The Bloody Tenant of Persecution for the Cause of Conscience, Part 4 · Chapter 118
CHAP. CXVIII.
Peace.
THe liberty of the Subject sounds most sweet, London and Oxford both professe to fight for it: How much infinitly more sweet is that true soule liberty according to Christ Iesus?
I know you would not take from Caesar ought, although it were to give to God: God will not wrong Caesar, and Caesar should not wrong God.And what is Gods and his peoples I wish that Caesar may not take. Yet for the satisfaction of some, be pleased to glance upon Iosiah his famous Acts in the Church of God concerning the worship of God, the Priests, Levites, and their Services, compelling the people to keepe the Passeover, making himselfe a covenant before the Lord, and compelling all that were found in Ierusalem and Benjamin to stand to it.
Truth.
To these famous practices of Iosiah I shall parallell the practices of Englands Kings: and first de jure, a word or two of their right: then de facto, discusse what hath been done.
First,The famous acts of … examined. de jure: Iosiah was a precious branch of that Royall Root King David, who was immediately designed by God: and when the golden linkes of the Royall chaine broke in the usurpations of the Romane Conquerour, it pleased the most wise God to send a Sonne of David, a Sonne of God, to beginne againe that Royall Line, to sit upon the Throne of his Father David, Luc. 1. 32. Acts 2. 30.
It is not so with the Gentile Princes,M…gistracy in generall from God, the particular formes from the people. Rulers and Magistrates, (whether Monarchicall, Aristrocraticall, or Democraticall) who (though government in generall be from God, yet) receive their callings, power and authority, (both Kings and Parliaments) mediately from the people.
Secondly, Iosiah and those Kings were Kings and Governours over the then true and onelyonly Church of God Nationall, brought into the Covenant of God in Abraham, and so downward: and they might well be forced to stand to that Covenant into which with such immediate signes and miracles they had beene brought.
But what Commission from Christ Iesus had Henry the eight.Israel confirmed in a Nationall Covenant by revelations, signes, and miracles, but so not England. Edward the 6. or any (Iosiah like) to force the many hundred thousands of English men and women, without such immediate signes and miracles that Israel had to enter into an holy and spirituall Covenant with the invisible God, the Father of Spirits, or upon paine of death (as in Iosia…s time) to stand to that which they never made, nor before Evangelicall Repentance are possibly capable of.
Now secondly de facto, let it be well remembred concerning the Kings of England professing Reformation. Henry 8. the first head and governour of the Church of England.The foundation of all was laid in Henry the 8. The Pope chalengeth to be the Vicar of Christ Iesus here upon earth, to have power of reforming the Church, redressing abuses, &c. Henry 8. falls out with the Pope, and chalengeth that very power to himself of which he had despoiled the Pope, as appeares by that Act of Parliament establishing Henry 8 the supreme Head and Governour in all cases Ecclesiasticall, &c. It pleased the most High God to plague the Pope by Henry the 8. his means: but neither Pope nor King can ever prove such power from Christ derived to either of them.
Secondly,The wonderfull formings and reformings of Religion by Englands Kings. (as before intimated) let us view the Workes and Acts of Englands imitation of Iosiahs practice. Henry the 7. leaves England under the slavish bondage of the Popes yoake. Henry the 8. reformes all England to a new fashion, halfe Papist, halfe Protestant. King Edward the 6. turnes about the Wheele of the State, and workes the whole Land to absolute Protestanisme. Queene Mary succeeding to the Helme, steeres a direct contrary course, breakes in peeces all that Edward wrought, and brings forth an old edition of Englands Reformation all Popish. Kings and States often plant, and often pluck up Religions.Mary not living out halfe her dayes (as the Prophet speakes of bloudy persons) Elizabeth (like Ioseph) advanced from the Prison to the Palace, and from the irons to the Crowne, she pluckes up all her sister Maries plants, and sounds a Trumpet all Protestant.
What sober man stands not amazed at these Revolutions? and yet like Mother like Daughter: and how zealous are we their off-spring for another impression and better edition of a Nationall Canaan (in imitation of Iudah and Iosiah) which if attained, who knowes how soone succeeding Kings or Parliaments will quite pull downe and abrogate?
Thirdly,A Nationall Church ever subject to turne and returne, &c. in all these formings and reformings, a Nationall Church of naturall unregenerate men was (like wax) the subject matter of all these formes and changes, whether Popish or Protestant: concerning which Nationall State the time is yet to come when ever the Lord Jesus hath given a word of institution and appointment.