A Beam of Light, Part – Conclusion
Here followeth a Table of the several and Joynt Interests which have been upon the publick stage, since 1640. Computed and cast up in a Readiness, principally for the use of the Fifth-Kingdom-men, or the subjects of Messiah the Prince.
The Interest of English Monarchy and Prelacy, 1640.
THe distinct Interest of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, was (1) to fortifie and defend to the utmost extremity, his own unbounded Prerogative, against the long threatned, and now near approaching Inundation of a very highly discontented and oppressed populacy. And in order thereunto, (2.) to subdue and keep down the Puritans and other publick-spirited men, Lovers of true liberty and righteousness: which the better to effect, it was necessary for him to maintain the Star-Chamber and High Commission Courts, as having a Notorious Antipathy to that noble and Masculine Spirit, which now began to struggle and to stir strongly, in several corners of the Nation, Night and Day.
The Distinct Interest of the Lord Bishops, was, with all their might, to maintain the Ancient Dignity, and power of the Spiritualty, against the Invectives and oppositions of the Puritans and their partakers; and in order to that design, they in endeavoured all they could, to put manacles worse then those of Iron, upon those hands, which they suspected would take the first opportunity to pluck their Miters off their Heads.
The Joynt Interest of King and Bishops, was to imploy their All of power and policy, for the mutual succour, support, and advancement of each other, above and against all opposers: And that upon this foundation; No Bishop, no King: and è converso; No King, no Bishop. And so it came to passe: for the Crown and the Miter, the Scepter and the Crosier, did flourish and fade together.
The Interest of the Long Parliament, 1640.
The Interest of the Parliament, at the beginning, was to recover and secure their own and the free-peoples priviledges, liberties, properties, out of the reach of Monarchical and Prelatical Incroachments and Innovations; and to that end, the Puritans (both Conformists and Non-conformists) which were an illightned, stirring spirited people, and other honest and generous persons, affecting the noble Principles of Freedom, Justice, and good Laws, and withall, mortal enemies to the Interest of Court-Tyanny, Lust and Luxury, were called upon and incouraged to joyn with them in the prosecution of those publick and common concernments for the Free-people.
The Interest of the Puritans and their Abettors, 1640.
It was to obtain Liberty of Conscience out of the hands of the Romish-English-Hierarchy, which had continually vexed and persecuted them for righteousness sake; and to reduce the Kings prerogative to a narrower compass, within the Bounds of Law and Reason: and for more then these things they did not hope, at that day; but joyned with the Parliament upon that account, as appears by the Protestation.
The Interest of the Covenanters both Scotish and English after the war begun.
The Interest of that party, was to overturn the Ancient, superstitious imperious form of Church-State in Doctrine, Worship, and Government by Prelacy, Service-Book, and Canons, compelling to a CONFORMITY in all thing; and in stead thereof, to erect and introduce a New Carnal Church-state in Doctrine, Worship, and Discipline, by a Confession, Directory, and Synodical Assemblies, with a Proviso for UNIFORMITY in those things, the better to order their Brethren, who were not free to walk with them in those untrodden paths.
The Interest of the Non-conformists and Sectaries at the same times.
Their Interest was to take hold of the present Oportunity to stand upon their Guard, in Defence of their Just Liberties (purchased by Christ, and permitted by the Parliament) against both Prelatical and Synodical, pretended Jurisdiction over them: And beyond this, they did not seem to desire to attain, in that Day.
The Interest of the Remaining part of the Long Parliament, which cut off the late King, 1648.
Their Interest was to abolish King-ship with its chargeable Appurtenances, and to introduce the Government of a Free-state in stead thereof; which made a substantial Alteration in the Cause carried on till that Day. And the better to effect this Alteration, as also to secure themselves and their friends; It concerned them to ingage their Army and the Nations, in this new Establishment, without a King or House of Peers.
The Interest of O. P. commonly called in the three Nations, &c. Their Lord Protector.
His proper Interest was, so soon as he had usurped the supreme civil Power, to secure and to establish it to Himself, and to his Family, against the Interest of the Stuarts and all their friends; as also against those Dissatisfied and Discontented Spirits, which hated Tyranny of a New Edition, with a more deadly hatred then that of the Old Form. In order unto which Security and Establishment, It concerned him to ingage the Corporations, the Judges and Great Lawyers, the Time-serving, Self-seeking Divines of all sorts and forms, the Souldiers and all, to stand by him, till he could procure or make (viis & modis) such a Parliament, as would confirm him in the Throne, according to his own minde and will: and in the interim, it was his business, by Law (calculated for the Meridian of his own exaltation) to apprehend, imprison, and put to death, all his opposers, whether friends or enemies to the Commonwealth. The Instruments used by him, for the inforcing of which Law or Laws against pretended Treason and Traitors, were multitudes of Pursevants, Catchpoles, Spies, Spirits, Trapanners, and suck like Base Vermin, that use to creep and sneak in every corner, for the service of usurping upstarts in all Generations.
The Interest of the True Commonwealthsman, at this Day.
His Proper Interest, is to preserve, defend, and promote the PUBLICK, and, in that, his own Good, by all honest and honourable means, against the private Interest, of those two Families, which would have put and kept an intolerable yoke of Bondage, upon the necks of the well-affected people of these Nations, so wonderfully saved by the Lord.
The Interest of the Real Fifth-Kingdom-men, in this day.
Their proper Interest is, in the Noblenesse of a True Gospel-spirit, and in proportion to the measure of Grace and gifts bestowed upon them for the service of their Lord, to indeavour the supplanting and destroying of Antichrist and his Interest, both at home and abroad, & to improve with all diligence their Time and Talents for the Advancement of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, throughout all the earth. In order whereunto, They are to save themselves from that untoward Generation which will not have Christ to reign over them: And uniting together in one Spirit, to become a peculiar people (or, as it were, a Nation in the midst of the Nation) waiting for the word of Command from their Leader, to execute the vengeance written against Babylon, for being drunk with the bloud of the Saints, and with the bloud of the Martyrs of Jesus. Amen, Halleluiah.
The Conclusion.
THis Cause and Interest of our dearest Redeemer and his faithfull servants will appear again, even in its RESURRECTION-GLORY, ere it be long. He must increase, His proud Competitors must still decrease. Prepare, (Oh all ye hidden Ones!) for those shoutings, and those Acclamations to the King of Saints, which will make the earth to shake, which will shake the very foundations of the Kingdom of the Beast.
The Cause and Interest last stated, will be Amiable in the eyes of all the Nations in due time. It will swallow up into victory all contrary Causes and Interests whatsoever, as Aarons Rod devoured the Rods of the Magicians of Egypt, in that day.
It is built upon a Rock, the Rock of ages; the Windes and Waves cannot undermine it, or overthrow it. The Immutability of Gods Counsel bears it up.
The wisdom of God, the power of God, the faithfulnesse of God is ingaged to promote this Interest. How many have spoyled themselves and their politick Designs, by falling upon this stone! It will at length, in the appointed Season, fall upon all its enemies, and grind them all to powder.
Whosoever pleads This Cause, and is called of God to be an Advocate for This Interest, in the light and power of the eternal Spirit, will finde such glorious Incouragements, that he shall not fear the face, the power, the Designs, the Enmity of any Person or People whatsoever.
Courage, Courage, dear Hearts! The Great Whore which hath corrupted the earth with her fornications, and hath shed the bloud of the Saints of the most High, for so many hundred years, is to be stript naked, is to be made Desolate; Her flesh is to be eaten; she is to be burnt with fire, and the Lord God Omnipotent is to reign immediately hereupon: see Rev. 19.6.
You are invited to be in a readinesse, and at an hours warning, to plead and to promote this blessed businesse: you shall have the Assistance of the Elect Angels, who have long since voted it before the Throne, that the Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Let us Eccho Back to them the same language, and say with them, and all the Saints, in faith, and hope, and love; Amen, and Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · Christopher Feake, A Beam of Light (1659)