The Signal Loyalty and Devotion of Gods True Saints Part 1 and 2, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
I Proceed now to the last Classis of Presidents for supplications, prayers, intercessions, & thansgivings for Kings under the Gospel, where I shall begin with Jesus Christ the King of Kings, the principal subject matter, Author of, and first K. under the Gospel: which as it begins with the Genealogy and Nativity of Jesus Christ, who was born King of the Jews, and inquired after, worshipped, presented with Gold, Mirrhe, and Frankincense by the Wisemen, under the notion of a King, Mat. c. 1, & 2. 1, 2, &c. So it informs us, that at his birth an Angel of the Lord appeared to the Shepheards, saying, Behold I bring un…o you tidings of great joy which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Saviour, w…ich is Christ the Lord. And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praysing God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, in earth peace, good will towards men, Lu. 2. 9, to 15. Of this King Iesus, (to whom the Angel appearing to his Mother Mary before his conception, said, That the Lord God shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David, and he shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever, and of his Kingdom there shall be no end, Lu. 1. 32, 33.) his Father King David many hundred years before his Nativity, thus prophecyed, Ps. 72. 15, 17. To him shall be given of the gold of Sheba, Prayer also shall be made for him continually, and daily shall he be praysed, all Nations shall call him Blessed. And the Prophet Zechariah thus prop…ecyed conce… ning him, c. 9. 9. Rejoyce greatly O Ierusalem, Behold thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and bringing Salvation, riding upon an Ass, and upon a Colt, the foal of an Ass: which Prophecies were fulfilled, both by the earnest Prayers and Desires of many Prophets, Kings and righteous men, to see and hear King Jesus, before his incarnation; by the Songs of rejoycing and thanksgiving at and for his very conception and birth, recorded Mat. 13. 16, 17. Lu. 10. 23, 24. c. 1. 42, 45, 68, 69, 70, &c. c. 2. 20, to 39. 37, 38. Mat. 2. 1, to 12. And at his triumphant riding like a King unto Jerusalem on an Asse and its foal, Matth. 21. 5, to 17. Mar. 11. 1, to 18. Lu. 19. 29, &c. At which time a very great multitude spread their Garments in the way, others cut down branches from the Trees, and strawed them in the way; and when he was come nigh to the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude that went before and followed after, began to rejoyce and praise God with a loud voyce, and cryed saying, *Chrysostom, Theophylact, and Marolat. on the place.Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest: Blessed be the Kingdom of our Father David, Hosanna in the highest: Blessed be the King that commeth in the name of the Lord, peace in Heaven and glory in the highest. And when some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master rebuke thy Disciples; He answered and said unto them, If these men should hold their peace, the stones would immemediatly cry out. After which the Chief Priests and Scribes seeing the wonderfull things he did; and the Children crying in the Temple, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased and said unto him. Hearest thou what they say? Jesus saith unto them, Yea, have ye not read, aPs. 8. 2.Out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings thou hast perfected prayse. This is likewise evident by those very clauses in the form of prayer, which Christ himself recommended to his Disciples, to be daily used by them, Mat. 6. 1…. 13. thy Kingdom come, (o…t stiled (bMat. 19. 28. c. 20. 21. Lu. 1. 33. c 22, 30. c. 23 42. John 18. 36. Col. 1. 13. 2 Tim. 41. Heb. 1. 8 2 Pet. 1. 11. Rom. 1. 9.) … Christs Kingdom in the Gospel, as well as the Fathers) for thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever, Amen; By that Prayer of all Gods Saints, Rev. 22. 20. Amen, Even so Lord Iesus come quickly. And by that Song of the Lamb, which they who had gotten victory over thé Beast, having the harps of God, do sing, Rev. 15. 2, 3, 4… Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty, just and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints; who shall not fear thee O Lord, and glorifie thy name? for thou only art holy, for all Nations shall come and worship before thee. All which sacred Texts, Prayers, Prayses, Songs and Thanksgivings for the Nativity, Kingship, Kingdom, and inauguration of Jesus Christ as a King into his Kingly Office, and for the second comming of his Person and Kingdom of Glory; are sufficient Presidents, grounds, warrants, for all Christian Subjects under the Gospel, to rejoyce, triumph, wi…h Songs and Psalmes of Thanksgiving, and exceeding joy, both at the Births and Coronations of their Kings, Princes, yea to pray for their Persons, Kingdoms, Posterities Felicity, Stability, Tranquillity, Perpetuity, and for their speedy comming, restitution, when forcibly driven from their Kingdoms by Enemies or Rebels. And if any malicious Pharisees, Priests, Scribes, or …rayterous Antimonarchists shall be sore displeased with them for these th…ir Prayers, Prayses, Rejoycings, Thanksgivings, and rebuke them for the same; King Jesus his own Answere to the Pharisees, Priests and Scribes forecited, may for ever stop their mouths, and reclaim them …rom such disloyal, …reasonable rebukes.
And so much the rather, because these premi… Presidents both before and under the L…w and Gospel, app… ved, prescribed by God, and practised by his Servants, were the ground of this Gospel exhortation and injunction, which not only approve…, and prescribes, but commends the same to all Christians under the Gospel, in these observable words, 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2, 3. I exhort therefore that first of all Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for Kings, (in the first place as Supreme, 1 Pet. 2. 13, 14.) and for all that are in Authority, (under and after them) that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth. I shall a little insist on this Gospel Text, as most punctual, full, pertinent to my purpose, the rather, because in *See Mr. Smith his Gagg for the Quakers, p. 8, 9.August 1659. in the University of Cambridge it self, a Minister of the Gospel, the Son of a Parliament man, was by the Maior of the town (whose wife is a Quaker) apprehended by a company of Souldiers, and kept Prisoner for a time, only for praying in general for all Christian Kings, Princes, and Governors, according to this Text: when George Whitehead and George Fex, two Quakers, blasphemously railed, and disputed against Jesus Christ, the two other Persons, the blessed Trinity, and the word of God, an whole hour together in the Maiors presence, and sundry others, without check or punishment; such are the atheistical, antimonarchical times wherein we live. In this text consider, 1. The Pen-man of it by divine inspiration, S. Paul the Apostle of Jesus Christ specially delegated by him to the Gentiles & uncircumcision, to open their eies, to turn them from darkness to light, and from …he power of Satan unto God; And to bear Christs name before the Gentiles and Kings, Acts 9. 15. c. 26. 1…, 17, 18. Gal. 2. 2, 7, 8, 9. Eph. 3. 1, to 12. Acts 13. 46, 47. c. 15. 7. c. 18. 6. c 21… 19, 20. c. 22 21. c. 28. 28. Rom 11. 13. c. 15. 15, to 25. Col. 1. 27, 28. 2 Tim. 1. 11. c. 4. 17. Therefore these Duties are specially recommended and prescribed to them. 2ly. The person to whom this Epistle and exhortation was principally, & particularly directed, even Timothy his dearly beloved Son, and Fellow… Minister in preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles, then residing at Ephesus, 1 Tim. 1, 3. a City and Church of the Gentiles, where he exercised his Ministry, and was to perform these Duties publickly in his own person as a Minister, to excite all others thereunto. Therefore these Duties of making publick Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions and Thanksgivings for Kings both in publick and private, do principally belong, and are carefully to be performed by all Ministers and Preachers of the Gospel to and amongst the Gentiles. 3ly. The manner of pressing these Duties; the Apostle doth most earnestly and zealously urge their performance; as the words I exhort, or earnestly desire, import, Exhortings, being the most passionate, pathetical, fervent pressing of men to duties, Lu. 3. 18. Act. 11. 23. c. 13. 15. c. 2. 40. c. 15. 32. c. 20. 2. Rom. 12. 8. 1 Thes. 2. 11, 12. c. 4. …. c. 5. 14. 2 Thes. 3. 12. 1 Tim. 4. 13. c. 6. 2. 2 Tim. 4. 2. Tit. 1. 9. c. 2. 6, 15. Heb. 3. 13. c. 12. 5. c. 13. 22. 1 Pet. 5. 1. Jude 3. 4ly. The grounds of his enforcing these Duties so earnestly, implyed in the word therefore, relating to the close of the precedent Chapter, v. 18, 19, 20. This charge I commit unto thee Son Timothy, according to the Prophecies that we… before on thee; that thou by them mightest war a good warfare, holding Faith and a good Conscience: which he could not do or perform, unless he discharged these Duties he thus exhorted him to, being a part of his spiritual good warfare, and both a means and evidence of his holding Faith and a good Conscience; and his neglect or contempt of them, a ready way to make shipwrack of them, as Hymeneus and Alexander had done, whom he had dilivered to Satan. Antimonarchical and Antimagistratical Ministers or Christians will soon turn Apostates, and Blasphemers, yea put away and make shipwrack of their Faith and good Conscience towards God, when they became disloyal and rebellious to their Kings, and give over Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions and Thanksgivings for them, as we have found by late sad experiments. 5ly. The primacy and excellency of these Duties before all others, expressed in the clause, I exhort therefore that first of all, that is, in the first place, before and above all other Duties, parts of Ministry or Christianity, they are carefully, conscienciously, cordially to be performed, without the least omission or neglect. 6ly. The variety of the Duties, set forth by these various expressions, That Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions and Thanksgivings, (all in the plural number) be made for Kings: Which pluralities imply, 1. A universality of their several kinds, to wit, rEphes. 6. 16. 1 Kings 8. 38.That all sorts of Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions and Thanksgivings whatsoever ought to be made for them. 2ly. sPs. 72. 20. I. say 1. 15. Lu. 2. 37. Acts 2. 42. Rom. 15. 30.A multiplicity of each of them, not a single Supplication, Prayer, Intercession, Thanksgiving, and no more; but many and manifold Supplications, Prayers and Thanksgivings. 3ly. A frequency, fervency, constancy, perpetuity in the performance of them both in publick and private, all our lives long, without ceasing, or flagging, as the t1 Sam. 12 23. Ps. 72. 15. Ps. 55. 17. Mat. 26. 41. Lu. …8. 1, &c. 1 Thes. 5. 17. 2 Thes. 1. 1…. Ephes. 6. 18. 1 Thes. 3… 10. 2 Tim. 1. 3. Jam. 5. 16. 1 Pet. 4. 7. Col. 1. 3, 9. c. 4. 2, 12. Acts 6. 4. c 12. 5. u See Chrysostom, Hierom, Remigius, Beda, The Divi…es and Dr. Hamonds Notes on the 1 Tim. 2. 1. 2, 3. Augustin. Epist. 59.marginal Scriptures evidence. 4ly. An universality in respect of persons and places, thus expressed in the verse following, I will therefore that men pray every where lifting up holy hands. 5ly. An universality of things, Mercies, Blessings, &c. for which Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions and Thanksgivings ought at any time ordinarily or extraordinarily, publickly or privately to be made to God in behalf of Kings. 6ly. Supplications for the pardon and remission of all their sins, errors, miscariages, frailties, iniquities whatsoever; for converting, diverting, or keeping them from all evil and destructive waies, errors, counsels, designs, undertakings whatsoever, dishonourable to God, scandalous to Religion, hurtfull to the Church, fatal to their Kingdoms, People, Royal persons, families and posteritie; and for removing all inflicted, threatned or feared judgements, evils from their Persons, Families, Kingdoms, Relations. Prayers for all sorts of corporal, temporal, spiritual, eternal Blessings, Mercies, which they at any time stand in need of, and the continuance, increase, and sanctified use of all they doe enjoy for themselves, their Families, Kingdoms, Counsellors, Officers, People, Allies. Intercessions against all machinations, dangers, conspiracies of spiritual or temporal Enemies, Traytors, Conspirators, against their precious souls, bodies, lives, Crowns, Kingdoms, Posterities, Forces, publike undertakings, Councils; to divert Gods wrath and judgements from, and impetrate his gracious love and favour to them upon all occasions. Thanksgivings, for their births, coronations, health, lives, wisdom, power, justice, graces, preservations, issues, posterity; all sorts of mercies, blessings, favors, victories, successes, deliverances from evils, sicknesses, dangers, 'enemies, conspiracies of all kinde, conferred on them, their Kingdoms, Families, Posterities, Relations; for all blessings received from, or enjoyed under them and their Government; as the free use, exercise, enjoyment of the Word, Sacraments, with all other parts of Gods Worship, Peace, Health, Wealth, Safety, Liberty, Prosperity, Laws, Privileges, Parliaments; exemptions from Oppressions, Rapines, Murders, Rapes, extortions, Illegal Taxes, Excises, Executions, Imprisonments, banishments, wars; for all particular benefits and royal favors conferred by them on their own persons, or relations. All these and what ever else are or may be included in Supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, are here prescribed to all Ministers and Christians under the Gospel in behalf of their Kings.
7ly. The*See the As… semblies Notes thereon, and on 1 Pet. 2. 13, 14. primacy and precedence of Kings above all other Governors and persons in authority, both in all our supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, and likewise in their Civil dignity and Authority: For although the Apostle to avoid all suspition of flatterie (as the*Chrysostom… Theodoret, Oecumenius, Theophilact, …mbrose. Fathers observe) exhorts in the first place, that Prayers, &c. should be mad… for all men in general; yet when he comes to the pa…ticular enumeration of them, he placeth Kings in the front before all others, being ranked before them all by the Apostle, in these words, For Kings, and all that are in Authority; and more particularly by the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 13, 14. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake: whether to the King, as supreme, or unto Governors, as to those who are sent by him, &c. 8ly. The plurality and universallity of the word*The Divines Notes on 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2. KINGS: in the plural, not singular number; and that without any restriction of their personal qualifications, extending universally to all Kings, and excluding none, though*Hierom, Chrysostom, Sedulius, …imasius, Ambrose, Theodo…er, Rhemigius, Oecume…ius, Beda, Theophylact. Pagans, Idolaters, Hereticks, Schismaticks, Tyrants, Oppressors, Persecutors, Murderers, Wicked, Prophane, Vitious, Flagitious in any kinde; for which many might doubt whether they ought to pray, which the Apostle fully clears by this general expression: as well as for the most Christian, Pious, Just, Righteous, Virtuous Kings, for which all will grant Christians ought to make supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, without dispute. This I shall clear by 5. undeniable Arguments: 1. Because all Kings, Emperors, Princes throughout the world when this Epistle was written, and for above 500 years after, (but Lucius) were Pagans, Idolaters, and for the most part*see …usebius, Socrates Scholasticus, Nicephorus, Dorotheus, B…, … … … others. bitter persecutors of the Saints, Church of Christ; and some transcendently impious, flagitious, especially Caligula, Claudius, and Nero, under whom Paul lived, and suffered Martyrdom, with others of the Apostles, and many hundreds of Christians; yet even St. Paul himself exhorts first of all, that supplications, intercessions, prayers and thanksgivings should be made for them by Timothy, & all other Christian… then living under them. 2ly. Because the Apostles p…ecedent and subsequent exhortation, is universal, for all Men, for Kings, and All that are in Authority: If then we must make supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings for all men, good or bad, then certainly for all Kings, though the Apostle had not named Kings, because all Kings are men, and included in the general all men: and if for all that are in Authority or Eminent place, then certainly for all Kings; being in supremest Authority and Eminency; and included by name between those two universals, All men, All in Authority. 3ly. Because the subsequent words, that under them we may lead a quiet and peaceable li…e, in all godliness and honesty: And, who will have all men to be saved, and to come to …he know edge of the truth, implies, that the Kings, and all in Authority, at that time, for whom they are exhorted to make supplications, &c. were persecutors, under whom they had no present rest nor quietnesse, and unconverted to the knowledge of the truth and means of salvation. 4ly. Because St. Pauls precept, Rom. 12. 14. Blesse them which persecute you, bless and curse not; compared with v. 20, 21. Rom. 13. 1, to 10. Titus 3. 1, 2, 3. paralleld with our Saviours own reiterated precept, Mat. 5. 44, 45. Luke 6. 27, 28, 29. But I say unto you, love your Enemies; Bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you; And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer him also the other: and him that taketh away thy cloak, forbid not to take thy coat also; that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for he maketh his Sun to rise to the evil, and to the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Which precept relates principally to Kings and Rulers, before whom they should be brought, presecuted, and put to death, Mat. 10. 18, to 38. Lu. 21. 12, &c. 5ly. Because he never exhorted, commanded, encouraged in the least degree, any Christians to curse or pray against their Kings, though Pagans, Tyrants, Persecuters: much lesse to rebell against, depose, or dethrone, behead, execute them. If Christians then be thus exhorted, obliged by the Apostle to make prayers, supplic…tions, intercessions, and thanksgivings even for their Persecuting, Tyrannical, Pagan, wicked Kings, not to depose, murder, execute them in High Courts of Justice, or to extirpate their royal posterity, Kingship, and alter their form of Government which they are professedly prohibited to do for conscience sak…, under pain of damnation, in di…ect terms, Rom. 13. 1, to 7. Tit. 3. 1. and 1 Pet. 2. 13, 14. Then certainly they are much more obliged to make supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings for… their hereditary Christian, Protestant, Orthodox, rightfull Kings, and not to dethrone, murder, execute them in any strange High Courts of Justice, nor to extirpate their royal issue, Kingship, and change their whole frame of Government, from which they are expresly prohibited by these Gospel Texts, and restrained by their Solemn Oathes of Aliegeance, Fealty, Supremacy, Protestation, Vow, League, Covenant, under pain of eternal damnation, and the guilt of highest Perjury, Treachery, Rebellion.
It was*In Hymno … de … Christi. Sedulius his Apostrophe to Herod, who feared our Saviour Christ would have deprived him of his earthly Crown,
Herodes hostis impie Non abripit mortalia
Christum venire quid times? Qui Regna dat coelestia.
Why wicked Herod do'st thou fear, and at Christs coming frown?
The mortal he takes not away, who gives the heavenly Crown.
Which Claudius thus seconds,*…ex iste qui natus est non venit Reges pugna…do superare, sed moriendo mirabiliter, venit enim non ut regnet vi… vus sed ut triu…phar occisus. Claudius …. 1. in Matth. Bishop Usher of the Religion pro…essed by the Antient Irish, p. 97, 98 Mat. 10… 24, 25. J…hn 13. … 1… 2…, That King which is born cometh not to overcome Kings by fighting, but to subdue them after a wonderfu…l manner by dying, &c. for he is come not that he may destroy alive, but that he may triumph being slain. How then any Servants can be greater, wiser, powerfuller than their Lord, King Jesus, who came not to dethrone, uncrown any earthly Kings, and reign alive in their steads, but to conquer and triumph over them only by his death, though King of Kings and Lord of Lords: in daring to ravish not only the Crowns, but Lives, Kingdoms, hereditary Lands, Revenues, Powers, Kingships of their Christian Soveraigns, instead of making Supplications, Prayers, Interceisions. Thanksgivings for them, and their Royal posterity, let their own Consciences resolve them, and all others who preach the Gospel, wherein there is neither Precept nor President for such Antichristian, Jesuitical practices.
9ly. The end, reason why Ministers, Christians and other Subjects should make Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions, Thnaksgivings for their very persecuting, tyrannizing, oppressing Pagan KINGS, G…vernours, and yielding patient loyal Subjection under them is, because it is the most effectual means prescribed by God, whereby to reclaim, conver…, save them, by overcomming their evil with goodness, Rom. 12. 20, 21. the most probable, ready, prevalent course by which they themselves may lead a quiet and peaceable life under them in all godliness and honesty; and recover, enjoy both their invaded civil and Christian Liberties; not their mutinous Rebellions or taking up Arms against them, forcibly to reform or dethrone them, which would but increase their troubles, pressures, persecutions, interrupt their peace, quietness, yea make shipwrack of their godliness, honesty, loyalty, faith, and good Consciences, which we have found true, by late sad experiments. Upon which ground the Apostle Paul thus describes the deportment of himself, and the other Apostles and Christians under their Persecutors, 1 Cor. 12, 13. being reviled, we bless, being persecuted, we suffer, being defamed, we intreat, according to our Saviours forecited Precept, Mat. 5. 44, 45. seconded with his own example, and Stephens, who prayed for their murdering Persecutors at their very deaths, Luke 23. 34. Acts 7. 60. leaving us an example that we should follow their steps herein, 1 Pet. 2. 20, 21, 22, 23. Ja…. 5. 6, to 12.
10ly. The motive God here used to excite Timothy and all other Christians to make Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions, and Thanksgivings for Kings and all in Authority under them, whether good or bad, Pagans or Christians, Persecutors or Protectors of Religion, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, as well as beneficial to themselves, their Kings and Governours in the last recited respects. And if so, then the neglecting, rejecting, inhibiting of these Duties in publick or private, must questionless be very evil, sinfull, displeasing in the fight of God our Saviour, who will severely punish it; yea a means to hinder us from enjoying and leading a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty; or any Settlement or Tranquillity, in Church and State, which we have long expected, endeavoured, desired, and prayed for, but never enjoyed since we neglected, and rejected this duty of making Supplications, Prayers, Intercessi…ns, Thanksgivings for our Kings; and casting off their Persons and Kingly Government, and a…e never likely to enjoy, till we Loyally and Conscientiously restore both them and these duties for them, prescribed in and by this Gospel Text, which I have opened and pressed to the full, upon this consideration, and the Apostles Resolutions, Acts 4. 19. c. 5. 29. We ought to obey God, rather than Men.
11ly. This exhortation of Paul, was practiced by himself, when he was brought as a Prisoner, and pleaded his cause before King Agrippa, Acts 26. 28, 29. Who saying to Paul, almost thou perswadest me to be a Christian. Thereupon Paul said, I would to God not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. A direct prayer to God, for this Kings, and his other Auditors Conversion to Christianity.
Thus much for Scripture Presidents and Precepts, warranting and commanding this duty, both before, and under the Law and Gospel. I now proceed to other Testimonies in the Primitive Church, as well for Pagan, Arrian and heretical persecuting Emperors, Kings, Princes, as for Christian, Orthodox, and such who were Protectors of Christianity and Christians.