The Bloody Tenant of Persecution for the Cause of Conscience, Part 4 · Chapter 119
CHAP. CXIX.
Peace.
YOu bring to minde (deare Truth) a plea of some wiser Papists for the Popes supremacy, A woman Papissa or head of the Church.viz. that it was no such exorbitant or unheard of power and jurisdiction which the Pope chalenged, but the very same which a Woman, Queene Elizabeth her selfe chalenged, stiling her Papissa, or she Pope: withall pleading that in point of Reason it was far more suitable that the Lord Jesus would delegate his power rather to a Clergie man then a Lay man, as Henry the 8. or a woman, as his daughter Elizabeth.
Truth.
I beleeve that neither one nor t'other hit the white,The Papists neerer to the Truth concerning the government of the Church then most Protestants. yet I beleeve the Papists arrowes fall the nearest to it in this particular, viz. That the government of the Church of Christ should rather belong to such as professe a Ministry or Office Spirituall, then to such as are meerly Temporall and Civill.
So that in conclusion, the whole controversi… concerning the government of Christ Kingdome or Church, will be found to lye between the true and false Ministry, both chalenging the true commission, power and keyes from Christ.
Peace.
This all glorious diadem of the Kingly power of the Lord Iesus hath beene the eye-sore of the World, The Kingly power of the Lord Jesus troubles all the Kings and Rulers of the Wo…ld.and that which the Kings and Rulers of the World have alwayes lift up their hands unto.
The first report of a new King of the Iewes puts Herod and all Ierusalem into frights; and the power of this most glorious King of Kings over the Soules and Consciences of men, or over their lives and worships, is still the white that all the Princes of this World shoot at, and are enraged at the tidings of the true Heire the Lord Iesus in his servants.
Truth.
You well minde (deare Peace) a twofold exaltation of the Lord Iesus, A twofold exaltation of Christ.one in the Soules and Spirits of men, and so he is exalted by all that truly love him, though yet remaining in Babels captivity, and before they hearken to the voyce of the Lord, Come forth of Babel my people.
A second exaltation of Christ Iesus upon the Throne of David his Father in his Church and Congregation, which is his Spirituall Kingdome here below.
I confesse there is a tumultuous rage at his entrance into his Throne in the Soule and Consciences of any of his chosen;The world …o…meth at both. but against his second exaltation in his true Kingly power and government, either Monarchicall in himself, or Ministeriall in the hands of his Ministers and Churches, are mustred up and shall be in the battels of Christ yet to be fought, all the powers of the gates of Earth and Hell.
But I shall mention one diff…rence more between the Kings of Israel and Iud…h, A fourth difference. Kings of Israel …ypes.and all other Kings and Rulers of the Gentiles.
Those Kings as Kings of Israel were all invest…d with a typicall and figurative respect, with which now no Civill power in the World can be invested.
They wore a double Crowne, They wore a double CrownFirst, Civill: Secondly, Spirituall, in which respect they typed out the Spirituall King of Israel, Christ Iesus.
When I say they were types, I make them not in all respect so to be, but as Kings and Governours over the Church and Kingdome of God, therein types.
Hence all those Saviours and Deliverers, which it pleased God to stirre up extraordinarily to his people,The Saviours of the Jewes, …igures of the Saviour of the World. Gideon, Baruc, Sampson, &c. in that respect of their being Saviours, Iudges, and Deliverers of Gods people, so were they types of Iesus Christ, either Monarchically ruling by himself immediately, or Ministerially by such whom he pleaseth to send to vindicate the liberties and inheritances of his people.