jehovah and rejoyce in Rezin and Remelia's Son the original authors of Laws opposite to the Laws of God therefore the Lord hath said it he will bring the Assiryan scourg even upon them that profess themselves to be his own people and it shall overflow and go over and fill the breadth of the Land of Immanuel and he gives this reason because his people say a confederacy with those that God would not have them say a confederacy God hath determined to destroy Babylon head and tayle branch and root but they would preserve the gleaning of the vintage some of the fairest daughters of Antichrist the finest spun Lawyers and Priests and their choysest Laws Oh that those into whose hearts hands God hath put it to fulfil his will would be cautioned to take heed of saving that alive which God hath appointed to utter destruction remember Saul saving Agag c. Consider the word of the Lord by the Prophet Isa Chap. 8. and see whether the Lord doth not come home to you that are a making an agreement with the brats of Babylon the sworn enemies of Christ he tels you three times over vers 9. Ye shall be broken in pieces and your Counsel with them shall come to nought for the Lord hath yet a people that have not defiled their garments with whom God is verse 10. That will not say a confederacy with Babylon but sanctifie the Lord of hosts himself according to his commandment vers 12 13. For the Lord of hosts will now assuredly be a sanctuary to his servants and a stone of stumbling to those that stumble at his Laws and many will stumble and fall and be taken and snared by seeking the living amongst the dead not going to the Law and Testimony of Jehovah for direction So that the answer to the first part of the Question is plain that God will destroy the Beastly Powers of the world by the advancing the Laws and Statutes of his Son and confounding all Councils and actions to the contrary The next particular considerable is by whom the beastly powers are to be destroyed This is answered Revel 17.14 By the Lamb and his faithful ones with him who are to accomplish their work upon Babylon according to the voyce from heaven Rev. 18.6 To give her double according to her works as she hath lived delicately and faired deliciously so much torment and sorrow give her The faithful of Jehovah are to accomplish this work upon Babylon with the high praises of God in their mouths and a two edged sword in their hands to execute upon Kings and their people the judgment written This is the prophesied of honour of the Saints of Jesus not such as are Saints according to the fashions of the world but in substance I shall only take notice of one thing more that is for what the great Jehovah wil break the Beastly Fabrick of Babylon to pieces and destroy it root and branch The answer is general Revel 18.5 For her sins reached unto heaven and God hath remembred her iniquities Therefore woe unto them for their unrighteous decrees and grievous prescriptions by which the needy are turned away from judgment and the poor from their right and the widdows made a prey and the fatherless robbed Isa 10.1 2. Ye tread upon the poor by taking from them burthens of Wheat Therefore saith the Lord ye shall not dwell in your built houses of hewen stone nor eat the fruit of your pleasant Vineyards for I know saith the Lord Amos 5.12 your manifold Transgressions in afflicting the just in taking of bribes turning aside the poor from their right the Lord hath said it Amos 8. The end is come when the needy are swallowed up to make the poor of the Land to fail when the rich by consent shall make the Ephah small and the Shekel great and false Ballances that they may buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of shooes The Lord hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob he will never forget their works Alas alas is not this end come upon us here in England Oh England is not thy poor become a prey to all the Beasts of the field Is hot the doleful cry in prison and out of prison in all Cities and all corners of the streets Bread Bread Bread for the Lords sake And is not the Lord generally out of credit amongst men the poor sigh and lament their wants die for want of Bread are starved for want of Cloathing and who is it that layes it to heart Though the Lord hath sworn it he will surely avenge him of their adversary and plead the cause of the poor Shal not the Land tremble when God ariseth Surely if his wrath be kindled to action as most certainly it is happy are all they that put their trust in him Now that the God of Justice in this his day of visitation would direct all those that set their faces Zion-ward whether Shrubs or Cedars that they may neither transgress on the right hand in going beyond their bounds nor on the left hand by a sinful compliance is the earnest prayer and fervent desire of The unworthiest of the Lords Servants and the Poors Servant for the Lords sake William Pryor THE END