somehow knew that Cromwell and his adherents had been called by God to rid England, Scotland and Ireland of the Antichrist and to establish a new, utopian kingdom on earth where the saints, seated at the right hand of Jesus and called by Him, would organize themselves internally like a congregation and govern the commonwealth with or under Christ. Theologian John Owen, Cromwell’s chaplain during the Irish campaign, a divine he appointed Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University in 1652, presented this prophecy to Parliament in 1651. Owen told the MPs that Cromwell and his allies were up the “setting kingdom of Christ.” Their work was what God his people [to perform] in such a “call[ed] season.” Owen is not touting Erastian sentiments here; he is calling for theocracy. Bringing down mighty monarchy, a triumphing prelacy, [and a] thriving conformity” “a was part of God’s plan. it shall be,” Owen proclaimed. “So Men who challenged this prophetic account associated prophets like Owen with Cromwell, his followers and their actions. Conservative Presbyterians like Bastwick and Edwards denounced their prophecies using naturalist terms like vapor” and “mere “frothy windiness.” Their conservative religious view was that prophecies lacked authority. With the arrival of the Gospels, the age of prophecy (or at least prophecies were so was over rare and exceptional that Englishmen should not trust in them). Nevertheless, providential views thrived within the sects. Edwards explicitly stated prophesizing was a practice advanced by sectaries within the Independent party: (not the Presbyterians, they according to Edwards) demanded of Prophecying.” “liberty With respect to politics, Bastwick warned men that prophecies were making the soldiers in Cromwell’s army mad to the disordering of all things.” In an anonymous “run
somehow knew that Cromwell and his adherents had been called by God to rid England, Scotland and Ireland of the Antichrist and to establish a new, utopian kingdom on earth where the saints, seated at the right hand of Jesus and called by Him, would organize themselves internally like a congregation and govern the commonwealth with or under Christ. Theologian John Owen, Cromwell’s chaplain during the Irish campaign, a divine he appointed Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University in 1652, presented this prophecy to Parliament in 1651. Owen told the MPs that Cromwell and his allies were “setting up the kingdom of Christ.” Their work was what God “call[ed] his people [to perform] in such a season.” Owen is not touting Erastian sentiments here; he is calling for theocracy. Bringing down “a mighty monarchy, a triumphing prelacy, [and a] thriving conformity” was part of God’s plan. “So it shall be,” Owen proclaimed. Men who challenged this prophetic account associated prophets like Owen with Cromwell, his followers and their actions. Conservative Presbyterians like Bastwick and Edwards denounced their prophecies using naturalist terms like “mere vapor” and “frothy windiness.” Their conservative religious view was that prophecies lacked authority. With the arrival of the Gospels, the age of prophecy was over (or at least prophecies were so rare and exceptional that Englishmen should not trust in them). Nevertheless, providential views thrived within the sects. Edwards explicitly stated prophesizing was a practice advanced by sectaries within the Independent party: they (not the Presbyterians, according to Edwards) demanded “liberty of Prophecying.” With respect to politics, Bastwick warned men that prophecies were making the soldiers in Cromwell’s army “run mad to the disordering of all things.” In an anonymous
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