Cotton, John. An Exposition upon the Thirteenth chapter of the Revelation (1655)

1. Cotton, John. An Exposition upon the Thirteenth chapter of the Revelation (1655)

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Cotton, John. An Exposition upon the Thirteenth chapter of the Revelation (1655)

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TO

THE READER.

Chriftian Reader,

HE tongue of the juft, or righteous (/«/* Solomon-, Prov. 10.20.) is as choife filver.T^ words thatfallfrom the tongne offuch are very precious andprofi. table. And truly fuch are thewordstL A ■ u drffro" tongue andlips of this holy

mdrtghteous mm Mr. Cotton: As he himfdfehadby hi owne bleffed experience found the tongne of that rhhieom

"7S?kSt hs^C[oififf!ver^b^rthenthechom gold of O^xr, by whrcb the Lord was pkafed to convey heavenly and eternal!treafure into his fonle : KvtnCoalCo have many preciousfo»les(fom now above in glory othlrs ft,!! here belov) found the words that have diftilid fro*, hntongue tobe above much fine gold, and of n,ore weight and value then the greateft treafure of thk whole wofld. Divers that are yet alive, and do regain unto this preRnt may & can bear witnfe to the gracious words which pro'mdedout ofhts moutf. But I fullcrave leave to xaJonly one now amongji the Saints at reft, who was indeed one ofathoufandtn his tme and place, viz. that mat andemimntman, Dr. Prefton, whofe heart the Lord wrought Vo*crfitfyupo»pthetongHeofMr. Cotton, and that not longafhr bts hem had been feized upon by the tongue of

that

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To The Reader.

■ that fweet Singer before mentioned. And becaufe thefiory isfo remarkable, ifliaB be willing to relate inbriefe the fubfiance of what 1 had fometimes in private from the tongue, of this our Reverend Author himfilfe. He being according to his courfe to Preach before the Univerfity ejf Schollars in Cambridg, hadagreattonfliS m himfelft about the composing of hit Sermon , viz. whethr after the flam & prcfitMe waf3by ray fag ofDo&rlnes, with propounding tht Rcafons/ra^Ufes of the fame* Or after the mode of the Univerficy at that time3 which was toftuffe and fill their Sermons with as much Quotation and citing of Authors as might ppjfibly be.. On the one fide 'twasfuggejied to him, that if he fhould not fo the former way,, he fhould not be faithful! to the Lord in feehjnghis glory', but his owne, &c, And on the other fide3 if he Jhould notfhew bis Learning, if would not onely be a disparagement unto himfelfe^ but alfoupfo the.CoUedg which hddfo lately chofen him out of another'to.be Fellow ( for he was cbofen Fellow/a Emanuel Colledg out of Trinity, where according to his yeare it fell out fa as he could not be capable of a fellow(hip) Wh*t £ is this that Cotton that wasfb famous, andbadfucbaname,fbragreatScholtarJ what a poqrechoifebathEfnaabel Colledg made .<? Thuskewas teffed tooandagaine,. pro and con in his thoughW( as I ihinhg he fay d ) about a fortnight, the Lordfeeming to try bisfincerity at the firjis) but at length be came to a refaction to deny bimfilfe, what ever the world might judge or fay of him : His Text (ifl miflake not) being in 2 Cor.2. * 16. And who is fufficient for thefe things ? Two or threeDoflrines (/fsitfeems) he raifed from the words. The Schollars came generally with greatexpetidtion to he are a' more then ordinary learned Sermon from him that was Jo famous throughout the Univerfity -.and thertupon the Mam

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To The Reader.

fiers ofArt at the beginning flood up, ereftis auribus 4. mongn ahom Mr. Prefton was one'', but foone perceiving which vDny he went, which was fo extreamely contrary to their expcUation, they fate them downe in great difcontcnt pulling their hats ovtr their eyes3 thereby to exprefje their diflike of the Sermon', but before'twas ended Something droptfrom the tongue of the Preacher, which the Lord made unto Mr. Prefton to be as choifefilver indeed ; whereby hce Trasfo affetted, that he was made toflandup againe, and change his poflure, and attend to what wasfpoh$n3 in another manner then he and the refi had done. Thefe things Mr. Prefton afterward,getting to be acquainted with Mr* Cotton (by coming to him under pretence of borrowing 4 Bookeofhim,which he might have eafilyhad elfmbere & returning it againe) related particularly unto him.

Thus our Reverend Author by denying himfelfe for the Lord,kadthatcaftinupenhim (viz. the gaining offucb an eminent perfon to chrifi) which was a thoufand times . better then the airy apphufe of the worldjn being accounted a learned man : Tet neither did he loofe that way' but had the repute of that tod ( and not without caufe) to his dying day; notwitbftandinghiscontinuall care to avoydatl ap. pearance ofaffeSation-in the courfe of his Miniflry, either in regard offl)ew'mgLearning3 dr in the manner ofexpreffing what he did deliver: whereby the power and effeU of his Preaching did appear to be wholly of God, being defir out tofpeak, to the undcrftanding and capacity even of the meanest, and by mamfefiation of the Truth, to commend himfelfe to every mans confidence in the fight of God 3 A tafie whereof we have in thefe Sermons of his here publifted.

It were too great arrogance for mee to thinly to adde any authority to thefe or any other of his precitus labours by my commendation of them, I might as well go about to adde to

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tbe liepl oftbe Swme by my Candle ; 'I be very name of Cotton it e* ncughtojetanbigb price upon what ever bath that iU>up -. Piety ( beingearntfllf defired by the ChrijU-jH brother, thepublijbsr oftbit Expufi ion, wbo bwing tbn pnofa ready Writer, did take tbo'fi Notes from tbe mouth of ibe Piocher, to give mj ttflimony to the world that tbefe were indeed ibe very Sermons of that bolySsrvmt of tbe Lord, wbofe name they Lectr) I (bill willingly offi m aud ttft'ftt ( having lived in that American wildernejfe ahut 13. or 14. yean* in tbe Jowne ntxt adjoyning to Bofton, and fo bad thereby tbe bappy priviledg of enjoying ibe benefit of ibe precim'labour7 ef Mr. ;.ottonF,i« bit LeQureupon every fifth<day in tbe week) I fay I do here declare and teftifieuito tbe world tbit theft Sermons upon tbe 13 th. Chapter of tbe Revelation, for tbe fubftance of them (givingallowancejarfucbdefettioftbeAmanvenfu, which cannot but beexpeQed ordinarily, aid yet I confeffe are but very few in tbU treatife ) werepublifbedby that faitbfull jervantof'the Lord, Mr. John Cotton, abm then, and n. monetbs (if I mijtake not) of tbe year, 1639. and tbefirfhandfecondoftbeyeare 1640. upon bit weekly Ledure at B -fton in New. Engl and, where be went ovtr tbe other Chapters of tbe Rtvthtloa, at be did tb'u thirteenth Chapter : and indeed they that were acquainted with hit Preaching, may eafily difcern bk very fpirh in tbem all along.

Now that tbe holjfpirit of tbe Lord may breath in tbefe holy La. hours of bkpreciout Servant, fo as tbe Reader msy experience tbe truth of that divine fenlence mentionedin the beginning, The tongue of the righteous ia ai choife filvtr, it tbe unfeigned defire of

Norwich, the 1. day of the 1. month, i6tf.

Thy fcrvanc " for J«rfus fake*

'Lbdmas Allen,

AN

.

AN

EXPOSITION

Upon the thirteenth Chapter of theREVELMOfiC.

Revel. 13. i,2.

Andlfiooduponthefandoftbe Sea, and fav a Be aft fife . up out oftbe Sea, having feven,heads, and tenne horns,

and upon bis horns ten Crowns, and upon his heads the

nameofblafphemy, Andthe Beafi which I faro was lily unto a Leo$ard,andhit'

feete were as the fhete of a Beatep and bis mouth as the .

mouth ofaLyon : and the Dragon gave him bis power,

andbisfeate, and great authority,

|OU have heard from the hi Chapter, that when the Dragon (that ia the Devil], a» hexuled tbeftotsta Pagan Empire) was caft downe cut of Heaven,(that!*, dethroned fromhii heavenly and Divine warfbip ) he endeavoured by all meant* to «pprefle *he Church (that ia^hearorstn )tfa«t brought fmba GhrinJahEitptrour, ••

herand her feed, x. By pvrfecutiaa. 4. By-minundation.

of dajnaabic HcrcAet) mi ihaxbaaoui Mtaam. a. fiy.upen :.;,*ii '* B v War;

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Chap. 13.

jtffl Exfofttion upon

V«ri.i,«.

War j which open war 11 expreil in the laft yerfe of the former Chapter, and here more fully defcribed in this Chapter, aj whereof hath been now read.

The warre which is made againft the Church, it here defcribed to be managed by two beafle which the peyUl raifed lipj One he callsa Baft riling up out ofthcSva, deiciib.d from (he firft verle to the end of t tie tenth. Anothc- B.-att hce beheld coming up out of the Eit th, from die 11*. verie to iheendoftbeCnapter. r . ., ^ ,--.- -<-.•

Npw the former of chefe Beafts Is defcribed by thrfcargumtnts. ••' J" . m

1. By hi* Originall or Fcuntain from whence he fpririgs ; he rifeth up out of the Sea, which is amplified by the place of J$bns beholding him; I flood upon the fond of the Sea.

2. He is defcribed by his (hape, here is his figure and refetnblance: For his bead, he had (even heads, and they amplified byhonourable Ornaments ( or rather. difhonourable indeed, but honourable in the beafts view ) namely upon his heads thenaracofblafphcmy, a. For his horns, he had ien horns, and ihcy arc fet forth by their Croqpns which he had on hit horns; He had fp many horns, fo many Crowns, upon his ten horns, ten Crowns. And as hi* (hape is fee forth by bis head and horns, (o alfo by his rrfembUnce, or likeneffe; the

' whole (hape or bulk of the Bean is like a Leopard : The Leopard is of the femenrae gender, and Ggnifies theftmale of the Panthers 5 the fhe Panther, fpotttd and ravenous, famous for her fpcedy face, and yet of a good Smell, by which (he allures other beafts to her, and as (he hath occafjon, doth devoure them. And as his refemblance for his whole.(hape is like a Leopard , fo for his feet he is like a Bear iAndW his mouthy he hath the mouth of a Lyon: This is the ltcond argument by which he is defcribed.

3. The third argument whereby he is defcribed i» hi* flat*, and thai amplified by three arguments. 1. B/ the efficient caofcr *. By the variable change ot it : And 3<y.by a wife conclunon and obfervation. For the efficient caufe d* It, it ia laid to be the Di-agon t he gave him his power and authority. For the variable change of it, it wa», 1. G>cac, for h bhue called, Ptfiwr, and State 9Md great Authority* ■'•'*, One of his " ■;••" ■ "' " fc«a&

Chap. 131 the thirteenth Chapter6fib* Revelation.

heads was wouudea j I faw one of bis beads as U were wounded u death. And thirdly, this wound was healed: this is the variable change of it. 1. Great authority, honourable fcate. 2. Wounded to death. And thirdly, healed of that deadly wound, And this healing is amplified by five Etfefts, or Conleguenis. Thcfnft was the worlds wondering :,All the world wondered after the Bea/i: The admiration was at this great change ( fo happily atchieved as they thought) that he (hould recover tha: delperate danger. The fecond «fftft it wrought wa<, worfbip both towards bimfdfe : And fecondly , to the Dragon that g*vt him power. The third effect of this healing was, liberty to blaffbtme: There was a month given him to (peakj> great things & bhfpbemies. A fourth effeft was, Authority and Tower (to do What >) Firft, To continue forty two monetbs, vert. 5. Secondly, Fower to makf warre with the Saints t and to overcome them, that w*s the fourth effift that followed his healing. The fifth effrit was amplitude, or largenefle of his Dominion: Fewer was gioenbim ever all Kindreds, Tongues, and Nations, verf. 7. And all that dwell upon ibe earth {bill wotfbip bint} verf. 8. Which worfhippers are defcribed by their eftrangement from the number of Gods elt ft , whofe names are not written in the book of the life of the Limb, and the Lamb fet forth b£ the etei nail efficacy of his deaih, £/aine from the foundation of'. the world. This is the fecond part of the deicription of the Balr.

The third part is acondufion, which contains a word of C.iuiioi>,and Confolation, or. a word of Attention and Confolation in the ninth and tenth vertes. If any man have eaxes to heart, let bimbeare ; as if it were a matter worthy of obfervation and diligent attention, and of «x»ft.nnderrt»nding and Of confolation, in the tenth verf. He tbatleadetb into captivity * fball.goe into captivity \ be that kfHetb with the fword, muft be kjt'ed with the {word, &a This is the former Beaft and hu defcriptibn.

The latter Beaft is in the eleventh verfe to the end: I beheld mother Beaft coming up out of the earth, &c. He is defcribed by bis variety from the formei be.ft : For hit Original, he comes not as the other Beaft out of the Sea, but from the E<nh : And for hit refemblance, he hath two horns like a Lamb, B 1 and

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Chap. 13.

An Exfofitton upon

Verf. i,a.

and be (pake lik a Dragon, i. He ii defcribtd by hit power, as in the twelfth verfcj but I will not .now fpeak further of him.

Now for the meaning of the words; It is that which the holy Ghpft calls us diligently to attend unto; He tbat bath tares to btare, let bim beare; If any man have an care to underhand , any apprehenfion of fpirituall myfteries, any capacity of matters ol Religion , let him heart what manner of beaft iheDcvill flirted up, and fetagainft the Church, to make war againft the Saint*, as if it were a matter that few would undcrfiand but fuch as were of fpirituall underfhnding, and u howill liften duly to a diligent obfervation of (hie deicription, the matter whereof it weighty, and cballengeth all our intentions; and the more, becaufe it is very rare to meet with thai which will fatisfie a diligent Reader in the Exposition hereof j But yet fo much light God cafts almoft into the head of every man that takes this Book in hand , efpecially in his name and feare ( according to his promife, Caf.1. verf 3. ) that he adds fome light more than hath been before brought to bis hand. Here you fee are two Beads, what is the former? Many take it to be the Roman Empire, fome take it to be the Roman Pagan, fome the Roman Chriftian Empire, but I feare neither of them are right: kit not the Roman Papan Empire, that is, take the Empire as it wat before the convert?on of Rome from Pagan to Ghriflian, in the dayes of 1ybemst and other perfecuting Empcrours, till Conftantine: This Beaft was not the Roman Pagan Empire, 1 will give you a double rcafun from the Text, the firft is this.

1. The Pagan Empire was defcribtd as this Beaft is, in He v. 12.3. Behold a gr«r red Dragon, having feven beadi and term boms i but with tbis difference, Ibe [even beads bad feven Crowusifon tbth beadi; Now tbis Beaft hath alfo feven heads, which make it like the other, but theft Crowns are not upon the heads, but upon the horns, which matcth a great differencf , an evident figne it is not the Roman Pagan Empire.

2. Againe, it is faidof this Beaft, that he continues 42. nonctbs, and that is as long as the Church was in the wilderntfle; for the Church continues in the wildernefft ( as in tbaf. 12,6.) atboHJmd twt hundred and tbree-fme daytt, which is

_ juft

L

Chap. 13. tbe thirteenth Cbdpter oftbt Revelation.

hilUa. tnbmtns: Andl'o Chap. 11. i. It is Md.Tfaeholy City tbtyfbaV tread under foot forty mo months t alltbetme that tbe twomtneffisprctbtcyedtn (ackfloatbt which wat a ibonjand, two hundred and threefcoredayes. Now it is certain the Roman Pa- . can Empire did not continue as long as the Church was in the wilderneffe * for the Church went not into the wilderness till the Pagan Empire ceafed to bt Pagan, and was translated to Chriftian. Now the Roman P^gan Empite was removtd , as by a great E >rth- quake in Confaniiiies time, and changed from Pagan to Chritiian; it cannot therefore be the Roman Pagan Empire, though many judicious Divines have gone

'that way.

What then, may it be the Chriftian Empire {Mmy have . run that way, but neither is it fo:

1. Foritlsfaid, ibU Dragon gave to bim bit power, bit Jeate, tfnrfcredtrfWfcorifj ;now the feat of the Roman pagan Empire , indeed was Rome, but the Dragon did not give the Chrlftian Emperors Rome for their Seat, ttuy would never fit there * but thele fate at ConftMincfle, and prepared it to lit there, and for that end Conflantine named it after hHDMhtConfla»tin»ple j and if they had occafion to come into the Wtfttrn parts of JM/y, they would ii: at Ravenna, but at Rome tbey would not come, unlefle it were Gueft-wife.

t. Though it be true, as they fay, the Roman Chnftian Emperour had a deadly wound given him by bfrbroui Nf> tlons i yet when it was healed, the whole world did n«t admire him : When Chirla the great did heale the wound, yee all the world did not v. order after him } It is true, Trance* and Germany, and Italy did 2dmire him, but all the EafNrft carts did not fubmit to him, no nor England, not Scotland, nor Sweden, nor many other parts, they did not acknowledg the W.ftern Emperour, gave him neither civill nor religi

°U\ "Neither doth this fuffer it to be the Roman Chriftian Empire, that it mould bt a note cf perdition a«d reprobation to honour the Roman ChriftranEroperours i for they that have lived under the Roman Chriftian Emperour , have not hazarded their falvatlon by that fusion r bur here it is raid in the eighth verfe, that they that honour this bctft are fuch*

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Cbap. 13.

An Extofuimufon

Veri.

wbofe names are not written in the books 0} the life of the Lambe: Sothatforthefereafonsl dare not lo conceive this Baft to fce either Roman Pagan, or Roman Chriflian Empire. ,

Wbattben,iskAntichrift? The third fort oHnterpreters run that way, and I would not exclude that wholly , buc yet neither dare 1 confent to reft in ie $ for when we open the Orscleiof God, wemuft not alwayes give the Comments and Judgment! of men for Scripture truthi (though the men be highly to be reverenced:) But in this place their Interpretation doth not fatisfie me, I will give my reafon j Antichrift doth evidently appeare to be the other Beaft that cornea ouii of the Earth, which is fayd to have tm borneslike a Lamb, &c.

You may fay, but Antichi ift may be more wayes conndertd then one, as he is invtfled with temporallfoveraignty and dominion, and fo he may be the former beaft : and as be is Invtfrd with fpiritual fuprtmacy.and fo be may be thtlatter Beaft; and indeed fo, many Interpreters take it: but confiderthefe defections. -.,..,, , . ., .

i. They differ in number 5 John fattb, I fawn beaft rife out o/»fceSed;andthenitisfaidint;er/. 11. I Beheld another haft-, il is not therefortthe fame.

3. They differ, as in number, fo in their originall j thefirft rofe out of the fea, the fecond out of the earth.

3. They differ in their (hape; the firft beaft bad ten btrnt, the fecond bad but two horns like * Lamb.

4-They differ (and are apparently diftinguiftied in the exercile of their power, for he txercifeth all the power of the fir*} Beaft in his prefence: And it is faid alfo in the 12 th. verf. Ueeaufetbtbe ear lb andtbem that dwell therein to worfbif the fir ft beaft: and be caufttb tfcrro tomakf an image of tbe firft beaft, and be bad Dower to gve life to the image of the beaft, &c. S j that the defcripiion l'eemi to be different; The fecond beaft gives all his power to thefirft, and yet honours himfelfe too.

But that which moft of all prevailts with me, and which wholly captivausThy Judgment to leane another way,i» this, That whereas they fay the firft beaft was the Pope, as Vominus in JemporalibHt, as Lord in Temporalis; and the fecond be»ft Hth Pope,aiheisDom/flH/i»Sf,iri»Ha/iJjtf. It is evident that the Pope did not iuveft himfelfe with teroporall authority at

'the

Chap. 13. the tbirteentbCbafttr of the Revelation.

the firft: But at firft claimed fpirituall and univerialt EpilcoMCV, over.fkht over all the Churches jhe was firft mpream head of ih.-Church in his fpintuall Jurifdiaion, and did not elaimedomu.icm i" Temporalis till after his wound w" healed: and (hen he took ,-ower, to depote the Emperour of the Eaft, and tra.fl.ed hi. Empire from Greece to Fmte, ttai u*s bis D.-miuion in earthly Monarchies which he toot in the latter*!**: Andth«ttoie I wouidratber fay, that the fecond beitt is the P„peinboth rcfpedi1, as Lord /ndbove'Jlten, high Pad* in Spiritu.ll. , and the high Pr.tft alio ole the K „«• of the world in Temporalis: Hee bad two homes Ike a Lamb * a, the fuccttTcr of Pefer, and a. i> he had noihing bu. iron* Ch,ift, Jut b, [fake like a Drapo, When he had on riowerby hii Limb-like burnt, fce then ifa^e like" dragon Therefore to fpeak that which 1 conceive to be tne truth, I do look at thitfirft beaft a. indeed of lib: condmon with the Pope, and very nearly joyned to him. The Pope,, one of h heTdsandrukriofthU B«ft,but yet d.ftingmfoed from the beaft it lelfe, and it not the fame with the beaft. . .

This therefore (all things weighed according lo the Text) Iconceivetobe thefi.ft beaft, the Roman Caiholick filibU >

CTheCfeven h«d« and ten horn, are a clear defcriptioh of the , Re^ Roman State: Now this State here is neither the Pagan Roman Empire, northeChriftian Roman Empire, ■■*«"*» fhewed And therefore it muft needs be a third Roma^State diftina from the former , and fucceeding "j *•"*:▼«*} Jnd what is that but .he Roman Citholicke wlfabU: Qhurch I Of thil Church the Pope is the head both as univerfall Blftiop over a" Churches, and chiefly Lord in Temporalis, that had bothSwords, and obtained both Authorities, to be hlgheft

rails, he was Soveraign Governour in all: And the Romancatholick vifible Church, it comes ,uft in the room of the RoSan Empire; how wash defcribed , The beaft that had feven heads, and ten horns, this comes in his room i tinr one goJ"n a 1 the worldin'hi. way, and the other all the Churches Inoth«way: This is the Beaft that thr Drawn Ihripp^o . ^keW«withth«S.ia«. Now to aPPPly tjui otfcwpaon

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Chap. 13.

~£i~ExfoJiiun IjpbnT

Vert 17*;

te this Ghuicb, for the better understanding of the Text.

Qj: I /«*> d if aft rife out of tbe Sea: 3 You may aske what la the Sea troro whence this bead arifeth ?

Anfw* the Sea is the collection of many Waters J Ibigatbtringtegetber oftbe waters called be Seas, Gen. 1. 9,10. And what are the waters llbe waters which thou faw< ft are People, and Nation/) and Languages,audTotiguest&.vt.\ j. 15. So then, what is the beaft here that arifeth out 01 the Sea ? ft is fome foveraign State that arifeth out of tbe connexion of many Nations into one body , as you know the Roman Catholick Church is not confined within the lifts of the City of Romet (though there the head is fated ) but the whole Roman Sea 5 it is well called a Stain thatrefp^ft, it is that Which comprehends all Nations, whether fubj: ft to thcEiftern orWeflcrn Eaiperour 5 yea and other Nations that did nor fubmit themfelves to the one or other, as if they did recolle&themfelves as into one Sea, all bmks are broken down in the Sea, yet there is no diftinftion, but all is one Sea, one vail body : And fuch is the Roman Catholick vifible Church, all partitions aft here broken downe, all Churches make but one vifible Catholick Churcb.

And again, it is well faid to arife out of the Sea, according to the like description which t>ankl makes of the foure Monarch!, in Van. j.Heefaw tbe fourewindes of heaven ftriveufoa tbe great Sea, andfoureBeafts came up from tbe fea, divert otte from another: From the multiply ed agitations of the Sea it came topes four great Monarchs did arife: Juft thus, from the tumuli particular Churches did this Beaft arife j for when they eojojd not agree in the Churches, but fome were of one minde, fome of another, it waa the wifdorn, as they thought^ of Chriftian Princes and Bi(hops (but it wai but humane wifdon.e, and was indeed from the Dragon, a"nd not from Chrj(l)ihey thought it would be befttohavebut one church, and tbe Bifhop of Rome to be the head,thpugh at fir ft they divided theta to f©or,but in the end they would have theBKhbp of Rome overall, that fo they might have unity; for they fry unity fprings from one head j and unlelfe you have ome head^yeucannothaveunuy : Therefore, from the particular Church of* Gcttgr«g«ion,clwy camctbDiocefati, fromDi

oCefin

CKapTijV" ibetbirltemhCbapitroftbe Revelation.

oceTan, to Metropolitan 5 from Metropolitan to Patriarchal, from Patriarchal to Cecumenical: And fo it comeSjto p4fs,all Churches rouftbegatheredintooqe Sea, that is, one Catholick Church: For look what reafon they had to fet Bifhops 0vtr particular Churches:So having many Bifhc ps,by the fame rtafon they muft have fome Metropolitan, and of many Metrapolitans, foure or five Patriarchs, and of them one Chief, that is the Pope, the Father of Fathers, he muft be the grand Governour of all: Therefore doth he rife out of the Sea, out of the Sea of Tumult, and Sea of. Contention: And if you take Sea for corruption in Doctrine, and worfhip, and Government ( as fome good Interpreters do ) it wai from thence alfo that thisbeaft did arife; This beaft did arife out of them all j forbad either pure Doftrine, or" worfhip, or Difcipline been well looked unto, it had not been pofliblc thatfucba beaft as the Catholick vifible.P.oman Church fhould have bin raifed up.

It if further defcribed to have fevtn beads, and ten horns:"] Tht h'oly Ghoft defcribes them fo fully, that we need no furtherinterpreratibn of them: He tells us in the 17. Chapter of this"bock, the ninth and tenth verfes; The feven heads are feven Mountainti on <v hicb the Woman fitteth, which are the motint»incsof:hcCity of Rome, it is built upon feven billr, and the feven heads are alio t'even Kings, that is, feven Kingly * governments, foveraign governments : The fit ft were Kings, thenConfuls, then D'ctmvirig, then Dictators, then Tribunes ( and then the CtCars: Five were fallen, that is, were paft \n John's time, the flxch were then extant, atfttthey were thtG<e/ar/; the Pope he makes the feventh : Now the Pope thenisthefeventhofthefe Heads, but the feventh head and the beaft are two diftinft things, though he be"one that rules the beaft, and bath a great influence in the guiding of ic: Hee' was to receive a deadly wound, and after became an eighth > bead, whereas be was but one of the feven: So that he is one; of the Heads, but there is difference between the head and the beaft, and the beaft it felfc: And it is faid , He exercifetb all tbe power of tbe firft Beaft; that in conclufipa, what tbe Pope decreet, thai (lands: So thelitis not a generall Counccli that deteftnines any tbipg authentically without him)but he doth ,

Iir«

k

io" Chap. 13.

An ExfefitioH upon

Verf.i, *.

all that the tiril Dealt doth $ Hce would have, the Caifaolick, Church honoured, but it it chat himfelfe may be honoured, as the Lord of the Church: So therefore for the heads j thefc axe the fevtn Heidi.

And for the Home?, he tells you they are fo many King*, which were not then rifen to Soveraighe Power, but John law it in a Myrtcry afore hand j But wh,en t.hU Beaft ariiith, chit Pontifcxmaximui, then ihty receive a Kingdoms at :he fame time, Chap. 17. 13. And the* feverall Kingdoms ihit thtn were broken off from the Roman Empire ( whereof Eng' land was one) they were fo miny Overall Kings that all gave their dominion to the Bsaft with one content, and fa were bis protectors, ver. 17. Th*y were bis Beauty and hii Strength^ the Homes arc to the Beaft : So it it r,rur, here it a great B«ift indeed, of avaft comprehenfioivhereisan uniyerftll vifiblt Church, and he hath feven Heads; tjbatis,"' Seven Hilles, there he fits, and feyen .Governmenfe; Jhefc are feveh Heads, both of the one and other, both tfilhjaud Governments, whereof five were fallen, and the fjixth raj.'. whsn Jabn wrote: The feventh was to rife inxheir rootnw, and that if, Hetfot baibtwo Hornet % a Lambe, and fake %d Dragon, anddctbexerciJeaBtbe Powerof the fit $ J(£/j ; what power is in the Church, the tope haih the ordejiing thereof4 And it is faid here, that theft Wrnes had! ten Crowns, but foh*d not the Homes of Pagan %ome. The heads of Pagan Romehad foveraign Authority., andHyeci" like Princes, but fo bad not the Pope, they did no* wear the Crowns thtbghtbey affect temporal! dominion, butte,ave: tacCrownMo the borate, leave them to Cfrowwd Kingsthat give their power to him.

Nov upon tbefe Heads are mimes ofB/^iefty.T The old High-Prieft of the Jemjb Synagogue he had a piajeof pure Gold,andth«re was^raven upon it, tolliKfslo#e£o>i,Epqd.. 28.3^37. Thi* ®»*!»Ano*;lKlBwWip4e"i>w^ bat nameaofWrfplieray,theFdntifexmaxim$ Hit beadisiulM ntmct«jWa%h«ny} -Buttne Pope excelsa^in.t|l«vOi&* «q" whoever took opon him at be to pardon Sjnhe> Anameof BWphemy 4 To be Judge of Scriptures. i hitpe o£J&&> plumy it flee -oath many c^ »«nf» oTWifpheray 76

will

momm***"*

Chap. 13. tbetbirteentbCbapieroftht Revelation.

■Mb

wmmm

.

will dilpence with Oaths of allcgeance,and all civil fubjeftion;he wilt difpencewith marriages moffinceftuons, anddotb exalt bimfelf above all thai it tailed Gorf, efpedaily the Gods of tht Birth. H>s hetds are full of names of Blalphemy (as wc

; fhall come to fpeak God willing, in the 5 and 6 verfes.)

Now it is faid of this Bead, be it H\e a (bte Leopard^ 1 hit in the 17 Chap, compared to a woman, to (hew, that the Roman catholick vifible Church is as fitly refembled by a woman as a (he Panther,& fueh'is this B«ft:Cd» a Leopard change hisfpott, jer. 13.23. Ishnota State full of fpots, and the fpotsarenotthefpotsof Gods-people, but fpots of berifie, and fpots of Idolatry, & fpots of Tyranny, and great Variety of all fpotsof Blafphemy : To tell the fpots of that Sea, were ineeed to enter into a Siaof wickednefle, which that Church abounds withall. Can a Leopard change bii fpots j This church they make account cannot erre, & fo how fhould they change ? for they that cannot erre, to what purpoft fhould they changer yet of a very fweet & fragrmi fmel,as they they perfume their Temples with incenfe,and love to pfeafe ambitious minds, and to fill covetous hearrsjthey are fweet alfo, and faire to voluptoui fpirits,with their Brothel houfes,~&c. - But for the Leopard, Bear, and Lyon, I fnppofe there is fpeciall reference to them all, in Vats.7.4,5,6. where he refembles the Monarch otBabell to a Lyon, and the Monarch of Perjia to a Bftr, and the Mon arch of Greece to a Leopard : There the Leopard h the laft of the three,here it is the fir ft,to

„fhew a direft contrary courfe that this Bead takes in his rife to the old Monarchies. Ofthegreat Monarchies, thefirft

. was a Lyon,full of magnanimity, the nexc was a Beare, full of cruelty, a Bear that devoures mucb flefh, and the Leopard, thefpotted Beaft comes after, cruellas the former : Now here the Leopard is fitfl, the whole (hape is fweet and favoury i other beafts would follow him Dy the fmell •, and fo thischurchfeemesinthe wole bulk fweet and favorytoinveagleallunfUble Soules j But where he gets hold, he, lay es Us paw like a Beare, preffeth hard, and holds faft, and will not let goe; Juft like the Perfian State, they hold faft ^ Never did any of the States laft fo long as the Papall State i -The /ftfyr/flnhfled.lopebutyet didnotcontinue above a thoufand ;* C » yeates

U

13

Chip. I j.

An Expofitim upon

Verf.i,».

yean j but this is to continue 1*60. dayes, that is,foma• nyyeares, in a great deal of Power and Authority » And therefore at by fubtilty he drawee others to him, fo them h«e holds faft, that it is marvellous bard to root out where he Kith got hold j you may cue offbii bead, aa.it js in England} but it it a wonder to fee whatpaines there is to have the Government of Chrift brought in, and of the Beaft call out: they will make fo many Statutes in Parliament, that you carl have no will* confirmed, nor Marriages made, but by,them, nor no Parlimcnts Ada paflc but through their hands % you haveibmany matters in the State depending on them, that one $5uld think it impofllble ever to root them out : you may take off the Beafi his head; you may thrufl the Leopaid oat at window?,but he will take hold with his feet, that you (hall have much ado to root him out: The great piofits,and great preferments they fink deep in the hearts of carnall men And be batbt mouth lik? tttyn."] How did the Lyon of B<xbeO fpeak prefumptuoufly j what GoditabletodtlroeryouoHtof the fire) furnace? &c and he commands all that will not woi (hip his Image (hould be eaft into the fyery furnace: Tuft fuch is the mouth of this Bead j who fo will not worihip the Image of this Beaft (hall be kil!ed,in the 15 v. of this chapter. So you fee this is the Roman Catholick Vifible church.

Anitbe Vragongcve ibkebweb power.'] All that tbtRoman Emperor could doehefore, that doth the Qaholick churcbj that wch the old Roman Emperor did.by force of arms, that doth the Roman Church by the power of Religion and con. fcfence: Ibi Vragongave ban bit fwer, and Seat, andgreat A\* tborUji And Satan will worke by the ppwer of confeieoce makingthem believe that all mufl be fubj< a to them • He gave tbembit Seat: what was the Scat of the old-Roman Emperor* It was Rome, Satan gave that to the 6>aft> There is his Seat, and great Authority, infomuch that all the world were deeply taken with the reverence they owe as to the 1W perial mother CityjSo to this foveraign mother Church, & ^IrhoIyFatherthePopethat was the head of thai Church: This is the plain defcription of this firft Br aft. 1 canot pro ceednow to open the wounding of one of the heads ofthlt wait, nor of the healing of that wound» norojFhiswarr*

.^1 w LPvin.T^^^^^iBl-wv^vi^n^Bfmn^^pm^napwn

Chap*'13. tbeibhHeWCbaptereftb^KettUtion,\ *.■■<•)

»3

againft the Saints: 1 am the longer In tbis,bccaulc the more clearly, thefe things arc opericd,the more fully will the couafell of the holy Ghoftappearln the fc quell. If any matt have earestotxare.letbitn-beare j doe not thinks that thefe things concern Students onely, and-Scollars j But Whatis this to common chriflians.f He that bub aneare, letbhnbearevbit the belyGkojl faith : It is the fame charge which be gave concerntflgihe Epiittes which were common to all cburcbts; If any mm have an earelet him bear what ibeSpirit faith-unto the Chmbetx Tbofegeneralldoctrines neceflary forall Chriftiam tosnderftand, the fame charge is laid upon all toheare what is fpoken concerning this beaft ; If thou underj§|ndeft Religion,if thou wouldftbf,orart a member of a Churchliof Chrift know 1 his point-, If any man have an ear let tfimbear tbk. But )iU w'M fayjome.'fhaU we msk? H an Article of our Creed to ' ttlitve the. Catholic^ Church; and (ball we now make U an Article of Faith to belerve it to be a M»»/fer / I betitvs the holy Catholic^

Church, andfballrremike'taBeoft? '

To this 1 anfwer j The holy Catfoolick-GbBrch we make it ail Articleof our Creed, that is, a company of the Godly called out of the woTld ; we look at them all as thofe for whom Chrift (hed his bloud : But wemuftnotlookat ijiis as a vifible Catholick Church,much lefle the Roman Church as the Catholick Church: we beUcvclthc GatholicltChurch isinvifible; we iwlitve no vifible Church, but Congregate ons $ and therefore if you come to heare of a Roman Catholick vifible Church, whereof the Pope is the head > and who takes upon him all this Soveraignty and power here defcribfd, we look at fuch a body as a great rV.aft: Communion of Saints wee acknowledge,. and that all the Churches oi Chrift have one and the fame power atnopgft thenr t. The Church of this Congregation hath power within icfelfeequall to what others have, and none have power one over a» nother ! None of us are like Leopards to other beafti, perfumed to draw other beafls after us, and then like Beam to clafp them in tabe fubjtft to this Church, 8c then (peak like Lyons, that all mill be fur ject to' our commands : This is a Beaft, and this isno GatholickChuch $ This is a Gatholickr. Church of the Devill, but not of Chrift* Thus have you the. two firft verfes opened unto you* Come

*i£ ehap* "J*

w,

Red/on.

.• ■> PM; fxfa^{M:§f»n

Come we now to gather O0« brieve note irom the words17 • 3(beti/IWe<i;atfco/(C^«ao«Wt!0!»«rf/jtf in the ifam of the holy (foft*wqrfr6MtBttpt ibKltihefiQtt. '>;•..• Tifacitis iihe'bejftJicredifcr&ed, you haveheard. .it, opened; Sonic Roman Sum it muft he, and you have heard jt can neither be RaflgfrPagaii-, nor Jtotoe-GhriilUQ : Itmuft therefore be the Roman Church; for it i» described by fey<n Jbeadi, andien horns, which arc the Arms of Awe} u tbgy juxdefcribrd inthe Rtvelatiotu.

That ids'in the eyes of the holy Ghoft a monftroua beaft is h«r<«ident5 for imagine a beaft fet before you with feven Jiflac£fend ten horns, would it not freoiamonfter, andunnaturall .) that it fliould look like a Leopard, all fpottei and ■ftetelikf aSeare t and look atbii mouth , mi that's like a Ly»», is dot this a monfter r to fay nothing of bis Mafphemies, which makea him a wicked beaft: hut look at his vifage which UhertoFeftmhkd^and what is hare deciphered but a monfter? It holds forth his defcripcion in oiher placet, inXfttf*. <§cV ia..- Tbere'ciak forth three unclean ffurhsoni of the mouth of |*eDrti«*(that iithr DcvM) andmoflbemmbof the Beaft. &m»ftblmoutb»f'tbefdfe Fropbet. And you fliallalfo read, that th» beaft Was taken, and with him the falfe Prophet, theft were two (till, they could not be made one, Ktv. 10. ad. "Motility rHi* both cap atiw into a Ukfefjlie butting jvitb toimfhne, bodithe thefirtt beaftandthelatterbeaft, 'the beaft and the fcNePfdphes: tit likf aLaatbtomts in (beeps (loathing fotinifadfyiiamd.>tfk%mlftv . *

Now why 1i it fuch a moiaftroui beaft? ''•1fiQ«abd<tin*kfHcb.<rkinde of creature$a Leopard is ntmon. fhr j nw-iB Xetrejmr a Lyon-; Sutifyou makea Beaft of all the fa, tbatvlUtea nUnfler, that is contrary to the courfe of nature, clean befidetteordikattyemft0/naturollgeneration, thatmkfii atbit* moiifrout, this then U the reafin of the pint.

Abraflingendrcd againft the courle of nature, that fifa m4nftS'^ elprcially if there be To many uncouth ftuperef 5•»«{» compoftd; And itisnot fo with thb univerfaJ! GathdficftyifibltChurch? Doe but confide* whstkiude of . Chore* the Lord infthut ed, the Church of a particular eonl gregatfc»; Ifthy(brothertTeftafci&i»jtlke, gK<mitellkimbk

™**mmmmm

*^*r*

Obap.13. the thirteenth Chapter offbe Revelation; "■ * \

fault between thee and him^kc.tfbewiltmtb'tfrfheej tote wft'jbf: tbeeonebrtttomore.-See. IfbepallmgkSiobegfe'thml till if UtbeCbwlbjliliit. 18.. 1*, 16,17^.18. What^ theXa^oIickvt'] fiblc Church, when will that meet ihihS you f And Is it ever' tobeixpefttdthnwhen they do meet, that eycrytirothM of this cQunrjey and pthercountreys rbuftgoto jtyne, and tell ihtTrefpanesof htj.oroiheragainfthfin , ind'ffhd for thpfe that,have o{Ftnde4 him, andthus aridihusjjjeadwith'tjiprn'? And when doyen*chink cfjata'Catbolick Church' wilt heile' allp5enceibetwten breihrcn? Will ;no,t. th'irbs "a mdnftrpus beaft when the Camol'ck Glhurch mufthea^aridreti^te'bf-' fences £ ThatChurch which Chrifthath ordained wulTleiire' the offences of brethren ,-and a" brother hath liberty '& tell hU offence to the Church j and;,at length' the matter wi\l'be. brought toan iflue, wHen they tney have two witn,e^e«; then

nour$ of the world* "Agfihj you reatdin 1G0r.14.a3. When the vohj^le C^rcfc^ifaithi the Ajpoftle ) (ball cyme together into one}iacei$f.c. The Church thereforewhichtheApoftltsinftituted rnay be: gathered into, one place, thufaHmay bettre], driddlmay bt'edefie^': 'VVhy., Hit p'olfi6|e chw a'HChufchcj fliould be githered: into.pneplape ? or (Houlda'H h.eare if they were gathered V or w|Il they j>e ever fb gathered? whit a wondrpus.beafttoHlibhvbeTf # * .' ' ' ; Againe? w'he.reas Chrift hith faid,: bit Kitjgdimitmiof ibis *drW, arid hafh appointed ro;hi*'Dlftipfen thai tfieyfbUild not beLordi over Gods/berhage, 1 Pet.^'lj/ahq mMat.'ibfirbm123. toab;. -It pill rioiie fo drkohiytUJ ButT^ofotver jpilfbejfedt a? mngyoHi let bm'feyom 'Mmfter: anklet every fiule befibufl to the o^tborityofibehiglterpmeTSi Well now', 'tfthtrii'muftbt'a CitholtdrChdrerV/aha ahOrH:er thatmlQlQumtl'Nfttfotfii* ahd th,atfn foin,irny Natlions with SpfA^aHi'Tenlperirt; DPmlfiioh,c|firryaH'oeTdfe^im j^wlH-Itndf be aMonfterl Whatadifproporixonis'tMs to the (Aurc^^GhrHlja^dto the^fBcerk iht^fl ^NottdVpeiir of'thtiP'olhe^moHftroub

Jifiohf'oTcn*hea»SPcHfi Cmlrdh? kiH&c^be^yW

rr*mmmoi*&^yr

*sm

T6 ~Xh"ap. i%.

An lEfcfofiAw iftn ^

WV

%,

Vfe i.

Vjet.

it is, how tbey fpeak Jikc a Lyon,and hold fa(t. when they get like *B*arer,a{i4 are fppttcd l$e a Leopard, that they aire nqtbfngbiufcpjwhgpjq^ai)dinipgl*-ibangle iff,'inyxnun liwt Huderflwtinfaletbim fytderftahd what kind of Church thii is that ii t,hu8 deciphered, and described, this- viable C'uholickCburcb. For the Ufe.

Itmay fiift teach us the great and juft reafon which all Pro-! teftarit Charches have to with-draw themfelv.es from the fel* lb^ftip of the Church of Rome,kom the Catholick vifible Roman Church, though they look at thofe that fubmit not,, tothjmjiSchifraaticki and Hereticks; I pray you confider! woulefthey have us. fubmit to this great beaft? would they! haye the Lambs of Chrift (fPr fUch a™ rt»<? Churches of! Cbrift ) to fubmit to a Lyon, Beare, or Leopard > Hath any• Lamb in the world ( much lefle a Lamb of Chrift ) (o tnany \ Heads and Horiu, and fuch fpots , and fuch feet, and fuch a mouth^ Therefore, I pray you confider, it is not tine Cor the Lambs of Chrift, and for all the Churches of Chrift to nye' offjfrom this Monfter, and to abandon them utterly , a,» having no part nor portion with fuch a beafim this *

Secondly, let this be another life j it may teach ushonr Chriffian Proteftant Churches wrong rhemfelves that leave, any fpptfteps of this government in thtir Caurcheg: For' that', it pari of the image of trie beaft $ for the fecond bead, when he was advanced, he would have an image of the fi, ft beaft, they muft have Provincialland Diocefan Churches, and National Churches^and carry I know not how many hundred congregations* in to one National 1 Church, and there muft be' iomt Pjpcifan and Metropolitan church, and the reft muft be. inferioup to that; f hqugh, this be not fo great a monfter at' the great Beaft, yet; it is^ image of thjs peaft* cap anjr bro-. ther telrhisi offence.to fuch a church ? And will you have hira, ftayjill the whpjfe Nadonalchurch meets i Or will you have. h.ffil 9w^M!f»sP»P^f?r» churph mwts, and carry, his orient <m*o theJYifijwtlpnJ. Oo you tbink they; will right his c»ufe •henfr ArM.fcwfoqbk.irjd of rncn, the Chancellor, and Rcgiflervand^rrpgate,and Apparitor, dp you thinkthejehurcb. #*< WMfyffl. $ id* pi, ull i-) Art j$e(e tftey^at aj* gafhe-.

i\ /era

m^^^^a^m^i

XftSp.Yj. ' "tti'ffiTtpiritbCbqterofjbeRevelation.

■ ■••■'-■'•■ -

'am

ferve tbe Lcrd Je fa arid niLibeiTovne bellies? I fay therefore, you may fee what great reafon men have, to with-draw from fubjeaion in fpirituall matters to the Image of thil great* beaft that in fome meafure reprefenc the fame fine as they.

Thirdly, let it be a feafonablc advertifemtnt to all fif I were to fpeak to Princes) to all Princes, but however to all fflagiftrates, how to make ufe of their Authority to be as Protcftors of the Church, & in refpeft of their fpirituall rftate, as children of the church , but not to give the horns to the church (though horns be for beauty andftrength :) you fee itmakes the Church a monfter, and it is to make a beaft of the Church: And fa if you fhould make Church- OfficipjufticerofPeace, otCauncellors, or proftituteyour own Government to them, that if the Church condemn any , then you muft do fo top (as heretofore if a man were coridtmncd by the Church, and by them, delivered to the fecular power, then burn him prefently 0 this puts your Horns upon the Churches head, unto monftrpus deformity: And therefore it is neceffary for Magiftratea to keep their power in their o »ne hands, and not to take things Ipfo. faffo, from the Church, but to confider whit is done , and then they are to confirm whatthe Church doth according to God $ Here are ten hornr, and thefe are tenne Kings by the holy Ghofts interpretation, arid they addeto the monftroufneffe of this Beaft 3. by giving their power thereto.. Why, dothM» miftiape a Chriflia.n Church , for Magiftratea to fubmit their crownes to the Church? No, God forbid, it is an honour and happineffeto them, when Kings are nurfing Fathers to the church, and bpw down their faces to the earth, Ifa. 40.23. But why then doth he put ft as a part of the mpapen ftate of the Charch, thatithadf«j«efcor/iM,t6wit, btcaufe thefe Kings did give their ftrength and power to the Beaft, that the Beaft did aft thefe Horns acording to the power ofhisluft, as Cbtf. ij. v. if. as it was truly accomplilhed in all the Kings of Europe, that did fubmit all'th'eii- Scepters, and Thrones, and Growni, and Dignities to the Biftjpp of Rome j That if hee command this or that, theremuft be room for him, what ever becomes of Princes, Laws, and Endeavours, and all acts and enterprlferofWar, or Peace:" He had their horns on his head, he -•■_•• D " 'might.

»7

Vfe 3.

i 8 Chap. 13.

At Exfofitim ufon. Verf. 1,».

Vjt4r

might puft with chcm « he would: This made the Church a raonfter , when (ortriign power wai obnoxious to the Biinopof Rome, when without Excomunlcation, whether* caufe were of God or no,MagiftrateS proceeded, if the Church had cenfured: As a Bean that hath horn, on hit head, u he. tuf ns, fo muft the power of his horns be fet and put forth: If therefore theCatholicfc Church, or any Officer of itfljall condemn a man as an Hcretick, and then deliver him to the fecular power, they never difpute the caufe, butt-keitfor granted; U their holy mother Church condemn him, theSe«ktfow«muft^uft and cruft him tothe very Earth, and trample him under foot, and rend his bowel* from his body, if he oncebe delivered to them. Now this make, the church a beaft , that hath this power over the Prince* of <hc E.rth, that look what 11 their luft,. or their Ignorance, or their errour, and the contrary adjudged by them to beHerefic, that the Secular power muft mayntain the one, and condemn the other. - It it a comfortable thing for Churches 10 be ftrength

ned and prbtefted by clvill Magifc-ate, : But if they captivate their power to the Church, that what Church RuleVscall for not according .» the Word, b* their Luft,, that the civill Magiftrate muft confirm, that makes the Church a Beaft -And ibereforebe wife now 0 ye Kmgt> Be iojtrudedo ye Jttdzes of the 'ff.firvetbeU^Afeure^

5SSshi?Bn* * £lckihe.?.uft off tbe fe« of the church, difperffiDghiicounfell and will: Butwhenbyimplicite-obei

„25S'^mon-WM,tinufth«Pr<»ft"utetotheBeaft, it makel the Beaft more monftrous then it is .-The authority of

WJ5K1 maket fBCh ***'■tobe ~> ^

thankWnefle to God, that hath delivered us from this Monfler.bothourfathrr.^m this great beaft, and ourfeive,

thSS• Jmu°nl eh»Kk!'>Md fr<i» MetropolHtan &Cathohek vjfibl. Churches that are Images of this great beaft. You iraow now much the civill Uws of ChritTian Kingdom* <fo«fe«B4« mim$ Powers that if orw.ChmrcIt

worn

Turp^s"

Chap. 13. tie thirteenth Chapter of the Revelation.

— ■ 1

'excoinunicat a mao,you know the power of the Law,if once this or that court excomunicate a man, though it be but for not paying fees,when it may be he hath no money,or thinks it not lawfull to maintain them by his purfe: yea when he is excommunicate, it may be for going to hear a Sermon in another place, when he hath nothing but reading at home; or if a man faft with his neighbors in his houfe, then what power there is out of fuch a Court, civill Courts of Juflice confirrae, there comes a Significavit, thatifheftiaU live fo excommunicate : and if he continue and flay out a certain time, then the Common-wealth apprehends him, andnevethronfiders whether tbe caufe be juft or unjuft : I confefle there is ■ liberty to traverfe fuch a caufe; but if a man want money, or want friends, he may be taken and carryed to Prifon, and there he may lie andrott for any of thefe miflbaprn Clergy men : But I lay it is a great liberty tb be freed fronTthia great beaft, that he hath no finger amongft us, weareoutof his paw, and out of his fmell : It was a matter in queftioh here not long ago*, whether the Court mould not.take a courfe to puni(b fuch perfohs as flood excommunicate out of the Church, if they (hould (land long excommqnicate, but it was a good providence of God that fuch a thing was prevented : Let not any Court, Jpfo faB$, take things from the Church; If fuch a Law were made (the Fathers live not tor ever;) and if fuch a Law were once sflablilhcd, that a Cburch»member ftanding fo long excommunicated, the Common-wealth then ftwuld proceed againft him; were this eftablifhed, it would make a Beaft ot the Church | we are fubjeft to erre, and pur p< ferity that comet after us'may erre fit may be feared) Worfe -r It is therefore a mercy to be freed from thebeafl,from the paw of the Bear, and the mouth of the Lyon jit is fuch a mercy that they that got the vi&ory over thefe, they flood praifing God,. as Gbap. 15.1,1. The Lambs company that flood on mount Si on they (land and praifc, and wonder at the gracious hand of God in this cafe; And therefore we (hould in the fear of God be unfeignedly thabkfull to God (or our prefent liberties, and withall that we may be fo, Let bimtbatbatbtneare to heart) beared Ifyou be of Spirituall decerning 1 and know what thefe mercies D 2 mcane,

'P

fcSit

■p*

^■w

m^m^****%ms$$9m

||*ppmppiq|!!«^W!P

Chap. 13.

vih ixfofitian kpoti

Verf.1,2.

mean, you will be really thankfull 5 Therefore fteW this thanktujlnefie , not pntly in fearching the cme meaning of the Text,and the true nature of this bead defcribtd in iri tut alfo in ftanding faft in thefe great liberties wherewith Chrifl hath made ui free, Gal. 5.1.

You fliall have manypodrecteatures that came hither to this Country, and will be ready to go back againe, they lookeat thiogi at mean and poor here; bilkveir, fuch» man hath not atve|re, nor an eye open^ he knows not whether he goes : Htrgu,Sarahsm»id,whether goeftthou? faith the Lprd to her: And fo may I fay to fuel?, whether will you got V will you be gojie back againe to Eg)pt ( God forbid llhouldcouniallour Native Country as Egypt") but if you goe thither, you will have much adoe-to efcspe the paw of of the Bsar ; Ifyou be once incorporated into any of their Pidfiits, yoa will finde fuch beaftly Work in Church Government .( I may fpcakit without wrong to any, but that I may bear witnefle againft what is corrupt) that you will then finde the bh fling of thofe that enjoy liberty and piety together, you muft worflrip the beaft or the Image of the beaft 5 A Diocefan, or Nationall Church, is is but ah Image of the great beaft, It is a plain pattern of theTame $ and you will finde the body of the Church rent from you, oryoa will be rent from Uiebcdy,. ifyou (hall walk roundly and fincerely in the ways of God $ you will finde fad work to have yc ur own officers or others.to rife up againft you : but we have here caufc to praife God for our prefent liberties and therefore you are to be wary what you doe. If this be caufe^oJ ihankfulnefle, turn not againe to that from which the Lord by bis ftretched orjtartnc hash delivered you: And this Jet mefay further, as it may provoke us to thankfiilncfi, fo to forego all the Profits of this life, rather then to be drawn to fubjeftion to fuch a Spiritual! Government 5 you fee whattheftoly Ghoft counts it, feyen heads, ten horn,, heads ful of names of blafphemy, hornicrowned, and here Ma beaft like a Leopard, whhfcitlikea Bear; that all.thc Government of it looks like rapine and robbery, catching and fnatcbing, rending and tearing, this is the fumand wppeofit: Aod therefore be not deceived $ if men (ball

have

^ J^n****^*^ "T-*

afifi

Chap. 13. the thirteenth Cbtpier of the Revelation.

21

tender you fdire cei mea that nuy fmell fweet, you flail have liberty in this andthat, and proteftion of a godd State, bat it it but the fmell of a Leopard} when you have yielded to fuch Conditions as may be tendred, you will finde fuch ftrong hold got of you, that you will never get. out : And then you mail finde what ever Conditions are put irj at firft, the laft Edition will be a mouth likf * tywi; They■ will bring you in with fubtilty, like a Leopard, layM hold upon you like a Beare, and before they luve done, there will be a mouth liked Lyon: And therefore a we are to be thankfull, fo we are to be faithful! to God, that hath purcaafed thrfe^reat liberties for us, and be no more willing to be mtangledmfyw former ftate, than you would be willing to fall into the mouth of a Lyon, or come under the paw a Beare. QJ. But you willfiy, what is this to me, 1 am but a prwite Cbn

Mw. Private Chriftians muft not live alwayts in a private State, for that darkens a mans efhte, if he knows not iheorderofGodshoufc, nor addrefleth himftlfe to if. Itis true, ifa man either were in the Temple, or looM towards it; his prayers were accepted ; but if a man have no minde to know the orders ofGodshoufe , his ignorance of Church matters will darken his own fpirituall .ftate: And therefore whofoever thou be, Sonne or Daughter ; VfV*™*™ * beareJet them liften to what is htre ffoken , that fo by the blefL of God, you may be the more able to finde the free paffage of joy, and the power of godlineffe m allyourpnvate or publique convention.

Revel. 13. the latter part of the i6. verfe.

And the Dragongave bint his pomr, and his feate, and great authority* . *

*JT*He next note is thie;

that the Dragon (ibdl it% Sdldn) at be bid the government of the Vod, x. FdidnKomanm^'f'bejri&^oHto/», U&n (or frctmd

m i

sa

Chap,. 1,3. / An Exfofifien upon

Verf.iJ?.

wp

mmmu^m

WP

itndotoaistt/jto nVe Raomm Catbolickp vifible Cburcb bit power, andfeate ( or throne ) and great authority.

Forfeit is plainly here laid ^ "that the Dragon gave to the Beaft hnfower, and bis feate, and great authority.

The Dragon, who is that ? You heard, the Dragon is the old Serf em called the Dmll3and Satan: but the Dragon confidered, as he fomctimes fwaycd the Roman Pagan Empire, as in Rev. 12.3. Ibere 0fptarei a vender in heaven, a great red Dragona having [even beads and ten boms $ they are interpreted by'the Angeil, Aev.17.3,4.9,10.12.18. The feven heads to be the feven bills otRome, and the ten horns, fo many Kings that arofe with the laftheadoftheBeaft; Therefore he means the Dragon, as he fometimes fwayed the City of Rome, and fo the Seate and State of tbe Pagan Roman Empire ; And being now caft out, and feeing he cannot friaintaine fail State and divine honour, as before, to whom dorifhegive his honour? what, to tbe Roman Chriftian Empire? No, his rage is again!) tt)em,, and the Church amongft thtm : Neither did he give them bit Seate j they fate not at Rome, but at Ginflaminook: Neither can he eaGly fatten upon the civill State ' iuch dclufions, as to caufc the CbrifHan Empcrours to rake to thcmfclycs divine honour, though the Pagan Roman Emperpurs had fo done: But now hec etoth choofe to fallen thein upon the EccNfianicill State, and thinkihe mall more prevaile with Church-men (as. Imayfpeak) todrinkeinaninundation of Herefies in Do&rine, and Tyranny in Government, ancfSuperftidon in Worftip, he thinks he (hall (boner prevails with the Eccleliaflicall State, then with tht- Civillj Therefore upon this Braft (which can neither be Roman , Heathen , nor Chciftian Empire, hut the Roman Church) doth he faftcn his power, and feate, and great authority.

His fower."] A three-fold power did the Devill fatten upon the Roman Cjtbolick vifible Cburcb.

x. The power of fignes and lying wonders; Bee gate hin%,

great power to vorkf peat wonders, 2Thef.2.c<. Of which chtre

is more fpoken in the fecjuell of the Chapter, where fom>6f

his miracles are mentioned.

2. HegavehlmthepowerofeffeauallSophifiry, or (as

tbe

^mmSuWuiu

Chap. 13. the thirteenth Chapter of tbe Revelation.

,23

the Scripture calls it, 2 The/, 2 9,'10.) of deceit, of unrighte'oufHeue; partly in the Schoolmen, and partly in their Votaries, or Cloy fter- men, and partly in their Canoniut. By the efficacy ofSophiftry in School-men, he corrnptedall Doftorine. By the deceit of theCloyftermen, the Monkes, he corrupted all their devotion and wprfhip; And by the policy of their Canonist, he corrupted all Church-government} and this was carryed with fach efficacy of deceit, that thbfe School-Divines were accounted the moil profound, and the Monks inoft devout, and the Canonifts moft judicioun, and exquifice Polititians: Now thefe three did' mightily deceive the Chriftian world by their power, and all this power Satan gave to this Beaft. ,

3. He gave him the power alfo of making war; for in verf. 7.. It vat given him to ma\e wtrre with tbe Saints, and to overcome them; putting into the hearts of chriftian Kings to give their power to the Beaft*, and to wage all their Battels at their own charges whiles he fate ftill $ this was the power which was given him by the Dragon. '

Andforhtsfeate, what was it ? It wot the City o/Rorae which ruled over tbe Kings fiftbe earth, Rev. 17.18. And for that end he would not fuffer Confrantine, nor other Emperors to dwell at Rome; If they were in Italy} they mould dwell at Ravenna : So that the Dragon granted hit onne Seate or Throne, not to the Emperors, for they never cared for ir, but he referved it for this B;aft, to be the center and chief Seate of the Roman Catholick Church.

And be gave bim alfo great authority, tranfeendently great indeed. . Great Authority. 1. Over the Scriptures. ». Over the conferences of men. 3. Over the treafury of the church: Over Church-Rulers, and Churches, over the merits of ChriA, over Kingdoms and Common-wealths , over Purgatory, and for mitigating the paines of Hell: All this he gave to the Roman Catholick vifible Church. 1. He gave himpower over the Scriptures. 1. Asjuogofthem, The Church is the Jadg of contro

verfie*

mM

(ppppplplip

24 Chap. 13.

An Exfofnm Upon

Verf. 1, 2.

verfie»,and the head of that Church it the Judg of all placet of Scripture, by his authority it is auihencicall i This thcCa> iholick Church doth challcngr.

3. He doth prefer the vulgar Lacine before the Originall Scripture, a tranfeendine power.

" 3. Ic is in his power to make Apocrypha Scripture, to be of like power with the cationicall Scripture.

4. 1c fihh power and authority that gives unwritten Traditions like power with the canonicall Scripture.

Ji He takes upon him to be the infallible Interpreter* and Judge of the meaning of Scripture, and that is Blafphemy.

.6. Vie takes upon him power to difpence with Scripture. Hee hath power to difpence with the morall Liw of God in point of Marriages, even in inccftuous Marriages, this is a power beyond Scripture..

2. He hath great authority over the consciences of men, making Laws and Canons to bind the confeience, and relealing and looting them fronfthe power of Gods Lawes ■,' either in point of Marriage, or in point of Oaths and Covenants, or in point of natural! relation: He can difpence with children

i n refpeft of duty to Parents, if they come into M inaftccics, and withduty which Subjects owe to Magiftrates.

3. They have power over the Chrirch Treafury, by which they meane the fupererogatiott of the merits of Chrift, and of the Saints : They fay Chrift merited for a thoufand worlds: andbecaufehefavedbutafew, it is free for the Pope to take the furpluflage of merit; He can take them and apply them by Indulgences, for the pardoning of them that pay well for them. Ana thus they who defpife-Gods imputation of the righteoufnefle of Chrift for Juftification, they take upon them toimputeittothcmfclves , and to this and that notorious wicked roan. "

4. They *have p0wer over^Ktrfgdomes and Commonwealths, to depofe Kings, and tb'difpafe of their Kingdoms astheypleafe, and to abfolve Subjects froarallAllegiance to civill power, and'for that end to rrallifiejheir Oith'» for that end you know what the Pope Tent to Henrythe fourth: Chrift ( fay they )gavethis power toTefcr, tt\& Peter to the • ■••■• ■-•'■ ''• ' 'Pope,

Chap. 13. the thirteenth Chapter of the Revelation* • !

Pope, and to that end abufr. Jet. 1.10. Seetlbavetbiiday fet thee over the Natient, to root out and pull dome, and tt defiroy% and to throw diwne, to build, and to plant.

5. They have power over the eftatiof the life to come, *

\. Over Heaven. Hee claimes tranfeendent power in that, and doth abufe that place in Mat. 16.10. To tlfee irill I give the kfyes of the Kingdome of heaven, that wbatjotver thou (bait bind on. earth {bull be bound in heaven; vbotfoevertbtH (baltlfiofe on earth (ball be loojed in heaven •: Therefore he can open the gates of Heaverfto them that are dead.

2. They have power over Purgatory $ Upon fo much done and givcn,they can help them out oi Purgatory :They make account the torments ofPurgatory are 1 quill to the paines of Hell ; but that Hell is for ever, and Purgatory bo* till the laft Judgment. •■ .■:'•"■•'

3. They have power over Hdl: they have not abfolute power to deliver otot of Hell ( pnly Gregory is faid to have delivered frajans foul out of Hell 1) but though they cannot deliver out of Hell, yet they can-eafe the torment. The witnefles of this will hardly pwne it; but it is the judgment of the mbft devout to that Sea.

So that he gave to" the Catholick church his power offigns and lying wonders, of all kinds of efficacy of delufions,' and power of making Warre, and he. gave Mm great authority over the Scriptures, over mens Conferences, over the treafurec of the Church, over Kmgdomcs, and Princes, and Powers of the world to come, and over Purgatory and Hell: And therefore confider, if this be not a vaft power, Which is here given, and acknowledged to be given by hlmfelfe to the Catholick vifible Roman Church j You.muft not wonder that the Catholick Church did not claim all this at firft, but came to this by degrees, and more fafter grew to this, efpecially ac that time when this fecond Braft (that received in fpiritualls his power,fpeaking like a Dragon) had got all this tranfcAidant power. ]n the mean time,from the very firft yon fh'al find this power in the representative Catholick Church } They quartered them into feverall Juri(diftions,into Bifhoprickt; and when they hid done that, they refted not till they had fet one over the reft, and that was this of Rome; Andbefides, E • ~ ■ this

tflfi

3<S Cbap. 13. ■ '. ;^ '%\^M. Mxpofiliin upon ' ! Verft i.

thUwM«vtllifo Authority to make Laws to bind ill ChriAlan Congregations, to take their Government from them, jty. In every Councell they devifed fome new Doftrihc, and lomo new {orm of wormip'and Government, which waS the feed out of which this tranfcendint power was hatched.

Forthereafon of the point,you may aske how heefliduld give all ibis power which he mwr had himfelf,how he (hould give that which nexerwas hfrtoa Bcaft, fo as to wrfrall things with thai tranfoeridant pbww>y for diviiie pbw&he had riot bimfelf, newaicafloutl^mirj howtheQcduldhec give tbis to any State in the world ? * • • ; ^

Rtafm 1. Filft> fro«nG6d$divirie;u8(ce,andh«vy Judgment upon the unthankful! world j Thai look, as God in former times did give up che Roman Pagan wbtM to be ruled by Satan as the god of it ( and therefore he is called in* Cor. 4,a. the God »/the world) So now God gave up the Roman Chriftian world, as he did the Pjg*n world before j the Scripture cells us To, tZbtf.,*. 8, Pi 1.0, ifi 12. Betaufe they recefv>J not the kvtQfibttrtitbtbaitbeymighrkfivedJ begtueAmWiAa. 0 ofdflHjfealtiMavelia^Tbatttej^tl^thd^ed yW&lieve not the truth, but bad pleajure in unrig,ttoufnrfe. They'loved not the firoplicUy of the Apofflw inflitutlon's. concerning phqrches, and Laws, aiidDaiftrine, and Apbittfick government j buxdjdafrfcft high prefer racist b , and7Mlef end«wmcnt»,aBdcarndUxotrUnoy. Now cbe Lord therefore gives S»»n wondcrfall powj-iVthafUbfold he was once the Godofftgio R«Mi fo now in Ae^iarch he gives them Church-power; that what he wuW riot retains jn hisoWne binds, tktb*tiibfHtirtes,and etvWitJtheRomakCatholick Churflekiocicry it along«S*g^ fuceeflfe: arid tbatV the firft ReaJonytbe judgment of Go* Upon the unthankfull

world.;-, V'. /■:■"■'. . - ?"•'' ■; • <- ■

Xttfia 2. A fecond Reafon n taken from t*etfleaua|l means which Sa»o«fedtc>Advpnc*ithe Roii^'€h^!bv' to exalt his ChuHeh above all others, what vrtre^etncani ? frhe means wefethefe; '"•;>'••" t '!':l^r~ -■".'!*"

FWjIgnoranetyriifinga 'iS^^mU^kanaa^Pb. darkningall the light of the Church ? fcv, 9, a. 7bcSHti<md ibt Aircvae ddriptffy mfthtfit: There was a mighty

dark

tt*s»

■ssssttim

m

Qfaap. 13. the tbhteentbCbweroftbe Rtveiation.

27

cUrkaiftasicwere: fney rcgard<dno«to love ol the uuih, thev ftudyed it not, andfo the Lord left thtm to palpable eroffe ignorance, in fo much that at that cime when thefts cond b>4ft arofr, had w< fcene any thai lived «n the former timeof Religion, aridthatlwd now, we would noHiave' \hought they had been the fame men,fu* palpable darknefs were they left unto of ignorance*.'No w palpable ignorance isthe mother of all Superftitibn and Idolatry, and themifguidihceolr«Uihing|iiAeChurch. >;; .;. _

A ftcorid means whicbhe uftd* was; terror of Confctence which be feton effcaaally byjbeLocufts, Rev. 9. 5,5. Jbere cmtmoftbtfm^Ucufii.attdmoiUmTtMgmn^mrmlbe

fcorpions aflbt Earth fctfw ftwef : They had fuel, a notable power to a\ng the Confciences of men, that men would fcek for death, and could not finde it, and take defperatecourfes, drowning, or hanging, or any thing, rather then to live w that terrour. They that (ball read Ferfon, Rejolu^nt GranttmMbM find what terrible threats there are applyed to terrifil but never (hewed them the.way tocometo ebaft,to binde up fuch broken (bob : Now the Confcience broken and not heafcd, U fit to fow any (uptrfliiion in. ■■■ ■

A third means was the fuperPicion and hypocrifie of the voririfi, and ofall afaiaedjbut oofetledconfeiences. Terror oftonlcience makes them gwtJydevouri They tell them tfaftate bf perfi £fion, and that they (ball fljrowd themfelves in fuch a Monaftery,«d there tbey ftpuld live devoutly, and bekeptfroro the pollutions of the world 1 Many Princes have been thus taken, and have given large endowments to pray for their fouls, their confeiences being wonnded. P Afouith ouants «tts the fobfilty ^ fophifbjy^>f the SchooUmenrfiippreffirigithereaang^fthrScriptures, and mixins Philofophy with Divinity i *> wey might as well

hZftudud. p&f **** -t,^^^!5t\,B2k;

atrobdufcofJheobeattfthcother;"^ ^iptur«Kahd^d*e^r -M*W)>M<^:^«X"*)* H*ine;Sdrt|Us wafttnwibUbeaneW^J *•»'. ■ > ' ;:' ,. ^h^e^^^lcy^^G^ fMihered together all thotl QMoMfnt(tended^to CWte

28

Chip. 13.

Aii Exftfitkm Hfon

Verf. ..

lick Church1, and the Biihop-of Rome being head, he had it all .committed to Kim ,-ia notable raeaiM to bring in Tyranny.;. ■-"'■?-''':. .■■'• '•■•!■■ .'?: ' r.'i

Laftof all lying miraelei, a'Tfc/.». 9^Whofe earning i, afar Ibe vnkpigaf Satantmtb allfvkeTtandfignesi& lyingwonden. Thus ypu lee the means how the Dragon gave bitn bis power, and Authority, and fuch Authority that hetxalti hirofelf aboye all Uiat is called God.. .">:'ij] :

The ufe is thusmuch j Firfth •vtito fliew the vanity of all that admiration of the Roman ICatbolickvi/ible Church, and devotion to that Church, which hath fo long for many Agea deluded the world, and with which Jcfuitcs and Seminaries doe to this day delude devout,but carnall fouls; Here vgreat powergiven to therr,jnd great authority;but whence hath the Church all this > They pretend they have it all from Chrift, but they have it from the Dragon of the bottomlcfle pit $ He gave him his power and feat and great au«. thority > It never cam* from Chrift, he never gave this power toany Church norStatein the world,i t is from the Dragon, And whereas they plead itis thekeyabf thekwgdonj* ofHeaven, Afof. id. 10. Itiave&y (as the Text calls ft,Re*v 9*OTbeKey6ftbetottemleftpiii TbtrefeBafiarfrtmHiti vtn tofalatibytodubim waighetttbe^y of the Bef/omfcflejif: It Is he that hath power to let out fmoak out of the bottom«W pit $ Not to let out men from thence; al fdme hav*pre~ fended, or from Limb*,»b\ch is thenfuhutbtof Hell; But to let out fmoalf, damnable doctrine, andfclfe Government j ge bath power to ppeh it, but no power to (but it-, power to fling mens confcUn«», but no power to hcalthtm. And g^f^n^ww makes thcRoraan ©ttholick vift. We qiarthtpbc^hetrue Ghurcbvhemak** this the firft noteof a trueC^tholjck Church jwhewas our Divines make

™hoIyDi!^du^

SSS' w ^^^^^y^^towWcbthe:

£'CiTb'?5FWS',,,hthemjbmxtet ua knowthey are til , *»?«§*• 9f 4fl»fi«!M whaf •yerhavebetn in thia kinde

'■'- • • •'- spoken.

■if'i ii: ^".wjwwaj""1.'.' wwf ».

W1*.

TT

Chap. 13. tbgtfrirteenffrCfetfpter<>ffterleVelatiori.

fpi-ken. It any man fay, (b^U vvedifcUim an Article of oar Creed, to deTpife the holy Catholick Church? God forbid, we doe' believe thfholy Catholick Church fprcad overall Natiofiu But a Church Catholick that fliall have one ufible head, andbe tKe MotherChurch, verily welook at 11 as the greawflanduglieftbeaft, that ever was raifedi^ the world. Take all other Monarchies that the Scripture defcribe*, the Leopard of Greece, theLyon of BuM/, andtheBear ofPeryJa, and they arc either of them but a beaftly ftate, but here all thefeBeafti are mingled and confounded in one: And bebdei, Jt bttb [even beadr, and ten born r. A Leopard, a Lyon, and a Beare, they are orderly creatures, according to fome Inftitu. tionj But here is a Btaft that runs befides all inft itution, and defcription of Scripture, and focieties of men that ever was raiftd; The Catholick vifible Roman Church, is the moll monfter 5 God forbid we fhould blafpheme any Church., but I do but fpeak Scripture 5 Let the world be judg, if the Scripture can be accommodated to any but to thiiRoman-Catholick mother Church. It is evident In Scripture, thefe [even beads, and ienferw,nnft be fdme Roman State, the Roman Pagan State it cannot be , nor yet the Roman Chriftun State, and a Roman State it is: but there hath been no other Roman State, but the Roman-CathoHck vifible Church, and that hath claimed fuch great power and authority, which Jiddubclefle as incompatible to Scripture as may be, which by the wit of man hath not been invented , but by the Dragon} and yet fo goodly in the eyes of thr world, which great Princes are deluded and befotted wjthaU, and happy they that can be reconciled to that State.

Secondly, Learn we to magnifie the free ncherace of God that hath delivered Hs from this great Btafi, and the; worfliip of it, and hath reftoredus in a great meafure to the government of primativefimplicity, that now we.may meet every Lordaday, tbitM may beare, and aUmybe e£fc*V where every one may bdgn h« offence (iC bee cannot be fatiifieoV in priVL>idn?ay&he^fd.,an^ mtmm^P^^^0^ Jhtf.«PrimauveDfirnpliaty. and thii iidireaproceedimj Without Lordly Prela

29

Vfe

aaa.

Sbtattm

$9.

^ 3.

«3«

Ah E^cpoftriM Vfm

•VerL

cy, vvblcn over whcimi all the world like a great Sea ;. And jc it well called a Sea, lor ic (wallows up all like a valtCvtan..

And the more thankfull ought we to brt that he haih deJ» vercd as from the Image ot the Beaft, as well at from the. bcaft Hfelfe 5 ACatholick Church that bearcth fway over fo many hundred Churchts, and overwhelms them all: Such Liivc* they fliaM m,;vkeas ilullbmde all ..Nations, and whether they give confentor no, they hiuft fubfcribe tcUherainpoituof government. We« we ieniiblehow odiout this Beait were in the fight of the holy Gboft,_and of the Appftle Jo&t, it would aStft ust with ftrong thankfulneffe, and hearty «h%g<dnelib to God, that hath delivered ui iron Co great a bcaft, and from any image and pidurc of it, tinto which all the world is nibjtct, unleire in (ome few.placer.

Thirdly, It may teach all Church Qjfceri not to affect any Lordly pomp and flue: For Officers of a Church to take upon them any great State, or toVee a Church composed in any fuch form, you fee in the eyes of the holy GboAlclia Beaft. Inhere la nothing more dilproportionable to uij tHcn for ui to affeft Supremacy, (or at to wear* the^brfcft that might pulh Kings j to throw downe any, or;to dtfire Jlhgiftratti to execute what we (hall think fit, verily it b riot compatible to the fimplicity of the Church of Chrlft. Neither may they give their power to ui, nor may we tike it'Trbjri them: Tfaatwhcn an Excommunication pafle in theChiirchi then to leave it to the^^Kfagiftrate^thati'oaman being excommunicated, is left, Jpfo fatio, to civjll cenfure, upon the Churchticenfure, this will caufe the:Magiflrates to fubaaic their power to.the.Church unavoidably {that if a Church cenfurej the Meglflrt^ci muftprowedagainft them: Now it if good to have the£two States fojoyned tbgethtV, thatttie fimplicity of the church may bemaintained'arid upheld , and flrengthcned by the clvill. State, according to God/buc not by anyjjmplicity further then according tp the wwd. Beware of arf fecular power, a«|Lbi^ype^i^$& TJ^Jpi^bn of one church ovej ftc>thiri^e%^:$|^

kwill amount to1(b)nemp„hArouitJ^

Independant, not inaependaniJtfamMitiy codnfeH t

Gbdforbid that weflould refufe that j but when it comes to

pOWCfj

power, that one Church (hall have power overthe nft, then look for a Beany which the Lord would have all Ml people to

Fourthly, let It be in the feare of God an ufe to beware yj-e +4 hb#weMkeSita«*°ff'r*- This-very offer Chrlft had once made to him by th» Dragon, he cime to CririH, and ftid

' _ ■-. - % mII *.Ll* aimm «vit/f 7 /ii«ia *U*a HttA- 1A0 al^rtt at

thui far true /that he had a great flroke in the Kingdomcs of the world (but yet it wai limited to him > for it's true, hee was the god ofthe world, in the t,ime of Heathenilh and Poojmipofticyj He offer! Chrift he will give it all to Him, if he will f*U down and worftip him} The Lord J;fus rejia* him,

It U mitten, tfco«M H**,be Uri th> God> ittd bm ml^li ibeu few- When he offers fuch battel, and barbarous temptations m thtfe be, we arc1 to rej ft him. The D:vill cornel and brferVtb:! to the Vicar of Chrift (as they call bim ) |wilgMe : vou government over all the Churchti in ito world, and fflnedomt, and Sf «e« j and he in very deed takei S«anioffer, and doth take all the pomp and fhte of the world. Tim was when Naamm the AflVrian offered large roatter» to E/j/ia for tieaUnfe hitn of bis Leproiie, but the Prophet would have ?hbneof them (though he was«io Pagan ) for when he came Kbme, they would «ke, what did it coftff ou )' he might fay, it coft me not a groats>ut whit it cofl me iq theJnnei where I lav this iibopour to Religion t His fervant Gthezt indeed run; after him 4 *& iMiUmb, befbiUnit &*(**»>, b* be

of earmenUi and hee very liberally fattens a great dealt «ore on him then he asks : What, faith Elifij, li tbu a time to take money, endtoreceivegarment,, and Ottvi-yajdi,- *nd Vim-yards, andfbeePy'nioxen, anlmn-ervanU,Md matdfvamr^ & fuch money ai^would buy all theft} Tfce hfrofie theref&3mmanW cleave unto tbte : Andfo truly thelepro' fieofTntlchrift, and of the Catholick Church cleave to us, if we take up any thing that derbgatei from the fimple,; and nS;^.and^^ W-^elovcrnment of Chrift J<fu« 5 Icj^be

sMatiattsl

attMsHal

. .-"■&**&

K>? -' &

■ja 'Chap* 13.

jfitExfofititn tft»

Verf.a.

aLcprofie that wil cleave to usj&makeus grow more fcmore leprous:And therefore it muft teach us not to regard the profitiand pleafurca of this world : 1 fpeak chieHy to men, at we are Church-members; Such fimple government, though is I hath horns (for the Lamb hath horns, and can tell how to Jrifli) yet meekneflewid fimplicity iibtft J Juftand faithfull Admmiftratloni becomes the fimplicity of civill government, bat how ranch more the Church of Chrift, that fo this great and vaflBeaft may be kept away from ui. u .•';'.,•" ,|

Vfe 5. Laftly, it may teach us all, as ever wee define, nottogrow

monftrous and ugly in the fight of the Lord Jefus, to take . heed of hearkning to any power of Nationall Churches, you will finde that this will grow to fucbuply deformity, that God will turn away his face from you: You will never finde him aain times of ignorance ; Though God hath pardoned what'wedidin ignorance, not knowing what wee did (at Chrift prayed, Luke *$. 34. Father forgive tbem, tbey know mi what tbey doe.) And 1 doubt not but he doth the like formany of our deare brethren, who in their ignorance do fubmit to the Baft, and the image of the Beat» and doth vouchsafe bis gracious prcfcncc with them: But for us here, if we ffiall in our hearts turn back againe to ^gypt, and be content to Hoop to thefe Supcrftitions, and be thus ruled, for order^ and forme of wor/Wp ( believe it) then we may looke for an, ,end of all our prOfperity^andlibertyof the Churches here j-T-neh look we fbould grow miuupeh and mbnftroui, and look ugly, wc-lball then foon fee an end of all the comforts of the Churches here. At therefore God hath betruftcd us with fuch a handfomc bodyasheeisplcafed to own, fo continue in your profeffion, and in the maintenance of the fame even to death.

Revel.

*£im

Chap. 13.

ibtthirteenth Chapter, of the Revelation.

33

Revel. 13.3.

\\ ■ ...

And 1 fan one of his heads as it were wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed, and all the world wondered after the Ecaji.

IN thefe words is defcribrd the variation of the ftate of the Beaft in refpeft of one of his heads. 1. John faw ic as it were wounded to death, and all men thought it unrecoverable 5 that is one S« ue. a. A Scate of recovery, His deadly wound waf healed.

_i. The worlds admiration

3. The effcasofthii healing 3 a£,er;the Bt»J: . . f 3 BS?. Their worflitp both of

C the Dragon & the Beaft.

For a little opening of the words.

1 faw one of.bit beads. ] You heard before that the B?aft had feven heads: Now as the Scribes atked Chrift concerning the wpman that had feven Husbands, wbofe wife (ball fbe be of the ftven f So here is a Beaft hath feven heads, and one is wounded, which of the feven muftk be r To this the Apoftle John tells, us, Cbap. 17. That five of tbem were gone; they had been, hue were not now, and thefe are the feven governments of the Roman State : Thefe five had been Kings and Confalf, Deccmviers, Diftators, Tribunes. The fixthyet was, and that was the C<tfars, the Roman Emperours they were the fixth head, whether Chriftian or Pagan, it differs not much the ftate of the Government, for they were all governed by Roman Laws, under one head or other. Now therefore what is this that is here fpoken of, One of bit beads were x it wire wounded to deitb? was it the Roman Emperour, whether Pagan or Chriftian ? you heard reafons before why it could not be Pagan, nor indeed Chriftian Rome.

1. That head was crowned j but this hath no Crown; All the feven heads were crowned, they governed and txercifed their Adminiftrations in the world, Rev. 12.9. . F But

rTPWi

'■-«SH1W" f* l w'lfj £VW"

• ^ijlinpijipi^l^liy

3f Chap, 13'; ^ An ixfefitien upn[ . H< -fort 3.

•^MW^"M^'V

W""p^p«p*ipi

But here tbele heads are not crowned, but the Crowni arc upon the Horn*, r .,..,-• . '

*' i,NcilhVr,Can U te^ £«"&oTthis wound upon this

head. TheRomjrXhriflianEnperour,they,,eLcha'

SlS lh;mhtly" Hrad-ftiPJover *< Church of j£. Conjhmtme doth utterly abandon it ;He proftffeth he

dothnotexerclfeany Head-ftip over theWrX It w*

''m^nn' ft W0Uu h^giVBn» Wi% hei]<*>«» the admiration of the world: Now certaine it it, the wound gmnby the G*/A,and ^wM |e w„ nt(™ft*

th» day : but the Eaftern part w« fallowed up"y the

Turk. Andforthe Empemrs of the Weft, fllS hi

;. grea^and hi, Succ£or», though they healed a branch of

it, y«,twa? far off from healing the wound ofthefto

s was it the healing of this wound from the firft time if . wug,ven,thatwa, the admiration 0f tbewo° J.?™*

Wld wpnderedat ir, and were captive wit j YotS iiWa^0,,t-e Ron»« Chriftian Emperor.,St ^uftfe

himt!Htclaime.tobeht.d overallthe Chun*e. , and vrbo,s thatbut mifamaxbmr lewa*tha ™hiA t£ •#f abhor'd, be thought it an uZX^for i Chnftiw Epperour to be accounted the grit S PrM*

wok op, tobeaccounted taegreatlVftor of tLrSh and therefore hei» rbehead rf the Church Pnr ;?• t' Either Pagannorariaiaall^ %'2£&n&

Chap. 15. ; 'tbetbiTteentbebapierofike Eevelation.

An[Vi When the Gotbs and TaitMi, and Humes, and otfter barb/artiut Nation* overwhelmed fta/y, and the weflern part*. '. i4j Alaricus about the yeare 415. took Rme j ai.dil remember in a Treatlfe oiHierm (faith he) The govern meet Which then-was left of the Church reforr, wat wholly taken alvay, at if a man were beheaded, and yet it fell after into worfc calamity.

a. It was after taken againe by itdulpbns, who thougl t to change the name of it, and call it Gotbia.

3. It wasJafcen agitne by Genfetiw Vandalm.

4. Odoacer Rughnui reigned in it fourteen yean.

5. After him, Tbeodoriciis King of the Gotbt bating flaine him, bis Succeuor Totilm dfftroyed it, and brought it to fuch defolation, that there was-neither man, woman, nor child fcen in it for forty dayei, Now this was fuch a wound, that all the Bifliops in the world that.were wont to give homage to him, they now began to negleft his Head-(hip, that wat but a fcrvant at home: They defpifed him, to be the head of the Church, that wat a fenrant to Barbarians $ Infomoch, that the Bifliopof Revemtt, be challenged) univerfall Supremacy, be takes indignation at him, that he will be Lord Paramount: But fo great was the wound, that indeed the Roman Blfbop wat utterly difcouraged, and thi* continued for 140. yearti together; and though be would bave ufed many meanes for his cure, and have cillfd in help from the Emperor of Greece, yet he wu not willing to help him, for they had fallen out before about worfhipping of Images; he was conftant for Images, the btber wu againft them, and fo he might Gnkc or fwim for them 5 fo his wound Teemed incurable.

Qjeffc 3. When wm ibis Hound cured, and bn* ?

Anfv: By degrees. - 1. lntheyeare555.theLordftirrfdup7«/f/n;tf«j who by hie Generall», Beliftrm and Morfet, drove and deftroyed

, tnc<%t6joutof Italy,

a. By J*/IM^hovellCoh(Kturfon», We decree according to toe Canons ofthc holy Councils, tbemofl holyBifliopofoldXometobetnefirftC or to have the Primacy)

. oliUftiefts.

F 2 3. Pbocat

^Ak,

H

. 3< PJ»ew the fairici* about fifty ycarcs after, about the yccre6c6 healed up the wound, granting to Boniface the tiuid, that he mould be univirfall Bifhop, not otily tbrtirft in order, but in honour alfo, and that all the whole world (hould be his Dioceffe: And this was the healing ofhis Head, which was fo ptrfc&lycured,. that all the world wondered at the prefer vation of the head of this Church, and began by degrees more and more to adore both the Church, and the Head of it. Obj. Ibexe it an ObjeQion made agaiuft tbk exfofition; fbat by tbk meant tbe Bilbof of Rchh fbould be healed before be be a bead of Btaft, for tbk was his beaufbip when he was allowed to be chief Lord ower ell tbe Churches, and all tbe reft to be under him j and tbe Foft was not ibhbead till tbe AS oj Phocas. ( Anfw. I aofwer, He had not the peaceable poffefijon of this H;ad(bip till this time, but yet it is evident in ftoryrhathe did claim this fupreiuacy before, he fought it ambitioufly, and it was given him by the devotion of many Bifhops, and Churches, and Nations, it'wasufoallyrendrcdtohimlong before that time, derate/faith, that Ballo the Pope had broken forth into the Government over the Churches ; ■ And tellamine himfelfc confefletb (when he is put to it) that the Biftiop of P«ome would never goe to any Confutation in the Eaft,but fent his Lcgat j for faith he, it is not meet the head foould follow the members.: A fecond reafon he gives, the Emperor (faith hejI is at lead Vice-gerent of the Eaft, he well may have the man rial 1 Seat that was taken up by the Emperors, where flull the Bifliop of Rome fit then ? arid this be gathers out of fome of their writings ; So that it is evident, that he did ambitioufly defire k, and the manner Was ( being elderly men) all his beloved and dear children they call him Father, and fo he takes in good part all their honorable Tides , and he defjribut.es to them fueh parccjls of refpeft, as mavfland with his own Sump.emacy,,and their fubjeftion, and therefore they need not fay, The wounded head was healed before he was a head of the Bead, for it was in conception rong before. He did from Ccuftanlines time feek Supremacy: They confeffe, little refptft was bad to biro in Qnftamines

time:

tbe tbirieenibC6a^ef4^^UxSon'

time j But when order was let in Churchtt, he took all advantag«forhiatxaltation, and did take alt *?&***"% thers.Tbat what others did to him in refpeft of .his gravi tf3U learninfcahd underftanding> takes as done to b.m **&«*% in Peter! Chaire, and fo did challenge headlhipin chofe time*, and they thought it was meetto give it * And after this, he was ratified, and confirmed, and eflablifoed in peace, then was his wound healed. . ,

Come we then to gather a note or two from the wordj The firft note you may obferve is this.

The ambition and arrogancy of Church Oliirers claym- p^ t ing headfliip over the Church of Chrift ,. the Lord plagues u with a mortall wound, and crufoeth it even to the death.

I gather it out of thefe words, I fm one of bit beads as tt were vomtded to deatb-M was one of the heads of the Catholics Church ; As the body was a Monfler, fo was the bead; tofet a head over fuch a vaft body it was a Monfler in Gods fieht:The Lord wil not fuffer him to go on in this ambitious

his foo againft the wall, and if he had gone on, he had (hue bim, NaAia. 3^33- So ^th the lord here meet the Biftopof Rome j ifhewillbethebeadofthevulble Church and animate fuch a Body, what will the Lord doe , Hewi wound Mm to death, and thy him, and cruft hi«> fpintuat arrogancy, that under pretence of Vicarfcip to Chrifl, wilr yet be the Lo^d of the Church.

The Reafon of the point is, ... . . . ._..

From the difhonour put upon Chnft, to take the headfoip Rg(J, fromhimtowhomhbdongeth. This honour to be the head J of the Church is the proper right of the Lord Jefus : It is his, Firft by guift from the Father, tWi.at. p be bead ^alltblngsUeCburcb:Aud^U.^ He k tbe bead of the bodytbeCbmb. Secondly, it is his by Putthafe :H;g«jfc/m-* felfe to death , even the death of tbe Croffe ; and God batb bilbly exalted bim, and given bima name' which h above everyname, Phil.*-8,?. He dyed and rofea^balbembt be Lord both of the dead and living, Rom. r4. 9. So that no.w when the Lordbath this headftip of the Church granted huny

•*■*

-jf*_ Chap,13^ > ;itar{

JMigPW^ii f.; ■ -.

—y-nw^^wp^ij^^

ftw/on 2.

V/e I.

and alio ^hath purcbaled Jt by bit own death j now for uui tbertodajrmheadOiip, jtmult needsimply, euher tbarSi hfadlMnon-refaUnt, oreNethruft oMt of hi, h«d£ h dbchltomiftir. And.houghtheLordKtpeftntfe dy, y« in h.sfpirhuall prefers, he is a. truejJ n ef«ir ZJ more equally then any that can be dS^ndThS fore in Mgard of injury done toChrifi: which thV?!^ wHl^nocbcr, he wiil^.reforc cru^^d'tutdS

It is an usurpation of all power from the Church. chat 2a Cathohck Church be met, they will give power and Law* tootherChurche,, ancrlook WLth.Vnd?eX0^ b admlnifters alhhepower of the firft Bean . Look what l„l erisgiventothe Catholick Ch«r<h, ttat doth the SK of flome incorporate tohimfirlf, and he caufethan IrDMerf thatChurch,tobemade:in Provincial!Nation,,whiften they haw taken hold, likea Bear. daw,,they will not eafi y befoptedout: NowthHiafuchinprouiufurpaUo^iba^ iWhat day to tbif,they have never been free , 'Thafwhefe

^PoPehathh.dtodoetheChurcherar.^oyb4et" tZ^'T??^ Chriflj AndtherefonTyou mufl not wonder if the Lord wound the head of fuch allot on in their wickedneflr, Ffal. <S8. ao, ai. TheiealS XH

^rdrifeth:ag.i„ftfwVifWpation? ickC„arC.tobefetoverrte^orld, whoma7oMLuw«

ChirfC,,Cn-Ce»ranKdmike ?%'«fortheord^fng^l Churches < ImiYucIu Monfter, and the Government «r J** odiou. in the; fightof God, *&ffER*

Forth* nJTc of tftewint, It may ferve to provoke us all t» P"rh«rtJy,«nd faithfully,fb/rf* nptSSSZsSi headiMekhcrtbe Biftopof fleets, o?an? im^iflS

««nAuthoritytthk t-V*>LM&u^8fc

Slon,

Chip; 13.

tie tblrfeentbCfajtrei o/iie Revelation.

39

Sion., he will wound the Bilh >p of Rome, or any thai (hall ukfchi* Image; He vrilj give them a deadly blow, elptciallywhtn thty are more t-rrogiMr, then his Indignationarifeth agiMft themsto txctcute judgement on luch. The hrad(h'p of the Chu ch is a lingular priviledge to the Loid Jelm, and incompitable to any : They mull eiihcr take Chrilis office out of his hands, or think him neg|igent,ornon-refident, and th^thedoth not fuffcicntly difchargehia headftip,' and therefore they will ufurpe en office in his name, but that is abominable to Chrii).

Oi>). But' you mil fay, So wee (ball fluckjbe Crewe of'fom the beads o/C6"Jiiiw Prwce*, for tbey challenge ibatftile to be bead oftheCbttrcb.' .

An\xt. 1 doe hot know any Chriftian Prince that chalengeih that ftile. That which was fomeiimes given to Saul, may br given to Prince*, 1 Sam. 15. 17, When thou waft little in thine eyes, waft tbou not made tbt bead of the Trftet of Jfraelr Thatfstrue, and fo the KingU head of all the Pteres, and head of all the Shires, and the Churches arein fomc or other oiihern, that is, , -•.'.■:

i. They b»v.e power over the Church in all civill matter*.

":i a. And I will fay thus much, that they have power to redrcjfe and reforme inordinate abu&t in the Church, provoking'Church officers to doeit; If they doe not, other Churches are to treat with them ; and if their corruptions be prejudicial either to the d jftrine of che Gofpeil, ot if they degeneratc to any Tyranny, they are to look to redrtffe fucb thingj, but this gives them not headfhlp over the Church j overtbtirperfons h doth, but not over the Church, thae

U, .

1. They have no power eltber to call Church-officers, or todepofetbem.

2. They have no j?ower to difpence Church-cenfurei.

3. They have rio'pfltWr'tbifafpend Church liberties;

4. Theyjitve no power to appoint'Church-ordinances j nbf power to admihifter any matter farther then any other member of the Church : and thit did the Church

of

40 Chap. 13,

An Expofifun upon

V«f.j.

of England acknowledge, and no more then this was due :• Therefore we allow Tonic power and authority to Princes, and Migiflratcs , in the fence fpoken 01 j If they claimc any further, it will fo kindle the jealoufie of the Lord, that the Lord cpil certainly wound it to the cracking of the Crowns of all that take it upon them : which nay be a notable warning to all Church-men (I mean Church officers ) to beware of decking into their hands the power which God hath pot given them ; the. Lord will wound their heads,he will n.)t endure it,'tis a priviledge that he hath purchafed with his owne bloud. I think there is no need here to prefle it; but this let me fay, it is a juft motive to pray the more ardently, and faithfully for the crufhing of fuch heads, wherever the Lord findes any arrogant head, that any Ghurch-offi:er will undertake to give Lawes to the Churches in their diocefle, that they will piuOffi.ers upon them, that fhey will fufpend them at their pleauire, and put in, and put out, whether the Church will or no; This kinde of infolency in fuch afUte, let it look for a wound, for a wound it (hall have. And therefore, we are the more encouraged to pray for,and to look for deliverance from thefe Heads; for John tells us, 1 /oinj. 14. that iftps askfany tbingaccerding to bit will, be bearetbhs ; And this is according to the will of G,>d, that all ambitious heads be wounded ; What he hath done he will doe, there it no new thing under the Sun j be fpares, and changes, and 1 wounds in every change : Perfons are changed,but Gods V adminJrations are one and the fame : if Godsjndigr ; ; nation have been ardently kindled again!) the Blfhopojr .' Rome, he will certainly vifite fuch powers as take upon them to put doctrine upon the Church j to take away Church liberties, and fometimes to fcater one Church from another, the Lord will certainly yi& it, we may pray for it, and comfortably expeft it. ^ The next note is this; Dotir. 2. That though God doe.wound andxrum, andrjepreflethe arrogance of Church officers, affefting headship over all

Churchej,

Chap; 13. the thirteenth Chapter of theR.uj[elation.

Churches for a time, yet he do*h fomeumes again heal their wounds,and binde up theirbreaches^and give free paffage to their ambitiousdefignef. „ ■ ,\v;

This is evident here,-I faw one of bit bea.it, as it were wounded to death (and you have heard when, and how) andyer, Which is wonderfull, Hi* deadly wound w« healed, and that to the admiration of all the worlds a// the world wondrei after tbeBeafl, to fee a wound fo really and perfectly healed:when tbisXhurcb was wounded, afterwards the Pope w>s perfectly recovered, but the wound of Cifirs head was left bleeding, both in the E*ft and Weft. This head rauft therefore be the fpirituall head of Home : God though he reprefle fome infolency , yet he doth many times give free paflige to their defignes at length. He did fo with Balaam, he met with him in the way, and had not the Affehindred, certainly hehid •flain him j Numb. a*. 32. *««/« tby way vmjerverft before mejaitb God ; Balaa^ had fent him word, that if he would come and enrfe the people that were come out of Mg)pl, that he would give him this, and that; he faw he had an eye to thefe outward'thirigs} The Lord feeing his way perverfe,' he would have killed him 5 but yet at length in w. 35. the Angellof the Lord (aiduntoBalaam, if itbetbymindeugo, I mil givetbee hove, g» with the men, butonely the word that I (bill . fteak unto tbeejbattboH j&«fi/f*A i And whenvhe conus, he doth blefle the people to the Indignation of the King of Moth • but afterwards when Balaam faw that he fhould loofe all tha't he came for;come,faitb he to the King, take fome courfe to Invite the Gallants of Ifrael to a feaft (and it was an Idolatrous feaft to the honour of Baall Ten ) and fo the anger of the Lord was kindled againfl Ifrael, and there were foure and twenty thoufand dyed of the Plague, and at length Balaam was flaine alfo : Bui yetyou fee, he gives way to his coveteous deflghes, to fatisfie himfelfe to the full, tho ugh he afterward vifited his Sirine upon him. So did the Lord here With the Bilhopof Xome s be wounded him as It were to death, and afterwards he heals him,and raifeth him upagain, andfciffJiifHniantodtftroy theGttbsoutofItaly jfndhebeioga wife man, gifts Mm hit Titles, andniakeihim Bifliop G °'

4*

^m w?:

*» xaaV'ttr;„ ~."~.A;*ft Mxrfnionwt V<tr(i<iH.

Rafon i,

hij} Tim rh^?^.%«ri;h*d loft bis Title*, andoneor other wrote agamft hi* ;7 tfiefeperqrbeing Loath to make

cbleT, for ditturbwB their mill Government; They fad rather confer^ all ihat honour upon h>a that h>d been foadmired & vvprlh.p^ for (o many year., efpecially having had «M^nafterief &badb^en m.a/e Orthpdoxalltben.IL?dtfr P!?^e!j/^ wrregr^ac jpducemenu ^giv* ail ho

■*g 3 fe^!*,??*8*fce Wm wcpwwd, they wonderat him, andmryone(ubm,t,tobjW): efpedaflytbeWefternparti• though theyip tbejuftalfo WQuldconfult with him, andfc

SWiftiS*1 ^^^^^^eywereMtcqua

tojESB*' *T ^^.te4 WiM fuch an aboaLn

t*aftlyfcapn Mjehwi"Tone ™Mou*tbeq»iher ft**, and

lndh*&

More, J1(e wfenwhyS^^S^^*

ieea toe fUftf of men arc bra to apoftacy aodbackflidina. Cuy, but they awfl ftwft^fi^cfe^iile^^Si^

fie )^MemWC^fi^p[tbL^^^io^'

cfteiiirill:C^iftch«muftbe,diftinguiflied Byfujph P4t*on*,

• apdicMttfratonebe Lord Parap^pupt oyer themalj;, ana"

• nriJeWwm^tte ^i(hop;qf .Rome, j /fpeopMofe^o ^fudl-frYomegbodljr'ftfipe, but drawn by the iQTer^t|po«i<rf 'men') well you (hall have fuch Bi(hop» : Tl}U h«d,,$hat ' fometimei hath been thui wounded,that fome have had ca'ufc

of foletnn praifeforhii wounding, and God hath by thii meant given the fctiurehei liberty to take fome;bytet w*y of worftip, but they would not, well ycuftisjl haye^nopgh of hiffl. It »ii 6rie oi^olonioni Proverbi, ( Cbaf. 14,14. frbt lackjlider in heart {ball be ftlledmlb bit own myei s \{ you dote after inventions of men, you (hall be filled with vain SuperT ftitipn to the contentment of ypwo.wn be.arw., Qod out of hitftender faithftifaefteto h» Churchlie y»U .radeera.fpme, and' doth give them, falre opportunities to undertake .their own liberties out of the afurpatfqoi of men j bueif tbe.y wUr rather fit under the,'Ofc^jOfcjr** .***» fc«d ppoo MtMi , thYff goe joubacit, afftQJWtb G^,noVpf,yQU

*T

!ftmTrtf.pfth«;wbih;1^

■rami eat pr«i*t wh*vh ';W\\r.l!M\lL"P' iTTtffC'va•™™**ir> ^utK )taAQideri;4BaV delight, in, fuch ^mutvio^ wjfrsk Tiejidi over, their dh^rches,; it i« jiift wfith. Gfi4 ^tQ-SHi tbcm ^hhiheicbWp1nvenV?pn>. . ^ ;;;.;^:A.;«,-v. i.= w•■■:

Cave him UHfrt nb^bhel fherrfaraiiPfFom^?

j^to B,aaTffi}rWil w«l» pne of tftft

ready courfe tdhav|cSrfJ^8

' ---flJI^^AndiineHjt:

atmi and h not, (hall

goe

44

Gbap.ij.

Vfet.

,. . forf.*,*.

got imoftTdititm, that's m una olihu BVafl • rh-r Wit, „,», iKWes.you„tfreofthis fecdnq* Irf £ e n SfiS? S therefore it is called both the &«' W £ EJMS L *

heprefenti her to 7„£« as a great beaft j Now heaves hhn

- Nowforth?q{e6fir. , -J ■ -' rif^'-.r-,.

*$T3fi*^^^'^^warnlrig to all the SUns of men to betoare of Gods check.. When the Lord

way's* wichfiutj on to perdii' andaffli&i n*Mlf« ntflj*, verl drens I on I ifyc dlrig'u VTJw i

Gbap. 13. *&e tfcirfeenffc Cfc<»f>/«r o/f6e Revelation.

tafee if «p, *n<( catcb nothing ? The Lord will catch a prey when he layes a trap for us," and he will not leave till he have girded our loyiiei and our hearts clofe to him, and made us more exadin our way, or otherwife if he let us flip, it will be to perdition1: And therefore les all that heare the word, ever be fenlible of che leaft wounds & checks, especially if they grow to fome bulky frame : I frw one of bit beads <u~it were wounded to death, and this deadly wound was healed, and it was healed to immortall perdjtion, and therefore all that wonder after the Beaft, they are fuch as have no part in the Lambs book of Life, they have no part in Ghrift.

Stondly, It may teach us the more earneftly to wreftle with God by faithful 1 and earned prayer for any of the G hur ches of Chrift in any parts of the world •, that if the Lord give them an opportunity to wound the bead of any Image of the Beaft, any of his heads or horns, then it will be neceUary that all fuch Churches do take the hint and opportunity that God putt into their hands, and that they do not rather clbfewith fuch heads whom God wounds, and be loath co lay hold of tbofc liberties that he procures for them : But let this be the cdnfant care of Christians to defire that fuch heads may not beufurping-: but if the Lord gives an opportunity,, the Lord looks that all Christians mould improve it, to vindicate themlelvei, When the Lord gives any hint thereof t When he givefan opportunity, dien is the time j when the iron is hot; then strike jintreat God, that when he puts a prize into their band*} that tbey then may learn to get wifdorae, and not in their hearts turn to tolerate arrogant defignes, and fuch as arc ugly in the fight of God: When God wounds the head of, Enemtaj and cans (hame upon them , and hath refcucd his people from them $ If Churches (bal again comply with them, then what will the end of that be > Itlsa fearfull thing, fuch kind of Heads goe to perdition, and tbo6 that dote upon fuch Heads. It is a check' efpecially for this great beaft of Rome, but it will be dangerous for other States too: This will be the final I iflue, they (hall have enough of it, they (hall be filled with Hirarchicall power, and with their Agents in Givill States, their jfeete like a Bsare will raven in all, that> . ..-,':• they/

45

Vfe 2,

:Jm<

JL

Vfe3.

ihap. >3. |.,v. An Exfojithn upon

Vtrf. 3*

they iballffll.be weary of the burden, and (hall be lo filled Mrftb them, at to fyew them out of their months: And there* fore hoy/ {houJcLwe help the people of God to crarcrfe that Wounded Head chat it never rife up more. *.

: Thirdly, this may ferve to teach fuch whofe Heads have at any time been wounded; As there is none of the fervants of Gq4, but fomctuws he will have them facrih*ce their lfm% that which is moftdcarcto them: The Lord will rend away our mod defirable comforts j he will follow us there, where wcraoftofallareaffcficd; And let this teach the people of God, that if the Lord then bow their hearts to unfeigned re* peotance, turning from allevill in their hands and hearts, bow then? If the Lord wilt reflore the wounded head of a bead, a beaftly head, of a beaftly ftupe, will he not much more reflore the hearts of his fervants that feck to him for healing of all their corruptions, and fcattering all their temptations, that they may walke before him according to to hi* will) What faith the.holy Ghoft, Hof. 6. i, 2. Hee puu voids into their months , come let us return/into the lord : He both t»rnet and be will beak mi; bebaib fmiiteniandbewdlbindnt.ufi after two dijes will be revive Mi, and the third day hi will roifem npt md we (ball live in bisftgbu Whtr«inbefljewfWiberaeana whereby the Lord will apply this medicine to h;i> own fcr« vanHj mmelybydw dfath^d,wfutreeliwol dwJfrlP tq which be doth allude $ that m Cbrifi dyed^andrcfeMMdday, lb (ball ill that have part aDdporuojku him rfhey miyiy* indanfijer^butibcymaUcoeMoutmdmtimejbutbpwKyeFj it ftould be a warning to the Tonnes of men bowtbey adventure their lives by going into any danger where God caHs themnot: $utify©« be brought mto danger ^J^fVLwi* doth deliveryosi have oufc tobieflchim, e«da> fpadrrWM feints and FapiiHtt btckto him> that you may walke witf* morcgirtupfpirksto God, that la bi-nw ttotrepeat of whaidelimantfeibe^oUtblaiethDiyOu. . - w ' ;',;.-»

Revel.

CRap, 15. the thirteenth Cbafttr of the Revelation.

47

Revi 13. the latter part of the 3. &4» ver.

And all the world wondered after the Beaji.

And they worJI)ipped the Dragon who gave potter unto the Beajl, and they vorfiipped the Beaft, faying) who is like unto the Beaft? who is able to m*kg Wane with him?

I Come now to fpeak of the fequell of the heiling of this wound j upon the healing of it there it a double effeft. 1. Tbaadmiration of the world after the Beaft. a. A worfliip, fet forth by a double object, the Dragon, and

theBwJ*. 3. The caufesare fee forth that made them to worfhtp them both; The Dragm in thit he give power to the Bw/r,andehe Beafi for his unmjtcluWe power. Wboit likf twie the Beaji f who is able to make war with b'tm f Here . raighebethree or four Notes jufUy gathered from hmce, but becaufe I affed brevity in rayfticill Scriptures, I fhzll compaft them, into one: The note is this; That upon the btatingof the Beajis woundedbead, til the world D&ttrine. feUintom admiration of the Beaft, and of bit pinto-, yea ton in a* doratj^mrflfy, i)& of tbeBefaandoftbe Dragon.

This contaiaes both the latter end of the third, and pare of the fourth verf. .

For tWcaufes of this Admiration, they will be juft reafons ofjthe point.

To open the Doctrine [upon the healing of thit wounded bead of the Bean"] Remember the Bead is the Roman Catholickvifiblc Church, wbtreofRaraewat the mother City, arid mother Church, accounted of all the Churches in the world, and the tope isr.be viflblc head of this Church, in this Chap* wc called the Seventh bead.

Obfervesly." the healing of this feventh Head,wouncled by the captivity and calamity it fell into by barbaroai Nations.

, Upon

USM"-!^' <..'.! J*f}jfiH^!»!>

uipii^i.1 hi »:'*.'.'•'""•y^.v

48 Chap. 13;

/fit Exf^tien-KrWi

Verf. j)4.

Upon ihe healing oJ ibis wounded Head, by the rcmoval,and fcaiteriDg,and iubduingof thefe Enemies i a» alto by the playfter that wai put to him , when fuch Titles of Soveraign Authority;were put upon him by the Emperors: Now this was the Originall of that wonder, for fo it comet in 5 Hit deadly wound was healed, and all the world wondered after the beajl: Andfo heexprefleth it, Cbaf. i7. 8. All that dwell upon the eattb {ball wonder when tbey behold tbe Beaft that was, and is not, and yet is. He wai when he flooTifhtd, as that which wai the great Authority of the world: He is not, when he is wounded in bii head j but as it were troden under foot, wounded co death, as if he bad not been: But yet he is againc, that is, heuueftorcd; Andtbey that dwell on tbe eartb,wben they fa* tbat, wondered toiebold tbe Beaji tbat was, andis not, andyet is; A Bcaft that cannot be cmQud and beaten downe With fuch defpcratecalamities, fo that's the occafion of their wondermens; now upon this occafion they fell into an admiration of the Beaft, and of his power. An admiration implies fome high efteem of fome great happinefle betiding this Btaft, not only beyond their expectation, but trfln(ccu<J«nt , beyond their apprehen(ion and capacity to understand. For a man dotb not admire a thing, unlcfie itgocnpc only beyond expectation, but is tranfcendant above his reafon and under* (landing. Yea, beyond any mcanei be could ufe to bring fuch a thing to paffe; Therefore when they fee this great change, they fall admiring of the Be<>Jr,andth(hcadof theJe*/l, and of the Dragon that gave power to the Beo/I, and worftiip them both. For their Admiration then, let m,e (peak fqmething of that jand then of their Adoration both of the ti&flj and of the Drags**

It was in a way of Admiration j I will not fay whatexpreffions fome have made of it, fome that were called Fathers of the Church, and have left fuch things in writing: It would mightily poflehc one with Admirationof the Sea of Rome, looking at him as the Lyon ofthe Tribe of Jh4&\1 looking at him as by his Primacy to bc: m^Adam, form Faith like Abraham, for hit government likeMwi,: gating all the world under him jfor Qidnlikt Mikbifedecbytir hiifunQl*

■ on,

Chap. 13. the thirteenth Chapter of the Revelation.

vii, wcjic thrift himulfe, dcleivcdly to be God, alter lomt. times cali«d the Victr of Chrift, atid of God ; marvellom tranfandant flfa'ni |.ut upon him, which argue* a faigh efteerriofhiro: Buctuoinit fijeh things ai are bufflourifhts, theft ate real I. .

1. That all the Churches of the world are to receive all 'theirdoftrineand woifhipfrom them ; Tlioughit were never fo fuperftuious, as worftiippiog of Angels, and Siint»,«J)d making ufe of their mediation belides Chrirt; and they did receive from tbtm more then all this,which is the life and quindfeence of all. They looked from the FatheroftheCitholickvifible Church to receive Indulgences , and pardon of all their fiones : If he retained them, then they were retained; if he remitted them^ey were remitted: This they looked for from him, not only for Doftrine and wotfhip , but for fealing up their Pardon for fo many hundreds andthoufanda of year*, and not fcaled with wexe, but with a wap of Lead, and a Scaje foot, chat : And this WM the chitfe comfort of trouWadminds inthofeages, thefe things they received from tbepU »»d admirable honour they put upon thae Beaft. tp receive all fuch things from them, a. They made to fieme all their Appeals: What ever goA/ernment there wai in the Chrlflun world, from thence were*eirl>wa, and thither were their Appeals, as out of England and many other places, to the great difturbance of Church and Common-wealth, as alio large and bountiful! payment* were mide to them : It were a vaft thing to fum up the toull fum of conftant payments that were from every Kingdome repayed to the Sea of Rome: And as their Appeals & Payments went to K*me, fo did their bodlei on pilgrimage, and it was thought a great<levoti9ntoiifffth*fMtof the Pope, and to fee rhqfebkff*4§briin»jTe^iwMtiisira4mirauon of the

3 BT&y fttcbfd .Wto* Ordination of all tbek aajip»y wdlfor it, Audfrom thence they fetched a 1

49

50 Chap. 13. An Expofttion upon

Verf. 3,4.

thewCoronation of Kings and Emperors j and fandry rondaoicmaU Lawe« of every Catholick Kingdom were derived from thence. AH their Difpenfationi-Were fetched from thence, thac Princes might marry where they would: Anddifpenfation from Oaths, and from Marriages contrafted, all thefe things they fetched from Rome: It was an admirable honour they put upon the

?oDrn°f ?T,,and UF°",he Hcad of" i what ever the tuft Beafl did, the fecondBeaftalfo dldj andfo in worIhipping the one, they worfljipped the other j and in admiring one, they admired both. <-.

4- They txprefle their admiration in this, that they will undertake cftablifhing of Laws from the Sea of Rome, and perfection of fuch godly perfons at did not fubmit! luch ai1 were different in their minds from the Catholick Church, if they never fo little fwerve from that, thev undertook to execute the Laws of the Church:And if the Church declared him him to be an Heretick, there was ■aooowcodo, theCjmmon.wealth prefently but him todeath: And as they took upon them perfection of their Subjefts at home, fo the Subjt6U took upon them to depofe their Princes, and might depofe them, if thev would not fubmit their power to the Pope, fo that there was no fubfifting without fubmitting to them And which is a branch of this, they undertook * vaft andcoflly War abroad, againft the common Enemy the Turk* whereas in very deed, whilft the Pope (lands, it is „c« pc^bleany Wa^ould profperagainft him, lor it Wa, for the finne of R.OTe that the Turk w*i advanced, a barbarous and beaftly Enemy, topunifl, a beaftly Reli-j0n . This was their admiration. ■ e

JndalltbewiTUmndtredafiertbeBeaflA Hemeaneii a. h.

the world, they were not of the world, though theylivedfri «: buttbofe in the world thitwew'of the worldT thevdd honourtbis beaft, and were ttJAw'uJJ^yJJ' Motion» A« CktholickGhirch: Ww^Tfcy il th. V world,

Chap. 13. ibelkirleembCbapteroftbcRwchtion.

51

world, Imeane all the Cluiflian world, which was the vifible face of the world, the repu;ed world ; Thefe barbarous Na* liens were not then fo owned; but as for-the Eiftern world, they were all willing to give way to this tranlcendant Usurpation of the Bifcopof Reme-in a generall Cuuncell at Afia: They looked at the reigning and lmperiall City of Rome , as the chieftft Seate of the Catholick Church, the hightft throne of that Church, and were content that jio Councell ihould be ratified but by him : If hee ratified a Councell in fo many Canons, it was tftablilhed j if he did not, then tbey were not; and the Emperors were willing it (hould be fo, becaufe they found infufficiency in themftlves to maintaine the Royal City of Rome againft barbarous Nations: And therefore they thought it State-policy to maintain theBiftiop of Rome, and let him grow up to as great power as he could j It was as they thought, the prefervition of their State ( but it was indeed their ruine) fo they willingly give their power to the beaft: Now the barbarous Nations that had not forfaken the Country, and had builded them houfes, they that were not driven out fas many refted in fome parts of the Empire) they willingly clofed with"fuch a Religion as was pretty favoury to their apprehenfions , they begin to comply with it, and put their necks under it. Cbarlet the Great having received the Kirigdome of France from the Pope, he did his btft endeavour to bring the people to yeeld themfelves, but the people were fomewhat fowr and rugged that way to be wrought upon : Therefore the Pope had mother fophiftry to helphimtelie; He fends three Apoftles, Gregory the Great, he was one Apoftle that he fent for England, and he brings great Reformation, that is, he fway t the whole State to the Bifoop of Rome, and thofe that would not yeeld were miferably flaughtered. And Bonifacius he did the like in Genevab, and in France3 and Denmark?> and Germany, And where ever the ~ world was Chrftun, it was now Catholick, all fubmitted to the Church of Rome; and fo by this means all the world admired him, they received doftrine and worflrip from Rome, they will goe for pardon of Sin thither: They Snake Pilgrimages to Rome, Appeals to Rome; From thenec they receive Hi their

5*

Chap, i j.

AnlExpt>{t\ian yp0ri Verf.

their fundament*I CoiiftrrucKini Hi a „/ ; 7;—". —~

fore h* ruled all ibe Churches and «.«,a . J L ~ T on Emh: Thus did ,1] cl,ewori"woSrIfcStf it ^

dingl, ,dn>.R hu power, *fc* %J*.,fa B^H^ll bktowfkemmwhbun)1;i,no *, M„adon* ' ™° »J an attributing to the B-jft, that which is d-cu ar ,«r J

full power and boline fle it is now added to the Pnn, . wf : % wno tfe Be„Jr > who » able to make mm »Ml^ftl, '?

found, tfuc whenfome of the Greri™ pm„- 2 '? .

given their power to the & 3ZVivfa„SS?5a,,wd ( a, they did not love to t,fee upSZ ^fr

him of hi. Empire, and gim ,t t?SST^d. *£7 way theKingdomeofFww. Dar« h-m inJT m « moye.FrerferW fi.ft and feS ? Tu M"niftery>r<"

great men, and giwfrMbwJ „f.iJS , J!f Th.ouel1 If .fey6..1k„«,<l fi£rrtJpo«* Zft>. ""fS?*** •

Chap. Jj. the tttrtoetub Chapter of the Revelation/

13

E2ve it to him, and he did what he would to thofe thwwere on the earthj this is great-power; They proMe,if their hoJy Father carry uuny millions of foules to Hell, yet no man niuft fay.Siri why do you fo\- All appeals were from Mm, fo that there is tranf cendant, foveraign power, an d indctd divine fuch at no man c»n attaine 5 Power to pardon fin, power to bind Confidence, to difpence with the Law of God, to interpreeandjudg of Scripture as he feesciule, and thins fuch power, as is far above the reach of man : None of them all have fuch power as he, not thofe thai are carfed Gods; So they admire his power, whit he can do to inward or outward man, to publiqae or private States. .And they do not ohly admire the Catholick Church, and the head of it, and adore them Vbut in both theft they adore the Dragon that g*ve all this powel to the Beaft. The meaning may be otpreft in two branches. . . „

The Dragon is expreflid as animating heathen Rome, "for that hath feven beids and ten horns, which are the armes, both of heathen Rome, and of thtt Beaft : Now he is called the Dragon.a* he acted heathtn- Rome, and as he wis Lord of heathen Rome, he gat* all thts power to the Pope i For they thought it meet? fincrit was the Imperiall City when it was Pagan, that therefore it mould beth« mother of all Churche. : Amfbemgthe Imperial City,it was the bloud-fucker of many mxlhons of the foulsof Gods fervants, tbatcaufed the Dragon to out that honour upon Rome2. But that Knot all, Thereis another branch comer neererthefull meaning of the T<xt5 thatwa* for the honouringoftheBifhopof■Rtye, and'oftheCathohcIc Church, viz. takinganother doftrineforAeGofpeU. their IdoUtryforpureworlhip, ^g^gdM tbadifciplineof Chrift, the.r pardons tor Juftlfication offfonejy Chrift, lnallthi,A«y ^X^Clma worlhiD to the Dragon, fbrwhatare altthefe butlma«f«Sy are none of God. Ordinance* •, if you referre £to theh*adsof Scripture, theyarebut Image.of Ghrifti nfleadofthe MinifteryofGhrifr, yo*h.wj£

-' .' ■

■■;;; M_: -^

54

Chap. 13. u

Aa Expofiiun upon

*' 1$k**

Chap. 13. tfce iMrtewrffc Chapter of tbe Revelation.

55

flrines of men j In fle*d ot juftification by thejighteoufneffe of Crtrift, you have jufttbcation by work-in ftead of pard >n of Sin from Chtfftjyou have it from mie.Pppe} Alj things are in another fonue, an Image of another forme fet up, dcvifed, contrary to what the. word eft> bljlhcth ; Now youfiull finde this to be true; if you doc vary from the kingdome of God, andChrift, then you worfhip the Dragon : You read in tPbron. 11*15. Je' rtboam ordained him Pnefts, for the high places, and for the Devils, and for the Calves, which he had made : he had no Preifts but for the golden Calves, and what were they } they were butimages, and his intendment was not to bring in another, objeft of worfhip, but another .manner of worfhip \ Jeroboam worfhiped Jehovah in Images, which God had not appointed, and fo he worshipped the Divil!, and not God. And you Jhall read, when the Turfy was brought in to revenge the Idolatry of Chriftendome, Rev. 9.20. It is faid, The people that mere not cutoffvitb »fce otogne, tbey repented not of the wor^e oftbeir b(tndft that tbey jbould not mrjbip Devils, and Idoh of Gold aid Silver) and krajfe, and Stone, and of »o<i</, which neither can fiet wrfcwr, norn»a/^ : which (hew, tha, -vUtrn . men worfhip Images, that is, God in images; ichuuc God that is fowor (hipped, but the Divill, and all fuch. worfhip doth not advance the kingdome of Godrbuc the kingdome of the Dsyill , therefore itureall honour to him : and therefore this their taking all this vafl honour ( all Churches receiving all from them ) is. none of Gods Institution, but the Devils pra&ice, for it was the Ptvill that gave him hit power and great authority s Therefore faith the holy Ghofl, tbey worfbiped the Dragon who gave power unto tbeBeafl, and tbey vorfbipped the ie*/f;This worfhip of the beaft they gave it air to him that gave this power to him, which was to theDngon; and thcrfore you read that he had thekey of the bottomleffepit, Rev. 9..1, a. Andbeopenedthe bottomleffe pittand there arofe afmokf out of the pit, as tbefmokfofagreat furnace» andtbere came M tftbe fmokp locufti upon tbt earth:

There

Tb=re went out Monks 8t Friars , and a rabble of all fu»

Now'ifybu (hallaske the reafon why peopleopon thehealing of this wound djdfo mightily admire both the whole Catholick Church, and the head of it, and adore botb,_and Satan himfelfe in both? The reafon was,

Fii ft, from the wrong Interpretation of tome Scriptures, j^/fa f which were very frfquenc with them in thofe dayef, and are flill; and that was, that the Catholick Romin Church war builded upon a rock, and that rock was the Bilhop of Rome; and into his hand the Lord Jefus. hy Pe/er had given the keys of the kingdome of Heaven, and thefe keys hadabfolute univerfall power to bindeon Earth, and upon hit binding on earth.Chrift would bind in heaven.-this was an error in ludgment that did fo poffefie their hearts, that upon^he healing of this wounded head, all the world did admire him: Therefore BeBarmine makes a large difcourfe * Behold, I lay mZion a chief corner /rone, and tbty tbatuufi in bim (ball never be confounded ; and fo never was there any man that was an enemy>to the Catholick Church, butwas confounded j-nor never did any man ftand for the Catholick Church, but was prefervtd: and fo they did admire him $ A great inundation of barbarous Nations were all driven out by the piety of the BiQiop of Rome •, they were able to ovcrtorh the Emperors of the Eaft (and it was overturned) and bring them to histeetj and all to be at hiidifpofing j«This wasfome confirmation to. them, that he was the fucceffor of Peter, that now whoever ir ftved, it muft be by the power of this key, or elfe never I00K for any faving in this world. . p

A fecond reafon may be taken from the correfpondency Reafon 2, andplaufablehefTeoffuchakiBdeof Religion and Governmenitocarnall reafon, efpecially when it is fubduedIby anyterrors ofconfeeence : fork was afeafon (and that held many years togetner) wherein the Pritffs,Friers, and Monks, had marvellous power to ffing the confeiences of men with the loathfomneffe of their finne in the fight of God, and iheyhad admirable dexterity therein : Thefe foure thing, were all the nutter of their Sermons, Ver tue and vice, Heaven

St

Chap. 13;

Anfixfofijim Hjipn

Jerf.

3A

Hftd^4l} l^ypyrb|« yerjuous,\tfeenyou (hallgoto fcavcn; |f you be vicious, then you' rhuffgo tojlelf: Npw they ii^uyfo^ppv.k^ipepspgprciencMj and upon conviiftipn bipfiefhF f9P$e#jqe under terror, as eternally (hut out of flfiaven. for wa^t,of yhsue, which jthey had not j ;that indterj when tncfc mens 'confeitne^s arc thus perpltx.^ and |vpi}n» ded,. [jfreisa &$gtpjuhat findesthein fp many faiyei'and ^ Difdflcjnes, as fifcffjf power, bj« «9? remove the caufe of the

4\&{fi '$'',ibp,t"»they fet men a courfe} well, though yogb$ yifipus, and though Hell be dreadfull, yet Purgatory may cafe you by Prayer, and yqu may be dtfpentjcd with from gp. ing to fjell, efpecially by the Popes pardon, or by your own wprkes, by youjxpnfeifions, by felfe-whippings and fcourging|, pr by go)(ng a Pilgrimage, you may be dijfehargedpf tbit burden j Tfr> was very plaufable to catnajl reafpn, «fpecially u they gave fp much to fuch a Monaftery, that they may offer ft many Sacraments for them (for they look at the bre^d in tlje Lprfti ftpper as a prgpiatpry Sacraipen j:) heje wercjtpmany means to fititfie the cpnfciehces pfthpfctbaj were fuperftitpuf, as nptbing «>uld oe^vifed to give better content tp the (pirns of men jn thofe (Jayes : any man that fcnowei jt, (hall find* »c Vtfe» £j»at Wn«n «*? ajaifciejice is terrified with the curfe of {Sods, Law, and never (hewed the true way of fyUowQiip with Chru% no man is fp tender and PQnfcionipl* fn fhe performance pf ajl duties as fhey •" jfyou wjjl haw tbfflj kilfethj poDesfoqt, or jjjyefp much to a Mona&ry s and by tbh means rj«l (hall be (hup againg them, and Purgatory 4lfcharg?d : But for aflurance of Salvation in Chrift, they could not endure that $ they that flood fpr rjjat, they tell jcbcm,., what,ypu will not hav^njen ijoe gppdworkei, a way wjth that, faggPMndhal^rfQrfuft Hereticka. Reofon a. Tbjrdjy* t&ere was a fbird Reafpn, am| that was froth the great reverence of aj I C}unc«l|s, and Synod; to the Sea of

2Uaje, jhe Qity $f ftome jigcj W9M l9 ^5 *he imperjall City, now in fucb acpff 91 tbjs th,ey tb,pugju Ubutreafpnable j' In heatbenifli r\oo<eth1ey gave all ^grfljfptxi tbem, anfjfc'" Cnrjftian Roipf givjc, a.11 (heir worfhip tp thjr chfijf Head ^h

an^ fp lee

jere, and

Chap. 13; lie tbirteeittb Chapter pftbe Revelation.

and fo to thejr mother Church, all Catholiclu would incourage others fo tp doe; and fo by this means there were fuch inconragementslaid for admiration and adoration, that you may not wonder at what the holy Ghoil faith, thtl when the woutti wdbealed, all the icorld mndred after the beajli faying, who it like unto the beafl ? who it able to make war with him ? Not the Emperors of the Eaftand Weil, not the King of England, France, Spain, nor all that have been of greateftforce, they were none of them able to hold up their heads againft this great Btaft. The ufe of this point is thus much j

Firft, you may obfetve from hence, that Univerfallty, and Prosperity, though they be given for two notes of a true Church by the Papifts, yet indeed they are but fopiftfcall, deceitful! deJufions j Theyarenotfuchmarksofa Church as are peculiar to a true Church ; here is Univerfality, All the world reondredafter the beafl ; and here is Profperity, all the world adore, and admire the Beaft 5.Who it like unto the beafl ? who it able to make war with him ? Not all the Princes of the world : So that here is externall profperity, for fp they call it; here are both thefe concur, and they doe indeed argue a Catholick Church, as Bellarmme faith 5 but note this, that Catholick Church which is vifible, (which is the Roman visible Catholick Church ) the Scripture holds it forth as a great, and ugly, and monflrous Beaft : look not therefore at thefe as any good marks and fignes, by which Jefuites , and Seminaries are wont to draw to deep devotion to the Catholick Church, for all the world have run this way, there is but a handfull, a few of fuch at are otherwife minded; wbtt4t Genevab and fome others to Rower what have they been able^to doe in cpmparifon of the Church of Rome, which it theChurch of Churches, none have been able to doe as they. \

Secondly, we may fee the dinger of this admiratioii, and adoration, the deadly and defperate danger of adoring the Catholick vifible Church and the Dragon. It is the cunning ottheieTfieftsand Jefuites to draw men by all means to be at lead devoted to the Catholick Church, tndtb fubtnit their power tb«reanto j for they fay there U D9 union with V ■ "■ I Chrift

57

Vfe 1.

Vfe

5«

Chap. ij.

VJk*

Ghritchehead ixnltffeyoa*cunited td.the viuWeheedon* Earth-J| thiiuAwufu.llpier: Nownurkewhat thehol?

M« are devoutly adifed to give up f heir foulito the iSil J when theygive up thtmfcfve. td the Catholickc vifiUe

th y profefTehonourtphe-Saint. andfl1c?.^DM;/Bdd„d

of them,, g«vtn unto the Devill, and not to Qod. That look 3£ r/'^of heaths R^, JohH{flh J™«* Xo/iw } «»7/<prf ftnh the Apoflle, 1 Cor. i0. 20. That the

AndIfoch- fed. %te the holy ApofUe'(cquall toXl' file Pad, or next him, but here guided equally with Paul in the Auth.ntlcal word ofGod) nWh, XlbZorfb^Td

Vcvih,mdmtGod- tbey^^tbt^n^ldSerfeiuZ that .t MtfcfiUc 1.matter ?, Gallant, at'Coort,andgrm K.ng.apprenend, they will be reconciled to their mlthr Church, they wUlgoe a Pilgrimage thath devifedbythe

them^haye their bead-prayer, 5 In all this what do they

?i?5?" 1" °/ ?'rthty ^'"M worlhlp the Dragon; k knotrhe Lord Jefo, nor Godthe Father, northtbleffed

»K7rf4y»vh\AIyi'efVetoteach,1,» tobleflethenameof the Lord, thathathdeliveredus from tbi.admiration and

toour Father! have been enthralled j All thofc ofthem a^K^T^** ^bookpflife, they were £&^h,i?^a^,t\affl"^^»*KvVrancethatGod litv «d0^tf0^H!L.Ukin,6 "* ^figionfromumWa

£%£££?■ K^iTS** li »fon»«i«n« « fnare so Cluffflaji^thukintkof Government that we have, and

they

Chap. 13V tbe thirteenth Cbafteroftbe Revelation.

Tney ate apt to Uy what doe any of the great Nation, of the world forwotfoip and Government ^did youever know any fuch thihgauthorifed in any ftngdome There « an inwardtflnciple in uv by nature.** doe a.all the worlddoe: wbati are *e more wife then they > It li a great temptation,

rancTforiu ; Butwhatif.il the world did worftip the De. viljra»time.waWhen.theydidfWhat.falLtheWoHdworfolpthe.Baft, and the Dragon that gave power to the Beaft, Lftwedoefo ? Andastheyarenot^groujeiBofourwor. nS\ Co thev are fit grounds of unfeigned tnankfolneuY to

the world waibewitched to give their Crownei,-Honourt, fieW-bd St«e,tothedevotto«6fthev.fible C«hoUcfc ?S ahdtotbeheadofihacthurdu:. Ji «c«if«QMW*-,

MdewoiAmll«,M^eLorfhathdeSh«dhiolfeirinChnft^

aBanheld4iimHorthiB*cOef^f^u*--n^'iir^ml^i

iConrthiy, l«itft.chtf *&«*«*tdlbrftofeouradmin*

tiorrandSoWtlon ; It wti«<Aai»*atonrS»yiour gave

t^heDivlS! Cihdwhltha«!brdiriglyh*ha^lfpraajed>

/• !. '\&L* *. w* ire to woHhip4iim alone,and no t»od but

7.i8.afla*mcn inev^ ^ , why ,^4, [thereinM*1

groundswbiiivGofuK10"0,*. %Ll*1 «i<»«.»t J»fcjBi«4< Fbit youfo tnagnifiehim Ik*" ?^f/°Wj?S

59

T//e4.

6o Chap. 13.

An Bxfo/ition upon

V^Jvf.

They admire and adore the Pope, why ? Btcaafe they had fatiifadion to their confidences in their way, and an ungrounded hope of a better ftatein another world, and pardon of Stone in this, and now they come to feMow&ip with cbxifl by the worfhip of the Devill : \.Butwbo it a Godlike unto tbte that yiTdmttb'Mqiuiy, Tranfgrejjion, and Stone ? So that here is indeed matter of due admiration, and let it be fanned there. When a mans foul is brought low^wkhtheAnceof Sinne* andoyerpoured with the burden that lyes upon hiiconfci! enceby rcafonuf the guilt of Sinne j what it matter of admiration now r vbo it <t God % unto thee, that paffetb by Iniqui.' tyttranfgTeJIio^&fn? It is not the Pope of Rome that can take away fin, it is not all the cunning of the Dragon that can do; it:: Ahd therefore to what end are all the admirations, and w«r<hips*bat areiput npon the Biftop of Rome and the Dragon that gave him his power > They may pleafe tbemfelvci in what fatisfaction they apprehend they haye, but their own principles poflcfTe them, tbatihrycafi nev«r*dtae to fee the; admirable goodntfle of Godjiiforgiving their. #nnes. , But now when the Lord/heds abroadAfpirit of tgracf and peace in the confcicnce, and applycs thegoodneffe of Chrifl to the difcharge of the burden of Sinne, and of quickning the heart in the peace of ChriftJeQis, this breeds admiraiion : Bkfftd k.Go4 thfatbewfatycy* w4GfilofM^latloni that am akmdmmtTybiih^gttUnimH'm Ha live}}hope;, J fay this Meffiog it worthy of admtra.ciqn.nndnotoncly of wonderme?H, but of acknowledging all glory and blcucdnea to him. When the confidence is not pacified byaforry duty done fromman^botbya fealed pardon from thefpiritof God* witnefled by tie breath oltfine,bpJyrGhpfrj tbisii foch aV raercyto the fyulera* indeed f«|&tb the heart above aU admiratioa offuch a Beaft,I*«Qa troedeteflatioirofthisBeaft and of {he Dragon that hathfo long bewitched, and carried them captive to the imaginations of their own hearts, and in tbeendtotheictrerldling perdition. But Jet it be the care of Gods people i(« ever yo»dtfireto;be Wefled from the admiration of fueh a worm-eaten Religion, fogrowto an adaption of the God of mercy and grace : andfpn/eftall.

"~*~ do«

Chap. 13. the thirteenth Chapter of the Revelation. doe that upon juft grounds, which our Fathers did without founds, tPoth!s Blaft, and to the head of it. Upon thj I round, this bead being wounded, and afterwards healed, all fhe world wondred after him : Here xs an Image ofChrift, hewa,m*nded to death, and bnie^ly wound was healed :tniht rifcth againe.andheproclaims all power is given1 him,, m H avenand Earth , Now fee how this Vicar of Chnft (as dVey callhim j afurp. 5 asChr* was wounded,and1. rifen againVj fo K is with thil Beaft, he is wounded to deathsand al,rw«d. healed andreftored, and now &*""}** m re and worfliip him ; Have they forgotten that Cbnfl dyed

(hey fano-a^mWngatthis Beaftashethat was wounded,and

theLord, for the great change that is wrought in Chriftendome! and 1« us give the Lord the admiration that» due to him th« we may be preferved from thofe delufions, whereSoShavebeeS deqeivedand m.ygoeon in this way ToXVly which the Lord hath eftablUhed, and called ui unto*

61

ReveL

ihap. 13.

Ait E*fofitht$ MpM

V«rf. 5.^

Revel. 13. 5,6, .

And there was given nnto HiMa nronth Jpea^ng great thingst and blafphemiestandpwer was given unto him toconttnne forty andtteomomths.

And he opened hit month in blafyhtikies tgainjl ^odt ttf

bUf^hmehihiameyindhis^aberiitfck^andthtm that, dviellinhetot*.

*T*A E eventsthat followed upon the healing of the Beaft} |L the fiiff was,, ibdt all \ik world admited him. Tjie fsCtirid was,; VnimMJ»0ipiiveab<itb ft) the Veofi, }andin t&tfragon thai[gave power to ibebeafc of which wechave already fpoken. the thjrd event reMafris how to be fpoken to, ittd that is, the dcligation of power to (bis Beaft, upon his recovery, and thepowtr given him li four-fold.

1. There was poVeV"gi}renhirtj to jtptkk gfeat things, and inparticiiUr,grtitiilafphehiiei. . v "' *■'•':•: '

2. There wm power given him to continue, this is, as the word fignifics, to be doing, to be a£Hve, to be powerfull and efficacious in his worke 4a. monetbi.

3. Tiere was power given bim f» malf war witb tbe Saints, and totvercome them.

4; P6wer was given bim of dominion over all Kindreds, tongues and Nations. '

Firft, T&ere was given bim a mouth fpeakjng great things.

Secondly, there was power given bim to continue 42. monetbs, and both thefe Authorities or Liberties, they are amplified by the effeft it wrought in the Beaft THe d!tf **cYiia11yTakr that power which was given him, and employed it to the utmoft. Ai he had a mouth given him, fo he opened his mouth in blafphemies, and that amplified by theobjtftof hisblafphemyagainftGod,andGoddiftnbuted,his Name, his Tabernacle, and thofe that dwell in Heaven. The note then that the words do afford firft, is this.

Votfr. 1. ThatafteribebetlingoftbewoundedbeadoftbeBeafl,tberew4s

given to bim power to fpeai^ff eat things, even blafphemies, which

alfi

Chap. 13. tbe tbirttentbCbtpttr tftbe Rcvelatlwu

*3

air0 he did effeQwlly and tbtrndrntlyenercife^T put forth.

For foil i» here faid, Tbere w» given bim a mouth fpea^ng ma\ tbinci and blafphemies, and he opened hit mouth accordinetyl abundantly againft God, and againft his name, and his Tabernacle, and them that dwell in Heaven : Everything ofGodhedid with open mouth blafpheme.

Let me a little open the words, and the Doftrine, for the doftrme it in a manner the words of the Tixt. •

there Wit given bim a mtwb. J what mouth had he more then other men > The meaning is, he had fuch liberty of fpeech as no man had j Ibere was given bim liberty, and power7 wdmbority to (peakgreal things.

Given fcim.]bywhomf , ", ,

1 It was given him by God in hujuft judgment that gave uprnentoef5:acyofdelufions,2Tfce/:a.ii.

2 It was given him by Saun, in the emcacy of whole power Antichtift comes, witb alt deceivablenelfeofmrigbteouj

2' It was given him by the general 1 confent of Princes and Stat'esEcclefiafticallandCWill. In Ecclefiaflicall CounceU, ereat was the authority that was given him, noneof all them fhouRht themfelves equall to him: And for the Civ.ll State, God put it into their hearts to give their power and Throne

unto the beaft, Rrti.17.17- ... "" , .. *

: What power did they give him to fpeak great things, and in particular blafphemies? It is an allufion to the horn in Van 2 8. Ibere came-up a tittle borne.which bad a mouthfpeaking mat things; whether it be the fame Beaft, or a type of him, I will riot now Hand to determine, but great things he fpoke; aindeedthiswa. a great thing that the C.tholick Church had power to fpeak , for he did open hi. mouth to fpeak greaf thingi. that it. fuch things, as for other men to fpeake,

weret^

dinateVata-glory; butfbr this Church, or the head of it

tofoeak they had a mouth given for the farte parpofe.

AndBUlpbrnie,.'] They m.kem.ny diftinaion. in School* of Blafphemies, which I will not trouble you with t they maybebroughttotwoheads, eitherm a"nbu«nf^°etg^

mmu*r***t '■ '* ^f-f

^1 "^

t?4 Chip. 13.

An Exfofitm ufan

Verf. 5,6.

fometbing unworthy of him, ihingiincompitibkto his divine nature, win AUs 17.29. Itisblafphemytoafcribeto God likeniffe of four-footed beafts, or creeping things, and the like. Or otherwise, if you attribute to the Creature that which properly doth belong to God, you hurt the name of God, and crufhtt when you fo fpeak. Now what is it for the Bead to open his mouth, to fpeak great things and blafphemics ? The phrafe is very figuificant in the Hebrew: It implies three things.

1. That a man fpeaks upon the meditation : He opens his mouth to fpeak, that is to fay, he hath fometbing to fay, and power to deliver it, and he fets himfelfe of purpofe to fpeak it: I will open my mouth in wi(domet mi the mtditathn of my heart paU be of understanding, Pfal. 4?. 3,4. He tells you of his meditation, and then he will open his mouth,and declare it.

a. To open the mouth implies an audabie, and full, and bold, and confident expreffion of a mans minde, that a man doth not whifper, but lift up his voyce, and declare witho> pen mouth what he hath to deliver; as in Exorf.3.23. Ofen thy mouth md tell them, that is, fpeak boldly: Though they be a rebellious People, and will brow-beate thee , yetofen thy month, and ffeak? unto ibem j fpeak boldly, and confidently, at one that goes not hchind the door , but fpeaks plainly: And I put in plainly with boldneffe, becaufc they are ever conco- . mitants. If a man fpeak boldly, he doth not extenuate what he hath to deliver, but fpeaks it plainly.

3. This opening of the mouth doth imply that hec fpeaks fully and abundantly, his heart was full of it, and he doth accordingly powr out that which he delivers: As Elton tells you in Job 31. 18,19, *o. I am full of matter, the ffirit within me confirainetb me: Behold my belly is at wine which bath no vent, it is ready to burfi % new butler, &c. So the meaning is this, That as the Pope faw ( which was the head of this Beaft) that he had a mouth given him; that is, uncontrollable liberty to fpeak.what he would: He did hot fodainlyor rafhly fpeake, feme inconfiderate, or erroneous, or arrogant fpeech which lie did cite in agalne; but he fpake advifedly in his grave and confederate Couneell, upon advifed judgment be did fpeak

great

Chap. 13. the thirteenth Cbaftef of the Revelation.

great things and blafphemiei: And this he did plainly and boldly, not in ambiguous or obfeure phrafet, but plainly infuchexprtlfionaas could rxare no other meaning; and that witb fucb confidence, that you may fee he cared not who heard, nor what Conftruftion might be made of it. And this he did, not in a wo;d or two that dropped from bim, but as flowing from him j Hee was full of matter, as 2 Cor. 6.11. Oye Cormtbitnt, our mouth it open to you, out heart it enlarged. He did poure forth his matter with no littie State; it was flout matter that he did poure forth to the world. What did hee fpeake? that which was given him to fpeake. What was that 1 Great thing/. Asforinftance, to fum up the great things he fpeaks : The Catholick Roman Church in Scripture is accounted tbewofber of Harlots, and abomination of the earth, Rev. 17.5. Therels not fucb an adulterous Church in the world.

i." And yet is not this a great word and a great blafphmy, for the mother of Harlots to hold forth her felfe as the only immaculateSpoufeof Cbrift.upoh the face of theEirth r Is not this a grand word for a common Harlot, the mother of Harlots, the lewdeft Harlot that ever the earth bore, for her to arrogate this ftile as the only Churdh of Chrift ? And that which is parallel to this, that the Pope ( who is the head ofihUBtaft) istheheadand Husband of this Church, and is without cbntroule: He hatb a mouth given him , and he is not afljamed to fpeak great things, and blafphemtes.

2. It is a great word to make himfelfe the infallible Interpreter, and abfolute judge of. Scriptures, that cannot erre in derifion, or determination of any controverfits of Religion ; nor rhay it be for any mortall man to controll his judgment nor practice.

In Judgment he cannot erre: in praflice , though he may erre, yet other men maybe judged ; but God hath put fuch an uncontrollable power upon him, as- he thinks that none may meddle with him j Though befliould carry millions of foulcs to Hellj yet no man rottftfay,Sir, why doyou fo: Councils may not judge , Princes may not judge, inferiour States may not judge him, all the world may not judge him; K He

*5

■^«P.W!.L.W ■": .>','!>

66

ChaP.I3:.' ' VV^ J^^fjaBJyftn

V<rf« 5>6.

He itin^ Mdijl, to .M»fi*w>nifti, pi, owne wcll.ftudied

bit jud|f,p.{%ipWtf, and■to.fciwtontrolhblt5it ila ereat matcer^nd^er^anymiacan r{a,h 0- ,N {K ^ any c*rihJy Princ? eb,lleng«I,at hecould not erre, nor that none mufl: control! bin if he «M: There have been Laws made tocontrojl thegF„ttft P^m:MbvekdHezztf m, taught

wgPgoe*way rewarded, , / V?:1 '-?w

3, The C^olicfc Church, and the Pope is the head of it, claiitKi a power ofJ}indmgand loofing. To bind mens con! faencti^hnb*.., and to le-ofc mSna confdence, by his Iidu^encfMDd ^at not mimfterially, as Winter, do from * '! ivA A' to *J«* W POW.^ to diflblye the bond of natqraUdWience.inceftuou.Marriage*, Oaths'and Covenants in Marriage; N«ur»l relation, between Parents and Children, and m,Prali Relation, between Prmce^nd si

l.berty^h^canqotKfitatqc; And this not over k'ffio^ly butoyerthfYaftworldfofcr asitisCbriftian And mJS IJw5«rW".hi!0*«»fpMkei (andhefpeafces it not behind the door) when he.ch.Hengeth Sbverargh dominion (in way of aaWment of Relig£„ > over allfegdZ, £

cobefetch^from Rpae Cn«»u In formerdnTJE?

h^plfa/W Heopene/hiimonth to fpeak grL thfnET~ »!

N™ |»^fP?aJfr«,eat things,;fo blaXphemea againfl God

gaM<^d,na.m^to.attr|bntedlthefedIvrne^ Mlym^toAgreatt^eaft. AndltisbkfpheWwcrfbe any d,vine honour, o. to put it apon *,'*£&° £$,

ferved,

Chap.! 3. the thirteenthOh^if* fe fttvcjadqn.

S3thtfholj GfcrV cart! bl«fptfy,^?. ^ fy i. blafoberted toe upon every grieh bUl And iii Eze^ a o. 17,:

have blafoberted toe xj>« every green auu n»u mjs*^. iu,»?,28.

tn tbdttdoUlriii. rn flfdf. a. ?. fcFtyAl* M. m» fftMbtjfbt-. nies f #ho tan fotgiveflki kt Godonely f ft were to fpwk Maf. phemyinanybuiinChrH1. _ . .

* Secondly, ftlf/fi^to Tr*erwefc ,tha: may be either, meant the body ofChriK, as rJobni^HetabernacUdamonifl w Or ftmay be meant the vifible Churches, fuchasareinitituted by him. Fpr the body crfChrlft, is is blafphemy. to go toevery MiffePfieft, to make him the body and blood oi oar Saviour X)r H you undtrftand the Tabsrnacle lo be the Gharchj thath the Terittdfl of God, 1 Or. 3,16. Now to call the Church of Chrift a Conventicle of Hereticki and Schifmaticks, it is blafphemy, and fo t^ity count all the Cnurcfcciherc: And for the Siints in heaven, to put upon them divine worftip, to build Tuples to them, to ia> up Pnyera to them, to keep Holy-dayes to:them, it u blrfpsemt/to theiDv it if a g«t diftooour. M and Birntbt, when ihey faWThen to come and offer (*eriuce to them , Men mi brethren vby doe you tbefe Migif you cannot do us a greatednjury. And for theSafotsIn heaven, that«, pureChurchs, he condemns them for Hemic**, and^Schjfmaucb, and ataritfortfcy of Chriftian communion, and Chnfttan burial, thefearebfafphftntes: So youice the meaning of this Scr.p

KfeefceG^^

Hemn: Thus hath he done many yeares, and thus doth hee

ft,!rToWfoi't&efe4foriofthepoiheiyoufee the point ftir.eij

utfort two brancher. Jt.

i. That njchpo^eYwisgiveti him.

i. That he did effectually arid abundantly, put it bit\ He WeH&mtti: Lettnee give the reatons of both. 1. Why fuch'pO*ttttargWehbinv,uwas .

Pirff.froitt'Obd1, in.hifjun judgement to pupilh the untharikfull, world that" received riot the love of the trutb^ therefore the Lord gave them over to efficacy of dehftrnt to believe

h

Red/on

6% Chap. 13.

An Exfofition[upon

Verf.5,<J.

hmfuch men a. came with the fubdainlwwd offil»» J

/0,,a' c/^0ndRrf ""fr0"1 Satan, forGodtfoncurrcd and

S EIS™"^ ™lChr?ian Pflnce» conned hereb Satan concurred for this reafon, that he might be avenged of

anddethronedhimfrom hi.divine power : Th.twhJS wai the great God of the world , ™dikGodonr?£u puny Godof the fcfcNailoiiii'i^|ff#?Sff"S,;tt trnfton, builite.Twdor&«^rfS.dmlS G°du° v«omeoftheoidD,vjJhthTpnot;:^SSR*

mdhe»mfpak4ho„tcontroll * ■"to**,

Another reafon that binda Satan fit >r.rn..& i-" '•

dethroned him. and caft him «»*tAi • wom«n had thus

and root her our from the face of rh« earth^S*?"* *aft, and tojMtta, mouth to fpeaIceTboId^n«

But

Chap. 13. tfee thirteenth Cbofter of the Revelation.

But why will Chriftian Prince, be fo prodigall, to fubmU themfelveitohim: God had committed to them thescare of J Cburche., thatallChurche. (boaId live peaceably and mtcdy under them,!* all godlinef. and honcny: why would tTeyfodegenerate/andfoffcrtheBimopof Home foto arroMteandfreakfuchgreatblafphemies * Thereafon. were, BTKfe tbeylere ignorantly blind. , Uwa. .tin,, of palpable darkneffc, darknefle that might be felt: From the n nthCemnary to the tenth, bothProteftant and Pop.ft Dl£S, tnathad no. fome lived in the 800. year,

d nTeluflndyeareafterGhrift they nionldnothm known whathadbecnedone in the nine hundred, a whole hundredy«ar« together: Men were fo full of'duknefl. and Eomh* that fcarce any fei pen to paper to ullniwhtt SXeintbofedarktime.; thatmrndid «**™'$» >"eprinciPle.ofChriflUnity, muchleffew««able todifc?m of Cafe, of Church-governmcnt, or the imftctie:ogodHntffe which nqnbei more diligent attendance : And thence

wa tha the, were fo taken with the pretended clay me. of

Sh^

tw«bailtuponaRock, and had the key. of Pefw, and he

k»ZdZtbeUofedoneartb tm loojcd inbjwn , that had Ee not been palpable groffe ignorance, it had not been pofml2%fc$«0ffinnldhavebeen fufferedtocomein

And a fecond thing that moved them wa. the ftr.nge foe. ceffcof the Beaft in recovering of hi. wounded.head j for that n^e bTmwondcra^

tail wound fo throughly healed; They thought, had tt not been above the power 0?mortal, men, it had not beta poflible Soo^Vene«nhe.kd. but certain y ^™W™ above mortall men ink, and that is the reafon in the Text WgIv.btaamouthtofpeakgreattbing,,tofpeakwh«hee

W Andfa third reafon why Prince, gave Mw,****' devout fuperflition; many were convinced by Mjtchmlun doUcv, of their great fin., and they had in thofe daye. a no

69

Rtafon 1.

Reafon 1,

Renfoti 3,

j6_ Chap. 13.

An Etfeftihn upon

V<t(. 5,6.

conkKBCcs like aCocluiricej Rt». 9.5. and then they would" do any thing for eafe out of the bondage they lay underjj and this wit a great meanes; Then thsy directed them to give fo much to fueh a Monailery, or to goe a Pilgrimage, or fdft , fuch a rime, and fiich devotion which- a rnans own unfancti* ried heart could reach : That when this Beaft fptaks great rhing*, that he can pardon linne, and hi* Shavelings will take a courfe for redeeming fouls, and preferving them ouc of hel, this was fuch fatlifaftiontothem, thacycu need not Wonder if all Princes gave their Kingdoraes to the Bead : And fp having advanced him as fupream over them all,he hath a month he may fpeak what he will; Princes rcay make Laws on this hand or on thac jbut if they do not fuite with him, they are difannolled : And (hey rnuft be reconciled to the mother Ghurcb, and fo this Harlot give* them all to her, and hath a mouth fpesking great things, and therewithal!great biaf^ phemiet.

Thus have you the point, and the reafons of it. Vfe 1. For theufeofit, 1 might from hence firfr fpeak to this

point $ that it were therefore a neceuary counfcll to all R.o. manCatholicks, to eonlider diligently the grounds of the great priviledges of the vifibJe Catholick Church , they firetcb their authority beyond aril degree* of Churches , bryond all Temporal! Stajteror particiilar'Churcbet; Now nc~ ceffiry it wert for them to reverfc all the great thing* which a re delivered j and which the Pope hvhfet open his rhomb to fpeak, though-they be delivered with never fach fulnerle, andboldntfle, and plentitude of power; It behove* Men to .coniider whether all thefe great wordsbeaotthe wordsofa Beaft, and blafphenties which the head of the Beaft had* taken upon him to utter, for iris not enough tnicchey atipipofcm boldly and confidently, and with go<^advMenwntand grave Counfell', Provincial! Decretals; and Decrees, forcfteftaw diftinft things : It behoves Catholicks not to be gulled'With Titles and great thing*; fork) is nor alwaycitftoc power which'God in mercy gives to miivwhcn they dayefpeakgreat"< things; they think the Pope MjiwrAmicbrnt; but* wterv Astlcnjfilcomet, viltbe <t)> greaterthings then tbefi? it ttleyfayd

of

Chap. 13. the thirteenth Chafler of the Revelation. '' 71

of Chiift 5 ffhtn Cbrijicomes vlSbe die greater mrkfj then theft? And fo whui Antichrift comes can he fpeak grater things then thffe > And if 1 were to (peak to Lay-men ( as they fay ) in their P.e'ligion, I might advife them 10 take heedthtybe not taken with the confidence of their Pricfl*, thit fpeak with goodadvifement even to impudency, and with fuchrefolutc courage, that many thoufends are carryed away with it, and fay, certainly men would never be fo bold, if they were not ooffclTed with the goodneffe of their caufc: Let them not be deluded, the B:aft hath power to fpeak great things, and he opens his mouth with all courage and confidence, and whifpers it not, but (peaks with impudenqy, aud abundance

° Secondly, This may fcrve to teach us the danger of allow- vfe 2, inetoany mor'tall man an inordiuice meafure of power to fpeak great thing*, to allow to any man uncontrollaWenefi offoeech.you fee thedefperatedigger of ic: Let all the wor^t learn to eve mortall men no greater power then they are content they flull-fe. for-aft li;rte,;wi»: and unlefle the, be better caaght of God, they will ufe icever and anon , K fcay be make h the paffage of their proceeding tofptake whae they will: And they that have liberty to fpeak great thlngt, youwiUfindekto be true, they will fpeak great blafphemies No man would think what defperated«ceit and wkkednefle there is in the hearts of men r And that was the reafon. why the BeafJ did fpeak fuch great things , hce might fpeak, and do' body might controll him: What, faith the Lord in ?«■ a «; fbou h4 fake" and done will things m tbou mldft. \i aCnurehor head df a Church could have done wbrfe, he would havedoneit: This is oneofthe ftrainc, of n«u«, it afFeas boundleiTe liberty, and to runne to the utmoft extent: What ever power he hath received, he hath a corrupt nature

that will impro/e'"ia one thing 0r 0t}tr *l{!*£"e hb'Tth h;«ill thinkwhv may henomfeit. Set up thePope as Lord

Sat Kb power o«r them, he will take liberty to depofe one.andfetupanother. Give him power to make Laws, and be will approve, anddifprove a. he lift 5 what heapprovo,,

7*

Chap. 13*

An Expofitiott vfon

Verf..5jrf.

Ginooicall, what hce difproves ii rtjt&ed ; Give him that power, and he will To order it at length, he will make fuch a State of Re] igion»that he that fo lives and dyei Dull never be Caved, and all this fprings from the yaft~powecrth«t is given to him, and from the deep depravation of nature; Hce will open tits mouth, Hit tongue it bit owns, who it Lord oyer him, Pfal. 12.3,4. his therefore mod wholfome for Migiflrates and Officers in Church and Common-wealth, new to afftft more liberty and authority then will, do them good, and the People good} for what ever tranfeendant power is given, will certainly over-run thofe thai give it, and thofe that receive it: There is a ftraine in a mans heart that will fometime or other runne out to excefle , unlefle the Lord re? ftraine it, but it is not good to venture it: It isneccflary therefore, that all power that is on earth be limited^ Church' power or other.If there be power given tp fpeak great things, thu)look for great b:afphemies,Iook for a licentious abufe o{ it. It is counted a matter of danger to the State to Iimit,Prerogatives i but it is a further danger-, £pt to have them limited : They will be like a Temptft, if they be not; limited ; A Prince himfelfe cannot tell where hee will confine bimfelfe, nor can the people tell: But if be have liberty to. fpeak great things:, then he will make and unmake, iay and unfay , and undertake fuch things as are neither for his ownehpnour,not Hole, for the fafety of the State. It-is therefore fit for every man to be fludious of the bounds which the Lord hath, fet: and for the People, in whom fundamentally all power lyes, to give as much power sis God inbis word gives to men: And. it is meet that Magiftrates in the Cpmmpn- wealth ; andfo Officers in Churches fliould defire to know the utmoftbounds of their, own power, and.it is fafe for both: All .intrenchment upon the bounds which God hath not given, they ire not eulargements, but burdens and {hires; They will certainly lead the fpiritofa man out of bis wayfooner or later. It Is wholfome and fafe to be dealt withall as God deales with the vaftSea; Hitherto (bolt thou come, but there (bob thou flay thy frond mm: and therefore if they be but banks of fimple fand, they will be good enough to check the vaft roaring Sea. And

fo

Chap. 1$.

Hbetbirteemb Chapter of tbi'Revelation.

73

fo for Imperial! Monarchies, it is fafe to know how far their power extendi; and then if itbc but banks of fand, which Is nioft flipper^y, it will fcrve, at well as any brazen wall. If you pinch th? Sea of its liberty, though it be walls of (lone or brafle, it will beate them downe.: So it is with Migiftrates, flint them where God bath not fiinted them, and if they were walls qf brafle, they would beate them downe, and it it meet they fliould; but give tbem the liberty God allows, and if it be but a wall of fand it will keep them: As this licjuid Ayre in which we breath, God hath fjt it for the waters of the Clouds to the Earth 5 It is a Firmament, it if the Clouds, yet it ftands firme enough, becaufe it keeps the Climate where they ate, it (ball Rand like walls qf brafle: So let there be due bourtds fet j-apdlmay apply »Mo.FamiIiej j it is good for the Wife to^ebnowiedg all power and authority to the Hufband, and for the Husband to acknowledg honour to the" Wife, but Hill give them that which God hath given them, and no more nor fefle: Give them the full latitude that God hath given, elfe you, will findeyou dig pits, and lay fnares, arid'cuirlbef their fpirits, if you give them Jefle; there is never peace where full liberty is not given * fjor never ftable peace where more then fall liberty is granted: Let them be duely obferved", and give men no more liberty then God dotb, nor wonyenifortfrey will,abufcfcrTlieUevill will draw themj anil ^MJiisjprovi4ehce^leade. then* thereunto, therefore give themrhrimore?t,heri God giyei.. And fofotchildren; and f«rvants, branyotnersyouare^tQdejle.wHb, give them the liberty and authority," you would have them ufc, and beyond thatMtdb not the tethjer, ,it wrl} r»pt tend to their good nor yduri : And idfo.frpmtocJBgathjr^stodgoe home with this iediwiibri ^thli<cet^nlj here is thj^diftemper in our natbres, ihWwe cannot tellhpwtoufeliberty, but wee (Hall very feadily corrupt'our, (elves >Oh the bottomltfle depth of fand^ earth lofCorrupt fpjriit,; that break* over all bounds, ztiiU^ito^mMyitttatBsi thatis it we ought to be care

Thiirdiy9 it may teachtis to obferve the hand of God in z>fe 3. aUthcvaftout-runingsoftheSonnesofmen : when you fee L men

■■<"rww

74 ^ap.|3t,'M>^f^f^di^y^T''v Verf. ^£

men oatragwmsiieyonjalipowcr^ondtr not atthe matter,

M*M>, A nun wodd wonder^ BUhopfhouldtake upon nuncatontrojlaiiafee(bhurehc,,indin very dtedall the Com|non| w«akh8 and Nations of the ttorld, and that in fuch bigliHhings both in nature and meafure, that rman would think it.were not pofliWe for a mortall man to un&rtake fuch avan enctrp.■&,,y«ih&Mtidonelt| the Pope hath done ar, and the ft^dp^f^ome'h^hdo.ie i^'but xvoSd?rBot.ac«,7»rieifc,r^6^r^ri^^^^ -^ fc.w 4» MM Join j. 27, not gi«n it him in an Ordinance, but in hi. commoaPrpvidence 5 Tbistranfcendarit power h« heiaable ta«.r/y allbefore him Without cOntrWuis* ftr,ngef oowerj hemay fty tfin hawjll; anddOe wh«he ml{,,fpr fomany monech»f*he tlmefcdted it limited *So

'& llffiS*? °? lo"?» ?f^f« ■»» outrageous andbrtak bond.beyond meafurei^ny common-Wc«bor Clwch, ourWay,,to(et Godshandfrffe, andtolppkop toh,mftomaMlethargwer : He^aWe&bfid|e tgS *Wgof 4fam, thirwhereaahe fpale%re« toini* S,»S.

tbefenl can put a bridl. InW,noftrfl?kn*d brLhirtSck tfc way that be can*. ArfdWWfep^ASSSS1

fei,ft*',.0 S,l,^*^»&v«iN^

W *«otheris /pdfantothe <R A,4tirk ..,£-' flj&fc peace, it i. transited, but the wofffethe.affna? . il

Dei^..01^ ,fc,r **$ wwaatsfi

Devil, of bell when we have to deal with them • Ffl.bitmi MaMfeel^retwolMdthefaawwyhccamtr^

i- 1 ■ * ;_ j.;._.:.'.rtrJ—■*—~~~~~— ' ' '■■■■■

phap^TjT tbf^Tteentk/Ckim »f.&fc&cvclation. < ;; is«BO»«aili when^yAWtboywbew^otmen, tncyare not above htm j heftrlo heaven, -endtor0i tbtm tofetrn. Thofe that havefceen rooftinfol«tinbWphcmwgyal!Turkiihor Popimbl^phemicf,. the Lord .wilhnuata them tin the mean «im. it ic our pa« 10 fanaiihe ht. name that gfvci lhi» yajMtWy,dtttfar fa long they ftutl fp«k great thing., and no longer. ... \. a •

Fourthly, it may teach us thai there is a proneneffc in our nature., to abufeailtheprovidence. of Ood, whetherof fpeciali mercies, prfpecialt Judgements j and 11 warns ut to bewar*of the falM, in the enjoyment of any mercy, or in fteliugQfanyftrrtikof God upon u.' Here.m"h'* B.Vft' J°

«J9g*inbeaUd : TbeLordviGuthis parch withe deedly blow, by »aaofbwjuftice* andfaeaKovUksit wKbgreat deliverances, and afo of bis mercifull providence, and when he hath dane. fee hh greu admiration, and adoration, ^Lto bmkihi.&ould meltthe heart of a Beaft>

%^ Through ffindly w^und belled, to the admiration oHhiwor!d,7« confiderwbat little afehe makes of it; «S Ugiibim pow<r todo. ^^^*£$* HeojHin»hUmouth tofpeakff««^ «^wffPjW and hi wrtU-war. with allxnc Sawt>of Heaven : he doth tt££Srt*t- HewMknocktdonthahead,brcaafe TwouSaluch^aftAuAorityto,^^^^^ thXrdc«ckedhi. Crown, breaks th« head of this enemy^ ana^ound, thchairy fcalpe of fucbas go oh in wickednef.-. HSSiKain, andgWs him^ great power j barwfaac

SoSXlMature inuVcbat will abuf. ever,r mercy ofGod,

S^ba^ohlll diftempersthereawin odrmtuin. tf» . £& wid, chdlaT, iewmturne the whoUbody to f«^b«^ «■ SoUU widiu., fNCUf-t-tll thegon

75

^ 4.

76

Chap, 13. ' • ' 'w#i kxfnfittot*1»h

VerCfX

dences of God into dlftempcrs and outragous licentioufntfle. '

But you will fay, he was a Beaft, and the Church a Beaa; we hope Chriftians (hill do better,

Ste it in Hexxkjab, when the Lord had wrought great deUverancea for bin, brought the Sonne ten degrees back, and avenged him of his Enemies-, afterwards he recovered him from hckneffe, when his foule was brought to the jawsof death ryet when the Princes of Batylon lent to him to en', mure of the wonder, that was done in the Land. God left bim to try bim, that he might know what- was in his heart, and then he (hews them his great Treafures, and works, and fortifications, that he had throughout bis Kingdome • and it 111 fad, He retired not according to the btnefiu done unto fcrat foTb«bear,„«lified*)2cbm. 3a.25.31. Youfeegood^ Hezekf'b "apt to forget ficknefle : h argues thedepth of the body of Sinne which is not onely in wicked men f fuch

a. thefe proud P«lat. be) but in the Godly, in thoftthaS raofl eminent in Grace, they are not able to beargr*at<Saifc,>*

if God ftew, u, mercy and judgement, it ira wonder w fee what poore work we make. ■ .

Minyacarnallheartwillfay, ifhebedeliveredfromfick

P ^n°r-,/^belt ^r^B". Wheg«aftore.ortfin &z* ^'Sf'Mberty, Godandmen uuIlfaS" ne^anhewillbe : O the bottomlefle depth of.TecdS heart - fetheLordcbaftifeur,andraif«usPup,g.u^^^ g«.our humiliation, and grow to exaltation/and *God Mpeu,ahttle,wegrow.tofuch out-runi ng s^ffpirh,rwe JJ3,l'hYein.i,rS^'hataman bathiliooffincVof pod, but he will thus abufe. Andibe«fp« we have cTufc:

takeiitothefull: let God give amouth,htfwil\fa3m£*: thm«vand if!* have liberty toSreaSinS fVT$T- bhrPh™«s *** God* andhh TaWfe

the

Chap. 13. the tbhteentbjCbtyertf the Revelation.

77

the Lord give us great things, a mouth to fpeak all thegc-d wc can, and liberty to do all the good wecan, ifwedoenot open our mouths and hearts to befpeaking and doing all the good we can ; ft it not for. us to band fnorting out the time which God hath carved out for us, but If a bean have this liberty j ifyou tethera Beaftat night, be knows the length of his tether before morning i he will goato the end of it before he have done : And you fee this Biftop the head of the Church, if God give bim a mouth, he will •open it : wicked men will take the utmoft bounds of their "b'rtyj will wicked men doefo>wby (hould not the children of God then, and all that fear his name take the likecare to improve all their liberties, and power to doe all the good wecan? dotb God give a liberty for laying foundations, for eftablifhine jurifdiaions, and liberty for, welt ordering our Families IrndTown-mips-, if theLordgiveu.opp^ (hould we want a heart to improve them 1 If the Beaft natn a heart to improve his wicktdneffe to the utmoft , why ftould not we improve all our Talents to Gods btft advantage, to make it our whole ftudy to doe all which the Lord reouiris, that fo we may bear plentifull witneffe m-our Ge<> SoSsioalltheliberdesthe Lord hath betrufted u, with. Itisnotfor men that have received five Talents-, -thai:iiito fay, 6veopportunities, to render to God as thofe tbathave r Jivedbmoneor two ; * whom much » gmnofthm mil Zbbertqmed, Luke ,2.48. And therefore it behooves us

fotofethandandafleaion a workto bedoing all thegood wecan : If It were the Beaft, takca patterne from hm ( but Aeymuftgo fan that the Devils drives > he would improve SKberty : And why (hould they not goefaft whomKbk of God drive,", and improve the 1 berty they taveofGod. Andthereforekisforustodoea 11 the goo* wecafi^wdtoleavenothingto thofe that (hall comeafter Xtd walk in the righteous fteps of their fore-Father. Snd»h«r.fore!etu,not feave, norgiverefttoourey.l, t I luFamily, Cburch,.ndCommonwealth we have fet a patttmeofhollntfTetothoftiiuitlhtllfacctedoi.

78 Chap. iVT"C WJ&Pffi%WKC

'7F*&?i*

^/e $, . LalUy, it uuy teach us a reverend"uftbltlie Things of God, for all Blafphemy againft thenaine of God, orvh a iTAcrjucU;, or tb^fc, that 4'A'elJjn heaven, It isblafphcmy .agajnftGod. It js (aid here, there was power given to tbe Braftto fpeak gwatfhingi, aadblafphtmyes':, wherein did that lye ? agaiojjl Gods name, and againft his Tabernacle, and thofe, that dwell in Heaven : So that bla fpb<me any of lbtfd , and you blafphcme God : blafphernc the same of <jod, the Tabernacleof God, and thofe that dwell |n H;aven, whether Saints above, orSairiti on E'artb,aind ycu blafpheme God himfeif. And therefore ij fhould be farrc from uito abufe any ordinance or providence of God, for it it blafphemie againft God himfelfe ; they are the name of God i Gods name ii called on hit providences: If we fpeak evill of Gods ordinances or providmces, as for a man to fay, would to God I had never known fuch a woman, it ii blafphemy; Gods wifedome and righteoufneflehath ordayncdit. If we be in diftrefle, orin any 'Gckneffe , and we fnarle againft Gcd, and mutter at our poverty and fickocfa, it it to blafphcme the name of God; all thefe are providences of God. To fpeak cyillof Churches, as if they were Congregations of Heriticks, or Schifraiticka, or Congregations of Rebels, or Libertines, and Brownifh, and loch like, it is blafphemy againft the God of Heaven. Bcfides, it ia blaff>bc,my againft the Body of Ghrift in the Sacrament,to think every Baker can make it , that is Popiflb blafphemy. To fpeakeviljof the Saints of God on earth, cotbinbetotafce liberty becaufc tbey are abfent j Our tongues are our ejjvze, who it Lord ever tit: Little do we know how tender Gqd U of bis people; we cannot fpeak evijl of any in the Church, tout we blafphemc God : And fo if we fpeak evill dfhisprovidences, it is a* much at if we fpeak evill of Goq himfeif. And therefore bow precious ought the name of God to be: to us, to whom our names are pretious: It it hue a fcaqdall to a cbriftian brother, bnt UU blafphemy to God, an^. therefore fpeak not evill, as thinking it (hall never come ia his eare. If we fpeak evill of Authority, of Churches, of Sainn, or evil} of them that doe evill, unlefle you may take

order

Chap. 13. tbetbirtetmbCbafttToflbeRevelation.

19

order to reprefle it, the Lord himfeif looks at it as blafphemy : and therefore wrtouftnot look at it flight matter; our tongues areour bwh, and we may have liberty to fpeak: I,you have liberty,but not to fpeakblafphemies,either finall o'r grear. There it not the ieaft blafphemy, bat It it agreat Sinne, and therefore greatly to be avoyded.

Revel*

L

Maaaai

\m,w

"So /Chap. 15.

AH

m upon

rtri&.

Chap. 13. tbelbiffeentbCbafteroftbe Revelation.

81

; Rev. 13, latter part of the 5. verf, ;.;..;

And power was given him to continue forty and tm monetbs.

Trlts it the continuance of the defcription of the former Beaft which the Apoftle /j&iifaw riling out of the Sea, to be the inftrument of the Dragona power (that it, Satani rage) againft the Woman, and her feed. . -Among other parts of the defcription (which have been o* pencd) chit Beaft is defcribed b/the change that befell him, in his head, wounded, and healed; the effeft whereof wai, . i. The admiration of the world. 3. The worftip of the Beaft, and of the Dragon. The third effeft or event was the authority or power that the Beaft did receive, and did cxercife, and thae power wa», . '.■'■':";'

p. Joffeakf great tbingt andblafpbemiesi which according" ly he did exerdfe, ia blafpheming the name of God, and his Tabernacle, and the Saints.

2. There was a power of continuance( asitisheretranQtttd) forty and two monetbs.

3. TberevatgivtntobimpQS>ertomai£ varre with the Saintt, and to overcome them.

Of the firft part, to fpeak blafpbemy, we have already fpoken. Now come we unto thefecond part of the power given him, which is his continuance^ There vat povtr given bimtoconiiaueftrtyaadtw^monetbt. ■ ^.'..

The noMfrom thence is (hortly this} -v.

Vtfir. 2. fbatpover and authority vat ghtn to tbhBeajl (tbtt it, to the Roman Catbolickg Church ) to continue, that it, to he aQ'ne anddting,t*be buffo fortieand two monetbs. This cxprcflcth the Aim and fence of the words $ they are " obfeure as any place in the word, and therefore need your more diligent attention, and the power of the Lord Jefus to

clcare

clear his counfel and will in this point,' who alone openiib tbe Sealet, and none can (but ibtm.

To open the words. .

1 Power vat given to him."] The word in the Original! it \%*ot* which properly figniries the powei of Authority or JurHdiftibn ; a foveraign kind of power ( at it it here defcribed in the feventb urfe ) wtr all Kindreds, and Tongues, and Nations: Such power that all the world wondered at it, andadored. efpicially that which they call the Chriftian world, did exceedingly rhagnifie the power and authority of tbii Beaft, and he fpeakes here principally of Spirituall Authority, though itgrewtoTtmporall Power in making Warr, in the 7.wer/. for he rifeth by.degrees to further power, but authority was"given him: Given him, by whom >

1. Bj God, that put it into the heart of the tenne Horns (that's, the ttnne rvngs") to give their Kingdom* with one confehtto the Beaft, Rev. 17. 17. So God by his wife and juft providence gave him authority , fuch as God hath ordained in hit word 5 but he put it in their heart! by his wife and

sv This authority wan given by Satan, who affifted Anticbriftin the myftery of Iniquity, in working figna and lying wonder*, vitb all deceivabknejfe ofmrigbteoHfneffe,Ullbeelift upbimfelfe above all tbaftt called God, 2 Thef.». 9,10. And indeed Satan wrought mightily, what by the fophiftry of theSchool-men, and by the policy of the Canonifls, and what by the devotion of Cloyfter-men and Fryers, it was a wonder to fee how he gained a mighty power agawft Churches all the world over.

2. This power was given hhn by thofe btates, the ten Horns which gave their Crowns with one accord to the Beaft, that he mould rule in their Dominions. Thecbiefe Kingdoms in Europe arein thefeten; our Native Countrey for one, France, and Spaine, and Navarre, Sweden, 8c Denmark, and the reft, they^ did with one accord give their Kingdornet to the Beaft, that in point of Religion they ftould eftablifh all Ordinances according to the wifdome of his foveraign cower: And in Temporall matters they gave him greater •*"" M power

*a

Chap. 13." An £*pe/jtfo8 H^n

Vcrlf.6

power co dcpoic, and dilpale of their King«, then (he Roman Emperour had in fundry rtCpcdts; for his was Jimtcdby Laws, bnt this was without Lawr. iTkef.2.4, Hemafetk midextltetbhimfelfe above all that it crflcd Cod. Thatwunouc all power of Laws he did out-rage out of meafure. Given fc ivas by thtir Devotion aud Supeiftkion, God piercing their bent* much in thofeumsg by the Mini (fcry of thtir Fryarj, that did wound thtir corifciences with the fenfe of their iKunheisandJufls, (hat they were willing ro do any thing for the peace of thtir Confcitnci8, and thmlore willingly gave up all their power and Kingdumcs into his hands; [0it was given him.

Again farther, he h faid to continue. ] Some Tranflacioni

doe read it, tomaheWarre, but Warisnotin thebeftcorre

Qcd Copies, but makjng Wjrre is fooken to in the feyenth ver.

But nwk ng Wat is not fpoken to txprtfly in this fifth ver ft t

bat power was given him to be doing} and as we call it in a

generall pbrafe, to be (a Fafatm ) the onely doer of the

world forty two monethi; That what be did was donel and

what he did not authorize and allow, it was not done. If the

Princes chofe an Emperour, if he accepted him, he ftood; if

hedid not accept of him, he was not received. If any decrees

be made, if the Bifhop of Rome eftabliw them ( whichis the

ftventh head ) then they are authenticall j If he do not, then

they are Apocrypha. So it is with Scripture; though it be

ftch as God never ratified, as theory**,,, but what fenfe

te gives it is Authenticate He hath power to be active and

doing. This word then xopm, which is here tranflued to

continue, doth indeed fo fignine ufually, when it is joyned

with words of time; you have many examples of it in Scrip.

tar,!, attiiAlisit.p. k is faid, After they bad tarried tbe\e

ajface, the word h the fame as here, continue: So in A&s 18

2j.1t is faid, After they bad tarried, fame time } about three

moneths. So in Ms ao. 3. you have there continuance or

tarrying expreffed by the fame words And Paul faith, Nkbt

^VT^^^^^^'-^^herameworaiheM h« bafineffe there, there he was duely, he continued to lone. But foments the word ever ufed with this word of tim? figmfies to be aftive and bufje; So to James 4.13. Ioh fay yon

viB

CJii;*}. tfce thirteen^ Chaper of the Relation.

""*/ „„.- mi 1Mb a dtie, & wUflOK there aytvetand b*y, aud /*//,

rndwiS>c. TbU feme power therefore to contlnueand bfdK?»*uesthat (hi. Wlhority ot power, abfolut.^ £m ?ga pSrovtr &indr«JS> N»«ons, andJongu«.,thi. L, htre Uidtoco0tiou«amwterof42.fl0i«thi. ¥ NowfoJthefe4a.«onetb..] I ™uld °« bufie my felfe in Hfc fpeculation.: but I find, not any word of God a ncfdnScuUtion for theaurchto fearch into, and un!3Knd behave had this number three or foure turn1 be

tiks&eJundtriooltbebolyGhyfotiytmmomht, Rev. .1, U L a . ™on«hi if thetbediflolved into dayes, make up

juBtneiumor*i« w m0„eth as the old account was

wont to do ,i*«J ™Jb Rev. 11.3. And the fame time

ota tnoui»a»<*"» . .nmM,t.tionof three years and an Wl»^af*%Z^?M™m * whichtimeit

Fi,y. 1^. ^^■™£2^iriJ«ln*« fame period of time,«nd)to«d«s«hfl£TJjw• ^ ^^e inf»wcr4*-.««»«*[■ IT^Krathhme Church ofGod

C-lioUck^^S^tdfa prophecying in fortyltwomon«hs.Ana«ne omanl flight into the

faci-cloath "^J^SSwe! and abode ttere utlo. dayej, whew IM wm d^ , ht 0Be 0f thefe, and;ou

^fSStaftaftSton of .1L Three ^ueftfon.

». Whyit*fomeunWPeckon«dbyiJiowtbs, anmorne timM^i?doAibk time<*«*» Uginrviog,*nd where

«?

84 Chap. 13. An Expofition upon

will reach at farrc at God hath revealed to me. gMe/f: 1. ForthefiiftofthefeQjrtftioni. Mfw. '\ There be that chink this time is not a definite or d«*

terminate time, but indefinite»foity two monethi (hewei a good fpace of time, known, and determined by God, but uncertaine to the Church. Nowlmuft confer*, that meaning doth not well rink into my heart, to receive it with any faith in Godi word; for if God would have'put a definite time for an indefinite j a certain time for an uncertaine, I tbinkc he would rather havechofen (at he is wonttodo) Tome fuch phrafe at 11 wont to cxpreffe illimittd time, if it had been fe.

tmei faith frcob to Ubtni tbaiii, many time.: Hoinfieri tOSXVi^* ***"*»' * «« fwraytimefr T.l % ?1?th.not?lClM'> to limitu»» buta.ofc.ihc dothoffend, forgive, if he rejxnt} or if he profcffefach repentance at you have no juft exception againft, forgive him t But when he faith 4» moneth., why nofdob.'moneS,, for that 11 a definite time for an indefinite ; why fhould hee iar M6o.da,er, ufenot a fpeechufed in Greek and Latin, tb ?S k m Indt*n,,u «owber:no more it the time, and timet,

Sa?|aI/eatlme,Ufoa,;inDl'M,W- Therefore! cannot'eftS tbat Interpretation, though fondry have gone that way. ™

tt£ JK? bef,h".»kVt iDdeedfor • ^nit. time; but *ey wouIdconfin.itfothreey.ar.and ,n biIf fo/fo^

twomoneth, or ia6o.d.y.., i, juft three yea e, and"J

halfe, and that i. tru, 1 But I cannot acceptthat fnterpreta

Uon; and though it be common, yet our Divin« do wht

oneacccKdrejea it : For thi. Anticbrift which they fay£

%S**S ,nuWhkh the* f*ytrue ) *« *" ftould com/o« cfHurufakm three year, and an halfc before the er«t Tud£

wdCinUpower, it i. tocr««hle. The.L^StfgSj

which

Verf.6. I ^

T^pn. ttetfcirtegntba^eroftbe^v'i*^

8$

,uithe wondjjjk^jay^yi issiK

"T,,ter °Xt n^ with wing*: now that he fbould do as

j 3;.^rim«* and moneths definitejthat ii, determined S^SSXft them according to the account o the anaiec,anuuw» vcare: A ike proportion ot

Propnet. *rt^^£sy^4.lte,«nX.ofiiao.

Ifrrt/fronuhe boufe * *"*£tai of the People, and to didbeare &^J^w£g% Ibm^nibu to lyefi Mprefent that: Son of man\{ima ; t ,

!?• 2MS&* fl£^A Vr,,,i

dTl" ci^lJm m the captivity of the Land, they condemn of ^r^j*^ ^ ,

tinued 390. y«a.«. £*&&i^Let, and that «u the

.assess*

at*

96

Qutfl: 2. Anfo.

Anfo.

Chap. 13.

AnExfofiiimufon

yttt

vtifday fori yeare a they wiH.Be p"ft 1266. yeare*j tnaj; riuicforel takecofee mqftagrt cable tp/Sciipawephrafe, »n<j

But then here grow* a fecohd Qutftlon. Why doibhe recJ^H femeof tbefe timts by dyes, ondfrneby

mouttbs? . ' •;

iTitremaybcadcublcreafonof that. ' . /

r. When be dtferibea what the Children of God; doe",0 be fu*n» up thtir a&ions by dayci^ Children of lightj fc Ja meet that theiraaion* ftould be meafured out by' the period of daye*: TheWitnefli*prophesying, and the woman* flight into che wilderntfle iVfaid to be 1260. djye* ; But ai Godlgave the rSunne to rufe the day ., fo the Mppn toxulf the night, P|Wi 130X83 9.1 Now therefore when yotfarc to fpeakof foperftitiets devotion*, they are works indeed of darkneffe., and therefore are btft reckoned by tnoneths, by that Creature in Heaven which meafures out Night,, the Moon : And therefore it maybe, and fo the holy Ghoft ufeth it, ifhe^peakolthe'Gentilei treading under Toot the holy C9y, though h fee by daj-lighr,y«it J«a work of darkneftj Tbey tread mdir foot the bojy City forty ivpp ttonetbs^ Re*. 11.3.. And if Antichrist be to continue long, all bis continuance if but a workofdarfcnefle, ™dthereforeJie is faid to continue 4a. moneth* : But what t heCburch do , .and .what the Win nefftt<l6,itreckbn*dbyd»yei,hutit ill the fame time, the one make* day-work of it,-arid the other night-Work.

There may bedfo this&cafpn; That the Apoftle in theft ProphecyesintheNtwTeftanwnt, might allude to she like in the old T«flamenc, a* tpdntipcbiu whofe difpenGitipn was orily«<time, andititne^and haifeatiaw.

Nowfor tbethird-Quc&w&ent&B may he fatitobtgin^anil when it may be faid to end? ..'■'...

ThereUcOnfeflelyce the greattft difficulty

1. Some of our belt Interpreter* pitch the beginning from the beginning of the Reign of C#»/iwi(»ie, when the Man-child wai brought forth, that if, advanced to Imperialldignity, which fome make in the yea re 304. after Cbriflj though lit be true, df later timet, they wiU byjiomeanei rgraoUiu Re|goe

began

the thirteentbtUflir oflbe Revelation:

began then, but two or three yea.«after, and an ufie mltfakc prow* there;for when they come to meafure OUt a Prf««« Lien thtv begin In fuch a time, and a whole yeare is alLfed'loit, and it may be the next begin! hi that year,'and fo thev brine a variation in Chronologic*; but you may" not wonder in fuchmiftake*, if there be foure or five y eats varUlon, that nukes no great difference -, God knows rtrttwv bat through reckoning the laft yeare of one, and the firft of another, applying the fame to both, miy fometunM make fYresd[fferPeni : But holy BrigW make, the beginning ni? that time to be in Conftantines cdramg to the Ctown, and thence expir s thcauthority of thi, Beaft in theyeare 1546.

Thurch of all that havewrhten of thi. Book,and God 1* to £ ««edbaly magnified for him, and hi, Learr.irt > efteemedj *X ^g8fuchaProph«ical fplrlt, he fpakefo homely and nlllv that Without pregnant reafon I would not perver I ! nhUiudgo«nt: Yet a, it fall* out ordinarily, there is Smetbiia amiffc in che ^ft hurnanc Writer, that -er wrote; TkSre let me tellyoii what doth not famfie me; The firlt

55 iurao and fuite with all events defenbed. :

Firft Forth beginning, ithfayd, the woman P J mh the Jdemfc tndcontinvda time, andtimes, andbalea umef T ;Sl0n»« wttoia of heaven, and there WMftee found for ? VwSXdUi«true, Conftaniviemadew.rre#A?l SSK bl^IcannotfaV there was no place (or him n SL« lo?tbis wa. the faili .g of the good Emperor, that he «lUHow d the Heathen. Idol. Temples to continjl^hough J- n, % daoJ. and his SuccelTor Julian the Apofta« oce. ■S^rtniaeSVand reftored the D/agoh to fpitftual aU^o

^ndbtfidesthis, certahteitistill Grachm time, they all fc55Jtitle of im\ife rhaiwm which Wi* an^ononr be

87

Chap. 13.

M ExfoptionJfm

ysfc't.

Chap7i'3. " iletbiTteemb^aft^oftbe Revelation.

89

be Tomifex miximm yet they will havt him to Rome, and call him to Romet and had it not been by a marvelous providence,

.they had wonderfully prevailed} for at the fame time they didreftoreall the Templet as Julian had done, and cftabli(hed all the Revenues belonging to them, reftdred them all

■ to the Preiits, and the Devill had the place of worfhip as before } but the Lord putting them down by a mighty prbvidence of his, through the profperity Of tbeadojiut, he utterly overthrew that title, and through the zeal of his fpirit cafl down the Temples, would fuffer none of them toftand, rooted them out from Eafl to Weil} Wherever there was any famous Temples, down he throws them; he utterly renounceth the Pontiftx maximus, and will have no Templet; he doth confifcate the revenues to the Emperors treafury; and from that time forward indeed,; they never recovered, there was no more place found in Heaven : Ic is true, Conpontine began that war in the Empire: biic war, it is nota Skirmifhora Battell, it is not foon done, but many times continues long, at between the houfe olVtivid, and the houfe of Saul, and that for fbrae (cores ofyeares : So in this cafe, the war began with t?o»/iam«rc, there holy Brigbtman takes It moll rights biitfortheaccompliumentofit, forthtDsvill to be wholly caft out, and no more place found in Heaven, that was not till ibeodofim time $ now from that time the Emperors renouncing the title of Pontifex maximal, the Popifh fort thought it was a marvellous providence for the advancing of the Roman Catholicfc Church, that is this Beaft.; fothe next year the Pope took up that name, and holds it to this day: what ever the Popes name be, it is PonHfexmaxinm, that is bis ordinary flyle, not BMhpp, or Arch Bifhop, or Primate, or Metropolitan, thefe arc but Images of the Beaft,but the head of this Beat! is Tontifex maximutt the chiefe Bifliop of Some ; Now this was to the beft obfervatfon that I can finde, in the year 395. about 90. years aim Confitnthes time, or wanting one or two of that; Now that is therefore one Reafon why I doe not conceive that thefe 43. months are only at leaft cope reckoned from Con

Jlantinei beginning of his rcigne, for they arc reckoned from

the

tbetimcT/vhen there was no place found for the Dragon in Heaven, which* was afterwards accomplifoed about 90 years after. Another Reafon why I cannot goe fo.fully with tbathojy man of God, is, becaufe of the end of it, when he comesto 1546. It is evident that in that year the Counceli of Trent did condemn the Scriptures, and advance the vulgar Latine to be the authenticall word of Gjd : And Charles the fifth did prtVaii againft the Lant-grave of Hejfe, & Profteflant Princes of Germany in the year 1547. So by that reafon it cannot end aright, for the Beaft hath power given him to continue to make war for 4a moneths j now he continued longer then 10, though itisttue, his time was limited foon after; and therefore 1 cannot with fo full affurance go fo clearly with him in thatKas ufually I do in his Interpretation, yet flill refervlng this liberty, according to the gift of the fpirit of Prophecy he had, you may many times read the conuxt of the word of God, it may be fometimea fomewhat more exaftly according to the true meaning then allway es is cxpreft j which Ifpeaknot to impeach the faithfulnefle and learning of the holy man of God, but would give every man the honour that God hath put upon them, make ufe of their gifts, and leave them where they may at any time miftake, the like liberty God forbid but may be left to others that come after us. ■ . •.

2. Therefore if you doe a little more narrowly fearch the Text, and weigh every circumftance in it, you may obferve ( as 1 take it) a double computation of this time in refpeft of the beginning and ending of if, fpryou Ihall read which Mv Bri&tmaa rightly obferves; that the. woman fled, into the wildernefleat Conftantinet coming to the Crown, it is true,forfoitUexpKQyfayd, Revel. 12. 6. She pd into the witderm$e4K>berefbebadiplacetreparcdofGod : and this was before the battell was fought; and then he tells you of the. r*ttell that waafcughtin 1*^.7,8,9. i The end of which was, there was no flace for the Dragon is. Heaven j and now mere is given two wings of an Eagle unto the woman, that fhe might flee into the wilderneffe into her place, where foe is nourifhed for a time, and times, and half a time from the face of the Serpent. which is juft 42 moneths. So that take H both

B—mm

both ibefe pUeei^nd it will »pp«a(rihe«i«a4oal»UlK8inf ning>of this time j the One from CortflantiMes rlelgne, theqther 96 or 97 years after, there abouts it wis, there ia the beginning of it. H6\v if you take itby roonetbj, anrj take it not as holy Brigktmnri dosh, the iEg#/J4nyeare,bu,ttbe Roman yeare; methinki it is moft probable to.takc th* account of the Romm Affairei to be regiflred by Roman eprapatation, not iE«^i<w,thougbit i» true.fywe it fpificqally calledi Ig>pr,but that** in another fence,th«y did not follow them in computation j and though the M^psim* cpunt «q daycs to a moneth, which 'fiiita well with this, yet u U po| ufuall in Scripture 5 for roundnefle of number fake, tf»ey pitch a certain time of the moneth, 3oda.yes fpr a mppetb j and therfore if you count fo may year* ip the Roman Kfillfindtr, you (hill come fomewhat neere the account of the continuance of the Power, and tranfcendane Authority of this Beaftj and ifyoufo reckon iafio-years* if you add* them to 500. and the odde four years after before CtnfUntine'i beginning, thereabouts Hmt j and computation* are bpt clear, the expiration will fall fpinewqattfter the hegjpoipg of the nigne of Qieen Elizabeth i AndeJpecUHy if you take the account from more exaft ChronpIqgiei,it will come in tbeyear wherein the Pope fern a Bull, that w, an excommun»««on «gainft Qjeen Elizabeth todelJLvw her to Satan, which brought forth new treafons againd her th# follow*! every year, «nd brought her at length the. Spmfi mvafion, hofttie mrafion}. but from that time it wai, that the blaft ojf his power was then broken j that where* hefore if be had excommunicated a Prince, it was fawll. he could new have flood out, he bad been everiaftlngly Mailed with bjthpnes, bat from that tin* forward, ij bath b«m ttuly iatf by fome, that have fpoken of th« thus, that from that time all the-Popea Bulls were but JfouWes 1 they could not prevaile agaipfl ber , toou^b they bought Jth? Excommunication, and ftaoedlf upo^j^<^hedr^Church ai1 they call at, and afterwards read U} ftcgojng 6© prayer, uTed the word, of the Prophet, TM. Tbmk they c«r/e, ftfeffi ilm, let them be cottfowiied thai rife u^ptoftme, tokttbyfervmt rtjoyet; God heard her prayer, and ma wlioufly broke

hi*

BaaatB»a"T7~i—*~

' the thirteenth Cfca?lerpf<fe<RweIation.

91

*" ~> hehad notthe power thatthe great B flt-»p of' ■?PTI'SSSiSPower (hould rend rocks m pelcA.,

ffl^h^LorddidmaintainthelowCountries, that Sis beaft had gr»t power over, his armewas broken there;

T^T^aft an cutoff hi head to berb*under? "J?n. «hich was"bou the founding of the fev.nth ftanding, ^'ch wa*°° R dm,f of thif mlik

becin the feventh Trumpet to found, wmch brougnt cne

hi,dec«eifoAuthtnt.c^

trfte up Comrovcrim oe ^ ^ have B

ri\.ha;Jemu«d upoJ any war wltbcnthU hkeuigj bS&SS^^when the armes of hi, power, and h»

91 Ch«p. 13. An Expofiihm upon

- Vtrf/g.

S?»hCOnlingDt0„t,tt Cwwii* "*» "cpire.then about the time when the Bull came forth againft Q,: »&.. and a,

Aeythougbt would bcfufficieDttoblaflhe^ndalltheHj

ending of this account,wherea« the T«t make, two?for"n

JtylM- whenthechild wascaughtupto God, and a h«throne, and th w fl(d ^P .^ „d a

there was a great b3ttlei} that battle lafted 90 year/ and

HcZn^T V fr0m,thuat Ume lhe Dra^n wa» "ft ou of Heaven, and perfected the woman which brought forth the

«»h'i thatftlcJn,Iihc A« into the wilderneffe : N0Wffa7 acc0rdmgtoth?,,therei«another^omputationoftbhtime here wa. no more place found forbimin heaven "ch "2

vearfrom?hkfeoP ?«ft ■ccoaBt ^ "^n of taLg up one f0n»( Z Pfede,ceffcr> whichinfomany yearfcon,e?o fommnK, more, foraetime, Ieffe : Now if you ftall ike

true' Je rhUrCtn51ghifly imo the •«*««&. fork £ She ft wh l?JmadeJa wi'd"neffe if.you fct the dooreJ as befn?, f f° Wldc?nd PU,J <*own the wall,, that SS as before, Uwm-t Garden inclofed, Cant, a 12 now™. 1

it Cathohck; now though it had no Catholick rower-, Garden 13 madea wilderneffeif you pull dowJ, E.? 7 take down the narrow watch of Officfr. and let taJF*-* thatwHlthruftinaaibitioaQytogrfS^^^^^

vers, naters of God, and the true power of Godlineffi. ~ wasTin^ ^ Td'W" *** ^rn ou3n^"

J Spring

Chap 13. tUtbiTteintb^flef^tbekmmoTi.

fpring as he wa, cheif Bifcop,. then .hfwi«n«mfiU BHhop, tor his power grew by degrees O Now 1 fay, if you take this 1 ttS^ompuution, whichalfo the-Textdotb, then if youSonfrom 395. year., and adde to that 1260. year*, , PtiTh"f«wo^eth%r,cheywU.expireu,^ Lll be according to the Roman account 1655- I ™11 not bctwooonfidat, becaufelamnota ^r. *or ih «*» of a Prophet to foretell thing, to come, but; fo fartt God helpiby Scripture light, about the time M. ^"J"1"*

beaft, which is F»mi/e* oiflximw, a< that wejhall fee a fitftnw rraduaTKCompUftrientandfulfiUin&o}th..PropheCyh^

graduall accomplifhment, Sometimes you havej ^P™* 5f,iht 70. yearei captivity, which 1. accomphM^redemption of the Ghurchoutof Babell ; 7"**™Jjij* compliftment (ball be when the: Church (hjU I«« fromtbiswhoreof X«*, ^^^j^^fJSSbe called aeaine. So it is here, according -to the ditterene mputatiroftirnc, thrift God hath all fa on,> inhu hand\ bedothf orefee, and foretell to hi. people.wh« h? (hall come to paffc : So thatchough the arme.of I" #°»°£ .power be broken, and Im bones broken, that he isiota ing Siatbeanio power that he was, and hath ""^J8™ fending of that dreadfull .xcommum»"«» !g1C.\™£ thouehttobe fodangerous to ihe famous Pnnceffe I Ipske ofTye apoWerhehlhovernunyChnrcheja„dthepow. ergivenhimby the ten boms, ihey are-not til brofctn uln

?«dte : There was fuch a fall, that a tenth part felj,taty t a R«a part ftands ftill to this day in fome meafure, that will Xhei ReUgion from him as they fee ^>^^ Religion neither, for the King of France will not y Id tc^the CouLllofTremtothisdayrnfalling^thath^ fadorsdidnotiitin the cheife place, he will ^ »u«or«e thttCouncell • Thusis his power broken, butyetucona n^Ufome meULre till/further ^'gj^J; iut; for two or three years I cannot .limit that, for there rojy

93

"WJR^ftW^

'■■fr^rns^B

94

Chap. 13. ' ^ffifl^Jiffijffi'

Vcrf.&

Vfe I.

beionic uncertainty by reaton ot the variation 01 Chronicles Ihat hive fbmertW* more, fomttiaitildTe in the beginning and endipgof iheRtign of Prince*: But otherwife, about that time will be the expiration of the power and great authority of this Be«ft: But already we fee, by thebkffing of God, bh power wcakned, but we look for9 further accomplifhmenu .

The matter ^ath nqaired foroc-what large opening, but itisacounfellofGod, and giverf of him for this end, that it may be expounded and explained: And the Lord bath promifed blefledneffe, Cbaf. i. to thofe that read and fearch this Booke; and therefore he would encourage all to fearch diligently the meaning of it, efpccially as God give* opportunity: It wai that which Johnmourned for, that he found none worthy to open this book, and to loofe the teals thereof, only the Lyon of the Tribe of Judab : I tbMjjk there is no man (hall be diligently ftudious on this Book, depending upon the Lyon of the Tribe of 7«rfa6forbelpe, but he (ball find (bmething more then he did expect. It it true, if a man go in confidence of his own giftsa»id knowledge, he may $6d1e himfeIf;butifinmod«ftyofChr|flian wifdome, and in the feareofGod; the fpiric of any Chriftian Minifter, or other that layes hold of this Book, he (hall not be sent empty a' way: What lighrGod bath given me in this particular, you have heard opened.

The ufe in a word is thus much. Flrft, it is a wordof ftay to the foules of Gods people: It ferves to ftrenthen pur faith, that the Lord is <x*St in bit Prophttlcall e-xpnffions: Look what he {peaks* though it be many a yearcor day before, he will not fajle to bring k to acconipiifljment in his time, h is truly obferved, if God

" tarry long, a tboufandyean vitb God it but as one day, till the appointed time come: But whan his time is cOme, then one day with God it m atbmfand ymet: God will at Toon fork a thoafand yurei,as one day; Indeed till his time be come, he

- thinks it not long, though it tarry 1260. yearcs; but when it licdrae, then he will not fail* one day. It is a memorable fpecch that in Exod, 11.40, 4*>4S« lb* fojwning oj the children

Chap. 13. the tbinBentbebntter of the Rcvelaripn.

dren of M^ypi teas foure hundred andibiuyyeatv: And it-<Meto Life at the end of the foure hundred and thirty yews, tvm tbt Mf%diUcame\o?4b^alltbebolioftbe Lord **«& tbeUndofMW : h it anight much to be ohfavtd, &c. H« doth not fay ibey dwelt there folong, but were fojourncrttherc: Anditcmt tofafe at the endoftbe fotpe hundred Mdtbu-meares, even the felfe fame day, Heme to pajfetbat all tbebcjf oUbeUrdwent out from the Land ofJEypti as if God would put fome Emphafi. upon it: The word in the Qriginallj*, W the bones of the day: It is an ufuall Hebraifm ^the ftrtngth of a thing they ell the bones of it 5 that is, in the face of all the people, in the ftrength of the day , even when it was full day: God kept reckoning to a day 5 he will as well bilei a thoufir.d yeares as one day when his time is come? and till his timet* come, we muft think it long if hetoy a thoufand yeares : It muft therefore ftrengrheo our Faith, that God u the fame God in the New Teftamenr, as in the Old* that* we could know times as exaftly as God knows them, we might write, in the bon« of fuch a yeare and day, the bones Qf die Roman Catholic* Churchis broken, and lyes Ibedrid ,tt it is foretold, Jezebel fball be caji into tbt bed of afflfon. Iniall that commit adultery vitb her into great trMauon. Let itftrengthen the faith of Gods people .n every ume, forrf God be fo ejuft in every circumftance, what time hefetl, he will keep,- then it may more ftrengthen ui m foW»«"»*U promift»andthreatning.: and what ever the Lord hath fpo^benotdifcouraged, the Lordw ill make good what hec hath fpofeen, he will not faile of a minute of time when his

^oncavTit may ferve to encourage us the more to pray .«rSfc*r » foeedv accompHQiment of the power of this

ereattSe^

Sctd the world for fo many age. together, an;i to grow K £y in out- p«*yeri for the deBruaion of him from yeare ?VS: i thTncerer th* time of the accomphlhraent mows, the moreearneft (hould our expeftations be tofee the Srmpfcnt, and the more earneft our prayer, (hould

be- You

'9)

Vfi»l

WP

mmymmm

ywrff

96

r~+

Chap. 13.

An Etyfitittiufon

Vert*.

You read of holy Daniel, that when hee underftciod by books, that the Lord had fet the captivity for 70. years, then he fet himfelfe by"prayer and fupplication to leek the Lord, inDiw.o. Ij2j3. He takes this very occafignj he found ie was written that thereabouts it would be, and he found that time was at hand, therefore he wreftUs with God in fading and prayer for the accomplilhmcnt of that deliverance: And fo ought we to do; and inderd about that time it is, that in the Expoficion of other Scriptures, that holy roan of God that hath given light to this Booke 5 fome-what after he encourage th to look for no fmall changes that may befall the State: So that it may encourage us to look for fuch a great mercy: It is a great mercy that the Lord hath difcovered the vahity of fubje&ion to the Romw Catholitk Church, from day to day the Lord difcovers it more and.more to this country, and bath given us to fee the true platform of a true Church, from which the Roman Cstholick Church isfo far difproportionable (to be governed by a fupream head, in ftead of a particular' Church ordered by Paftors and Teachefs, there is fuch a vaft diftance J that well, doth the holy Ghoft call it a great Bead, a lewd Strumpet, to undertake fuch an Inftitution. Therefore as the thing hath been odU ous In Gods light long, fo let us pray that he will go on to break the power of this Beaft: 11 hath not been in vain,, what a blow he hath given to the Image of this Beau, by. the late flirs in ScotW: True it is, before great deliverances, there will b. great aftliftions, whether here, or el fe-where: It Is an ufuall providence to the mod faithful! ones of God : Bui what ever bitter cup the Lord may give us to drink of, yet the day of this great Beaft is coming, wherein he is to go to perdition : He hath begun to fall before the Limb j and if he begin to fall before him, fay the Magicians to the Kings Favourite Haman , Eftb. 6.13. If Morderi be of the feed of the Jewes before whom tbou baft beam to fit, thou (bolt not frevaik a » gainftbiin, but {baltfurelyin falling fall; that is, fall more and more: It's true, there may be fome pangs, as a Beaft when he is going to his lad gafpe, he will fling with his tayle, and with his horns j but he is falling, and leaves not falling till

he

Chipf-i*^"' the thirteenthCbafier offEe'Ktvefstionl 97

, he finally fall $ though there be pangs, as dying creatures, to winthehorfe,orlofetbefaddle, but otherwife he will never fland, that there may be a Faffofwn at that time j and will grow more and more afur that time.

Rev. 13. 7.

And it was given unto him to make wane with the Saints^ and to overcome them: and f>ort>er wot given him over aUKindreds3andTongHesimdNationsi ■ ■_

^"W" THen the Devil!, that is to fay, the Dragon, could %/% / not find any longer rtfling place in heaven, that

V V i» to fay, he could no longer enjoy. Sovereign and divine worfliip as the great God (Conftamine and his Sue- . ceffors having brought in Chrift and his worfliip alone in Read of all the god? of the Gentiles j) He therefore to revenge himfelfe, makes warreagainft the Church, that were the, rooters out of .Pagan idolatry : This warre, becaufe he could not manage by himfelfe, it being very ftrong, he therefore rarfeih two Beaflsoutof his power, thefirftand fecond Beads in this Chapter; the fird, from verf. 1. to the 10. The fecond, from verf. 10. to the end of the Chapter. It was a third Roman State, not -Rome-Pagan, nor Rome-Cbriftian, bnt Rome-ant'xbrifiim, that is tafay, the Roman vifibleCatholick Church. This is defcribed many wayes, by a wound given him upon pne of his heads for a feafon j that when Rome Was facked, he was almofi in a forlorn edate, and defpairlngof recovery 5 but being healed, the effecls were 1, The worlds admiration after the Beaft..

^.ibtirmrfbipbotboftbeBcajl, andsftbe Dragon, which is Satan himfelfe.

O The

98

Chap, ij. . An Expofitim Hfett

Verf.7.

the thirteenth (ffffler of ifelfevetation. . ,

99

The third eventis Power; or as the; word lignifiei, Jn&oriij ( wf: 5,6,7. ^) And tbiaPflaw and Authority did ftretch forth it felfe to three employment*.

Firftj Hebii^ power g/twi torn tofpeakf great things mdbhf. fhemies; He might fpeakblafphriny oy authority.

The fecomi pwer that was given him, was to continue, or to be doing, tobeaftjngaod working all in all , for the numberof42.£Dorjeth», which in the former Chapter it defcribed by dayei, and the diyes meant years, 1260. ycares, which have been at large fpoken to.

The third power and authority given him, was. To mtig wane with the Saints; and that not a *4n .and loofe war^bwap WrV&Mllprtvaflmg war, aviftoriom war: It leaf given bim to mike wane itiiih tb'elSaint*, and to overtime them.

There was aUb a fourth power given him, and that was dominion ever all the Kindreds 3 Tongues, and Nat ion j : All Chrittian Kingdomes, they did all of them fubmit their Croons and Scepter* to thh Beaft , the Roman Catholic*, viable Church, whereof the Pope it the feventh head, for heliad feven heads, and ten horns: ^Five of them were fallen, the uxth then which was the C*/ar/, and the Pope he was the feventh. Two of thc(e Poweri 'btfre been opened j Power to blafobeme\ifATaweTtosomi»He^imilbed*ing.

1 cp(ne«o«f to the third Powerbr Authority given to this Bea^^dthMJs,/o4f4B'W^****e Saints, and to overcome tbem. .

The note then Mmarcly this j Dotfr. 3, Tie Rom<fn,vifthkCatboHckg Cburtbttad fotetrto make varre againfi theSimti yeamduvweme them. Ttoey are in a mannerihe words crfithe Text, explained fotfiefrtraemeaning.

The wairt that he, fpcafesof ( m1 conceive-) m this place, is not a fpiFktMll warns (though that alfy this teaft did make, for hertuffdflUttetdwtkfcpon the<Etrth to admire and adore, bjovand that was fedrtitftH war; ^ ;8ut hefpeafcs of fiich a warrc here, itfie efifeft whereof jp wiling vifoh the Sword} Hretfet iplitb witbtbt fmrdmufibe filledvUbthe fmrdy verf. 10. As if God would reward him in. his owne, kind; He that fliyes many thoufands ofChriftianswiththe

fwoxd>

.

~~~T .h,rT* bv the power 01 warre, tee hirofelfp. (hail at She bv Arm?, bvaaughter and blopd-ftud, fay open *

!nlfiaTht17. Chop, of this book, where U is ttd, this SX and he7 en H >mp, that is, the Chrinian King., chat fhalUi »heir power end authority to this Beaft, foal a.** JK Sici Lamb ; and they which arc of the Lamb. Ki andHeH.andfaithfHll, apd,here they are c»US^ata^SiSe" ou (hall lee it is noc the fame-kind* of M^ Ldifferingtherefrom wbatlakwc J for there it u

t rneanSt hath power tefmakew^e, and overcome

done ™ny*>n«Jn ^4 he Ws alfo this power, yeare together . AjJJJ™"££ ^ wa| abie t0 mufterup

fuch an Army^ot h »ow , gM m,ke Vi„

ces that were ^"•JVS.iM i oaa'accompHM in his

"SffSf th^heldall thing, conformable to the Scripafter ChriK, twy n ^dthem, and every way

^'rt Fcmh^tbey bl foh med the Church of K«n*t Orthodoxall, only tb g uadag?Vlft tbem wHf«wife i this B«ft 0°!^ pUty,

bMi"°*!S7-ifc SS thTre wTnothmg culp*We in their

ioo. Chap. 13. An ixpfuibn upon

. ■ Ver£7.

again* them did the Pope and the Catholick Church procure many expedition, of fore warre for many yeares together, and in conclufion rooted them out of Ae Cmmtrey, and

Snltd^ea,-Uparndd°WDe' f0me 'o depart of fC; feme to ftfeet™,Tome to Germany, fome to EngW, and

did confeffe that the people were not rooted out, but featured 5 and where, ever they came, they propagated their R«Hg on, thatuwasmore and more fpfeadwhere they came, bu they overcame them for they fflnr ( „ ftandj Jpon™£

cord) about ten hundred thoufands of them, and did burn »p their C»t,e», and Cmell , fjy their wood, Z there

they did takeacdurfethacMidwives, and Mothm^d Infant, ln the womb, all ftould be fhughtered by fi?e and Wd, that the* might be no more continuance of th« Generation: So that in this War the Pope did miehtilv ore!

^n'Sho^KS^ in it, and to turn to the Catholick Church "foffird? fen^toanfyertheTemptation that wa/put u^« th^" faid they,.,t ,s written, 7be toftjba!tmake mrVhb 2 S and overcome them; therefore it itno aw.Zn/Af rI5 l againftu,, in ref^ftoi ouf R iSfc 1 °i l^8

though there weie but a handful left, (hev woufHtSSa then yeeld to conformity to the ChurSSml *™ F9 thepointopened: FortLReafon,, ^^ S°y0ufte ^Flrft, how this Beaft come, l0 bare tbi. power to make

AnSS V°? lbe?l!,^onie thui to be w,rred upon.

Firft, th« beaft had pomr giren hi» tamake warre by fe

vcrali

Chap. 13. the thirteenth Chapter of tbeRtvthtion. • ioi_

verall hands; Fir ft, the devout fub}<aion of the ten Chriftiaii Kingstohiro, that pave their kingdom, and fwords into hi. hand Rev.17. 17. God hath put in thiir hearts to fulfill his wUl, ahd toIgrJe, and give their Kingdom, unto the Beaft: The principaliKingaof Chriftendomein thofc dayei1 came andgavctheirpower to the beaft, and by their power he war

able to do wonders againft all. . •s.atR„ ,

Afecondreafonandcaurtofhi.powertowarag«nftthe *«/«« 2.

Saint,,was, becaafe of the prolpeiow fucceffe which they had in the warre a&ainnChriflians a hundred yea res before, and hat vrat in .Expedition of GWfrrj- of Bulhigti in Greece, and Duk.D-tto, that wer.t forth to recover the holy Land (as they call it) to overcome the Turks and Sa»«nr, and God. jreyMltn, aChriftianPrince, as they call him, they made him King at fcw/afcm, there he continued , and profpered mightiIygintV,» war, and held it fo.-many year, toff her_: andChriflun Princes feting the profperpus fuccefieof his War which he had raifed up to recover the holy Land, and the Sepulchre of Chrifti therefore upon the fame t«rmithac hedidprocurethatExpeditionagainftlnadcIs hedoth pro

cure warre againft thefe Hereticks, and out of the fame notion there were gathered an innumerable company.

AthirdR-afon was from iheaealona Strmoni of Fryarr Eeafon ,, and Monks, exciting all Chrifttndom to this Warr under the Standard of theCrofle in promlfe of tqmll pardon , as if the Expeditionhadbeenagainftthe^^^ make fuch authority to make Warre with the Saintt, that lF he call for it, it U done: He agree, upon it m his own Couneel Vndh givesinftruaiontoall Abbot, and Fryar* and Go«rnour, If religious Order,, th..th«,ihoud fend oat chiefe Preachers to call upon all the people, ai in F/«J. 94

IpfZMW tlLrKeuofM^ Sometimes comp! yninxofthe fheknefleof men to hoLy zeale for Godi glory, "^maintenance of purity of Religion, and fometime a neceffity of taking part w'uh thole that are Infidels abroad, andH Jeticksanl Schlfnmicka at home; They found their 4ucattonamounun^.otbatufes that whem.therahad

An Expofiiha Ifpen

Vert

>

l0, Cbap. 1.3*

""""—~"~ btennjany Htreiicksntliled upin this Counuriy, therefore it plcafed him and the Apoftie Pthr to ffirre up the Bifhop of Komeio vouchfafe the like plenary pardon to thole which vvcuJdgo'io warre againll ihtiV Hcrtticta, as thofe which bad prtvsiltd igainft Infidel*; <»nd th- pron.ilecf pa: don did lofancprtvuil, thacthey Ihortly gathered together 300000. ihit in hope of pknary p-ndon of finnetJid give up iheuifelvi* to go en upin ihiir oune charges; they would fell good* and Lands for pirdon of fin, and pract of confeience: And in thole djyismm were wonc to be trc-uble'd at the Sermons of theFryais and Monktg, and never found fetlcd peace by pardon from Chrift Jefus, and never thought to look for pardon where it was: and they told them it was to be had by blowing (heir goods and lands thus; and thofe Fryars and Monks did fo inculcate and drive the nayl to the head in the hearts of people, that they were never at reft till they went about this Expedition, there were raifed a matter often Captains, Simon Munford was one, a notable InftrHment for the Devill and this great Beaft.

Riaf$n 4, Tbe laft Reafon was, the fuperftition of thofe times, trie deep devotion and dtjeftion of fpirit that was in the bodies of Chriftians in thofe dayes in regard of their fpirkual eftatt: They being dcepely convinced of finne, and fharply reproved by the Fryars and Monks, who had a notable dexterity to fling theconfeiences of wen, and wound them by the terrour of Gods wrath, fometiraei fortheir great exactions, fometimes for their inctft; fo/netimes for their whoredome, and neglect of the Ordinances of tbe Church; and they had things fo lull againft them, that it made them (trifily devout, and fo were taken up in devotion to this.great Beaft, and die bead of it, tha t all the world admired and adored him. for his admirable audtranfeendant power, and keye* that ht had to heaven ( as they thought) they all yeelded the,mfclves, fome their bodies to fight, and fome that bad not fofficlentto maintaine themfclves, other good Catholicks were reach/ to caft in fome more, fome* l«fl>, to maintaine them, according to their abilities, and happy he? that could make fometbing <o make warre agalnft thefe Hereticks : So thai lay all thefe

together,

Chap. 13. tbe tbkteembCb^ltr of tbe Revelation.- i03_

together and you will fee how he hid this great power to make war with the Saints. Here w« a great and vafi change from the Inttitution of Chrifl, who confined all Churches into one Congregation, tba allmay beare, and all may be.defied that orie'RarilhCharch mould grow to that vaftnefle, to levy 203bfco. to the warre, and that by a word of his mouth to have them all mayntained without grudging, for every man did thinke the worke as pious, a marvellous change : and well doth the holy Ghoft fay , Hee bad great fe-wer, that the power of that Church mould reach over alJ Churches, andfhillhavefuchanineuence into King!, that look what they fhaildjaate, all (hall be ready, body, and goods,, and lift, and all to maintain them; you fee the reaiona of u,how he comes by this power. . .

Butfecondly, how comes he te make War againft the

*There is a double reafon for that, one is taken from Rft|, £ theprofeflion , and prance , and conversion of thefe Saint* • This was their practice,!^ followed tbe Lamb, as m the next Chapter; Uoo^and he a hmbefiwdm tbe momtSim, and with bim an hundred fourty and fourtboufand, bavmgbuFaZlnamewrittenintbeir forehead, : fbefe are they wbtcb are mt Mledvitbmmen, for they are Virgins ijlbefe arttbey *bub foUw?beLamb»betberfo.verbegceth : They kept tbemfelyes indefiledofthis Antichriftof Rome, were not defiled with SrWhoredome of this great beaft j in alltbmgs they confented with the Doftrine of the Primitive Church, and their bypocrlfies, and whoredomes, andcoveteoufnefle, werethings IhatWouW by no mean* be borne, therefore the^ope, who was the great bead, difcerning he was thus contefted againft, «id f af they fty ) blafphemed, he thinks he does nothing, Aoughliedtftroy tmkfs, .ndflMwn*. and JEgyfuan, and SertookthiSepulcher of Chrift, a. longas thofe Here- 2m athorne werenot fubdued, therefore he think. u« meritoriousa worke to fubdue them, as ever to fightfbr the holi L«nd. But fen was another.thing, that made the war, for no iarrc can te mad* but by levying of Force, onbotb

Pv«' And

104 Chip. 13.

An ExfofitUn upon

Vert

6tap.-ir.-~" -tbeibJrteemgfypiertftlg Revcla_tipn>

J05

Rafon 2.

JXtafon 1.

And therefore « fecond w»«, iheirtaking up of Acmes, in the juft defence of theirlibertiei, both of confciencc and outward man : Forifthe Cuholick Church had raifed up all thefe Forces, and ihey hid quietly fubtnitted themfelvej Jibe fheep to the fhughter, there had beene no warre then, there had been maflacrei: It would have amounted tcxhataathe maflacrein Pari*, that a min did not. lift qp his band, but they were (1 mghtered like dogi in thjeftreec : Though they come with fire and fword, yet unlefle they refift with fire and I word/it cannot be faid to be war : Some fet in againft them, though their weaknefle caufed them to prefurae , but it was to weak a bufinefle for flelh and bloud j Wee vreftle not againft fle(b and blood , but againft Trincifalities and Fowerit and ffirituall incline ffei : They which truft to flrfli and bloud (hall be deceived ; at thefe men, they flood out, and fomctimes profpered,whi!e the Earl of Ton?, and fomc other Princes joyned together , though they were but Uw, they profpered; butwar is not one Battel or two,.and in the end they were overcome, and this Bead prevailed 5 and that's the reafonof the2d part, how he came to make warre againft the Saints.

For the 3d, How cams he to overcome them r Truly not by flrcngth, he bad very little that way; bus

Firft, he overcame them by their a little too much confidence in the arme of fltfti : when they fee the King ofAragon fet on, they come to be a little fet on by the power of the King, and a great Battell recoyled by trotting to the arme of flefb. You read in Heb. 11.34. ^"" ^ /*''* '*" ^amtJ mxed valiant in Fight, turned to flight tbe Armiet of the Alient; but when our faith runne in another channell, thai we grow confident not in the Lord Jefus, by training in him, but on the arme of flefh} we know what is faid in Jet. 17. 5. Cur fed . be the man ( ye though he be a good man) that truftelb inpiat}, and makftb flefb hit arme, and wbofe bta\l departetb from the Lord : It withers, it cannot ftand againft the potent Army that rife up againft them; though their enemies were never leflein number, nor never lefic provided, yet they prevailed more then ever before.

And

ThefecondR«afonwa»,by their attention to politick ^nd dcccitfuU Treaties of peace $ for when 'they faw the men were good Souldiers, valient in battell, and able to fight it out, and they foimd the 3006. that were to fight for plenary pardorfihreeyearsj badlerved out their time, aad they had Jot as they thought, their fouls faved, they would go home now, and they had got ?eace by this carnall confidence of theirs : So they perceived this war would be t'roublefome, and theHeretlcks were like to profper, therefore they gather in the chelf Leaders to Treaties about peace, and great pttty thai iuch bloud fliould be fhed; therefore for the honour of Rome it were needfull toceafe the warre, and fo would draw their cheif Leadert to firme leagues of Peace, and then they kept their beft Generals in Prifon; and thus when they had got them to yeild to their pretences, then they had their neckes under their girdles, and their throats under their axes, they might hew them out of meafure : Infomuch that the King of France hearing of fuch cruell maflacre, he fint to knoW what their Religion was ; and though he fent exprefle charge that noncof^hii Souldiers fhould offer violence to them, yet they concealing his Letters , they went on m maflacring the poor Saints, and fcattering them up and down, in fo much that they prevailed, partly by the Saints cleaving to the arme of Befh, and by truftwg their falfe pre

And there is a third Reafon mentioned in the 10. verf. faith htMere it the Ftilb andPaiience of the Sainti: m

It was Gods pleafure to make it the feafon of the Patience %eaf9rl 3, of the Saints : It was the ftafon wherein Antichrift foould fwell to his height, and the Saints be brought low, and their Patience be tryed to the utmoft •, and it being a time of the SaintsPatience,itmuftneedsbeatimeoftheirfuffering; and fuffertheydidwith much patience : but yet they were not utterly exterpated, for fome Bed to France,' and fome to England, and fo propagatedChriftiah Religion, which after turnedI u> the converfiori of many, John, ftfe and Jerome of FMOUi'.Doftrlnc grew and fpread more, till God raifed up tutber to fet forward the power of the Gofpell. Thus you

fee the truth of ihe Do&rine.

P ror

•fcrtirfJPtffc*. ItMnotaneafiemattertforanytdbsatfe

ftortofTWury, afld Founuinto maUnaineboth:,52 befiderall this, it nquireh np frail meafure ofmwS^

lpint», yetfid give, them power to make warr* . .HaJLv

power unto.ciU Beafl, which is therefore L 0^0^ umph or glorying that he hath recced fudha -power for

acknowledge even his poor children on J,rth7Tbe rhit which* commonly by Privilfdee f™ J£ J, ? S SUntsin Heaven; yHe^lPHthS£rft ^ t0 ^ ^ . WethinkSaln^biphapeculiar priviledgeto the Saini. in Heaven, when.they have,eqo>d tfacir^y«H„-2fo?S

SotV the F L - t^T' tbc'D Sai^t,r *hi,< they live

ctIM Sain:,. Swhich^offiu^ are overcome and that (?y thek oW ^ilnTfi1'!?oah J ooft not the Saintfliip wheMbey loqJeXrifiW ft

fence

Cfcp7f3~ ttefeiri««rtC^^Bf<agft*Velitl6n'r

107 ^

V/e

comDa(&d about witfeabody of Sin: ... , . it

o«n sLeVfUrfm^ddoe withdraW their confine* ? ISnrSin. dhia andtbacaft, andpiit their troll in the

LT The Lord knei ic, but yer he did nOt know it to tS& aodloath them, anddMhearteh.them't butyet they SR and fuch a. he account to be hlb,' and not onely io r«ardo"a"gmeration, and the hollneft *T Chrift but in r!Srd nf theT fruit* of holintfle btgunurt them, as he faun,

SuS5*to.-«w» where they do fail ^fey judge themAM - Sed in darkneffc of Temptation they may be Sy but they judge themftlvesfor it, and God looks at S m^ though t£y w«e without fault before hi. Throne; SSSS^Thr^neofG^heWc^I Jjfiug r. h with the RoPtofhJs Righ«ournege.):and in theirtterthr onTif heir hSrt. and endeavour, they are according to God-if they be carried afide, it inhumane fra,lty. Now Li. comfort thai the Lord accounts them Saints

anSuhe world think, it a matter )^7^««^jlva;on to feed their bioud like water, then'aoth thtflordbjare StneSe^e HerHcks. So thai let every chnft.an foul arrySE£ with him, that it is not every afc^fanbd^ S«mak!..mahno Saint,forthefetrufted too.niuch upon

io8, Chap. 13. y.ift'Bxfofitioti fifth

Vfe 3.

Verf.y.

H* ™6 ^H«h.tbellev«h,fn the Sonne of,God for Redeojpwoniftd.P^ifltn, and turne. nw«flide,^hether hfwforth wicHma^d* wiihieH ifi hall dn« for th^Hf

gamftGoM : The Lord jsfaithfoll, new did ., falthfuTl foulperUh rill hUKith failed and Ifarunk; and?hen "hen

peace, -and a Saintin warre, even when they are overcome" -when they are in calamity, andeheplower,plow,uponS

(1,11 leaning;to tfc:Voice, ahd.Counceil of-tKSSvB when they flanaffidetoPopifl,pretence. ; Onely when\he, cleave to the Lord, and truft fleadfaMy upon hi*Ith n

»nJi °r -rk<n ^""""ndterm.of peacei 'the*

ciHe,andtheir<?,ufeandReligio„h:propagatedbythVrdJ. penion, it wai not defiroyed. And therefore^} rh,,r *j

ReligioncameJo^and.AnttchrMoverfpreadiheworirX thermal a Generation of Saint, whom he own.: and £»

oS &,Tbrinif°rth '"*«• of^«neffeinour conmfari A! jf^*" m*y/erv«to l«ch u. ihelawfulnefliofchri

they areaccountedSaipttwhilethey make warre-khtme

prf"

"n^nce. wa. an argument of weak ne&, ^ *^fi* Eutkw«nottheir failing to refill: and had they not heark n"d toThofe fuggeftion. brought 10 them by thofe that lye iu waitTdeUe * had the, nofleaned to humane policy, and ffi tohumaneflrength, they uncertainly P»fe^ !l

thcyweremorether.the reft g™» Jkaraunfmua themiiUwfull.

110

ihap.ij.

An Exfofitim iqm

Verf, j

Vfe +

Vfe*

■. For a fourth ule -, it, may teach all the people ot GocTnot to nwaforeacaUfe by the event, nor perfons by accidents that do befall them, left they fhould condemn thj? .gt!\eri& •n of the Juft. It was a grievous temptationAjajh> lay;i}o? der , to fee the ungodly profper, and have what thejr heart! could defire, and himfslfe plagued all the day long, and cbeftned tvsry morniug , Pfal • 7 3 • 3 ■ ">' 1* ; *od ^ tMimfanes be coudemntd tb*g«n«ration of Gods children;.But no. mat'; ter though the Beaft profper, ana" the Saint* are overcome, yet the Beaft is a Beaft when he profpers, and the Saint* are Saints, though they be overcome j therefore let ui not judge of thing! according to their appearance.

Fifthly, It may teach all the Saints in this Countrey , or wbere-ever, not to truft the pretences of deceitful! gun, especially Cuch as are not found in Religion^,, and take heed alfohow you truft upon your own ftrength (let me put them both together for brevity fake ): /We knownot how foon any of u* may be tempted in this kind, what war res may be raifed againft this Countrey <( though wee have noneforithe prefenr, nor feare none ) yet in time we know not' wljat may come: what, are we better then our Fathers ? The Beali of Rome flill lives, his 4*- moneths is not yet out < though his power he much weakned ) but his Agenfl (till live ; He is abletoblowa coale to thofe.^tlqcA/oir'faixMioil'&bm him, to do this great and glorious fervice to ifct C^hojicfc Church and caufe : And if it pleafe the Catholiek Ghurchj then it grows a great bufintfle to root out Heretjcks, to blaft them by cenfures of Excommunicationi and Civill State j if it weiefo, weftand upon aurpwij^defenceyqujfef. Jt.behooves you therefort,as you define go bfifaitbfuU tofipd, to Religion, to your Churches and Common-wealths,>o ypur Wives, Children, Eftatei* asyoudefireto befaithfuU to his Ordinances, to the Kingly, PrifjUy, andProphedcsllOffice of Cbrift, to attend to that which tbefe Saints neglffied, that is to fay, to attend to, the word of Faith, and to the wifdomeofGod : Truft not upon the experience of your Capcaincs or Souldiert, to fight by Land or Sea : Truft not upon your Caftlcs or VcuVie by Sea, any thing yoa hayej. ©r

«n«y

■Ch'apJ'13' the tbtrteembCbdfter ^>f the KevehxXon,

may have: Truft not upon the pieces of Ordnance, they are all vaine things to fave if you (land in need( and yet of ufe.) "Bepnoaredin this-kind, that you may be inftrumentall to Gods providence, but truft-not in them, they are but the Arm of fteft: And it Wan come againft New- England, ic will b-fromPriBc/ptflftieldfldPawer/, and fltfh and blood will not be able towith-ftarid them: They will be Principalities from Hell, or the great Beaft, the Catholick Church, Or fronf the Image of this Beaft,-otherwife there is no feare of any War: but if any War do come, truft not in thofe means you have, nor though all the Natives in the Countrey Were on your fide • and if any great Proteftant States fhould of&r you help, ufe them, but do not truft in them. It was the way of overcoming the Saints of God, they trufted on the arm of Flefh, and that was their great folly, and that brought the hand of God againft them j therefore (ecyour Faith befiacere, and

upright to him. .«-.■-* n r

Secondly, Leane not to the wifdome of carnall realon, nor truft not to fairc pretences, you (hall have your liberties longer-efiablHhtd, only fomething or other you muft give wav to. aud fome principall cnu muft be fingled out to treat of peace» but it was the ruine of this State: It behovts the Saints to fanftifie God in their hearts, to truft upon his erace, to cleave to the word of God j truft what the Lord faith,and not what deceitful men fay : It was a grave faying of an ancient Prince in England; Obey according* the Law, and Wibeyibe King: but if ym they wbat comes [uddtnlyoxt of b» monitor agahft Lav, >oh oftey not me « King: And that is it whichCbriftian Religion teacheth, no Religion teaches a man more'to obey Kingsin wholfomeLaws 5 to obey them u to obey God in them, for Princes are fubordtnate to God himfelfe. The people do concur in making fome Laws in every Common-wealth, and Princes have tranfeendanc power over the People; and God forbid any fhould faring out of this Countrey to plead againft their Governors, and weaken their forces, but keep their Scepter* freft from one Generation to another 5 yei this is the beft fervice done to King*, fervice according «,God:IfLiwi be made, l« a man yield

gia Chip. 13.

An Expofifton vpen

Verf;

aftive obedience to ahem, if they be good, and paffive if they be evill 1 bat againft Law, contrary to the Areara of Law, to make a man think blrofelfe bound, in fuch a eafeitb tofitter Princea and Powen, and not to yeeld profeflfcd fubjection to them., Therefor*. it behove* thepeople of God to know iipon what terms they ftand, that wee may carrj our felvci likcloyali Subjeai and Cbriftians, that the name of Ood may not be dithonoored by any weaknt,ffe of ours, and ftartingalide on any handlor other. ...... . j ,.

Chapi'13*. thethirteenth Cbapler of the Revelation.

113

.

Rev. 13. latter part of the 7. verf* ^

' \ ■■'• ' ,.'■'■'•'■

And power, teas given him over all Kindredtt and tongues;

and Nations. "

WEeconrtiiow to the fourth thing which thefe words hold forth, and that ii the power ( or ai the Greek word hath it) the authority which i« here fayd to beg'wn to the Roman Catholick Church, and that i», over all Kindreds, and Tongue/, and Nathns. The note is this,

To the Roman Calbolickg vifible Church was given very ample Vot1r. 4. jmifliUion and authority over all the Cbrifiian world (if we may fa jfeake) or at in the text, over all Kindreds, tongues, andNaiions.

And he meanes Kindreds, Tongues, and Nations of fuch Goumreys which were wont to be fubjtft to the Empire of Rome, which were then counted all the Civil! Nations of the world.

To open it briifly: It teat givm him over all kjitdrediitongiies, and nations.

Here are three words, and one include another: Nation is the largeftj for in a Nation there may be many Tonguei, and in one-Tongue there may be many Kindreds. He had dominion and foveraignty over all Nasions, or over the ten Kings i thatis to fay, the body of Chriftian Princes', and all the Nationa fabjeft to them, they all gave their power unto the Beaft, Reu. 17.17. No nation profeffed Chriftianity, bat profeffed alfofubjeaion to the Sea of Rome, that is, to the Rorodn Catholick vifible Church: And the Papifls are large in this j Bellarmine makes it a 4th. note of the vifible Church, amplitude of power, and he gives fundry inftances: Stories are evident, that all Nationi did profefle this Riligion ( fpedaily after the fubduing of the IPrfdeticet, though they did before^ fettingafide that remnant of the Womansfced that Q_, were

M4 Chap.13. / K Aa-f>xjfdpm- jfcn >y-'" ^Verf.*.

did prOfeffc other rWjgfQp then popery. elpfdiJ>V from

a m3£r i?t0- ?*&} There w« no vifibieVrofeffiofi open, wlemjnfpmefete^n^npf^iKorWs-ftoNatlcJoiddforth any other gel igion then Popifli, norprofcfled%k&. onioanyotherChqrch. Now in every NationW«kor

ardWelfo,and Cornjftjronguf., befclti other* &# ,r» diltrepant from E»gii0; But he faith not only every Nation b««very Tongue, that i. every lang^gc, they ^jW their power to the Beaft: And in, «ery\png«e tt^twU ny Kmdred,, and there i, no mWtnac cpufe *v« &y bj ^meofh»kindredhavebeenfop^, pr aVpop&K day, ifnot all,yet foqietftheanciefofl,and^ofcthS tcr part, here ti the unlverfcljty of i|T : ' " V*

And f I fay) farther, hej»d Srople and great powW^or to have power pVer all argue, amplitude. A f,id jn4'hr[ linnlngofthej vefj. %UJ ^ t»icein,Ui o^S

dothamount to inward wora.ip/notcmll.butdfvlne?wor! %. Itwa^ivlnrworthipthafhcqhallengVd, an^JrJJ

vernmenttoall Churcheiln <?hriacndoi« , that wSlnl

challcpgetolhlmfelfeimpojiohof^ngi;^

to doit whether they liked tbeb p,^ Jno , ^V,,. fondant above all created pp^er, Befidu t je £* fil

cei, challenging to himfclfe (and they alfoyee dinfSvl ;powertobindConfciel,cewiththtiiWth^T*^

erofOatfasj toloofc them from guilt of Cm^loiTok

heirconfcitnceifromContraai, from Con&rJcS tha

ii divinepowei;, They all worfaSm, wboftnm£%S„l

teHmtbebooKeoftbeUmb, andIfomeof the*Tioofo^X.

fon, but they continue not, God opens their eye. to repehe

of

•*-—--—._"_':.:, J_'.T ' ' »■■ ■

oT^n^o^efromunderit/JtVa* kn« irifilibUUy of Judgment j«dg of Scripture out of t • ffiSW SinppA» .:• Thffr were^d^v,ne worfh.p ScftEit N be^tjolick Church, and to the head of it, the BiSSie. Soth« rnarvayl not (as theTextfauh )

„SSr overall people in Church^and Common

ral^overconfcun^ ^ CatholicHChurphbadnoipower^hroughoutallChriftm.

d°Now further, theT^tielh you, *if ti*m»w^»: HP did „oV vrholly arrpgate this power to him (though h. S fo tool Iwltwil* him, .houghhetookn,and

«hhim)brWhomVbyGod, bfthfOedlU 'ndeftn^ qfeh/1fti»n Ring*, Churches,.andCommon.wealth.,and

FSuwa.givtnbyGod in hiajuu judgment: firfpve Rw/o» «• f JKfeS" i.fc*»^.» Thef. a. I J. ■ And he give ^'S their want of entertainment of the uu* in |QVVr VSSijfe the) wet*** mt tbelwoftbe truth tbnt tbty S*S vei to. 12. Becaufc they would notreceiye

S^ft^nhertfowGpdgavot^mup to Satan, and to ^^^%S^ G.thol£ke vifibleKonun

0±(S?&»&. The Lord gave them up therefore '^;^i,;^ptw."^*n'byS.t«».lfo. Fori,,. Kf,/M 2.

ii 6

Oteafin 3.

chmplSiv? ^ ^-'^i»5J?S

r5^r-?-frW

■"y9jS&'jrl

rjf6ti$ of«UHiAoii>iaby BfirtireliVfo.#

tholetiroes, 'faremcscy01 aeiuuon isoymlrtfcfei,' fo bydcceivableneflerof^ri^iiBod^lir^'%j^^'dK^|^a^r^

fophiftry of Schoolmen^^poli# o^K* CauoriinVthas made their Laws out of the Popei decree*/ AM advancing the PopiOi Church, and the head thereof, partly b'ylihV&vbtidn of MonbandFiryart :5Andifyoui !a»ke why Satan did tfiij. ihcreiiadoubler^afonofthat. : r .^: --f',{*]"

Fiift, to revenge the injury which the Ghnrchjaid bini by bringing forth a Man^chijdia Chriflian EfopWuYtd drppfe him from bii glory, Wherein h*w» WorffiiprfctfafcttefgrW God of the world. _Now when heefees heei&att offfrfefn the honour be had, and there wot so mmfflaceleftWIm iabeauen. it comes to pafle that he poors forto a flood oTbVbarou* ha-* tions and damnable Hcrefics after the W6niani|lnd makes wit with the remnant of her feed, Rtv. Va.'ia'.-iy.'*"'

2. A feebnd Rcafon that flirrcdupSatapj was out of thVJ ancient enmity againfl Chrift, and the feed of Ghriffr, Gen. f$ 15. Jvillfut enmity between tby\(eelmdbe¥!leeift whieh# Chrifl; and ail the feed of Chrift, which are both publiqa^ and private Chriftfans, he hath an inveterate enmity agauift them all j and therefore he gives the Church of Romeall the power that Pagan itcmehaJ. / k ««

The third fort of given of this largepower to this Beafc and the head efit, the Pope was. ••>.'.' Vi>' - •' '

The voluntary devotion of Chriftian Princes andS&tes '• They did voluntarily refign tbcafelvea up, andvtbW King-' domi, and State*, and Churches, and Common-wealth", and Confidences and all, to the obedience of the Sea offiowe Rev. 17. i7? Tie) vhboneactordIgaveibeh King&nMftfa Beafi j God put it into their hearts to do it j that is true, bos they wcec left of God, and a&cd by Satan, and fo wer*tney brought about to give this power unto the Btaft. Some were brought unto this by the Popes favour, and large gift, he bellowed apoo them. . , .

Cbarkt the Great had bis Empire from the Biftop of foe*. andtranflateditfromCon/iOTmioffcto France, and Germany, and therefore he hadrcaiontoftandto the Authority that fethimup. And the ten Kings of Chrifteodom that rofe upon

117

«ob^tfwM?ftcvanuojbj^ *\^f£ yeelded:

tbeycouWneverhavedon »»^dnot h * J ? ^

Andwhafimpved^m^Tr^

^ ^^^Kl^VthoHcK Cburchdid hold forth

Cas teacup PKS^ut Tb y were carnall, andyec

foperjftit^u^^4"0"V^*'nJ^tntn generally Chriftians an^generation:A*«^ *r ™ £*,£,. 9. \>6. the hlay under the terrqurof ^.K^.nd Monke and they C^iOimf;«3,wb.ch.were^^gS"vcn iodic death,

NdftP**". fl^J^Krp don offinne : Now tbaqa man would gwe all he had torjpar htfngpowertottngme^ nQw

torece vetheImpreflionottb' ropum * fi heai thtm

SmginS&n that helped to tkinne ovtr the ^^itableneftofittobnmaneandnaturallftnce,. ' ?! tpcarnallnaturallre^fon.,

3. fo naturall ConfcUnce. p.eligion*

for thefe three concur, and that ttrongiy ™ b

to carry all Clulfter^meafuru. ^ po.

Firft, for naturall finfe: All ^t Jaw r» y ftd ^

piQYfcountreys know^hat their religion 11 to v

turall fence. . „„„,ii„imiee.. andPifturet,

ir$

Chip. 13,":■> ff'^JSffiflffl jftp -• ^;,-;-,■ .-";• ;:-::;$S^;» .'

3. tor the ftuell, jor have Uiccnic andiwm perfurnii to cntcrtainc you.

4,For ifo tirUvyou ha** double Feafts and falemrjPeafls,

• many Feafttfullof luxury and ryot." : *

5. For the Touchy there is toleration of Stews, to give up their names to Stews : They will not fufficr men to live, unUfle they give up their names to he fne, 6f fuch unclean houfts : And if you commit any lewdaeffe then it i$e*fie to come off with fonje' lighr. pehanoa \ and cfpecially. the purfe , that will doi all. Thefe things roanrelloufly pieafe.the fenfe. .

Secondly, for natural! Reafon, it fuits marvelloufly with naturall reaion.

a. To hold forth an hiftorical&impliclte faith; Hiflorical the Devils may have: and implicit*, fora^mao to believe aa the Church believes,- and face believes thh Faith hath power to quench all temptations of the Devill.

a. To hold forth fuch « repentance as- conflfts in 0OBtritiqn, Conftffion, and Suiifa&ion j)W# reached *U tbii: For contrition* hisheartwasbtmibicdinfenceof hit finne. For confcffion, I have finned in betray higiimo. ctntblaod: And foriatisfaftionj He brought amiitH thirty fieui ojfilver j He would not meddle, nor make with

them. ' : " '" '- -..;'■■''.: :, ■,ih'..^-"

3. To hold forth'fuch an obedience as a man may heable toperform and keep the whole Law. of God, which he thinks to be eafie; And this doth pleafc natural! Sence toworkourowhfalvation. . j,. - ;, |

4. To hold forth pardon of fin for money, Md for bodily cxcrcifcs. •-- • :

5. Uncertainty of Salvation.

6. Such a frame of Church-government at keepeth all u> * politick order and unity: That ail Popifli~Cbiir«lttrbe fubordinate to fuch a Bifoop, as he ii to fome Metropo

. Htajn, and they to fome Primate, and all to the Bifliop of Rome. And why f From one unity afcendi, and it is good to keep unity: And £o to look at« mans fcjfe as unworthy to come into ifeeprefenceofGqdjaiid to call

upon

Chap. 13. . ibeibirttenlbCbttW- tftbeRevelation.

119

upon Chrift, and therefore manners would make a man

Seioibme bcSamts or fce-Siints, and they (hall

preLt their prayers to Cbrift,and Chrift to the Father,

' Uich is very plaufable to niturall reafon : And for our

F*theis which grew salons of tbnt R«llgion>We mould

ndedamnthem to heir,Reafon >bho. a that.

Thirdly, for naturall Confcience; •^»>,l,|»unM™™

With God, and Walk in equipage with G;d all the way, that

Cfay-foramantolook cofind acco.ding <oh..^rk.,

natural Conference hath this in Mature, ,c a ingrafted in na

SmtheGodof:jUmt -from hi. Ordinance in Nature,

ortherudemenwofjtrtftored.

1. Eleftion of Faith, gr works forefecn.

2. Redemption of*U m«i alike* .

I Converfion by-the power of free-will. This is in 3\hVnawrSofaflmen,Pby the very Uw and work.of

'^uftlfi«tion by work,, naturall Conlcience diftur,

St the favourofGodi but recei« k, and thou haft

fellowftip with God. *."■■ perfcveranceby our owne endeavours. a calorification by merit! of works. .

AH thrfefuit wiS.naturall Conference, thatConfcience

fltUfaWon ' fThey Wle inthefework. byglv ng wa,to hUofthataVrogS

X"c^

HeuXfcX7bc -y acceptable to naturall t^nfoj

,,d Nttionfc m(]; !mt Mlt Txlt

' ^T^Gy^TJS:■ *£.*, ■■■:?fty$*

Chap. 13. An Exfdfitian Hpen

Vcrf.7>

ofewryKindrqliMd Tongii^andNation i lftbePojebadi^ufovh mr,evt?)KtofaJ,~iMguey and Nation, where ftandt Cbriflf rj. demotion?' ' .

jnfa 1 anfwer* for Chrlfts Redemption, it it fome out of every

Kindred, Tongue, and Nation, wbofe names are mitten[totbt Limbs btokfof life, but it was but a remnant : There it at this time a remnant accofdingtotbe JUetiiifrof Grace3 Rom. 11.5. But other/wife all Kindreds, Tonnes, and Nations have been (wallowed up by theufurpationofthisBeaft,and by their fubjeftion to bim t So that Chrift bath hit number out of all thefe; but it is the Bead that carryes awaythe body of them, for that feafon efprciaily : He did rule over them by a kind? of facred.'Authority, in the conferences of men, becaufe hehad this absolute power in Churches, a great powerfor 1260. years together : whether you reckon from Conftantines time, or Jbeodo/imhn time, he had a marvellous power in Kingdomes, Natioirt, and Common-weal t h»., But notwithftandiog he had this powe> in thofei'times, 'yet Chrift kept the intercft in bis own chofen, as in lie*. 14. i. Where he bad 144900. that were fpotleffe virgins. "'.

Anfv, 1. The Lord Jefus will at length challenge a|I hit own, purchafe them into his own hand, when at the calling of the Jeter, all the Kingdomes of the world JOhsll be given to the Saints of themoft high, Vang, 86,17. The Lord will take them ail into his own hanrylfd power and Jurifdiftion but he tnpft firftthrow down this enemy thathath ufurped over his purchafed pofliffion : But in the mean time this Beaft fwallows up all for fo many Ages together.

For the ufe of the point.

Vfe 1. Firft,it may be to refute the Papifts (hat give this as a trne note of the Church, namely, amplitude of dominion; as.the Catholick Church had : They give this for an infallible note of the Church 5 now chat note you fee is here evidently afcribed to the people that worfhip the great Beaft, of whom the Lord faith here (ver.8.) their names are not mitten intbe boobe of the Lamb. So that this is a note, not of an Apoftolicall Church, but it may be a note of an Apoftaticall Church that is fallen away from the Apoftles Doftrine : It is a true

defcription

Chap. 13. the tbnteenttfCbdpl~eTo(ibf$itrthtion.;

nt

delcriptioiroftbai State of the C^rcb. You fee here Power watgietnover to the Biaflovciall Kindreds, fongms, and Hit'stns : And therefore amplitude of dominion is not ah infeperatye character of the Spoufe of Chrift j for it may be given to thofe that are not the Church of Chrift, even to thofe that are but a BeaS in the fight of God, not hit Spoufe. I may rather fay thecontrary , that amplitude of Dominion was never a note of a Church of Chrift fince the world began: For in the old -Teflament the State of the Church was National!', and t^ey hadppwer over one Nation, and fometime* conquered others, as in David, and Solomons time, they conquered the Tbilijl imr, 8t Ammonites, and Moabiles, and Edomitest but it Was never over all the whole world,and that dominion which they had,they did not challenge it by Church power, but left them dill to their own Religion, for the Commonwealth propagated thejr power by arms, having firftoccafion of war re given them" by their arrogance to them. In the dayesbf the new Teflament, theChurch thatCbriftinftituted ' reacheth no further then to their own members, and their own members reach no further then to one Congregation, that all might bear, and all might be edefied, iCor. 14.13. So that if Church power extends no further then the bounds of one Congregation ; then that Church that fwellethandftrecheth forth her power all the world over, Kindreds, and Tongues, and Nations; what an ouf-ragiaus fwelling Beaft isthat , thatreacheth fuch vaft dominion beyond the proportion that the Lord gave to his Church ? If you fhould fee a body fwellto fucba vaft bigneffe, that his armesfhall reach from one end of the world to another, would it not be counted a monfter r So in this cafe, the Lord hath limited the power of the Church within it felfe j it is a great power that they have, but not fo great as to binde confeience, unlefs it be Minifterially, and fo they have power to binde Kings in chains, and Nobles in lincks of Iron; but to have power, judiciary power over theScriptures^nd over the confeience, over and above the application of the word; it it fuch as the . Lordtiever gave to any Church, but it is arrogated, and ufurped by the man of Sinne.

R Secondly,

it* Chap. 13. ■ ■&)tjf'o/iiibn'~l^m'

t>*\>

1 ■ I I "V

Vfe 2. Secondly,^miv fcrvttd icach youthe proncneffcofyour nature. » thtt whfchiVevfli, above that which is fcvinRI« ffldfpfrituallygopd. This power over all Kindreds, and Tongues, and Nations, {&<> tord bath pur chafed By bit <totffi.R«v " 1<fv- Hi dytfd-androfe 'agjine 'that be might be Lord both of quick and dead, Rom. i4.9. And upon bis refurfeaion, all power was given him in Heaven and Emb, Mat. 28. 18. He prayed for thu power, and the Lord promifed to give him it. Phi 2-**Ik?of™i-trtdiIiringteib*ib!>HembMfatifai^ «««•i-andthemtrmcftMTtsoftbsEaTtbforthyPojfefnon. This hatlMbeLord boaght with bis pmious.bloud, and paid for by the power of hh; eternal f, Spirit ; and yet never did the Lord Jefwenjoy this powerto this day, which the imn of Sinne hath enjoyed for fo manyyears together. He will enjoy it *t JengfK, when he (hall call in the Jews, and with

£T* *£*&■*!& ?"'*'> «'« "igneln Soveraigne Authority both in Church andCommon-wealtb,.accordine to all th> Councell of his wordahd will : But yet it was never known to this day that fo many Nations did Aibaut their thrones to" the Dominion and Government ofChrHL and to theiTrutn cf Chrift,-and to worftiip him With the ftr? vannof God, notwithftanding the purchafe which Chrift hath mide of thu Soveraignty, and notwithstanding the efficacy of hi. prayer for obtaining this power, that hee iwgBt hw dominion over all. As foon as Co«/l<,«iw

*"■?* S,tu °r,it0 *'Jom Ghriffian> *• w°™»h§& into the VWJdernelfc i The true worfhippers of Chrift were foon troden under the hatches, a mountaine of corruption in Church Government overwhelmed them aroaituthatvoa cannot fet the time when fo many Nation* fervedhun and were as ready to take up-arrhs in his quarrell, as they have done fo r the man of Sinne. *

Youwillfay, didthey not for the recovery of the holy Land, man,'Churchaeconfgireandkythcirhead,together, and engaged thtmfdve* for thi« VVarkr whv wb£S they undertook that Wgrre, ;tfiT&Ei2£ffi any fitfb thing, that Churches mould engag?53£a andtheirEftates, andLives, and Souls,and allIfoSJS

.very

Cha?.-t$v --i^WrtewrtCtapeTofftjKevelauon.

m

juryoftfc^holyfiityi wirttJJOtxneerly .undertaken by ttw Btfhop'of Romei and by the motion of the QajhqlickGhuish. in a Generall Councell > The! Roman Gwholick Church •mttiyia General! Councell, and they agreed to fet pboui this expedition; They promifed pardon.of 3'inne tothepto^ pie, and in hope of that, and fuch like thjng«liiey went about it. It was fervice to the Bead, noMq Chrift : God at* ver acknoxvledgeth it as any fervice tp Chrifts Kingdorae: it was forthcadvancementof the head of the catholic k CUarch; M as any grew more wife, they grew more afraid of them.

So that it is a wonder to fee; never did the the Chrlflian woild give that Authority to Chrift, as they bavedone unto the Pope, and his Inftitutions, which arc not Ordinances of Chrift. Yea let me fay another word (which is above whac I faid: ) It hath been a very rare and lingular cade when any man would acknowledge a particular vifible Church, depending on do power, but Independant wijtbin itfelfe : Ii i* fuch a rarity that a man may here and jt,ber< xndfied fadeit in times of perfecution (in 3000. year* ); Buwtertbe Church c :me to peace, it is very rare to beare fuch a matter till you comedown to the Waldencei, and Albedencess andthofe poor Churches that were faltered in the Wildernefle. It is very hard tofinde the Church of Chriftslnftjtution to remain in the world, whereas this Roman Cajiiolick Ghurch «igns in the world : This is a great power, and yet this power the Church of Rome had. The Harlot reigns over Kindreds, Tongues, and Nations* wfcttasthetr^ Spoufe-of Chrift hathrcarceafubfiftapc.eihtheWC)|r}d.. '

Sothtt confider,'.iflt.did jw/ro#e with oar hearts to clofe with thelnvenoons pf men, wijth fitani'call (tower rather thenwiih Chri*, Uw^re^t ppfltble there mould be fuch aberations from ihUnftit.WQ.Us: of Chrift, were ic not for the imp>tuQUi hqejvUW&sft -at the ,,bJv*t* of the Sonnes of men" And^hfioefq^^A^^oi **< fuch-^a =v«ft fwelling, tbafcwmy C^r^re^Wj.ns^alK^butDBeCjwch; how ffiSl>e gohonw c'a>{w4bl fucb difcourfe l Thisbetonges to iH'tbe CHur fihes,tp take, th^pparwnities that we Havei lihirt'we mayfiot Jcii'ane ,he^p^iupra«be4e#je* of -tti'»-»-..va ,v: •:'-■• -T- Ra men,

J»4

Cbip.13.

Vfi 3.

win Mfoh

low free that wav 2S?Sfr a mmh marwI'

•obi* Atak JSSTttjfit

uwere to an Ordinance of m,n-.-8irifi.eGo(L K

But when we come to fanftlne God, & hi? nralfi. «^ i. 1 ding forth our ownrtiamf> .h.« * '. n,8praHe,and hoi

with our peacerandS, . * 1 $ h°no^j, and credit,

"ply, and monk £2^3 tH»*?ft'and inwardly fo

they wiling ^

Common-weahh^In£vlF^0Wn"nJ Scepter^hurchei^

dredj

tfce tMrtwatt fifty er. of ^Revelation. n^

God $ boinouiaw«Ki« J* . . e wechMeto che Lord.

and daft? them down with his feet : Theft £• ™on l

maintayned their caufe and honour, and recovcru w "Soylkinglcnownhi, A^jL^iffi

feemtoloofeinthehearts 0fb«fcbje& '^ceTko, bun loft bis Kingdoms bat vti it for ^ Pen"^L^ and

■ h«inctftuou. Sonne Amnon, thatfcarfd haw Kgi HelofthiiCrown, notforhuRepenta^. »^M on ex.eutingtheLawofGoduponh^

other., There wash.. S.nne , o*"™'™^ Lord rejudgement upon hi. rebellion..Sonne;£/«{"• a|£ Rtbell y

& had not loft hii Kingdome : .^"J <° * ™e :udgeraenr, fedion ovnwmlehim. thatfae.^»°^5ES Kingdome

andeuthii throatatlcngth. rf G°dd°en°d^er ioofeby ..hedidto Vivid VBf behYll^nXnou tohim.and f.naifyingGodinhishe.rt.bvg^^^^

taking fhametohirofelfe i Tb^™ . athbln wanting intheWience,*»»*p*»ttjtefe2Spnam«, « andtbe fc>rd hath> been pleafcdtc fanfcfe gj ^pf thiy haw fanaiEedbh before men J 4rt?ew r.|«*u r

776 vhap. 13.

An Exfofitim uftn

VirCj.

me, m4 nf my wordt in this Uniterm wdfmfull Gtneradon^ of him 'ilfopalhhe SouKeof mm be ifbtmed, wbeubecometbfi the j Ghry of bit Father, with the holy «4ngeJi,.Mark. 8.38, And it i will Ihurtlybe the ruinc of thofe dungs they would preferve, the ruine of a man* name and fhte, the ruine of hit body and (foul together, it'a man (hall dare in the prefence of God to I give the Glory due to his Name to a Biaft : TaeLordwillbp ' a (wife witnr0e again!)' ail the w jrkers of jrtfquiy. Trull God wich ycur honourarid eftate; did he ever raileany man to this day ? Tbnodoftus did fubmit himfcJfe, and gave glory to God, and acknowledged his offence to Ambrofe the Pjritar ofhisChnrcbj and to the people of God,.becaufc he had tinned dgairrfttbe Lord, rothe offence of the Church of God : did ii weaken hiseQeem > didnpt allthe Churches bear of hit repentance? Though there were fome ruffinly Optainithiii would have had him cutoff ^mJro/ei head-j-no faith he, Jet him aIone,he does it out ofiove to God and my foul: Therefore with many tcaret, and much dtje&ianpffoul,hc fan&ifi'd God in his heart, and was afterwards received againeinto the Church, not onejy to the greatcaqaforc of trie Church where he livecJ, but of all others mat were under his Government, and he never loft thehonour of his Government. No man ever loft by fubmitcing to the Authority of Ghrifta jye rhiytriift the Lord for that : Authority isniorfivprtb then pur haires, and yet he numbers ourhairea , and all «h« comforts of the world are not anAvenble to it : truft him with it, ajshithatisfaidtfall, and he will certainly prpvide^hat nothing (hall be loft:commit your fouls to bjm,aato AtaithfulCreator} and the1 Lord Ending his name fanftifiiedin K before the people, he will certainly fancVifie Ms and our names before them as we fanfttfie his. Let us yeild up oar felve* to , the.feryice of,his Kingdome : whenimen have been contrary .mindedjt'htLord'hathpnnfiiid tberniwSth fearful jndgBflKmi. 'You know chtcajfe^ofUkdab and Jbi&u., Laftto.'ii.Xhtf came before God with ftrangVfire ,arid the sLord tnafctt a ftrange wotke, andconfumes^hem wSth fire. JlnaauuttnA JStfhirA that dealt dfcekfully with the iGhucch^ iDtnc patt toey delivered, bat-kept back 'part tfFtheir fefaftilioc s' what.

followed

the tbimenlbCb^m of the Revelatiop.

12.7

T """""' „,«,-.> The Lord ftruck them dtadj you will 5°"° Sere inthofldlyS which God wa*ne«r«to hi. fay, thofc « lve r, he Lord is a» neere to.hisCharch now Church. B^lvel[' lcV£8„then, there nedsnot miracle. ^ISSXhis Truth, fe«.a.»3. All

n0ttU\? u.Z\[ know, that I am he which Icarchuh the lhc Churches fhaU know, tn ^ ^

»'6»" "i^'is^endeaTfubtiHy , he will deal fubcilly > ti yon rvo*1 -'A'Xlain hearted, with confcionable men,

wkh;^-J%S£P Sdl the Churches Hull know ic: haulldeat fauhrully, ana«. ^ fled

lhe Lord will «« hY^S?htac«iftffion. The Lord down with paruall, and Amm* theroofffrom lhe

will fetfcisftce Jgamftf°%7e"'arahi,throne^d Crown. Jandof thcHving,that ^ <£^ t may * any time And therefore ^^Z^^mt^o God, and concern, to anft^

uUme what thou b^done, I Mfc 7 ? ever could telhblK ttllshimfrornhrfttplaMhxnn v ^ Qum

faith hec, t fa * fflWXf, %«nd * wedge of ment, andcwo.hundredtoxk»» ot^ ^

Goldof fifty tockels we.g ht, 1heolcovwdj ^ ^^ them j well faith he thou^Jf "°Xo,v edgement was the (hall trouble thee : but yet his acK owl ^

v.lUvof iictortora door of hope ( ruj. - 1 j

J o&7«nd viaory ^^SS^^ t0 (^ PSoVifallNationpndUngu^

mitwtheinvenaonsofmcnjhow^

fenge due fubj.a.on to hu wjl,» &»»J them , M hig fettj to throw down our Crown* Q « ^ lhacaIl

and f^.^0^1 • SdSrffld.^ they all eft theChurcb, C^^.^IC . 4Thongh they all did their Crowns do.nWo«^ J » clft them ,„ weare Crowns, »»hadliAB'™r!§ef0Je him that fate upon down at hi. feet, when they came beJor em ft g(J r^ thethrone, andbefor^^rnbe in ^ ^^ thepr«fcnce of Chnft they *»«w cw• 0rdi.

ty;WletthenameofChnftbemagnm ^ ftU

nanceshavefree paffage, butforthemlet ^^

clown*

■ 28 Chapi 13.

An Expfiiiofakpm

Veiri;7.

Vfe 4. Laftly, let it learn at thus much, to take to heart in thefe dayea the eftate of oar Anceftors and Fathers of old in thofc dayei : For if every Kindred have worihipped the Beaft, then thy Kindred have done it, or Anceftors. We fpeak not in dederifion of them, but they have all done it, the body of them { though here and there fame may be left out) and all their power they have given to the Beaft, to rule Families, Chur. ches, andCommon-wealths, and all our Kindred, andefpedaily our Tongues have done it; not onely thofe that fpeak Dutch and Sfanijb, but we have been more devoted then any Chriftian Nations, in giving fuch vaft revenues, and Monafteries, and fo large devotion to the man offinne, none have beenfo devout as Englifo : It is incredible to tell the great payments they made to the Pope, it is not to fee numbred. And if all Tongues have fuDmittcd to the Bead, then they that fpeak £ngfi]&, as well as thofe that fpeak Scoitifb, or Wel$t or Brittijb, the body of all Kindreds if not to this day.

It mall therefore humble us in regard of this their finne, which will be ftt upon our fcore, unleffe the Lord humble ui for it : the contagion ofthier (inn reaches to us, and his jfcaloufie wil cut off root & branch. Gods jealodfie is kindled by Images and fuperftitions; IwiBvifit the iniquities of their Fathers upon their children : men may fuffer much for their Anceftors, and for their Kindred, Tongues, and Nation. And therefore it behoovs us all to be humbled for the flnne of our Aaceftors; and they hoped to be faved by the interctffion of Saiiats, &c. .

This provokes the jealoufie of God. Therefore if we

•> would not have oar teeth fet an edge by thefe four Grapes, it

behooves us to be humblcd,that the intaile of Gods curfe may

be cut off from us though it lay heavy upon them thai went

before us.

Rev;

Cnap.13. the thirteenth Chapter tf lie*" Revelation.

Rev. 13.8.

And all that dwell on earth Jball mrfbip him vchofc names are not written in the booty of life of tbgLamb% &c.

*Ou have heard that upon the recovery and healing of ' fathe; woundedIhead of the Catholicfc Church, fundry effects followed} the Dragon gave unto the Bea ft a ' four fold power, Power to ffeaf^great things \ potferfa continue and to be aWve 42. months, power to mak$ warre with the Saints and to wercome them $ Power of foveraignty and Authorityovef'all^Kindreds, Tongues, ahdNations} and that even to worthip, that all (hatdwc.llon.the Earth (hall wor (hiphim, believing as the Church believes, and neither more nor Jefle, fubmitting ihemfelves in confeience to all their decrees, and expecting their falvation in the fcllowfBip of that Church, whichitdivine worftip pc'culiaronely to the Lord Jefus. In the words now read, you have thefe that wbrflrip the Bead, that it,rhat give this divine honour to the Catholick Ghurch, to believe as they believe, to fubmit their confeiences to the power of this Beaft, taking up all their obfervations for worfcibjfjorGovernment from them, not from God, and look ing for their falvation in reconcilement with this Church 5 I fay thefe men that doe thus worftip this Beaft, they are described here by their ftate, by their fpirituall and eternall (late; < hac is to fay, theyaredefcribedbyadenialloftheir eltft e ftate, and that, is expreftina deniall of the proper adjunct of that ftate, and that is, the writing of their names in the Lambs book of life, for that is the proper adjunft of al I the cleft people ot'God, that their names are written in the book of lif: of the Lamb j thefe men men therefore being denied this proper adjunft of an cleft ftate , they are therefore here defcribtd by their damnable condition and ftate ; now this therefore is here predicated - f them all, that their names are not written in the booke of the life of the Lambe, whoever they be that wot (hip this Beaft j and he faith, Mldidworfiipbim, fave S only

i»r

»?o Chap. 13. j/a kspfitioa up*

Vwf.8

oncly they vtofc names were miiM in tbe Laatbes Wof/ife; They ihit did worfliip the B.att, had npjt their name? Written in ihe'Lambi book of ]£-. So ihin this bo0k in which their name* are fai.inottobc written , it 15 fct forth "bythe «nd, and by the fubjdt qf ic. , . "' : .

1. By theertd, //Vffc Bootyj/ifc . Not tharit was a living buo^ h«t kfciufe they thtf are written inthatfearV wmten unto life, that they may live tyctcruky.io g^j$*ni

citherhe« |IWR#.flor pfit,'G(klgiving^tdhiifihaK might Ukenoti^qf aU(b^naijiwiheKip, and keep themfafe 10 UU^fon: of elftbcli the/nbi»a of it, a»%#ing tbe firft and

. . VJf,;iY^» wn.w«u\^iw,inaiHnif naraewitnu*? 10 ueit rajd to be fo^rAtd«lned Jefrre ibe fcundtiionoftbe vcrld, '7 &*& $?^e/t>Beit||^ob^thebook,ofiheltainb, the.w»y^%fc|of a^bo«aufcth« the book kgiyenip hlro, an3f*5W& *lfo^htfb*iitbe RrwdpjiUperfon, tbftfiftiV and pnmftrUx, V»d fundamentally writtenin ihilbook. f lay it is fitft given to bin>, at if all the perfont that Godtntendi life unto, be,did give them atie wer* in a fcroul or book to the lord J«fui, <but of thft I ftall fpeak aiittlemoreby and by.) \n the mean time I fpeak now to the Anajyfis of the Text $ butifyopflwll not trafhttir, wbdfe names are hot written m tbe Umks\Bookoflife ('but as it is here and indeed fo it • u u ff 0f'«inaJ1) *beBto^ofiifeoftbelambe\ Though itbethe Jjke fence, then it may hold out a further notion and meditation, and that is this.

1. That the Lambe is the fubjea of that life' whereof it it laid, it it the Book of life of tbe Lamb.

3. Heii the Author of it, to tbe eleti people »f God, in John »4- •?• that holds forth both that he is that life to us:Chrift at

God

Chap; igr '^~ ^6elfcfrf?e^t^)er^tfcnitTelation. ,v,

God=ipan1i tfcetubjeft oflhii fpfrttualtand eternall life $ and his jnan.hood, fo receives, it as a common vtfTell to all bit eleft mernbm, apd becauft he live*,, we (hall live alfo, therefort he is the Author both of giving and prefervtng this life to hbneavenly Kingdome.

Mow by this kambe, I need not tell you is meant Chrift the Limbe, withoutftot, Johni.»9« Wecaertdeenudbytbeprecim. bhudtfCbrifr at of 9 Lfimbe without g>Ht 1 Per. iK 19. This Latnbe ja hfcfe defcribed by his flittering which wai fliin, was put to death, a violent death : and that, futferlng ofhisii amplified by the ancient vigour and c fficacy pf it, fidn from tbe beginning oftbe world. .

Now the note that fiiS offers it felfe from this verfe it

Thaf fuebwhofe names are written in the lambs book of life, Vttir.. 1. ihey all and they ohely are preferved from the worfltipof the Beaft : For here it it faid,flwr all tbatlwell upon tbe Earth (ball worjbbbim, faving they wbofe names are written in tbe Lambet Book &f life, tbei wall not worflilphiflM but all whdfenamea are not written in the book of the life oftheLambe, they (hall worlHtpttie Beaft : So Aen they whofe nam" are^ written in the Lambca book of life, they doe not worfliip him, < for if their nameikjt written there* they are exprefly exempted j) but they thafltaeworPjipbim* they arefaid not to havttheir names writttn in the Lambei hook df'Ilfe : So chat fuch whoft namei axe writcen In tbaLambe» book of life, they and alt they, and they onely are preferveda* om the worftip'of the Beaft, ItiaafpeechtothelikepurpofethaeyoureadinRew. \n %. andnponthelikeoccafion : Tbe Beaft that tbou fawefi W^aniMnpuandptUafcenioMtoftbe bottomeleffe fit andgaim perdition, and t bey t bit dwellon tbeEarth pdl wonder (wboja namti were not written in tbe Book, of life from the foundation of tbe world, 8cci ) Thew admire and adore him, where he tells you ofananciefltaft, bee doth not tell here when it was written, there he dotb,that ancient book wherein from the foundation of the world they were written, and therefore before the world fuch a* werls written in the Lambe* book of life j were loc'kt up to be preferved from the adorarioit-of the Beaft, and r * S 2 «u

132 Chap. i3. An E*0thm upon

all tne reft were Me cq worftup the Buft. v Jt0t °PeWhhP?V'Vhe"a Qwflidn or two maybe'mo' ^ for."Potion of the termMoTihe Doanri^WbiSS^

bten a llttfe expounded before. JFirfl :VwP«»Q«c

Qieft. i. %i<^fedemanded wbatj,tbiiBookoflife?

. fift YourMd ^Scripture of fundry books iccoW

to which oar eternall fiate flands or fall, (ifl rtS fo«U

atthehftjudgetoen^^^

■em. it ,,.11 onefor the Doflrine: In Re*. *>.». it i S

•ti'S1 ??^e/^-So^rei8 onebook aaordS

brance, wherein he takes notice of ill perfon^ndSffi

thatif,ke«p,aieXaaaccouhtofthewaaI7tbevw«eS Wortbiminabook.whlchdaybydayw£2K d*i " the providence of Godthere Wa/ad^ni«5„^ Vi ' ,n »d .aion. tbatfcouJdtnTto^^ bookeof conscience; foralfoin that God iwlS rf?«n! aaion^liccording to which weffiall be judgedXeo^fdS bearing- wunefle aboutour perfon. and aftiS£r "" Chey ireenHghtnedby God.P AndyoTread foof^otJS

*? 'J^V1' l8' he ••"tte a« «he wbYldby? |£? -f«r^/oMyG%/:Thefebooft, will be LmSf£\3A

margenc

- - - ■■■ ^ • ■ •—-■

Chap. 13. tbttbtofembCbWroftbe Revelation.

ni

marEentor biggerBibUawritten,T./i/ei«Hier*r««&»i h the OrJgCllit1.c5Pableofboth conftruftions, Everymmc^.

• TJTpfi/ft. « tUetordwiIlrecountwhenhewruethup

tc P^P'V™"{" ?r " -. whf re the Lord doth threaten the

ffip^-Sfe&^b.upon them thatfeevani

%uSvea*thevftall not beat members of tny ptor

m^VfW neither have faUowfUp «"h ChurchnoP SmnnLeakh- There is a writing, therefore a Reg.fter, ?^^^*teO*\*^™ counud neneSeU. and very carefully did they keep them j that if

?^i?,ta€?u3ibook, it is nothing bata counter

book of life, tM*';""?". ' .x.aiv agreeing to it* fome

pane ofthe book ofliMutnotexaaiyag £ ^

time, we put in more th« ^£Je do not receive. Other. Therebethatbejongtol^

134 Chip, ij.

4n

•re written in the Uoibi b^ook of life K they m?y HOIKS'

ten!■ theChurch book; butthjs 11 potthebookherefpoken

of, the book of the life ot the Lamjb : The pbl}r^i|i|l|eiK

of tbt Lamb, but they cannot difcern who a,re hit f "&73

Kmvivbo ate bu, fo do not w#, pop the PtonbV* of the

jChurch, therefore yen btare here of adiftincVbo^keofthe

Lambi book of life, of which book it is txprtfly written

&tv. ao. 15. That jrbofbtver ?*not./^ yrfte*' in>frlZ2

boo^oflifc, v>m toft wmkelak? of fire. ^m"

AH men therefore that aic written in th? book of Life or

In the book of the Lamb, theyare written to ||fr." Now'this

we cannot fay of the Chuich-book; for at hath been obfcrYcd

of ancient time, there are many wolveswithin, and many

fliccp without: Sometime! the Church hath ttSlS 2

anoft precioui membus , both Qfficwi ,144 Mejak,*;

fad expeiitnce h«tb made n true in cur tfmea, thweforiISat £

not a certaiqe rule, that if a man be If ft out of the ChnrcB hi

«iJefteverIaningly,unlt«Vt^^^^

of grace, as in thofe uhomiheLprd hath branded for fuch whom he tafces no pleafure in to eternity: (ty it i( fajd wu

$\°W'> 7fcw.f°rLlh?.Ufi»* Qth"'** th't botSe of theGhurcb sWhatlwok Wtb,MB^othejbutthe€tteMll «cordandregiftcrofGodsel«c1M,tb^ whoever it not foood, he U indeed t»A out, into to laW fi^bemgftutoutfromfalvdTOBby ChriO;, wd then what hopeof falvationis therein himfcjfe? .™

Now ofthia book it ia, of which fifofes. fpeafes, Ew,,2 ti u iboHwiltnot forgive tbefin oftkypet^tbenkbtmemSf&l vbtcbtboubafi\mitten; not which the Church hath written bUtWhkhthouhaftwrkten,wWcntheLotd h«h writtenof

Si^S AftVl° 7kPf»y* Wwit^aUrf,enS2 ofhiiEhd: Thieia the book out of which he* defjr«wTbe

Watted out of, fuch waa the txtafie, r«nnot%ofhj,Ja!c but he was filled with fuch ardent xeale, that^hw then £ areproachlhouldbecaftuponGoA, ihU^^ut bringihemto the Land of C^a, let himbeblottjtdoitk the hook which hehad written, letdamnatipnitfelfefalluoV on bun, rather thta the name of ihc Lord fhould be reproached

Chap. 13- ibe *b'"l<*nll> Cbtytr of tbe Revelation.

cb(d by the uncircumcifed Htathena 5 and in that Tenet taul wiftKthWtUfelfe feparate from Chrift, for bit breibrtn, biikjttfmen mr&ngto tbeflefc Rom.9.3. H« doth not fay, he would be oft out ot the Church j but be found, that zeale for th«j whole CSmrcb,. and for the Lord J*fu», that rather then the Gofpel of Chrift (hould be hindered, if it may ftand with Goda liking, be could rather wifb fuch a wretch at he" (hould be cueoff, tfien that the whole body of bit pjopl* (hould be caft off: This is tbe Lambabook of Life, called the book of Life , not. becaaft the Lord Aanda in need of a book, but bscaufe thofe whom in hie eternall purpofe be hath decreed to fave, hit unchangeable puFpofe doth fixe them at faft in hit remembrance, at if they were written in a book before him: For that end hit decree hath taken fucb particular notice of them, that if they were written in a book before hkn, they coojd not be more fledfafty and particularly recorded. - ' '

Itisaphrafe borrowed from men , that when they would remember fuch a man, or fuch a freind, they fet them down In a booke j God flandt not in need of booki, but hit clear, and cverleftinglove to them it fuch, that they are engraven at on the pairoei of hit hand?, at the Shew-bread wae prefer,* before the Lord continually, which reprefented the n. Tribes, that hit eye might be upon them from one <end of the wetk to another, and the word which the Se?lMgi>ttt ufe for She«r-bread,it iitranfjatedat the word which the Affile afetk Roto.$.«. and the Greeke Tranflators and Hebrew expreffelt, it it the bread o.fGodt purpofe, or of Goda face, and what it hit purpofeX it it not with him asit it with tw, that whiles we fpeak of one man, we forget another) but Ma purpofe ijalwayea

the €m^ *, and &t(t Bein8the hreld of God$ PurPofe' they a" ever before him from one end of the week to another, arid from one end of the ye4r to another, now that it the meaning ofthe Gaefijon, loUlUXbe Botkseflifc* It it the bookfe of Godteternajleleftion, that it, itittheregifter orrtcordpf the namet of all whom God hath chofen to Hfe and falvation

"<iisfj *• (f y°* fa11 *'*' ^il" M//erf ibe Lmhet R,°^ °f m AM

:m

136

Chap. 13.

<:An ExfofitHn Hfm

Verf.8.

,Aufw. Firft, heeauft (he Lordhatn given cbit bobkVto Chrifj^and all the name* of hit cleft by name co be brought *P falyaHon,and kepcin aftateof falvation to imortaliiy^ and ftareforeyou (hall read in Scripture, when God putj forth aa ((email love to hi» people, wrought eternall falvation for ut I mean when he did eternally cleft us to grace and glory b .thiseternall elcftion pf bit,there was accompanying ancter* nail donation in giving them to Chrift, Chrift knew hit fa. thcri coun fcl from eteraicy, and the Lord gm them to Chrift by him to be brought, and he undertaking that they (ball be brought to falvation, the Lord requiring that he (hould keep them to immortality j he (hall work the meant and apply the fame effeftually to the end of the world : This ii evident from thofe Scriptures that fpe-ik of thcgrant,andof the gift of them to Chrift before their e&ftiiall calling, though donation go before that 5 for from that love of God by which he gives us to Chrift ;n our effeftuall calling, he gives ut Ghrift and faith to receive Chrift 5 but before thil,there is a giving a donation of us to Chrift, as John 6.37. Allthat the Father gi-' vetbme, (ball come unto me; So this coming to ChriA is believing on Chrift, and it is fo cxpreft in ver. 35. He that come/6 to mtjbaU never hunger, and be that Month on me {ball never tbirfi; To come to Chrift, is to belive on his name; thus much doth* hee, exprefie himfclfe ; that all that the Father giv, him in ^.?«rn*U counfell, they (hall come untohioi, to wit, in effeftuall calling him : the Father will draw nonebuc whom in bia eternall cpunfell he hath given to Cbiftj and whom be draw, Iwillnot caflout, inwer. 37. to 44. So then when this aft of Gods eternall eleftioh"pafled on thofe whofe perfons are defignedto grace and glory, hee gave all by name to the Lord Jews, as if they were particularly regiftr«<J in a booke: And he promifed, that in fulneffe of time, hewouIdoYaw them to him, and required that the Lord Jefus (hould keep them under bis wing to imortality $ hit called therefore the Lambs booke of life, becaufe he is the fubjeft receptive of

Anfo. 3. And again, it U called the Lambs booke of fife, becaufe he is the head of all Godi cleft; they are allele* in

him,

Chap. 13. the thirteenth Chapter of the Revelation.

him, notbefidesoroutoihim, notai aftaally believing in him, for it is long before any work of ours, Rom. 9.11. Hot of jrorie/, but of him that calletb, the children being not yet born, neU tberSbavingdone good or evilly that the purpofe of God according toeUdion might fiand. Elcftion ii before any worke of ours, God gives us in his eternall councell to Chrift, but we are not then in him by faith j faith is an effeft of our cleftion, not the caufeofit : At many at were ordained to eternall life believed, Afis 13.46.48. But this is the thing $ It it a true diftinftion that fome give in that cafe $ we are in Chrift, notbyaftuall cxiftence in beleiving; norasfo confidered, but by virtual! comprchenfion : the Lord looks at us as in him, we are not in him by faith; but the Lord comprehending us in his everlaftiog decree, we are in him by Gods charter, even children not born, the Lord hath wrapped us in his everlafiing armes, in his clefting love, promifing in time to give us faith to beleivc on him, and therefore to come to him, and to give him to us that wee may live in his fight 5 therefore it is the Lambs book of life,as he is the fonne of man, the fonnc of the Virgin Mary, to be united to the fecond pcrfon in Trinity, long before his humane nature was in being.

Anfw. 3. And it b called alfo the book qf the life of the Lambe ? if you have refpeft of referring to Chrift this life, then you take Chrift as he is the fubjeft of this life, in 706014.19. i^ritt/e 7/it>f,;8«/&d///it«<f//d;l live, and then you live : and be is the author, the efficient, the procreanr, and confervant caufeof life in us to eternity 5 the Lord bath given us eternall life, and this life is in his fon; He that bath the fonne bath life, 1 Jtbn%. 13. So you fee the meaning of tbefc words, thefe perfons that arc thus given to Chrift, cleft veffeli to grace and glory that are given to Chrift, they are preferved from the worftlp of the Bcaft, and none but they, they onely j for this purpofe you read tbatfalfe Cbrifts (whereof Antichrift is cheif ) Mtf.34.24. They (ball deceive many, yea if it were pojfibletbeveryekB : Itiraplies thus much, that none of them (ball be deceived by all falfe Chrifts, but all others (hall be deceived; earthly minded men, and fuch whofe names are not written in the Lambes book of life, tbej (hall be deceived, the T Betfl

157

«38

Chap. 13.

An Exftfition upon

Verf.8

,fc- tblt^CMtwfteKwh'uo"- J*?_

Beaft(ba!l go into per Ji/ion, 4Hd ffceji iw»J> torn, Rev. 17.8. Not but that for a time they that are Gods eltft may be taken with a fond admiration and adoration of the B<aft, co belcivc as the . Church of Rome believes, and may look for peace of confidence from the difpenfacionsofthe Church ot Rome', it may be fo as BUnej and Latimer, that were marvellous devout to that Church $ though it pleated God that Bilney, you rmy read it in his Epifile to Bif^op tonflall, that being troubled in confidence, be had taken all the courfes that their Religion enjoyned him; bad made confeffion to the Prcifts, and they enjoyned him penmnce and whipping of himfelfe, but for all thefe bis wound bled as fre(h as before; till in the end he took an Englifh TefUment,ai it was tranfl*tcd by Erafmntt not with any intent to finde any thing in it that might cafe bis trouble, bin becaufe he was a perfeft Latinift $ but reading that place in 1 Tim. 1V-15. thefe words did Coaffect bim,that immediately the Lord letting him fee his love in Chrift Jefue : The Lord ( faith he) let me fee that 1 had taken a wrong courfe all this while (I have fought for falvation where it was not to be had, and prayed thofe to whom he fpoke, not to take it ill, for it was not out of any negleft of them,but out of his faithfulnefs, having had experience, that the courfe $hey prefcribed, that was not the way ^ but it fofarre prevailed, as that he was marvelloufly efleemtdj but he was taken up by Latimer, he made Bibtey hear him Preach amoft fearfoll Sermon agajfafl Lutherans, that were then better then he j yet Bilney faw thaif he bad zeal, but not according to knowledge j 'and he knew not how to come within bim; but he went ro bim in private, and defircd to fpeak with him, and he mud not fay him nay j then he up and tells him what a miferable wretch he had been, how he had wounded his conference j how he had confeft his fin to this and that Preift 5 how unprofitable all thofe meanes were to him which they prefcribed ; and^here was no means in the world tofinde peace till the Lord applyed that.everlaflihg redemption in the bloud of Chrift j why faith Latimer, he comes to feck for pardon from me to his foul; .and faith he, I (aw 1 flood in more need of being taught by him, and therefore itilcs him in his Sermon Saint Bilney, that caught his

foul

TTT^^UdtlaTtTh^^ he never heardofV There, foul, and reveaieatn«d be devout Ca

fore UM pofffre th\„fZ„lThen this elefting love of God

tholicMora^

putsforthitfelfemthefruu o^

now they are fully fr^^^i, fofarre out of the al the Church beleive., ^^J^S^ • So that thofe

irne'throughjgwra^

zealous for the CatholsctC4Uie» a y ^^

written in the Land*bookotm e dQ no wh

Z^Stt^"* Jeof Gpdmade

of .very child of God efiftuOly «"« *e ^M CathoUck

Vi^»^^^^£SSSM«im tolookfrom ghurch^ndoftheemptmeftofca^ ^

ChurchVWWffsWh^w^^S^ioMieiof Chrift: felves,further then they.dtfoen*** g D aud for lhemto

look for falvationin the cc^mmunio e,perimenially.

reconcUement to that Church, I wy r theif QWQ

beatenofffromthac, ■^^*ff£tfall Jdoringd»

experience, that you need noi"J" ftallMWelutterlyde

Be&5fortheyfeeuuaBeaft,^

ftroy th.irfouls.asWOrfb.ptheBeaU^n ^.^

Chriftconftr.in.Bg.^

draws others, till they "7r;Brfon yet it i» the lcaft.

aUages. But that, g^Xtet&lxQad,*"*" R„f0n a. Let roe ftew another realon wny «. -n QUt_

ward execution : For, befor" "^ J£t d0J it finally : but

a«^^*B-dlD,,,*fc,B

L

H*

Chap. 13. An Exfofithn upon

Verf.8.

then they will not do it 5 and the reafon of that ( you cannot give a demonftrative reafon but from this) 10 prevent impof. ftbility, it is not pofllble that they ffioold: now there are three fundamental! reafon soft he impoflibility of it j two propertiei there are in Gods eleaing love: There is in Gods election, firft, immutability, as God himfelfe is unchangeable, Mai 3. 6.10 are his decrees unchangeable, the foundation of God ftands Aire, a Tim. 2.19. and what he hath purpofed, he will bring to paffe: Tbecowifelloftbe Lord it true for ever, in P/i/.a?. 10,11. he difappoints all the decrees of men, but bis own counfclsthey take place forever in every age, therefore it is not pofllble that any of his (hould perifb; and periu they fhould, if they fhould worftip the Beaft j but it is not poffible, his unchangcblc decree keepes them.

Again, there is another property in his electing ]0ve, which is the efficacy of it, for Gods elefting love doth choofe us out of the vrotldjobn 15.19. And if hechoofe us out of the world the efficacy of that is, that it delivers us from theevill world • God eleding us out of the world, hath redeemed and delivered us from this prcfcntevill world, Gal. 1.4. Now if the elefting love of God be of fuch efficacy, that when hcele&a men of his grace, he will in fulnefle of time deliver them from the world, then they (hall not ran headlong to the worftip of the Beaft, whom their hearts cannot clofe withal!; the Lord redecmes them from that vaine converfation received by tradition from their Fathers, I, though there be fuch efficacy in the blond of Anceftori, yet the clefting love of God redeemei them from that : But that will more appear in the fecond Reafon.

And that is the faithfulBeffc of Ghrift , and the efficacy of of his redeeming bloud. jtBtbaltbe Father bath given me (ball come unto me, and ibofe tbatdoe come unto met, 1 trill by no means cafloM, John 6.37. Oftbofetbat tbou baft given me, IbaveM none, but the fonne of perdition, that ( bat) is not an exceptive, but an adverfativc} he that was never given, was loft, he did not bring him on to falvation} For tbit it the vill of the Father tbat fentme, tbatofalltbat bebatb given me, Ifbouldloofe nothing, 8tc. John 6. j7) 38,39. That is, hiiltitfafolnefle, and

with

L

that

though the bloud of Ancetun™. '. abeuer houfe woufichoofe to hve no £«« ^wTu^heir foul, might be then hi. Father or Grandfather^butw d db hebioud

^-^^^.tiffi^Si' confeience. .then rf^&lff "hen the bloud of Anccftors: the bloud of Chrittis www (hould be ftrong in the

though the Religion o oar Mjjgthena. heart.ofd.vout ^£ that U become of them r they pity laffe for our poorfather./«*« » d w thto a further

them, and fceplawl;. t™*™™^ uught them, they are waithentheRdi^^^^ goneeverlaftingly. ^th^hSm«, that they fee a broad

difference *^*£^utetfcw of the bloadof which they f«n.°^ffib"cJ init" hat it w.ttieth .way .U «Gbrift, *e""tha\f Sui y anduniverfality.hehcrulationsto F^»^£a cSuhthc ApoftlO tbatlfbotdd cified to them all iGodprM^ ^cbrittiwbmhibe mrli1

at the world. „j,mentall Reafon, and that is ta

kenfromthepowcrandpreienxeo v ^^^ in the hearn of h« people. W««^ £ b thefpirhof through f^b unto [dWoti, 1 P« ^5 ouf faith) and

byfaithke.peu.inth«way°7 Wre m ofGod

offanaification to falvation. un „ be

andyoubave <f^^±TZV^n\.l The power ^1 fc^^^i^wrldfttcl the world U carofGodisiayou, h«y*»0^a f God andyOU hear them ryedaway with them, you fc?(fcaf hjnibe „&.

Thefe are three fund^J ffibllU, 0fihtm to be finally demonflrauv*cattfc°ftne,IDpom ' *■ earned

ILeafon 3,

mmmm

i4a Chap. i3_.

An EKfofitim vptn

Vertt.

carried to the woruYrp of the Beaft, the elc&ion of God will hot fuffer it, the unchangcbienefle thereof, the faithfulnefie of Chrift the efficacy of the blood of Chrift, and the power of.the feint *nd that which flowes from it is the experience of Godi love,'andthevertueof their faith in Chrift : Their faithii

tbevlbdlliKtditoartfromBie, Jer. 32.40. and thai is the proper aft of faith : Be not bigb winded, but fear j hit mer,cy it fuffident for ui, uuftftcadfaftly on the grace of Chrift; and though Teter framed not to truft on the grace of Chrift, yet in hit worft ftatc he knew that all the courfes of Satan were vanity, and he durft not but in hfs heart beleive that Chrift wai the Meffidb ; (ball thielefcbf God know the Beaft is a Beaft, and the Gatholick Roman Church it a Beaft, and the head of that Bcafl ii a beaflly head, and they know that their Dqftrine i« fenfuall, andcarnall, and that they all (ball go into perdition} and Withall their experience doth evidentlyconvince them, thai; Were it notin apartg of temptation in which they are notable tbibidebyit, y et by a rene wall of the blood of the Lord Jefus fpriokied on their foulf, they are brought a freflj to fee the Work of Godi grace ftirred up irt them ; bat othcrwife their conftant courfe is,as in Rev. 14. you hear them coming as on a ftageV repwfeheing the Lamb* in their carriage and conversation, and follow tbe Lambe wberefitver be goes:, but for the Beaft a ftranger, they will not follow; but both their faith and experience yeild them a third caufe, and that is, the fpirit of God carying them aril end : Mylbeefbearmyvojce, mdtbeyi Mow me s but they know not the voyeeof ftrangers,,they fee i difference* between "good and **i,1» and therefore if they' bear a man fpeafc, and ddth not fpeak of falvation by him, but of theworldyorof himfelfe, they will hot follow him, Joba 10.45. Thus you fee the Reafon why none of them worftipthe Beaft v Butcjn the other fide, all the reft of the world doe, meaning whei t Aritfchriftspower come»,fpeaking of thofe times when there was great power given to him, to (peak great things,I andflo man might fay, Sir, why do you

fo:

the thirteenth Cbafter nf the Revelation-.

143

I

Chap. 13- _ .

-ioTi^hattime when hc|hadpower g*%*J«2£E

Lnrhi when he had power to make Warre with the Silnts,

° An overcome them, and when all Nations worfttpptd

h£ 3nX«offt&« Religion 5 butin former

X bXe reformation of Religion, this was an univerfal

l,^XHi, K«ndr?di,«nd Tongue, gave tb«r praaice, they au, wa 0 , wa God| ft

f^tbemmTtofirongdeluftoniubeluvelyes. ■ ^Sd^omWffficacy ofSatan in the power of deceit

And thirdly, Pytnepiauuu 1 mn

"ia5SssiS5^^«>^ *******

arrUaaW«by^tWojS^ne If,llthat dwell on Vft 1.

^^2^&^rt^ta«|i.boik of life, do E„th, ^of3e"rde^eare excluded but thofe whofe WWfciPa«wr!«en\nt^

MfW-?i? SI "thai a PapiftbyhU Rel#on cannot unavoidably ^^^Mtkmir^c*Vkt^

ligion, l»»°f«rm^^heLltnb«abookeof life : butby

dWU*W? Se them that.0 believe, as the Cathplick

V K' Mf82tt$&Z kndbeli^eno^ore, butp«aic*

AaawhichjbatBW°U e id die b Att fotf muft pro

^*^CSJfrheTextthey«n^ "r^n^riSrSSKI Tex?, fiif none of them

^•wrUtS^L^Ubookeoflife, the Text i. very *not.W?S,iSi»oi<. mofiaerwasn»tfoundwri\\enw

I44 _ Chap. .13.

An Exfofithnnftn

*J^imW]mmmimW

Verf. 8.

HS

Very evident} Mtbtt are written in the Lambs tooif of life doe not worjbif the Beafi; But tbofe that worfiup the Bcaft, ere not , written in the Lambs btoieflife. Then the condufion is, tbej Jbcdl be cofi into tbe like that burnetb with fire and brimfitne: That if ic appcarc that this Beaft ii the Roman Catholick Church, I and thehead of this Beaft it the Pope: The conclufion will be moft evident, that no man living and dylagaPapift, can go beyond a Reprobate: I dare not fay, but fome that are ignorant, whom devotion hath carryed to (hit Religion; ft is poffible fome of them when they come to death, may fee the vanity of that Religion of worwipping Sainti, and of confining their Faith co them, but that ii not by their Religion: but if they dye in that Religion, and if their faith and worship be thraft upon them from the Roman Catholick Church, and they worlbip Saints and Angela, and believe in their owns merits for their juftlfication, I do pronounce to you, that a Paplft, living and dying a Papifl, cannot go beyond a Reprobate} I mcancfuch an one v>m not written in the Iambi

books of life •' Am* ^'JtDat *rcnot»mt Mt few tbelabf that burns witb fire arid brimjtone, that ii the inuc: And therefore what a fearful! thing ii it in fuch that do all they can to reconcile Nations to the Church of Rome, and are mad upon Romifti religion I what defperate fervicc do they undertake, to bring men to fuch a religion as deftroys many millions of foules f I tie true, Tbofe tbat are written htbe Lambs bthif of life i God lobfeth none of biefliecp: but it is evident they are bloody Butchers of many Cbriftlani not chofen, yet devout Cbriflians,manyan one under pang of Cohfcicncc, with fence of many finfull paffions and tufts, arc not able to get out but by a Pricfts abfolution $ and if they be covered with a Fryers coule, they hope they (hall do well enough : Such a confeience as can be opened and healed by fuch wooden keys as thefe, if they know no more, fuch cannot be faved.

I will not enlarge it, bat it were neccflary to be prefltd and urged in fome places, look not at it as a matter of ctiriofity and circumftanccWhat Religion a man dyes in/and think as fome Statef-mcn doe, that if it were not for hotfpur'd Jcfultcs on the one fide, and bot-fpur*d Puritans ( as

they

l

«p»u"—7" j Dnritans too, yet 11 u»«<jwere any hie were removed, and P°f J*™^ ' hye church of Rome,*i they

that thought ^S^e« hey believe, your faith I. require,thatyoamuftbelw" y^ dif fui 0f thc

builtuponthe Churtf,an j- obedienCeaifali(hurt

keyes of *»<*»* «g ^b to be expeded from him, ofUrifyefut, that all WvjttQn J^ <d,

Hboth J«fuites,«d Aoft th^i ^ faUb and obedl

if there were none, WJ™. ld fortb: I f.y there is not any

.ncein that ^^^J^^^^^^^ bneofthemthatfolm,tnaio y , ad jn

know not thedepth of Saw™>an^ bal men th« know

what they do, »"d.^"Sg to the direaion of it: I fay, <&n&™&*°*fo?*x"Mfl0 one of themwhofe

men living, V^^-SS^book of life, and therefore „,m«aarewritten«n fjf^^^ndbrimfione.^

This may teach usa traeg d inching pollutitionfromthepolludonsofthe^

onsvfomeiimesjiCa hohek Swumpet ^

■teteiMto^^SS^hlm happy, if hce upiheGhurch,^dm^«b^^takenupwithprovimaybccladwith hickclay, loft lherebea

fionsfortheirW^^^Ll^hV^^ ^P"^ world offuchpeopl*;' ^,3^ e[ther with the Ca0IG6d, that they are*cany g ^ tney arc not

thoiickreligion, °XthTwmtVoflhtm' wh"' ""^ uken with theft ^'l^ ofusbetterthenthoftthaihaveoee ence}| Qod

hath written them in the Umoso Hee hath wrtttfrr

fuch to life, and hw decree » inreco ^

Vfe

fe 2.

"14S Chap* 13. - An ExpoJUM upon Verf.8.

flwd>and lvilltoallmy pkafurerlfa. 46.9,10. Therefore there is the Originall, from thmcc icflows, cbe Lordjefus Chrift concurring 'wi»h the Fathers coohfeJlj he hath gjven U« reijitupticn from thcbloradof Anctfton,«nd redeemed us: from the prefent evill world, and will fcik up every ftragling Limb,at)dprefentsusipoiltffeto hitheavenly Father, and then the fpirit of God, by which he works ail in the hearts of his people that receives us,: for Ghrift and the1 fpiric ; for Chrift comes and takes jpoffdlishcf tap, and fa thereby girds upourioynstb adtpendariae on hiro^and bis grace, that we are prefer vedandfaved from thole fcarfull temptations that overcome others , >and all the world are overwhelmed Wlthall. ■ . : : . .'i ..•<: ■.,;,-; r. -..-. ,._

Vfe 3. . It inay ttaxhms theimary»lldusf (reedome df the love of God; and therefore toadmire the: wonderful! love of God the caufe of all this our prefervation from fuch prevailing e-' villtas fwallow upthe whole world Jj how doth it appeare r whyj I pray you confidcr, when the Lord wrote down thy nameJoLttiinejOfr any>mar»3flme,whaftoodby at bis elbow (iflrfcoapib fpeak^ taput himia mind ofmyinauieps thine? he thought of usjif our names be there, and he fet'us do wne, and he delivered us to Chrift Jefus.bynaih»; whit torerithy name is, he took notice of thy name* fach %-man in fucha placeVhef will Uvejnr^bisbrthat!Coumireyj;iber is .one,.'take; ridtteofbifrrr;'layifoflwta: price for.'bihvpin fcuneffeof time ftndi'fpidtuitohis'haarti.lfheliveina PopifliCountrey, favc him from Popery j'lf in a worldly GountKjr, fade Jrira from the world: where ever He lively five hint from himfelfj and bring him to my; fajftenly Kirjedom'; but whariwas. therein us that could)commend 'ut%b:06dt qrlwAiic could there in us but wb^he, appointed y fait what he mould put into us; he could not fore- fie any thing, but that hee bwiu> work it, therefore it muft certainly be-his. undefe'rved love, ehattauft cake notice of them, andgive'them (b tocomettv Chfffl, VHdallrfcJrteeFrtier hatbgHi/rbimjBaU come unto him: The'Lord will diawtherr-, and theh tRey mall come; in/the.' mrane time he keeps them rrom hij Fathers eternal donation, in John 17.17. Ibvfe whom tboubajlijivinme, Ibevekffl. Hce

hath

^7r 7l^«^g^^^^R^Ut'^-

— 7~1 k„r nflf rhat was not given him to keep, he

hathnotloftanybu^

.prays to God toJ^Je™and th° wai agreed on from" ^epsthxmbyhtsownfpmt,an J^,.,^

the foundation of he wor^W foundation^

andit was not wrKtcrtyeft«d»sr du ^ theeand

of the world, Rev. 17-8. Hu ihoug ^

^and whoever 1. wri «n ih« in, ^^eUou| prfi and glory, to God, hlt™ l7.;Ht»Fechn. •**-&}> clous thoughts to us, W"• »39- »7 r d o( the

bought, to me 0 Go *■ Ajdfo n P] M° 5 ^

p«ctous Noughts of God toward u ^ ^ ^ ^

fuch though" w» n ^£ ™£*d me, would but prbthers; andall he did fore-terp. wee , ^

vokehis wrath 5 whit w»g^je^jj"2.,', orfall away

from his grace, and from h ■ S^«J^GU fee he is tnc gWer in them, they are not given ° ^ghyrift ebey wlU fall aofthem", ^^^fZ^Sa£M»mHitmyF*-' wiy; All that tbe Frtbtrffvet * F« M,r" „ wJll not hearken

^iw^^^'S^gifort to all theeleft ofGod,

whofe names are wp^^^^ijS.mltfitluwJwile comfort thatarnanuwm^^ wri(ten jto death, hadI oo«he Lor oe ^ mgn

You readin ^^^"^^^M^lM: The word

mtheOriglnaU|sJore-wm«»^ 0«:Nowlfay,thataman«notw^ ^^ fta

lonfe,and^hfe.nCh^

bybisownftrength, "ndfokmg a» f ffdit that ,f ^llHvd-.butifnot^heihalld> ■••"diJfor<w. Thb is in God give him not 1* » Chn»» ^ fo- a m3B t0 live by ^i^^^^^^^^ Lcvic,,8,5. hisownrighteoufneffe.Dotw«« hisclff but tobewmHow wofuU wa» our condition^ this , ^

Vfe 4,

«48

V/«5

Chap..13.

Jit Expofition tifon

mmm

. Verf.8

149

ten to life, and to life in Chrift ; that ii, Becanfe bee lives, we (ball live alfo; lam the Mhtbetmb, dndtbe life ; And by this being written in the Lambs book of life, that the Lord (hould think upon us, when we had no thoughts of him; nay had no being, that he fhould then undertake for u» j that when the Father gives ut, he will receive us; and by receiving us, keep us fpotlefle to his heavenly Kingdome, that he wil pr«ferve ut from poffibility of damnable Errors: Tie) (ball[educe if it were fofliblejbe very Ele8, Mat.24.24. But there is no pofiibility; what a marvellous matter is it, that it is not poffible that any of thofe that are given to Chrift (hould be reduced } it is fuch a mercy that may fwallow up all difcouragcments, all affliftions, all blafphemyof a mans good name and date, and wealth) and health, and all wbatfoever; this may fuppprthim, lhat it is not poiOble he (hould be reduced : For the Lord iptwt wbt are bit> the foundation of God ftands Cure; the Lord hath written it, and he ii more conftant then Fibre, or the Kings of Ferfiani and Medet: The Law.it written and eftablilhed by the Kings Ring, and God it more ftedfaft then any of the Kings of theEarth, what he bath written (hall be accomplifhtdj the Lord will draw them toChrift , and Chrift will keep them , not one of them (hall perifh, not one of them (hall worfhip theBeaft j or if they do, they foone fee their folly, and are recovered out of all fharcs, they (hall not prevailcagainft them.

It may be of inftrucHon and exhortation , to provoke you to make your cUAion furc, then you make your falvation Aire , and preservation from Popery and the world, and from the Devil], aBd from your own corrupt Nature, . furethat you (hallnot be carried captive with thepolutionp of the times and places yon live in,toough hundreds run fro» God one way, and ten thoufandt another way, & fall off>bither and thither, yet yon (hall ftili be preferved : in Jobn 6* 68. where our Saviour asked his D'ifdp\t$twUlyealfogoaway r when many of thofe that were his Difciples went away and fell off from biro, being offended from fomething which he had fpoken to them, and that was that Do&rinc that we have now in hand,and fonc other coiolaries from it) they walked

no

mSi?P*r anfweredin ^"J^g,*. cternalllife: A. ffwhomftullwe V**^%S££Zif> to mend himfclH vho (hould ^7^^%^!lut!«igthe«ofliioF nek bafi the wotJj of eteriMW1 ije ^ fo ubc.

2SdAfc,how(hall ^ ^o bt « elU w^^ hoovesusthenaswedefire,toDep aUtbe

andbackttiding romGoJ^&wo^ W*^±

cumber about the wMj^JgJJ^ preferv« us « M one ground, w^hacafeasthii w" r^ truely we (hall namesUwrUtentathe Lamb»^oK f d

be preferved, 'hatneither lh'Ser'CfaUhOhrift) »IJJ.

andlanimiFatberartone.myt^r

10.27,28. - :.i,ftneedUff««*hortaT ""S

Ob\ You will fay, " 11 * nj» for u „ n0i.

begun in this world, but longw beJ book 0\ lite*

STorclfc wearenot wmtenmtn cbriftkBOW8lhofe

oneofr^fctwouconc^

ttatMerfventoMmbytaiW"!!1* f ory that Chrifl nVme, Job« 10.14- ^SSgaathepmicularUyand

knowsthem ■U^»^V«o^B5«-S«"taH,Wi?li M Sgularityofthem, •^•JS^S.ft, ifheknow.hema doSibe muchmore taoj^J obftrvel them, and ph» name, h«e then P^tlC Seandprefervesusfrompre

ggS^^^^S

wmmm

i«,0 Chap. 13.

An ExpofutsH upon

yoii} wellthtn though I cannot make fure my election in ic fclfe, (or it is fure in it felfe} but tht Quftion is, whether itit-fsfure to roe, that isttiy duty, for he know*g who arc his"' and knows them by name, and keeps thcra in hit njmc, and hath given his Angels charge over us, and they will alj watch over us, and therefore our Saviour in Luke 10. 20. faith to hii Difciplei, Rejojce not in this that the Dtvili arejufy <? unto you, but tbot)our names are written in Heaven. Our election ii lure enough in heaven, no ftormej will alter it there : But now (in a word) can we nnke our election fure > the Apofile intimates when you mike your calling fure, you make your election fure : ycurcalling,thatisbuttheact'uaIlexccutioa of this eternall election 5 hut they are fo neerc, that many the Lord puts them one for another, hecelli his Difcipiej youbavemt cbofenme, butlhove ebofenyou, John 15. itf, ne means of his feleftion, hiscaliing them out of the world then he doth communicate his electing love to fach j it is wrought for us before in Chrifts death, in-Gods councell, and in his cffictuail redemption, wrought for us on the Crofle • but yet it is not nunifeft to our conferences till calling, but make your calling fure, and then election is fure : When you are called according to bhpurpofe, R.om.8. a8. thatis this book of life, that is his purpok, that we are in Gods purpofe written to life, look to that he hath faved m, and called us, Not according tt our veork.es-, but according to bis own purpifeandgrace which wm given Us in Cbrift Jefus, a Jim. 1.8., that is the hook of life andgracej of free grace, purpofingus to life; and you read in Rom. 8.30. Whom be predeftinited, thitn be hath called i and <whom be called, them be jufiified-: now if a man be effectually cjlltd to grace that doth fearch eleSion, let me breifly touch it, tha: which makes fure calling.

1. In our effiaualJ callingithere it a declaration of God« love to the foul in Chrift Jefus by the fpiric of grace, in the doctrine of the Gofptll, for that is Gods call} |n our calling God calls for his part by his grace and fpirir, and we anfwere that fpirit, by tbatfaith, which by the call of God is wrought incur hearts; I fay j God calls effrftually tohis grace by manifefting the rich grace of God in Chrift, clefting freely,

calling

the thirteenth Chapter o/ffce RmUtion.

>5«

\^»oj'" -j • :

~V77r«U troni the obedience ot tinne md Sitan, to the f-lU 6o the^on. ot G »d, « to thofe in 0_,*n Maries tlm V

h^htwaS

When they wanaer.: oj ^ for,orn ^

K H-'read top ornTft, and the fpiric bfGod.Fpll«

V ?ThU being applyed by the fpirit, it fa! Is on bim w uh fbie/e ;Tbu bemg »ppy^efl. )dinChf|ft y andlhe

power, ^WninEielfefand feeing fo much glory in Ghrift, vanity of all * mff «»e •» h» ,et| him fee lhe vanity ot

^VTSfo-for hi maiileftaiion of God. fpiritdoth all other courfci, tor tnu hcartj tQ

effcaually and man ,ftWy op en our ey.t ^

beHevewhattheWoff^

the Lord »«" "*8™35J £" cin we know it, but by the maihgfure, for 0therw finow ^ ^ ^ .

nifeftation, ^ *™ae™n*ftw , nor ear* heard, nor cThe thing* *« ^wveMaw , ^ ^^

ver enured into the heart ot m > ^ ^ ^^ of

by'blsTptnt> ■itor.a. 5, ^ow[,h?lbin:s,jfGod,butde

ffintofGod. Ana™"> tkatvtmiy knw the things that are free^ffnitwUch.ofGoJgMW f Kdk.g thu fearchtthali

ly given us of God. in1 * tndTev«l»themiou', and

things, ^»'be*^rSerS

plyed-, thisistnegruu . . h 4l and from both

^./P»^^ffr|"X5 £r .ficau.ll calling, which thefefpr5ng»»no«herimto»ou ^ hmCiU(d:B/e;.

Vt» A»«e aftually «*«**?" ^ wee choof4 the Lord for

• Ji.Thenceitcome^.topa»e»^ „or hone on etrlb that

ourGod: lT.6«f »JjirS Jiffwlih thofe be.utifult

Strumpets-..^ T° thefeareallbUned ; »ow f Je/ire

mmmmm

immmm

i«i» Chap. ij.

Ah

Exfofil

tun Ufon

m Lord Jefm Cbrift, Gal. 6.14. Now this electing lovcin that we cleft God,we could never choofe God,had not he chofen ut, and in fome roeafuredifcovercd what hit electing love wai co us,this bring! the heart back again to choofe him, and none bat him : now that is another fecurity of our election^ and therein iidiffers from all others; a man may have akmde of falsification by common gifts, which will leave him flill to work forhimlclfe, but this is to abufe the very gifts of God,which the fpirit hath wrought in us, though they be not fucbas accompany filvation, ftillwc are not lift up above our fclves , but when we are called effectually to thrift) no w no motion fwayes us, but as we fee the will of God in it, wc cannot bcleive as the Church beleives : but we belcive our brethren and the Church, as we fee the Church follows thefbot-ftepsofthcwillof God; If I now pleafe men (faith the Apofile) Imnottbefervinteftbrijiy 1 Tie/. 3. 4. Nor of men fought we glory ,when we might have been burdenfome, as the Apofiles of Chrift : Ifamanbelefttofaftforhlmfclfe, or pray for himfelfe, orworke for himfdfe, and all is for bimfelfe, thatheworkifroma principalrefpeft untohinxfelfe,*truly this will darken a roans cffc&uall calling $ and if It be bis conftant courfe,doubrlefle his heart is not right with God : It is true, in a pang of temptation a roan may be wheeled about, as: Pefer and David, yet the fight of Gods eleftinglove quickens them to fee their finne, how fan* they are turned atidefrom God} but there the foul jg bent, as it were, with the point of acompafs touched with a Load-ftone, it may be jogged by windrs and (formes, yet it lookes ftill to the North pole; though you may (hake it from its court, yet let it but fland a while, it will directly look to the North pole, there it will fland ; foil it with all the children of God, they cannot but workej forCbrifkm Jobm6.14. He fbtllglorifieM, fir be {ball receive of mine, and give it unto you : So that the heart that is fifteen, itworkesfrom Chrift, and for Chrift, and with Chrift; I laboured more abundantly tben tbeyall, vetnotl, buttbegraceof God»bicb wot with me, iCsr. 15.10. So that you fee what the manner of Gods people in this cafe is, they are from Chrift, and for Chrift, and with

Chrift,

Verf.g. I Chap,,! 3. the tbixteentkCbdoter of lfceftevelation.

thrift, and it is a (ealot Gods election} thehigheft fealis,• Go<f J?«mw who are bit, and that feal be mani/efts by bis fpiric V» the Gofpel, it is the fpirit that feals up, bur adoption, and here ii another feal we fet to our fea), while we cleave to him with all our heart and foul, and fetk after him, andbave none in'bttvenM bim> won Eirtb that nedeftie incomfarifonof.

him

And thirdly, the lift aflurance of a rnarja.clfMQn*nd calling (which 1 (biU.na^B'e^at this"time)'i* that ^bich teter himltlfedothfxpreffei in 2 Fet. 1. Give ill deligenie'i&make yew calling andeltOLn \me\ How (hall they do that > he tele us in wr. 5. Moreover aide to your faith virtue, and to virtue fyw»kdge, &c. He reckons tundry forts of graces, and he calls upon them to adde grace to grace $nd one degree of grace tt t* riotherj and (faith he1) if tbefejbings dwell iayik, andabomd* by this means an open entrance (hall be miniftred unto you abundantly into the eVerlaftingkingdomeofour Lord ami Saviour Jcfus Chrift, as if men that did not g-;ow in grace, and grow from grace to grace 5 if they get to heaven atlcogth, they ©uftm«nd their picejithruftahd croiia;for ,lt>|but if the(« things be in .you and abound, fo ah open entrance (hairbe miniftred Jinto.yoo j as ifthe greatgates of Heivetl were opened to you s there muftbe a growing^ou are blind! elfe. and.cannot fee afar off j;you millnot fee your lateen, lefle yougrpw froin faith to withy aid frofli ^knowledge to knowledge, then in QptnentrancefWlr*WliflrHed toybtf that you (hall dieiin full affufance of faith, and of the love 61 God : And thus (hall a man make bis'calling and eleftion fure; and by fo doing, he (hall make fuVeico hirafelfe his pt1*:fervation from this. worid^iMid (hallfe* tfagjffit<%tiii\*r

tner falfe Prophet^nor JefuU^norworWlij^ii/whpfeaunt* are not written in the Lambs book ofltft.

1

,'1

X

Rev.1

•5»

*5S

»5+

Chap, ijw

llili'.txpifilkfctytHt'-'

VoOtine %•

' ,;^Y' 13-8. feterpart ottheverf. "thfVd^k ffqifie ffOVb the fattMJation of the

^'rjiqe.reinaypa now*Jw !«*er part of chia vcrf$%hich ' jfca dcJfcflptJGn pf J«&* fpboft ?<aftd hciidefcrlpcd. p'v 'y^fe^AwUStw^of^a^*.' ) La :'-'v '

• ".,&' B^thefOtiqwMy^ofwl He ufiinefrmtkepAHAitMcf

afkrtqifpWfyty) yetm<ftfiJx watj!atoefrm4bef<mn1itti* -^ftwHll pf*hkbtt«f/ppi*<rfth«*rf«. fWttofliy

pje^rnay.juipj fo^ajfctfjawin. Wl ,iirfp«Hfly «onfid«ring th^wl^o^i^Biiia^ptdanibMiiiA^four calling. BebtfdlkelflnbtfGtf (M&Jcbn )ibttt mkffbumyibefimei of ifojyorfcL J^\infy&ii<*m&i>i*Ttlaihr dfflde^o-pbiriii aiChipfj^.fcfdw^und»ti ii nH&3f?S#«ii*<^^ ■''"■"''

' WowwhyaLam!^iIh*i0i*ki«rf|fcfti(*ndirp«kofno more then what the Scripture hath refpeft unto; J

Eirft, in refpeft of his innocency.

aly. In refped of hiitnccknefle and patience. i. His innocency.

i. !n,ju8 birth -.Ibstbolyibingvbicb (ball be born rftbee, fall httllkUkfonnetf God, John 1.3 s. a. Inno

!tlrj»/lfeir/»»' . m a8 aLunbTS<$cwaVinceke

A,:d " ^ ^W>" "°d the hul,.Gniifth,tri r.T^ unto

it, ASS 8. f • H'£2j" , 'ft cpened-'be mt fair moutb. And

therefore there" J.m«n» B £ ^ ^padence or .ibetkfubjcftwnto^MVg> ^[lhing,chUly. . >,. >'■

neffedothexpJ^^ffonly, b«tbir">"^»^

1

then wu'. '• -■--» «•■ fxm me, never Me /ej^e wi * >■ «"«*»

aWaviDMisnlt, ,f,nf^Jat;4 3^*. AnS that »• pro. 7*i»fcit,lb>*««*«d0.^'„ ^hen a^n» heartii fubdued to

the will of God, in wnic'• I hU being deUvered into

Fathers hand, no. aiu w ^ fe fceW(K rtX)|i

ihehand.ofw.ckedn.en ^P«r*. £ {^J„eiwt^tfom,

• /ed,r«,HeJ«J .eg J^gg^,^ . And fo.meefc WM

iSffi^^^ ^ s'idJefM*meT i0TS)vt

•be-! f'^VfJ^lS.fllflQfld.in keeping filencein

bbowi^Jf^^^S.tnd Judge., andCondemping filenc. before hi. f«»l'rg heJhi g ryltft, any thing

tl«tnil»ut^i?hucn^^ beciufehe (aid, Hw Will tna^e it a wiut to crn«h «« » y fce(jr wit,Jf p ^

ifclt/^'^^.^STo^ thathee could tell the Governour jwondced at it ^n°"li * what

mmm

m

w

1^6 Chip. 13. AnExfofiiioii upon tferf.8.

wnattoanfwer: Ho mar>ajl«d that fo juftaman, in lb juft a cafedidriotanfwera wordwhichdM fo narrowly concern " him j Blith^djd Hot kqow what the caufe was, that he Was as a Lamb diitnli before thefhearer, and before the (laughter alfo. '. '.■■*•>

What might be the rtafon then of thij Lsmb-lik innocency and mcckacOe of Chrift > (They are principles, and ought to be incultated often :) The fir ft ground i«,

Rctf/cn 1. To fulfill theiypes that went before of him, Exod. 12.5. The pafcball Lamb was without bleraiflv And Exod. 29. 39. The daily Sacrifice wai to be a Lamb without ipotandbiemim, therefore Chrift muft be fuch. '*"'

Jttf/ofi 1. The fecon'd Reafori it laken from hiaperfonal Union with the fecond perfon in Trinity: For in bim dwelktb all the fidniffe oftUGod-btadbodily t Colt. 9. that is rrfcnJly : $0 that Chrift rauft be afinner, if in any thirg Chrift had failed either in doing or fuffcring (which uere blafphemy to fay):Andhirice fprings ah "utter impoffihilitv of his manhood , aAirig any thing wi'hout the G d head afting by him jforthe Son can do nothing of himfdfe, but an he leeth the Father do. •

Retfin 3. Thirdly, there ii a further mxtflityof h?s I amb likcinnocency vFrom purbecellity of fuch a Sacnfi. e, a'hd i"uch an high Prieft as wai holy, and bUmelefle, -ind nnd'filed tieb 7.26,37,28. Such an high Prieft ir behooved u« tobave' Yea, it was rcquifite the Sacrifice mould be blaim jtfTe L«,ii 1.3. And the Prieft thai offered iito be fo alfo, Levit. at.ig| For other wife he could not make attonementforus. bor could hUattoncment be accepted.

But why was he thus patient, filenr, and meek ? a double reafon of that.

fatfon I. ^iffl' That hia Sacrifice might be voluntary, and fo accepted of the Father. Sacrifice auditing for finne thou ipouM not, neitherbadfiifkafkre therein, which are offend by the lawThen faid he, Lot I am t» doe thy will, 0 God, Htb. 10. 8,0! Whoever was to offer a Sacrifice, was to bring it bimlHfe, and deliw it up, and himfclfc with it, andhajufl be offered

wiJiing

»57

:

unapt *• —• 7^~a m

witudaenne, "'r^Jj^^sfcrlfetlitt* man ,b«y were to bring ^'^Xing U to the door of the Tawoild'have accepted, h^

bernacle,^.^^ H-'j'.,1" h roightibutif they were ny would bringtheu^ extortedfromthem»the^cr«no^

.nuflcomeanfreelyoff*J^E H* offered himfelfe. prefrnted in theftead of all tb<fclect. fau| we

Surety of the Covenant|1 ™^»™£ hhnft\fe, and la*.

From the want of fufficitni matter t B > ug Jf hee our b.halfeby all thing, th^ he couWai^^^.^ ^

had Hood in his oWJ P«*>n d g a world t0 ha,e an.fwer.d buttoclearehimfelfe, J?*a<lf forhe faidthttheW* forhimfelfe, and this ^^^ and PilatekM„ that King, but a King of ^«r ^ f^rbld a Kingdom' in atherewasno aty"™? L*w',"° ro«r(ont, hee kn«wnot nothcrworld: *\*f"$C£ charged uponChrift,

ba««'e1taw been fW 01 " « d that none of them did th, EUa of God did bUfph mel» b fl.fied thc

deftrovrheT^mpUol/3od. « . commotionB j Can any EltftufGudh»vebc«»tr-djr wh ^

andertakcth.cd^n.efor iheel fq dhavc

you charge upon him, tunom ^ Jtfu| .

Lengudcyofuj Therrfbrt it .J, t ^^ fh m

fwer. not: H. dorh not deny, M o ^ fuch Ady

cste:H«pUad. with a ff .0 I «nj «g ft fpoB1 GhucChhf to clear , bar ^"""^.^dSth be plead with God «. cenfure, and Civ.il confute. N"' ^n him lbat extre

Uaikindolha^^^,,^ ^ And

nky, he knew the cleft ot uou « though

is8 Chap. 13.

~~ .though h< knew that they dealt wickdly, yetftandingifj

idtl^oon^heehad not a i'uffiehntplea, 1« [hemih^fgcjijiq 4»lth whar they will : A awn; cannot charge bjo» witfaajJM iiSiei but fomt of his Elect have fcrcen guihy oOt:, .and theritofe* what cm be anfw<red > Therefore he was not willing to eXdufe himfelfe : He doth neither deny uor extcnu.;attt Arty Grime that can be layd ag/mfthim; but takeit in its full rigour, and theaccufation doth flandgood; They ftwid hot good againft the Prhicipill, but againft the.Surety , as heeii a Surety, thej fUnd good againft him ; for as kit in Job 9*1,1- How(bouUmmte)ufiwiibGod f IfbietfiUcon* ■WidwilbbiiHi bectmnotanfwerbimtneoftitboufatid. n Let a man Hand before the Tribunal] of the jufiice ofGod, «hd he cinnOt anfwer one of a tbouftnd ♦ And if Chrift be 10 ftand for all theelcft of God, hee cannot anfwer one of a (hoUfand : And therefore when the King came to fee the man in the room that had not on the wedding Garment, the man was fpeechleffe; which plainly ftiewtsui, that if Chtift fl*nd In the room of Gods people, the cafe ftand* fo , that Orift cannot anfwer for us, toexcufe us. Job could not anfwer one of a tboufand, though h« wag the perfected man in his Generation ( and 1 know not whether any man after him that was mure innocent then he: j) And what (ball 0ther* of Gods called one» be able to doe > and ivbat they are not able to doe, the Lord Jefus Chrift hee doth,carry it in the fame manner, as one that cannot excufe them from being guilty of thofe finnis, no more then himfelfe can.

Thus you fee the reefons both of ChritTs innocency and patience.

The life of the point if,

yre I# Fiift, to convince us of the guilt of all the eleft p;ople of

Go», and their guihineffe even of violent death, and unexcufableneffe under that death. If fo be we had been,innocent, ivhat needed Chrift to have been fo patient as he« was, fo Lamb-like in his innocency } His Lamb-like innocency is an argument of our guiltincffe : The femots of God, cfprclftlly fochss tike any more narrow fearch of their own wayct, they fee thcmfclves fall of blera'rfhes, fpots, and Wrmcklet,

and

•; -=■ : „„ a, (. we are all «* WtUw tkwgh

.ndtnany fiichthing,> ^Zfcv'rSi T& ar«»» **«

Clr WhUZSZSSZot usaU, fullofunclean^ neffe : ThHthttw c« a^ wh cb is wor/ethen that,

andpolluti^andd^rmu ;^«b ^ f

uncxcu^le ,n all t for it wee^ou ^fahy

then vrecouid; ^»V °iv % the cwftjould deMh"

cauf?better then ^dJ?eCn^dothvprofi©, th^tetewwi uWhenwe, tat ha J^f^Jrf^. fr *««*'« notwha«oiay5^nan^^Uth.$or ^ aaual grotfc excufed feme *J^^SS M n0ne bam * $^Y ?"*£ neffcto al^nner^f S.nne. 1» ft ^ w

inusto ill f«nne, and *^^m lo aU (bne, fo there fay. Andasthereisaproneneuein ^dfly^.

«A«e4j5n»M3-a- A"kL^ nrivy toaU their-d^Wg's. Ktha!iffob«»man^'^

SSito ^.".SSl^U Se Now this is thecjft o from the guilt, andJain oMU ouc ^d lffae

Chrift,hehathbe«nac^m« aonCwicfcdly , *>cfore.'he be c«mi«d ofwh^«th^enirfi ^ ^ ehurch, iind before the ^^^.weaUhfliight proceed

ag&uMU. Ana^tow^»• ^ . 0baft could tie prefence of the .lo4«J ^» if ought had been to be Retold what to ha*VSndtVnourroom,henandsfilent: Sf^ered f ^^fnSiflnW^ ofiuxouchtng ^Sf^lnTXS ^ by -,.« -old

&veri : *%*ffiS?.n wr room,he hath nothing

,6o ~t»P- '3' ^«» Enftfititn «pw Verf, A

when tbii confidered did muzzel bit mouth, be wm like a, lamb imbe before bitfiearer : you cannot rake upfuch a baieacefc. fatlon againfl him, bur be knows where the dint of u will fall,and iherefore he it very fehfible of the troth of ill thatii laid unto his charge. Let God come upon us withW*JQ*u diflcrtioRt, we muft know that ic is juft with God to diflert us} and though the Church (honld fpu« us out, *nd the Common-wealth cufus off from the land of the living, who can plead for us* If Chrift Hand in our perfons, he hath nothing to plead. ^ ■ ■ . « ; ft

Vfe a. Secondly, it doth teach us, where to look for. all our jufti' ficatlon and reconcilement with the Father. Truly brethren not in our own rightcouinefie, for the Lord himfdfe that, knowei it better then we do, hcJmows that it will not hold out before the judgement teat of God.: He might have pleaded, that Vmd was a man af< er Gods own heart •, he might hare pleaded the wiftdome of Solomut j and the trurb ot Jf fiat heart, and the JKal of Pbinetst, and the pitiencc yf Job i but he knowing the Law well enough, and wftuduy have been, (and we have all been) he hath nothing to plead, $ M therefore we mod not plead our own righteoufnefle : let nQ man think that hii own pleading will reach hit own juftification, whereai Chrift himfclfe could not reach itfor him. All bovtfinntd, til boot been out of the my, and thereit none that AtbgsoinoiMfene,Pialvi4.i,2j3vii«fpe<ktofjusb^natUfe^' and we were natural,before we"came to be fpiritaaj,; Therefore faith the Apoftle, What things foever the Lvpjahb it faith to tbtm iris are under the Li», tbtt ivtry moutb may be faffed, and all the world may btcome guilty before God, Rom. 3. 19. Ii is„the ufe the Apoftlehimfelfe make's of it» Per/,aj,'14,"t%. life have all finned, andeome fbtrt of the glory pf God,:fy^ng wftifitd freely by bis grace , through the redemption that is in fifm.'Chrift'} «hom Gad batbfet forth to be a propitiation through faith in bis blood, to declare bif rigbimfnetfe, for the remiflion of finnes that are peft, through ibeffibwante of God. So that (1 fay ) thjs i* the ri(e of our juftification $ the'Lord Jifus hath boroe^arjd fuffered for us when he was filent in our behalfe, and coutd not tell what to fay. Papifts can bring you many argument to

juflifie

Chap. 13! the thirteenth. Chapter of the Revelation.

>55

iuftifie ihemlelvei j they will bring you many inftanceS ot this Saipt, and that Saint, ( and of the Virgin Mary above all othera) of their purity, and rightcoufneffc, and how able they are to plead forothers : They may be wife for themfelves, andi|o as Profters are wont to do, regard their fees, and doe their Caufe : but the Lord Jefua is faithful, and yet he cannot plead as gutUUfle : Nor muft you think, as fometimti poor chriftians will do 5 J cannot fay much for my felfe, but fuch a brother, fuch a fifter, they may indeed give a better account of me then 1 can do of my felfe} but truly, nothing to fatisfieGods juflice, can any give account, for Chrift himfelf cou W not do it : And indeed fo marvellouQy did God accept this kinde of dtfencetbat our Saviour make*, that he hath crowned thisfaithfulnefle ol Chrift with everlafting honour unto all age* : .hehaih fo fully, fo gi atioufly accepted him, ai that he h«h For evir ratified it in Heaven, that no man Qiall ever paffe away rigbtequs from the judgement feat of God that can plead any righteoufnefie of his own : Whoever he be that .will npV*Vnd "Phtebus before the judgement feat of God by £ny Vlghteoufneffsbf his own., hemuft. ftand mute as Chrift himftMeflood : andifhebejuft, he muft be juft byhis righteoufnefie. Chrift could plead nothing for us of our own, toot our aftlve obedience, nor any paffive obedience of purs : buthe hiving fiiffered for us, the punifhmem thatall the wicketinefleof tieEie^hav<deferved, Nowbtdotbever liveto watihutrQtffionforui, Heb.7<a5. Now he hath arguments enough to plead: if any man fin nowjee have an Advocate with the Father, Jefm Chrift the righteous, a John*. 1. Why did he not plead before t Truly he could not open his mouth before, becaufe he had not yet fuffered : but now he; hath fuffered, the juft for the unjuft, and now that be hath borne the ctnfure of Church and Common-wealth, now he hath enough to plead in the bebalfe of the poortft chriflian. And if lo be that any plead againft hii Saints and fervantt, and fry that they are puihy of theft & thefe fins, God wil hy&eliverbim from going down to the pit j I have found a ranfome, Job 3 3. 24. He now plead* fatitfadion to the juftice of hi« Father; and havirg fatUficd for all, there is a fufficient pica in his mouth • •• Y for

i6a

Chap. 13,

jta Expefition Hfcn

VeHi

T£fTt>frreefflSC^^^eRtYelltron' l6i

for all the Elcft of God :, whatever our actual tranfgreffiona have been, the Lord bath aboundant plea for all his people: that fo be atjay both obtain of the Father, the iptrit tobetbw goodtbingMiponuj; and having given us focfc (hinge; as )aitb, and love, and repentance, he nay plead oar finccriry of heart, and that arguei communion witbhiffifeife, and faith johitbloud : But that which doth makensiand righteous before biro U this, that he himiclfe wm a Lamb without foot, andy et did not plead hit own innoc«ncy» but did bear all for in, and (or us all, thae wemight ever be righteous in the fight of God, And thus will God have all bit fervantt plead, or elfe they (hall not haw falvation.

Firfl to plead blencej 7bdtib<ntb9HmajefrrmmbertatiBt nafamdcdatmimsm' tptn tby mmbvymtrtt iecatffeoftbjpime, wbenlmfM^tmmUtie^ for aUibtttbokbufl done, jdtbtbe

Secondly to plead our iniqahy, P/W.J1.3,4. Itckpawkig my trfifgrfjjba, Mdmy ftmti* em before me t 4gcSnfitbte mfyb<mlfinmd*nd<kmtbi$e9iUii*thyJgbit tbtttm'ini$ttjt kejuftfrd wbtuAmfftakffitLQ. Batfireemewitbl^fifemil fc&lhtkM,

Looks therefor* onto this point mainly and principally, that if we coae to plead before the Lord ojrrGcdi heedoth require we ihoald examine ourfclvct, and in the end be fo farprjsed ( when we have done) at hot to have what to anfwcr. Chrtfr could nottell whattoariftaeir, andwVmun1 not wonder, if wee doc not finde what to anfwer rFor here Godougnihctbhislavcin setting forth hbnfelfeontoa believer, tfrbcaGodfuitiryinghiin thae cannot juftlfie himfclfc : He feed) there b the way of the grace of God, the Load hath done this in Chrifl t and the mantfrftation and dcclaracionofitdotb fo poftflethe hearts of Gods children, that it caufcth them to cleave onto him for all their righteoufnefle and ocace t And thir is of great neceffity, and of continuall pracmcc for the Saints of God to attend unto, that we might not be at a lonV in tbb great quefllon of our fouled. Confidence cryes out unions, and wee know not in foe woildwhattofay , for wee arc wicked beyond meafarc in

the

I

faUation. _ ,^-mt -umiv be for reproof to un- yU 3.

For a third life of thfpoutt. « » / ° V^ fc ^

confcionablc Advoca". f>Utu ^

caufe to fpeakof it her..,**£ A5v0Catei<o- ufce heed mlgbx fpeak of it) H «gg "" ? kl of wit, and trick, and ofbolfteri„goutab»dCjfcjj^ ^ „ a

quilew of Law, the «j»™ f ^ piead the ciufe of the

SavetheLordtofmeU^a^ ^ ^

faithful, endofthewidow, ^ ^

pcrfon of the poo V™<*gl , fo ; t0 ufe their tongue, a. feffc Religion ( a» roa"^K 0 wickedneffe, it it a pro^ weapon, of unngh eoufiu"j ™ °J * m0m6cuion> For a feffed praaice ^*J*£?£vmid call, it) to be

come amember of«n"Bn™. ouroofe , wetc 1 to fpeake to, an^oftramtheUw^»*J£JS^ fpeak more. ButI inJlacewhere,IQiould2 k«* 1 ^7omef . No,

Chrift wa. the befl Advocate ui tree fall,

Fourthly, It may b« a ul««• '"'™ , h f •„. kn0„.

a^^^te^o,,,*,,,,,,,,,*"

T//e4.

156 Chap.ij. An Expofiiion upon V*r£8.

with tbe Kid j and i6eCi//e, and tbe young Lyon , and tbe Falline together, and A little child jballkadtbebt: And the Cow and the Beare (ball feed, ibeir young ones frill]lyt down together'; and tbe Lyon {ball eaiejhawlitg ibe'Oxe^and the fuckpigcbild (ball play on the bole of tbe Afpe, and the weaned child (ball put bit band on the Coc^attia den. They frail mt burl nor dtflroy in all my boly momdune, 1 fa. 11. &too.

Doeyou fee a man boyfterous !n his fpirit, and in his own will and wayes, and will not be willing to fee a difference in himfclfe from the fpirit of ChriiTjfefm (as it is poffible that a child of God may be rough in his way, yet hee dare not allow himfelfe long in it, ic is a body of death •But) if you fee a man that doth allow himfelfe in a paffidnate frame of fpirit, that a man will have his owne will (and will not be crdfied in it) whether it be right or wrong, doubtleffe this is not the fpor of Gods children ; It is not the fpirit of thofe whofe name* ^ re Written in the Lambs book of life. God did riot indeed ejec> us, beciufe either we are fuch* or would be /uch , 6m be did cleft us to be made fuch firft or laft, before we come to enjoy the everlafling Inheritance which this boob hath written us downc unto. And thertfore it muft cut offall our boyfleroufnes and cburlifhnes of fpirit 5 all rhis rugg. dntffe and churliftinefs it muft be taktnoffiThe wolf frail dwellwith tbe Lamb and tbe Leopardf frail lye. downe wiib tbek/d, and a little child frail lead tbem: Therefore all bitterne/fc of contention, and pangs of paffion that prevaile, that arefarre from the fpirit of love, muft be removed: But this will prcvaile in all Gods people, that God will carry an end your fpirit«,in conformity to the fpirit of his own. Be of that fpirit therefore in all your Tranfaftions.that is to fay, mild,and patient, and innocent : And fo ie will require all the children of God in the fame kind,to keep Lamblike filence, when you are eharged with any fault whereof you are guilty.

It is a dangerous finne when men are found in a fault, they have a thoufand excufes for it, and utter denyal of fuch thing*, fo as they will cut you a Weavers bearae unto a very moate : But you fee the fpirit of Chrift Jefua will not doeit,

nor

i57

i

Chap. 13. "*""""' ' . ..

old; if you be innocen t,then you y ^ lew %

fuUiy.lKwareofdcnymR.foMtyoa >> uft,Hc

Afficuittravayl^

L,mb-l«kefram«o^eart,«* mfn it confounded, and he

whereas the^le»^H««h oomfertfor fncha fouklaid knows not what to fay • Itt«e G d judgnnnt feate,

uo, for here is a fufficient plea neror j ^

fufferedforjr. ^'^Xllly* downe inourfhame, der fpiritual confufion: Wee ma" »y* Ww

cannot deny u, no xcuuu, born . Thatis not a

conclude, woe to u,thatmrwwftconieuf

hath confoundtdhim. _ . . • A\y friends

Many .own many timet williay, dt*eivt(1 by my

havebadagoodoprntonof^ buuh V ?

.xpreujon8,performanc..andou fink .fiheL j,

foSle is mady times 'V"°*»*£ nurootn , for Ghrift could Jtfus ftood not^t»non-pJu* • e ftt,|faaion. netth„

not tell what to fay, til'*«"'. werel»yd to hi. charge,

tim««» The Church complain", »»ourr v and

Vfe S,

m

146 Chap. 13.

An Exfofitim upon

y^t;

tnd our figna are gone, the cafe it now defperate, when wee m in adcfpeiate taking: But though wee cannot ttiJprcfatly what to fay* yet the Text and the QofptI telsyop, BtWdtbe Lamb of God that tekfitb away the fiat of,bit wnU." He hhnfclf could make no words about our juftificaiion, it was a cafe pan words , txcufei would not healeus, then therewas fomethiug to be fuffered , and that to the utmoft: This he hath fufftnd, wbtieforebe it able to five them to the utmoft thai cam unto Goibyhim, Heb. 7. 25. He ii now able to do it; bat when he Hood before Pontim PiUte, he could not cell wbst to fay, bat now he hath fuffered in Family, Church and O.mmori- wealth, la hit family, they forfook him, and denyedtim, and forfwore him j therefore now having made ' perfeft fatiafadion unco the «ad juftice of hit heavenly Father, by being condemned to death, crucified upon the Croft, dead and buried, now his mouth it ever open to makeinterccfCon : ThereisaAay andftaffe onto a Christian .* Loikf utitt me, and be yee (awd all the ends of the eartbt Ifa.4*,:aa. Now here it the brazen Serpent lifted up, That vbofoever behevetb in bim, fjbaU not petijb, but have tterlaJUng life, John 3.14,15.

Reft not now Jn a naked knowledge of this, but look up to Heaven with your inner man, be confounded becaufe of your frame, and yet fee the Lord offering you Chrift, and giving you grace to receive him and to r<ft there, that whatever cavils and temptations the Devil n»y make., and your own confeiences may makr, yet there is hope in /^/concerning this: 'The Lordv rigbteotit, but tandmy koufe are wicked, may a man lay y my waves are corrupt,x and my. heart word of ail: But thi Lordbath laidnf>on bim the iniquities ofut all, and by bit fhipei we are healed, I fa. 5 $. 5, 69 7.

There is nothing that will clcare him before God, when l.« ftandsin oar cafe , but he muftftandaftumed and confounded form all : And though wee be thnsand thusguilty in ourowne apprehtnfioni, and culpable in the fight of mm, yet the Lord hath made fadsfaction for us, and therefore faith, Deliver him, for I have received a raniome : And where there it any fade of God, chert will be

r.hap. 1 a. tbe thirteenth Cbufttroftbe Revelation.

167

a feats quieting ot the heart upon this very ground, wK«he\orddothd,^ uMnbimVandcleavetohim, and hang about hra, whjfe SSmpVion, Reconciliation, and Auonement for utaxe 10 h* found.

Rev.

l6o

jhap. 13. i<« Exftjitib »»»» ' ■ •' Vg&3.

a^fe^***^"

Rev. 13.8. latter part of the verf.

the Lamb flaitie from the foundation of the world.

CHrift iii here defcribed. Firfl by the fimiHtud* of a Lamb. t. ByhispaffioiijdLmii^ine. Thridly.hii paflionis amplified by theantiiiquityoHt,jWn/rMn ' tbefoundation oftbevorU. " '■" ,,

We fliewed the laft time, thacGbrift was at a Lamb. Now we come to the next part of the defcription of Cbxitt j the next note then concerning Chrifts paflion ii this. Cbrift though a Lamb waifltin andfltugbtered. Ibomih a Lamb. ] That is to fay, though innocent, mwlc, and patient, yetftVm and (lightered : So you read in AQs a. 33. Him being delivered by tbe determinate councellmd forebnowledgeofGod, yeebavetak>n, and by wicked bands have crueifiedandfliini andin^7-5*. loubaveflaintbmwbxcb^ei before of tbe coming of tbe j«jr one, of whom you have been now tbe betrayers andmwderertJAe was a Lamb murdered, fl«in, and flaughtered; He wat led of a Lamb to tbeflngbter. JltugMt implyes a violent death put upon bim, partly by tbe juftTce of God, partly by the wickedneffe of men, and partly by tl« roaliceot Satan. By the iufticeof God : the word is very ftrong in Ifa.«. 10. It fleafed tbe Lord to bruife bim>\t is tranilned, but it fignifies properly to grind him : the fame word i, tranflued deftruflion in P/«7. ?o. 3. rboHtHrneflmntode. fruition : andfoitpleafedthe Father thus to grmde him to powder that he might have nothing of chaffe; he ground him to dun with grief, and horror, anguift, and agony, and terrour,andpain^fa.53.6.T6erx.r^aM«p0^fc«mtfce«l?«I^J'o( us all: and fo he ground him to duft for our tranfgreffions, I

mean

Gbap. 13. ibe thirteenth Chapterofibe Revelation.

169

I

mean loditiolution of loul and body. And fo by the wickedneffe of men, he was accufed, condemned, and accordingly executed. What tbin\you of bim faith Caifiat}you have b'ard bubtijfbtmiesi andtbey anfvered and fay d, be UgvMly of death, Mat. 26.66. And Tilate himfelfe, though he chougtu him to btguiltlefic, yet delivered him to be crucified, Mat. 27.26And the people fayd, We have a Lav, and bymr Lavbe ought to dye, John 19. 7. Thus was he delivered by the wickedneffe of men : and Pilate knew tbey didit of envy, Mar. 27.18. So that it was a great wickedneffe in Tilate to gratifie the people, and to fufferuich an innocent Lamb to be crucified; yet rather then he will loofe the favour of Gefar, and of the people, he delivers him to be crucified. .'.«. t

And which is more then fo j as he dyed by the juftice of God. and the wickedneffe of men, fo by the malice of Satan: for our Saviour faith in Iwl^a. 52. Ibis U tbe very hour and power of darkneffe. The gates of Hell were opened to powrc upon him all the vengeace they were able. It was fore-tould iaGen.*.i<i. Itfballbruifetbybead, and thou fbalt bruife bubetU The Serpent (hould bruife his heel, that is Chrift, the feed of the woman. His heel,y on will fay that falls far fhort of death; to pinch a man on the heele, it may make him go lamely, bat not kill him : but the holy Ghoft intends, that all the mifchief that Satan works againft Chrift or any of his members, it doth but reach to the bruifing of the heele. Itbruifed-bis heele, that implies, that Chrift (hould have a body-like ours: and bis heele, that is the lower part of Chrift, his humanity, Satan mould bruife it. And be (haB break, tby bead j it is tbe fame word , and therefore you may take them both tor breaking, or both for bruifing : therefore Peter expounds it

well (in 1 Vet. 318.) whenhetel,»you Chrift fuff«red for finne, 7bejufifortbem}uft, tbatbimight bringui to God, being put to death in theflefh : His heele was brufed, that is, his tiefb. So thatthough the Lord fuffered unfupportable mifery, to be forfakenofhisDifciples, betrayed by one, and forfworn by another* tobeforfaken of his Fither in regard of any comfortable fellowfiiip he had with him : Though he fuffered all this, in inward and outward man, tofuch extremity that ' Z made

17°

Chip. I}- An Expnfition upon

V*ri.8.

fad/on l.

made him iwcac drops oi blood, and in the end to give up ihcghoft, yet all this was but thebeelc, the lower part of Chrift as U were; for hit perfonal union is not in theleaQ mcaforc intercepted : hhlicadand councel ftands fure, and all bit indeavours will finde a blcficd accomplimmcar. Whereat the Lord brcakes the head of Satan, not onely cuts him off from all hope of fdlowfhip in grace, but all hit plott (bail be difappointed at length, and all execution of hit defignes, they thill be brufed ; the Sonne of God comet to diffolve the works of Satan, to undoe thtm. Thus comet the Lamb to be flaine." The reafon of the point it double.

Firfl,to fulfil all the formerly pet of the Lfgall Sacrifice*. The Ifraelhci were to fhy the Pafchal Iamb in.the cvcning(ai the ninth hour of the day ) Exod.n. 6. about the Tame time he wat (lain : And all other Sacrifices for reconciliation were to be killed, neceffary. therefore he mould be flain} The daily Sacrifice which confiHed ofaLambin the morning, and a Lamb inthe evenings were both flaine^ though without Hemilt, and fa was Chrift. But that wat but a fhadoiv, for Cfariffi fuffcring was rather the cauft of them t but it it the Scripture phrafe, this was done, that this and that may be fulfilled, becaufe ifucha thing in after times was fulfil* led.

fccondlfcAecfcetf reafon why it wairequlfiteChtiftflioaW be fliine, and whyhe would be fliine, was

That be might hy down his life for a ranfome or price for his people, Mat. ao. 28. the Sonne ofman came to give bis life a ranfome for many. A ranfome of what > or price of what ?> The Scriptureholds forth a prjee of Rederomion,,anda price ofPurebafe. r .

rV price of Redemption^. Wean tut redeemed with Silver and Gold, but™btbefrecioutbloudofKbrifi,M0faLambnithout Uem&mdmfiomfaj T». 1.t8, io,.ao. He paid .price for our redemption, that fo he might difcWethedebtof our nnnet which lay upon us, Rom. 6. 23. Gen. 2.17. What day finer thou eateft thereof thou {bait furely dye. And partly by this meant to fatiifie the jufifceof God, who had threafned according to the curfe of the Law, that surfed is every one that

continue'

Reafon

•ebap.~T3v tbetbUtembCbapteroftbc Revelation.

MHtwiKj not in all things mitten in the Lawtodoetbtm: Behold, faHh the Lord, 1 let before you lift and death j obey U and live, doit not, and dye* Tbi» it the fanftion and ratification of the Law of God throughout the books of Mojei. And therefore that he might fathfie the Law, andthevtrath of God (Esxk: »8 20. 7befBHUbatfinnetbthfbiUi)e) that he roig^t diicbarge the debt wee ran into, and laiiafic for our dtft&s, it was nectffary to pay this price of redemption, ta faveu* from death, and all tvilt thu drew on death* And conftqumtly thtteforehehathfavedusfromfinne, Rtv. 1. «. He both lovedus, andvafbed m from ourfinnet in bit blond. He batb redeemed us alfo from the world,, Gal. 1.4. JVb» gave bimfelfe for our ftnmi, that bt might deliver its frm tbii frefeut eviS world: andbe batb alfo givtnbimfelfe unio the death* that be might dtflroy through death, him that bad the power ofdeath, that u the Dtvill, Htb. 2.14. So this is one part of the reafon, and the fura of the ends why Chrift gave himfelfe to be Qaughtered, and his life ai a price of redemption to redeem u» from evill, for redemption it from captivity and bondage from finne and Sitan , and the world. This was a principal end of bis death; but it was but part of ir. Here ii a price to redeem us from evil, from fo many captivities wherein we were overwhelm med. But there is a price given of purchafe, to the praife of his glory, Efhef. 1.14. It is a price of purchafe of fame gloriouspofleflion : and for that end icwai alfo given in a principal manner. Now what it the purchased poflrffion which the Lord hath given his bloud *»»prU« topay ? Truly a* the Lord hath redeemed u» from tb> three great anemiesof our fonls, fohe hath purchifcd the three greateft bk$ngs the fennesof men are capable of, andthiy "fethi gteattftbleffings'they can reach to.

1. He hath purcbafed reconcilement with the Father. He batb reconciled ui by the death of bit 5«% Rom. 5.10. God loved us mdeed fron» eternity when he chofe us, but we were by name children of wrath as well as others. How came we to fee reftored and reconciled to the Father, from whom we fell as much w we could , by the bloud of the Lamb, that hath reconciled u» to God.

Z a 2. By

wm^mmm.

m

\i*

Chap. 13.

An Exfofiihai upon

Vcrt8.

• Secondly, by bia dc«th , be hath paid a pric* of purchafe for anion, and poAffion of union with the Sonne, So doth tb: holy Apoftle teacti as , Fjibef. ». 13. to 16. Jw tbat were ftmethnes farrecf, are made nigh by the bltdof Cbrifi : For he it our peace who hath made both one ( Jewes and Gtntikt both one) and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us : So that he hath made Jewesand Gentiki one houihold of God, and huh built at upon Jefui Chrift the cheif corner ftone.

Thii iithc fecond purchafe which the Lord hath given bit blood for the price of. We had never been united to Chrift, nor by Chrift been brought to the Father, but by the bloudofhiscroffc : his blood hath flain all enmity between God and us.

Thirdly, by the fame price be hath alfo purchafed us the holy Spirit. Thefe are the three pcrfons in Trinity, a pofleflion of Chrift to be our head : of the Father to be our God and King, andour Father, as his Father $ therefore he tcls his Diiciples in John 20.17. faith he, touch me not, for Igo to my Father, and your Father, to my God, and your God.

As foon as he had by death overcome death, nowlgo to my Father <md your Father: He hath purchafed the pofleffionof Gods fatherly love : he hath alfo purchafed union with bimfelfe, and therefore he prayed that his pa'ffion might be available to this end, that all that mould beleive through the Apoftlei preaching mould be'one with them, John 17. 21, aa. 7battbey aOnrigbt beone, attbouFatberartmmeiandlintbee'i tbat they alfo may be one in vs , tbat the world may bekhie that tboHbaftfentme.

Andtbeglory which tboti gavejt me, I bm given them *tbat ibey may be one, even as we are one. So that this is the purchafe which she Lord by his blood hath purchafed, reconciliation with the Father, and union with the Sonne, and alfo the inhabitation of the holy Ghoft, as 1 Cor. 3.16,17.. Know yee mtlbatytearetbetemfieofGoi, andthat the faint of God dwelled in you. And as he tela us in Efbef. 3.18. Ibmgb, bm we have an acceffe by one fpirirunto the Father. So that this is a purchafe of unfpeakable bkfilngs which the Lord bath siren

fail

I

— » ———=—^-- — - .i,.hinnd ot tne Sonne °F blTblo^rTltw-^"^XmiBationtoGod) ^mOUldbtfpUtm^n CitW«^0wm ^cao befall ther«ForeheglmKto*voydth^ tortdeemus*rora

thecdrfeof God , anaios ^^foul|

aBdtheworld,and»Uihe^m oredeeIBusfromcrof. Hegavehubloodforall^ andthatillhe part which ft,, but from the ^"^T ». jyefartjrommeyfemfed.

drx0^"^.v«« -*-.°-'h

bath redeemed us from it. fcU blo0d for re

conciliation with theFa her, an Ghoft>; (ohehathgivm andforcommunionj1^ hbblood forthe P»r2n0withthefpirhwehave. thefe. F°rbyCOmm7°rchriftinVudcath, mortifying , Firfl communion wi«iuj"« furr£aion raifing

finne/andcommunion."^t'Xftproieffcth,tbat fee

SupW'-^

Arrtrestore)oyceinnotbmgb»tw"» 1 > And in Rom.

6.6.. Out oldtnan u crwn. emfinne.

UieH^hiihtm^hZieft, iritof Chrift applying hi. Sothereisthepower^

death, W^^S^ ,U the?tTe

thing the head of *jSngg£nk%urcl0f Kome .and the a of the Beaft, of the Ca*J»cfV therefore ^

h sWoodthathe ^h« Jffii of0«re«emie*, migbtfejve

Chrift to.ourfoul«. ..floWlfroH1 union with thebleffed

2. The fecond fruit tnat.e°"Vovenant of Grace. And

TrfoHy, i. »^^&ttot£*»^*X*°firm

174 .CtoF»-13

An Exfofitkn uptn

V"i' K I Chap, i J.

»75

Cbvtnanc of Grace,IbitbevillmitebisUminmktmu\ thtt hi will forgive eur/inne*,and remember w iniquities no ■»« j tbit .wMkpvUm* J«r.3i. 33,34* Chritt gave hi$ Moodto rttlfie thisCovenant, He*. 9.15,16,17* And at xht Jeftamehtofa Teftator (lands riot in force till the death of him thatmadeit, fo the death of Chrift ratifies this Covenant: and at all the Covenants were confirmed by bloud, fo baih Ghriftt blood done in a fpcciatl manner. And when he fpeakt of ratifying the Covenant, he doth not onely fpcakof ratifying of It in word, but cheifly in the hearts of Gods people j and no price could have dune that, but the blood of the Sonne of God, by which he hath ratified all the promifea of God to the confeiences of Gods people : That when the heart and confeience of afinneris overwhelmed with inwardagony, and fear of the wrath of God, and the carfe of the Liw, the fear of death and Hdl : now what (hill fatisfie a cbriftUn in this, but the death of Chrift? and^batihallratifien? r^ia death hath psrebafed reconciliation with the Father, union with the Son, and communion with the holy Ghoft; novbe bath $td bis fyirit in our hearts, vbtreby m cry Abba father\ Gal. 3. 14. This fpirit of God works faith jn the hearts ol Gods people, whereby all thefe prosilfe* are confirmed: they are all certainly made good, bccatjCc fuch it the valueand virtue of the death of this innocent lamb of God, they are now free from the terrour of death. It. was not potable the bloud of Rule and Goats fbould t*ke away finne, therefore Itill they bad riW facrifici e, for the confeience had loft the copy by which it pleaded reconciliation by the fpirit of God: now he applying the death of Chrift to the foul, doth fqlly pacific the confcicBce, and ratifie the Covenant to the foul, that now alUhe prosnifes of Grace belong to this or tbat ftrvant of Chrift : and I pray mark it, bxcaufe it is as weighty as any point of Religion : And of all the doftrines of Religion, there is none fancYified fo cffe&ually, and immediatly 40 begtt faith in the foul, as the preaching of the croffcof Chrift : All the doftrines of the Gofpel areTor the begetting of faith, but they have no efficacy this way, further then they arefprinkled with the blood of Ghrift : other promife* do

con

llllBf. iy. .,.>.-— ._ -—, .. ...

-^-7 ttu ,m< thew mav alfo beget it, but it is with re

confirme faith, and tbjrmay a 6 > -{ ^g^

ontp-^il«ift'W.«"^hi lf Godd«aiin jnftice (as he for confeience » ^""^J then he of all men is moft

^H^.^ta^ o?S A* heavy, and is ready to niftnUe : the bjr«n fatUfittheCOnfcU„Cenow ?

plunge him to hell. wMt wi fon wb God, „.

nothtaBto^y«g^^^lfcdUh»itiedoJc? onely

by the death of thel^obf°Ch,ift the ratification of the Cove

nant,Jor that cutsot au j damnation, and all eviL UW, h«H and death, and£<""» w ^j doth fatUfie

Alt.C? ^S«K^^U. andbear. the "W Sfrfe?S £ def« of our finne., purch.feth reconwhole burden of th<aiewr• he g comnmni0n.

cUiationwlththeFather^n^ aUthUtome> willtb« with the holyffGhoft.^^ foul fay,unleffethefebe to given ^ ^ Lorddoth

indeed all thefe, tne ipiru preaching thefe

&^rt^ffi£^!i««» Wieve that.all things, hedoth beg« huh in fool)jU1d to every

thefe ^^^"^"^.wtlubeMEtofilMcrofltone whomheispleafed^of^b. andnow indeed is the ofChrift, and to «£^PJjgJJj .^ by the death of whole Covenant.>fG«"ffiZfife fpiri/to the foul :. Chrift the virtue of it isSementto God before faith, and Notthat ther.ua^^t inbn with the holy Ghoft ^ union with the Sonne,anacf ^ Ghrift,pur

before faith : It itbeforf »n^°"P J, M| (whofcwork ^to^tettin^^Krfth* other Pcriti. to give •f^^^SJ andratifiestheCove

Sthathehyfprawlirga.uwerelnhi»blood. ^m

wmfmmmmmmmf^mmm

vj6

Chap. ij.

Jltt Ixfofitim ifon

Verf. 8.

a. JUhirdbcnefitthataoweifrom toe former wrefpe£ of thepriee paid* and in regard of the virtue and efficacy oj the See when it comes to be applyed: you have midf tn» full rfeht unto the creatures ro eat and drink, &c but fome

alfopaidapricefor thepofleffionof eternall glory. VpB

Erie/. 1.14. Until! doth argue, that there it a purchafe we donotyet receive : andwhen (ball that be received? when bothweourfelvei,andthecreaturei(hallberedeeaiedtothe gloriouslibertyofthefontof God. Thenfhall we receive die full benefit of the price which he hath paid whiles he fuffereduponthe Croffr. Therefore wonder not, thai though Chrifl being a lamb yet he wasflain, thathebeitig fhinwe might be redeemed, and mightenjoy the purchafed pofleffion, redemption from all evill in every kinde,from forrow, paine; &c. from the evil of them. And hit blood alfo was a price for a purchased pofleffion of reconciliation with the Father, of union with the Sonne; of communion with the holy Ghoftj dominion overall finne, ratification of the Covenant to our foules, and at length the poffcflion of everlafting glory. This was the reafon why the lamb was <U*ine, and bad it not been for thefe divine, and fapernatural, and bUffed ends, he would not have proftituttd his life to fuch a bitter and (hamefull death, as the death of the Croffe was- It was not meet the onely begotten Sonne of God mould come down into the world to lead a raiferable life, and to dye an accurfed death, but for noble and glorious ends, and younave the fam in thefe particulars.

For the ufe of it. Vfe 1. Firft,itisacaufeofjufthumiliationtous,whofelinswere

foout of meafure finful, as that there is no ranfome to be giv« for them, but fuch an invaluabWprice, at the blood ot the Sonne, of God. All the Gold of Ofbin all ihii the world can give, what is it, to this invaluable blood of the Sonne of God > Yet this was our cafe, and eflate, that if we had had many worlds for our inheritance, and given them all for the redemption of one foule,ithad not been fuffictent.

I

Chap? 13; the thirteenth Cbapienftbe Revelation.

This.was our effete, and this it the efl*te of all fuch as yet live in finne to this day. It is a defperate eftate that cannot be repaired, nor thcmfclves refcucd from by ranfome, but the blood of Chrift. If our fiiines had been of a lefle nature, a lcfle price might have made fatisfaftion r And yet fuch it the pride of the heirti of the fonnes of men j that becaufe we live civil lives (though yet natural) we have good natures, are fo well bred, do fomany good offices, that we think it is not fp dreadful a matter, nor that we are fo'dangerqtis, forour e0ate asothers : If it go ill with us, what will become of defperate roaring ruffines ? whatever becomes of them. His a frivolous matter to you, of'to fuch at are civij,ahd binder the free paffagc of the grace of Gbd : but if pur natures be to. good) and our carriage fd pomely, 1 prayy^u wliat need fuch an invaluable price be given > If afmall tnat^r would have faved us from the world, what need fuch an invaluable price be given to refcue us from it> You will fay, I hope I am not fo addiaed to! the world ,1 would drive a bargain? home to the head, and woutd not be cheated; ,'Biit is that all you know by your (elves > certainly there iifmore; fop if the Lord did not fee that inveglement which the word hath of us, and that elbfe combination of us, to it ,.the Lord would not have thought it needful to fend his o*hely Sonne to*, redeeme as from thisprefent evitt world. 'Frugality it riot a^in 1ny but a virtue j and if there were no" more but good ,nurbandryi fttrdy there rieed not fuch'apficeto be paid to redeeme ntffrom the world : But certainly the Lord fees fuch power of Worldliheffe, and uritemperaneeinus, and fuch power of paffions and lufts, that no Utinjj wopld refcue us therefrom But tfaepidwer bfthebloo'd of W«(So'nn« ; and the world hath fucfchold of bs, ahd;we of ft, that ifit were not for the blood of the Sonne of God, wt ftoiild never be refcucd from that engagemaht. Andtherefore let all flesh know, there it that powef of finne, and ofthe World, in the beft natures and beft education, that unlefle the Lord come with the blood of his Sonne, we fhould be wedded to the world, and our fins, and luftsj and perish everlaftingly. And for the Devil, you fay you defie him, and did renounce Aa hrnw

177

""$r?u>*rw*m

,i}§ Chap, lj.'

film in BiTptU'roe^jind promlfe it, or fame other uuypur

Kad.:; "' ,""'-.'./.'!V.:■.' ,..'..-'. ::•■« .'.•.■••"'!,.•'

?nrHut1f the/f^ wert nqti ftrpngpowerofSataflin ui, hot* comes ftYhat the. bflood of^btfft nnift b:(hed, codertroy him thathad the power of death,' that iitbepuvill, Heb. a, i^, And therefore ponfider of it, foftrongly did the curfeofthe Law < hrcaten us, fuch power hath fin oyer the beft nature, ttiat'were it not fpr'tlie blood, 0* the Sonne of God, it were^dc,,pbmbleWe.'fhbuld be redeemed from,them,

Therefore if (hoi* haft a good opinion of thy felfe, that the world hath no hold of thee, nor thy pafBona and luft«,and the Dcvill leaft of all,1 whatever the. Law of0cd faith-: know that there wai nothing.coold rtdeem.m from this, but the blopdof the$6rineofypd j and if thou doit not believe this ( however thou art thus naturally bornI) the truth is, thou trampleft underfoot the blood of Gbrift, as not worth the fpilling : Ifmenbe thusexacl in theircourfes, fo equal in fh:ir dealings, ifthe Devil Have no power over you,to what end didrhe through death deftroy the XJtvUl that b«d the power of death >' Iffione have no dominion over you, wherefore did he flied his blood, thai the power of finne ftould be dtflroyed f And therefore all the while a man is out of Chrift, and the warmebloodof Chrift is;notaopJyed theejihy foule ua'ble^dihgtodeath^ .,.]., '., /r:J: ,; ;.^i^vr. ivu .

That Jook as it is with fom* men when in a^onftimptlon, & have little hope of recovery, then they wjj kiUfopie lamb, and white Is is waraie, will take the wanncjbody, ©ftbe lamb and iitftn Uto" them that they q^iybfrepairedsTFuiy that doth th*1Lbrdwith m»j heKiiowci^eafc^atri; confused* in a ftate'bf worfdliptfle, anda^jte'o^fihne,'aocj^aR»n; I'how (hall the Lord relcucui, andrepa^re us > Npway but (bis, here is an innocent Lamb, hpw^ips him about it», warmes lis with his blood, and fp hareavers uiagaineifrora oj«r confumirrRcidnditFoni c^n^tningw|fh<iofullJu^f, and.pjffionr, ajndSitanfcaf&lufioiif, LooJt,^Pby,(itianSr they Will fooh ghtflewhit the difcafe Is by the receipt:, If the Lordprcfcrtbe fuch a receipt as,this,the bloqd'of the innocent Lamb of God, then know it for a certain truth, we were in a defperate condition,

'^wmj^'.:^--^^^. I ^^^mm^^m^^t

179

Vfe a.

L

8K&Sl ordorovidedfucha.plaifterasthis.,,,,,,,.; • :

themdyed in, yet "* ^?rJ"■ S d m£ht h4VC cut ui off t

was thus willing to icuum'»^v^ > ,l w ur up0n the

go,,hat^

ever'accepted o^4>>J™£^'™SderM# jufticerf tb*t h*

Lamb) torus. ' u... r«r rvtr ta loath and abhor aiH <nrt

' Thirdly, it m»y -m*«• g^ftTh oSfo »no.fttif- Vj

provokes God greatly, and fUugtUere £>» ,c(re we

the power and venome of Sinpf. Af* l^er<l°Juh:, uaap.

peafable.but in the ^d^fT' *£% % .pean. dead A a 4

3>

.«*«■*■

nS-wp

• '*^-:". l»wi*^.

l§0

Chap. 13. An Exfafition upon

VI* ¥

^_______ . ViriX

foulcs, and breaking forth in fierceneue of the Lords indignation ? HowumII we dire to tread under foot the bipod of the Covenant', ai if it were an unholy thing? If there were no other argument to difcouragc from finne, this alqne might prevail*, the nature of finne, that fo deeply dlfpleafcth God as there is no fatisfaftion but by the blood of Chrifl j antTto confider, that finne bath flaughtcrcd Chrift Jefus. And therefore the meditation of the daughter and death of Chrift, mould be as a (hoghtering knife to cut afonder all tembutt ons to finne. What is it that all pfafurcs and profits can put upon us, tocountenraile the lofiW the favour of God, and the blood oftheLamb ? can any finne procure the favour of God, orany thinganfwerabletotBefaTOurof God> or can any allurements of the world, or temptations thatCan put opon as, or Sitans fuggeftions» can they make the blood of Chrift an unworthy thing >, or give us greater matter! then the blood of Chrift hath purchafed > And therefore nowfliall we finne againft the loveofGpd? bow (ball we commit tbk great wick£dneflt and finne iuinfi God ? finAc agalnft the bloodofthis immaculate Limbcf Godl; Thefev'erywnfia'erations are enough to cut off all finne.'

Fourthly, this may fern therefore to teach ns all to sive up our ftlvti back again to ChrmY that we may nowliveto Mm.« That we may now lite to the father, and to the Son t thatwem.aynotlijetofinne^toS»tan, tothe'worldj But to bmtbatbttbdyed hr «, mdgh^nmfilfe'for tit f J'five by the faitbtftbeSomeofGoJ, Gal. a. 30.. Chipfvffered for fimim be djtdfor sv, that we migbt not now Hue teourkbe,, nor toiLlJs of m,h bntoibe wilMGod,1 Frf.4.,,^3;iCor.^«T% that this is that which the Lord nowcals usto.to wit, to lire nowno longer to thofe thing! from which We were redeemed bj an invaluable price.

Weare redeemed from the bondage of finne, and Satan and from the word : andnot.onely redeemed from thefet but purchafed to4ife, at a reconciled people to God, to be as thefrundsof God - Ahabm Wat callecfthe friend of God. Though a man make no bones of breaking out agalnft an enemy} yet now feting reconciled efpecislfy to him in whom

we

r move, Bnd have our being,

we life, ormove, ^Wg^&^uMt*

Ch^,»thofethat*re^ havethegraceofChrittappiye |tUforul towalkas

*d»fm ***« °pfifi%ffion to the glorv of thofe thatlook for* P^cnaj^^ Kwebedead

Gods grace whenthi> l»em'" <J^ 1 that which is evil,

with Chrift, why "J^ff"Ikisaftaine andbleandfreeto.il thati^

mifototheblorfofC^ durtycorrapaon,tof«a*^otnebIoodof Cb/ift : To

chafe to us all good. . tfftauany the Vfe 5.

u'ri fltf-'iSt^SS incur Miniftery, fo . Mood of Chufl1. » *" d rcp4ion$ $ there u the ground you in your medi«"»Jg°l' fBat hath been troubled with ifyour peace. N^gXgdrf, the wrath of God, that fence of fanne, tat there 1» J" 6"?; condemned j tbewratb isuponWs ««^Wffr°"If:J.c"ittothebottoms,there

isitthiurnlheththefpirit. ^T.^^ionof .Gbdf

webeckarinthUpr^pk,^

^fltop.ovoW.g.mfl^

fiont : what (hall &™*"£,. ,*" the Dre»chtog of the crofs

tohim ! ForUo"?!',T(jodiwr«* with any tolerable dmofth. WK|,™J?" k„jS? forth ChrlS tha innocent

«U^M0"VP^P^R<IVi U-i- v i;. Ir". i W.|»*'!J|JP

18* Chip; 13. jM hxpofiikn Mfwi

fofc.fc

tion from all evil], anil purch*fe of all good : then faith (tbe foale, mc-thinki there i* fome hope, evtn for me i For wfjio; (lull hinder thepowrr of thobiood of Chrift > and who (half hinder the free pafiTtge of God* grace? if c**s Lord Jsfiis hath undertaken ic, aad hold it forth cfpeciaUy to men that are fick, and oppreffed, and Ctrl downe, and ready to perifh for want of fuccour : In fuch acafr, while this is held forth, there it the blood of Chrift held forth, which wat died to pur* chafe the fpirit-of grace j asicii wrictenii) GuL^ 13,14. Cbrlftbttb redeemed wi from the curfeofihs Lt9y being tmdea cA'fe for u, that we migjit receive the fromifc $ftbeffirit. The fame blood of Chrift, that bath redeemed at from the carle, and hath pur-chafed the communion ofthefpirit, he is wont in the preaching of the crofle of Chrift, to open rleayoa, to the foule, toopen thedoortof thehearcto-beleiveon this.bload, thus hsjd forth, and fo by this meant you (hill finde a fupport, fame fathfaction co'all turmoils,and agonies of confeiende. It it a wonder to fee ho* this blood of Chrift i| mighty throaghGod to make our peace, while the fpirit doth, conveigh rheeflicicy thereof to the quieting, arid eftablirtuog the. foule,infcllowfhipwithGhrift, and reconcilement with the Father; that the foule fees, Chrift hath not dyed invaine, that he-bath not heard the word in wine* nor waited upon Cbriftin vahy, but fees there it lifev .and peace, and all in the blood of Chrftt. And therefore wonder -no* nowthat the Apoftles were fo careful! in preaching the crofle of Chrift, cher'* the ground of all our reconciliation : That fatfsfiei the juftice of God, and that falltfies the foule, the fpirit applying it begets faith to receive it v and there it they ftay> pf the foul. ';- ■■■..:.;

So this "the principal! duty,"aifor us to teach, fo for the people of God continually to attend unto, to ponder upon this : efpecially thofe whofe hcarte are at a lode about fatufaeYion of God* wrath, and pardon of their ftine j It it that which in a fpeciall manner they ft and in need to attend unto. :

Vje i. For a fixth ufc: If any man (hall aafce, how (hall I know

that all this belongs to me ? what ilis for due we cannot yet

tell,

,

tie thirteenth Cbaflirof the Revelation.

»11 in cafe a man have had no imprtflion upon bisfonle vttitmaybeto.heefor ought thou cenft tell, btcaufe all KwTft are not yet called home, but arewbe called: Therefore it is not the thing, to fay they have no hope in it, bVcauft they are not yet walhed by it, for they may be before

lhRnd/if for the prefent you would know whether you have oaft in t or no P: you f« what ,he nature of it is, where the KfCnriiUoUwhereitUfprinkled^ doth- it hath a redeeming power in ir, anda purchafing r!l\ ' It doth redeem thee from all evil I, from the power SLne\ndS»tan , and of this world, and of thine owne £ art" and withall rom the wrath of God, and thecurfeof th! UwTfo that the Confciente is more pure and peaceable

*£&&ft*&ffi*«* hath had this freeSein thinebeart, i.hath purchafcd reconcilement wkhtheFather, union with the Sonne, communion wi h Se Snu-ltV conformity to Chrift, and comforting thee in rhrift • Conforming thee to Chrift in hit death, and comSrfLSci^nChrUlandthefruusofbi.de»th, ththvpur

Sdtatbh athpurchafed. J fay thu is the efficacy of the

WoodofCmift where itisreceived In power: Jfthefe fruit, blood 01 i>nn« loyeof Godm our

heam"^ I LrfwithuunvTemptations, and worldlybufineff.a,

tfi^cu^nA temputionl; though it is true the

intentSK-5 beatmany loflet, yet mark what! fay,

iffid ofChrift it a livingsfring, and a running Foun

^thouRb it may be troubled, yet it will ruoru c tare

SaTne "nfdonotricU.Cgneltwa. notfromthe blood

hrkrlft but from a de ufion ; But if it were from he

lodofchS thou (haltfindehee will purine and paclfi*

w ' SiSJiI for he will not Joofe the value and efficacy

loofethevertueofit. lknQW

183

*0P!^4P«m; Jl, .jpj ypjJb

lg4

Cbap. 13. ^» Expo/il«M« ■?»»

1 know th«re may be many pangs to Tcmptauon^.and Cbriftwni ia ihi. new world may mcec with new T«WW?onr, indChrimani arc ata loffe becaufc paffions b«*«Jg;> we hive loft altour peace, and comfort of «* •"WSJ!" oower of it ; it may be fo, it i« not unufuall} but ( mwde what Hay ) truly ifihe blood of Chriftliave any efficacy in w, or power upon us, you will find that thefountaineof the blood of Cbrift ishigher then any other fountain

A fountaine that fprings from a low place may be Bopped, butif it comet froma high place, higher then the bigheft, no creature hereb:Iow can hinder it, nor created thing below k can intercept the flowingof it ^ The Lord will«deeme - thee from the world, and from thefe paffions and luftt, and from the Satanicall, and malignant diftempers, and the Lord! blood will reftore thee to reconcUement with the rasher, and bring thee to union with the Son, and the comfort of the Spirit, and the fence of it. And therefore know, if he have left thee to live in fuchdiftempers, and thou doft bleffethy felfeinthem, andcanft not looke further, and there u nothing in the bloodofCbrift that much takes up thy heart, for redemption fromewll, or purchafinggood, U is ranch to be feared thou baft not yet »aft«d qfthc blood of Cbrift: what there may be in heaven iwee. k_npw not, but nomanion earth, can give thee a cowlor^ble 6gne©fa good

cftatc. ' •:* ■ ;' : ■■'■: ■■■-'•*-;•■ !--'?#\«livtf *'y- r■*» V«i../ fta man pleffcbirafelfeitt theft engagement!, m J"»thefe imbondagemeni* to the enemies of;his fople, and thinks hit captivity iabis:liberty, heedptb not know what the Lord lifuhath purchaftd, there ,i«, littleJiope AwMmM. redemption from the blood of Chrit.! < tfbisit the condition of all the people of God in th«gr*attft temptations, unlcfle itbeinfomeejitrmmebarryofpaffionj ifis a^captivity to him, and a burden to him that he want! Cbrift Jefus, and. that is a good figne of a mans liberty purchafedby Chrift: Thia Cbrift who hath reconciled others to God , and .dpna great thingi for them in a wayofgrece, and hath alfo reconciled him to God, and delivered him from death to feethis cipiWity s and to groane under it „ it u a figne this man

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biTtwmbw0tiitof>tbe Revelation.

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b1|pjm|^e otherlib^xtyin timesfafl:For otherwise there -"■ is M^tnjtui ally but be thinks this is bis freedom to have hjtjO^Bpf^dc not crofted r'to, have his full ltbcrtyin the jod bargajnt^andhot to be pinched in this and that j and not for confeience to fly in bis tact; it is a figp a man is y.ej a natural born captive.But when it-man feels ■ hit captivity, and looks at it as his burden, that hie feeles not the favour of God, and union with Chrift, and communion with the Spirit; It isa figne God hath called him to liberty, but be bath fold himfelf for a captive again $ 8c now he cryes

as '\bt;Kw$**?&,7'a+'&aiferaMim*1^ ' m> who (ball deUvef^ie from tbit body of death: There he is carryed captive. I fee /mother law in my members warring agtinft tbilawofmy minis,. ani bringing mejnto captivity to the law offinne which k inmymembeT$svtt(.2%. H«reisa6gnofredeemingloveby the blood of the Lamb.

O the wofull captivity that naturall corruption it to a redeemed foule, and the great' liberty it is to a carnall heart, that bee tbinkes it a liberty to have hit thoughts free, and none to tell him: But to a good confeience that hath been warned and redeemed by the Wood of the Lamb, the body of death is a wofull bondage to him.

This bodyof death it is not a&uall tranfgreflions, but a powerfull body of carnall corruption that hangt about us; that though we do not break put into a&uall linnet as other men do, yet we fte'a body of death in us, and this is pur captivity. So then, if the Lord hath redemed a foul, and purchafed thefe comfortable bltffingt as brings us to the fence of our wbfullcondition by reafoh of the loffe of this liberty, allthefe arc witntffes of the redeeming love of Chrift.

_ taftly, it may beaufeofconfolation to every fuch foule Vfe 71, thus farre( even fofarre as there is no bounds and limits to it) it is a marvellous fatisfaftion to a foule in temptation, nothing more then this I no wfpeak of. One would think it were a great mifery to live in horrour of confeience continually, and fo it is : but if a man be redeemed by the blood of this Lamb, then it it not terrour of confeience thitcan B b feparace

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Swof&m#»m& *** more then *°W„; aSte. tb^fwewdr^tfood, .^dcri^oo^i^ mwn.kio*holy manner.;Why will you f.yi but wUl^ptt Hive me fee fach thing, at my heel. * ^e nefcrtion. of God MmyheeleHithefavourof God to be fecat^hchrcleMl. will notJhlnder your union with your head, thyughyou h»wloathtfenfeofi?, . . ,

AH thatCbriftfuffered, Jill Midefertiqm,it did not hinder fail fellowship with the fecond perfpn in Trinity, .neither will it hinder yonrn The Serpent bruifeth our heel; m*k«i u>soheavily and lamely. Pfal43. 2, Tbo**rt tbe Goitfm Kttnitb, wfa#'!">"c• #wetff *&'»**"■»»**. *«"£

God foriakes ui, ai a nun goea that iecruflwdby an enemy, but yet it will notbreak hit head. 1 And what great confutation iatbir, icii notterrourof cohfc'ence that can feparate ■ man from Chrift: Nay I may fpeake a greater thing then that it ii not the power of yourcorruption that can4*cak •our head, though they will make you go more lamely and neavjly, yet pride and paffioni,e>c. do not fepmee union, It muft therefore raife up the heart of a Cbri8ian above bit temptation!, above eorrtiptipne, abovethe wprjd, above tU theencmiei ofhil foule* what can they all doe? If the tordbeWhhu»,whbcanbeagfinfruf ? He that delrvereduf bit wmfim to deitbfr**, bowfMllj* tut with ton freely give in til tbina f Rom. 8.31,3 »• So «b« wee are freed from all annoyance from the curfe of the Law, the rigonr of the law, free from defertion and corruption, and the Lord hathgtven ua himfelfe, and hit Son, and nil Spirit, andhli Covenant, and Kingdome, and hia Church and people, and Ordinance-, and all it youri, 1 G>r. 3.2a, 23. And how comet all to be our« 1 By the blood of the Lamb that hath purchased all good things, and the removall of all evill, therefore how comfortable may the foules of Godi people be, if they did attend to the blood of the Lamb.

And therefore let not thofe that have any part and portion in the blood of Chrift Jefut be difcouraged j let them m Godt

feare

the tbitfeehtb Gbifterpfibe Revelation.

itate more of this blood; and of the power Ana verttie of It • At you defire your live* may be more comfortable irMviceable to God and man , and your death more «.aceablt fo be much In meditation of thw blood : And if Voubedo^btfullof your fpirituall >jhitv.then mo« :ft* SMeditate of it, who hath fufcrtd, and what, and for wh«end^hehyddoVh»Hf*» «•» Uy^Il W^*"* ^S if Jli^ainot amount at length to the begetting of Faith wh re U U wanting, and to the reviving of it where km, that we m.) lSeTuiiiSly, and holily, anddye comfortably.

Bba

Retf

187

:^f ^Oj..

Rev'.-i 3. S. fetter part of theyerf.

Tfo £*<# flaine from jkefqwddtiopof fhe worUi •• ■^>y,-T:'.-:i■■•.•:i-'";:-;;v,'j..

E R EiijfoMethmg yet to be handed in this V«rir, and that it the amiq igt of Chrift.

He doth nut only rat a Limb, and

(Uughiercd, but hudeath Jidefcribfd by ifw antiquity of it, Fnm tbe be£inningofi&vbfld: Or at it it here transited (andvery fitly ^^^'the foundation of tbe worfdi though I would rot put any great)' Weight in the very nick of thejbundati for the found«ion.of the world wag laid the firft dtyjof ih« creation, when iheLord made the higheft hjtaveni, arid, the lowefi earth : - the higherVheaven, thekingdom of thf bltfled Sainta and Angela of^hoM-i Comeyee

a^^gdolne in the foundation of the v were created the firftday : hen alio, «Ifc thofe Angeli had not been in:that kjbgdome : But whether you take U for the foundation in tbeCreiiion, orinthrfaick " otthe creation, it It not greatly puterial, for the death of Chrift reached both to thefallof!^rfiiro,:andiofonie-refpeft bifore it, and the explication of that will (hew the truth thereof, and I wculd not be exquifite nor carious in opening ofic.

The Note ii this. "Dot! 1 "Ibe flaugbttr of Cbriflwti from the foundation of tbe world.

' ** So it it ftid here, tbe Lamb (that it Chrift, Ibe lamb of God) jlme from ibe foundation of tbe world : the Lamb it Chrift, evident it it that in fulnefle of time he was Slaughtered

about

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the tbirUentbCbafAr tfjbe Revelation.

^sBb&Z&A*«mm after the world wat made,but yet theholy

#ip^^"'r.aauiUy accotnplilhtdand performed n f^&e,£« ^.nAfuffenng'of.Chrifrbe.

""I*'* la refoea of <3ods eternalt purpofr, **"> *«»»the f -Fi^Jn'of the world, and before the foundation of the

Cl£?<ain<-aLmbmoHt^t, wboverilywatftre-ordWedbe.

""Si »»oS?d«HW.««d, tf» Apoffla word, world be was oraau*eu & ordained, and from

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*ffi£fi^^oSiniy:&after, butmoft probable created i« teu> or •.««.{•»/ fc.. . . , l ^ r(j

^that it the meaning of the promw • J f fa g, ,. Thirdly, Fr,tei^talr>r&ii,.t«lJ<W»'«8«'

type of this Lamb, 6e». 4.4. the Sacrifice of Abel of ChHAruffMog : now b<cauf< offering thatfi by faith, Htb.ii. 4. Arrf faith hatb ground from! of God, though there watnowritten word, yet there wit from the mouth of God to !/Wast,that taught Adbmtht*nd hit founes to offer facrificc in type of Chrift that was to be fltin, who fliould break the head of the Serpent, and therefore at a type of the bruiting of the heel $f the promifed feed which God had fetbefor* them, they were to offer facrificc, to (hadow forth that great worfcc of Chrift :4M bcleived on Chrift, howfar ctpreflyor diftinftly Ido not fodwfbui had he not bcleived, he had not facrtfeed by faith, nor had not been accepted. ^

Fourthly, ffe war Jlriae from the foundation of the world, in regard of the virtue and efficacy of his death : fromchence, the lively virtue and efficacy of the death of Chrift did expreft it fclfe from the very foundation of the world, that Abel did offer amore acceptable facrifke then Coin, it wai from hie faith j what was hit faith fattened qhj by which hit facrificc Was accepted1 (for it it faid, the Lord bad iffra to bhn,andto brnofe* ring J,it is Chrift alone, it implyctbc looked not for acccptanceby hit facrificc j it it impoffible that the blood of bula mould.-'take away finne, but hcrlpokedto.be accepted in Cfarift Jafus: fo Enoch ie faid to have walked with God, Gen. %. 44. and no man can wailke With Go ricilcd with

God, -Am6t%. 3. And inhereahf reconciliation '■ but in the blood of the Sonneof God ? Ife are reconciled to God by the death of bit Sonne, Rom. 5.10. It it faid of Abraham, that by faith be left bit country and bit fathers boule^ahdbk kjndred,^ahd pent out, not knowing whether be went, Heb. 11.8. Gen. 13, t. How comet hbrabam to be redeemed and irefcued from the blood of bit A iceftors and from hit fathers houfe ? W* art redeemed from our vaine converfation received by tradition from our fathers, not with fiher and gold, but with the preciom blood ofCbrifi, atofa lamb without bltmfband without jpot, 1 tet. 1.18,19. Which argues plainly and evidently that Abraham himfelf, if he had not been wafted in the blood of this Lamb, he could not have been faved from hankering after the blood of his

Anccftors;

m

fcaljlfthe blood of Anccftors bad been more warme inminjttetbeblbodof Chrift, he would not hare been rea«i«l?fronihi8 fathers houfe : but now in Ms old age he leVvefrt'is country and goes tofeek that feed In whom they all mould be bkflidin that country. Ic is faid in Gen. 15. tf. That be belerotd in the Lord., andit won counted to him for rigb~ tmfnrtfe: arid all jufi'.fficaiionk by faith ( faith the Apoftle) in the bhodvof CbT.fi, Kam.3. «3» H,^. ft all have finned, and are deprived of the glory of God, beingutfiifiei freelyby btt grace through the redemption that it in Cbriji fefut, &c. For all the finncs that have paffed us from the beginning of the world, the Lord'received atonement for them jn the blood of hit fonne : and our father hbrabam, if he were jollified, it wot by faith in tbefonne of God. How came it to paffe that Jofepbmtt »Mcto overcome the ftrong *nd fubtile temptations ofbja Miftrefle, in Gen. 39. o. How jball I do this great wic^dneffe, and finne againfi God t Can hemortifie a luft by any power of hisown* No, let the Apoftle anfwer it, in Gd.^9- "9 tbatare Gbrifis have crucified the ft?fb with tbepaffloMsandbtfir -, for foitis -t it is not afftftions, but all the finful paiUons that bang about thefoules of men, the Lord freea us from them all by the blood of his Sonne : So that if you fee Jofepb crucified to his luft, and Abraham weaned from hi* fathers houfe • and iuftified ; if you fee Mel offering a more acceptable facrtfice then Cain : Look at all thefe at lively fruits of the blood of the LambOaine from the beginning of title world, whenc« •Ifo fpringi their faith t heavenly mlndeftntfic, their fancttftcacion 1 theirpowerof godlineffe was ft great ( and in many thing* greater) at in thofe that ha*j lived fince bn crucifying on the crofle. , ,, Now if it had not been aeeffcami'Il and reall before hit coming, as when he did come, dae'.btleffe the efficacy othis death would have been leffc potfir.-cfull and more weak in them that lived before his corubfgj but when yjulee luctt livelineflc fpringfrom thevirtu»f and power of it j then you fee the efficacy of it from thefijndation of the world, onely the miniteftation of it was nf .>;i fo clear as afterward*, whence (i comet topaflethat thof «neraluy of Ghriftians now are,

^ajw

vi ii«rfin'LBawi.'.r^ 1 - rr

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or ought to be, more cleare and more purethcn tire gejf}iji|# ty of Christian*jthrn j but in fome men , you have1 b^|||i that exceeded thofe that lived hi Chiifts owhe tfmVy'smiift nee. - • , .■■

5. There ia a fifth refpeft in.which Chrift is laid to be flaine from the beginning of the world, and that is in refpeft of the taith of Godi eltft who lived from the beginning of the world: As fiibn as there was a man on the earth, the fameday the Lord pat emnity between the feed of the woman and the Serpent; now the fc.cd tif the woman looks I or falvatiori in the feed of the woman, and they did-even then look to the Lord Jefus the Meflias as much as we do fince. in Jcjm 8.56. lour father Abraham rejoyeed tojee my day tbe Jaw H and was glad; that was the day of the corning of Chrift into the world to be an attornment for the finries of his people : If Abraham faw it, then Enoch, liptb, Abel, and Ad*m% . and Eve; and whoever lived by Jcius Cbrift, they all faw Chrift afar off, yet they faw him notwithftanding, they faw his day, the day of his Incarnation, and Paflbn, and Refurre&ion: and it isiaid in Heb.iu 1. That faith it the fubjifience of things bofedftr, and the evidence of things notfeene} that is, it did give the Fathers before Chrift,as clearly to fee Chrift already prefent to tbem, at if he had been actually come in the fle/h, and fo it is with all the Saints at this day j' look as wedo,as really bwlitre the Refurreflion of the body, that by faith gives it fubfiftalice as verily asific wereprefent, and as we believe thefalvation of our foules, as verily as if it were accompliflied; and it it as clear, I meane, as ccrtaine as if it were already done, and in fome meafure as evident $ for fo he tilthJt it the evidence of things mt feenfrt fpeaks in the Apoftlt words, The confidence and evidence of things not feen. Hence i« comes ,1bat the fathers faw the fromifes & embraced them, but did not receive tbem, Heb. 11.39.That is, did not reccive-tbemaccompliflied (for they never faw Chrift in his death) but they were perfwaded of them, and embraced them, and did verily look for them in expectation, as if they had been pre. . fent with them j that is, if Chrift fesd been come, they would not have done nor faffered more theft they did 5 which argue •

J that

Gbarv?£; thethirteenthCbafter ofrtbt Revelation.'

»93

th^criith gives a bans and fubfiftence to what it la>es hold on • apdj makes it fo real], that we (hall neither do more, nor fBffepmbreiifitwerepreftn«jThey did believe that the time wdiuld come, when the Mefas being braifed himfelfe, he would break the Serpims head.

Thefeare the feverallrefpefts in which Chrift isfaid to be the Lamb fliine from the foundation of tbe world; In regard oftbefurpofeofGod , inregard of bit fromije, in regard of tbe ttfesofbim, in the Sacrifices that vere (badowet ofCbrijl, and did really hold him forth; in regard of tbe venue of it,. and in regard of tbe faith of Godffeople that lived from tbe beginning of tbe world i in regard ofalhbefe Cbriftwafjliinefrom tbe beginning of tbe world.

For the Rtafons of the point}

All the ways and refpefts f have fpoken to, are as fo many Retfen 1. Reafons; yet if a man mould ftand upon a Reafon , I would fitft fay this; the fiiftmay be from the eternity of that which is infinite; what ever is infinite, is eternall : Now the.value and vertue of the death of Chrift is infinite , as being tbe blood oftbefonneofGod, Afts20.48. Now that which isinfinite, as well reacheth that which is before, as after it ; infinite it is, or cite it cannot be eternall: and infinite it had need to be, or elfe the jpfinite wrath of God could not be fatisfied thereby ;but being infinite, it wasof eternall efficacy, and thersfore he was a Lamb Gain, and pine front tbe foundation of the world: So that all that are eleft were in Chrift before the foundation of the world. Epbef. 1.4. Hee batb cbofen us in Cbriftbefore the foundation of the world; in Chrift, and in Ghrift crucified before the foundation of the world j for being of infinite value, itmuftofneceflnybeeternalt; there is nothing infinite, but is eternall, they are co-incident j that which is finite will end, it began in time, and will end in time: But that which is infinite muft needs have refpecY to eternity j and therefore faith our Saviour, JobnV.tf. Before Abraham !»>#Idm.*SothattakehirnwhethrrasGod, or in point of the vertue and efficacy of his mediation , he was before Abraham ; it cculd not be eternall, if it be not infinite ; and ilit b» infinite, it muft need; be eternal.

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Rtgfon a Fromtheprefenceofall future things to Chrift, I fpeak J id p roper fpWch, U ia truly (aid, there is nothing future to

Ghrift: terorirVne the point is unconceivable tofinite capacities, but to God all things to come are prefent, at if they were in aduall being : Jtt things are nahpdandepen unto the eyes of bim with whom v* have fvdoe, Heb.4.13. lib an ancient fpeech, Eternity is like a circumference about a Center that eompaffeth it round about, that if you fit on the Center, you fee all the lilies: Suppofe a great tower at high ai the cloudi, and one fitting thereupon, he feeione man coming this way, and another another way, he feet they will meet in one place; they know nothing of its it it future to them, but prefent to him : So the Lord that fits upon the clouds of eternity ("if! may ufefucha word) he fees all things as if ihty were prefent to him: and certaine it is, God is not one day older then he was from the beginning} the Angels arc older, and Satan, but God is not older, nor is capable of being older) time addes nothing to him , his eternity fwallows upall; that which hath been, ii,and (ball be, it is Irefli ftill to himj that which is paff, and that which is to come, whence it is laid, Before Abraham was I am, he doth not fay I was j but his paft time is not loft to him, no time is paft with God j Be/ore Abraham wot lam: a tbeuftni yearei are but atyefierddy j when it is paft, all are one time to God; P/uZ. 90.4. So then, if you look at Gods account of things that hath enwed into fuch a Covenant from eternity, hath written fo many in the book of life to be brought on to God by the deatb,and refurrecVion,and afcentlon of Ghrift, he knew the perfon of die God-hud woold certainly take the humane nature of Chrift; it was prefent to him, and therefore bee doth fo eleft, and govern, and difpofe of creatures as he that had received a ranfome before the world began: And therefore ElibuhU fpeech is weighty, in Jib 33; 33. That if an interpreter, one of a tboufaiidtme to tpeke man, andfbewtoa man bit rigbteoufnefe, and that then God it graciom to him, and faith, deliver him, for 1 have found a ranfome ( to wit, in the blood of the Lamb) then will he fay, deliver ban: What, had he received a ranfome in Jobs time ? Job lived before Abraham f truly

then

Chap. 13. tbe thirteenth Chaper of the Revelation. • 195^

then hehath a ranfome 9 as a man huh a bond from a good ftirety: but fo it was in his apprehenfion, not only becaufe Chrift was a good AiKty, and woutd make good payment ip time, but the thing was as prefent with God, and really performed j All times with God are but as now, paft, prtfent, and to.come} all times with God are one and the fame, MwCbriftyefterday, andfday% «wo>r ewer j Ytfterday before the Law, and to day, both under the Law, and efpecully under the Gofpel, end for ever the fame, of the fame vertue and efficacy, and power: So you fee the truth of the Point.

The ufe is (hortly thus much.

Firft, it (hews you the dangerous and damnable ettateot Vfe f. the world from the foundation of the world} the deep depravation and corruption of the wotld from the foundation of it; itisfaiJ by John, 1 John 5.1?. We tao* mareofGoi, andall the worldlyes in wckfdneffe: Did it lye fo in Jobm1 time, ■When all the great Nations of the world worQupped the Deviti, Apollo, Htrcules, and Jupiter , and fuch dunghill gods;? Did it not then lye in wickedneffe ? Truly it was fo fince the world began, it was never better from Abraham to Aft As, from Mofes to Chrifts time, and from Chrift* time to this, Ibewhokworld lyes mwickednefle; for otherwifeto what end mould Ghrift bedajntrom the foundation of the world, iftherewerenoneedofaRedeemer, elfe there had been no need of hu facrificing from the foundation of the world There were all errors in the world, not as God made it, but Uiey fuddenly corrupted themftlves. Man bei^ in honour abiletb not, but is like the beofitbat ptrfietb , PfaU9;«o. The wordintheOriginal ■utbtpaUmtJhtf«lJ*>n9rlo^m a» meaning thai heeftall not "keonenightsreft, but ^become likeabeaft, andclad withthesktn of a beaft: Soth.si. he condition of dvill men that are like bruit beaftsfrom the foundation of the world: The Urd looked down from heaven aZhbeldtbecbildrencfmen: And the Apoftle interprets it of .11 men • He looked dome and kbM all the children of men, to fee S rtE ™^l*5w underftmd andfeeKeGod:7bey areaU Le aftde, tbej are all become filthy, &c. Pfal. '4a.3>4,Sfhisiithecafeofall men by nature. The Apoftle .xpuur.d. C c 2 u

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Ghjp.iji AaExftipKnufm

Vcrftt

it ot all, Jems and Gentiles by nature, in Rom. 3. 10; to rt. And in Gen. 6.5. The Lord ho^du^on the earth, and bebild it WMCortttpt. And in Gen. u.,i>. 12. Tfce earifc alfowai corrupt before God, kc. And Godfaw that all the imaginations of mans heart were ivill, cnely tvill,and that continually. The word f.,anllircd, Imatfnitions, in the Onginall is, The frame and b'.niofbisibougbttittvil!, andonely mil, and that continually $ bent 10 back-fliding from God, not a good thought in any man j h?art fince the world began ; take Him as hee is by nature, not a good thought riftth in any roam heart , riot; a go( d word from his lips, nor a good action from his hand* 5 Tike bimtv'uhout the venue of Chrift fince the world beg;n , there never rofe a good thought in all mens hearts j if there did, it was by the vertue of this.Lamb of God that was (hine from the foundation of the world. The heart of man, ( JeremUb complained long before Chrifti time ) it deceit full ahvetneafitre, and defperately wicked, who can kpowit, Jer. 17. 9. Who can kflow the bottomlefe dtftb of it. This is the very flate of all the world fince the world began; the whole frame andftate of the world is enmity agairift God, Rom. 8 7. h is nocfubjcAtotbe lawofGod, neither indeed can be, and that iniuch a deep meafure, youmay fee by the medicine that the Lord prepares for it'; it (hews thedepth of thedepravation of the world from she beginning, it hath been corrupt and incurable, unleffe it wereby the vertueofthe death of Chrifl, bythefonneofGodmademan, taking upon him mans nature ; and the grearnefle and infinitenefle of the vertue of this remedie doth evidently argue the bottomlefle depth of the corruption of the world fince the world began: No man would befpeak a Smiths great hammer to break an epg-ftell a man would thiuk it a, marvellous vanity if he mould. Truly the Lord hath prepared the ftrongeftiron hammer to break the Serpents head 5 and which is wonderful!, this iron hammer, iheLord Jems, that breaks all bifore it; Theflonecuc oucofthemountaine , that breaks the iron mountaineof Rome, Dan. 2.34. Ic is the fame it was: it makes men many times wonder bow they came to be well conceited of the old Religion, when Antichrifl re.gned 3 then were golden dayes

Cm

the tbirteentbChafte^ftbe^i^^

•'97

,

■S^lTT ^naTXiaCwoufdhaveperfwaded thec^d world, then an«U ^ fromlhe begin

themalh butto whatcnaw wickedneffe ? if U

.ningoftheworld , if t w »" nu&wtac

-were not fo tough th« this IhammirOI , h,ldren to

.to brtektt in piece, ? Um« ™£gtoWt fo abundantly Parehts,fervantstoMifte .andyoje J ^ be

*n fwectneffe and aroiablcnelle, wnat n

i, the caufe that the former days were a q,lcftioni

foVtheMch^

were better;it»true, u u p>u M there

*an may grow worft., Bjc tt* <«<" ^ ^ •

not been a tambll.in to r«ca"' • f e 4geg when

^it,nofle(hhadbeenfaved. ^ewl,Tome difference. U the GofBel found free paffage, the e w ^ for

have more exceeded, when tne u ^ kn£W

off from fplriw-l- ««"» S^ ffl£ iln., or cord of •hehadtbmfaft m " BoW"'™.^\°el€d the prlfoners morall vertues,( fo I ma*' c* ^ TI. Srong man armed

kept thehoufe aH theumeot tn delivered it wa8 by

«hv longbeforeOrift :»nd « any w

W-ftfh'^^S fnd to«tta» Iron, th.«

mm—lf»*"sm!'**^*

ijS

Chapw 13.

4» kxfcfitkn mm

Ver£*.

Monarch of Per/fii «m but filvtr fetters j and the braffc Monarch of Greece it was but brazen fetters.

It is true, phen Religion brake forth, then bee put upon them morechainra, ftrong heafHy lulls, mn with men com■ mittiHifiltbintjfe, Rom. 1. it tuefe were iron chains to ca* ry men captive to Satan 1 He fees Learning break forth, and thereforebe layes flronger chains and bands upon them : Be . mmorefUffe-mckfdt kfiymrbandstmeoje, ftilbtbeLord: and . fo from golden bands you have filver,and from filver, braffe, and frombrane, iron, and all to lead you captive to your Ian execution : And what is the difference? if a manbepynion'd with a golden cord, or a filter, or a brazen and iron cord, the one is more glittering then the other, but all bring to deftru&ion: Therefore look al all the world living in wickedoefle fince the world began,, or elfe in vain was the Lamb flain:Tbc very frame of mans tranfgreffiou brought in a necclfity of a like remedy, and therefore a like need of the blood of Gnrift.

And it is a vain Queftion, at Solomon faith, why the former timet mould bebetter then thefe t fo it is a vain apprehenfi. on that men haveof themfdves as good, to fay, i thank God .1 have a good heart, and you (hall ftnde me tractable, and reafonable, (though they be but naturell) and fo their children are very tradable, jrou may lead them with a twinde theerd, and need not u(e violence, you may foon break them 3 what then are you but eggfhels ? what need then a iron hammer to crufh all the power of the enemy f do not you and your children Aand in need of the virtue of the blood of the Lamb as much as others have fince the world began > That men have flood in need of the blood of the Lamb from the foundation of the world to refcue them from the power of the ftrongman, if they were fo tradable, young or old? I know there ii a great difference bet ween fpirits. God forbid we (hould defame the work of God in nature, bat take the beft fpirir, there is unconceivable enmity in the beft natur'd man againft Chriftj there is an in-bred enmity againft him ever fince die world began, as is impoflibJe to be healed, but by the blood of Chrift j thrift came tocrulbthem whiles they are in the (hell, and

unlefle

Clap, 13. tbe tbhtetmbdnfttroftbe Revelation,

199

ualcfle he heal them, verily children of a fpan long cannot be Caved : Therefore let no man flatter themfelves in their eood inclination; there is that in us fince the,world began, thatCbriftmuftbebrokenandcruwedtobreaktheleaguebetweenusandtheDevill : Chrift hirofelfe in bis fonle and body muff be ftriktn, he kill bimfelfe by the ftroke he gives to

Folly is" bound up in tbe heart of a child, and it is not eoodneffe of nature, or what ever elfe you cani-talkit of, tbat will root it out $ nor the rod of correabn, unlefle the blood of the Lamb be fprinkled upon it, and then ic may be of great „fe and any other ordinance to bring them to the wayes of Chrift Jefut. Now if this were well ftamped and revetted into the fpirits of men, it would bumble proud fUft, and not onely take them off from the free will of Popery, and Arrmnianifme, and a pack of fuch 5 but I hope there is leffe need of foeaking againft fuch berefcs, but to fetithome upon our own hearts} whatever our fathers have been, we their children are not better : Some accidental difference there may be butfetting afide fuch accidental differences forthefubna'nce of prevailing corruptions, they have ruled and reigned fothe hearts ofmen, fincetheworld began, by invincible oo-er unable to be fubdued, but onely by the blood of the Cmb • And therefore you tbat are children of godly Parents. hear thU word and know it; youbring fuch engagements iato the world with you to the ftrong man, and now •kTo en«Red, that anleffe Chrift be broken for you, and his death fuleredforyou, and his blood ftedforyouj you fee how it U with younger and elder people, and let all Parents «11 it to their children, and Matters to their fervantt, and all Sat have to do with the world j be not deluded with a good •ftftion to your own nature you are in,this is the ftate of all tmeTthc world began; they are all fprauling in wicbdnefle, andthere is fuch a league between the Devil and them, that unlefle the Lamb be flaughtered, we cannot be fayed.

cj' ndlT, Let all the fonnes of nature, and all other fons vrf a>: ofTrace know, that if Chrift was Qmghtered from the begufning of the world, and onely to break the Serpents head^

"j?ywp**.»W--v| *' v *u

200 Chap. 19

AfcE?efofiti$b>uptn

Ver(.Si

Vfcl.

which had plotted our tltftruaion from the foundation of the world,. then certainly it is not poffiale wjefoould hw uv thofe finots by which we hate ftmghiercd Chrut 5, can any nun thatknowsthedifference b«,«enthe/right band and left, commit Gnne that daughters Cirift Jefas,.and lure and die in it well enough? and think with himlelfc, that notwiibftinding the lewd lulls that hurry me, 1(bill do well cnouabwuhtt * anoathisnot fucb a great matter, or, to fie tippling till we.be drunk, or gaining too much in bargains, it ii no fucb great matter :■ I tell thee, if it be breach of the law of God, thou canft not live in it 5 Chrift himfelfe could not,itcoft his breaking. " ,

I fpeak nothing to.the difference between mortall and veniall fins; wai it a vuriall fin, think ye, that daughtered the Son of God > they have been breaking him fince the world began; and ii it poffibfe that if he lye a bleeding for fin, ii itpoflible that thiror that iimie (hould be ven'ull and ought to be palled over r be not deceived, look what daughter it, hath brought of thecbiefeft of the world, even the Gdd of the world, kfliughtered aim; and there are none of all hi* people that (ball be faved by him, but muft be aiughtercdin hitluflaand paffions,they muft be crucified with Chriffilftbey have any part in him; he was flatne from the beginning* and • ibfromfirfltolafli they muft be crucified from the power of fmnej or clfe they cannot bs faved. And therefore let no man bleffe himfelf, and think he Gull do well enough though he continue in£n; for the truth is, there u no fin but coft Ghriftsbreakingandcrumingi and cither, thou mnfrlay hold or bis death, andbe conformable unto htm, or elfeth0umal« never have part in him; it is tough work io fliughtcr fin; lee this daughter of Chrift cue offall out-running* of finne, whether in thoughts, words, and deeds; let it be as a Oiughtcring knife to all our lufts, confidering there is no taking leave j« this and that; for the truthis, it coft the very blood

of Chrift. ,'■„■,.. .«.

Thirdly, It may teach as the unity of our Religion with the Religion of th= ancient Patriarks fii.ee the world began; how did they Jook to be faved > In AffMj . 11. they all looked

Chap. 13. the thirteenth Chapter oftbe Revelation.

2o 1

k«dto be laved by grace, and by the blood of the Lord Jeius, at we dot in doing *nd fuffering all for them , and we know jjO other way : There is no namt under heavenwhereby vee ftiuft be faved, but oncly ihe name of Chrift, and by that >.vc are laved from the guilt and filthof finne, and fupplycd wiih grace to conforms us to Ghriil jefut, and to make us like to bim our head and husband; there is the old way of l'alvation, and it is the fame now 5 there is unity and true antiquity. The Papifts fpeak much of antiquities, but let them bring no other way ot falvation but the blood of the Lamb,, and we will took at them as Churches for point of falvation; we will grant them the right hand of fellowship if they will look for no falvation neither from free will, nor from merits of their own, nor from theinteraflionof Saints and Angells, nor from difpenfations of the Pope, nor from the going on pilgrimage, nor from the fatisfaftion of Saints, but that they look for (alvation onely from the blood of the Lamb; truly we will give them the right hand of fellowmip ; let them bavcerrours, there may be many erfourg oth'erwife : but let them hold there, and look for all falvation there, and reft not upon any other hope* of falvation, but what they receive from the blood of the Lamb by faith in him ( for fo alone ie is received ) faith in the blood of the Lamb, breeds and (hedt abroad every grace in fome meafure and mskes fruitfull. N» manhatbv>afbtdbis nabs inthe bloodoftbe Ltmb. but it fit torcalk^ With Cbrifi in white to jufUficatitn, tohii /jrt&/?c«/ion, Rtv. 7.14. And fo you (hall have a true and perfccVagreement in Religion, if that we agreed upon looking there for falvation, and put not falvation eUc-where : but when men msgnirie nature, and pinch upon, and txrenuate tin blood of Ctirift, and in their deep devotion you (hall have piAured, here h the blood of Chrift, and the blood of the fonne of the Virgin ; when he looks upon the fonne of the Virgin, he thinks there is per!;& falvation; bat when he looks upon other things, to the milk of bis mother ; oh there is more fweetm (Is in milk then in blood ! when he lo jks againe to the paffion of Chrift, thtn hi prifeth that j but when he look? to the tendcrncfle of hii nij her, hce thinkej there is more in that : And thus D d doih

PfpWWPfWHWBPP

20, Chap. 13.

V/«4

An Expofiiimufcan

Verf.8.

doih thtlr blafphemous devotion hang between the milk of the mother, and the blood of the Limb, w hich arguta their religion is tranfported to a notion of the blood or the Lamb, and they are captive hither and thither, and any whether, rather then to the blood of Chrift.

Fourthly , It may be of inilrucVion to u«, that never any evillcati befall us, but there ha remedy prepared before it come upon us : the Lamb vas pine jromtbe beginning of the

fporld*

Though we lived before Chrifls time, and much more, if after it: there is no rinnc that Adam nor his wit* committed, but there was a remedy prepared fur it before the foundation of the world; it was of infinite value, it was provided from eternity, andpromifed from the foundation of the world; it was fhadowed in types, and exhibited in iundry reprefentations, and in the lively tfficacy of it in the hearts and lives of his people fince the world began : All that we read of Woab, Abraham; Ifaac, and Jacob, of D«iM,and Solomon, of Kings, Prhfts, and Prophets, andApoflles, what have they all bun, but lively reprefentations and foot-fteps of the power of the blood of the Lamb : the Lord provided hisfhughier of the Lamb, for the redemption of all his people, out ot the world, before the world began.

It is many a conceit that Chriftiani tave} this and that might have fallen out better, if fuch means had been taken in time, fuch a mans life had been laved; according as Marlbi faidunto our bleffcd Saviour in John 11. ai. Lordiftbou badfl been here, my brother bad not dyed; why fo r Chrift had been able to heal him -, By what virtue (hall he raife a man from death to life > Is it not by the virtue of his death and refurreaion ? If it be, was not his death and refur«aion before^ the world began ? For it is of infinite value ; and therefore though he came four daye« after Lazam death was paft, yet he came timely enough, for he brought virtue with him 5 and fo let no man fay, ill had known as much now as before, I fliould not have done thus: By whit virtue ffcould you have been preferved? if there beany faving benefit, itmuft be by the blood of the Lamb, for it is from that, that we look for

all

the thirteenth Chafer of the Revelation.

203

riT^uTTedemption from all amnions and temptations from .

SbtocSS there was remedy enough before, but tcwa,

■not applied, btcaufe God hath feme other work more hea

tnent ofoui hearts defire, then the repairing of our loflci and

^henthisi. of fpedall ufe to us, that if his blood be (hed

ftS.'SSiJtelaSofUie-orld, then *eremtdy "never

Tute. If'we thinke if we had not known many things, we

^JSmfc^orldof forrow: whydld we not was

teSsSsSJS

Goatorbia,Duit»*«-v would hate us more

^Z2*^V™&Mto» and more weaned from the "°"°» » ' m0re conforma

notofvalue 4000.y are1 aitew > . bt

fince his coming, but 1600. andtome10 fWaded that the «~J5f Gbf »• JinwJ^^oaaM movcallHnneand croflei, and to leave a 6™°™ lthouB

tionsandtemptatons, t^ty "" £?«> If all the powert of refill fuch temptation,, why not able l" a Uhe P hell come againft you, yealyjAe*^^J^ uPhoUfand longago ^X^S&Zw,*™* ^ey

•»ath^™««J™^lh"^^.rd my proptacyW {t ?1[aU-1,ti7^oaAi2LV,. of I

plcafe not God; wn> oo y ^ rneanee

^^^^

•■^F!

?04

Qi.f. 13. An ExpofiiioH upon

Vcrt.8

meants whereby iic mould plc-ae God. En.cb waited with Gcd, buc 1 fhail nevsr keep luch Ml-oulhip wiiti binj; he'was reconciled to God, and i\mh was no meatus of rta.nciUali-.jnb-jttiyiheblobiiofthcLm.b, it is able 10 pi»tmc»-gdi jr.rot'iibit faith. Abraham h-ifcridok his Cuimucy and bis Fitheishoufe, ondy bicauie tuc koludut itu blood tithe Limb : jnd ii be previihd <»^r, why not vvc > if he was fully fajkfrd in the pardon of his finnc by believing him that had promiftd, whit ailes it that his dtaih if not of infinite value finer as veil as bifore ? U Jofepb was able to wuhft&nd his waimn Miiinflc, doubtlsis there it iht like power now ; how fhall I crucUie the Sonne cf Gcd, and put him to open flume ? Thus poor Chrifiians work upon this infinite venue, and lively power of the death of Chrift j ic woiideifully calmts and purifies the heart, it mightily (lengthens againft all corruption -. and whatever rifethin the hearts of Gods people that prevailei agair.ft them, it it beeaufc the blood of the Lamb is not applytd, otherwife it could not be they fhould be dead-hearted and blind, fpiriud, and many tiroes atalofle in this and thatprafiice, and wreftl in? with this and that temptation, it fprings only from want of applying the tfficacy of this blood which hath been of fuch infinite ?c true fronuhc beginning of the world.

Rev.

Ch»p. 13. the thirteenth Chaffer of the Revelation.

Rev. 13.9,10.

jf any mm have an eare let hint heart..

HeihttUadvthintocapivityfiallgowtQ ctptrvtj: Hee thti kilLlb with thejword mrtji be killed with the [word, ben is the fdtiaice and the faith of the Samis*

?«*£ F m man have metre, let him heare: What (hou'd

* he heare > For when he doth oit'en u(e this phrafe

in the fe'eondand third Chapter, he tells you

what they fhall heare": Heare what the Spirit faith

unto the Churches. .

Now he doth not put in that objtft of hearing j but yet taking his meaning, he tneanes that which the Spirit bath fayd unto you in the former defection of the Beafl ,-efpecully that which he did to them in the words before going, to wir, theuniverfalityofthewotlhippersoftheBeaft , and the certain dtftruaton of tfiofe that do worfhip him, and the prefervation of the eled children of God from that contagion.

It is meet to be heard that fuch a Beaft would come into the world as the Roman vifible Church, and that he hath in bimtherefemblanceof all the old Empires, of the Lyon of ftfcJI, oftheBeareofP,^, of the Leopard of Greece, and oforh r Beaft*, and ot that other Beaft the old Roman Paean Empire : And it is not unworthy to beheard,the wound fhatBd begiven gim by the Gttbs and ftnMi, and the limecfhiaptcacnrffeT and that thofe that worlh.p him fhall not be faved , only Reprobates (ball worfhip bin. : And thofe MimesIre vrlnnin the bo^ of life, they (hall either L be worfhippers of him, ( but beare m.mfie aga.nft him ) or If Kv toft be refcud from it, and not ive and dyem "hat woiftip. So thefe two verfe, are Corolaries, or 0£,

305

PPFW

^OTi

306

Chap. 13.

PW»p»W^^^»^»»HW

i#n Expofttion upon

«B"j,"'»! •..»■; y-S.*f-J.'!J''VT^"l

Verf.9.

which the holy Ghoft makes (in the former verfes) of the -dcYcription ofthe B«fe , , .-_.

The firft is * word of attention, and due confideration to every intelligent reader of this Prophecy : If any manbave an tare, let bimbcare.

The fecond it a word of confolation to all the Church and people of God, and that is double. •

1. From the violent deftruftioaofthh great Beaft, adoublcdeftruftion.

1. Captivity.

2. Slaughter; and both amplified by the equity of both, the Lord rendering the like vengeance unto this 8cafi, which hath rendered unto the Saints: Hte that leadetb into captivity fiat got into captivity. Andagaine, Hte that kjtietb wnb the {word ( n this Beaft had done by his Warr, iome millions of Saints) muff be kiltedwitb thefmrj.

The fecond Confolation is a word of acknowledgment of the Patience, and Faith of the Saints that have, or mail fuffei" from this Bcaft: Here k tbe patience and the faitb of the Saints i not only of the Saints acknowledged as Sufferers in the time tff the Pagan, Roman Empire, but even fuch as fun% under hit Holineffe ( as they call it) and that fuffer under this Caiholicfc vlfible Church : Thefe fufferings arc here acknowledged for witneffe bearing, agair.ft the Herefiet, Idolatrici, and Tyrannies of that State. The Lord doth acknowltdge their Sufferings to be the patience and faith of the Saints: As he did acknowledg is when the Saints were put to death in the tenne Perfections, To likewife doth he acknowledge thefe. And »his is Come part of the meaning of the words: That which more concerneth it may be further opened in handling the notes that arile from them. If any man btve an tart to bene. "]

That it, an intelligent, undemanding eare: If any man be taught of God to hear; if any man have learned of the Father to hearc 5 if any man have a fpirituall understanding ( for that is the meaning of it) let him beare what God hath fayd: For it was a great word hee faid, that all the Reprobatet in Chriflendome ftould worfliip thit great Beaft, and

none

Chap. 13. thethirteenth Chapter of tbe Revelation.

107

none of all the Saints of God (houlddoit. Thi» none can hcare, but thofe tfut have eares given them to heare.

The note arifing firft from thence is this:

It is a point worthy of due and deep Attention andConlideration, and yet fuch a. none but intelligent Chrimani f taught of God ) will or can underftand > that a Roman dtbolickebyhit Religion cannot goe beyond a Reprobate: and that an Met! child of God cbhoi live and dye a Roman Catholic^.. ^

This is the fumnw and true meaning of ihe words . c«e

two points were thefum of the former verfe.; which the holy

Ghoft had delivered with much evidence and ftrength $ and

«t left it fhould b. (lighted over by fome careleffe Readers,

n do h therefore fctifon a. he i, wont to do the weight, ft

matters that concern a State: If any man have ^earekthm

Zart: U he have the eare of aChriftian, that difcernei the

vlcto ChrifttheShepheardofbisfoule, let him hea- ,

and mind it well, worthy it is therefore of due and deep at

«ntSn, ndhedoth never ufethe phrafebut in matter.of

fi^XWortance^nditdothimply .^"^"^^

not <n eare to beare, but only thofe to whore.God hath gi

ven ea «. What flail they heare f They (hall heare this,

hat none of all tbe devout Catbolich have tbeir nmes wntw5

tbeLamb,L\eoflife3 but their dtvout worfh.p m theemi

will leave them in no b«ter*ftate then a reprobate date. If

C»»o further then their Religion, it lead, them.o.the

2ftip of this Catholick Church, but never lead, them

further then a reprobate condition : But for fuch, vboje

[^arelritttnintbe Lawbook;, he, excepts them from

this generality of worfhip, theyare notofth snUT,ber . it

doK fly hold forth, 7bat afinctre hearted anflt* , «»

Cbk, nd the fruits of b* EUmonareexpr 4f «^M thlandSanmfication, be cannot live and d)e a Romtn C-ifcotelj He may for . time worfhlp theBcaft i« his ignorance, and SoaTtL reft of the world do, and (hew no «*«"« tweenhimfejfeandthercftoftheworld : but wb«i*ueleSlovTofGoddothmedxtfelfeabroad into his heart, it Smakehimfeethecounfcll ofGodmore , and u doth

Veil. I.

208

■"JffiipPVVVHWVy

Verf; 9,

Jhap. 13- - Xii Ekfcfition Vptn

"diicoverihedcluOonspfchciiittt'ofSinne, thai he cannot, nordatenotworlhiphim: He f«th that God require, more to SaIvjiio.., then the fubjeftionunto the injunftiona of this Beaftof Reme, And this .is the point which the Holy Ghoft cclli you is of fo great, and neceflary, and due attention and confederation, which none but undemanding caret can. or will undetftand, but all the world will ruB admiring after the Beift. .

The Lord did forefee that Doanne would be thought* harfti, and peremptory, and fenforious fentence, that mortall men, and they fomeiimesbut an handfull too, fljoeild dare :o bid defiance to the whole Gatholick Church to looke at them as Reprobate*: and to look at thofe whom they condemn for Hereticks, as the cleft fervancs of God.

This the Holy Gbofl did fee would be accounted great arrogance , and almoft fcurri'.ity , and therefore the Holy Ghoft doth put it on with a watch-word, Let him that bath m earebeare : And he puts it on with ftrengm, that all Chnftendome (bould woruiip thr Bead, and yet none mould wotftip him wbofe names Were written in the Lambs book? of life.

It might be of lingular ule in fome places, nor here of fo much: Yet it being a part of the counfell of God , I may not lightly pane it over, becaufe we know not what times may come, nor whether fome of ui may have occafion to travel!, it is meet therefore that Chriftians mould know fomething ofif, more britfly, and plainly. .

If you (hould defire any further teftimony to confirm it, conlider what the Holy Ghoft lakh, in Rtv 11.2. where he tels you oi the Court that is without the Temple: Meafure it not ( faith he ) for it h given tothe Gentiles and to the holy City, they (ball tread under foot forty and two monetbs. Where you (hall fceiluthefpcaksofthefameperfons, and of the fame diftanceoftime : H^e would have a Temple of Qjd meahW, even in the darfcft times of Popery: But for theCourt («'ludingtotbe outward Court of Solomons Temple where 11 the people camein) do not meafure that: Look at them 8 not capable ofmeafuring by ihe rule of the word of Gorf, count ihem as eiv<n to the Generics ;- And the holy City fhall

fa)

Chap. 13. the thirteenth Chapter of the Revelation.

209

tbty trtai under foot forty and two mondbs, the fame time that here the Btaft is to rule: Now Gentiles are accounted without Gbrifl, andvhboutGodintkeworld, Ephef. 2.12. Heroeaneg Pagan,Gentiles, norChriilian Gentiles, for fuch are we. And in Rtv. 11.8. 7he dead bodies of tbe witnejfes, they fiaB lye in the flu et of the great City; and he doth account it Ipiricually Sodome and JEj>}0t: Sodme for lewedneflt, and beaftly lulls: zndJEtfpt torbiibitous and bale idolatry, and oppnflion of Gods people ; This is the efteem the holy Ghoft hath of him. And in Rtv. 17.5. H« calls her a great whore, and tbt mother of harlots: And the Text is play n, and holds forth this duftiiiic playm-ly, and the Holy Ghoft would have all the Chu.ches of Chrift to know it, That none do wor(hiP this Roman CaMicke Church (that is, are reconciled to ir, and give up tbemlelvts to the fidelity of it) that git beyond tbe /rate of a Reprobate t And all the Churches of God cannot do thus, andtberefore cannot live and dye Roman Catbolickj.

Let me name you Tome popular teafons: I will not make any fubtile difcourfe of it, though it would require ftrong Judgement, and finewei of Reafon : but take popular Reasons, and yet fuch at will bear fome waite.

The firftis frora their want of Chrift Jefui, in whom all Rmjm *' our life and falvation is laid up. He that bath not tbe Sonne, bath not life ; it is a plaine and peremptory principle of the Gofpell, 1 John 5.1 a. No Cbrifi, no falvation. there it ho other name under heaven given among men, whereby we muflbe ftved, A&4..12. Now thi» Roman Cathoiick Church, and they that worlbip the fame, they have not Chrift : How proove you that t For Chrift ia not had, nor received, but by faith in the Gofpell, in a free promife of Grace unto the foulc hi many at rtceived torn, to them gave be power, to become tbe founts of Godt even to them that bdmi on bis name, John 1. 1 a. Cbvfk dwelt in our hearts by Faub, Ephtf. 3.17. The faith therefore by which we receive Chrift whether have they that faith or no, let themfelvei be Judge? They do profefle that the Gatholick Faith i» no more but a perfwafion of the truth of all the doftrines of the GofptU, and of the whole word of God: but for a particular application of Chrift unto the foule, they E c do

2io Chip. 13.

An Expiftlim upon '

Verf.p.

do not acknowledge it as (hat which is the means of receiving of Chrift. S>thatthe Fiitfi which thty do in thii cafe hold forth, is in very truth no other, but that which James faith oF ».ht iiith ot D vi|.» $ rhtv havr received js much, yum?/ 2. 19. Thou btleivift that ib*t it one Gsd, iboudo'ftweU, the DcViti alfo hek.v.i and tremble. A Roman Catholick bcltivci the whole duftrine of the world ; Hs dors well; the D:vilsknowas much, andbeleiveas muchaithsy do, yet no man will fay that 1 he Devils fairh receives Chrift. Now where there is no Chrift, (here is no falvation. Where there it no Faith, there is no Chrift : And where there is no Faith b^t that which th>. Devils miy reach unto, there is no true Faith at all.

It would becndleffeto run into all theobjeftions that they nuke : but lee any thir know Fiith aright, judge whether the Faith of. theirs is fueh a FaiihVhereby a m,an Cin receive ^heLordJefus.

Reafon 2. Secondly, WithontGracethereisnofalvstion. For faith the Apoftle, By Grace are ye faveJ through Faitb, and that riot of

f'';: your (elves, it k the gift of God. Not of worket, leaflany man

(bouldbeafl, Rpb. 2.8,9. If therefore the Roman Cuholicke. jTay that they are faved by workes, and they fay (o, if we take workes in the worft tenour of workes, that is bj the merit of vorki : The Apoftle faith, Nitofworki, baftany man fboutd haft, indfay, tfcdf be bath wrought bit own falviiim, : And the Apoftlewl»you, lfitbeofworkjiitisnotofGrace3Roin.i\.6, For works cannot be joyned with grace in the merit of falvation ; they are ondy the way of falvation. And in that fence it isfaid, Worke out your falvation with fear and trembling : For it it God that workeib in you both to will and to do, of bit goodpleafure} Phil. a. 12,13. Butifa man look for falvation out of the merit of works, he hath it not frotH grace. P-ipifts reply, they have it from works and gra« alfo; for thty have it not from works of nature, bur from works of grace, and they are net oppofire, but fubordinate. But what faith the Apoftle? He faiih, workes and grace are not fubordinate, butoppo/tie one to another : and if it be of grace, it if not of works' •' and if, ofworkfs, then not of grace. And the Apoftle tels you, Gal. 5. 4. If ye be jufiified by the worlds oftbe Law, you are fallen from

grace $

Chap. 13. tbe thirteenth Chapter oftbe Revelation.

erace • you have no part nor portion of the grace oi Chrift: And therefore they are fallen from grace 5 and if from Grace, thenttomfalvition.

Tluie are principles of P,v!igion5 and he that hath any underftanding to hear what the holy Ghoft faith in this calr, may talily p^ceive the truth of what we: fpeak. In very SShyou will findethataUwhich they hold, is butinatewroftbe Covenant of works. Theirehftton the, hold is from works and faith forefeen : Some of them indeed are atfraid of it, as the Vominmm ; but the moft prevailing are thofe that think Gods eleaing love, is but out of faith and wo.kaforef.en. They look a. the grace oeffeftuall calling to be founded upon the good inclination of a mans will, and co-operation of it with the grace of God, calling. They orofeffe that Simon Feter had no more grace given him then EWtobecomeachriftian. And what cut the fcantHngTtweentheone, and themothers Pderhad receivedi fo much grace, that if he would, he might be faved: and fo they S sS Hm did receive the fame, but God did not bow

asSeymightbeleiveiftheywould. How come. ,t then, that SiWlSrfdUbUelw, and wa. faved? and Simon M<g«d«d not belcive (with a lively faith) and was damned ? They vvdlconteffe it really (the body of them) that it did form, from ^ters will; he'did out of the f reenefle of h,s will choc-lb it This is vocation from the working of a mans will : whereas the Covenan t of Grace doth conf efle, that it is not of our will, but of the Lords, that takes away our ftrong hearr, and gives us a foh heart before any preparation.

JuWion they look for none, bat by work. : norpcrfcverarxeinafUteof grace butby their work. : ^verlaftn* falvation, from the merit of their works : And this « be very doftrine of a Covenant of works And this i.ai he define of the Aminim, : one y they do acknowledge jurtifiction by faith, and differ in point of Faith, and the me

"^S^eafonmaybeihii : The u-oijWpof creatures is

. eoing a whoring from God, and fo of deftruaion unto fnch

B Ee a "

Reafon 3.

wtmmmmmmm

312

Chap. 15. An Exposition upon

iM-iipj^(iw,iiia

Vtrf. $,.

a« go a whoring trom the Lord in (hit way. All worlhip of creacurei .vidi divine worfhipis called going a whoring from G< >ii, Hof. 4.12. "Ibey have gone t vboring from wider their God ; foin Pfal.jyij. Thou baft deftroyedall tbtm that go a whoring from ibee, And (he Church ct Rome is known to go a whoring after the worfhip of Saints, and Angels, and Images, and this great B:aft mentioned in the Ttxr, and the Pope the head of it. They place their falvation in beleiring as the Catholick Church beleives : They place their falvation in reconcilcmtnc to the Catholick Church}and arc more folicitous of ir, then of reconcilement unto God by Chrift. Col. 2. 18,10. You read of fome there that do not bold the head, bat lay hold upon Angeh, and that it Idolatry : now that is fpoken of the Church of Rome. For a fourth reafon of the point. Rc'fon 4. Without unfeigned repentance and lively faith there 11 no hope of falvation, 1x^13.5. Except ye repent ye (ball alllikfwife peri/&. And without faitb it it impoffible to pleafe God, Heb. 116. Now the repentance which the Roman Catholick Church holds forth, what is it but fach as Judat did performed They require contrition : Jndat he was deeply wounded and broken, Mat. 27 3. And they require conftfCon : He came unto tbem before whom he bad done evill, and faid, I have finned m betraying innocent blood. And they require Tatiffa&ion : He came and brought the mony, and threw it into the Temple, and would by no means meddle with ir. Here ii the repentance of the Church of Rune, and all ( for ought I know) that they require. Ifindeno rule of repentance in this Catholick Catechife, but I finde it in Judas, which will end in defpaire (which is the common end of an hypocritical repentance) as Stephen Gardner came unto it :and fo they will do, or elfe dye in Nabals ftonineffe.

And for their faith : The faith of the Elect is defcribedto be a confidence, and evidence, Heb. 11.1. So expound Heb. 3.14. If we bold fail the confidence, the word is all one with fubfiftance, it it fuch a confidence as doth give a being, and fubfiftance unto the thing beleived : it doth as truly v make them to be at if they were actually extent ; Bui what

fay they to this ? They look at it as prefumption, and an

abomina

L-—m -T^TTiT^hisliietohold forth fuch

abomination: y« tt wU cott am u ^ be incom.

a Faitb. And for «»^5^£ £,, feme conjefture but patiblctoachnfttan, and^'J*^ Ifthe Rorna„

no certainty. Now gainer * repentance then

Catholick. have no better_ Fuh, no ^

0Trtft™*'"^t'S<h° point, «n.o« concrniug **. ..

our falvation. „,n*rallv men are deaf to hear, JLetfin 1.

Secondly, it b anoint that g<n«• * » ihercf()re ht doth and ttow to underftand, and wiw mgr} ^ fl/J

eare.obe-r, let^fcear. Why.r«*JJ monftrou| blaf.

x^& ^^^vifibie cathoii;k

Cbutch. f n0W of heart tobeleive

TK«y «. l^frX*" mac.il cn.n do* foirllu.lunclttrl.DH.irg, tLf;'-\f ,„|q„|„, nocth.fplci

51%^oSS,SVnuqtc.^h,>c<uf. X'^nrRlifon'^u'o-batWtWuliutcllig.n.cW

8l.™ao»uu.tft?udit,i»«k'" h 0„nd,Ht.ndlt. T» Kctf« »■ FromGocl.e't'<''G.««un o H

dot*motunderftandi». #

For the ufe ot the pomt. Ue principle 01 the

nrftlto-yfowWKfaw thed*mnabie pan v ^^

l!/e ».

_

214

Chip. 13

An Expofition upon

Veri. 9.

Roman Garholtcit Religion which is this : That fur every Nation and Kingdom: to b: reconciled to the Church of Rome i.ijoi neccfiityto falvation. vVnoeverhebetlutluthearato heart lit him hear faith the holy Gholi, that to be reconciled tu ths Cnholicit Ciurch, and fubjeft 10 that Church and the hcid thereof,it is of necsllity ths way to dimnation,if a fonl lb live and fo dye. For this p urpofe the Ttxc ii at plain at polfi\)U, Rev. 20.15. Whoever U not found written in the bool^oflife ii toft into thelak,eof fire. This Roman Catholick Church hub not his name written in thac book of life, and therefore of neaflicy, they mufl be caft into the lake of fire. Lee all Noble men, and Gentlemen hear this, thac they may not liflenunto the whiiperings, andcroakingtofthe Locufttof the bottomleffe pit. Much God hath borne with men in their ignorance; but if ever men have belonged unto God, they have known the way of a better faith and repentance, then ever Pophh Religion have taught them, and the holy Ghof) hach helped them in their private prayers,and reading, or in conference with other*, to underftand the fame.

•Ob). 1. You will fay unto me, tut this itavery uncharitable cenfwe.

Anfrr. Whether doe you thinke it more charity to forewarn men of a defperate dinger, or to be indulgent to men, and to tell them they may be faved in both Religions, when the word of God it playn againft it > What charity count you that to gull men in a charitable, but a foolifh conceit of their own good eftate ? Ic is cruel! charity, and mod uncharitable, when the Holy Ghoft doth profiffv*, Their names are not mitten in the Lambs bookj: of life, whofoever worjbip the

Ob). 2. But you will fa,', Are not all the Ca'bolicksin the wortdperfwadedofit, that the dtvotion to the Cvbolique Roman Church u a way of falvation ? Catboliques are confident 0fit, and ycuProteftants dare not deny it : And then I fray you whether kit not fafer to be dtvitedto that Church, wherein all confefe there it a foffibitity of falvation, then unto that Church in which one fay there k (alva\kn,tbe other not ?

Jnjw.

Chap. 13. ' be thirteenth Chapter ofthe Rtvclation. *i^

AnftP Weanlwer: Sofarreas thtreis any charity, it Is in God,' but God hath no fuch charity : And if any- Proteflanube fo charitable, they are more charitable then the word of God allows them : If they lay that a man may live and dye in that Region, and be faved; The holy Ghoft doth profeffe the contrary, and would have all che world to knowand beli<ve if.

Therefore let no man build upon the policy of State Froteftants. Let God be true, and every man be a lyar. I;that the voyce of the Lord fpeak , let it be heard, and let the voyce of John be heard, Ibat if any man be devoted it that Church, bee cannot live and dye a child of God.

Obi 3 But what an opinion is tbu, to caft away our pre-'jatbers, ibatktpt /«c6 good boufes, andfucb goodCbrifimaffes, and FeP'SFfjli* todamne tbem allto hdhlsunota cruelU and barbarous opinion? _

Ante. lanfwcr,for our Forefathers, their ft ules are in Godt hand: They lived in thofetimeS; but how farre they weredevotcd unto the Catholick Religion wee know no.: This we know, that there was a Temple of God; a company of Gods people in the da.kert times of Popery that did fee their vanity .and did beare witneffe againft them, otherwife we muft notour of natural laffeaions dtftroy divine Revelation. AmanmuftinthiscafeforMe father and mother, Luk.. 14.26. Ifpeakofitthemore.becaufel know not whether fomeof you may have occafion to travell where you (hill findefome that will tell you a quite contrary tatle to theft that you have now heard out ot the word of God.

Forafecondllfe. . .

It mav ferve to teach us the darkntfle of our hearts, which Vfe 2, is in us generally to believe this: and indted the impoffibility that any naturall manfhould hearek, that is to fay, fo to heare it as to believe it. _,.,,.

He tbat hath an eare to beare let bim beare; That is, let him know and underftand it : And this doth argue evidently, that all that have not hearing eares do not believe this, clfe- • wouldtheyfeethetiuthofthefething,. And let thu take away all admiration from t OJr Chriftuns, who do often ad *

it

Chap. 13.

An Expofithn upon

Verf. 9.

mire j why do not fuch grc*i Do&ors and Bilhops believe thefe thing!, and fee them ai well as fomrpoor defpicable Putitans \ and why doth not the Cathollck Church fee ic > The reafon is playn why they do not fee it, they want eares to hear?, and how fhould they heare it > Now the Text tells you, Tbey that worfbiftbeidtlli are like unto them, P/al. 115. 6,7,8. Tbey have mouths, but tbey fpeakemt: Eyes buve tbeyt but tbey fee not. Tbey have eares but tbey betre not, 8tc. Tbey that mat\etbem are like unto tbem, /• it every one tbit truftetb in them.

If they that worfhip the Beaft be like unto the Bead, then it is not great Learning in the Tonguei that can give men cares to heare. And let not any man be offended, if fo be they fee the world of another opinion, if they be but naturall men; The nainrallman recemtb not tbefeffmtiallmyfterieSi 1 Cor. 2.14. Vfe 3. Thirdly, how much will it lye upon the peopleof God, what a weight will it lay upon us all ( whether in Churchfello wfhip, or out of Church-fellowftjip ) to bleffe God who * hath delivered us from the fcllowfhip of this Religion : And to be everlaftingly thankful!, that our next Fathers (rhou>h not our Grand-fathers ) have been feparated from the worship of the Church of Rome f And how arc wc bound to ftand for ever ftedfaft from communion with them, what ever pretences are put uponui > Be not deceived, you forfake your owne falvation if you hearken to their whifperings. If you/ think your foules precious, then know it, you cannot be reconciled unto Rome, but your names are blotted out of the Lambs book of life.

Vcrf.

Chap. 13, the thirteenth Chapter ot the Hcveiatiort. jji

Verf. 1 o. He that leadeth into captivity, (ball goe into captivity : hee that killeth with the jwordmnji be hilled with the [word.

The next note is this.

THat as the Roman Catholicke Church have led the Churckts DoclriKt 2, and people of God info captivity, and have ftiughtered many of them with perjecution, and warre: So that ftate at length (bMlgo in ■ to captivity} and finally be dtftroyed with warre andjlaugbter.

You heard befoie, (he made waire with the Saints, and overcame them, and tUoghtered many thoufands of them, and (hewed no mercy neither toman, woman, nor child : No rr ore will the Lord (hew compaffion upon her. In PfaU 137. 83 9. 0 daughter of Babylon who art to be deftroyed! Happy fhill'he be that rewardetb thee, as thou bafi ferved us. Happy fball he be that taketb anddafbetbtbylittleoneiagainflthefiones, 1c was fpoken of old BabyloninCaldea, and is Verified alio in this Babylon. Happy frail he be that rewardetb ber as (he hath ferved us : and that takethheryoungcbildrmanddafheththemagainfl thejlonet. Rev. 17. 11. The beafl that was, and is not, (hallgoe into perdition. And verf.16. They fball bate the where, andmake her dejolate and nakfd, and (h. II eateberftefb, and.(ball'burn her with fire. Thy (hall drink of warre and (laughter.

Oi'j. Bui how U itfaid^ that Chrifl (hall confume him with the breath of hit mouth there ? 2 Thef. 2.8.

Anfw. J anlwer, thefe things are fubordinate, but not oppofiu, 'or ever fince Luther thty have been wafting : But after his coming in the biightntffe of the Qofpel, men (hall be clearly convinced, that this is the great ivhoreand Be^ftthac diflrcysall the world : The Lord will then mig'uily discover her unto Priicts, that hav= been darkn«d, and vailed in their juclgrmnts about her, they (hill fee the (lite of her, and gi ow to hate her wiih utter deuftatiun.

The reafon is from the wildome and cqui y of Godi ju> fcafon, fiice, txprtfly reentioned in the Text : For, he that leades imo F f cjplmty,

2i8 Chap. 13.

An Exfoftlisn upon

Vcrf.i

captivity, mvftgo into caotivity ; be that kjlls ifitb tbe finrd, muft be kjlled with tbe (word. What meajure a man meets, it (hall be meajured to bim again, Mat. 7.2. Who [0 (beddetb mans blood, by man Ml bis bleed be (bed, Gen. 9.6. Woe to tbee tbitftoileft, and tbou waft not [piled, and dealeft tredcberoujly, and they dealt not treacheroully with tbee: when tbonfhdt ceaje to fpoile, thou (bait be [foiled : and when tbou (bah makje an end to deale trettcberoufly, they (ball dealt tu<tcberou(lywHb tbee, Ifa. 33.1. All that takfi tbe (word, fballperijh witbtbt (word, Mat. 26.52. Mining in an unlawfall way, and for unlawfull ends.

Vfe 1. Thcufeis, firft ofterrour to all Roman Githolicksj what ' ever their devotion may be, let ''» m know, and und?rftand, the iffue of it will be utter deiohuio;;, and Wood anJ fliughter will be their portion one dav : And whcnG .dn-ppointed is come, ic w.ll be meafured unto them, as they have meafured unto the Church otGoJ.

Vie 2* Secondly, Ic may be a great comfort unto the Churches and Saints ofChtift, that have been overcome, orhaveTuffered any hard-(hip from any of thefe. Thofe that have been troublefome to Gods Churches and people, the Lord will one day vifite them all, and he will one day root them oue of the land of the living. They (hall one day know what pillars and fcourges, and fireand faggot meanes, what torments meane, what bloody inquifuiona meane; They flail be recompensed feven-fold into their bofomes. Here is tbe patience and faith ojtbe Saints.

The third note is this. DiB> 3. tbe Lord dotb as much acirtowledg and accept tbe patience and

faith of bis Saints that have [uffe'ed under tbe Roman Catbolique Cburcbi as be did the faith and Patience of tbe Trimitive Saints, thai fufered under the Roman fagan Emperours, againft Heatbenifb idolatry.

The Papifts themfelves are full of acknowledgment of the Pi imitive Martyrs, and will write many Legends of them; asthePharifees, they did build the Sepulchers of the Prophets, and yet killed their Sacceffors: Fulfill ( faith Chrift ) the mea[ure of your fathers: You garnith the fepulcheri of the

dead

Chap. 13. ■ tbe thirteenth Chapter of tbe R-tveUiion.

dMUDuditi, ana)ttyoukilUheirSucC«Uora. They will acknowltdgthemtlu Primiuve Martyrs 5 but whac arethois that iuffcred in Switzerland, in France, in England, in Gcrma* ny f~ They look at thofe as Lolards, and H.reticks: Bat what faith the L01 dof thtm > Even of them as well as ot thoie that fufferedin former times; the Lord doth accept their lutterines, and faith ot them, Here is the patience and faith of the Saints Wherein the Lord doth acknowledge the faith ty wlrch they overcome this Beaft, and patience, to be the patience and faith of the Saints. The world faith othenvile: but the Lord faith of thofe that fuffered under this Beaft, Here » tbepatienceandfaitboftbe Saints. So in Rev. 12.13. Here* ill patience of the Saint,: Write, bleffed are the dead wbicbjyem XbeLord fromhence-fortb, as well as in ancient »m«:BleiTed are they .hat dye in the faith of Ghrift Jeful, in the hotted and higheft timet of Popery. The Reafon is evident, FirfU becaufe the faith of fuch Chriftians, and their patience, was the faith and patience of Chrift : That i! to fay, that which both faftned upon Chrift, and bore witnffeunto Chrift, and fufered patiently for Chrift as did the Primitive Chriftians in the ten Perfections : And it was fuch a faith, as by which they overcame the world, 1 Jofcn 5. 4. It was I ith in Chrift Jefus, even that faith by wh.ch they chofs raJber to (uf, r afflhon with the people of God, then to enjoythe plea[msoj[mneforafeafon,*b. ii.»4.JV U WIf ehf J,fJ!rift in which they defpifed honour. Even the fame cafe of Chift in Wfifrlhand, and in their hands, and the point u of liken at .re: Roman Idolatry is but another Ed.tion, and their trors are as fundamental fubvertions to that whun ftou d be thefaithof Gods eleft: And their Government 1. d.rtftjj contrary unto the Gofpel-government of Ghrift ]eft» a> light is fo da, kneffe. When their faith in the> caufe or Chrift do carry them .long in fuffering for him, it »thm the, »:ience of Chrift. It was the like filth and patience oiChnit to fufict under Am* and Caiapbv, as under Herod. It is true, n the one he tuffered as an enemy to C^r, in the other u a blafphtmer, but the cafe is all one. No matter what the per

219

Reafoii l.

220

(.>■>*■. 13- An kxpfiiion upon

Vtri. jo.

ULeafe*

Vfi

Vfe

Vfei

i'mie o-, P ■•£>'» ->'' oiiiilltiii in (iruUilion ; It trucduiebe the c-ufcuf C'uiit, ic isine pnienceand filth of Chrift which is in iiisS.«iiiij umi:r i.y'iouii'oever they J'nrFer.

A i':c./.'r.U-\.fjl;-j:iii- fium ;hcgreaterixfrcif'e of faith and p.ii-tici: cj iii>.-ni, and ftiffcr under Ohrilii:ins , againlt Ch:H!'i"fj ti'..-;i -giii.ft Pjgir.s ucder Hvaclun persecutors. F>>r (he ufc it the point.

Fi. ft, ic cryes downe aU the fcandalous fenttnees that Court? iuve givi.n igiir.il the Siitm of Gcd ; they (ay hire are the differing ofLolardsandHercricks: JcfusChriltfrom heaven faith, Here is the fahb and patience of the Saints. Da not therefore count it obftinacy, and contumacy in herein-, nor prav'uy : It is the faith and patience of ihe Saints 5 if Chr.ft calls icfo, his word mud carry it. When they (hall all appear before hi« Judgment- feate, whole word (hall fland then, his or their* ? He will fay, here ig the cruelty and outrage of the perfection of Antichrift that put* the Lambs of Chrift to dear h.

Secondly, Itmayferveto teach us, how much the Lord delights to honour his patient and faithfull fervants : Hee writes upon their Toomb-ftones as it were, fo many Saints* or faithfull Martyrs of Chrift, are thofe who have thus fuffered : This doth the Lord Jefus Chrift write upon their flakes where they are burned (inSra«ibj?e7<jor elfe.where) and upon the chains wherewith they are bound.

A great encouragement it is unto Chriftians tcbeconftani in the profeflion of the Gofpel, and to contend earneftly for the faith once given to the Sainti. We mufl not therefore be afraid to (land faft in the profeflion of the Truth and to hold it to the death : If we mould dye in his Caufe in a way of perfection to be fhughtered by the outrage of ungodly men; what ever the world fay of it, the Lord will from heaven beare this vjitntfle to it, That it is the patience and fiith of the Siints. , Thirdly, ic mud teach all who would fuffer for the name of Chrift to be well aflured of their caufe, and then to adde conftjney to their fuffcring in their caufe. Otherwife, unliff: it be the caufe of Chrift, icis no patknee, but obftinacy,

blindotfle,

Chap. 13. .

'?°k "ff t ledIMk'< 'hem «thing, clue Wrul

Th"'fr™S and U«f ihWmfeof Chrid .h« will trwh o A« aute, and.tat ^ ^ M

mainuint hit!««"" »»». , k . 0,ir refori„,..

hold ouc "»'° ^ no'rfid. >Uh"u hlnB For cuBon, ofche

country wh«« you "«, f'"" J,hoov„T„^ chriton mm do comnund it to.WO, or Kb ^ ^ ^ [h

to know »»'."h"^' GoymLnt and the worlhip of

S»r.„dthunotofc.ufc r <* <W-[ "-a. y« f«

%»ritfT^^r«1,1ohan.t? oU deprnd upon

felves in time of P;°/P""y» ™] nno t ir. ) This is our will, are joyful ( and this£nog J , uutQ

the joy of Gods people when God lhaiupp y bis. As Chrift did com ^m; ^vl^n °7, \ mitlen h 4 and fay, 0 my God ^fg^^^i indeed doth make koK, I«we Jodoiby mil, FJ«. 4°-Q< l" us compleat chriftians. , h- -n and God, will to

A man is ahappy man that!a.h hiiiw» ^^

gether in all that his heirt do.s dehre .«uo

221

11—

223

Chap. 13.

An Expo fit ion upon

V«f.

me fuffer, then certain ic is belt it mould be io. And ('< mould chriuiani come armed with faith and patience ant with wils fubducd to the will of the moft hs'gfi; not onely to be confented, but comfortable in fuffering all things for Chrift : And lei your faith faften upon it, and let your patience moderate your greif», and make your hearts comfortable alfo, and this is that which God delights in} Here it the patience and faith of the Saints. *

And fo I will end with that fpeech of the Apoftle j My £re_ tbren, be ye followers oftbem, who through faith andptttience inbe~~ Tit tbepromifes, Beb. 6.12. Both by faith of well doing and of fuffering evill by faith and patience. Te have need ofpatience, that after ye have done the viUtfGod,ye might receive tie pro(Rife, Heb. 10. 36. You have need of patience, that ye may befaithfull : and you have need of faith, that you maybe patient : When a man is confident in Chrjftabove all creatures, this works patience. So we (hall follow the ftepg of our bleffed Anceftors ; we (hall (till go on in maintayninc the fame faith, andworfliip, and Government, wherein our Fathers were taught of God to walk, and Whereby they did inherit promifesboth in life and death.

Chap. 13. ibe thirteenth Chapter of the Revelation.

i Rev.T 3.11. to the end of the 17.

And I beheld another beaft coming »p out of the earth, and he had horns like a Laniby and he fpake as a Dragon, &c.

®gfi»*i!55 Ee come now to the defcripdon of the fccond '' lr}4> Bcaft5 1 beheld another Beoftybc. 1 do not love %^l to be large in ihofc Scriptures that do not fo IjMti narrowly concern us, a* knowing how farny ,-■■■■—JasH and what a vaft diftance by the grace of God we (land in here from tbem: but yet becaufe it is a part of Gods counfell, and fomewhat largely described, give me leave to declare the meaning of the words, and gather fuch not<s from them as they hold forth.

Obferve then, here is a defcription from the nth. verle to the end of the Chapter, of the ftcond tei&-J [aw another Beafi The Originall feu him forth by his nature} they that know the language, knows it fignifies only a wild beaft, and in proper fpeech it fignifies fuch a wilde beaft atiwai venomous ; and therefore the remedy for the venome of this beaft, they call it Tfeerion, a proper prefcrvative againft venome or

poyfon. This beaft is defcribed by four arguments. i. By his originall -, He comes out of tbeeaxth. 2 By his firailitude ( or refemblance ) in three thing*. Firft, to a Lamb in his horns -, Heebttb two btrnes Itkf*

"secondly, he is refembled to a Dragon in his fpee:h } He fpake like a "Dragon. Thirdly, he it refembled to the former b«ft in the exerci' nog;

223

324

^hap. 13.

An Expfitien hjoii

Verl. 1 r

iiii* of hii powei ; He exinijetbaU the porPcr 0/ lbe fi'fi beoft a. Thisbeali isdelcribrdbyihc pauicular txciciles or h *

oj*er, or the effects of his power which are tlnfe :

1 He caufetb the earth and them that dteell therein to worjbif

theft ft betf, vheji deadly wound wm healed j he procures adu«

ration to the firft Beait.

a. He dotb great wonders, making fire come dome from heaven

i)ijhefi£btojmen,vtrl\i3. ■ .

3. Hi deceives them that dwell on the eanhby the meane* of thofe miracles.

4. He doth prevaile with them that are on earth to make an Image to the Brtft, which had the wound by the fword,

and did live, vitj. 14- .-...- ... tuna

5. Hs doth animate and give life to this image of the B:alt, that this image of the Bead fhould have both power to fpeak, and to caufc as many as would not worfhip the image of the Beaft to be killed.

A fixth efftais, he caufeth all forts of men, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their hand, &c-. or at leaft his name, or the number of his name, or otherwife heeex« eludes them not only from fpiriitull, but civill commerce, vtrf> r6,17.

For the Notes that thefe words afford, I will handle them all in two: They will not need much enlargement, the Explication and Application of them will reach the meaning and fcope of the words. Remember what the firft Beaft was, and then yon will moreeafily know what this Beaft muft be. You know this firft Beaft being defcribed to have ftven heads, and ten horns, was taktn by all for the Roman Empire; and xhis being not that, but another that comes in his room after him : I* is evident then that this Beaft muft either be the Rcman-Htathen Empire, or the Roman-Cbriflian Empire, or the Roman-cathoiick viiible Church j one of ihefe three Rowan States it muft be.

Nctthe firft, for this rofe after that was raft down ; after the Dragon was caft out of Heaven , and had no more to rule that State. Alfo you heard in Chap. 12. that Beaft had ten crowns on the heads 5 this hath not Crowns on the heads,

but

Chap. 13. the thirteenth Chapter of the Revelation.

as$

but on ihcnorns 5 the Princes and headi of that State were crowned* This doth not weare the temporall Grown, but thofc Princes that mayntaine him, they weare the Crown.

Againe, that Beaft, Pagan Rome, did not begin his time of profperity, and flouriftung, with the womani flight into the Avilderneffe, and the two witness propbecying in fackfltatbta tbtufandtrr* hundred and ftxtydayef, for their government ended, when the Chriftian State began, and therefore it coald not be Pagan-heathen Rome.; Nor could it be theChrifliin Imperial Roman State: For

1. It is faid in the fecond vtrj. That the Dragon gave btm h» poweuandbii feate, and great authority 5 but that he did not to theChriftianEmperours, for they would not live at Rome, but it Confiantinople. , , . -. ,

2. It was never made a figne of reprobation to worfhip the Roman Chriftian Emperors, but it is made a fign of reprobation to worftiip this Btaft. ..„„,,.,,. . .

It remayns therefore, that this Beaft defcribed in the former pare of the Chapter, is the third Roman State) which being not Rome-Pagan, nor Rome- Chriftian, it muft needs be the Roman Papall State, under the government of the Pope, and that is no other but the Roman Catholick viiible Church, to which all the defcription you have heard opened doth naturally belong. ., .,

Now that being the firft beaft, what is this fecond beaft J This is apparantly diftinft from it; and it is not fo proper to fay, that the firft beaft was the Pope, as he had foveraign authority in Temporalis; and that he it the fecond Beaft as he bath lupream power in Spiritual Is, for he had his Temporail power laft ; and therefore that would not agree to the Papall State) hefiift had fupream power in Spirituals, before he had fupream power in Temporal*. Now the beaft here being not the Roman Catholick Church, what is it then Mt is the head of that Church) and what is that? It is no other , but the Pope of Rome ) The heads of the Roman Catholque vJfible Church, from one fucceflion to another, they are thu fecend beaft; and that will appeare in a double note , which Will both cleare that, and the reft of the T< St.

G g tli"*

An Exfofition \Q»n

Verf.

ii.

226 Chap. 13.

Firft then, take this note $ VtUT'Mt 1. that the Bi/&op or Tofe of Rome it in tbefigbt of God, andtf hit Saintj, no belter then a wilde beaft, for bit Originall, arifing out of the earth; for bit refemblance, 10% to a Lamb in bit borni ; fij^e to a Vragon in bit ffeecb ; Rkg to the whole Roman Catholic^ Church in bit timer.

This it the former part of the defcripiion by his Adjunft, by hit Similitude, and by his Originall: However he fecms to GathoHcks a holy Father, and a god on earth ; yet in the fight of God, and-of his Saints, he it no better then a wilde Beaft, whofe off-fpring is from the earth; who though he have horns like a Lamb, yet fpeaks like a Dragon, and thus John guided by the holy Ghoft, faw him. Let me (hortly 0pen thefe points.

1. He it here described to be <* wilde beaft- "\ The word Co fignifieijtbatistofay, not fo tame a be*ft as thofe in, Jfa if. 6.tu 9. that a child may lead rfcem: Wolves,or Leopards,or Lyons that can (l<cp with Kids, and Calves, and little children, and ibey may flay on the bole of the A ffet and pit tbeir bind on the Cockatrice den s He is not fo tame, thai bee can- be tamed by the word of Truth, or by the cenfurci of the- Church, no nor by the power of Princes j he is above them all, and beyond them all j a wild beaft he is therefore.

For his Originall, He 4ri/etJb our of the earth."] That implyeth, he hath it not from Heaven, but from below ; not from Chrift, but from Satan ; ton are from beneath ( faith Ghrit) lam from above, John 8.23. Hee fprings from the earth, efpecially from earthly and carnall policy} thai for keeping of good agreement in the Churches, they muft be folded up into-certain Metropolitans or Patriarchs; and to keep unity, y ou muft have one over them all, and that was the Bifhop of Rome, for all unity they fay fprings from links ; if you have more then one Governour, you will have no peace: Now this being a carnall principle, feme carnall reafon being the ground for the prefervation of the Church of Rome; for that the Einperours thought, if the Biftop of name were advanced, it would be a means to ftrengthen them ■gaiuftthe barbarous Nadont that come againft them ; this

carnall

Chap. 13. & thirteenth Cbafter of the Revelation.

217

7^11 reafon brought him to be exalted : Andthougnhw Smallfwasearthlyfor the caufe, yet he afcended above theeanhtoEcclefufticallpower. And

" He arofe out of the Earth, b<caufc heirofe up infenfiblv bv degrees, he makes no great noy (e; As any thing thai: comes out of the earth, it makes no great noy (e in us growKTbuc it length comes to a vaft height s So u was with the Biftop of Rome, this is his detent out of the Earth. Forhisrefemblance,Heb^fcfcor,»^eflLflmi.] HnrniewrciTe his power lUkg « Ltfnift » that is, hkg the IMCT%M&V°*« i claim direaiy, no other atSbralonBtimerThepower^ were his two horns, to bind all, and loofe all, and that lay irldofe^of btoifn breaft when to put it forth; thu it but the power of the Lamb.

lout^^^ R»™.«'ibeoUSerteHtkcalledtbeVragon: What did hee

^Venomouswordstoourfirft Parents;Jm (billnot dye aiailt Gert3.4. And fo the Pope he draw, the hearts of mm fromconfeienceoftheword. ,

2™ Th fpeech of the Dragon, it is imperious and arro^AlltbeK^omescftbeeartbwUllgive thee,if thou »ift

And that is the Ipeech of the Pope hi 7er.i. 10. l oavt jei

3Ij/Lm and to (/e/frov, mdto throw dome, and to build, f«iJ/^-T*.d "he Pope fend, a Crown with this intc ip

Peter, and Peter gave it to the Pope, thu islmperiall State.

An2d The Dragon hath a devouring and ravenous mouth, wh«.by he fpeaks ravenous words: Whomr will m wjfcj

■ who it that God that it able to delivery*} Dan. 3.15. two you have heard what worlhip the Pope claymes, and what he StntifUbenegleftcS. Thus you feein Godsaccount G g 2 x *l

928

Ch-ij.'. 13.

An Expcfi.ion upon

Verl. 1

. and in the light ol Jebn, the Pope is a wild Bealt : and the holy Ghoftas lieinfpirtd John, he dircfiihim what to fay : The holy Apoft'.e he liood upon the fjnd of the Sea, and law two beads; one arjfing out of the Seaofconupiion indcftrirKj &c. Andanotiurout of the earth, out of earthly preu;K«s; He ftcsno holimffe in this B aft, nothirg but bcaftly cruelty, and beaflly blaiphcmy, nothing but argues a u ildt beaft thai will not be :anicd, neither by the Church ol God, nor'by the woid of God , nor by Princes and States: He fees him rifing out offaire pretences, pretending nothing but Lamb-fikc power i but hee fprakes like a Dragon 3 venomous and devouring word*: Dimnable hcrcliei, at being i'pewed out of the Dragons mouth, fuch a volume of falfc worur p, and doftrine, and government, at deftroyi the faith of the Church, and fubverts the foundation of the Church: This is the very ftateofthe Pope as John beheld it, as he was wrap't up in a vjfion by the Spirit, and he judged of it as hee law it.

Now becaufe I cannot fo well make ufe of this, before I have fpoken of the reft, becaufe they are co-incident, take ttm for a fecond Note, and fo make ufe of both together. The note is long, but it i* but the collection of the fumof ihefe verfts, the words of the Text will bring the Doftrine eafily to remembrance; This then is the note, pjfl. j. The BijbopofRomt exercifeib all the Authority oftbefirft Beaft, » ikatit, of the Romanvifible Catbolick^Cburcb, be caufetb all that dwell on the Earth to worjbip that Churchy hedotbworke wonders t tviti to the fetching of fire from Heaven, and by bit wanders procures all cbriftian States to mkf an Image to the firfi Beaft, audgives fucb life and power to the Image of the Beaft that it it able tofoea\> and it (ball caufefxeb at donoi wcrfbty it to be put tn death, andfihally.be leaves an impreffmn, or imprints a cbawder upon all forts of chrifth ans, and will juffe r none to enjoy fpiriruall or chill communion with tbentyUnlefe fucb as will receive eilhc r bit marine, or bis name, or the number of bh name.

Ipjt them into a doctrinall frame, becaufe they arc the fum of the Words of. the Ttxr. Let me breifly open them all.

Firfl,

Chap. 13- - -—

aU that *«/vq'i*>n^1^ b,ar witncffe agiinft Kome be nifts, or of out Dwwj * hwf that the Cuhohck

Almonte. in:th»c,f^wno.all ^ There arefixor

^crSS^Ue.whichtKatC.urchcUymc.,

,. The Popthathpo ve toconve g ^

orHthe E»^W£ ^AofiS Church andthe BHhop.

fUnd in force ™Ieff<'^T^a^, wilh their determeetta^reprefentat v Synod u co ^ ^

motion., thisb, plrads or^0^ n y^ ^ ^ mQ? the Emperors, nortoChn^

R?pie;.lt»pnofB^ mje^m ^.^ ^^ QC

(hall have, power tocalUl lun »

^^Jffi^&rch did ufurpe power „ 3. As the Catholic* *om* aii churches: So the Pope m,keL»w.andC*n^

claime Authority of ratifying Scripture, j » ^ ^do

'Apocryp^'"^1 ^ffiX"nG «t JudnHebrew/tt not approve the Gcnpel °[^^£? an'a Ukc the vulgar uhaibethat,orifchcy/efuf^Xc-Aolick Church Latine, that (hall ftand r This po W« ch»Ucng»h power to do;^^^emchurch challenge, po,. If the Roman Catholi« vino f controVerfies.

werof interpreting fff^^XS^^V^ that withinfalibility of Ju J™*1^^ decides contro

countheis a fit Judge therein. le a h

had power of b,0£in6 *?{V°b &t pri*eledge, exconimuand great things ^?UW*W lhfcnt, (bine they ex-. nicuefomeoimanyCburcueEtnai* Comrr.uni

229

■^ r

230

Chap. 13.

An Expofition upon

Verf.n.

communicate for feven years, foroe to their death, that the (hall not be reconciled : AH this the Pope challenged in a larger meafure then the old Roman vifible Church did challenge. This the Roman Bifliop challenged! to bindc confidence, to loofe oathes and covenants between Prince and people, between man and wife, to loofe vows, and oathi,and natural relations, between parents and children, if they will fhrowd themfelves in a Monaftery, and will difpence againft the Apoftle Vaul in cafe ot inceft: this is fuch a poWerto loofe the bonds of Gods commandments, and Gods oaths, and relations to Godandhisfcrvants, it is fuchTranfcendam power, the Roman vifible Catbolick Church neyer challenged greater.

6. The Roman vifible Catholick Church never challenged fo great power till it was animated arid acknowledged by the Pope, to take upon them to f<t up one King, and to take down another} King John In England, Frederick, the firft, and Frederick, the fecond, Hentry the fourth, and Henery the fifth; he crowns and diicrowni whom he will, and this out of the plentitude of hit power.

Andlaftly, he doth challenge this beyond the Church it felfe,I(nmuniry,and Impunity from all Civiil and Ecclefiaflical power, and judicature. The Church is above all judicial power, and the Pope the head of it is above it, and therefore may not be brought into order by any cenfure of any Church, nor by the civil (woid : And therefore he is well called one thatexercifeth all the power of ^ne fiYft Btaft, and rather puts more power to it j whatever ths Catholick Church may do, that he can do 5 where they can difpence and make Laws, where they can bind or loofe, &c. So farre as they may go, he can go, and he doth all in the name, and fight of the Church.

Ad be caufetb all that dwell on the Earth. ] That is, carnal cbfiftianijw6o/e converfationis not i» Heaven.

To worjbip the firfl Beafi. ] How to worffiip ? He fpeaks of divine worftip not civiil adoration : This is an aberation from a Church; but a beaflly Church, it is a montf er; The Church of the firft inflitution was of one particular congregation 5'

Chap; 13. the thirteenth Chapter of the Revelation.

231

Ration; and for all the Churches of the world to befubjeft fo one Cathedral, it is far beyond all coraprehenfion of rule: Now he cauleth all that dwell on the Earth to worfoip that Bead. Wherein are they to worlhip him t

1 It is made a matter of neceffity to fal vation to be reconciled to that Church; and more care is had of being reconciled to that Church, then of being reconciled to God in Chrift : All pleas of being reconciled toChnft will not lUnd in rheir judgment, unlefle you be reconciled to them. ■

2 Except you be bound in confeience to that ftate, he will allow you no communion} he will have all the decrees of hie Church as binding the confeience.

t This is divine worfiup, you (hall take no doftnne but that is of his flamp, nor worQiip, nor Government but of his acknowledgment, nor no difpenfation of them butaccording

to his Canons : And all that dwell on the Earth muft wor(hip him, all run upon the Beaft} the Pope doth not fo much Challenge it to himfelfeastothe Church, and that which is given to the Church he takes to hirafelfe.

Thirdly, tie doth s,re<it wonders, fo that be makes pre come from Heaven on the Earth in the fight of men : And it isfatf,, Jnticbrtfllball come in aVpmer offignet and lying vmdcrs> 2 The]. ago. Their Legions are full of thefe wonders -. And in particular, for this point, of caufing fire to come down from Heaven : It is an allufionfure to the fire that the old Prophet fetched d • m Heaven : As Eliab fetched fire from Heaven to confume the facrifice, 1 Kings 18. 38,3 9- And that was a fire that expreifed Gods gracious acceptance, that made all the people cry the Lord be h God : But this the- Pope did not fetch fare, he never fetched any acceptance from Heaven. But you read of another fire fetched from Heaven by Eliab, andthat was,. to dtdroy tbofe that mocked him, 2 Kings 1.10.12. VVhich praftife w.»m Janus and John would have followed in Luke 954, <* S6 You fhall read, that they being offended with ttr Samaritan, btcaufe they would not receive them} M'/fcffcy thev, (ball we call for fire from Heaven to confume them as Eian did > O ir Saviour utterly reject that j ton fcm>» not, faith he, o/»b«jpirirje<>re; Nowmindeyou, that fetching fire from

23*

Chip. 13.

An Exfofuien uom

Veri. 11.

H>avcn, which i» todeftroy nuns hvcs, and not lave them, that Jtmes and ^ofcs are taught to refufr, ai t*i»g incompatible lothe GjIJkI : Buithat which they refufe, the Suaxtfour of ?eters as they cill him, takes up; ii any Scribe, or rbanfee, or Samirifonrefufehim, then fire comes down from Heaven, confumingnrc, andvengance, and wrath, and blood-wed, andextreamity of outraged evils he caufeth to come down upon them? and in pretence from Heaven, todeftroy the Church and people of God , thatltake tobethe cheifpars of the meaning of that. But if any man will urge the letters of the Text (wbrch you need not in myftical Scriptures) yet it is not without truth therein.

Gregory the fwnth he declares this, that he had ftrange power, when he had much people about him, he would have (ha* ktdihe fleeve of his gound, andcauftd fire to come down; Now it is evident it might be, for he was a Conjurer, and 22. Popes together (as their own ftoryes do record ) they were witches, and gave iheirloules to the Devil, thdt they might obtainethe Popedome, but they were but lying wonders \ for miracles require divine power, but the D«vil cannot go beyond the power of nature j fo that you may takeitinthe proper meaning s their own niendomuch magnifies, and make it one of the markes of their Churcie, whereas Proteftants that want miracles are not Churches : So that thole cenfures by which they thundred againft chriftian Emperors, they did follow with fuch fucccfs,that they made all wonder, that none could ftand againft them, not Henery the fourth, nor Henery the fifth, nor Leo the Emperour, nor the King of FroHnce, none of them all were able to take up armes againft him ; they did all admire him; Who it Me tofand againfi bimt and to make Wane with bim ? And that gave fuch free paffage 10 his Law, that all chriftian States prefently took up what injunctions he put upon them. , f * , Fourthly, by thefe miracles, and the mighty fuccelfeof them, he had power to caufe them that dwell on the earth to make an Image to the Beaft, that bad the de*dly wound, and was healed; that is, the Roman Catholick viiible Church : Wbatisihis Image of Che Beaft ? he caufeth all the earth4 that is, all earthly D S«t«

Chap. 13. the tbirteentb Chapter ojf'fbe Revelation.

States to receive it; he will fuffernone to be without it ; what is this Image > an Image not of their own making, they uiii'ft make an Image by bis appointment : It is an Image of the fiift.beaft,- not of thefecond directly, and confequentlys the officers of that Beaft muft repreferit this fecond Beaft, but be an Image of the firft ,: if the firft Beaft was the Roman Catholick vifible Church; then if he caufeth alj the Eirthto make an Image to that Beaft, then he caufeth all Churches and Common-wealths, to frame their State and friatforme, according to the Image of the Roman Catholick vifible Churcb,and therefore he caufeth all Chriftian Princes to erect all their Churches in a Roman Catholick way: what is that ? Metropolitan, National, Provnctal), Piocefan, Cathedral,' and Provincial Churches; Theft are all lively characters of the Roman Catholick Church,refervlng ftil pre-emenency to their mother Catholick Church of Acme; but othcrwife they are the lively Image of fuch a Church, even as daughters are of their mothers : andbeing overcome with the power of his miracles, and deceits, and delufions (as you heardVby the Policy of Canonifls, by caroall Policy,and by their Votaries, and by working miracles, fignes, and lying wonders;. it is a wonder to fee what power he had, that all the power of the Popedome, and of the Catholick Church was in a model and representation drawn in all CjiurcbuiqCbTifandomidaring, the time of 42. moneths, which is. 1760. years, jtqdth^rra great part of his I mage, was, marred in a great part of Chii*. ftendome, but yet he ftill continues; fo then there it a lively Image of'the Roman Catholick Church, though.it may br, fonie are drawn from fubje&ion thereunto; and yet though' they be drawn off from fubjc ftion to it,yet ftill the Image, arid reprefeiitation is written in the very foreheads of fuch Churches; that is a fourth thing.

Fiftly, He bad forcer to give life to the Imagt oftbe Beift; what life > that it mould both fpeak, and caufe, that at many at mutynot mrfity the Image of the waft (boidd be killed j How doth heputthisiife into the Image ^fthis Beaft to fpeak > It is, to fpeak with authorty, as in ver'fe$. A month freaking great things; He would fpeak, and fpeak with authority 1 H h that

*33

wjpsjju -1 J^fTJw---,'?"'^

IhiTridW theft Dioccftn j Metropolitan, and Pravin^l with•>".«5°°"''.> " jj, -„,„„>uformrj contcUnec

ver Jhemto thcSecular power, and tfley muft kill them .

^auShekcefencL^

mick,, that will notebey the Government or do to. of

the Church; what ^^^JS^^ST power, then they canfehim to beV"*^^*^* lerbimto fire and faggot, foyoufeethe mighty, power ol

thT£rfuon«thU,grem.inin6ofhi.powcr,andthatisihe^

orinVherrforeheadi: King.,«ndPrMce.,MinUtert.ndCl«B^Wn (• thlycall themThigh and low, whatever they be,

their riihthahdi or in their foreheads, ... m „ m A.nSrkeiri'the hand vtbat chafer themfelve. call an

indeimi [ chWr, and they receive that who receive any j -*/^m»t..Dr,ne and are reconciled to the Roman La

to&kvtfbhGhJ ch • TM. Beaft caufeth .11 to receive.

Rom.nCubokkVifibleChurchy thisthey"J^nd ible, wherever they come, »^-re Priefit for ever aftertbe order of

*££& forehead.,. they have a nurke aofwerable to

Chap. 13. the thirteenth Chapter of the Revelation. '

255

their name; their name, what is that but Roman Cathohcks? or elfe there is no fellowfhip with them; and all muft at length have that name, and go under the number of that name. Roman Catholicks; there is the number of that name: but 1 leave that to thenext time (as being too large to enter into at prefent.) In the mean time, you fee thefe things thus opened, touching the nature and charafter of this fecond

Nowtomakefomeufeofall. ' m

Firlt it may be an evident convidion, and demonltrati- Vje 1. on, and defignation of this Beaft who it is : I| hath been much difputed, but all the parts of this defcription doth di«aiy fall upon the Bimopof Rome-, thatif 7?fc« had lived |h thefe dayes, he would have feme all this with his eye,, whichhefawinavifion : No man can tell where to beftow all tbb defcription for 1260. years, but upon the Bifhopot Rome, that is of fuch a wilde nature, that no Church, no law of God, nofocietyofmen, noKings, nor Princes can rule; and all the world that knows this BeatUnows this to be true of the Pope, whofe Original ( .11 Chrirlian. know ) fprtDg. from the Earth, to keep men in unity, and to prefer*. iheEmPirefrominundationsofBarbariansltokeepChria«.nPrm.

ces clofer together, and in better ordtr,all carnall policy out ofwhichhefpring.,yetiDcenfibly,«ndnowly,thatheun06

difcerned for many years together. m^l*.

And be bath borm tike 4 Lnei, that he pretends nothing but ( Saint Peter as they call h) *e Key. ol the kingdom of He.ien; Mbe jh* fit*' ^gont asifhe had the Key" of the bottomleffe pit 1 he thunder, fuch fentenc.s, gum difpendSons both aVinfl the lawe.of Paul and Mo/«, tod.ffolvc oa,L, and covenant., andrela^ they will, their own fitters : he will venom with fuch noyfome doctrine,a, the breath of them will ftmke : he will fpeak fo terrible, that time wai, when Prince, were to tremW : bebathfooKentsaVrogon : The Devil himfelfe as he ruled the Roman Pagan Empire, hath not fppken gmter words

hen he • Thole that fpakr, Wboiver mD not worfbioan Image fit Hfifb'*tl be coft in aftry furnace it is not a greater word then hefpeaks. Hh 2

mm

m^

■tysri fF-<" ^7}*w™ ?

23^

Chap. 13.

i<d ILxfofiiion ftfpn

VerY.11.

Z//e 2, Secondly, this doth juiHy reprove all the Popifh' admiring and adoring of the man of Sirine y They look at him at their hojy Father, and BUhop of Chrift, and Vicar of God, as onetrucbathaniflMIibUjiidgmcnr, tfiac cannot erre, that he w above all power of cenfuie: Ifheflioulddraw millions of foules to hell, no man moll (ayjSir^why do you (o ? they have thii opinion of him : No matter what they conceive, he muft be judged by the King of Kingj, and by the God of Godi, and by the Saint* of that God that judgeth according to the word j and they look at this Father as a Mbnfter, as a wilde beaft, whom no Scripture, noChurchcan keepe.inawe, but he it Lord paramount above them all; they look at him as the Dragon of the bottomlefle pit, as he that dtflroys the ChrilHan world: and however he may pretend, as if he had nothing but Lamb-like power, yet beefyeakfs tike a Dragon j thus John faw him.

Vfe 3. Thirdly, Obferve from hence a rcafon of a note that troubles many Interpreters; That if this beaft have fuch power, why doth he not caufe the earth to woruSip himfelfe ? why doth he not provide for his own honour, but for the firfl beaft? The reafon is plain 5 thefirft ffeaft being the Roman Catholick Church, and the headof that Beaft, all tht honour that redounds to the beaft, falls upon the head of the beaft, and it is upon himfelfe ; He exercifeth all that power, that thefirft beaft* hatb, and therefore no marvell if he labour to draw all men what he can to worfhip, not himfelfe, but the Roman Catholjok Church, to be reconciled to it, and receive decrees from it, and fubmit in confidence thereunto, and receive no worfhip nor doctrine but from them, nor govejrnment, but eftablifhed by them ; no Lawes to be enjoyned andtranfafted but by them, for ht knows that this honour will redound" to him 5 He knows ail' this power doth reft in his own bread, and it is he that aAs the Roman Catholick Church, and he can do with a Councell, and without a Councelf what the Church can do, and he failei not to do it from time to time. Wonder not therefore that he puti off the honour to the fiift bead, the old Roman Church, there he laves all his devotien, but in condufion it is all for him- • felfe.

Fourthly,.

Chap.ia. tbetbirteentbCbyttroflbe Revelation,

Fourthly, you may fee the corrupt Originall, and dange

y'Vi, ,l,.,VnmiCiilarCongKRHions to bring in awbole Ninon unitm.y j ( h< Rotnanvilibte

Sf"° ; tSfrofib^To J«th« firlt rift wa. from th, oacmbeM, '"„/?''",„; Countrtyiccotding cothrlt

TM.fcnJir„her andfoby thismeanes it comes to paffe,. cy,in the State of^^gg^, '0Wer mjngl«i together ,.

Tft°uiVth«rei nolivingforthem, they wiUkilkheir ^eycal it) thereisnoim g ^ .f ^

aj8

mm

Chap. 13.

jfn Exfofitigri Hfon

Verf.Yi

them to account, and caft them out, and deliverthemto the Secular power, and they (hall deliver them to fire and (word.

So then, fee the danger of fuch Conftitutions, ic was wrought by the Bilhop of Kome\t and lives by life from him, the 1 ifc of the Law of God breaths not in the pul fee of it j any that know them, know how far they be from the pattern of the Scripture, bow ridiculous they be to fuch at difcern the ftateofthemjYoufee al (o what mighty power they have, that all civill States have been contented to deliver fuch to

fire ami fword, whom they have delivered up as Heretieks: They foonloofe the protection of the Civill State, if they loofe the favour of imaginary Churches; well doth he call them images, they are images of the Pope, and images which God forbids, and the inventions of the fonncs of men • Thou fbalt not maksi0 tbrfelfeany graven Image, in the fecond Comraandement: You (bill make no Images of Officers, nor Government, nor worfhip, but that which Ciirift himfelfe hath fee up.

Vfe 5. Fifthly, it lets us fee how dangerous it is, to annex civill penalties, JpfofaRo, upon fuch at are caft out of the Church j an ufuall thing in Popirti Churches, or in the Images of fucb. Firft, they fufpend them from the Sacrament, but then It comes with an Excommunication , no man muft buy nor fell, he hath refufed to honour the image of the Bead: It is dangerous to bring in civill Authority immediately »pon Church-cenfure: A warning to us here, that if men be excommunicated, not to deny them civill Commerce, or to fay fuch as ftand out excommunicated fo long, (hall no longer enjoy the priviledges of the State: The Church may cut them off from fellowftiip with it felfe, there may be iufl reafon fo to do 5 they may difcover fuch hypocrifie as may make ihem unfit for the Church, but yet they may not altogether be unfit for the Common-wealth.

Vfe 6 Sixthly, It may ferve to humble us fo farr, ai in timet pafl ' wc had any thing to do with this Beaft, eyther in tba loynes of our Fathers with this firft Beaft, the Roman Catholick ▼ifible Church, or as in our own time we have had any communion

Chap. 13. the thirteenth Chapter of the Revelation.

839

munion flmeane Eccltfnfticall communion ) with the 1msge of this firft Beaft, that is, with Provincial!, Diocefan, Cathedrall, National Churches.

y You kiiow it is not my manner to fall into fpeechesof, Chrifts in other parts, it it b*ft for us to look to our own*} but when the Text is juft font, now to be filent, were to denv the children of God the bread of the.r portion: If it be , fuch a Church as is of the Popes deiifing, as hath provoked theiealoufieofGod, and hath not beeii.derived from the primitiveinfthutlonthatChrifthath eftabhlhcdithenfo far

„ we have had to deale with them, either in office, or out of nffi« receiving their Sacraments, and their Cenfures, or , hfv.puoSdfh.ir Cenfurts, though God (it may be ) mercifully kept us from publi(hing fuch as we did conceive uniuft; Jet forafmuch as there hath been any fubmittance in this kind, any Church-communion, whereby we have been ad. mhtedinioGhurch-officebythelmageofthisbeaMrinftalUdbytheordination of the firft beaft, or fo far as wee have fubmhted to the firft or fecond Beaft; fo far a. we have partakedintheholy thing, of God whch flow fromChurchcommunion, as Sacraments and Cenfures do, venly (o farre we have caufe to be humbled 5 though the Lord kept any of us from thinking it any nwflity to be reconciled to the Church of Rome, or kept us from ^^VIuX ftice which the Image of the Beaft required j and though he kepuralfofromreceiving all theirWe. without controll-, yet for ourpraaiceinentrlng intoour calling, and our difp.nf.tions which have been butimages of the firft beaft : and fo far as our fellowship in Ordinances with hem deleaved tothatChmch, verily theguiltof that will lye

upohfuchfoulesa. have not unfeignedly bewailed it before

^mlt think you might be the caufe that Chriftians do complayn of fo much deadneffe, under fuch plenty, and ( as fomefav ) power of Ordinances > I might as juftly blame hTworldfoUs great part, that then think they are forced [o Ianch out in building and plantings an evill haunt and cuftome hath been rivetted into men. fptms, that the^have

!.v;|iu. vJ..;VHli

24O

:hap. 13.

An Expftlim «pe«

Verf.

11;

much ado 10 be contcntany where; buc this is not all : Nor ■can 1 lay it wholly upon over-much confidence in_ Ordinances ; we have heretofore thought men happy that; haWiberty of Ofdinanceg,though but in a duty oChumilutionjGod.will let you fee the emctineffe of all Ordinance»,& that there 11 no life in them further then he puts in therajbut i will not put 111 D«i(h?rof both thefe, though both thefe may challenge apart of,thedeadnefleofthe Countrrey, and may be caufe of humiliation i But giae me leave to fay, I feare this chiefly, that men thought it enough that they were got out of thereach of Summoned, and Parkers, and fuchlifce, whofe offices have • been by the power of the beaft, the remnants whereof hang in thofe placei where they {hould not ftand * I fearemen have refled in turning their backs upon fuch troubles as they were put unto, when they have not been ferious in judging themselves for thefe Images of jealoufie, when they are fo loft to he rent from them, I feare the Lord hath not humbled them for their old contagion, and therefore they are not fo dead, for what is an image but deadneffe > truly becaufe we are rather in bodily prefence, then in heart departed from them, therefore ihere is fuch deadneffe: what's the reafon, that upon the lead motion, men art ready to remove to a new Plantation, as if they removed from old England to New in a. pang : If men had a calling upon juft grounds to come hither, then when we come where the Ordinances of God are, we (hould fit down under the Ordinances, under the fhadow of the Almighty, and never look for more: But when thai doth not fatisfie that we enjoy Ordinances, all that liberty we did defire, we do enjoy, «nd yet it doth not fatisfie j certainly there is fomefinnelyes in the breaft (Ml, for-which the Lord purfues men with a refllefle frame, they ate not yet purged from the image of Roraitti pollution, and therefore, the Lord fees it not meet to give us reft, no not in Sion> becaufe in heart we are not returned from Babell, but every new occafion puts us to a new plantation, and when.weare v there we cannot reft: And therefore I feare, becaufe we have not judged our (elves for our inordinate walking in polluted Churchep, but have rather fought for our own peace, thrn

puri y

'Chap. 13. the thirteenth Chapter of the Revelation.

»4*:

purity trom thefe poUutions, which there have defiled us, or do not fee any great need of judging our felves in that kinde j thence it is, thac to this day the Lord hath much ado to quiet our hearts in his peace and purity, and in power, but ftill we are much deftitute ofinward purity and power of godlinefle, and therefore dead-hearwdnefle hangs about ui to this flay. And therefore as we defire the power, and purity, and peace of Ordinances damped upon our hearts, fo we are to bewaile the contagions we have had in this Image of the beaft with Officers or people, that fo the Lord may give a reviving according to the defire of our hearts.

Laftly, let it be of much praife and thankfgiving to God, Vfe 7. tliat hath delivered us and ours, from thefe Contagions and pollutions, in which you fee afl that dwell on the earth have been intanglcdand polluted in time paft: That he hath delivered us from the power of this Beaft ( the Roman Gatholick Church ) that he hath freed us from making an Image to that Beaft} we own none of his Ordinances, and that God hath removed us from the maikeof this Beaft, that we defire not to be accounted Gatholicki, nor Hirarchies, nor ftand members ofaDiocefsn,or Provincial!, or Cuhedrall, or NationaU. Church, but beare witnefle againli them all: And alfo that he hath freed us in fome mcafure from the number of his name; that raany things that are of number and account with them, are not ot any number with us, if there be any thing of the Beaft in it. And therefore it is matter of great praife to God ;You (hill read of the hundred and forty fonre «ioufand,that Gcd had gotten viftory over the Image, and mark ofthetiesft, and over his name, and the number of h« name, or had not left them in any bondage, they fungasit were a newfong before the Throne j It is great matter of praife thit here we may enjoy no head but the Lord Jefur. (Saul indeed was head of the Tribes of f/rae/, but not of the Church, 1 Saw. 15. 17. ) That the Lord hath given us to enjoy Churches, and Congregational Aflcmblwi by his Covensnt,toworfti!phiminallhis holy Ordinances; that he h n given us to look for no Lav • but hii word, no rules nor torn • of worfhip. but fuch as he haih fet downe in his word $ I i no

w^mm

a4a Chap.!?.

An Exfoftlm'up*

V*rni.i

no platforms of Doctrine, but fuch a* arc held forth in the word ofthe Prophets and Apoftles: It it fucb a prhriledge, lhatfor 1260. years, the Chriftun world knew not the meaning of it, unlefle it were here and there a few whom God had fcalcd (this wai the priviledg*bfafew fealedones) but thii the Lord Touchfafcth to at thii day, above all Nationi that have power of the civill fword: It is true, there is a great deale of theft things in fundry other Churches, but yet there is a tang of the image of the Beaft, that a company of Elders and Miniftcrs, they (hall have power to impofc Officers upc*n Churches, and to excommunicate Officers and Members; h is coo much the image of the turn* Beaft, and too. much of the power of both Beafts, and therefore it is to be lamented: but that the Lord foould give us fuch liberty, that all our Churches arc noe fabordinatc one to another, and none arrogate nor plead Suprcmacy,but areprcferved and kept from all contagion of the fir ft and fecond beaft, this calls us to a* bundantthankfulneflc, and wee arccoddSrc that the Lord would keep not fuch a diftance, that we may never return (0 the image of cither of the beafts.

Rev.

^tbiTteentbCbapttToftbeK^ziioxi.

24?

Rev.i3.thclaftverf.

.#-. tot him that hath undtrftattdlttr com* andhismmkruffx

IP™ of it. The form" ^tM gjji , from

S^S-IKJ *& - mo* *****of

2. Byhitrefetnblance,wnicn miutbefirjl

beajtinbkp** * *. Thl, hv his Original!* and by .hiira

3. A»b«»derc^th^ybv his Seat power, and hi. powertxercifcthUfeiteina frA beaft being the Ktmart E^oftfcjIrftHl. S\uSe powero1 the Komtn

G*tboliq«eCbmb> ^ilv**™™ or without them: He/ can do, the Pope «n do w^h ™£ non8 authenti«ll; He canc«UCouncel., «J*"J*!gScc, he can mak«Law«t to canmakeUwts f bma^0£"ne^cumenicall power of bind whole tttfcbei,> « *» «» otber doftrine, or

the whole Councell: H can torw J eftabU(heth. ft Worftip,orgovernment,butwhatn dhthatbnaHl

cin^etotteScnp^t^W • binde ^ loofe ble power to judge Controverts n Confo.

a44

Chap. 13.

«y: He hull. po„„ 10 pardonZ*T- „7J ™'bo' Fl*Unoiir u> the bad, but cbe wbok h™tT j j .",hjt ho

-KSS£^fcSr,»■a""*,****«.i.

the Origlnall: All iha I taJeShSufj■e"'' iIk '*""'> ;«lndtlibl«chma.r^„;b,„*fo.&™0«l«r,IMTC

Order, ,nd,,y profcKfmffi JXV* *• "ligio.lt

his

Vjaap. *}• •"• = j .

Is—~Z n.io thrueh it be be to Saints and An

his doarine and ™»to£™«£ ™t „hlcb bind. the congel., and to hi, gj£gj « * ^ ^

<^^^^^KSS'hwM referred cothi.

But forthe numbe.■ o h J'™"*^^ Uldthathe

dayes <xcrcifr : Wherat tne no y fuch „ had received

Woaldpermicno man «>tay« «^ ^ hedolh

JhCr^ Ver^dS whatX number of hi. n.meh, in tbu laft Vcrlc ate arc Qt hmcom.

^rCS-KfiTdod..^. «■—*

andtbenexprefleit.

4t&f* *#* «■tta ""* u"<"rta,di°8"*

•Iftitadflr, »»lfe1S'l1{(>*Snt U I. U the d«y don : It *>W«> "t'1?"™' XcrfESta. to C.«ch it out. «lt^'iXtw. bV— o...

the holy Ghoft "^"^^jr, one that hath received

But weraitnot that the Lorh«h6^^ ,.,.

And werehnotthat:Go^^*^ofhtaFather, i&r. dometodeclaretousthewho^

1.30. And were u not wmws PIW inHw

346 Chap. 13. An Etepcfiikn upon i VerfTlfc

invitation of fundry breth«n,luth pat me upon the handling ofthiibook, «dnowltWa nordertobeoMnSfT: g own pare I think I fould never ha^choKu 'fe have fpoken to whilft I had lived : Butnow £ t .«

domeof God,, perfeftedinthe weakneffe oftofaSSTl

ha.h fugged »iSE?d^^^ deration, ,„d fpiritualdifcerning J J^S!?' * *"*■ « ^ • ^ rhcnoteth«n'«ftortIythuTmacn

beSpenedSS. P »alI*,pWttolt^w^«»y

^^aytofindeoutthiinniiiberiiwir^™. • heavenly wifdofflf ^ »XL" And ? ^? ^^ not thewifdomeof hii woAdwufiL' £? VG?2 WW* fp«k. the«foreo'SiTwciTi tSlbat f001*^; 5 dome, not fc^iW,1'^'''* whatgreatwifdoSwo" W ft reflui^1"1 l™0*' • **"

.rif«ho«0f *JEib^^

w 60. and ten timea xft ;. ^^ TV count, luctimeaten wifdomedkr*Sw«£- ^ft0"!'/* th« difdpher. the Beafl, and bv t£ »,* W fee.how ^ co«n« intelligenceofSBjiaofe^*^^!"** : and name alone co"d Stl^T* then.by «. marke

wifdome,bu,wifdor,h«fore dorh" r'?Ui"' ****** a mans beft underflandin»7<I . ■ "I111"» *£ "guir«

dome, yet the counEof «W. „um£ " 'FT much "*" necefTary • if it were „1 LSu 1. "! ^^ PoffiWe, and

** . «,e, Wont ^i^fe^tatt

■'.^™y ^

2~"^ i»e tbirteentfc efeffttr 0/tk Revelation.

H7

thefwit foitb : but here be faith, Letbtmtbu batb under-fi*u TJZmZmmbtroitbt BeajL And it iialfo ntceflkry for fi no of neclffity to falvation. without wbicb a tmemut

ESJl . Now becaufe there are none of Gods comroan5^Zi« «e vaine tbing.,bui weighty, therefore they are tSX£^»P*"' or very expedient : fo thaca

In (h!\\be much weakened in hu fpiritual progreffe, ( efpe

fflPoKchurGbe^Nitionalor Diocfan, ) ifhebe i"nogr.nt tffi he (hall findeit to be much exPtd«ntto

TndtrSu^wtubefound

-«« • Whttiitbtmeanlngofthat? IwUlnottroubleyou

SwrUtyofinterpretation., britfly the number o a man:

/• *°«SSS«ltofabno<to*c Original ia to many cttonTfakuuM, chtyireforfingaUrumn, for/HfJ«

a,si*SRJta3a .nd ...» *•-*$«&

248

Chap. 13.

An Expofithn Uftn

Vcrf. 18.

med together they make up iix hundred iixty tax.

Now a man would wonder that cbe holy Ghofl&ould delight in i'acb Arithmetical riddles * but fince it ptolcth him thus to cxpreffe himfclfe, we mart not look at it u4 cabal iftical curioiity, nor at an unfearchabie myttery : but they that labour herein, (hall findethat which may folace them-, felves and others : For though by the. arme of fUfh no man. (hall beftrong, yet by the wifdomeof God the fcrvants of Chrift (hall ice light, and babes (hall ite themyftery of ir. Therefore tocleareup this point, To far as God (ball give light, confider with me I pray you fix or feven feveral observable paffages of the holy ftory of the Re*d.t.«i,th. t may h lp us in fome meafure inenquiiing and counting this lumof/i* hundred three fare and fix, what it may point at. Let it not be wearifome to you; for though to us that are Miniftert, we think we are mod properly in our clement when we preack Chrift, and the need of Chrift; yet forafmuch as AntichriftU oppofed toChrift,and is an enemy to Chrift, the onecontrarymiy be the better known by the other, and no part of Scripture but is worthy our confederation, we may not be fo fquemifh as to negha to fcek|what may be the councel of the holy Ghoft in this point. Obferve therefore what the Scripture doth obferve about this number.

Firft, you (hall obferve this, totinde out the meaning; thatfuch as have this number they all have liberty of commerce, either in the Catholick Roman Church or in the !«. mage of that Church5 they may trade with them, whe«herin Ipintualor temporal bufimffes, they will not grudge you. you are a currant market man among them; youareaven* dable commodity, and you may paffe with them, andyour mony is good filver, as in Verfe 16,17. But if you be notw Preift of their order, nor a Roman Catholick, nor ha^ his number, yon may not buy, nor fell; that is foraetbine then. B

Second'y, Markethii, that this number of the name it the degree of commerce with the Roman Caihoiick Church;. fJr fo he doth difcend, Verfe . 7. No man may buy or fill ht tbof, that have the markf, or the nam? of the Beafi, orthe numberofbit

namt:

Chap. *j* the thirteenth Chapter.of the Revelation.

449

th. leaft fort of them, yet to them it did pernine hahad thenumberofthename : yet there is fo much rea difference S ween them, thathe faith plainly, Ihey that recede tbem*K Vrbisnwe, they (balldrinKojthe wine oftbejratbofG^ ^

they Mlbe tormented mtb fire and brimflone tube ?<>f<f0fj< blyAnteU, andinfrefinceofthe Lamb , ***(******

nueTn Shey cannoJbefaved,. There was a cry of the Angel

the danger is very great to recme the mark of tbe Btaftor tM liame ofThe Beafl : But the number of his name I do not «aTof any fuch judgment pronounced to be nBided upon

wondetfuily advance their heavenly good to get free from U • For Whtrtin Hcs Wifdom:*ut in attaining our che.fe Eood, and to know the ben mean, that leads to that good, & ffilI.communion with God in hi. Ordinance, purely difptneed; that i« afccond tK'ng. ; .!..„«-

Thirdly, there is this recorded of th.s number of the name, thai the choiceft chrifti.nsand the beft chriftians, they gave ?SAinki forvictoiv over the number as well asoverthe St^.Vj.r%|«-a^^t*e M, andourb*

Z? fung tbe Cong of Uofis tbe fervmt of Goi, and the fongoftbe

*T Tb.y hid got the v.aory over the number of he name of the Bcaft, and they are more abundant in tbankfgmng for d liverance then they that had onely victory over the mark*, andtbat is their Preiftty order or prof.flion of Roman Catholck Region; fothat this will come neare fome Churche conformedto the Image of the Beaft, thatis, National, Diocefanor Cathedrall Churches 5 but thefe have got v.cto2over that, not onely over the Beaft and his Image and hi. mark, andhis name>t alfo the number of his name. ^

•-1 . "■•'•M! •■•'UJU'JWW

250 • Chap. 13.

An Exfofithn vftn"

Verf.

U.

The fourth obiu vabic th ng in Scrips* h (I am occifi« cmd to gather up little beams of wildome which the holy Ghoft hath icattrcd that To we may gather up this account) that this number of his name is hoc laid to bt (he number of his years; ic ii neither the number of hjs years when he bet gJn, nor the number of hi» years when be (hall end : They cannot make ii the bsgioning of his yean ; for though there befomethat thought that Amichrlftdid tir(l arife to a name in the year (Jori. yet they ciiinot clcare it byftory. Ic it true, in 606. or rather 6o,j. B«fij/ace took upon him chc title of encif Bilhopj that is, fpirirual advancing, which was apart of Anuchrili, yet Ancichrift w« begun ? and 606 is not 666. there is 60. years differencej andii islike the holy Ghoft wouid not have varied fjmuch in fuch an exprefle number, therefore this number ii dot for the time of the beginning of this bcaft. Neither'is it the end of his years, for the beau continues ftill to this time, which bith been almoftathoufind years fioce 666. But ionic fay in this round number, Something is omitted, as whtn we fay 88. wcwan 1588. yet in Scripture phrafe fuch fmili numbers are not regarded, w< fpeak to thofe that know what we (peak.

But the Scripture requires us to ufe wifdome in finding out this number r-. but what wifdome were it for the holy Ghoft to leave out a thoufand, as we leave out when we fay 88. tor 1500. the holy Ghoft doth notfo here. And befides, I would faine learn of any man of that judgement, what viftory the Saints gor,*ifher the year when Antichriftbegw,or when be (hall-end. What victory have we gotr or (hall no body conflift with this number or the btaft But thofe that lived in the year 666} or that Hull live in the year 1666 1 In Rtv. 15.2. 7bey got vittory ever the Seafl and bit Image, and over bit name andnmber of bit name, before the pouring out of the [even vials; So that I cannot fayThis is the number of the period of the beaft, that thofe are thenum'ber of his name.

And for afifih thing, there is this further to be obferved in it, that ic is not the number of the followers of thebeaft, buc the number of the bead : If ic were the number of bis followen, then ic wculd be Ufa thsn the number that followed the

Limb

tbttar^Oip^Ae^i^^

Chap. 13. ' .—'-—^ -——--——

r-r-T—7^ld l0be an hundred fourty mi four thou

Lamb i for they ate law to d ^ mQtth[it666.

fund,in CH H- «• A"?„£ Lcforbim' then thC Lim, [hen he bad alette numb«" V 0f thi,'chapter, het.lt "badtofiRhtforhim_.bat n I //worj&ip 6im, whofemmet you, ^^^iXlmbXkm * And the weld was '""V^Ta toleavbacl6LWuesinitinanygeneverfohapy5ai o» ^ cannot be the meaning. ner.ilon,th«cfo«»»«»Jn h!s number i. the number oFa Sixthly, whereas he laun, ^^ hf d Q

man, and the ™^J^„etn chat and the name of the apparently put a df "^ rT diftinguiin them in the former beifti fr}"*?l\Z%ZotheBtafl, <tnd the ntme, mi the verfe, forhefaith, Jj""*^ Jethreediftinft thingi: number of hit name, Verjt17..J * fc ^ mr lbe beajt

And more yet, '^"^^Unime, and yet not vengence to them that recwe £ ■ ^^. fo ^ the nutn damnation to all that r«»' ().orn the nsal,, a,

berisnot his name, it m1 *W" -^ ^ folloW> me

the adjunftis ^^^ofbatter jadgemenOh cannot. thinksCbutlreferreitton^en umberof thenamej or

be that either ^'"^T^CathoHckChurch; yetupan chelc points do our chMandI P ft ^ ^ fc „

ving them their ?« ho"°u;?f"hc firft beatt j and the name s EccM* Catfcolicd 111^ name pt tttc w tflf .^ jg

onSng, and the numb"^^^^f^^ one of the namts o» the ftco ifln ^ hh namCj u fJ

n«n«ofcbeBitopo^.^lhtnaU

Chap. 13. An Expofition ufon

V«rf,i8.

U another thing : For.hough this be not the number of the

fm, mi fm, .taJwU. hu"r^{^\$?*»*<? And ij. miUiplytd t>« 11 will ,rlr!S," ?„ '" '?"* "■

plytd from then, : And when he com« to iwrfl^e wll"

JufttheLamb. company 5 Still the whole Fabrick of 7K* km u I2 the foundation of the number i. ApSotteafjK

Apoftolical firapiicity, their number, and their meaf.irr.nS their order, in all their demention.'; vhTZhZ'Z

up, you (hall finde 12. there, and you mall finrf--„^ Now then what i. thenumber of &WY^2*S£ Lamb,numberJ,, ^ta^ito^/b^S^iS ftore „ the beginning, fixe of the &ft ,'2i T£e?, noting

Apofto

Chap.13. ' tbttbiTteMWtr^r^— ■ —

Apoaolicali number, and[^"SplV.dby U.butby ten; JipUcationofit, fc^S1!, make 60. and ten

times fixtyu *o°. b0 all"jV1, j. not here. It U true, 666, run. roundly, and hath a comtlyprop tQ the fan.

cv, and eafie to remember 5144-»"" • Butyetweeare notatthebottome . WhatftouW^ , ^

Gfcojl mould fingU ouuhenumb ciMB^ ? ^ hjdb tentwhydoththe^G^Putu p d ^ ^^

noApoRolicalnumber,nor 10.» WJ ^plicationof 6xe by ten l Why yon that are^ converu ^ ^ G{j_

cretil., Bo«/ace he/l^Ce Sook of Canon, may

finde)t) whichb«n|^ foSbooVof Drcretall., " th«fc«lHlBBi^»^3£caion*or all matter, of makethnpacertampl«-fom^ f lheChurcb, andfo

F^^^^T"cSSSTttbidow-W the Church, Wothfordoarine,wor(hiPjandgom thcreafonWhy

Canon, are fumrned up inhu Seji^ o.firation

«dbyten? If yeobferveU, alI tne 6 aU ^

andeftablifcd.. > Thui

*55

254 Chap* 13.

An Exfajkjon upon

Parser.

VerAig.

Tbm you <c« what the nambtf it, and ihereafoa»hy (lie HofyGhoftalhU (o, and how bedothoppo<eittothecoii» trary number of that which it delivered by the bleffed-Apo^ ft.es, and followed by the holy Saint, of God frohi one generation to another. Put then all tnefe together, and all will amount to this} That wheTea, the number of Chjifl upi on whjch both hi» followers are built, and his CburcJi, and all the Dimentions. and Adminiftration, of it: Their foundation, their gates, their length, height!*,, and JreaM/allof them, are fqundtd in the ApoftoJicall doftrine : FmChriH

through that word, John 17. 20. It i, the comprehenfioK all Saint, to theeDd ofthe world, whereas they are built upon Apoflolicall fimp'icity, both for their*!* and ChurchHmtmfiratuHs, they areall built upon /»e^, andmyltiplved and enlarged by ia. v *

On the contrary, all the Rman Catholics they axe bullc uponthePopifbLawr, and Decree,, all whichrcLirefub7<a.on to the PopifcChurch, and fubmffGon to thlt Church and to the Pope a, the head of that Church , receipt' «rin«,and worftW and dKcipline from that Church, and that wa» founded in fixe, on the fixe book* of their Decree, •ndiusmalnplyedaccordingtotbefame boob, comaynJ tayn all theClergy, from the Pope to the lowtft Patf fo VrLo.

imZ^Tl^^'^ \ndh ^"neaheaverfy wifdome to fee thedangerout ftate of thia, and yet they that have wifdome may finde thir out, and when thty feafch it

0U x5 ?b? "JlfiH<le h, but tbe nmha °f * ™»> ™ /the Aril or of the Jpefiies, orofmy monger of God. 7 &i

I remember the fpeech of one of the Saints of God, That it is a moft unworthy thing that the Church of CWft (houldbJ governed by the Lawe, oUntiirift\ and fuca were alhhek fixe books) and it iimoft unworthy, that both th/rfc™* 5*'Mndall^^^^

jbefitee bookes, and it w.moft unworthy that AnSchrifl ftoald govern all the Adminiftration, of the Chu^h th«

pcrteSldbekfl,U,^*L^ne WHt * and^-PP«re, he (ball be proceeded againft according to Canon

Lawe,;

♦!

the thirteenth Cbofter of the Rtvehtion.

w

' ' ,i;fv,,herenfured, it (hall beaC.non LaWianfllft

Utmt, and lo (hall *m _w f d . heft fixe book8

° SI 11 man- nothing but meerly the wit and policy of number of a mar,uo^ g J .^ ^

^ttSW.o tnaintayncthebonout niem>or to^nncnmen *u ^ .^^

-'^^for . n"n'o^noTinl, 4K*™C*UWt. "% T» rV rbeaBift, but that thePopethehead ol.«.«• ifff d the ma« of hie Church is a be.ft » Diocefan, Pro. b^ n N«i3 and Metropolian Churches are but unaSKK-^ ■» xhe numUr.and r^ gtgotthwgr^o > b c ri chey are but the

tJ^thrdftopon.the Chord^ ^ humape i„v«uL

prober of thebeatt, loe*um" _. . WQetner Ooffe or

Surplice, or ^«»"B muitiplyed on O»on, >ut n

find it out.. Ana it fi d.. b a .necrihu.

fidtr V S rS7. wXfano ner5 and they will confer mane device, offe a, wen ai.■ » y j

which way the Srafe go.., and ^ h «»y^« ^

Though ^I^^^^fy^yoJ^i ■ Uw«8ofiheKingdom,^omeg ^^^

be mmpcnng with thc^°° ?of .man when hedoth find it; it, (fell find It but the' nnmbK ot ■ nunw wQnc

but prophecyed of above ,^0 .ye B 7 church

VfeU

T^T'%

Cbap.13: the thirteenth CbapreroUbe Revelation.

457

vou,tbatybau*>old not have liberty to boyan^ fell ifyoii didbearewiineffe again* the bead, and hunwrk, and name,, and number of his nauwj tbenthere is no abiding foryqpini any Church in Oriftemforae, which is either Catfcaficto or framed after the image pf it, as National!, Dioceian, <* Cuhedral,or Provincial, it it not poflible you would get the viftoover thefe things, and have liberty of commerce. . It- is not *rough that we have caft off the Pope; and what is an image of Popery ( which we fometimes have fubmitted unto ) and have born againfl it, and it is not enough to abhor the name of a Papift fo far at we have been corrupted: It is well that ye havebornwitneffeagainftl.be Hierarchy and the ^apalLgovcrnmenta but may we not hearken to the Canon of the Ch urch maintained by a whole National CounceU and may we not yield to the orders of thefe Canons, and beare witntffc to the number of the Name I Supppfethe Croft, or Surpllce, or kneeling at th U»e Sacrament, many Cbnftians have ftrong reafoningi about this, thai they may keep th«ir liberty of Cbmmerce, their buying and felling, and mB not God have mercy and mtfacrifice? ■ ■

Though Inch Godly chriftians in their weakneffe have fuch reafoningi, yet beleive it we are to blefle God that hath given ui to fee that there is no correfpondency to be kept with Home 1 Ifyou have the number of bis name , this is not that which the holy Ghoft (peaks of as damnable herefie, you may live and dye in that judgment, and be faved, therefore he doth not pronounce fire and Briroftonelto fuch $ they think in confcience they may yeild to this and that, asbeing the command t>f Gf/er, or of the Church; the Lord {fare yw as the Apoftle faith j But if a man will adore the Roman Catholick Church or the Pope the head of it, and fubmitin confeience to be guided by their Laws, he renounces his falvation in fuch a cafe; that a man fliall pin hi» faith upon the Churches fleeve, and his hope, and Government, and cburfe of life on the Churches fleeve, this is the way toeverlafting damnation: And therefore in thofe Churches that are even Images of Antichrift, it pleafeth God to keep his fervants fo far, that they dare not take all their Laws for dodrine without queftion,

nor

»or ail the ways of their Government as the Government of Chriff, that God opens all the hearts of hts faithful fervants to fee ■- Butyetforthenumberofhisnamej - It u Q laytney > butaUw trifling things, thty are .made a matter of fix, « Crbffr,ind Surplic^and kneeling at the Sacramc nr,*nd bowing to 'Altars, and the name ol Jefas, and ye will have fix in thfend, andW willbemultiplytd on that fix, the Lord knows : But for yon here, look at it asafptcial mercy, that

vbufte the vanity of receiving the number of his name, and Jhat you have this deliverance from it 5 that thoughryou have oft your buying and felling, that if you were 'her', you minhf hardly be feen in the Market, and in many of thofe Churches you will hardly be allowed, yetycu havelofl.no more thtn ought to be forfaken. ,f .

There arethat have fometimes put X for the croffe, and*a long later in wrinkles for the Surplice, and r for the proportion of a man bowing, but I would not limit the counfell of the ho y Ghoft fo ftrfaiy ; Bat take all that is numbed by hir Canon Law, audit will cornel to one "ckomng; Lyarebutthcnumberofthebe^ them, or they receive them ; and though they cut of his head forTaitbrfet for difcipline, and order, andcircnmftance. they

ffl Ire t^

forebhfle the Lord that hath (hewed you thefe to be evil.sand

favtd vou from fuch prevailing evilr.

SteSdly, for your ?refcnt condition, learn thus much, Ituilfnot befafefor ye to receive the Image of any other Church, then that which Chrifthath cflablifhed, and this s ground d upon 1,. uponrhe Apoftle;, doarine, and multtBSby «^ncreafedwiththeincreafingsofGod,blefredbe b s name, therefore it b.-ing fo, hold faft this forme , and be no "removed from it : IfyouMI to adore National, or Dio«fcn,"r Provincial^ Cathedral Church-government, then rouwlHTalito number by 6. andmultlp y 6. by 10. mthe

nd k w 11 come to paffe all tlsli (hill be maintained by tenths, fuch f«"M endowments and preferment, and then u may be

«„ fhall have liberty b« buying and felling, of traffique

Vfe

■stash

J Ml

Chap. i3«

!,*■■*:'

^

thii%*y ) yetklieve it'; it i» a fpecial pare toIbflwiWijAndthedangerofit. If a man Inhi.ignore*' 3foallytlld to thefe things, God vvill pardon U; but if a man know thefe thing*, and willingly giveaway to them, the Lord %iUKqaireitathJlh»nd« : Gonfider therefore ihianuimber,

: and avOy d it, though ic coft you allyour liberties^ thej; Lojd .

:w»Ufay, thumb*airij»peep/e',tnttrenouncenotohejythe

. Beaft, butane Image, of him,.andhismarke, and the name

Citbolick^, and Romtn Cttbolick^.andcbiiformiry' toaU the

V' number of bit name j Ifyc «(UbU& your hearts in tbefeifipiritail lefolutionj, hereU wifdome $ and thereof hdWffidold

v it provoke tb« hearts of Qodspeo^etobe fetled in confticrice about fuch points at thefe, though it may be your countrey-men will count you foot, in runing fuch defperate veh'; %..ture», that you would hazard your fortunes , and at length bring a noble to nine pence } you fballbring your fix Hundreds to fixties, andyour fifties to fixe : No matter what they think of it, fo long as, ye mall keep the Apoftolical number, and multiply by tlftir'rule j the holy Ghoft fajith, Sere k

.. wifdotMi and be that btib wtdefftanding, let bint [o e/feem tbtt here it vifdtme; and it wa» wifdome to come hither: and he that came for this end, never^made a better bargaine in bislifr, then to come over, for this, becaufe he would haye no more to do with the Beaflj and his Image, and his name, and the number of hit name $ 1 fay thou haft made a wife birgainr, if thou wilt cake the word of the holy Ghoft Jor thy fecurity; he faith, 6ere it wifdtme. Vfe 3, Thirdly, It may teach us that are come hither to fee that the Lord acknowledged our wifdome in the abrenuntiation which we have nude from thefe inventions of the fonnei of men ; The Lord did foretel us what (houldbeourcafe, we fhould not have liberty to buy, nor fell, neither be feen in Church nor Market, and be counts it wifdome to remoove on thefe termes : but if we (hall have flittering mindes to go tuck again?, the Lord will write upon it, bereisafoole, tbit tbiir way is tbtir folly, Pfal. 49 13. When men in their hearts wax weary of the Churches of Chrift, and of thedifciplineof Chriftj and look at them as fulfome and empty things for

want

W^-%- * -«■'"; r

-\

L-junap.73* tbekirieeMbp^i'eroftbe Revelation. ...

".• - \ ^anilotfeeling the life of Chriff, *nd wifdoBie ofCnjJfcVrun MoSy.n1lpwpoftcrouay,atfa\ruly takeardurfctcroCtS heir communion they have with Chr ft, and fcak* 22a, much as in them lie. of .11 that which they^e SSe.ofallourfufFcringsandtryal.,.s■ Sauh lheApo. SleSthee\eaLadyandherchilddn9in« John 8. Lotkioyw

ind»Tfe,Uhatfo^^^ - Sf&geof Anrichrift,andtheremnantofh,s.mage,.ndhe * remn^tofhUnumberCwehavecaufttobleffe^odforit.) - ^SdKmgh we may think of mending our felve, here^or

S^edbyi^ inanyplaceunderHeaven, thatl., ehheryour

■ rtSn^Sc^he ApoftW.reouireS.int. KC^ndtobuUd onfuch^hdtoadminifterfuchac. SrSnet6otheword oi God :,Yea though the Lord ftould

■!S£. rasnow we have fpeechofU)wdtholfgh they be a W«e i>»i»uuj,j ...j j _:„, free pauage of A Parlu

Sr4oSolical)udgmL,to^

a Tn7t the ereateft partof a kingdom from the Lords Table,

ftu ,Ta SSlions multiplyed exceedingly, if they

r'ft^fTerhurcheUf God, and adminiftration of thing. , fpeft °.f tht?S e and eo ^ we haVe the rU,e t0 (heW "

■Aer you will, you adminiflration : at that it may

ST & SST youTi I .Pd mourn by the waun of B

J5L

.' fall vtffiik tbe, Urds Jongftteibrigof: Zion in apitifr^jy ■: ,\ Th«»f ^ilrt itprovoke us^to hold-fift what _wVhaVefy^$jli • 4n'd^Wtp'betakfnuffvvitkfaiiTpr<tcnci<)'\q^yrne^fi%'t(^ one fiapd or ttfe other j jf jive be in a- ftate of wifdom>, let tip keep in it,, and belelviir,: whatevertaker ybtftb' a contrary cpurfe to thing? ai they ^arid • if rKe :HoJy QhtiR:'(if%U.ii«;wifedome, then 1 am furtLtfeccferHrary- ofjcmuftrieeda be

- 'fciry-l ♦.;■ *:' i'*-- /■"■ ■-*■'.-• ..,-,: -~: ■■%."

l//e 4. Fourthly,' it may teach us (jj) the fear of God) tdfyivean eye toour brethren in our native Country, todonfider thpiTe ■.. defefts that thoft which reformed religion beforeuj djdleava -H. in the recovery of the GSqntfy cut of the jaws of Antichriftj •; £' ( ?ou fee what the Lord requires of us, tha*;we ffibuld have

* nothing to do with the number of the^^Beaft) tiioughdiey ■

* cutoff the head of the Beaft, from being of any foveraigppbwer to there, yet they took top mucfyliberty for forme of i wor fhip/.ajid for the number bfjthVPops* name, and trf Go

_ ■' vcrnment by Canon Laws^yea the whole Charcb dHcfpline < by the PopilhCanon LaWy bnely with this deftiri&ion, that . ' whereas the Pope enjoyed it Before, npwfcbe King heclaims Keadfhip ov» the Churchkfwel as thecivil Stite,, andfie deri. veth-the Church-power to the chief Bjfhopa, and they wbjrfce' upon it more and more; and though it be tru<y both Hedefy *\ the eighth, and much more Edward the fixity and Qieen Eli* xabetb, all thefedidfet fo many Councilors, fqjnariy Divines, arid fo many common and civij Lawyer%to cull Put of the Popes Decretals fiich Canons as were mpft fie for Government, and moft of fuch as cut off Popjfii fupremacy, •'# it they could never agree of it, and fo they admit them as the Popes Canons only ; yet fo that whereas reference of Eccltfiaftical matters was to the Pope, now it is to the King as fiipfeam head and Governour, but the Pops s Canons are. the govern* mene of the Churcb. Now what was the reafon > There wai an.unfafe principle in their hearts, tnat they thought it law* full to take the Laws of tbe Roman Church, and that any King might have power to make Laws to govern tbe Church as well as the Pope bad. It is true, he hath power to make Lawtj as well as the Pope had, and better $ but the truth i«,

neither

3

■:

ffbeileveUtion.

•161

>^tChuieh,buturnu. b.b>^ ^^ J$ (uperiCJdtd and j;': Whatever h m.M" ^-°! ;.n^]e nwkinfeihem willing

to-aaroit loci, things, 'h.^lfS tui-iha* «r^kf,y-ecthey could

*;wifdome to cut oh »^™"*Je0l[6ici, bf Godf Ordioaocej Uwould ^^ftSe • Ifythis being wanting 10 .hem, ( and purity oi Poftrwe...1 y ^ mwcy 0 God,

^ let it not be wanting to us , but u * t0 clear up

I: ihe feints of God h>v=wk «nn? to ^ of ' ' 'fuch «hlngi;i «l»«^ Lj« • d h0WIarc,«l.

vjuch Nitrates andiothera e M\ re~

. Government may reach, and how t ^^ he.

dereaionokheholyGhoftMJ ' i^ofch. Charch..,. - iiigtjfcpioui c»™^°" ™S0c'-Godbeeftabliuiedi thac

this wilaqme irtUfcf *• £jfhB„at„teed to .hisday, may >■ .hatwhichothcrNat.on^^^^^^^^^^ , and yet though the

by the-bhfllngof God be r«*tc>J ^^ f ^ Ut „

. Elders •« co enquire *nd to Mmmei(r^e|0

pointthe fecond*y ^^.nAHO. thlngiof AUniiurei Uitf.: thrfiS »-«««J Cd would have .hem c^blifhed ,n a it fa" difficult, "»f*e^uw4,> 4o.dayesfafling, hehad fpirituall way, « ^/"^^afie by much then we, yrc . Se fpirit of God and larger ™ fut« Jr hlm And hm. theLord requires f«lon' h"m»;a a feafonable motion to for/fincelbeardthatther^^hfState that the whole country commend fuch a *«ng to d« b a ^ ^ igiinft lhe dbinfpccial manerfeek Uoo wcifthty point fal

fulta.ion of the general Court a ^ Uwg { th

Hng in for -ripening of men g 8bolht)f Church and . CoLtrv and lta^^J1 jfif^fl &e ^«^ ».; ^> gJ

v Gh?p» ^i i :: yAnl^fitfonmpm

and was glad to bear of it $ and though c to commend ft,toojup honoured Govern ours that fit ac Stern, andallotbe£p^ip>|^ chts (but w| that are prefent have no power*but in ioaf ©w'njl'' Gbuich, nor that but with theconfent of the Church) that if it be thought convenient this day feven-night might bcfecapart to feek the face of God, thai we may take time both to ripen oiir confutations,- and to prevaile with the Lo/d to profperourconfultationsandadminifcations,that thisniat- * tcr which fo much concerns poftcrity may b« eflablijijed j for my own part? while we live; I am not greatly folicltous . thereabout, yet for future we know not what Governor! nwy ai ife, and what may be put upon our pofteritjjneedfiil there? fore that things \yere put in a righi frame, that whatever* men fay, yet the Lord may fay nereis wifdonw, and hcreli neither marke, nor name, nor number of name, but all carried according to the laws of the J a. Apoflfci, and this will require fame humiliation* wAiLMffes flood in need of 40. days, we much more of qge day. And for our native conn- , trey,we do not know what&nrliftt thcajfnay be there about the number of the name of the Btaft;. we artcomejirornthem in bodily prefence, and therefore cannot Helper them by. a! word of advice 5 but this we may do, plic upfupplications to heaven, and we may intreat the God of wifdotne, and tffe ' Prince ofpeacsjtha't he would put in amongfl tfiem that tbey may fee the whole fabrick, Voot and branchy ofthe man of fin, that fo thcre'may be a perfect combination of tb#t'wo great Nations^ that the Parliament maybefor the better, notfor the worfe, but purity of ordinances (if it be the blefled will of God) may be eftabHOied; however we $all trade a olcfltog, and fome of cur brethren fhall fare the better: and if things wax clearer and zeal warmer,vthey will begin tofufpeiGcthe number at well as the name, and a* the head of the beaftj otherwife the three innocent ceremonies ( as they call them ) they are grown 10 fix; and being multiplyed by ten,they may grow to 60. yea to 600. for ought I know : Lei ui help them what we can by Prayer. -^%

*■ *'&■.#

FINIS;

■Man

MMMMM^MMti

*' . v ?r\hes^fv-' ^^^^^^^^flsW^^W^w^w

'■?*"•■>-&',. "-■ "ff#

1 •:'.■ i&rr*

,:'*

*^v

« #

■•*■".;

■&

m: »

.•" >* '■■*•' ;♦* ■■¥:•..-■ ..--i

'- ' ' » - ■■•;•'■' ---Si*". ,;-• .

j_ff^^^1A,«rAil>AAiI<AJhftaifcJn!ofc^^J''b^t''^38^^A)l<

^p^jji^.ifiji«^TVTTTT,iVP*,S^TTT1l(^'S,,St,It»»,i«'l,ip*

A Table of the principall Heads contained in this Book.

| He amplitude of tbePopei power, page 113

' Amplitude of dominion, not an inferrable cbaralier of

the Church, . »« fagth created the firft day of the weeke, 188

AntichriAA/criM, #f 243

It is Antichrifiian to affme Godt titles, 5*

franfcendant authority </^erow to be admitted, 7*

Albincenfes and Waldenfts Jte, to tbenxm&er 0/ 1000000. B 100

B.

Bickniderapimi/terf, ffL4*

Tfce/frftBeaflwfcdfft *> P»ge7« Pe/mM, P- »• M* »fce p^"

Empire,p. 4. NottheCbrijlm Empire, pag. 5. ^fcence if rfirf

TfceBeaft andtfcefceado/rfce foi/1 »onedud (feefame, 44

IbeBcitobead, when wounded and wed,?, tf. bit great words

p. 62. tbe Beo/fi rime bow long, p. 80. If by counted by momtbs,

p*. 86. When it did begin, F- »6

TfceBfafl8power,p.98. From whence, p. 115. My Sunt* war

(htynottbeBeaji, *39

the jecondte&hdefcribed, 2*|

Bi(hoply power to be frayed againfl, 38

Blafpheroy^f, m ^ ^J

THE".'TABLE.

Blcflcd art ibe fnffems for Cbrift, page 219

Bodie ofdeath what, ,g

BookeofTrovidence,andboo\^»fConfcience, audtbebookeoflife, what* I}»

7*e fofes Buls tire but baubles, 90

C.

I 7 it a Cbaratier ofibefecond Beaftto be without controul, p. 236 ChrlAt Government over all Nations, . i22

Chrift both the fubjtiland the author oflife, **o

Why Chrift an/were*/ net Mate, t57

Chrift the Lamb flaine, p. 154. Chriftflaine from the beginningof

the world, bow > ,gp

Chrift tbeflone cut out of the mountain without hands, p. 196 the

beadoftbeCburcb, 37

Chriflians may make a defenfivt wane, 108

The Church Catbolickji not vifible,. 1»

The power of the Church, 1?

Ibe Roman Catbolickfvifible Church a beaft, p. 14. They receive

their power from the Vtvill, „

National! and Viocefan Churches an Image of the beaft, 3 6

Cbriftt Church itfucb at meet in one Congregation, \ 5

No Communion to be held with AnticbriftianChurcbts, 23 9 Scripture Computation! moft ettatt, ^

D.

THe Topes D<cretal« the number of the Beaft. page a< a

Dwellers on the earth, whe.? " Mo

DeienfiveTwo/Prore/r^p. ,04, Vtfenfwwarrhw[ullj0i Denmark owe of the ten hows, g

Divill caft out of heaven when,indrrhvre, gg Q*

E.

P Are t0 beare, what it meanes, ,

EEUaio^abooitoflife,? ,35. ;„ nba, fence it kfydtok

fite, p., 5 oHow we are aid to mat\e itjUri Uo 1 «r,

Wmhaeoftbe unborn, p. 10. 81. ppi"

thetAble.

F.

FAhh tfce wflo»> wbereftj' we o«erc«r»e ffce world, page 108

Tie Faith ofRomanifts it the faith of the Vtvill, 210

No Falling from grace, «49

France one 0/tie tennebtrnt, »l

Fryars dre Incendiaries, ,01

Fundamental! pwtr »»" At people, 7*

G.

G Race <«</»<*!•« ofl>o/?fe, page *I0

Godmoytex<jffwbiicomf>«f<«io«;, 94 Cjbri^*Government over tbeworld, p. m. It isbardto befet up

in England, **

Gov«rnourt(»re/Htjea«o/<B',p. iop. they may be refifted, and

when, l°9

Gregory fint for Eogland, 5« H.

P*S«39 45 67

S<

HEadfhip of the Church is CbriftspmUedge, Hints of Providence (bould be taken, To ketp Holy-dayes is blafpbemy, Tenne Horns of the Beaft,

I.

IMmunity and impunity from all cenfures is the Beafts clahne, page 230 Image of the Beaft, what? p. t2^. that all Officers, Government*, andworfbip(not inftitMedby Cbrift) are bnt Images, 238

Dfcce/im» Cdtbecfra//, and Nathnall Churches are Images of the

Bciftt W

h is impoflible for Saints to fall finally, 140

Trie Judgment upon perfecutorj, *V?

Juftirication is from free grace. * *3

M m 2

K,tte

tw^table;

T^e Kingly foyer of Cbrifi,

K.

L.

page 122

GHrtfi the Limb/frine, p. i $4. r68. Pty rd/et/d Laoj p. 155. Wbyflme??. I7o. JFfcdj the bookoftbe Lamb?P.1^

I*xtalionii,Hnfoper/ec«tM£ tyranny g8

Boundleffe Liberty dangeroas, -.

Ibe Lyon of ^tbeh language, .

IhtLovcoj God mofl free, I4* M.

MAgiftrate* />3Wr /&d«W fc limited, .. M •gift'ratei/ajea>9 the Chunks cenfures, Tie filth Monarchy,

Tie 42. Momthi, ibe fame with ii6o.dayet, Why the Beafis time is mmbred by Moneths, When th*f» Monechi began, Opening of the M -uth, what it memes, Morall venue is but ajtlkfn or golden chains,

Page 73

120.122 »3

f U

' 93

64

197

N;

NAvarr one of the tenne Horns, No Name whereby to befavedbutCbrifi, Unmber of the beafis name,

O.

P*g'8i 201 247

rHut Obedience Sybjetisowe to Prince/,

Opening/feemouth, what'it meaner?

Opportunity to wbmid the Beafl ought not to benegleded

page in 45

P,

\ Arifheg a part of the beafis Image, ■ A Pjpifl by bis Religion cannot go beyond a reprobate,

page 30

14?

Ibe

""*'-"""" , THE TABLE.

lie People can give no power, but what the word oj God allow, 72 Peace with Idolaters dangerous, l °j>

Perfecutorj rewarded in their kind, 9°

GoA judgement on Perlecutor*, 2'7

Pbntifex Maximal, tfcePfipei/J>fe, °*

Pope, the bead of the Beafi thai was wounded, p. 34. irbenmm

ded,v. 35. IVhen cured, 35

PopeiirteJewBifc ^p.47. Hee ni/w ffceworW, p. 52' «ee

ttffumes divine power, 53

Popr» ttefc««/o/ ffce/e«nd Feo/f, p. 215. tfty comparedfo a mU

£e«jr, p. 226. what powtr it cballengetb, 229

Pop« have ken Conjurers, ,40.***

Popery a iwrm-e«te« RetyioM, p. 6c why (leafing to thefiefb, 117 Power 0/ tfee Be«/J whence it is, p. 22.11 ■>• *"* *bat U is, 23 If bat Powei Prhce* baw<? nwr rfoe C4«rcb, vbat not ? Princes Power ou^bt to be Ivnit. d, We {bauld pray for ibe Beafit mine, Cbrtlts Purchaf. for his pttple, ' R.

39

73

95

171

TH- blood ofCbrifi a Ranfome for fume, page 176

P.pifb icp.nuno wMwr ifce» J ,da«rr?«Mnce, 212

tiiconciluiion vitbGodytbefHTcbafeof Cbtifii blood, 171

RomanCfltfco/icM vifibleCburcb defcribed,?. 2.7. ^«d W&ence tbisfiifi&afididarife, ?

Jflben aouu-f ag«i ended, <«d Romc-Cferi/Mfl fegai, 5

page 106 215

SMnt* alwayes victorious, No Salvation is tie Rorm/& C&Krcfc, WtiarwweanttySVa,- - ,

Cfen/fflaine, p. 168 and wherefore, p. 170. and to* flame ^

"ffeefcegiswMgoJttewor/d/' 2lbe Spiri; ii pw chafed byCbtifis death, Sufferer* /o- Cbr.fi and.bis caufe are blejfed, Sweden W &"e o/tfee ten Horn/,

1!. 172 219

5° T. Tenths,

THE TABLE.

- 1

T.

TEn:hi is the number if the biafls name, T"li> oduiius oviX'lrcw ibe Temples, 7be Turk invincible vkilfttbe Pepejlands,

pag. 253.257 83 50

V.

U

Niverfality and profperity no notes if a ttto Church, page 57 Union purchafed b) Cbrifis de&tb, 172

W.

WAldmfeg and Albingcnfes fliine", to the number of

1000000. page 100

Saints are Sain'sinWitre as villa in Peace, 108

Sucb as War egajnft Anticbrift are calkd.Saintt, 106

A warning jnm cbeckj of Providence, 44.

7beBeaflmak£sW*r vitb the Saints, 98

Ibegreat wordso///je Bed/f, 65

Wo rk»<w</grace of po/r/e, 310

Topifb woi Ihip m fie votfbip of the Vevill, _ 58

ERRATA..^

P kgc 1.Li.T.aptrt.l 17-i ibtyart.p4.I.17.T'P<l'n-vS>li9>r-pirtKiis.f: 9-l.atf.r. D««'Mi/r;.I.i8.r.wtf».p.i4.|.34.r«H.p.itf.l.i7.r. is it. l.ulcr. tdtfitd.f.>8.l.g.r.«uminai;«n.p.»9 I 34.r.cdtft(d.& l-35.r. inn<. p^o.l.aj.r. pjjr«6 p 3i.l.37.r.CiiwriAm//p.j3.l.j.r./*y.i\33.l.24 r. Dtcmvhiet, p-34.l1 23s. ftmtfucb.t 35.Tttufltbt>ifore.p4}.l32.rficriJice.p.62.r.dtltgatioii.p.6i l.z7.r.Din.7.9.p.64.].i6.i.a<dibtc.p-83.l.28.t.*oitsia.].}$.rtbut.p.37.\.i7 r.pnviricatt p. po.I-14-r. mary. p-91 1.2 *. rat«A^.p.i aj.t-a i,r. AlbigtnfesJ.i?. r./«ii<.p,i»4.1.*4.r.J»'Hi&(w»p.xi?.l.sp r.ww.p.ija.l *4.r.«Mj>»«/M.p.r4y I.ult.rwrrtwcaW/.p.i 3j.l.6.riHW*cii/aWe.p. 157.1.31.r.w«By.p.itfo.I.6.r.«ni/5«iijfp.i78.l.ifj.r.«;^*d»op.i8i.l.i9 r.r#f/i«»w.p.i82.t^,r.i*r.p.i84.3tf. f.^rw.p ti 1.I.18 r./}o»;,p.ai9.1.3<f.r.<ipj!eij&.

FINIS.

the Reader is defircd to corrett with bis pen thefe faults ■ ( antontji others ) which through precipitance of the frets ham fallen to the prejudice of the fence.

'*&***■ n ,•

'. '■•,.'..■' P.ige. Line

Page. Line. Rejd.

6

V

o

l6

II

30

?4

hit

n

34

14

34

16

17

29

lift

39

3?

?7

i<

11

V

37

6

64

10

I*

61

*S>

66

10

69

6

20

73

11

ib.

31

It

*7

101

10*

i-7

81

83 87

90 9.9

28

it 17 IS

a part*

give.

Decemvirs.

muib.

whole.

lifted Img.

perfumed.

is it not. t

u it nit.

Metropolitan.

tAtfiii.

bug.,

primitive.

heidohht. .

Supitmnty

imompatible.

premeditation.

audible.

tlerifinn.

Pope i*at is the

Canwy.

could not for wow/i

clouds is keep themftom \ht ttrtb> H»

Firmament 10 the clouds. if0

blot out a.

Ponlifex.

limned.

mir.ni.

blot nut ever. _ ,

i definite, or indefinite time.

pltVUKM'

there was n»pl«c.

ihtodifw.

(or fares of, r. number

time/or the moneth.

manj for may. ("f^fr ,

thethildttnoflfwlmlhtUndo} 197

109

us

117 123

124 129 1?4

141

146

178 18*

184

Read

rtadineffe for ntretfny. rwn-for him and the) are nut heuutki. if not, tkej not lift np. hoUnejfe.

bind lor head. "'-.

b!or ouc Extfit. the Pope i wd.'. /Ujm/nJl/onj. Wildenfei and Alblngenfts; fuitt for fmiti. -., Without mixture. />en»/t. o/'t/« lorsfthe life. 1 f/jV they may nor. 3 tbe books of life of.

a? Wbireinwhoever is not. 33 blot out cm of. 3 4,3.7 the world it carry eth away them. hft irrevocable* 8 receive him. there i« in uf. bL(ii*i, hove for iwn>. many (inw. ■ feale (or fetrch. l(afret rvaikefir drift make* ■rfcit forfl*: Tto //for this this. vnexa-fMe. many times apptyed 10 thee. the flay.' - of temptation!. way o/grace. in Sauls, and Solomcm. tike ie m the btft,

3' '3

10

13

3° 32

34

4

6

3l 23 29 1

35 19

ii Him

Page.

Mn

198

J?

201

a

lotf

12

208

21

*9

?0

20p

4

310

i?

2I|

7

a»5

28

ai8

*7

32p

*5

2JI

36

235

ia

237

a*

23?

10

4.5

35

36

240

16

241

28

246

9

2

247

*7

249

25

2-51

3«

sc.a

A*

a53

8

a*6

6

10

11

*57

6

259

»7

. Read

And «it i*avaine Qj;

blot out i« doing and jHf„iag alif„ tb^

which/be hach.

not for nor.

tettt you of the.

not for nor.

fubtile.

ward for world.

flony (orftrong.

tale for taile.

appointed time it come.

appeals.

the Church.

thehcadof/fafbeaft.

Congregations to.

fcecb oftbeftnsofCbriflimit.Slc blot out at. *">«c.

for a great

lotb for hft.

given (or gotten,

fit for men.

account.

then fef a|f.

of it more. ■'.';

petty.

vidory.

born witnejfe^nff

*Papiftifofar. a** more in.

htbtfoimiatm,

The ifo*/ji/i.f of this 13. Chapter of thcRevelation.

This Chapter contains the W<rr which the Dragon Qt Detail made againfr the W»««* or Church (mentioned jn the laft verfe or the foregoing Chapter) which is managed by two Bt*fi&% his Infirumtnts.

Originall, or Founlalne whence he fprjngf, viz. the Sea> verf. t.

fnflbttft'n dctcribed, v.i. ton by his

2. Shape or Figuret having

3. State, whicU it fet forth

by

7. HmA, with the Title of bhfpb'my upon them, ib. 10. Horn; with Crown upon them, iW</. A Body like unto a Leopard, or Paniter, v, 2. Fee^aiofaBfdre, ibid. A mowfej at of a Lyon, *&i</.

1. The efficient Caufe, viz. the Dragon, he gave hii power and authority, ibid.

rfower. • i.'Twai gred^being cal'd* feat. a.Theva- C Authority.

riable a. One head was wounded m it were t»

change of death, v. 3. it. 3. That Head was healed, ib. and the

tfleft» thereof.

1. The worldi wondring, ibid.

2. The worfbippH °* tne Bed^ «»d Dragon, v. 4.

3. Liberty to blafpbeme, v. 5,6.

_ £ continue 4 a ■ monetbs.

4Powerto^rerCofn,fce?(Jim/}Vf7<

5. The amplitude or hrgeneffe of his Vomimonsi. 7,8.

Attentttn 3. A CoHcluJion containing a word of^jj^

i Jinenm

■J and

jConfolafu

I. tin Original!, Heccmvscittofibeemb^zri', Hi a. A Similbmkor Ktf'mblapWKJ, things, :'•.-' ; > , ' ^ i. A Lamb in hi* boms, ibid ..'•■■"* --...

viz. to3z. ADr(/^HJntJ.»'if,«cchs^k . ■ ...

£$. Thtj{r;7£ec//i/whtexereifrofh!» p0S,lT;Vf i2, i

i- PiocurcJ Ad.ratkn tothefi'fl becfl, ibid, z. Doth grea/w-o/jrf a, making fire come- dormfrm

heaven in the ft$t of men, ver. 13. \

3- Deceives tbem that dwell en the cartb by thofc nul'acl«», V. 14/

+. Djth prevail* with them that are on earth, ro make an tma^e to the Brad, which had a wound by the fword, and did live, ibid. 5- Animate!, and gruej /iife to the Image of the B-a(f, that it ftiould have both power tofotakf, and co caufe n many as would not Worlhip the 3. Thepar<icuJao Ix .**"*? of the Beafl3tobekjlltd, v. 15. er«/M of bii J*cwer, 01 Ca"'«n all forca of meo ( ftnall and great,ricb tff.QiQi'KrViz. Hie and poor, freeandibond ) toreceivea mark in

their rigfcj ia»rf or forehead, or at leaft-the Wi/me of the BeaR or thenumbtr of bit name, or otherwife he excludes them not only from fpirituall but alio ciifiU Commerce,, v. 16,17.

The number of hit Name it al fo, ver.

llrated,

1. By the vifdome needfull to the Underflindingofir.

2. By an exhortation to fearch out and count it.

3. To be the number of a man cxpreily deciphered to be 666.