Saints no smiters, or, Smiting civil powers not the work of saints being a treatise, shewing the doctrine and atempts of Quinto-Monarchians, or, Fifth-Monarchy-Men about smiting powers, to be damnable and antichristian / by John Tombes ...

§ 2. The words of Quinto-monarchians expressing their Opinions about seeking Christ's Kingdom in this Age are recited.

THere was a Book printed, made in the year 1656. as is noted pag. 18. bearing this Title, The Banner of Truth displayed; or a Testimony for Christ, and against Antichrist, being the substance of seve∣ral Consultations, holden and kept by a certain number of Christians, who are waiting for the visible appearance of Christs Kingdom in and over the World, and residing in and about the City of London. In the first page of the Epistle Dedicatory are these words:

And truly it evident∣ly appeareth, that Rome and the Nations of Europe (commonly called the Protestant, but are the Antichristian Countries) which are the streets of the Great City, and Rome-Babylon, are the Akel∣dama, or Field of bloud.

And some pages after mentioning powers since the rise of the Beast with ten horns and ten crowns, and their success, it is said:

Now for that we apprehend, that the present Generation in which we live, is that time in which this great work of Reformation (rending and tearing the very foundations of the Beasts Civil power up by the roots; the fall of the tenth part of Rome's Dominions; a great slaughter amongst the great men and implacable Enemies of Christ; and the final result, the Kingdoms of the world becoming Christ's possession) will be∣gin; and that time in which the first dispensation of our Lord's Kingdom shall take place; and that it shall not pass before these things be fulfilled: Therefore we are against these Governments as now constituted, and growing upon the old root of wickednesse and bitternesse, that (time out of mind) have brought forth and produced nothing but bloud-Monsters; and to Rule by those Laws that Bastards Tyrants and Conquerors have made for their Lusts sake, in opposition to the Law and the Testimony, Isay 8. 20. We cannot contend for any Government whatsoever that is of Mans erecting, building and planting, where any thing of this old Foundation may remain and be left; and which good men, moral men, civil men may exercise upon a meerly civil accompt, (for all men as they are men have lost their rights and priviled∣ges in respect of Government in the first Adam; but Saints have regained them in the second Adam, or Lord from Heaven) and by force and vertue of mens Laws (though but the best of those

Laws, & those called fundamental, so they are where no more righ∣teous is found) for the Lord will pluck up and destroy root and branch; and the Lord will not have a stone of Babels confused building for a corner, nor a stone for a foundation. We cannot therefore but (as in duty by our Allegiance to this King bound) proclaim, That Jesus Christ is the only lawful and true begotten Heir, and lawful King and Potentate of these three Nations, and of all the Nations of the Earth, and (as he is the seed of Abra∣ham) shall possesse the Earth; yea, and the very Gates of his Enemies; and that the sole Legislative power of the Nations is, and doth of right appertain and belong to him, and shall be exer∣cised by him, Dan. 7. 27. Jer. 10. 7. Isa. 9. 6, 7. Gal. 3. 16. &c. Hence then it necessarily follows, That those beast-like powers now in being in the world, and those (if any) which shall succeed upon that bottom that Rebel-like will not assign their said power, Crowns and Scepters to this great Monarch, are, and shall be deemed and adjudged Traytors, and proceeded against accord∣ingly, by vertue of this Kings Laws. And truly we are soberly and humbly bold in the Lord Jehovah's strength to assert, That the Saints of the most High (be they who or where they will) and faithfull remnant, are a people distinct from the world, and formal Professors, and are but Pilgrims and strangers in this state of affairs, men of another Kingdom and World; and are by themselves a Common-wealth, and Free-State: and therefore 'tis to be desired, from good and sound grounds, that they would exercise that Royal Authority which God has given unto them, and invested them with, as they are Saints by calling. And upon this accompt we humbly conceive, that 'tis lawful for them to use all honest and just means to defend themselves and offend their enemies; and to contend against those that do or shall op∣pose them in their work and business, which is according to the pattern shewed unto them in the Mount, and Law of Christ, or∣dained and declared throughout the Scriptures. It is observable, that we are even already arrived the overturning daies; we mean those times in which God will begin to smite the Governments and powers of the great Image:

which is a little after expressed thus;

the total annihilation and subversion of all the powers of this World, of what quality soever, ruling either in Antichrists earth, or civil State, or in his Heaven, or Christ-state, by the first dispensation of Christs visible Kingdom, which we have spoken of,

or that of the stone. Hence it is, that we bear a constant and publick testimony against powers, as the subject of Gods displea∣sure, and that which must be plucked up. We expect the Gentile Saints shall begin this great work.

In the Book it self, having p. 1. said

They were resolved to pro∣ceed in their way of Consultation for the clearing up these matters of their faith, and principles of their hope, they thus write, That there is oppression in the earth in all Nations, as also in England at this present time, is undeniable: for, no man can say, that there is no oppression, unless we will also affirm, that there is no Dragon in power, no Antichrist, Beast, Babylon, Whore, nor false Prophet; which how absurd a thing it is let all judge. But the Man of Sin is still in the Seat of Authority, & the Governments of these Nations are Antichristian, therefore oppression is not cea∣sed: Neither will there be any lasting Cessation of cruelty, un∣till the fifth Kingdom be set up; when the whole Earth shall be at rest, and the fourth Kingdom, which divides it self into two Iron legs; ten toes and a little horn, be wholy destroyed in all the Laws, Constitutions, Governments and Reliques thereof; for the Spirit and life that is in that Beast, or Kingdom, is the Spirit of the old Dragon, who is the Devil and Satan, that old Serpent, whose seed do continually war against the Woman, which is Christs Mystical body; there being great enmity between them two▪ p. 4. That dispensation which Jehovah, by his providence hath cast us under, is, the overturning dis∣pensation, the time of War, and beating of Plough-shares into Swords, which Christ, and the Scriptures speak of; that day in which Christ will appear in his stone, the stone of Israel, against the powers of the world, to the end he may be invested in his possessions, which is the Kingdom and Dominions, and their greatness under the whole Heavens; and therefore we conclude that it is an unlawful thing, and therefore men ought not to contribute to the upholding, and maintaining of those powers which shall be broken by this dispensation, left happily they be found fighters against God. p. 6. The will of man having been corrupted ever since the fall of man, the Lawes that proceed from that will must need be so. p. 11. We say the oppressor which makes us to groan is Babylon, in her several parts and powers in England: Rulers, Lawyers, Priests and Soldiers; for the present Government in England must of necessity be confessed to be either

a part of the ten Horns of the ravenous fourth Beast, or else that wicked little Horn Dan. 7. Because they are the last evil powers that shall be over the Nations of Europe, and therefore we may safely conclude this to be an Assyrian, else we must conclude him to be a part of that Kingdom, set up by the God of Heaven; but that can∣not be, because he rules by the Lawes of his Predecessors, and shall Christ be beholding to Antichrist for Lawes? No certainly; he is of the fourth, and therefore we need not run far to look this oppressor, having already found him to be the present Govern∣ment, with its dependents, and appurtenances, being a piece of that monstrous Beast, whom the Dragon (i. e. the Devil Revel. 20. 2.) Assignes Power and Seat, and great authority unto, who branches himself into so many Monarchical Governments in the Nations of Europe, and which men would perswade us to sub∣mit to as being lawful, and of God, but they execute the Laws of Antichrist, and rule for him in Tyranny; oppression and per∣secution by politick Laws which they make, and for which the Priests and Lawyers plead, and mercinary Soldiers and Officers execute. p. 12. The persons oppressed, we take it, are the most spiritual enlightned Saints in these Nations, whose spirits and affections are stirred up to follow Christ in the work of the Gene∣ration, the good interest now contended for, whom we call the Ge∣neration of publick spirited Saints. The administration of Christs visible Kingdom and rule over the Nations is endeavoured to be suppressed in this juncture of time. And not only the thing it self is opposed as dangerous, and endeavoured by Matchiavil's principle, argument and power, as heretical, as monstrous; but the Doctrine and Gospel of that Kingdom and Office of Christ, (which shall be preached for a witness to all Nations) is slight∣ed and rejected by self-interested men, and contemned by most. p. 13. They have made a Law that those that shall speak against the powers must be Traytors, which in effect is to make those Traytors that speak for this Kingdom. The conversion of the Gentiles and poor ignorant sinners to the Faith of Christs visible Kingdom is opposed. And p. 14 The establishment of Justice and righteousness in the world: and therfore with us arise for the lot of our inheritance; prepare therefore your victuals, your purse, and your scrip, but especially your sword, though you sell your coat for it. p. 23. The Parliament as being built upon the old foundation was a part of the beast. p. 24. It is clear that the di∣spensation

of the Stone shall begin to smite the power of the Beast, or Civil power, and that quarrel is begun and taken up and continued chiefly against that power. p. 25. Found to be from Hell and not from Heaven. p. 27. The glass of the beasts powers being almost run out in these Nations, what remains but that the Saints take into their own possession the Kingdom and power (which is their birth-right, as freemen of the Common∣wealth of Israel, and Heirs of the whole world with Christ, Gal. 3. 29.) which the Beast and his powers hath unjustly detained from them some hundreds of years. p. 28. That the work of this Stone is a smiting work, or a work wherein the Saints imployed shall visibly appear in a military posture for Christ, which we call the great combat between Christ and the Kings and Rulers of the world. For the Saints shall fall upon, or smite that great Image, the Feet and Toes thereof, and the whole Roman Mo∣narchy, as now divided, or all those powers, whose derivation is from Rome (others not excepted nor freed) shall be thereby smit∣ten, we mean the Kingdoms of the Romish Iron-legs, or the Ro∣man Kingdom divided into the Eastern, and western Monarchies, (wherein the whole Dominion, Power and Monarchy of the Otto∣man Family, or that of the Turks, is comprehended) and the Beasts ten horns, or Antichrists civil powers (equivalent to the ten toes) and also the little Horn, together with all powers what∣soever that shall be found opposers of the Lords Kingdom, whe∣ther they be of the golden Babylonish, silver Persian, brasen Gre∣cian, or Iron Roman Dan. 2. and ch. 7. Revel. 13. ch. 17. So that we comprehend the whole Kingdom of Antichrist in the Civil Eccle∣siastical parts thereof made up of Persons and things. p. 29. The fifth Kingdom, which is Christs, with its holy, just and righteous Lawes and Officers must arise with destruction to, and stand up in place of the 4th. Kingdom, and the Lawes and Officers there∣of. p. 30. Because it is the purchase of the blood, and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. p. 15. Now then we say, that called the Ordinance of God, proves the Ordinance of the Devil, and though the powers of the great Image might be taken for the Ordinance of God, so long as they kept their pure, civil and unmixed state; so saith Paul, the powers that be (i. e. the civil powers of old Rome, tho a bloody persecutor, and devourer of the creation and good heritage) are ordained of God; yet when the power of Rome adulterated from its pure civil state, and be∣comes

a mixt Antichristian state, the Beast and a Whore then it is said of that Beastly, Antichristian power, that the Dragon, or Satan gave him his power, and Seat, and great authority; and what then is this save the Ordinance of Hell? God hath revea∣led this by his Spirit from his word, unto a little remnant, who see the rottenness and hellish foundation of all the Civil powers of the Beast. And how great an argument is this also to us that the rise and work of the Stone is near? Which is principally against the Civil power. p. 52. It is certain, that it is a duty in Saints to hate Gods Enemies; yea, and more particularly to hate the Civil, or Beast-like power, because it is that which upholds the great Whore, and is a fighter against Christs Kingly office, even with a perfect hatred, as we see and find a Remnant do at this day. p. 55. The Lord will use, and engage his people to act in, and perform such a destroying work upon the world, as this work of the stone is, namely the total commotion and dissolution of the old Heavens, and old Earth, and all the created powers ruling therein; because it is the decree, determination, promise and appointment of the Father. p. 56. The Lord by these figura∣tive expressions, holds forth the dissolution of all old things formal Antichristian Church-state, Ordinances, Worship, Discipline, and Doctrine, all beast-like, wordly Governments, Institutions, Laws, politick Constitutions, Powers, &c. In a word, the Heavens, and the Earth of all the Nations Isai. 5. 30. p. 57. So that Jesus Christ will admit of no competitors, but will have the sole legislative power, and exercise of the chief Magistracy, and be Lord Para∣mount over the whole Earth; and therefore God is engaged to appear with his smiting Stone, to make way for this glorious Mountain of peace. p. 59. That all the blood of Gods people is found in Babylon: For they (i. e. her Civil powers Revel. 16. 6, 7.) have shed the blood of the Saints and Prophets Revel. 17. 6. ch. 18. 24. & 19. 1. Jer. 50. 14. now therefore God by way of recompence & retaliation hath ordained, that the Saints shall be his instru∣ments by which he will execute his vengeance upon the powers of the World, who are all of them Murtherers: accordingly God commands his people (& 'tis their duty to obey) to reward Baby∣lon double as she rewarded them Revel. 18. 6. and they shall give her blood to drink. p. 62. The call which the stone shall have to act in its smiting work, is for the greatest part thereof now perti∣nent and fitly applicable to a faithful remnant now extant in England, and fulfilled in and upon them, and also seeing that

the signes laid down in the word of God, for the time of the end, are in a gr••at measure now fulfilled, and accomplished in Eng∣lands Remnant; therefore we conclude, and assert, that 'tis lawful and warrantable, and is a duty incumbent for captiva∣ted Sion; and oppressed Saints, to stand up in Gods name and fear, and deliver themselves, and that glorious Gospel of the Kingdom; now by them declared to the world from persecuti∣on, oppression, and that long Captivity and Bondage, which she hath remained in; and to break the Yoak of the oppressor, which is now upon her Neck, according to the word & command∣ment of the Lord. Zach. 2. 7. Isai. 52. 2. We are perswaded that the work of the Stone is the present work of this generation, and our present work, and do accordingly exhort the Saints, to a∣rise to fall upon the enemy. p. 63. The Saints in order to this smiting work shall be converted from all the Civil power and Rule of Antichrist; and the ten Horned Beast, upon which the mystery harlot sitteth. p. 65. That it is their duty to withdraw their Hands, Hearts, Affections, Purses, and prayers from the Civil power, or power of the Beast; that they shall quit all their interest, and claim, in, and to the old Heavens, and Earth, and state of things; shall forsake Father Mother, &c. And shall convert Houses, Lands, Possessions and Enjoyments (comman∣ded to be prudently beat into Swords and Spears) into one common stock, to be consecrated for the management of this great Affair. p. 66. And in such a practise they shall be no loos∣ers, Christ will give them an hundred fold; even the spoile of all their great and rich Enemies, who are his opposers, and in the end an eternal Crown. The Saints are, with Moses, to refuse Court Honour, and favor, and preferment, Egyptians wisdom, Learning, Revenues and great Riches: with David, to leave their common duties (as matters of small value, and little con∣cernment, in comparison of this noble, and worthy imployment) to fight against the Philistines (so are the Civil powers) or com∣mon Enemy to the Common-wealth of Israel. p. 71 We do pro∣fess we cannot be content, or satisfied until Christs Kingdom flourish, but will (in Gods name and strength) press forward till we come to the mark, which is the state of the true rest (so we call that Kingdom and power) where the Saints shall cease from all their labours, in and with Christ. p. 69. Doth not the Lord call the Saints to arise also unto the prey? p. 71. The work of

God against Nations, Provinces, Universities, Corporations, Ci∣ties, Townes, Kings, Rulers, chief Captains, mighty Men, in Church and Common-wealth, Enemies of Christ's Kingly Office, shall be the lesson of faithful Saints; the true way will be dis∣covered and made plain, all Rebels, and Traitors, open and prophane, more close pretenders, and formally Godly, disco∣vered, hatred, in and among his Saints against those several parts, forms, powers of Babylon; doleful howling, and mourning among the Merchants of Babylon, who are the great and rich men whose hearts dwell on the Earth. p. 75. The Saints must se∣parate not only from the Romish Universal, National, Provincial, and Diocesan Church-state of Babylon, and Antichrist; together with their Discipline, Doctrine, Worship and Ceremonies: But also and more particularly (which is most properly a work pre∣cedent to be done by the Saints in order to the smiting work of the Stone) from the national, and parochial Parish Church State and assemblies, forms and classes, of this and other Antichristian Nations; which we call the Politick (and no more than Civil) Stratagem, and cunning invention of Antichrist: to divide unto himself the whole Land for gain, whereby all men to the lowest ranck, are compelled forcibly to contribute to the maintenance of his false Prophet, and so wickedness is established by a Law: Again further from those Churches that are select, & more pure as being seemingly refined, which are the gathered in a pastoral way (reducing things to primitive practise) so far as they are corrupted and adulterated and found opposers of the Kingly Office of Jesus Christ, in and over the whole world; and more especial in the Administration of this part, or dispensation of that Kingdom, to wit, that of the Stone, or War against his Enemies (for even in this generation there be a sort of people, and those we hope godly, that do acknowledge and wait in the expectation of the later, yea, and hold forth the personal appearance of our Lord as King, yet nevertheless oppose and deny, and quite leap over this Stone and its work, thereby endeavouring to render the Saints useless and uncapable of destroying Babylon) which must make ••way and without which we cannot attain to the peaceable and more glorious Administration of this Kingdom, by removing those Mountains, Hils, and powers of darkness, which do oppose and hinder it p. 76. And from those humane, heathenish and Anti∣christian wayes, means and helps, for the attainment, whereof

men study, & which they practise in the Schools, and Universities of these Nations, as things necessary for the Fitting, Preparing and qualifying a man (how carnal soever) to be a Preacher of the Gospel (as they say) And this, together with the Offer of some large stipend or yearly salary, and fat benefice is their call to Preach: therefore we disown and abominate their qualificati∣ons, and their call as an accursed thing: Yet mistake us not, we are not against humane learning, and the knowledge of the lan∣guages, but do repute it honourable, good, and commendable; yet when it is abused, and the plea of necessity put upon it, in that habit we utterly declaim against it, as a derogation to the holy spirit, and its Office; who gave out the Scripture, and im∣prints them in the hearts of the godly; for all scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and cannot be convincingly and pro∣fitably expounded by mans Art and Learning. p. 77. Separation is to be from the parochial Church, and Hireling Ministry of Eng∣land, their Ordination and Institution: After they have for some time been trained up in the Arts and Sciences of Egypt, in the Universities, they take their several degrees and commence∣ments, Masters of Art, Batchelors of Divinity, or godliness, and in case they sit long under the skirts of the great Whore, she makes them Doctors in Divinity, Men skilful, and perfect in Hea∣venly Mysteries: These are those that during the defection and apostacy, are the Rabbies which look more after the Fleece, than the Sheep; Lording it over Gods heritage: We therefore are against those degrees, Offices, Places, and their vain (which are indeed Blasphemous) Titles, which they arrogate from God, and Jesus Christ, the great Prophet and Teacher of his People. Gal. 1. 1. Matth. 23. 8. Joh. 3 9, 10. Rev. 1. 9. p 79. The enlightened Saints, or the more pure and holy part of those called the gathe∣red (and which are corrupted) Churches in these Nations, or elsewhere ought to separate and withdraw from the more grosse, dark defiled, and corrupted part of the said Churches, because there are no Churches (or at leastwise very few) of the pastoral way in these Nations, or elsewhere, but have something of Anti∣christ in them; having forsaken & apostatized from the primative and first love; and have, and do in many principles & practise strike hands with the interest of Antichrist, and mystery of iniquity. 2 Thes. 2, 3, 4. p. 83. Our position we give thus, that in this en∣ding time of the mystical numbers, wherein the Stone shall arise,

the Saints must disown, and in the strength of God separate from, and (according to that power which God shall give unto them by his Spirit) engage against all, and all manner of Civil power of what quality soever; now lift up over the whole Earth, or any part, Kingdom, Nation, or Corner thereof; together with all its dependents, Upholders, Lawes and Appurtenances whatso∣ever, whose derivation has been from Satan, ruling in all the several Parts, Powers and Forms of the devouring fourth Beast: And which are of and belonging to that Beast, though descended into the very lowest, last and most refined and pretended Chri∣stian-like power of that Beast: As having their root, and founda∣tion upon Satan the great Dragon. p. 81, 82. We accompt it a duty for the Saints to separate from all the forms, practises, Doctrines, and spirit of the Antichrist in the world, in their Bre∣theren in the Churches, &c. And to be plain, we accompt him, and that spirit, which either in act, or deed, wilfully, and obstinate∣ly denies the smiting work of our Lords Kingdom Antichristian; inasmuch as that such would alwaies have Christ, his Saints, his cause in and on the earth a sufferer: But the Scripture clearly ma∣nifests the contrary.

Agreeably to these positions, or rather exceeding them, are the speeches of some whether Levellers, or Quinto-Monarchians, in the first and second part of Pamphlets printed. 1648, 1649. p. 1.

The creature man was priviledged with being Lord over other inferior creatures, but not over his own kind; for all men being alike Priviledged by birth, so all men were to enjoy the creatures alike without propriety, one more than another. p. 3. The Beast hath its power from the Dragon. Revel. 13. 4. And the Dragon. Revel. 20. 2. is the Devil: so that it is plain, that Kings are of the Beast, and the Beast is of the Devil; and it is as plain, they that worship the King, worship the Beast; and they that worship the Beast, worship the Devil. Revel. 13. 4. Now let us a little be∣hold our English powers, all that which is called Magistracy, is from the Kings Patent; and his is from the Devil: for the Kings Predecessors, the outlandish Bastard William, came to be King by conquest and murther, now murtherers are, saith Jesus, the De∣vils Children; for, saith he, the Devil was a murtherer from the beginning, and he abode not in the truth: Now Kings are utterly against the truth, and persecutors of the Saints; for saith Jesus, they shall bring you before Kings, so that Kings are enemies unto

the Kingdom of Christ; taking licenses and grants, patents and Charters from the King, is taking the Beasts mark. p. 8. We take this power of William the Conqueror, to be that little horn in Dan. 7. 24. p. 13. Kings, Lords, and Commons the little Horn. Part. 2. p. 5. Titles of honour are termed vain titles, forbidden by our Sa∣viour as heathenish, although some good men were Kings, yet it was not in regard to their Office, but persons, for in that they were Kings, they were Tyrants. p. 6. It was wickedness in the Israelites, in advancing a man, one of their own kind, in the place of a God, and so to Idolize their own flesh above God. p. 7. Kings are the worst of men. p. 8. Lawyers being worse than the Devil, who scorns to take a penny Fees, to torment any, but will do it freely. p. 9. Pharaoh-like, they have their Juglers, who can play the Hocus Pocus, and invent a thing they call Religion, like Jerebo∣ams Calves, who the first invented state worship. p. 10. All those oppressors before named, do live altogether out of Gods way, and in Rebellion to his Lawes: first, because they live with∣out a calling, and so are idle, being Vagabonds, and wasters of the creatures by drunkenness, pride, gluttony, and so but ver∣min in a Commonwealth, and by their own Law ought to be put into a house of Correction, and to be made work. Jesus Christ alone is Lord and King, over man, and all men are equals. p. 11. All men are to enjoy alike freedoms, and none more than another; so that they are equal, and none have to do to command ano∣ther, no more than another him; but in a joynt union and a∣greement: that any be set up, it is but a trusted humane power; and they but servants to the whole, and may be removed at plea∣sure. p. 13. There are Vice-Kings, viz. Those that are Deputies, as Mayors in Cities and Towns Corporate, that are Kings of pa∣tents, which patents are meer monopolies, and serve to inhance Trading and Commodities, in a few mens hands, to beggar the whole; these take towls and customs of their brethren. p. 14. Why may not the Soldiers pull the Judges out of Westminster Hall, and take all their rusty Records, Laws▪ &c. And make a fire on them? That so we may have honest, godly Laws, according to the Scriptures and reason.

In the preface to the 8 last Sermons of Mr. Tillinghast, who was much for the Fifth-Monarchy, are these words;

Let none take offence at this language, for I cannot for∣bear vilifying the Kingdoms of the fourth Beast, when my thoughts are upon the magnifying of the Kingdom, power and

glory of Jesus Christ our Lord. And if the Virgin daughter of Sion (without any disparagement to her holy modesty) might of old, be allowed by God himself, to dispise the great King of Assyria, and to laugh him to scorn; I know no reason to the con∣trary, but one of the Lambs followers, may without breach of rule, in an holy triumph of faith, express contempt of the Kings of the Earth, who are all of them the lovers of the Mother of Harlots and Abomination of the Earth.

In the first Sermon. p. 2. Of the third edition 1659. Mr. Tilling∣hast saith;

Davids Kingdom was a type of Christs Kingdom, and indeed, whereas this Kingdom here Jerem. 33. 20, 21. Promised is shadowed forth by that of David, it doth hold thus much, that the Kingdom is not only a spiritual Kingdom, but an outward visible Kingdom; for such a throne and Kingdom Davids was▪ p. 14. Yet the woman hath not had her day upon the Serpent, but there is a time wherein the woman must have a day upon the Serpent to break his head: therefore there is such a Kingdom wherein the Saints of Jesus Christ shall crush all the enemies of Jesus Christ in the world. p. 39. The Devil plays his game; thus in the new Testament times, he made men to look for an out∣ward Kingdom only, when Christ was about to set up a spiritual Kingdom; & now that Christ would set up an outward Kingdom saith the Devil, look only to the spiritual Kingdom. p. 41. Gods Peoples faith is not grounded on fancies, but they see and know that God is doing some glorious thing in the world, he is over∣turning Kingdoms, and setting up the Kingdom of his Son.

Serm. 3. p. 57. He conceives

The work of Christs visible King∣dom over the world the work of the present time, one great article of our faith, the work that God doth call his Children to at this day (and he calls upon them from Heaven to attend to) & that they are to expect it before Christ come forth, & bring his Kingdom with him. p. 60, 61. He distinguisheth in Christs visible Kingdom, between the Kingdom of the Stone, and of the Moun∣tain; this he calls the Kingdom of glory, wherein the Saints shall not work but receive, that the working Kingdom of the Saints wherein Saints are by the Lord imployed to do some notable service against his coming; which is, the breaking down the great Image, the bringing down all his enemies, that when he comes, he may find them his footstool; for he is to fit at the Fathers right hand, until all his enemies be made his footstool; it's a

Kingdom wherein Plow-shaers are to be beaten into Swords, there shall be wonderful use of Swords, Weapons of War, out of Daniel 12. 12, 13. He gathers the beginning of each of these. p. 62. Truly I look upon it as being a main and principal part of that faith once delivered to the Saints, as touching the fifth Kingdom. p. 63. Though this Stone fundamentally is Christ him∣self, yet considered as smiting the great Image, it can be no other but Christ mystical, Christ in his members; and the cutting out of this Stone, cannot be meant, as some would have it, of Christs first coming. p. 65. Now if it can be made appear, that that, with which the fifth Kingdom doth begin, the work of the great Image, the over-turning the Thrones of the Kings, is to be per∣formed by the Saints, as chief instruments in the management of it; then it follows of necessity, there must be such a thing as the Ci∣vil and Military power, to be in the hands of the Saints, and that before the day of Christs appearance, they must have this power in their hands, for the performance of that work: and if so, then it's not evil for the Saints and People of God to seek for it, to pray for it, to plead for it, for it's to come into their hands for the doing of their work before the day of Christs appearance.

And then endeavours to prove, that

this work, with which the fifth Kingdom doth begin, is a work to be performed by Saints, as the chief and principal instruments in the doing of it. p. 74. There's the coming forth of Christ, when his enemies by his Saints are made his footstool.

p. 79. He gives some figues that this work is near at hand, and p. 82. He makes this to be a general sign;

that never was there a principle, that did run so much a∣mong the Churches of Christ, as this hath done within these twelve months.

I have set down the words of those persons, that I shall oppose in their positions, that I may not be thought to impose upon them. Out of them it is manifest, that they assert, that all the powers, not only Ecclesiastical, but also Civil and Military of the Nations, even the Protestant, as well as the Turkish, and Romish Kingdoms, are Antichristian; and all their Laws, Officers, Schools, Corpora∣tions, Titles, Priviledges, Degrees, and ranks of men in their poli∣tick and military, as well as Ecclesiastical state, Babylonish, from the fourth Monarchy, & that those that they call publick spirited Saints of this age, distinct from Notional professors, and formally Godly; are to hate, separate from them, deny any assistance to them,

rise up against them to destroy them utterly, to smite them, in or∣der to the setting up a fifth Monarchy of Christ's visible Kingdom on earth, that the Saints may be a free Common-wealth of them∣selves, subject to no Laws but Christ's, and free from all oppressi∣ons of men.