The Legislative Power is Christs Peculiar Prerogative, Title page – To the reader
THE Legiſlative Povver IS CHRIST'S PECULIAR PREROGATIVE.
Proved from the 9th of Iſaiah, verſ. 6. 7.
By W. A.
LONDON, Printed for Livewel Chapman, at the Crown in Popes head alley. 1656.
To the READER.
COnſidering it is the duty of all that love the truth to bear witneſs thereunto, every one according to the grace received; and this being an age wherein the Kingly power of Christ is much controverted, I thought it my duty to caſt in my mite, and to contribute what the Lord hath imparted to me, for the publick good. Which conſideration hath moved me to publiſh this ſmall treatiſe, and to expoſe it unto the view of others, that they may weigh and conſider the matter-ſubject thereof. Wherein I have indeavoured with as much brevity and evidence of truth as I could, to vindicate the Soveraign power of the Lord Jeſus, as well intemporal as ſpiritual matters. In order whereunto, I thought it meet to open this portion of Scripture in Iſaiah, which doth ſo expreſly ſpeak of that ſubject. And though I cannot apprehend that all men, no nor all the Saints and faithful Servants of Chriſt, will aſſent unto every Iota; yet I doubt not but they will allow unto me, as I alſo account it may duly to allow unto them, a latitude; Not thinking it meet to lye up all mens Judgements in every ſcruple, to be of the ſame mind. However, I am confident of this, that ſo far as they ſee any light of truth appearing, they will be of the ſame mind, and that is all I do deſire, leaving each one to the liberty of their Judgements, until fuller light break forth. And let me requeſt this, that none may take occaſion of ſtumbling, becauſe in ſome paſſage I ſay, that we find no mention of Juries in Scripture, it having been an ancient received cuſtome in England, and, as many apprehend it to be, a matter of great priviledge to the conſervation of the ſubjects liberty and free paſſage of Juſtice. For if it may be granted, that theſe Jurors are indeed Judges of the cauſes brought before them, and be men qualifyed and choſen according to the Rule, and be obliged to give in their Verdicts and Judgements according to the perfect rule of the Word of Truth; and that in every circuit, whether town, hundred, or ſhire, ſuch known fit perſons may be conſtituted, I diſallow it not: it is not the name I take offence at, for I would not ſtrive about words, though it were deſireable we might in our words and ſpeeches learn to ſpeak the language of Canaan, I mean Scripture-language.
And though I moſtly inſiſt upon the Judicials of Moſes, as the Rules of Judgement in all caſes, Capital, Criminal, or Civil; yet my intention is not to bind up all Rules of Judgement, in every caſe, to that ſcantling, but withal to take in the whole Scriptures of the Prophets and Apoſtles, which do give light and direction to the right underſtanding and application of thoſe rules, unto each particular caſe. For my intention is not in this ſmall tractate to Judaize, but to ſhew the perfection of the whole Word of God, to direct in matters of Civil Judgements, as well as in Church affairs. And if I ſometimes rebuke ſharply, and blame the uſurping power of Princes and States, in aſſuming the Royal Prerogative of giving Laws unto the people, without Commiſſion from Chriſt; you may bear with me, for they are worthy to be reproved. It is not want of due reſpect to Magiſtrates that maketh me ſo bold, but my faithfulneſs and love to them moves me to advertiſe them of the danger. I deſcend not to a particular application of thoſe obliquities I touch upon, unto any particular perſons or ſtates, becauſe I ſee not a cleer ground to carry me forth therein, except they ſhould require it at my hands. It ſufficeth me to ſhew them the truth, and leave it to themſelves to make application, and to all the Saints to be judges, who ſhall in fine judge all the World. I ſhould have rejoyced that ſome more able would have undertook this taske. But when I perceived a deep ſilence (I mean as to willing) and many cryed out againſt fifth Monarchy men, as they are called, that they make a great noiſe and clamour againſt this and that Government, and know not what Government they would have, or at leaſt do not publiſh it to the World, I thought it a duly incumbent upon me, to remove that Calumnie, by holding forth the most perfect rule and platform of all adminiſtratians in civil States. If yet it be ſaid, that I have not digeſted the whole Fabrick and Model of Government into a perfect form; nor projected meet expedients, whereby it might become practicable amongſt us, I confeſſe I may fall ſhort of expectation in that particular, and in ſo weighty a caſe it would be neceſſary for the ableſt and ſtrongeſt parts to aſſiſt. Yet though the caſe be difficult, and our Nation and Government reduced to extremity of hazard and danger, I doubt not but ſomething might be done, (through the Lords aſſiſtance) in order to our eſtabliſhment in truth and Peace, would it pleaſe the Lord to open the hearts of the Rulers and people to accept and imbrace wholeſome and ſeaſonable Counſel. And then I ſhould look at it as my du…y …o communicate my poor weak apprehenſions the…e abouts, if I were thereunto called. But if propoſal of the ſweetneſs and amiableneſs, the Peace and righteouſneſs of Chriſts Government, ſhall not find ſo much acceptance, as to incline the peoples hearts to make experiment and proof of the ſame, by a profeſſed ſubjection to his Royal Soveraign power, it is becauſe the Lord hath more breaking work for us, ere we can be fit to bear his Yoke, whoſe yoke is eaſie and burden light; Eſpecially when we compaſſe it with the heavy yokes of men. And in ſuch caſe as this, it would be in vain to attempt any thing of that Nature. You may conſider what the Lord hath written of ſome Country (whether England or ſome other Iſlands, I determine not,) Iſai. 24. 13, 14. that there muſt be a vintage and preſſing of them, like as grapes are preſſed, ere they be fit to be new-moulded. Which I fear may be our caſe. Accept therefore in good part what I have here in love and faithfulneſs tendred; and let every one improve it to a right end. I know full well that God hath reſerved the chief honour of ſetting up the Kingdom of Chriſt in it's full luſtre and beauty, unto his own people the Jews, to them ſhall come the firſt Dominion, Mich. 4. 8. Yet ſomething we might do, (and I believe we ſhall, after this breaking work is over,) in order to the ſetting up of this Kingdom of Chriſt in England, according to the Divine light of the Word of truth, as it is written, Iſai. 24. 15. Wherefore with URIM (or Divine light) do ye glorify Jehovah in the Iſles of the Sea: the name of Jehovah the God of Iſrael. The word Urim, is written with a ſhort vowel, foreign to intimate that the heavenly light which thoſe Saints ſhall have, is far ſhort of that fulneſs of light, which will ſhine forth when Chriſt comes in perſon to ſet up his Kingdom; for he will come with foreign or fulneſs of heavenly light and perfection, as Zorobabel intimates in his ſpeech, Ezr. 2. 63. Which never yet was fulfilled, nor never will …e till Chriſt come again. Yet ſince there is a Prophecy that the Saints in that Iſland ſhall glorify God with Divine and heavenly light, in order to a reformation of their civil State, let it be an incouragement and provocation to the Saints in England to breath after it, and to their utmoſt to indeavour the ſame; which is the Scope the Author aimeth at.
Farewel. W. A.