Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	church_n	discipline_n	doctrine_n	4,176	5	6.2312	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A62873	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 ...	Tombes, John, 1603?-1676.	1664 (1664)	Wing T1816; ESTC R6979	110,523	126

abhor any thing sometimes that which is otherwise right which they conceive to come from Rome or the Pope being terrified with the threatnings Revel 14. 9. 10 11. against those who worship the Beast and his Image and recieve his mark in their forehead or in their hand and warned by the voice from Heaven Revel 18. 4. Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues Which having been found by experience to be a very taking way especially with the vulgar and common sort of Schollars who are little versed in antiquity and know not the true state of the Roman Church in former ages nor by what degrees the corruptions thereof came to that height they are now attained to it is now a very common course with them who endeavour to render their opposites their Doctrine or practise odious and so to uphold their faction to fasten on them by clamour or calumnies or any other way they can the name of Antichristian Babylon the mark of the Beast and to perswade men that what they dislike is from Rome as being sufficient without any other proof to make them abominable and to be destroyed Thus in our daies with us some have cried down prelacy their Liturgy Ceremonies Ordination National Church it 's Government Ministry Titles and whatever belongs thereto as Antichristian others have done the like to the Presbyterial Classical Parochial Churches their Ministery Directory Government Maintenence others have done the same to the Congregational and in General Seekers and Quakers have in a Clamorous way like Scolds bespattered all that 's opposit to them with this reproach of Antichristian and at last these Fifth-Monarchy men have furiously battered Civil powers all that belongs to them with the engine of this odious brand of Antichristian and Babylonish whereby much irreconcileable hatred enmity and opposition is raised among Christians to the great dammage of Christian Protestant Churches and states and without the great power and goodness of God making way for some accommodation of these differences likely so to weaken and wast us by intestine broiles that we shall at last become a prey to the common adversary For my part it was still opposed by me long since when Saltmarsh wrote that I had proved Infant-Baptism Antichristian I made him alter it and when a meeting was for union between dissenters I urged th●s as one thing necessary that the term Antichristian should be forborn and when Richard Hubberthorn entituled his book against my serious consideration of the Oath of the Kings Supremacy Antichristianism reproved in my Epistle to the Reader before my Supplement I not only shewed the falsehood of his calumny but also endeavoured briefly to shew the evil of that course of defaming opposites and their tenents by that title I deny not but that there is sufficient cause given to Protestant Divines to charge the present Romanists with Antichristianism in the arrogant title given to the Pope of Universal Bishop in the assertion of his supremacy over all Churches his infallibility in their worship of Saints Angels Images in their doctrines of invocation of Saints humane merits and satisfactions for sin nor shall I deny but that there may be found some practises or doctrines among others which may in a qualified sense be termed Antichristian But to make the Protestant Churches or their Government Antichristian in State and to be separated from and to be destroyed when they hold the Faith of Christ aright because of some corruptions in points of Doctrine or Worship or Discipline which overthrow not the foundation of Christian Religion is intollerable much more to make civil powers who reject the Roman Popes supremacy and their doctrine and idolatrous worship to be Antichristian from Rome Babylon from an imagined mixture that is not or perhaps justifiable shews either phrensie or a meer proud arrogant factious and quarrelsome humor in them not to be born the title of Antichrist being as may appear by St. Johns words to be applyed to seducing Teachers not to civil powers though persecutors as the Roman Emperors then were yet by St. Paul termed the Ordinance of God 5. It is supposed That then when the Power of Rome adulterated from its pure Civil state became a mixt Antichristian state the Beast a Whore a Beastly Antichristian Power that the Dragon or Satan gave him his Power and his Seat and great Authority It is true that it is said that St. John saw a Beast arise out of the Sea having seven Heads and ten Horns and upon his Horns ten Crowns and upon his Heads the name of Blasphemy and that the Beast which he saw was like unto a Leopard and his feet were as the feet of a Bear his mouth as the mouth of a Lion And the Dragon gave him his Power and his Seat and great Authority Which description being like that whereby the Babylonian Persian and Greek Monarchies are characterized gives occasion to judge that the Beast mentioned Revel 13. 1. 2. was to be some future Civil Empire like to them and the having seven Heads and ten Horns and upon his Horns ten Crowns because of the descriptions Daniel 7. 23 24 25. and Revel 17. 3. 9. 12. Argnes that it was to be the Roman Empire divided into ten Kingdoms nor is it to be denied that Satan gave to this Beast his Power that is his forces and his Seat that is Rome and the Dominions belonging to it great Authority that is Power to command whereby the Idolatry termed Blasphemy which the Christian Emperors had cast down was revived and the persecution that for a time ceased was renewed But that this Power and Seat and great Authority was not given before by the Dragon to the Civil Powers of old Rome tho a bloody persecuter and devourer of the creation and Gods Heritage is to be denied For by comparing Revel 13. 1 2. with Rev. 12. 3 4. 7. It may be rather gathered that Satan had given the same Power Seat and great Authority to the Roman Emperors before as he did to the Kings after though it were exercised in another manner and upon other pretences The Power and Seat and Authority given by the Dragon is not to be meant of Civil Power to make Laws and to execute them for the well-ordering of Common-wealths and Civil states but the Power Force or Authority which was usurped by Nebuchadnezzar when he set up a golden Image to be worshipped and cast the three Jews into the fiery furnance and this may be gathered from v. 4 5. And they worshipped the Dragon which gave Power unto the Beast and they worshipped the Beast saying who is like unto the Beast Who is able to make Warr with him And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and Blasphemies and Power was given unto him to continue or to make War forty and two months Whereby may be perceived that the

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

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 J●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 ●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