The Sovereign Power of Parliaments and Kingdoms, Appendix · Subpart 8 (1 of 3)

The Sovereign Power of Parliaments and Kingdoms · Appendix · Subpart 8 (1 of 3)

p. 112The Kings of the Gentiles, Israel, and Iudah.

p. 121Now least any should object, that all the forecited Examples and Authorities are but humane, and no convincing evidences to satisfie the Conscience, That whole Kingdoms, States, and Parliaments are above their kings, and of greater power then they, I shall therefore (to close up this Posterne Gate of Evasion) conclude with Scripture Presidents, ratifying this truth beyond all contradiction. To begin with Heathen kings and States therein recorded. I read in the 1 Sam. 29. and 1 Chro. 12. 19. That when David with his men offered to go with Achish and the Philistines against King Saul (his Soveraign) and the Israelites to Battell, and passed on in the rereward with Achish; the Princes of the Philistines seeing it, said, What do these Hebrews here? To whom Achish answered, Is not this David the servant of Saul King of Israel, which hath been with me these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day? Hereupon the Princes of the Philistines were wroth with him, and taking advice together, said to their King Achish, Make this fellow returne that he may goe again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to Battell, lest in the Battell he be an adversary to us; for wherewith should be reconcile himself to his Master? should it not be with the Heads of these men? Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands? Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely as the Lord liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and coming in with me in the Host is right in my sight, for I have not found evill in thee since the day of thy coming; neverthelesse the Lords favour thee not; wherefore now return and go in peace, that thou displease not the Lords of the Philistines. And when David replied, What have I done, &c. that I may not fight against the Enemies of my Lord the King? Achish answered him, I know thou art good in my sight as an Angell of God, notwithstanding the Princes of the Philistines have said, HE SHALL NOT GOE VP WITH VSUS TO BATTELL; wherefore rise up early in the morning with thy Masters servants that are come with thee, and assoon as ye have light, depart; whereupon they returned. Here we see the Lords of the Philistines did peremptorily overrule their king against his will, who durst not contradict them; therefore they had a Power superiour to his: as will further appear by 1 Sam. 5. 7▪ 8, 9, 10, 11. and ch. 6. 1, to 13. where when the Ark of God was taken by the Philistines, the Lords and People of the Philistines (not the King) met, consulted, and ordered, how it should be removed from place to place, and at last sent it back again. So Ahasuerus the great Persian Monarch, was advised, overruled by his Councell of State, as appeareth by the case of Queen Vashti, Ester 1. and what his Princes thought meet to be done, that he decreed and proclaimed, verse 19, 20, 21, 22. So Artax…rxes king of Persia did all things of moment, by the advise of his Counsellors and Princes, Ezra 7. 28. and Chap. 8. 25. Great Nabuchadnezzar King of Babylon, (Dan 3. 2, 3. 24. chap. 4. 32, to 36.) was for his pride driven from men, put to eat grasse with Oxen for aspace, till he knew that the most High ruleth in the Kingdoms of men: After which his understanding and reason returned to him, and the glory of his Kingdom, and his Councellors and Lords sought unto him, and established him in his Kingdom, he being over-ruled and counselled afterwards by them. So Daniel 6. Darius King of the Medes and Persians, was over-ruled by his Lords and Princes, even against his will, to Signe a Decree, and to cast Dauiel into the Lyons Den for breach of it; and though the King were sore displeased with himself for Signing this Decree, and set his heart on Daniel, and laboured till the going down of the Sun p. 122to deliver him; yet the Princes assembling and telling the King,aaDan. 6. 14. to 20.Dan 6:14–20 Know O King, that the Law of the Medes and Persians is, that no Decree nor Statute which the King establisheth, (by the advice of his Nobles) may be changed, (to wit, by the king alone, without their advise: a clear evidence, that the greatest Persian Monarchs were subject to the Laws of their Kingdoms, as well as other Princes;) Whereupon the King commanded, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the Den of Lyons, and a stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the Den, and the King Sealed it with his own Signet, and with the Signet of the Lords, THAT THE PVRPOSE MIGHT NOT BE CHANGED concerning Dani…. Here this great king was even against his will constrained to be subject both to his Laws and Lords. The like we read of Pharaoh king of Egypt, Exod. 1. 8, 9, 10, 11. who consulted with his people how to oppresse the Israelites, as being unable to do it without their consents. And Exod. 10. Pharaohs Councellors and Lords, (after sundry Plagues on the Land) said unto him, How long shall this man (Moses) be a snare unto us? Let the men go that they may serve the Lord their God; Knowest thou not that Egypt is destroyed? Whereupon Moses and Aaron were brought before Pharaoh, who said unto them, Go serve the Lord your God. And Esay 19. 11. to 16. Surely the Princes of Zoan are fools, the counsell of the wise Counsellors of Pharaoh is become bruitish: They have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the Tribes thereof. They then had an overruling power above their kings. So the great King of Nineveh, …onah 3. 7, 8, 9. proclaimed and published a generall fast thorowout the City, by the Decree of the King, and of his great men, making no publike Laws, but by their advice and assents. In like manner we read in the 2 Sam. 5. 3, 4, 5. That the Princes of Hanun King of the Ammonites co…selled and overruled him (out of overmuch suspition) to abuse Davids messengers sent to him in love. And in the 1 Kings 22. 47. There was then no King in Edom, a Deputy was King; the kingdom appointing a Deputy then to rule them in stead of a king, and giving him royall authority: And in the 2 Kings 8. 22. 2 Chron. 21. 8. In the dayes of Ioram, Edom revolted from under the hand of Iudah (which had conquered it) and MADE A KING OVER THEMSELVES: and though Ioram smote the Edomites, who encompassed him, yet they revolted from under the hand of Iudah till this day: The electing and constituting of a king being in their own power. See Gen. 23. 3. to 20. and c. 34. 20. to 25. to like purpose.

These being all Pagan Kings and States, I come to the Israelites themselves; wherein for my more orderly proceeding, and refutation of the many grosse erronious Assertions of * Court Doctors and Royallists touching the estate and Soveraignty of their Kings, whom they would make the world beleeve to be absolute Monarchs, subject to no Laws, to derive all their royall authority from God alone, and no wayes from the people; to be meerly hereditary and elective, to be above all their people, irresistible in their Tyrannicall wicked proceedings, and no wayes subject to their Realms and Congregations overruling controll, much lesse to their defensive oppositition or deprivation; I shall digest the whole History of their Kings and Kingdoms Iurisdictions and power into these ensuing propositions, which I shall clearly make good out of Scripture, as I propound them in their order.

First, That the originall Creation and Institution of the Israelites Kings and Kingdoms proceeded onelyonly from the power and authority of the people, and that solely by Divine permission, rather then institu…ion; This is most apparent by Deuter. 11. 14, 15. p. 123When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shall possesse it and dwell therein, and shalt say, I WILL SET A KING OVER ME, like as ALL THE NATIONS THAT ARE ABOVT ME; THOV SHALT in any wise SET HIM KING OVER THEE, whom the Lord thy God shall chuse; one from among thy brethren SHALT THOV SET OVER THEE, THOV MAIST NOT SET A STRANGER OVER THEE, which is not thy Brother. Where God himself by way of **See Cunaeus de Repub. Heb. l. 1, c. 14.prophesie of what afterwards should come to passe, expresly declares, first, that the primary motion of changing the government of the Iew… from Iudges and an Aristocracy into a Kingdom, should proceed from the peoples inclination, as the words, and shalt say, I will set a King over me, &c. import. Secondly, that the authority to change the Government into a Regality, to creat and make a King, resided in, and the authority of the King proceeded meerly from the people, as the words, I will set a King over me, Thou shalt set him over thee; (four times recited in two Verses;) manifest beyond dispute. Thirdly, that all Nations about them who had Kings, had the like power to create and make their kings, as the words, Like as all the Nations that are about me, witnesse. All which is evicently confirmed by Iosephus, Antiqu. Iudaeorum, l. 4. c. 8. by Carolus Sigo…ius de Repub. Hebraeorum, l. 7. c. 3. Bertram, Cunaeus,**Ius. Regiu… Heb. Schikardus, and **See Steph. Iunius Brutus. Vindic. Contra Tyrannos, q 3. p. 83. to. 92. De Iure Magistr. in Subditos, p. 272▪ 273.divers Commentators on this Text: The History of the change of their State into a Kingdom, and of their Iudges into kings… added to this Prophesie and precept, will leave no place for any scruple. We read in the 1 Sam. 8. that the people growing weary of Samuels government who judged them, by reason of the ill government of his sonnes, who tooke Bribes, and perverted judgement; thereupon ALL THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL GATHERED THEMSELVES TOGETHER, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, and said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy wayes, now MAKE VSUS A KING TO IVDGE VSUS LIKE ALL THE NATIONS: But the thing displeased, Samuel, when they said, Give us a King to judge us; and Samuel prayed unto the Lord; And the Lord said unto Samuel, HEARKEN VNTOUNTO THE VOYCE OF THE PEOPLE IN ALL THAT THEY SAY VNTOUNTO THEE; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me that I should not reign over them; According to all the works that they have done since the day that I brought them out of Egypt, even unto this day; wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee: Now therefore hearken to their voyce; howbeit, yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the King that shall reign over them. And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a King; and he said, This will be (not ought to be) the manner of the King that shall reign over you, he will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, &c. and ye shall be his servants▪ and ye shall crie out in that day because of YOVR KING WHICH YE SHALL HAVE CHOSEN YOV, and the Lord will not …ear you in that day. Neverthelesse, the people refused to obey the voyce of Samuel, and they said, Nay, BVT WE WILL HAVE A KING OVER VSUS, that we also may be like all the Nations, and that our King may judge us, aud go out before us, and fight our battels. And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord: And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto their voyce, and make them a King. After which, when God had appointed Saul to be their King,bb1 Sam. 12▪ 12, 13, to 20▪1 Sam 12:121 Sam 12:13–20 Samuel called the people together unto the Lord in Mizpeh, and recapitulating the great p. 124deliverances God had done for them, added, And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and tribulations, and ye have said unto him, Nay, BVT SET A KING OVER VSUS, &c. And Samuel said unto all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted and said, God save the King. After which he cc1 Sam. 12. 12, 13. to 20.1 Sam 12:121 Sam 12:13–20expostulated again with them thus, And when ye saw that Nahash King of the Children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay, BVT A KING SHALL REIGN OVER VSUS, when the Lord was your King; Now therefore behold the KING WHOM YE HAVE CHOSEN, AND WHOM YE HAVE DESIRED, &c. that ye may perceive and see that your WICKEDNESSE is great which ye have done in the sight of the Lord, IN ASKING YOV A KING. And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God that we die not, for we have added unto all our sins this evill, TO ASK A KING. Which compared, with Hos. 13. 10, 11. I will be thy King, where is any other that may save thee in all thy Cities? and thy Iudges of whom thou saidst, GIVE ME A KING AND PRINCES? I gave thee a King in mine anger, and tooke him away in my wrath: with Acts 13. 21. And afterward THEY DESIRED A KING, and God gave them Saul the son of Cis, by the space of forty years. All these concurring sacred Texts will infallibly demonstrate, that this change of the Iudges into Kings, and the originall creation of their Kings and kingdoms proceeded only from the importunity and authority of the people, who would not be gainsaid herein, not from Gods institution, or Samuels approbation, who censured and disavowed this their motion, though they at last condescended to it; all which is elegantly related, confirmed by Iosephus, Antique. Iudaeorum, l. 6. c. 4, 5, 6, 7. By all this it is apparent, that the congregation and people of the Iews had the Soveraign power in themselves, as well as other Nations, because the authoritie to alter the whole frame of their former Aristocraticall Government into a Monarchy, resided in them, though they were taxed forchanging it in Samuels dayes, who had so justly, so uprightly judged them.

2Secondly, it is apparent, that the Iudges and kings of the Israelites were not properly hereditary, but oft elective by the people: and though God did sometimes immediately nominate the persons of those that should reign over them, as is apparent by Saul, David, Ieroboam, Iehu, others; yet the people did constantly confirm, make them kings, and gave them their royall authority, none being made kings by Divine appointment, but such as they willingly accepted, approved, confirmed for their kings; Gods previous designation being but a preparative to their voluntary free (not restrained or limited) election. The first king among the Israelites (though but over part of them) was Abimelech the son of Ierubbaal, who was made king by the peoples election, Iudges, 9. 1, to 7. who having perswaded those of Sechem to elect him for their king, thereupon ALL THE MEN of Sechem gathered together, and ALL THE HOVSE of Millo went and MADE ABIMELECH KING: whence Iotham thus upbraided them and him, Verse 14. to 19: Then said all the trees unto the Bramble, come thou and reign over us: And the Bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye annoint me king over you; thèn come and put your trust in my shadow, &c. Now therefore if ye have done truly and sincerely in that YE HAVE MADE Abimelech KING, &c And that ye have risen up against my fathers house this day, and have MADE Abimelech king, &c. We read Iudg. 8▪ 21, 23. that after Gideon had slain Zebab and Zalmunna, with the Midianites, p. 125The men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou and thy sons, and thy sons son also, for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midia…. And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you▪ the Lord shall rule over you. Where we clearly see, the power and right to elect a Ruler, and to limit the government to him and his Issue, for three Generations only, to reside in the peoples free election. So Iudges 10. 17, 18. and Chap. 11. 1. to 12. When the Children of Ammon were gathered together and encamped against Gilead, the people and Princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon, he shall be Head over all the Inhabitants of Gilead. And the Elders of Gilead went to fetch Iephthah out of the Land of Tob, and said unto him, Come and be our Captain that we may fight with the Children of Ammon, and be our Head over all the inhabitants of Gilead: VponUpon promise of which dignitie, he went with them to Gilead; and THE PEOPLE MADE HIM HEAD AND CAPTAIN OVER THEM. That the election and making of their Kings belonged of right to all the people, is past dispute, being so resolved by God himself, Deuter. 17. 14, 15. When thou art come into the land, &c. and shalt say, I WILL SET A KING OVER ME, like as all the Nations that are about me, THOV shalt in any wise SET HIM KING OVER THEE whom the Lord thy God shall choose; one from among thy Brethren shalt THOV SET OVER THEE, THOV MAIST NOT SET A STRANGER OVER THEE: Where the power of creating and electing the King, is left wholly to the peoples free choice, with these generall restrictions, that he should be one of their brethren, not a stranger, and particularly qualified as is there expressed. And though God did sometime design and nominate their Kings, yet he left the power of approbation and ratification of them free to the people, as is apparent by 1 Sa. 8. 18. And ye shall crie in that day, because of the King WHICH YE SHALL HAVE CHOSEN you. Hence Saul their first King, though nominated and designed by God and Samuel, was yet approved, confirmed and made King by the People, Who shouted and said, God save the King, when Samuel presented him to them; 1 Sam. 10. 24.dd1 San. 11, 12, 13, 14. But the children of Belial despising and bringing him no presents, Verse 27. after Saul had conquered the Ammonites, who besieged Iabesh Gilead; The people said unto Samuel, who is he that said, Shall Saul R…ign over us? bring the men that we may put them to death. Then Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day; for this day the Lord ha…h wrought salvation in Israel. Then said Samuel to the people, Come let us go to Gilgal, and renew the Kingdom there. And ALL THE PEOPLE went to Gilgal, and there THEY MADE SAVL KING before the Lord in Gilgal: Where Samuel useth this speech to the people, concerning Saul,ee1 Sam. 12. 13▪1 Sam 12:13 Now therefore behold THE KING WHOM YE HAVE CHOSEN, and whom Ye have desired, the Lordhath set a King over you: (so that the choice and election of him, was as well theirs as Gods:) And Verse 25. he calls him Your King, because chosen and made by, as well as for the people.

Saul being slain by his owne hands, the Crown descended not to his sonne by way of descent, but David succeeded him by Gods designation, and the Peoples election too, by whose authority he was made and crowned king, being formerly **1. Sam. 16. 1. to 14.1 Sam 16:1–14annointed by Samuel to succeed Saul. This is irrefragable by the 2 Sam. 2. 4. Where David going up to Hebron by Gods direction, the men of Iudah came, and there They Annointed David King over the House of Iudah. After which 2 Samuel. 5. 1. p. 126to 5. ALL THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL came to David to Hebron, and spake saying, Behold we are thy bone and thy flesh. Also in time past, when Saul was King over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel; And the Lord said to thee: Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a Captain over Israel. So AL THE ELDERS of Israel came to the King at Hebron, and King David made a League (or Covenant) with them before the Lord; and THEY ANNOINTED DAVID KING OVER ISRAEL. And in the 1 Chron. 12. 23. to 40. Wee have a particular recitall of the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the Warre, and came to David to Hebron to TVRN the Kingdome of Saul TO HIM; and came with a perfect heart to Hebron TO MAKE DAVID KING OVER ALL ISRAEL; and ALL THE REST also of Israel were OF ONE HEART TO MAKE DAVID KING: Whose title to the Crown being afterward▪ shaken by his sonne Absalom, who cunningly usurped it, (and that by the election of the people too; as is evident by Hushai his speech unto him, 2 Sam. 16. 18. Nay, but whom the Lord, and THIS PEOPLE, AND ALL THE MEN OF ISRAEL CHOOSE, his will I be, and with him I will abide, compared with 2. Sam. 29. 9, 10. And all THE PEOPLE were at strife thorow all the Tribes of Israel, saying; Absalom whom WE ANOINTED OVER VSUS is dead, &c. A cleare evidence the kingdome was then held elective, and that the people had the Soveraign power of electing and creating their kings;)ff2 Sam. 19. 9. to 43.2 Sam 19:9–43 all the people throughout all the Tribes of Israel and the men of Iudah, to re-establish David in his Throne, being fled out of the Land, sent this Message to him; Returne thou and all thy servants: Whereupon the King returned, and all the Tribes went as farre as Iordan to meet and bring him back again to Gilgal.

David growing old, his son gg1 King. 1. 5. to 13.1 Kgs 1:5–13Adonijah, against his consent, accompanied with some great Officers and Courtiers of his party, usurped the Crown, and was by them saluted King; but David hearing of it, by Gods election and choise, commanded Solomon (though not his eldest sonne) to be annointed and proclaimed King, and to sit upon his Throne in his life time: As soon as he was anointed and the Trumpet blew; ALL THE PEOPLE said,hh1 Chron. 23. 1. c. 28. 5, 6, 7, 8. c. 29. 1, 2.1 Chr 23:1 God save king Solomon. And ALL THE PEOPLE came up after him, and piped with fluits, and rejoyced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them; So that all Adonijah his company forthwith deserted him, and he and Ioab were glad to flee to the hornes of the Altar for shelter. After which, David assembled all the Princes of Israel, the Princes of the Tribes, the Captaines of Companies, thousands and hundreds, the Stewards, Officers, and mighty men, with all the valiant men of his kingdome, to Ierusalem; then he declared to all the Congregation, that God had chosen Solomon to sit upon the Throne of the kingdome of the Lord over Israel, 1 Chron. c. 28. & 29.1 Chr 28and to build him an house, &c. exhorting them to contribute liberally towards this building, which they did; and when they had blessed the Lord, and offered Sacrifices to him ALL THE CONGREGATION MADE Solomon the sonne of David KING THE SECOND TIME, AND ANOINTED HIM unto the Lord, TO BE THE CHIEFE GOVERNOVR (his first Coronation being but private without the presence and consent of the whole Realme, kk1 Chron. 29. 20. to 26.1 Chr 29:20–26but of those only then present in Ierusalem:) Then Solomon sate on the Throne of the Lord, as king, instead of David his Father, and ALL ISRAEL OBEYED HIM; and all the Princes, and mighty men, and likewise all the sonnes of David submitted themselves to p. 127him as their king: after he was thus generally elected and crowned king the 2. time by all the Congregation. And after Davids death, he wasll2 Chron. 2. 1. 1 King. 2. 46.2 Chr 2:11 Kgs 2:46 established and strengthened in his kingdome by the peoples voluntary admission and free submission to him. From which History of Solomon it is cleare. 1. That though David caused Solomon to be first crowned King privately to prevent Adonijah his usurpation; yet hee thought that title not sufficient without a second Election, admission, and Coronation of him by all the People and generall Congregation. 2. That till this his second inauguration by all the people, he was not generally acknowledged, nor obeyed by all as their lawfull king. 3. That Gods and Davids designation of Solomon to the Crown, did not take away the peoples liberty, right and power, freely to nominate, make, and choose their kings; their preuious designation being thus accompanied with this tacit condition, that the people likewise should freely elect, constitute, and crown him for their king, else what need of this their subsequent concurrent acceptance and second coronation of him for their king, by all the congregation, if their consents and suffrages were not necessary? or how could he have raigned over them as their lawfull king, had not the people generally chosen, accepted, admitted him for their Soveraigne?

Solomon deceasing,mm1 King. 12. 2 Chron. c. 10. v. 11.1 Kgs 122 Chr 10:11 Rehoboam his eldest sonne went up to Sechem: (what to doe? not to claime the crown by discent from his Father, but by election from the people, as the following History manifests;) FOR ALL ISRAEL were come to Sechem TO MAKE HIM kING: if to make him king, then he was no king before they had made him, as many Divines most sottishly averre against the very letter of the TextnnAntiq, Iud. l. 8. c. 3. and Iosephus; (who writes, That it pleased the Assembly of the Israelites there held, that HEE SHOULD RECEIVE THE kINGDOM BY THE IEOPLES CONSENT.) And Ieroboam and ALL THE CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL came and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, Thy Father made our yoake grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy Father, and his heavy yoake which he put upon us lighter, AND WE WILL SERVE THEE: (because naturally subjects delight in mild Kings, who will somwhat descend from their altitudes, saithnnAntiq. Iud. l. 8. c. 3. Iosephus.) This was the condition they propounded to him before they would accept him for their king, and upon this condition only would they admit him to reigne over them; therefore doubtlesse the disposall of the Crown and limitation of the kings royall power resided in all the congregation, who had authority to prescribe their kings what equall and just conditions they pleased. And he said unto them, depart yet for three dayes, then come again to me; and the people departed. Hereupon Rehoboam consulted with the old men that stood before Solomon his Father, while he lived, and said, how doe you advise that I may answer this people? And they spake unto him, saying; If thou wilt be A SERVANT unto this people this day, and wilt SERVE THEM and answer them, and speak good words to them THEN THEY WILL BE THY SERVANTS FOR EVER; But he forsooke the Counsell of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him, and following their ill advise: when Ieroboam and all the People came to Rehoboam the third day, as he had appointed; the King answered the people roughly; and forsaking the old mens Counsell, he spake unto them after the Counsell of the young men, saying; My Father made your yoake heavy, and I will adde to your yoake; my Father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise p. 128you with scorpions. Wherefore the King HEARKNED NOT UNTO THE PEOPLE, for the cause was from the Lord, &c. SO WHEN ALL ISRAEL SAW THAT THE KING HEARKNED NOT VNTOUNTO THE ME the People answered the King (through indegnation with one voyce, writes Iosephus, saying; What portion have we in David; NEITHER HAVE WEE INHERITANC) IN THE SONNE OF IESSE, (that is, we have not intailed our Subjection nor the inheritance of this our Realme to David and his seed for ever, but are still free to elect what King we please;) to thy Tents O Israel. Now see to thine House, David: so Israel departed to their Tent…. But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the Cities of Iudah, Rehoboam reigned over them: (the Tribes of Iudah and Beniamin CHOOSING HIM THEIR KING BY THEIR COMMON SVFFRAGES, writes Iosephus.) Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram who was over the Tribute (to excuse saith Iosephus, the petulancy of his young tongue, and to appease the mindes of the enraged vulgar:) And all Israel stoned him with stones that he dyed: therefore King Rehoboam (imagining truly, that himselfe was stoned in his servant, and fearing lest the once conceived hatred should be poured out on his own head, tremblingly getting up into his chariot,2 King. 20. 1. to 7.2 Kgs 20:1–7 as hastily as he could) made speed to flee to Ierusalem. S… Israel fell away from the house of David unto this day. And it came to passe when ALL ISRAEL heard that Ieroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the Congregation, AND MADE HIM KING OVER ALL ISRAEL▪ &c. (it being so preordained by God, 1 King. 12. 26. to 41.) Loe here the whole Congregation, or Parliament of Israel, if I may so stile it, had full and free power to reject Rehoboam from the Crown, for refusing to subscribe to their conditions; to elect Ieroboam for their lawfull King, and erect a new Kingdome of their owne, divided ever after from that of Iudah: which action I shall prove anon to be lawfull, warranted by Gods owne divine authority, and no sinne, nor rebellion at all in the People; who never admitted Rehoboam for, or submitted to him as their lawfull Soveraigne. So Iehu having slain King Ioram, Ahabs eldest sonne, sent a Letter to Samaria where his other 70▪ sonnes were brought up, to the Rulers and Elders there, wishing them to lookout THE BEST AND MEETEST of their Masters sonnes, and set him on his Fathers throne, and fight for their Masters bouse: But they being exceedingly afraid, said; two Kings …ould not stand before him, how then shall we stand? and sent word to Iehu, We are thy servants, and will doe all that thou shalt bid us; WE WILL NOT MAKE ANY KING. A clear evidence that the kingdom was then elective, and that they had power to choose the meetest man (not eldest brother) for their king.

After this, qq1 King. 16. 15, 16, 17, to 24.1 Kgs 16:151 Kgs 16:161 Kgs 16:17–24Zimri slaying Baasha king of usrael, and usurping the Crown, the people then encamped about Gibbethon hearing of it, that Zimri had conspired and also slain the King; Wherefore ALL ISRAEL MADE OMRI Captain of the Host king over Israel that day in the Campe, who burat Zimri in his Palace: then were the People divided into two parts: halfe of the People followed Tibni to make him king, and halfe followed Omri: But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni; so Tibni dyed, and Omri Reigned, being made king onelyonly by the peoples free election, without any divine designation. So rr2 King. 11. 2 Chron. 22. 10. & 23. Iose Ius Antiq I…d. l. 9. c. 7.2 Kgs 112 Chr 22:102 Chr 22:23Ioash the sonne of Ahaziah, when Athaliah had usurped the Crowne and kingdome of Iudah neer seven years space, was MADE KING, anointed and crowned by Iehoiadah the High Priest, the Captaines of hundreds, and ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND, p. 129(who rejoyced at it) when he was but 7. yeeres old, and Athaliah was apprehended, deposed, and murthered by them as an Vsurpresse.

ss2 Chron. 25 27. 28. c. 2. 61. 2 King. 14. 19. 20, 21.2 Chr 25:272 Chr 25:282 Kgs 14:192 Kgs 14:202 Kgs 14:21So Amaziah King of Iudah being slain by a Conspiracie at Lachish, ALL THE PEOPLE OF IVDAH tooke Vzziah who was but 16. yeers old, and MADE HIM KING instead of his Father.tt2 King. 15. 2 Chron. 27. 21▪2 Kgs 152 Chr 27:21 Vzziah king of Iudah being smitten with Leprosie unto the day of his death, dwelt in a severall house, Iotham his son (in the mean time by common consent) was over this house, judging the people of the Land:vv2 king. 21. 23. 2 Chro. 35. …5.2 Chr 35:5 Ammon king of Iudah being slain by his own servants, the people of the Land slew all them that had conspired against Ammon: And THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND MADE Iosiah his sonne King in his stead. And after xx2 Chron. 36. 1. 2 king. 23. 30.2 Chr 36:12 Chr 36:2Iosiah his death, the PEOPLE OF THE LAND took Iehoahaz the sonne of Iosiah and MADE HIM KING in his Fathers stead in Ierusalem. From all which sacred Texts and Presidents; as likewise from Hosea 8. 4. THEY HAVE SET VP KINGS, But not by mee; THEY HAVE MADE PRINCES, and I knew it not; it is most apparant, that the kings of Israel and Iudah, were usually elected by, and derived their Royall authority from the people, who made them kings, and received not their kingdomes and Crowns immediatly from God himself by a divine right: which may be further conmed by the 1. Macab. 9. 28. 29. 30. After the death of Iudas Maccabeus; all Iudas his friends came unto Ionathan his brother, and said unto him, since thy brother Iudas dyed, we have none like to him to goe forth against our enemies: Now therefore WEE HAVE CHOSEN THEE this day TO BE OVR PRINCE and Captain in his stead, that thou maist fight our battells. VponUpon this Ionathan took the Government on him at that time. After Ionathans death, the People said unto Simon his brother with a lowd voyce, 1 Mac. 13. 8. 9. Thou shalt be our Leader instead of Iudas, and Ionathan thy brother; fight thou our battels, and whatsoever thou commandest us, wee will doe. And the Iewes and Priests were well pleased that Simon should be their Governour, Captain, and High Priest; and Simon accepted thereof, 1 Mac. 14. 41. to 49. Hence Carolus Sigonius de Repub. Hebraeorum, l. 7. c. 3. writes, That the kings of the Israelites were created by the Suffrages of the People; that the Kingdome of Israel was translated to divers Families for their idola…ry; that although the kingdome of Iudah were in some sort hereditary, yet it was confirmed by the Suffrages of the People (which he proves by the example of Rehoboam and others) and that they obtained the Royall dignity not onelyonly by inheritance, but likewise by the Suffrages of the People, as every one may clearly know, who shall but consider the Histories of their kings; Which plainly refutes the wild, impudent, false assertion of the Author of An Appeale to thy Conscience, newly published, p. 13. where thus he writes: Observable it is, that thorowout the whole Scriptures we read not of Any King (I doubt hee never read the Scriptures, else he could not be so grossely mistaken) THAT WAS CHOSEN BY THE VOYCE OF THE PEOPLE: Nor of an Aristocracy, that is, where the Nobles govern, nor of a Democracy, that is where the people govern. And therefore let them consider how they can answer it at the last day, who shall endeavour to change an hereditary kingdome into an elective, or any other forme of Government whatsoever: that the people doe properly and absolutely make a king is false, &c. But had this illiterate ignoramus seriously perused the precedent or subsequent Texts here cited, with the best Commentators on them, or read over advisedly, Iosh. 22. Iudges 17. 6. c. 18. 1. c. 19. 1. c. 21. throughout; with the p. 130Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Iudges, Esther, Maccabees, the four Euangelists touching Christs arraignment and death, Acts 4. 5. 22. 23. 24. and 25 chapters or consulted with Iosephus, Philo, Paul Eber, Godwin, Cunaeus, …igonius, Bertrā, or any others who have written of the Jewish Antiquities or Republike, he could not have had the impudency to have published such grosse untruths, and should have found not onelyonly divers kings in Scripture created by the voyce of the people, but an hereditary kingdom oft changed into an elective, yea into an Aristocraticall and no Royall government; and an Aristocracie and Democracy to, even among the Jews themselves, whose government before their kings: was meerly Aristocraticall, as Iosephus Antiqu. Iud. l. 4. c. 8. Carolus Sigonius de Repub. Hebr. l. 1. c. 5. Cunaeus, S…hickardus, Bertram, Paul Eber, and all **Dee. …ure Ma…istratus in subditos: & …unius Brutus Vindiciae contr. tyrannos qu. 1. 2. 3. passim.others that I have seen, except this Animal irrationale risibile, punctually determine, they having no kings of their own before Saul, nor any after Zedekiah. Therefore I shall spend no more waste paper to refute this palpable errour, so confidently asserted by parisiticall Court Doctors, who make no conscience of writing any, though the grossest untruths, which may advance the absolute Soveraign Arbitrary tyrannicall government of kings, to oppresse and inslave the people.

3Thirdly, that the Kings of Iudah and Israel were**See …mius Brutus Vindic. Contr. Tyran. qu. 3. 4. p. 46. to 66. 194, 165, 166. where this is largely manifested; & de Iure Magistratus in S…bditos qu. 6. p. 272. 273, 274. no absolute Soveraign Princes, but took their Crown with and upon such Divine conditions, for breach whereof they and their posterities were oft times by Gods command, just judgement, and speciall approbation deposed, disinherited, destroyed, and the Crown translated to other families.

This is evident by direct Scriptures, Deuter. 17. 14. to the end. Thou shalt in any wise set him King over thee whom the Lord thy God shalt chuse; one from among thy Brethren shalt thou set King over thee; thou maist not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy Brother. Here is an expresse limitation and condition in respect of the person of the King; the conditions in regard of his royall administration follow, which are partly Negative, partly positive, But he shall not multiplie Horses to himself, nor cause the the people to return to Egypt, &c. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away; neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. And it shall be when he sitteth on the throne of his Kingdome, that he shall write him a Copie of this Law in a Book, out of that which is before the Priests the Levites; and it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the dayes of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this Law, and these Statutes to do them; That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the Commandment to the right hand or to the left, to the end that he may prolong his dayes in his Kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel. Here all the kings of the Israelites when their kingdoms should be erected, are strictly bound by God himself to negative and positive conditions, upon performance whereof, they and their children should prolong their dayes in the kingdom, and perpetuate their thrones in the midst of Israel, and upon breach whereof they and their posterity should lose both their lives and kingdom to; as the last clause insinuates, and the subsequent Texts in direct terms averre. But what if the king should violate these conditions, might the people lawfully resist him? aaAntiqu. Iu. … c. 8.Iosephus in his paraphrase on this very text, which I shall cite at large, resolves they might; Truely the government of the best me… (or Aristocraticall government) is best; and to live in a Republike thus administred, nor is there cause why you should desire any other kinde of government, but it is best, that contenting y…rselves with this, you continue with in the power of your Laws and of your selves: p. 131But if the desire of a king shall possesse you, let there be none unlesse he be of your stock, and blood, and one to whom justice, with other vertues, are cordiall: He whosoever he shall be, let him attribute more to the lawes and unto God, than to his own wisedome, AND LET HIM DO NOTHING WITHOVT THE HIGH PRIESTS AND S…NATES ADVICE; neither may he nourish many wives, nor possesse very much money, and many Horses, with the plenty of which things he may easily become a contemner of the laws; and if he shall addict himself to these things more then is meet, OBSTANDVM EST, ne potentior fiat quamrebus vestris expedit, HE IS TO BE RESISTED, lest he become more potent then is expedient for your affairs: So he. Yea bbExplanat. Artic. 42. Tom. 1. …. 84.Zuinglius with ccTrue Difference between Christian Subiection, &c. part. 3. p. 513, 514.B. Bilson expresly resolve, that the people were bound to resist, question and depose their kings for their idolatry, and breach of these conditions; and that God himself justly punished them for Manasses sins and wickednesse, because they resisted and punished him not for them, as they were obliged to do; as I have ddPart. 3 p. 99 100.elswhere manifested, to which I shall refer you.

This condition most clearly appears in other Texts; as in the 1 Sam. 12, 13, 14, 15, 25. Where when Saul the first king of the Israelites was crowned at their earnest importunity, against Gods and Samuels approbation, Samuel used these speeches to them, Now thereforebehold the King whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired, &c. If ye will fear the Lord and serve him, and obey his voyce, and not rebell against the commandment of the Lord, then shall both ye and also the King that reigneth over you continue following the Lord your God. But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but will rebell against the voyce of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers, &c. But IF ye shall do wickedly, ye shall be consumed both ye and your King. After this Saul being distressed by the Philistines, weary of staying for Samuel, and presuming to offer sacrifice without him, hereupon ee1 Sam. 13. 13, 14.1 Sam 13:131 Sam 13:14Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly, for thou hast not kept the Commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee, for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever; but NOW THY KINGDOM SHALL NOT CONTINVE, for the Lord hath chosen him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, BECAVSE THOV HAST NOT KEPT THAT WHICH THE LORD COMMANDED THEE. Lo here the breach of Gods conditions by king Saul, forfeited his Kingdom, and disinherited his posterity of it. So when he performed not Gods command, in utterly destroying Amalck, sparing Agag and the best of the things; Samuel sharply reprehending him for this offence, said unto him, ff1 Sam. 15. 22, 23, 26, 28, 29, 30.1 Sam 15:221 Sam 15:231 Sam 15:261 Sam 15:281 Sam 15:291 Sam 15:30Behold, to obey is better then sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of Rams; for Rebellion (namely, king Sauls rebellion against Gods command, not subjects rebellion against their Prince, not so much as once dreamed off in this Text as Court Doctors grosly mistake, a…d so miserably pervert this Scripture contrary to the sence and meaning, translating it from kings to subjects, from king rebellion against God, to subjects rebellion against men) is as the sin of Witchcraft, and stubbornnesse is as iniquity and Idolatry. BECAVSE thou hast rejected the Word of the Lord, he hath also REIECTED THEE FROM BEING KING: I will not return with thee, for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord HATH REIECTED THEE FROM BEING KING over Israel; the Lord HATH RENT THE KINGDOM of Israel FROM THEE this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better then thou. Also the strength of Israel p. 132will not lie nor repent, for he is not as men, that he should repent; (to wit, of renting the kingdom from him) though he repented that he had made Saul king over Israel, because he turned back from following him, and performed not his Commandments, 1 Sam. 15. 11. 35. After which gg1 Sam▪ 16. to 14.1 Sam 16God said to Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have reiected him from Reigning over Israel? Fill thine horn with Oyl, and I will send thee to Iesse the Bethlemite, for I have provided me a king among his sons; whereupon he went and annoynted David, who succeeded him in the kingdom, Sauls posterity being utterly disinherited for his recited sins.

After this when God setled the kingdom upon David and his seed after him, it was upon condition of obedience, and threatning of corrections even by men, if they transgressed: hh2 Sam. 7. 11. to 17. Ps 89. 32. to 47. 1 King. 8. 20.2 Sam 7:11–17Ps 89:32–471 Kgs 8:20The Lord telleth thee, that he will make thee an house; and when thy dayes be fulfilled, and thou shalt steep with thy fathers, then I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish the Throne of his kingdom for ever; I will be his father, and he shall be my son; If he commit iniquity, I will chastise him with the Rod of men, and with the Stripes of the Children of Men: (that is, I will not chasten him immediately by my self, but by men my instruments, even by Ieroboam, and his own subjects the ten Tribes, or other enemies whom I will raise up against him and his posteritie, 1 Kings 11. 9, to 41.) But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee: And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: yet still upon condition of obedience, as is most apparent by Davids speech to king Solomon, 1 Chron. 28. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. And the Lord hath chosen Solomon my son, to set him upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord, over all Israel; And he said to me, &c. Moreover, I will establish his kingdom for ever, If he continue constant to do my Commandments, and my judgements, as at this day. Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the Congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep, and seek for all the Commandmens of the Lord your God, that ye may possosse the good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your Children after you for ever. And thou Solomon my son, know thou the Lord God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing minde; for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts, If thou seek him, he will be found of thee, but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever; notwithstanding the former Covenant and establishment, which was but conditionall, not absolute, as the renting of the ten Tribes from his son, and the determining of the veryii2 Chro. c. 10 & 11. & 36. … de Repub. Hebr. l. 1. c. 9. 15. Ioseph. Antiq. lud l. 10 & 11. Paul Eber. Lestate de la. Religion & Repub. du peopl. Iudaeique.2 Chr 10 kingdom of Iudah it self in Zedekiah, (after which it never returned any more to Davids Line) infallibly evidence. Hence we read in the 1 Kings 11. that Solomons idolatrous wives, turning away his heart from following the Lord, and drawing him to commit idolatry in his old age; hereupon the Lord grew angry with Solomon; Wherefore the Lord said unto him; for as much as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my Covenant and my Statutes which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the Kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant; Notwithstanding in thy dayes I will not do it, for David thy fathers sake; but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son: Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom, but will give one Tribe to thy Sonne, for my servant Davids sake, and for Jerusalems sake which I have chosen. In pursuance whereof the Prophet Ahijah rending I…roboams garment into 12 peeces, said to Ieroboam, Take thee ten peeces, for thus saith the Lord the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give p. 133t…n Tribes to thee; BECAVSE THAT THEY HAVE FORSAKEN ME, and have worshipped the Goddesse of the Zidonians, &c. AND HAVE NOT WALKED IN MY WAYES, to doe that which is right in mine eyes, to keep my Statuts and my judgements, as did David his Father; howbeit I will not take the whole Kingdome out of his hands; but I will make him Prince all the dayes of his life, for David my servants sake whom I chose, because he kept my Commandements and my Statutes: But I will take the Kingdome out of his sonnes hand, and give it unto thee, even ten tribes. And unto his sonne will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Ierusalem, the City which I have chosen to put my name there. And I will take thee, and thou shalt reigne according to all that thy soule desireth, and shalt be King over Israel. (But what, without any limitation or condition at all think you? No such matter:) And it shall be IF THOV WILT HEARKEN VNTOUNTO ALL THAT I COMMAND THEE, and wilt walk in my wayes and doe that is right in my sight, to keep my Statutes and my Commandements, as David my servant did, that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to thee: And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever. Loe here both Kingdomes of Iudah and Israel, are given and entailed on David, Solomon, and Ieroboam onelyonly upon condition of good behaviour; which not performed, they shall be rent from either: And was this only a vain idle condition, as some deem the Covenants and Coronation oathes of Kings to God and their Kingdoms? Surely no, for we read experimentall verifications of them in King Rehoboam; kk1 Kin. 12. 2. Chron. 10. & 11.1 Kgs 122 Chr 10Who answering all the people and Ieroboam when they came to Sechem to make him King, roughly, according to the Counsell of the young men, and threatning to adde to their yoake, instead of making it lighter; and hearkning not unto the people, (FOR THE CAVSE WAS FROM THE LORD, that he might perform his saying, which he spake by Abijah the Shilomite unto Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat;) thereupon, when all Israel saw, that the King hearkned not unto them, the people answered the king, saying; What portion have we in David; neither have we inheritance in the son of Iesse; to your tents O Israel; now see to thine own house David; so Israel departed to their tents, stoned Adoram who was over the tribute, whom Rehoboam sent to appease them; Whereupon Rehoboam made speed to get him into his Chariot to flee to Ierusalem; So all Israel fell away from the house of David to this day; and calling Ieroboam unto the congregation, made him King over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Iudah onelyonly. VponUpon this revolt, when Rehoboam was come to Ierusalem, he assembled all the House of Iudah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourescore thousand chosen men which were Warriers to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the Kingdome again to Rehoboam the sonne of Solomon; But the Word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, speake unto Rehoboam the sonne of Solomon King of Iudah, and unto all the house of Iudah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying: Thus saith the Lord; Yee shall not goe up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house, For this thing is done by mee. They hearkned therefore unto the Word of the Lord, and returned to depart, according to the Word of the Lord. Behold here an experimentall forfeiture of a kingdome, and translation of the major part of it to another family, for Solomons idolatry, executed by the peple through Gods appointment; which being fore-threatned in the generall by God himselfe to David, p. 134and by David to Solomon in case he transgressed, predicted by way of menace to Solomon and Ieroboam, by God himselfe and his Prophets after Solomons transgression, executed by the people by Gods speciall direction and approbation; and thus owned and justified by God in the peoples behalfe after the execution, when Rehoboam would have made war against them for this revolt, must certainly be acknowledged, not only a …ust and warrantable action in respect of God himselfe, but likewise of the people, unlesse we will make God himselfe the Author and approver of rebellion. By all which it is apparant, that Solomon and Rehoboam held their Crownes onelyonly upon condition from God, the breach whereof might and did forfeit them to the people in some measure: And so did Ieroboam too, hold the kingdome of Israel newly erected by the people after this revolt, upon the conditions of obedience, already mentioned, which being violated by hisll1 King. c. 12. & 13.1 Kgs 12 setting up 2 calves in Dan and Bethel, out of an unwarrantable policy to keep the people from returning to Rehoboam if they went up to Ierusalem to worship; this thing became sin to the house of Ieroboam, even to cut it off and destroy it from off the face of the earth, 1 King. 13. 34. For Ieroboam committing idolatry with the Calves, Ahijah the Prophet sent him this sharp message by his wife, 1 K. 14. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Go tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, for as much as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel, and rent the Kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee, ye… thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my Commandements, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that onelyonly which was right in mine eyes, but hast done evill above all that were before thee; for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behinde thy backe; Therefore behold I will bring evill upon the house of Ieroboam, and will cut off from Ieroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Ieroboam, as a man taketh away dung till it be gone: Him that dieth of Ieroboam, in the the Citie shall the dogs eat, and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the ayre eat, for the Lord hath spoken it. Moreover, the Lord shall raise him up a King over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Ieroboam in that day. Neither was this an unexcuted commination, for Ieroboam dying, and mm1 King. 15. 25. to 31.1 Kgs 15:25–31Nadah his sonne succeeding him both in his kingdom and idolatries, wherewith he made Israel to sinne, Baasha (by Gods just judgement) conspired against him, slew him, reigned in his stead; and when he reigned he smote all the house of Ieroboam, so that he left not to him any that breathed; according to the saying of the Lord which he spake by his servant Abijah; because of the sins of Ieroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger. After which nn1 King. 15. 34. c. 16. 1, to 14.1 Kgs 15:34Baasha walking in the wayes and sins of Ieroboam notwithstanding this exemplary judgement of God on him and his posteritie, the word of the Lord came to Iehu sonne of Hannani, against Baasha, saying, Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee Prince over my people Israel, and thou hast walked in the way of Ieroboam, and hast made my people of Israel to sinne, to provoke me to anger with their sins; behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posteritie of his house, and will make his house like the house of Ieroboam the son of N…bat; him that dieth of Baasha in the City shall the dogs eate, and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the Ayre eate: which judgement was actually executed upon his evill sonne king Elah, whom Zimri the Captain of his Chariots slew, as he was drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza p. 135Steward of his House, and reigned in his stead; and assoon as he sat in his Throne, he slew all the house of Baasha, he left him none that pissed against the wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends. Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake against Baasha, by Iehu the Prophet, for all the sinnes of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sinne, in provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger witb their vanities. nn1 King. c. 16. to 22.1 Kgs 16King Om…i and Ahab his sonne going on in the sinnes of Ieroboam, serving Baal to boot, persecuting Gods prophets, putting Naboth most injuriously to death for his Vineyard, by Iezabels instigation, and setting himself to work evill in the sight of the Lord, above all that were before him: Hereupon the Prophet Elijah tells him,oo1 King. 21. 19. to 25.1 Kgs 21:19–25 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evill upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will make thine house like the house of Ieroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the sonne of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sinne: And of Iezabel also spake the Lord, saying, The Dogs shall eat Iezabel by the wall of Iezreel; him that dieth of Ahab in the City the Dogs shall eat, and him that dieth in the field shall the Fowls of the Ayre eate. Neither was this a vain threatning, for Ahab being slain at Ramoth Gilead, pp1 King. 2…. 19. c. 22. 37. 38.1 Kgs 2:19the dogges licked up his blood in the place where they licked the blood of Naboth; and Iehoram his son succeeding him, both in his Throne and sins, qq2 King c. 9. & 10.2 Kgs 9God himself annoynted Iehu King over Israel, of purpose to execute this his vengeance against the house of Ahab and Iezabel; who in execution thereof slew both King Iehoram, Ahaziah King of Iudah, Iezabel, and all Ahabs sons and posteritie, his great men, Nobles, with all the Priests and worshippers of Baal, till he left none of them remaining: For which severe execution of Gods Iustice, the Lord said unto Iehu, rr2 King. 10. 30.2 Kgs 10:30Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation, shall sit on the Throne of Israel. Which action of Iehu being thus specially commanded, commended, and remunerated with such a temporell reward by God himself, must questionlesse be lawfull, and no Treason nor Rebellion in Iehu, unlesse we will charge God to be both the Author, Approver and Rewarder of those sinnes. After this ss2 Kings c. 12, to 16.2 Kgs 12Iehu walking in the sins of Ieroboam, though God deprived him not for it, yet he stirred up Hazael to spoil and waste his Countrey, during all his reigne, and the reigns of King Iehoahaz his son and Ioash his Granchilde, who succeeded him in his idolatries; and Zechariah the last king of Iehu's Race, going in his Ancestors sinnes, was slain by Shallum, who reigned in his stead.tt2 Kin. 16.2 Kgs 16 Shallum, Pekahiah, and Pekah three wicked idolatrous kings of Israel, were by Gods just judgement, successively s…ain one of another, and by Hoshea. So that all the Kings of Israel, who violated Gods Covenants and conditions annexed to their Crowns, did for the most part lose their lives, Crownes, and underwent the utter extirpation of their po…erities, being totally cut off by the sword, neither succeeding their Parents in their Crowns nor inheritances. And though the royall Crown of Iudah continned in Davids Line till the Captivity of Zedekiah, the last king of his Race; yet when ever they infringed the conditions which God annexed to their Crownes, and turned Idolaters or flagitious persons, God presently (by way of revenge) either brought in forraigne enemies upon them, which mastered, conquered them, and sometimes deposed and carried them p. 136away Captives, or made them Tributaries, as the examples of King uu1 King 13. 21. to 31.1 Kgs 13:21–31Rehoboam, afflicted by Shishak King of Aegypt, for his sinnes and …dolatry, and by Ieroboam all his dayes▪ xx1 King. 15. 3. 7.1 Kgs 15:31 Kgs 15:7of Ahijam,yy2 Chron. 212 Chr 21 Iehoram,zz… Chron. 22. Ahaziah,aa2 Chro. 24. 17. to 27.2 Chr 24:17–27 Ioash,bb2 Chro. 25.2 Chr 25 Amaziah,cc2 Chron. 28.2 Chr 28 Ahaz, dd2 Chron. 33. 2 King. 23. & 24. & 25.2 Chr 332 Kgs 23Manasseh,ee2 Kin. 9. 27, 28. 2 Chron. 22. c. 24. 24. 26. c. 25 27. 28. 2 Chron. 33. 22, to 28.2 Kgs 9:272 Kgs 9:282 Chr 222 Chr 33:22–28 Iehoahaz, Iehoiakim, Iehoiachin, and Zedechiah, (whose Histories, troubles, captivities and punishments you may reade at large) with others witnesse: or else caused their own servants, subjects, enemies to rise up against them, to slay them, as is evident by ee2 Kin. 9. 27, 28. 2 Chron. 22. c. 24. 24. 26. c. 25 27. 28. 2 Chron. 33. 22, to 28.2 Kgs 9:272 Kgs 9:282 Chr 222 Chr 33:22–28King Ahaziah, Ioash; Amaziah, Ammon, and others. All which are unanswerable evidences and experimentall demonstrations, that the Kingdoms of Iudah and Israel were both held of God upon conditions, and that for the breach of these conditio…s they might be, and oft times were (by Gods Iustice on them) both lawfully deprived of their Crownes, and their posterities, disinherited, yea, totally cut off for ever; and in conclusion, both these most eminent Kingdoms, for the sins of kings and people, were invaded, destroyed, and both Kings with people carried away captives by their enemies, into forraigne Countries, from whence the whole Nation never afterwards returned, nor ever after attained to a king and kingdom of their own: So fatall is it for Kings, or Kingdoms to break those Covenants, Laws, Conditions which God himself hath prescribed them; and so far are any Kings from being exempted from all Laws, and left at libertie to do what they please, that the breach of them proves destructive to them and theirs.

I shall onelyonly adde to this by way of Corollary, that all the Israelites Rulers, Kings, People did joyntly and severally forffDeut. …. 1. to 26. Iosh 2…. 14, to 29. 2 Chr. 15. 9 to 17. 1 Sam. 12. 13. to 2…. 1 Chr. c▪ 28, & 29. 2 Chr. 23. 3. 16. 17.Josh 2:14–292 Chr 15:9–171 Sam 12:131 Chr 282 Chr 23:32 Chr 23:162 Chr 23:17 themselves for the whole Nation in generall, and every of them in particular, frequently enter into solemn Vowes and Covenants with God, to serve the Lord, to be and conttnue his people; to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart, and with all their soul; that whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel, should be put to death, whether small or great, whether Ma… or Woman, (not the King or Queen excepted; ) and they sware unto the Lord with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with Cornets, and all rejoyced at the Oath, for they had sworn with all their hearts. Witnesse the gg2 Chr. 15. 9. to …7.2 Chr 15:9Covenant made by Ioshua and all the people, To serve the Lord; by Samuel, Saul, and all the people at Sauls Coronation, and by king Asa and all his people, To seek the Lord, &c. (who in pursuance thereof removed his mother Maacha from being Queen, because she had made an idol in a Grove, and cut down her idol, and stampt it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron, 2 Chron. 15. 16. of King David, hh1 Chr. …. 28. &. 29.Solomon, and all the people at Solomons Coronation; between ii2 Chr. 23. 16 17. 2 King. 11. 4 17. 18.2 Chr 23:162 Kgs 11:4King Iehoash, Iehoiada and all the Congregation at his inauguration, that they should be the Lords people: in pursuance whereof all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and images in pieces, and slew Mattan the Priest of Baal before the altars; between kk2 Chr. 29. 10. c. 30. 19. to 27. c. 11. 1.2 Chr 29:10Hezekiah and all his subjects and God; betweenll2 Chr. 34. 30. 31. 32. 33.2 Chr 34:302 Chr 34:312 Chr 34:322 Chr 34:33 Iosiah and all that were present in Ierusalem and Benjamin and Gad, who made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his Commandments, and his Testimonies, and his Statutes, with all their heart, and with all their soul, to perform the words of the Covenant formerly written in the Book of the Covenant that was found in the house of the Lord; in execution whereof Iosiah tooke away all the abominations out of all the Countrey that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve the Lord their God, and not to depart from following the Lord God of their Fathers all his dayes: Together with the like solemne publike Covenants made by mmEzra 10. 3. 4Ezra 10:3Ezra 10:4Ezra,nnNehem. 9. 38. c. 10. 1. to 39.Neh 9:38 Nehemia… and all the People p. 137unto God; which Covenant the Princes, Levites, Priests and all the people sealed, and entred into a Curse and into an Oath to walk in Gods Law, and to observe and doe all the Commandments, judgements and Statutes of the Lord, &c. And that God himself expresly commanded them, ooDeut 13. & 17.Deut 13That if any Prophet or Dreamer of dreams, or thy Brother or son of thy Mother, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend which is as thine own soul, should secretly intice them to commit idolatry, or serve other gods, they should neither consent nor hearken to, nor pitty, nor spare, nor conceal him, but shalt surely kill him; thy hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and after the hand of all the people, and thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die, onelyonly for this secret inticement to idolatry: And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and do no more such wickednesse as this is. And if they should hear, that the inhabitants of any City were seduced to serve other gods, tben they must diligently search and inquire after it; and if it be truth and the thing certain, that such abomination was wrought among them, then they shall surely smite the inhabitants of that City with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattell thereof with the edge of the sword; and gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and burn the City with all the spoile thereof every whit for the Lord their God, and it shall be an heap for ever, and shall not be built again: In pursuance whereof the ppIosh. 22. 9. to 34.Josh 22:9–34ten tribes and a half, assembled to warre against the Reubenites, Gadites, and half Tribe of Manasseh, for their supposed idolatrous Alter; andqqIudg. 20, & 21.Judg 20 all the children of Israel assembled together as one man, and made warre against the men of Gibeah and the Benjamites, for not punishing the grosse Rape of the Levites Concubine, destroying the City utterly, and the Tribe of Benjamin too welnigh. And upon this ground, the City ofrr2 Chr. 21. 10 11.2 Chr 21:10 Libnah revolted from under the hand of Iehoram the idolatrous King of Iudah, Because he had forsaken the Lord God of his Fathers. And as some learned men conceive ss2 King. 19. 20. 2 Chro. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.2 Kgs 19:202 Chr 17:182 Chr 17:192 Chr 17:202 Chr 17:21the people made a Conspiracie against King Amaziah in Ierusalem, and he fled to Lachish, but they sent after him to Lachish and …lew him there;ttDe Iure in Magistratus in subditos, p. 272. to 275. not privately but openly, as acted by publike authoritie, consent, and meditated deliberation, not out of any private hatred, but for his impietie, whereby he violated the chiefest part of his Oath and Covenant; whereupon we read not of any complaint, or inquisition, or proceedings, or punishment inflicted on those that slew him after his death, either by the people, or his children, as there was upon those who slew King Ammon; but being slain, they brought him back on horses, and he was buried at Ierusalem with his Fathers in the Citie of David, out of reverence to his royall dignity and family; And All the People of Iudah took Azariah, and made him King in stead of his father Amaziah; which plainly shewes, that what was formerly done by the greater part of the States at Ierusalem, was afterwards confirmed by common consent, as done upon a just cause, and executed by command of those who might lawfully doe it. Whence they conclude, That the Orders or States of the People of Israel had right to chuse what King they would themselves, out of the family of David; and being elected▪ afterward to correct and punish him as there was cause: that they were obliged by this Covenant made to God, both to reprehend, resist, oppose, yea, depose, if not put to death their King for his open incorrigible idolatries and sins, by common consent, as their king was obliged to punish and put them to death for their idolatries and crimes, their kings being included within their Covenants; and Gods inhibition of Idolatry under pain of capitall punishments, extending to Kings, as well as others, if not more then to any, because p. 138their examples were most pernicious; and they were as far forth bound by their joynt Covenants made to God with their Kings to hinder their Kings from, and to proceed against them for their idolatries, as their kings were to impedite and punish them for their breach of Covenant, and because God himself did punish them for their Kings idolatries, as is evedent by Ier. 15. 1, to 6. and the History of the Kings, and Chronicles every where, which God would not in justice have done, had not the people both just right and power to resist, hinder, censure, punish, depose their Kings by publike consent of the State and people for their idolatries and breach of Covenant, asvvExplanatio Artic. 42. & lib. 4. Epist. Zuing. & Oecol. f. 186. Zuinglius,xxVindiciae contra Tyrannos, quaest. 2. p. 43 …0 70. Stephanus Iunius Brutus, the author of the Treatise yyPage 271. to 275.De Iure Magistratus in Subditos, with others, prove at large, and zzInstit. I. 4. c. 20. sect. 31.Master Calvin, yea aaThe True Difference, &c. part. 3. p. 513, 514.Bishop Bilson himself, assents to. Such a Soveraign power had the whole State and Congregation of Israel and Iudah over their kings themselves, whose estates in their Crownes and Kingdoms by Gods own institution, was not absolute, but onelyonly conditionall, and subject unto forfeiture, upon breach of these Covenants and Conditions by which they did injoy them.

Fourthly, The Kings of Iudah and Israel were no absolute Soveraign Princes paramount their whole Kingdoms, the generall Co…gregation of the people, Senate or Sanhedrin, but inferiour to them in power, and not onelyonly counselled, but over-ruled usually by them in matters of publike concernment: This is evident not onelyonly by Iosh. 22. 11. to 34. and Iudges 20. and 21. where the whole Congregation of Israel, as the Soveraign power, in the dayes of Ioshua and the Iudges assembled about the great causes of the Reubenites, Gadites, and half… the Tribe of Manasseh, concerning their Altar, and of the Gibeonites and Benjamites, concluding both matters of publike war and peace; But likewise by the peoples rescuing Ionathan out of the hands and power of King Saul his father, that he died not, though Saul had twice vowed that he should be put to death, 1 Sam. 14. 38. to 36. And the people said unto Saul, Shall Ionathan die who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid; as the Lord liveth there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he hath wrought with God this day: So the people rescued Ionathan that he died not. By the 1 Chron. 13. 1. to 7. where thus we reade: And David consulted with the Ca…tains of thousands and hundreds, and with every Leader, and David said unto all the Congregation of Israel, If it seeme good unto you, and that it be of the Lord our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the Priests and Levites which are in their Cities and Suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us; and let us bring again the Ark of our God to us, for we enquired not at it in the dayes of Saul. And all the Congregation said, that they would do so, For the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. And David went up and all Israel to Baalah, to bring up thence the Arke of God the Lord. Compared with the 1 Samuel 18. 2, 3, 4. where when David sent out the people to battell against Absalon under three Commaunders, the King said unto the people, I will surely goe forth with you my selfe also: But the people answered,