except Royalists say, that we are not to perform the duties of the second Table commanded by God, if an earthly King forbid us; and if we exercise not acts of mercy toward our brethren, when their life is in hazard, to save them, we are murderers, and so men may murder their neighbour, if the1 King command them so to do; this is like the Court-faith. 2. The Kings power of wars is for the safety of his people; if he deny his consent to their raising of Arms till they be destroyed, he playeth the Tyrant, not the King, and the law of Nature will necessitate them, either to defend themselves (seeing flight of all in that case is harder then death) else they must be guilty of self-murder. Now the Kings commandment of not rising in Arms, at best is positive and against the nature of his Office, and it floweth then from him as from a man, and so must be far inferior to the natural Commandment of God, which commandeth self-preservation, if we would not be guilty of self-murder, and of obeying men, rather then God. So Althusius Polit. c. 25. n. 9. Halicarnas. l. 4. Antiq. Rom. Aristo. Pol. l. 3. c. 3. 3. David took Goliaths sword, and became a Captain, a Captain to an host of armed men in the battle, and fought the battles of the Lord, 1 Sam. 25. 28. (and this Abigail by the spirit of prophecy, as I take it, saith, ver. 29, 30, 31.) 1 Sam. 22. 2. 1 Chron. 12. 1. 2. 3. 17. 18. 21. 22. not only without Sauls consent, but against King Saul as he was a man, but not against him as he was King of Israel. 4. If there be no King, or the King be minor, or an usurper, as Athalia be on the Throne, the Kingdom may lawfully2 make war without the King, as Judges cap. 20. The children of Israel, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword went out to war against the children of Benjamin. Judah had the power of the sword when Josiah was but eight years old, in the beginning of his reign, 2 King. 22. 1, 2. and before Jehoash was crowned King, and while he was minor, 2 King. 11. there were Captains of hundreds ⟨p. 375⟩in arms raised by Jehoiada and the people of Judah to defend the young King. It cannot be said, that this is more extraordinary, then that it is extraordinary for Kings to die, and in the interregnum, wars, in an ordinary providence, may fall out in these Kingdoms, where Kings go by election;
except Royalists say, that we are not to performe the duties of the second Table commanded by God, if an earthly King forbid us; and if we exercise not acts of mercy toward our brethren, when their life is in hazard, to save them, wee are murtherers, and so men may murther their neighbour, if the1 King command them so to doe; this is like the Court-faith. 2. The Kings power of warres is for the safety of his people; if he deny his consent to their raising of Armes till they be destroyed, he playeth the Tyrant, not the King, and the law of Nature will necessitate them, either to defend themselves (seeing flight of all in that case is harder then death) else they must be guilty of self-murther. Now the Kings commandement of not rising in Armes, at best is positive and against the nature of his Office, and it floweth then from him as from a man, and so must be farre inferiour to the naturall Commandement of God, which commandeth self-preservation, if wee would not be guilty of self-murther, and of obeying men, rather then God. So Althusius Polit. c. 25. n. 9. Halicarnas. l. 4. Antiq. Rom. Aristo. Pol. l. 3. c. 3. 3. David tooke Goliahs sword, and became a Captaine, a Captaine to an hoast of armed men in the battaile, and fought the battailes of the Lord, 1 Sam. 25. 28. (and this Abigal by the spirit of prophecy, as I take it, saith, ver. 29, 30, 31.) 1 Sam. 22. 2. 1 Chron. 12. 1. 2. 3. 17. 18. 21. 22. not onely without Sauls consent, but against King Saul as he was a man, but not against him as hee was King of Israel. 4. If there be no King, or the King be minor, or an usurper, as Athalia be on the Throne, the Kingdome may lawfully2 make war without the King, as Iudges cap. 20. The children of Israel, foure hundred thousand footemen that drew sword went out to warre against the children of Benjamin. Iudah had the power of the sword when Iosiah was but eight yeares old, in the beginning of his reigne, 2 King. 22. 1, 2. and before Iehoash was crowned King, and while he was minor, 2 King. 11. there were Captaines of hundreds ⟨p. 375⟩
- 1We must defend with the sword the Church of God, whether the King will or no, except it be said the King may command murder, and discharge us of the duties of the second Table.We must defend with the sword the Church of God, whether the King will or no, except it be said the King may command murther, and discharge us of the duties of the second Table.
- 2Examples of lawful wars without the King.Examples of lawfull warres without the King.
