Peace protected, and discontent dis-armed. Wherein the seventeen queries (with the addition of three more, postscript-wise) lately published, partly to allay the discontents of some about the late revolution of government, but more especially to guide every mans feet into the way of peace, as well his own, as the publique, are reinforced with replies unto, and animadversions upon, such answers, which some (it seems) have given unto them, to invalidate their purport and intent. Together with four new queries superadded. By the author of the said seventeen queries.

Query I.

WHether doth not the Apostle expresly affirm (Rom. 13. 1.) That the Powers that be [i. whatsoever they be, and however, in respect of second means, compassed, attained, or procured by men, who stand possessed of them] are ordained by God [i. orderly, regu∣larly, wisely, & righteously in respect of his providen∣tial interposure about the vestment of them, disposed of, and lodged in the persons, whosoever they be, who are the present Ministers, or Administrators of them?] Or were not the highest Powers in the world, when the Apostle spake this, viz. That the Powers that be, are 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ordained of God, vested in Nero, not only a Monster of men (as he is commonly termed) in respect of his bloody cruelty, unnaturall lusts, &c. but likewise advanced to the Empire, neither by the orderly way of the suffrage or election of the people, nor yet by the less disorderly way of the choyce of the Roman Senate, but partly by the wickedness of his

mother Agrippina, who caused her husband Claudius to dis-inherit his own son Britannicus, to make way for the Adoption of her son, (this Nero) partly by the over-ruling interposure of the Cohorts and rest of the Souldiery, The Senate (saith the Story) as men af∣frighted with amazement, not once contradicting the same?

To this Query some answer; That the Powers that be are indeed * 1.1 ordered by God, even when these Powers do give their power and strength to the Beast, and make War with the Lamb. Yet have they been, and ought to be in their so doing, witnessed against, by those that are called, and chosen, and faithful, Rev. 17. 12, 13.

But this Answer, 1. Reacheth not the intent or purport of the * 1.2 Query. For this querieth not about the unlawful or sinful exer∣cise of any authoritative Power (of which only the Answer speak∣eth,) or whether this may not, yea and ought not, to be witnessed against by those who are called unto it; but of the Power it self vested in the supreme Magistrate, considered simply as Power, and as disposed unto him by God. This Power ought not to be resist∣ed, or witnessed against, by any person whatsoever; nor can it be, either resisted, or witnessed against, but by resisting, and wit∣nessing against, the Ordinance of God. The Kings of the Earth, who give their power to the Beast, are not to be witnessed against for being Kings, nor for their accepting of Kingly Power (suppo∣sing it duly cast upon them,) but only for the male-administration of this power. Yea the power of the Beast himself (whoever, or whatsoever, be meant by the Beast) whereby he now maketh War against the Lamb, but might, if he pleased, employ and use for the Lamb, is not to be witnessed against by any man, as being the Ordinance of God; but only the enormous and most desperate abuse of this Power in fighting against the Lamb, which is the Ordinance of the Devil. And when the Beast by being witnessed against in the wicked exercise of his Power, comes through the just Judgment of God in putting it into the hearts of his servants to make War against him, to be despoyled and deprived of his Power, his Power (properly) is not resisted by these men, but

only the horrid abuse of this Power; which abuse the Justice of God judgeth meet to punish, and to prevent for the future, by the utter subversion and ruine of it. And the reason which the Apostle gives, why Christ shall put down all Rule, and all Au∣thority and Power, before his delivering up the Kingdom to God the Father, is, because he must reign, till he hath put all his ene∣mies under his feet (1 Cor. 15. 24. 25.) which plainly shews, that Christ hath no quarrel, no controversie, with, or against, any Pow∣er, as such, but only as bent and acted in the exercise of it against him. Therefore they who clamour, or witness against, any Power, simply as such, resist the Ordinance of God; and they who wit∣ness against any such Power, which is subservient to the affairs of Jesus Christ in the world, resist not only the Ordinance, but the Interest also of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Answer.
• * 1.2

  Reply.