Englands satisfaction in eight queries;: concerning the true place, office, and power of a king, according to Gods word.

4. Quest. Was there no difference between the Kings of Israels powers, and the Kings of the Nations powers, and the Subjects of both?

Answ. Yes; for the people of Israel were within the Covenant and promise of Jesus Christ, unto whom the Lord gave his Lawes, Statutes, and Ordinances, both Morall and Ceremoniall: unto whom also was given Priests, Levites, and Prophets, to admini∣ster unto them, and to teach and direct them; and Judges to guide and lead them; and the great God of heaven and earth to be their King, to save, defend, and deliver them: therefore the Kingdome and Crowne of Israel, was the Gods of Israel, and so of a greater and higher power and majestie, then any other Kingdome of the earth; for the Kings thereof were by the immediate appointing and anoynting of the Lord; and unto whom with their Crowne, the Lord gave, or of right unto the throne of that dignitie did be∣long, a regall power, and royall prerogative of selfe-will and plea∣sure; which made them cry out and say, Nehemiah 9. 36, 37. Be∣hold the Land that thou gavest unto our Fathers, to eate the fruit thereof, and the good things thereof, behold we are servants in it this day (indeed) it yeeldeth much increase, but it is unto our Kings, whom thou hast set over us; who because of our sinnes (in asking a King) have dominion over our bodies to command them, and over our estates to take away them at their pleasure; so that this promise or gift little availeth us: so that the Kings of Israel had a regall power over their Subjects, to demand and command, according to their owne wills and pleasures, in respect of the peoples charge of obe∣dience.

The Subjects of Israel because of their sinnes against the Lord in asking of a King, must submit 1 Sam. 8. 3. and be his servants without any redresse. 1 Pet. 2. 13, 14. Submit your selves unto all manner of Ordinance of man for the Lords sake, both to the King as supe∣riour, and to governours sent for the punishment of evill doers, Rom. 13. 1. Let every soule be subject to the higher powers: and when they suf∣fered they had no other meanes but to say, Nehe. 9. 37. Wee are in great distresse.

The Kings of the Nations came out of the loynes of cursed Ham, Gen. 9. 25. A servant of servants shalt thou be unto thy Bre∣thren, whose Grand-sonne Nimrod, Chap. 10. 8. began to be a mightie man in the earth, ver. 10. The beginning of his Kingdome was Babel, whose very name signifieth a rebell or wicked one, and Canonized for a Proverbe, ver. 9. Wherefore it is said, even as Nimrod the mightie Hunter before the Lord, who was neither appoin∣ted nor anointed of the Lord. The second generations of Kings of the Nations was out of the loynes of Esau, whom God hated in the wombe, Gen. 36. 31. And these are the Kings that reigned in the Land of Edom, before there reigned any King over the Chil∣dren of Israel, who was chosen by Election, vers. 32, 33▪ 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 The Kings of the Nations were out of the Lords Cove∣nant, and so had nothing to doe with the Lords mercies or promi∣ses, but were used as the Lords instruments of wrath, whom the Lord regarded not for good, because they served him not, nor knew the Lord by his Word. Ioshuah 8. 29. tooke the King of Aie, and hanged him on a tree, and cast his carkasse downe at the entring of the gate of the Citie, and laid thereon a heape of stones. Chap. 10. 23. The King of Jerusalem, the King of Hebron, the King of Jarmuth, the King of Lachish, the King of Eglon, vers. 24. Ioshuah said to his Cap∣taines, come and put your feet upon the neckes of these Kings, ver. 26. and Ioshuah slew them and hanged them on five trees, Chap. 12. 24. Ioshuah slew one and thirty Kings of the Nations, whose manner of reigne was according to the custome of their Countreys, and their power was by man: and therefore all destroyed by the power of God: so the power, the honour and dignitie of the Kings of the Nations was not from the Lord as was the Kings of Israel, therefore not worthy to be compared with the Kings of Israel, therefore the Kings of the Nations cannot plead any right to this regall power from the Lord by his Word; for the Kings of the Nations were ordained by and ruled over the Nations, before the dayes of the Prophet Samuel, they were not obedient unto the Commande∣ments of the Lord, and therefore have no right to the promises of the Lord.