A LEAF Pulled from the Tree Of Life: Medicinal for the healing of England's DIVISIONS.  
Or, A Glimpse of the Excellency of a Kingly GOVERNMENT.  

Proving it to be  
1. Most Godly.  
2. Most Christianlike.  
3. Most Ancient.  
4. Most Safe for the People.   
Written out of Love and Good Will to the peace and tranquillity of the three Nations, of England, Scotland, and Ireland.  
By JOHN MOOR.  
Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the Potter's Clay—  For I am the Lord, I change not.— Let England then take heed of endeavouring to change the mutable decrees, and Counsels of God— And whether it be more lawful for the Rulers of the Land to follow the Counsels of God, or the wills of a giddyheaded people. Let them consider— They have rejected the Word of the Lord, and what wisdom is in them— Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his Nostrils, for wherein is he to be accounted of— 
London, Printed for E. Brewster at the Crane in Paul's Churchyard, 1660.   

To the true and faithful Philanthopos Jesus Christ, God and man: his poor unworthy servant prostrates himself; begs pardon for his sins, and prayeth for a blessing upon the Councils of the King and Parliament.  
ALmighty Prince, to whom all power in Heaven & earth is given, whose only prerogative it is, to be King of Kings; and Lord of Lords: who hast a name given thee, which is above every name, to which all things in heaven and earth own obeisance, and the bowing of the knee, without whom the sons of men can do nothing but that which brings shame and confusion to themselves: Pardon and forgive me all my sins and transgressions which I have committed from my childhood against heaven, and in thy sight. Be gracious and merciful to this sinful Nation wherein I dwell, by giving a blessing to those that are appointed by the hand and providence to settle our peace, and establish our Laws. Thy name is wonderful, Counsellor. O, exalt this name of thine amongst them; do thou so guide them with thy counsels, that they may do wonderful things whereof the people may rejoice. Thy name is the mighty God, exalt this name of thine amongst them, by putting courage into their hearts, and Loyalty into their souls; that they may endeavour the establishment of, and conform them even 〈◊〉 such a Government, which most resembles thy divine Majesty, that gives thee thy own Title of King of Kings▪ and Lord of Lords, that hath thine own 〈…〉 its branches springing out from thee. Thy name is the everlasting Father. O! do thou beget godly purposes, and selfdenying practices amongst them. Let them bring forth such Acts of righteousness to the people that may be owned and patronised by such a Father: thy name is the Prince of Peace, O, make thyself known to them in this name also, that they may study peace, delight in peace, rejoice in peace, seek nothing more than peace, and in ●his, Lord give them such a prosperous, and an advantageous issue, that they may deservedly be called England's blessed peacemakers. Let thy name O Lord be thus hallowed in the midst of them, that theremay be a submissive preparation for the coming of thy Kingdom, that they may do thy will on Earth, after the same manner as it is done in heaven. Let them be so far from coveting other men's goods, and making a prey upon other men's Estates, that they may be content with their daily bread; forgive all their imperfections, and give them hearts to forgive submissive offenders. Keep them from falling into the temptations of Satan, and the snares of the world. Deliver and protect them from all evil, and harm intended against them, by men or Devils, for the Kingdom, power, and Glory of all this belongs wholly to thyself from henceforth and for evermore.  
Amen, Lord Jesus.  
Even so Amen.   

To the most Christian Prince on Earth, Charles the Second, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the truly Ancient, Catholik, and Apostolic Faith.  
Dread Sovereign,  
WHen I first penned the ensuing lines, it was in the later end of the month February, and the beginning of March, 1659. at which time I intended the Dedication of them to England's happy Parliament, (now sitting at Westminster by your Royal Authority) and since by reason of my own remoteness from London, accompanied with a necessity of attending my Ministry) they could not come forth in print by the time I intended, (viz.) at the first sitting of the Parliament; the decrees of heaven having been since executed for your safe return to your native Birthright, the Crown of England: I was necessitated to retract the Dedication of them to the Parliament, and being unwilling that those things should die in the Birth, which had gone ou● their full time in the womb of my heart and hand, (the publishing of them being earnestly desired by many of your faithful subjects) I did resolve to midwive them into the world; by adventuring upon your Princely Clemency to prostrate them at the feet of your Royal protection, hoping they will find that favour at Court, as to have admittance to kiss your gracious hand. I shall not trouble your Majesty with a tedious Epistle, lest the Gate should be bigger than the City. Only let me beg this liberty, to seal this my bold attempt with my prayers to the most high; that he would ever vouchsafe to bless you, in your Royal person with length of days, health, and safety in your spirit, with the comfort and councils of his own in your heart and soul with meekness, truth, and righteousness: In your Royal relations with oneness of hearty lov and unity of Faith; in your Privy Council, with wisdom and fidelity. In your Parliament with special care to your safety and honour. In your Nobles with Loyal affection. In your Magistrates, with uprightness and justice. In your Ministers with soundness of Doctrine, good Discipline, and Piety of life. And in all your Subjects from the highest to the lowest, with unfeignedness of heart rendering to their King what they own unto him, both by the Law of God and the Laws of the Nation. Yea, whosoever of us will not obey the Law of our God, and the Law of our lawful King, Let judgement be executed upon; whether it be unto death, or unto banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imp●isonment, from either of which rebellions, the Lord keep the very thoughts of him, whose heart rejoiceth at the Establishment of your Kingly Throne. To which, in life, or death, I am resolved to be  
A servant faithfully devoted John Moor. From my study at Wechicombe near Dunster in Somerset, June 25, 1660.   

To the Impartial, Moderate, Selfdenying READER.  
WHO ever, or of what state soever thou art, if thy conscience be not seared with the hot Iron of rage and fury against thy own flesh, thy brethren the sons of Adam; if thy heart be not full of burning coals of anger and revenge? if thy judgement be not blinded with Self-interest? if the edge of thy affections and desires to peace, be not blunted with delight in War? if thy will be any way inclined to beat thy sword into a plough share, and thy spear into a pruning hook? if thy hand be not glued to the gain of oppression? if in the School of Christ thou hast learned any thing of self-denial? if thou dost ingeniously confess and own the sacred Scriptures to be the only ground of Faith and rule of a Christians life; and that they are real testimonies of truth? I doubt not but that the ensuing lines will find acceptation with thee, being written only out of love and good will to the general peace and welfare of my Country. For my part I do confess that in the beginning of the late war, my judgement did lead me forth to own the Parliaments proceed both in relation to the extirpation of Popery, and also to the reducing of the King's person from amongst some evil Counsellors, who were then thought to animate him against the Parliament, but never with the least intent, either to destroy his person, or race out a Kingly Government; nor was there any such intent in the Parliament then (as could be apprehended by any, having taken a solemn Covenant to the contrary) until their divisions unhappily began: and a Tyrannical Engagement forced upon the people, under pain of being ruined, in 〈◊〉 they refused it: a thousand times better it is for England 〈…〉 religious Covenant be revived and put in force, than an 〈…〉 Engagement violently forced upon the people's consciences perpetuated. If any one ask, what shall they do then that have taken the Engagement? why let them take it off the File of their hearts, acknowledge their error, and be sorry for it; for my own part I am clearly of this mind, that God is as much honoured, and it savours as much of an ingenious Spirit, to confess an error, as to profess a truth. My advice therefore to the servants of God, and to all the inhabitants of the three Nations shall be this: cheerfully, & hearty to submit to that form of Government, which was by God ordained of old, and settled in heaven by an everlasting decree; the only visible means to keep us from destroying one another, to restore us to peace, and heal our breaches. I have called this small Tract, A Leaf pulled from the Tree of Life, because it is gathered from amongst the Laws and Ordinances of Jesus Christ, the Alpha and Omega of all Rule and Government in the world, the faithful counsellor in heaven and earth, and the chief commander thereof; to the reading whereof without premeditated prejudice, I commend thee, and take my leave with this assurance, that I intended nothing therein but a Declaration of my faithful love to England's peace, and therein I hope to abide  
A servant faithfully devoted, JOHN MOOR.   

A Glimpse of the Excellency of a Kingly GOVERNMENT.  

CHAP. I. That it is most Godly.  
THe great and mighty God, the holy, just, and wise God, who made and form all things by the power of his Word, and guideth and governeth all things by his Word of Providence; did in the beginning settle and place all things in good order and equipage in every sphere of his Dominion, both in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath; wherein all his creatures (sinful man and Apostate Angels excepted) have kept the same order wherein their Creator at first had set them in the firmament of Heaven, those celestial bodies keep their constant course: the Moon and Stars observe the motions of the Sun; whom God hath seated there as chief amongst them, who also knoweth his going down, and those other inferior bodies do observe his setting, and uprising; as it were acknowledging his superiority over them. Thus the Heavens declare the glory of God and the Firmament showeth what his hand hath made; observing therein their Maker's will. Next the Fowls of the air are subordinate to the Eagles as Supreme; the Beasts of the earth have a Lion, whom they acknowledge their Head Governor; which made the Prophet thus write, When the Lion roars, all the beasts of the Forest tremble: Under the earth, in the waters of the Sea, the Fishes have their Leviathan; concerning which creature 'tis observable, that he hath solely or chief but two enemies, the Swordfish and the Thresher, the rest giving place to the greatness that his Creator hath given him; and who are they at this day, that are the chiefest enemies to the Supreme Government of a single person, but the Soldier who lives by his Sword, and the factious Sectary with his Threshing, Levelling principles. By the forementioned things we may clearly see, that in heaven above, in the earth beneath, and in the waters under the earth, there is an observation of Sovereignty to one in chief; neither do they alter or change it, but continue in it, only man's heart being corrupted with the disloyal principles of the fallen Angels (who for refusing to own Christ for their Supreme Head, were cast down headlong from Heaven to Hell) will scarcely own any Order, but such as proceeds from their own disorders; nor own any supreme Government, but that which makes every one a Governor.  
The consideration of this makes me call to mind a worthy saying of the Aldermen and Members of the Common Council, in the time of their imprisonment in the Tower of London, written in their Declaration and Remonstrance from thence: the words are these, And seeing with too transparent eyes, both Nature and Religion turned Antipodes, acting themselves into a self-Antipathy, as if man above all sublunary creatures was only compound of all contrarieties; seeing the foundation (on which next under heaven our hopes depend) of our Laws, our Religion, our proper Rights and Privileges (we say not Oaths and Protestations) blown up by the very roots, by such a strong tempestuons violence, which beats down all things before it, making the leftiest Cedar level with the lowest shrubs until it hath vented itself into an universal destruction.  
Of the truth of this sad Clause of their Declaration, woeful experience hath been the sole School-Mistress in England; for by reason of Oaths, Protestations, Covenants, and Engagements, and the violent forcible breach of them doth the land mourn; and whilst the Lord hath looked for, and expected Justice, behold oppression; and for righteousness, but behold a general cry and complaint of the poor and needy, the stranger, widows, orphans, and fatherless; so that except the Lord do put it into the hearts of some faithful, godly, selfdenying persons, to put in practise a speedy remedy for the healing of the Land of these and other such foul enormities, hateful to God and destructive to Mankind; we may justly fear that he will say, Shall not my soul be avenged on such a Nation and People as this, who think to establish Religion with blood, and tie the stakes of Government together with cords of iniquity, whose lips have spoken lies, and their tongues have uttered perverseness, wherein few or none call for Justice, and scarcely any plead for truth; where the Cockatrice Eggs are hatched; and the Spider's Web woven, and in whose hands is nothing else but the act of violence, where their feet run to evil, making haste to shed innocent blood; whose paths are full of wasting and destruction, where they fast for strife and debate, where they do not lose the bands of wickedness, nor undo the heavy burdens, nor let the oppressed go free; nor break any yoke; where none seek for peace, neither will they be acquainted with the ways thereof: Where they are seeking them out new ways, as if they intended to serve a strange God: where judgement ss turned away backward, and justice standeth a far off: Where truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter: Where they grind the faces of the poor, and sell the needy for a pair of shoes: Where the people have used oppression, and exercised Robbery by a Law: Where the sins of Sodom are rife; for this was the sin of Sodom, Pride, Fullness of bread, and abundance of Idleness was found in her; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy: Where the Governors prise their own Ordinances above the Ordinances of God, and the Subjects thrreof more afraid to violate the former, then profane the latter. Ah sinful Nation! laden with such iniquities as these, the head whereof is sick, and the heart thereof faint, and from the sole of the foot, even to the head, there is little or no soundness or solidity in it, but full of wounds and bruises, and putrifying sores of division, which to this day are not yet closed with the balm of Repentance, and returning to God, nor bound up with the white Fillet of peace, nor mollified with the precious men▪ of unfeigned love.  
This, even this is England's state; but what is the reason that we are so full of divisions? that the heart of England pants and beats, and is so out of frame and order, so disquieted within herself, is it hence, because the foundation of government is out of course? and if such foundations be destroyed or be out of course? What can even the righteous themselves do? but sit down by the waters of confusion and weep; or else consider whether there be not a way for them to return to such a foundation of government, which may be instrumental for their deliverance from confusion, the healing of their devisions, the obtaining of their peace, without which we shall never reap the true benefit of any mercy, which made the Poet excellently sing forth this Verse.  
Sit pax cum lignis,  
Si vis ut a●diat ignis.  
Let peace blow thy fire,  
If warmth thou de●ire.  
But then the Question will be, what that Foundation of government is, tha● is most likely to effect it; why truly the question is soon answered, and 'tis this, that government which hath its foundation in the holy Scriptures to which the Patriarches, Prophets and Apostles have submitted, to the law and to the Testiomony, for whatsoever is not according to that word is full of darkness and confusion. I once heard a godly and a reverend Divine, (Mr. Newton of Taunton) deliver this doctrine in the Pulpit; that the Scripture God is our God, and in this case answerable to that I say, let the Scripture government, be our government; for if the Scripture be the only and sufficient ground of Faith, and rule of life for the eternal peace and welfare of the soul; there is certainly a sufficiency in it for the ground and rule of government pertaining to the body, so that we need not go beyond the Scriptures to look us out a new form of government, or new Titles for governors, except we are willing to continue war in our gates, the Scripture saith, that when the people chose them new Gods (which I understand by the context of the words to be governor's, who in Scripture are called Gods) then was war in their gates; even of civil wars and bloody divisions. Now this is as clear as the Sun at noonday 
Jud. 5.7, 8  to every sober-minded Christian, that is not drunk with self-Interest, not overcome with a spirit of Giddiness, that the foundation of government, which is commended to us by God in the Scripture, did, and was to rest and reside in a single person, known by the Names or Titles of Kings and Judges: and to contradict the perpetuation of it (until Christ himself come) there is not one line in the whole Bible as I remember, and I believe I have read the Bible over threescore times; and as the Apostle saith, that he that keeps the whole Law and failsin one point, is guilty of all, so if we own the Scripture as the ground of faith, and rule of life in some things, and renounce it in other, having no command for it) we must unavoidably be guilty of slitting the whole, for the Scripture was not given in old time by will of man, nor is it to be altered or changed by man's will, nor any thing to be added to it, or taken from it, upon pain, that every one that shall so do, shall have his name blotted out of the Book of Life, and for an addition, all the plagues that are written in the same book inflicted on him; if ever we would then enjoy our peace, our lives, libereties and estates, our wives and children with tranquillity, joy and comfort, it must be by a cheerful submission to such a foundation of government, which God in his wisdom hath appointed, and thought meet for us, and made obvious to our eye in his sacred records; let then the exhortation 
Jer. 6. 16.  which the Prophet Jeremiah hath spoken to us in the name of the Lord be acceptable to us. Who bids us to stand in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and we shall find rest for our souls▪ Let us consider and examine, whether it be not better (though we should be loser's by it to imitate the servants of God of old, and walk in their steps & paths, then for our own ends to dance after the pipe of the covetous, drunken, swinish, slovenly Dutch, and the lustful, adulterous Venetian; where under the government of the one all manner of intolerable blasphemies are tolerated, and under the dominion of the other, most abominable beastliness countenanced; yea rather let us set our eyes to behold, have our ears often to hearken to, our minds bend to contemplate, our hearts to ponder, our lips to speak of, our hands to lay hold of, and our feet to tread in the paths of such a government, which hath these properties attending it. First, most Godly, Secondly, most Christianlike, Thirdly, most ancient, Fourthly, most safe for the people. Now the govenrment of a single person is most godly for these reasons following.  
First, because it was brought forth in time, and established in the Nations, according to the eternal purpose, and determinate counsel of God; who worheth all his works, and bringeth to pass all his actions after the council of his own will, and not after the counsel of any other, neither of Saints nor Angels. Shall mortal man be more just than God, and shall man be more pure than his Maker? behold he put no trust in his servants, and his Angels he charged with folly: how much less on them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the Moth? they are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it: doth not their excellency which is in them go away, they die, even without wisdom; where is he than that can direct the spirit of Lord? or being his Counsellor, can teach him: with whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, when he divided to the Nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, and set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel? when he established a Judge for a governor over the sons of Jacob? and placed Kings, to rule over the Nations of the Gentiles? did not the Lord establish these things by a Law and a decree, more unchangeable than the Laws of the Medes and Persians, which altar not? is not the Lord perfect in his counsels? yea is not the Lord righteous in his ways, and holy in all his works? hath the Lord any where revealed or declared in his Word, that he would alter his Counsels, or frustrate his own Laws and Ordinances concerning the Government that he had subjected the people to? Where is that Counsellor, that can enlarge the counsel of the most High? Or give a clearer sense and a fuller understanding of his Laws, Statutes, Ordinances and Judgements, than he himself hath given by his Holy Spirit, the true Interpreter of his mind? If not, than Woe be to him that striveth with his Maker: Let the Potsheard strive with the Potsherds of the earth, and not with the Almighty; for surely there is no Counsel against him shall stand; their turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the Potter's clay: And that Form of Government that issued forth from God, and hath its foundation in God, shall be established in the earth; for it is most godly, and it shall continue till Christ himself shall come,  
The Alpha of all Kings by God's decree,  
And the Omega of all Kings must be.  
A second reason to prove it most godly is, because it carries the Image of God's essence with it, who in, and of himself is one, the Lord Jehovah is One, and in heaven (the place of his glorious residence) there being no division, God hath given the Regiment and Government unto one Person, even to his Son; so that in Heaven itself, where nothing but holiness and godliness is practised, is the Government of a single Person established: The Father loveth the Son, saith John, chap. 3.25. and hath given all things into his hand: and Christ himself saith, That all power in heaven and in earth was given to him: And elsewhere, the Holy Ghost saith, That God hath given to him a name which is above every name: Can we then write after a more godly pattern of Government than is already written in Heaven by God's right-hand. All the Laws, Ordinances, and Statutes that Moses delivered to the children of Israel, he was commanded to make them all, after the Pattern that was showed him in the Mount, where he was with the Lord forty days and forty nights for advice and counsel, how to ordet and establish all things both in Church and State, in the performance whereof he was faithful to his trust; so than that which hath a heavenly and a holy face, cannot have an ungodly visage: I would here be understood, not to mean corrupt persons in the Government, but the Government itself: For it is obvious to every eye, that corrupt wicked persons may bear rule in that form of Government, which in itself is truly godly, being instituted by God himself, as in the time of the Law in the Office of the Priesthood, and under the Gospel in that pure and holy Office of Apostleship; yet the Function and Calling remained still a foundation of Godliness, whereof Christ himself was the chief corner Stone.  
So that although there be a just and lawful ground for persons to speak against, reprove, and oppose wickedness and tyranny in Governors, yet they have no just and lawful ground to lay hands upon, and destroy the Government itself. For although it be granted, that Kings, Princes, and Judges, may sell themselves to work wickedness, exercise Tyranny, and live ungodly; yet it is certain they did not derive it from the Government itself, nor doth it countenance them in any such thing: for if corruption in Governors be any way a lawful ground to race out the Form of a lawful Government, there is never any Government likely to be established in the earth, that any of the sons of the first Adam shall have the managing of; for by this means a gap will be opened and a way made for the violent breaking down of All Earthly Government, if once the people apprehend themselves to have any power, or can gather themselves together, to make the least resistance: A thing which Christ himself would never do, although he had all power in heaven and earth given to him; nor hath he left the least precept, or the least branch of a Command, to any that believe on him, or profess his Name, to do any such thing; but hath left them in subjection and conformity to that state of Government which was then in the earth, when he himself was in Person upon the earth, and to continue till he come again in Person. So that,   

CHAP. II. The Government of a King is most Christianlike.  
FIrst, It is most agreeable to, and suitable with his own Practice, as he was the Son of Man, in the time of his residence and abode upon earth: Two examples there are extant in the writings of the Evangelists, wherein Christ owns a Kingly Government, the first in Matth. 17.24. And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received Tribute-money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your Master pay Tribute? He saith, Yes, And when he was come into the House, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do the Kings of the earth take Custom or Tribute? of their own children or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of Strangees: Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free: Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, Go thou to the Sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh, and when thou hast opened his mouth thou shalt find a piece of money▪ That take and give unto them for me and thee. Wherein three things are chief noted: 1. A question of the King's Servants to Peter, whether his Master did pay Tribute; or in effect, whether he did conform himself to, and own the Kingly Government then in Judea: 2. Peter's sudden answer that he did, he saith, Yes. 3. Christ justifying Peter's answer for truth, and making it good by action; wherein he was so far from disowning the Government itself, or from giving offence to the Ministers thereof, or disputing their Authority, that he set his Divine power on work, and wrought a miracle for a testimony of it.  
The second is in Matth. 22. from ver. 15. to ver. 22. where to the question of the Pharisees and Herodians, who would gladly have heard him speak the least word against Herod's Kingly Power, urging him to declare his disaffection and non-approbation of the Government, he returns an answer consonantly to his former action, in these words, Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are Gods: And it will not be unworthy of a serious consideration, that he was born, educated, lived, and died, under the same Form of Government; in all which time, there was not the le●st appearance in him of opposing it, nor a word spoken by him of his dislike of it; and whatsoever he did, or spoke, was the command, will and pleasure of his Father 
* Joh. 16. 31. Joh. 6.38. Joh. 8.29. .  
Secondly, besides his own practice in the time of his Pilgrimage on earth, he told his Disciples that after his departure, he would send them the spirit of truth from his Father, which should guide them into all truth. (Mark that word, into all truth) which without all peradventure, was not only into the knowledge of Divine Mysteries, but also how to demean themselves toward all men, and what Government they should live under, and submit unto. Now what that Government was that the Holy Ghost did advise and counsel them, yea, command them to submit unto, and pray for, these Scriptures following do show, 1 Pet. 2.11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Dear beloved, I beseech you as Pilgrims and Strangers, that ye ●bstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation: Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake, whether it be to the King as Supreme, or unto Governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well; for so is the will of God, that with welldoing, ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men; as free, and not using your liberty as a cloak of malitiousness, but as the servants of God; esteem all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, Honour the King. From these words of the Holy Ghost it is clear to me, that we may as well go seek us a new Gospel for our souls; as a new Government for our bodies; but the Lord hath not left us to our own choice in either, except he intends to ruin and destroy us. O Lord, for thy Names sake, Give not up thy servants in England to their own hearts l●st, and suffer them not to walk in their own Counsels; for if thou leave them to themselves, they will ruin and destroy one another, and make themselves a scorn and a laughing stock to all their Enemies. O give them hearts to hearken to thy word, and obey thy voice: Let the counsel of thy holy Spirit be seasonably and timely acceptable to them, lest they repent it when it is too late. The second Scripture is, Rom. 13.1, 2. Let every soul be subject to the higher powers; for there is no power but of God; the powers that be are Ordained of GOD, whosoever therefore reresisteth the power, resisteth the Ordinance of God; and they that resist, shall receive to themselves damnation, etc. Wherein the holy Ghost showeth, that the Government that was then established in the earth, was established by a decree and an Ordinance of God, and that those did contract the guilt of sin and judgement to themselves that did gainsay or resist it, because they did resist God's Ordinance. The third Scripture is, 1 Tim. 2.1, 2. I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in Authority, that we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty. Wherein the Holy Ghost showeth Christians, that it is not only their duty to submit unto that Government that by God's Ordinance and Decree was then established in the earth; but also to pray for the safety, welfare, and prosperity both of the soul and bodies of those that were supreme Persons in the Government, as the fruits of godliness and honesty.  
As in Martial Discipline it is observable, that good and discreet Soldiers observe their Leaders, and hearken to the word of Command; for want of which they fall into disorder, and lay themselves open to be spoiled of their enemies; so without doubt, it would be both wisdom and discretion in Christians, to observe the practice of those that lived in the Primitive times of the Gospel, that were the first Professors of Christian Religion, that lead the Van of Practical godliness, and to be followers of them, as they were of Christ; and this will lead to the third thing.   

CHAP. III. The Government of a KING is most Ancient.  
THat it is most Ancient, I think none are so sottish as to deny it, and therefore there needs but little to be said in it. Yet for satisfaction to some that are beating the Bush to start something from the Form of a new government; this much I shall insert, that Melchisedec, who is recorded in the Scripture without Father, without Mother, without descent, having neither beginning of day, nor end of life, was constituted a King on Earth, and exercised a Kingly Power and Government over the faithful Servants of God then living; to whom and to whose Government, even Abraham (whom the holy Ghost styles the Father of the faithful) did most gladly submit. This was the first Form of Government that the people of God, God's chosen people were subject to, and under which they first received a blessing. And whereas it is written that Melchisedec was without beginning of days, or end of life: so also his Government (I mean a Kingly Government) had no beginning, and shall have no end, because it came forth from, and was founded in the eternal God, and unto him shall return again, and have its centre for ever in him. Alas, the Government of a Free-State (as some cail it) is a new thing (or there is no such thing) having not one sentence in the Book of God that testifies any such thing (except Corah, Dathan and Abiram, and the two hundred and fifty principal men of the Congregation, did intent to establish such a Government, when they told Moses that he took too much upon him to list up himself above the Congregation of the Lord) and is therefore both invaluable, and inconsiderable to a Kingly Government, having nothing of the Image, or Superscription of the King of Kings engraven upon it; nor so much as the shadow of Antiquity to countenance it.   

CHAP. IU. That the Government of a KING is most safe for the People.  
ANd as the Government of a single person is most Ancient, so it carrieth most of the people's safety with it: this also is clear from Scripture and Reason. Moses the Servant of the Lord, from the tenderness of his heart to Israel's safety, and fearing least the late distemper of Corah and his Accomplices might be revived after his death to their utter ruin and destruction (after that the Lord had told him, that he should not go into the Land of Canaan, but that he should go up into Mount Nebo and die there) earnestly prayed unto the Lord in these words, Let the Lord the God of the Spirits of all flesh, set a man (not mwn) over the Congregation, which may go out before them, and which may go in before them: And which may lead them out▪ and which may bring them in; that the Congregation of the Lord be not as sheep without a shepherd, Numb. 27. 16, 17. In this Scripture, the Holy Ghost shows these two things:  
First, Moses his earnest desires for the People's safety.  
Secondly, His Proposition to God, of what he apprehended might be the most effectual mean for the people to attain it (Let the Lord set a man over the Congregation) and in the 3. verses following, the Holy Ghost shows these things; First, God's approbation of Moses his Proposition: Secondly, his consent and grant, of his charitable and loving Petition for the people's safety. And me thinks the Lord speaks thus to him, Moses I have read thy Petition, I find it honest, just, and godly, and no way contradicting my mind and will: I have therefore granted thy request, I have considered thy wisdom in propounding such an effectual means for the people's safety, as the placing one Head Governor over them, and I approve of it, it likes me well, and it shall be done. Be it therefore enacted in Heaven by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost (three Persons and one God) that the government of a single Person, be established upon earth, as the most effectual means for the preservation, peace and safety of the people thereof, and that they be conformable and obedient to it: And whereas Joshuah the son of Nun hath been hitherto faithful, godly, and upright in all his ways, and was not consenting to the seditious, and Government-despising principles of Corah, Dathan and Abiram, and hath followed me fully in my Ordinances and commands, which I have given to Israel, he shall be the man that shall be their Chief governor, thus we may see what government was best pleasing to God, and most suitable to his mind. Israel had a Judge by a heavenly Ordinance; and the Nations of the Gentiles a King by an eternal unalterable decree.  
The Reign of Kings▪ to generation came,  
Judges being qualified received the same.  
Secondly, The greatest time of safety that God hath promised to his Church and People on Earth, in the great union of J●ws and Gentiles, will be in the time of a Kingly Government, and from thence shall they receive an abundance of indulgency; for this is the word which the Lord hath spoken by the Prophet Isaiah, Behold, I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people, and they shall bring thy s●ns in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried on their shoulders, and kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing Mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me. In this Scripture, the Lord hath promised, that he will so bring about and work such a change upon the heart of Kings; that they shall be so far from being persecutors of his Church or Exercisers of Tyranny over them; that they shall embrace them with the arms of love, and stoop to them with Congees of love, that they shall give the right hand of fellowship to them, and take sweet counsel together in the house of God, that they shall be their chief and choicest friends, using their power for their protection, whereas formerly they have been great enemies and destroyers thereof. Now if a Kingly Government should be razed out and abolished: How shall the Church of God have Kings for their nursing Fathers, and Queens for their nursing Mothers.  
But besides these Scriptures, reason itself will tell us, that it is more safe for the people to enjoy a Government invested rather in one person then in a multitude of men; for a Nation may very fitly be compared to a private Family, consisting of many Servants; which can never be well ordered, wherein there are many Masters: for, if according to the words of our Saviour, no Servant can well serve two Masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other: How then can he serve more than twice two hundred. Amongst many there may be much division, in one there can be but little, if any. In unity there is safety; in Division confusion. This is not a bare conjecture, or a supposed thing, many late years sad experience hath confirmed it for Truth. How prone men are to division, we need not ask; and how bitter the fruit of it is, we have been made to know by tasting the forbidden fruit: I mean by doing that in obedience to men, and their Ordinances which God hath expressly forbidden in his word. A Ship must needs sail in hazard and danger of being cast away, that hath many Pilots of equal Authority at the Helm, let the Mariners handle their Ropes as skilfully as they can, and the wind blow never so fair: Nor is there any real likelihood, that a sick person should be in safety or recover health that hath a multitude of Physicians about his sick bed. If England then would be healed of the Falling-sickness, and Convulsion Fits of Division: Let them apply to their stomaches the Leaf of a godly Christianlike, Ancient Government, and they shall be healed, or else never.   
Probatum est.  
FINIS.  
— Regúm est  
Parcere subjectis, & debellare superbos.  
Humanum est errare, sed diabolicum aest perseverare.