An appeal to thy conscience as thou wilt answer it at the great and…An appeale to thy conscience as thou wilt answere it at the great and…
An appeal to thy conscience as thou wilt answer it at the great and dreadful day of Christ Jesus.An appeale to thy conscience as thou wilt answere it at the great and dreadfull day of Christ Iesus.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To which I answer, That in strict and true understanding, the people do not make the King, but God properly and absolutely makes the King. He is declared by the people, but he is appointed by God. Outward Solemnization or Coronation he hath from the people, but his Power, Right, and Authority he hath from God. And more particularly (as the Scriptures deliver) from the second person in the most sacred Trinity. Isa. 9. 6. Prov. 8. 15. Coloss. 1. 16. 1 Tim. 6. 15. Revel. 17. 14. Who is God over all blessed for ever, Rom. 9. 5.
This is evidently set forth in Holy writ, for God sent Moses to be a ruler. Acts. 7. 35. And God appointed Joshua over the congregation of Israel. Numb. 27. 16. 18. The Lord raised up the Judges. Judg. 2. 16. The Lord anointed Saul to be Captain over his inheritance.
. a Prophet told Jeroboam of Josiah King of Judah, three hundred and twenty years before his reign. Neither was Gods power of disposing Kingdoms limited only unto Judah and Israel, but it was, is, and ever shall be, extended over the whole world. He is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords: by him Kings reign,
. Not this King only, or that King, but Kings, all Kings whatsoever. Moa•, saith God, is my wash-pot, over Edom will I cast my shoe: over Philistia will I triumph,
. I have made the earth by my great power, and have given it unto whom it pleased me,
⟨p. 12⟩
and now I have given all those lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar my servant▪ and all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his sons son, until the very tim of his land com•: and then many Nations and great Kings shall serve themselves of ••m▪Jer. 27 5 6, 7. Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose righ hand I have holden to subdue Nations before him, I will go before thee, I will break in pieces the gates of brass and I will give thee the hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I the Lord, which call thee by thy name am the God of Israel, Isa. 45. Where God shows, that all Kings are by his particular appointment, in that he called Cyrus by his name above 180. years before his reign.
This is evidently set forth in Holy writ, for God sent Moses to be a ruler. Acts. 7. 35. And God appointed Ioshua over the congregation of Israel. Numb. 27. 16. 18. The Lord raised up the Iudges. Judg. 2. 16. The Lord annointed Saul to be Captain over his inheritance. 1 Sam. 10. 1. And though Saul was afterward chosen by the casting of the lot, yet The whole disposing thereof was of the Lord, Prov. 16. 33. 1 Sam. 10. 24. and 14. 41. Afterwards the Lord saith, I have rejected Saul from reigning over Israel: For I have provided me a King among the sons of Iesse, 1 Sam. 16. 1. I gave thee, O Israel, a King in mine anger, and I tooke him away in my wrath, Hosh. 13. 11. And 1 King. 13. 2. a Prophet told Jeroboam of Iosiah King of Iudah, three hundred and twenty yeers before his reigne. Neither was Gods power of disposing Kingdoms limited only unto Judah and Israel, but it was, is, and ever shall be, extended over the whole world. He is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords: by him Kings reigne, Prov. 8. 15. Not this King only, or that King, but Kings, all Kings whatsoever. Moa•, saith God, is my wash-pot, over Edom will I cast my shoe: over Philistia will I triumph, Psal. 108. 9. I have made the earth by my great power, and have given it unto whom it pleased me, ⟨p. 12⟩and now I have given all those lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar my servant▪ and all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his sons son, untill the very tim of his land com•: and then many Nations and great Kings shall serve thems•lves of ••m▪Jer. 27 5 6, 7. Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose righ hand I have holden to subdue Nations before him, I will goe before thee, I will breake in pieces the gates of brasse and I will give thee the hidden r•ches of secret places, that thou maist know that I the Lord, which call thee by thy name am the God of Israel, Isa. 45. Where God shews, that all Kings are by his particular appointment, in that he called Cyrus by his name above 180. yeers before his reigne.
And Daniel▪ Chap. 2. 21. God changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings and setteth up kings. And Chap. 4. 17. The most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the bas•st of men: which is confirmed in the same Chap. vers. 31. by a voice from Heave•. Daniel told Belshazzar in the very height of his glory, that God h•d finished his kingdom, and given it to the Medes and Persians, Chap. •. 26, 28. And his Prophecy from the seventh Chap. to the end of his book, is a •elation how God would govern the world, what Empires there should be, what King and Kingdoms even in particular.
And Daniel▪ Chap. 2. 21. God changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings and setteth up kings. And Chap. 4. 17. The most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the bas•st of men: which is confirmed in the same Chap. vers. 31. by a voyce from Heave•. Daniel told Belshazzar in the very height of his glory, that God h•d finished his kingdom, and given it to the Medes and Persians, Chap. •. 26, 28. And his Prophecie from the seventh Chap. to the end of his book, is a •elation how God would govern the world, what Empires there should be, what King and Kingdoms even in particular.
Whence It is abundantly proved, that God is the sole disposer and maker of Kings and Kingdoms, and that he gives them according to his good pleasure and will. And therefore the Scriptures call the King The Lords Anointed. Gods Vic•gerent, 2 Chr. 9. 8. The Minister of God, because he is ordained of God, Rom. 13. 4. But he is never called the peoples Anointed, or the Minister of the people. But though God be Almighty, Gen. 17. 1. and can do whatsoever he pleaseth without means, and therefore can immediately by himself call whomsoever unto the Sovereignty, as he did Moses, Ex 3. 10. and Gideon, Jud. 6. 14. yet it hath pleased him for the most part to make use of second and outward means, whereby he hath given the Sovereignty unto whom he hath ordained it. And those means or ways as the Scriptures have revealed unto us were either Extraordinary or Ordinary.
Whence It is abundantly proved, that God is the sole disposer and maker of Kings and Kingdoms, and that he gives them according to his good pleasure and will. And therefore the Scriptures call the King The Lords Anointed. Gods Vic•gerent, 2 Chr. 9. 8. The Minister of God, because he is ordained of God, Rom. 13. 4. But he is never called the peoples Anointed, or the Minister of the people. But though God be Almighty, Gen. 17. 1. and can doe whatsoever he pleaseth without means, and therefore can immediately by himselfe call whomsoever unto the Soveraignty, as he did Moses, Ex 3. 10. and Gid•on, Jud. 6. 14. yet it hath pleased him for the most part to make use of second and outward means, whereby he hath given the Soveraignty unto whom he hath ordained it. And those means or wayes as the Scriptures have revealed unto us were eitheir Extraordinary or Ordinary.
The extraordinary means or ways were three: First, by special Messengers from God himself; And so God gave the Sovereignty to Joshua by […]s•s N•m 27. 22, 23. And unto Saul, David, and Jehu, by his Prophets.
The extraordinary means or wayes were three: First, by speciall Messengers from God himselfe; And so God gave the Soveraignty to Joshua by 〈…〉s•s N•m 27. 22, 23. And unto Saul, David, and Jehu, by his Prophets.
[…] the Kings last Will and Testament, though he had a Son and […] And thus David by revelation from God appointed Solo[…], though Adonijah was the lawful Heir unto the […] 1. 15. 1 Ch•. 29. 1.
〈…〉 the Kings last Will and Testament, though he had a Son and 〈…〉 And thus David by revelation from God appointed Solo〈…〉, though Adonijah was the lawfull Heir unto the 〈…〉 1. 15. 1 Ch•. 29. 1.
The ordinary (and still continued) ways or means were two: First, by the Sword or Conquest. Thus Abimelech, by the help of the Schechemites, his mothers kindred, obtained the Sovereignty over Israel, Jud. 9. 1, 6. Thus Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon obtained the Kingdom of Judah, 2 King. 24. 1. Thus Cyrus obtained many Nations, Isa. 45. 1.
The ordinary (and still continued) wayes or meanes were two: First, by the Sword or Conquest. Thus Abimelech, by the help of the Schechemites, his mothers kindred, obtained the S•veraignty over Israel, Jud. 9. 1, 6. Thus Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon obtained the Kingdome of Judah, 2 King. 24. 1. Thus Cyrus obtained many Nations, Isa. 45. 1.
Secondly, by birth right or hereditary succession. Thus Rehoboam succeeded Solomon, Abijah Rehoboam, Asa Abijah, Jehoshaphat Asa. And it is plain that Birth-right was a very great privilege, as you may see, Gen. 4. 7. and 25 5. Exod. 13. 1. and 22▪ 29.
Secondly, by birth right or hereditary succession. Thus Rehoboam succeeded Solomon, Abijah Rehoboam, Asa Abijah, Iehoshaphat Asa. And it is plain that Birth-right was a ve•y great priviledge, as you may see, Gen. 4. 7. and 25 5. Exod. 13. 1. and 22▪ 29.
As touching those extraordinary means, they belong not unto us, unless to remember the Lord in all his ways, Isa 64. 5, and to say with David Lord, how manifold are thy works? in wisdom hast thou made them all, Psal. 104. 24.
As touching those extraordinary means, they belong not unto us, unlesse to remember the Lord in all his wayes, Isa 64. 5, and to say with David Lord, how manifold are thy works? in wisdom hast thou made them all, Psal. 104. 24.
The ordinary means are those which we are to look after. And without doubt, Birth-right is to be preserved before Conquest. For the sword is a terrible plague, never laid upon a land but for the sins thereof. Levit. 26. 33. J••. 24. 9, 10. & 25. 16, 29. And the Conqueror is the rod of Gods wrath, Isa. 10. 5. Lam. 3. 1. A hammer, Jer. 50. 23. The Lords Battle-axe, Chap. 51. 20. But succession is a blessing both to Prince and people, 2 Sam. 7. 12. 13. 16. 2 King. 10. 30. Psal. 128. 6.
The ordinary means are those which we are to look after. And without doubt, Birth-right is to be preser'd before Conquest. For the sword is a terrible plague, never laid upon a land but for the sins thereof. Levit. 26. 33. J••. 24. 9, 10. & 25. 16, 29. And the Conquerour is the rod of Gods wrath, Isa. 10. 5. Lam. 3. 1. A hammer, Jer. 50. 23. The Lords Battel-ax, Chap. 51. 20. But succ•ssion is a blessing both to Prince and people, 2 Sam. 7. 12. 13. 16. 2 King. 10. 30. Psal. 128. 6.
Observable it is, That throughout the whole Scriptures we read not of any King that was chosen by the voice of the people: Nor of an Aristocracy, which is, where the Nobles govern: Nor of a Democracy, which is, where the people govern: And therefore let them consider how they can answer it at the last day, who shall endeavour to change an hereditary Kingdom into an elective, or any other government whatsoever.
Observable it is, That thorowout the whole Scriptures we read not of any King that was chosen by the voice of the people: Nor of an Aristocracy, which is, where the Nobles govern: Nor of a Democracy, which is, where the people govern: And therefore let them consider how they can answer it at the last day, who shall endeavour to change an hereditary Kingdome into an elective, or any other government whatsoever.
