The Bloody Tenant of Persecution for the Cause of Conscience, Part 4 · Chapter 114
CHAP. CXIV.
Peace.
IT seemes (deare Truth) a mighty Gulfe betweene that people and Nation, and the Nations of the world then extant and ever since.
Truth.
As sure as the blessed substance to all those shadowes, Christ Iesus is come, so unmatchable and never to bee paralleld by any Nationall State was that Israel in the Figure or Shadow
And yet the Israel of God now, the Regenerate or Newborne, the circumcised in Heart by Repentance and Mortification, who willingly submit unto the Lord Iesus as their onelyonly King and Head, may fitly parallell and answer that Israel in the type, without such danger of hypocrisie, of such horrible prophanations, and of firing the Civill State in such bloody combustions, as all Ages have brought forth upon this compelling a whole Nation or Kingdome to be the antitype of Israel.
Peace.
Were this Light entertained, some hopes would shine forth for my returne and restauration.The difference of the Kings and Governours of Israel from al Kings & Governors of the world. First, they were all members of the Church.
Truth.
I have yet to adde a third consideration concerning the Kings and Governours of that Land and people.
They were to be (unlesse in their captivities) of their Brethren, members of the true Church of God, as appeares in the History of Moses, the Elders of Israel, and the Iudges and Kings of Israel afterward.
But first, who can deny but that there may be now many lawfull Governours, Magistrates and Kings in the Nations of the World, where is no true Church of Iesus Christ?Excellent Talents vouchsafed by God to unregenerate persons.
Secondly, we know the many excellent gifts wherewith it hath pleased God to furnish many, inabling them for publike service to their Countries both in Peace and War (as all Ages and Experience testifies) on whose soules hee hath not yet pleased to shine in the face of Iesus Christ: which Gifts and Talents must all lye buried in the Earth, unlesse such persons may lawfully be called and chosen to,A doctrine contrary to all true Piety and Humanity it selfe. and improved in publike service, notwithstanding their different or contrary Conscience and Worship.
Thirdly, if none but true Christians, members of Christ Iesus, might be Civill Magistrates, and publikely intrusted with civill affaires, then none but members of Churches, Christians should be Husbands of Wives, Fathers of Children, Masters of Servants: But against this doctrine the whole creation, the whole World may justly rise up in armes, as not onelyonly contrary to true Piety, but common Humanity it selfe. For if a Commonweale bee lawfull amongst men that have not heard of God nor Christ, certainly their Officers, Ministers, and Governours must be lawfull also.
Fourthly, it is notoriously knowne to be the dangerous doctrine profest by some Papists, The Papists doctrine of deposing Magistrates confessed in effect to be true by the P…cestants.that Princes degenerating from their Religion, and turning Heretickes, are to be deposed, and their Subjects actually discharged from their obedience. Which doctrine all such must necessarily hold (however most loath to owne it) that hold the Magistrate Guardian of both Tables, and consequently such an one as is inabled to judge, yea and to demonstrate to all men the worship of God: yea and being thus Governor and Head of the Church he must necessarily be a part of it himselfe: which when by Heresie he falls from (though it may be by Truth, miscalled Heresie) he falls from his calling of Magistracy, and is utterly disabled from his (pretended) guardianship and government of the Church.
Lastly,No civill Magistrate Christian in Christs time. we may remember the practice of the Lord Iesus and his followers, commanding and practising obedience to the Higher Powers, though we finde not one Civill Magistate a Christian in all the first Churches. But contrarily the civill Magistrate at that time was the bloody Beast, made up (as Daniel seemes to imply concerning the Romane State, Dan. 7. 7.) of the Lion, the Beare, and the Leopard, Rev. 13. 2.