Saints No Smiters, Treatise · Section 4
§ 4. The Exceptions of Fifth-monarchy-men and others against the first Argument are refelled.
AGainst this Argument which overthrows also the Doctrines of Jesuited Pontificians and other opposers, deposers, and smiters of Kings and other Rulers, there are sundry exceptions taken. One exception is, that those Precepts were for that time, when the Christians were unable to resist. But this is prevented by the Apostles words, Rom. 13. 5. Ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. Another, that these Precepts tie us to submit to these Rulers, and not to resist them, till they cease to be Rulers, which they do when excommunicate, deprived by the Pope. But if the Pope be comprehended under every soul, as Chrysostom conceived even the Apostles were, then the Pope himself is to be subject to Rulers, and consequently cannot depose them; nor hath the Scripture given this power to the Pope, or Man, to depose them, it being God's prerogative, as is said Psal. 75. 7. God is the Judge, he putteth down one, and setteth up another. Another evasion is, that subjection is required to Rulers, while they are a terror to evil works, & not to good, but not when they oppresse, are enemies to Gods People, Christ's Kingdom, then they cease to be Rulers; but this is prevented by the Apostle, who saith, the Powers that be are ordained of God, and therefore to them, as they are, subjection is to be given; and resistence is forbidden by S. Paul. But the chief exception is that which p. 51 of the Banner displayd is in these words: Now then we say, that called the Ordinance of God, proves the Ordinance of the Devil; and though the Powers of the great Image might be taken for the Ordinance of God, so long as they kept their pure, civil, and unmixed state; so saith Paul, the Powers that be (i. e. the Civil Powers of old Rome, tho a bloudy Persecutor, and devourer of the Creation, and God's Heritage) are ordained of God; yet when the Power of Rome adulterated from its pure civil state, and becomes a mixt Antichristian state, the Beast, and a Whore, then it is said of that beastly, Antichristian Power, that the Dragon, or Satan gave him his power, and his seat, and great Authority; and what then is this save the Ordinance of Hell?
To which I reply, If I understand them aright, this is their meaning, that the powers of the great Image that is the Kings, Emperors and Rulers of the world then ceased to be Gods Ordinance, and became the Ordinance of Hell, when that was fulfilled, which we read Revel. 13. 2. which they take for granted was, when the Empire of Rome, or the ten Kings that arose out of the division of it, did give their power and strength, as it is Revel. 17. 13. unto the beast mentioned v. 11. which it's without doubt with them to be the Bishop of Romes pretended supremacy, dominion, Oecumenieal Vicarship, by which Christian Religion was corrupted, mixed with Paganish, and Jewish rites, and the ten Kings and their Kingdoms made dependent on the Pope. And consequently subjection, and assistance is not due to the Civil, or Ecclesiastical, or Military powers or Laws that now are, being built or erected upon the old foundation of the fourth Monarchy in this supposed mixt estate, but they are warranted and bound, as being the Stone expressed Dan. 2. 34, 44, 45. to smite, destroy, utterly dissolve the powers of the fourth Monarchy (which they conceive to be all the present) in their persons, Offices, Laws, Titles, priviledges and whole constitution, and to take to themselves all the power and dominion in the earth in order to the erecting of the Fifth-Monarchy, which they call Christs visible Kingdom upon earth.
Now surely such a monstrous giant-like claim as this, exceeding any of the proud claims of Nebuchadnezzar, or any of the Persian, Roman Turkish Monarchs, had need of very good cards for it, some unquestionable Charter or grant of Heaven, especially when it so flatly opposeth such plain precepts as I have alledged to the contrary, which unless they be proved to be relaxed or repealed by a Divine sentence, testified by some infallible evidence of miracles or otherwise, such as Christ and his Apostles had, do prove, that this claim, and the Doctrine that teacheth such practises, as they incite men to, is from the Devil himself, who is the great Abaddon, or destroyer of the World. Sure Christ, when he bid his Disciples teach men to observe all that he had commanded, promising, to be with them all daies unto the end of the world, Matth. 28. 20. And S. Paul, when he thus wro… to Timothy, 1 Epist. ch. 6. 13, 14. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Jesus Christ, who before Pontius Pilate witn…ssed the good confession, that thou keep this Commandment (whereof Prayer and thanksgiving for Kings and all that are in Authority, 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2, 3. Obedience to Masters, 1 Tim. 6. 1. are a part) without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, did conceive their commands to be binding until Christs second coming. And sith he only hath power to repeal, release, dispense with a Law, who hath a power, either legislative, or declarative of Law superiour or equal to his; who gave, or at first Authoritatively declared it, it can be no less than Pope-like, or Dictator-like arrogance in some persons, upon pretence of a peculiar Revelation to them, no way demonstrated, but in an obscure claucular meeting for consultation imagined to be communicated to them, determin, that which St. Paul said was the ordinance of God, to be the ordinance of Hell, because they say it, and to exceed the Pharisees in arrogance, whom our Saviour chargeth with hypecrisie for making the commandment of God of none effect by their tradition; though it were the tradition of their Elders, or chief Rabbins, or Doctors. Matth. 15. 6, 7. This bidding defiance to all the Powers of the Earth; and this taking on them, to make void so plain Precepts of Christ and his Apostles, without any other proof than they bring, is in my apprehension, one of the greatest pieces of pride and arrogancy that I have met with, and as great a delusion as I think this age hath afforded.