Theo-politica, or, A body of divinity containing the rules of the special government of God, according to which, he orders the immortal and intellectual creatures, angels, and men, to their final and eternal estate : being a method of those saving truths, which are contained in the Canon of the Holy Scripture, and abridged in those words of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which were the ground and foundation of those apostolical creeds and forms of confessions, related by the ancients, and, in particular, by Irenæus, and Tertullian / by George Lawson ...

THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.

Christian Reader,

I Will not trouble thee with any tedi∣ous Preface, or Epistle Dedicatory; but onely in a few words acquaint thee, 1. With the subject of this Treatise. 2. The manner how its handled. 3. The use that be made of it.

I.

The Subject is noble and excellent: it is that glorious Kingdom, and special Governmentt of the Supream, Universal, and Eternal King, which is the prin∣cipal, if not the adoquate, subject of the Holy Scriptures, which were revealed from Heaven; and without which, neither Men nor Angels could have known much of it. For as it is the Kingdom of God, so the Word of God must inform us of it. Angels, Prophets, Apostles, and Christ himself spake of it, and it was

the principal matter of the Doctrine. This Government was contrived before the World was; and, after time began, it was one of his principal Works, wherein once made known by Revelation, we may read more of God, of his deepest Coun∣sels, and of his perfections, then in the vast Volume of Heaven and Earth. The Doctrine thereof doth so much concern sinful Man, that upon the knowledge thereof depends his Eternal Salvation. This Kingdom should be the chiefest sub∣ject, not onely of our most serious and retired Thoughts, but of our Discourse; that it might be made known to the following Generations, till time shall be no more: and it will be the matter of that Heavenly Musick and Melody, which Saints and Angels shall make in the Temple of Eternal Glory; For all thy Works shall praise thee, O Lord, and thy Saints shall bles thee. They shall speak of the Glory of thy Kingdom, and talk of thy power. To make known unto the sons of men His mighty Acts, and the glorious Majesty of thy King∣dom. Thy Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and thy Dominion endu∣reth throughout all Generations, Psal. 145. 10, 11, 12, 13. This Kingdom did commence upon the Creation of Angels and of Men; whom both, He go∣verned according to different Rules, especially after the Fall and Promise of a Re∣deemer: for then He new-modelled the Government of Mankind, and of that new Model there were three degrees: The first, continued from the times of Adam, till the exaltation of Christ at His Fathers right hand. The second, which is more excellent began to be administred by Christ glorified, and shall not determine till all Enemies, even Death the last, shall be destroyed. The third which is most glorious, shall commence upon the final Judgment, and shall be of endless date. This is the subject.

II.

For the manner of handling of it the Language is plain, and rather rude then polite, and more Grammatical, then Rhetorical: for my desire was to be under∣stood. I had no design to please the curious, but, by plain Doctrine to inform the Vnderstanding; by clear Method to help the Memory; and by the divine and ex∣cellent matter, rather than by excellency of words, to work upon the affection, and wind into the heart. The very Subject, being a Kingdom, did dictate the Method, and the Scripture furnished me with suitable Expressions. I do not proceed by way of Dialogue, or of Catechisms or of Probleme, or of Systems, or of Sermons. I thought good, and took the liberty, to deliver positive Doctrine in a continued Dis∣course, yet in a certain method; and so to draw on the Reader from one head to another and from one part of this Government to another, till he come to the be∣ginning of that perfect and most glorious degree, wherein God shall be all in all. In some particulars I deliver my opinion yet with submission to the judgment of the more Learned and Judicious. I desire no man to believe any thing delivered in this Treatise, which shall not be found agreeable to the Holy Scriptures. To seduce, and mislead the meanest Christian, would trouble me much. If the more understanding discover my imperfections, I desire him to pardon them: if any passages be amiss to correct the mistakes, and not too rigidly censure the Au∣thor. We all have much of Man in us; we are yet in the flesh, and many are our imperfections; and mine more then those of others. And if every Reader shall re∣member himself to be a man, as yet in the flesh, I shall do well enough. Let none impute to me the Errata of the Press, though some few may be gross: for I was for the time of Printing at a great distance. Some things in this work I onely touch, intending a more distinct discussion in another Book, (which is an Exposi∣tion of the Epistle to the Hebrews.) This for the manner of handling.

III.

The use of it may be the same with that of other Systems, and larger Cate∣chisms; What it may adde, I leave to others for to judge. It may serve to ac∣quaint us more particularly with the nature of that Kingdom, whereof many speak, and which few do understand. It may help to improve our Knowledge of the Principles; to understand the Scriptures more clearly; to direct younger Stu∣dents, who intend the Ministery; to bring some Controversies to an Issue. It may give occasion to men of more excellent gifts, out of Scriptures, to improve the Bo∣dy of saving Doctrine: And, for the present, it may testifie, that notwithstanding all our Divisions and Alterations, the substance of the Ancient and Apostolical Doctrine remains amongst us. I desired to do some good unto this poor Church: and if any good be done, it is not I, but the Grace of God in me; who desired to serve in this, as in other things, the great and glorious Monarch of this King∣dom: To whom be glory everlasting, Amen.

Thine, to serve in the Lord, GEO: LAWSON.