The Bloody Tenant of Persecution for the Cause of Conscience, Part 4 · Chapter 120
CHAP. CXX.
Peace.
IT must needs be confest that since the Kings of Israel were ceremonially anointed with Oile: and
Secondly, in that they sat upon the Throne of David (which is expressely applied to Christ Iesus, Luc. 1. 32. Acts 2. 30. Iohn 1. 49.) their Crownes were figurative and ceremoniall: but some here question whether or no they were not types of civill Powers and Rulers now, when Kings and Queens shall be nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers, &c.
Truth.
For answer unto such,The Monarchicall and Ministeriall power of Christ. let them first remember that the dispute lyes not concerning the Monarchicall power of the Lord Iesus, the power of making Lawes, and making Ordinances to his Saints and Subjects: But concerning a deputed and Ministeriall power, and this distinction the very Pope himself acknowledgeth.
There are three great Competitours for this deputed or Ministeriall power of the Lord Iesus.3 Great Competitours for the Ministeriall power of Christ.
First, the Arch-vicar or Sathan, the pretended Vicar of Christ on Earth, who sits as God over the Temple of God, exalting himselfe not only above all that is called God, The Popes great pretenders fo… the Ministeriall power of Christ.but over the soules and consciences of all his vassalls, yea over the Spirit of Christ, over the holy Scriptures, yea and God himselfe, Dan. 8. & 11 chap. & Rev. 15. together with 2 Thes. 2.
This pretender although he professeth to claime but the Ministeriall power of Christ to declare his Ordinances, to preach, baptise, ordaine Ministers,They also upon the point chalenge the Monarchicall also and yet doth he upon the point challenge the Monarchicall or absolute power also, being full of selfe exalting and blaspheming, Dan. 7. 25. & 11. 36. Rev. 13. 6. speaking blasphemies against the God of Heaven, thinking to change times and Lawes: but he is the sonne of perdition arising out of the bottomlesse pit, and comes to destruction, Revel. 17. for so hath the Lord Jesus decreed to consume him by the breath of his mouth, 2 Thes. 2.
The second great Competitour to this Crowne of the Lord Jesus is the Civill Magistrate,The second great pretender the Civill Magistrate. whether Emperours, Kings, or other inferiour Officers of State who are made to beleeve by the false Prophets of the World that they are the Antitypes of the Kings of Israel and Judah, and weare the Crowne of Christ.
Under the wing of the Civill Magistrate doe three great factions shelter themselves,3 Great factions chalenging an Arme of Flesh. and mutually oppose each other, striving as for life, who shall sit downe under the shadow of that Arme of Flesh.
First, the Prelacie, 1. The Pre…aci….who (though some extravagants of late have inclined to wave the King, and to creepe under the wings of the Pope, yet) so far depends upon the King, that it is justly said they are the Kings Bishops.
Secondly, the Presbyterie, 2. The Presbyterie.who (though in truth they ascribe not so much to the civill Magistrate as some too grossely do, yet they) give so much to the civill Magistrate as to make him absolutely the Head of the Church:The Pope and Presbyte…i… make use of the Civill Magistrate but as of an Executio…er. For, if they make him the Reformer of the Church, the Suppressour of Schismaticks and Her…ticks, the Protectour and defendour of the Church, &c. what is this in true plain English but to make him the Judge of the true and false Church, Judge of what is truth, and what errour; who is Schismaticall, who Hereticall, unlesse they make him only an Executioner, as the Pope doth in his punishing of Hereticks?
I doubt not but the Aristocraticall government of Presbyterians may well subsist in a Monarchie (not only regulated but also tyrannicall) yet doth it more naturally delight in the element of an Aristocraticall government of State, and so may properly be said to be (as the Prelates, the Kings so these) the States Bishops.
The third,3. Independents. though not so great, yet growing faction is that (so called) Independent: I prejudice not the personall worth of any of the three sorts: This latter (as I beleeve this Discourse hath manifested) jumpes with the Prelates, The Independents: who come neerest to the Bishopsand (though not more fully, yet) more explicitely then the Presbyterians cast down the Crowne of the Lord Iesus at the feet of the Civill Magistrate. And although they pretend to receive their Ministrie from the choice of 2 or 3 private persons in Church-covenant, yet would they faine perswade the Mother Old England to imitate her Daughter New England's practice, viz. to keep out the Presbyterians, and only to embrace themselves, both as the States and the Peoples Bishops.
The third competition for this Crown and power of the Lord Iesus is of those that seperate both from one and t'other,The third competition, of those that seperate. yet divided also amongst themselves into many severall professions.
Of these, they that goe furthest, professe they must yet come neerer to the wayes of the Son of God: And doubtlesse, so farre as they have gone, they bid the most, and make the fairest plea for the puritie and power of Christ Iesus, let the rest of the Inhabitants of the World be Judges.
Let all the former well be viewed in their externall State, pomp, riches, conformitie to the World, &c. And on the other side, let the latter be considered,Their neerer conformitie to Christ. in their more through departure from sinne and sinfull Worship, their condescending (generally) to the lowest and meanest contentments of this life, their exposing of themselves for Christ to greater sufferings,The Churches of the Seperation ought in Humanitie and Subjects Libertie not to be oppressed, but (at least) permitted. and their desiring no Civill sword nor Arme of Flesh, but the two-edged sword of Gods Spirit to try out the matter by: and then let the Inhabitants of the World judge, which come neerest to the doctrine, holines, povertie, patience and practice of the Lord Jesus Christ; and whether or no these later deserve not so much of Humanitie, and the Subjects Libertie, as (not offending the Civill State) in the freedome of their Soules, to enjoy the common aire to breath in.