and that Man of sin be revealed the Son of Perdition The Apostle gives him the same Name or Title here as our Saviour has given Judas who betraied him Joh. 17.12 And the Apostle has a great deal of reason for giving Antichrist this Title for as Judas under the pretence of the greatest friendship proved our Saviour's greatest enemy why so does Antichrist and as Judas had a hand in crucifying Christ's real Body so hath Antichrist in crucifying of Christ's mystical Body the Catholick Apostolical Church Pray mind how the Apostle has laid down the Prophesie wherein he gives the infallible Marks and Characters of Antichrist First there was to be a falling away that is the Apostatizing from the true Doctrine of Faith 1 Tim. 4.1 2. Secondly The man of sin must be revealed That is he must appear visible in the Church or Temple of God in his Colours Thirdly here is his practices when he is thus revealed viz. he opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped That is above all the Civil Magistracy and above all the Ministry both which Orders of Men are called Gods in Scripture Psal 82. Joh. 10.34 35. and there is a Civil Worship or Reverence that is due unto them both above all other men But this is not all but he exalts himself above God himself and placeth himself in the room of Christ so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God and he opposeth and deposeth all power that standeth in the way of his exalting himself both Ecclesiastical and Civil and he exalted himself by taking to himself that power which belongeth only to God viz. the Soveraignty over all Kings Princes and Rulers which either his Sword or Deceit can Conquer Dan. 8.25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in and by peace shall destroy many That is those which adhere unto his Doctrine and are reconciled unto him as their Head and so are at peace with him by which peace their Souls will be destroyed for it is a peace with Satan and therefore judge what kind of fruit that peace must produce Lastly He Exalts himself above all true Worship and Worshippers which is above all Churches and over mens Souls and Consciences Rev. 18.13 And he assumes to himself one of God's Glorious Attributes namely his Holiness for none is essentially Holy nor Holiness but God So that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God That is where none but Christ ought to sit And this is his standing up against the Prince of Princes but he shall be broken without hands saith Daniel 8.25 He shall be destroyed by the brightness of Christ's coming saith St. Paul 2 Thess 2.8 Therefore evil shall come upon thee thou shalt not know from whence it cometh and mischief shall fall upon him he shall not be able to put it off and it shall come suddenly saith the Propher Isa 47. When God begins he will soon make an end and her plagues shall come in one day saith John Rev. 18. that may be in one year which is at hand I doubt not Now whosoever is found under these marks and indelible characters which are here given and what I shall yet find out and and add That is the Man of Sin be he who he will that claims this universal power both Spiritual and Temporal Rev. 17.18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the kings of the earth And who this Woman is and what she doth or hath done you may see in the same Chapter Vers 5 6. And upon her forehead was a name written Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus and when I saw her I wondred with great admiration But why is he called the Man of Sin by the Apostle Paul and called a Woman by St. John in the Revelations The Reason why he is called the Man of Sin I humbly conceive respects him as a single person and a temporal Prince with all his temporal power and cruelty Dan. 7.7 And the Reason of her being called Woman is that which respects her Ecclesiastical Power as Head of the Church in conjunction with the Body so she is a Woman And as he is Antichrist the Man of Sin so he is Head and Husband to this Woman their Church which is made up of the many Antichrists As our Saviour Christ is called the Man Christ Jesus and the Holy One who alone is Head and Husband to the true Catholick Apostolick Church of God for both the false Antichristian Church whereof the Man of Sin is Head and also the true and pure Church of God whereof Christ is Head are preâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 Woman the false Antichristian Church is 〈◊〉 presented unto us as a Whorish woman a Strum 〈◊〉 Rev. 17.1 2. But the true Church is represent unto us as a Chast Virgin and a Clean Church without spot or wrinkle Ephes 5.27 And 〈◊〉 an illustrious beautiful Woman richly clothâ—â— Rev. 12.1 Psal 45.13 14 Cant. 6.10 But 〈◊〉 false Church this Whorish woman hath deserâ—â— Christ who was her Head and Husband before 〈◊〉 plaid the Harlot with many Lovers by forsake her Husbands bed the pure Worship and Ordnances of God and is become guilty of spiritual â—â—nication and adultery Rev. 17.4 5. and there 〈◊〉 Christ hath deserted her and cast her off and giâ—â— her a Bill of Divorce and so the Text tells 〈◊〉 that this Woman is in the Wilderness Rev. 17. 〈◊〉 And we have this Antichristian Church or Womâ—â— prophesied of also in Zech. 5.7 8. And behold thâ— was lift up a talent of lead and this a woman that 〈◊〉 teth in the midst of the ephah And he said Thâ—â— Wickedness Here is Antichrist the Man of Sin 〈◊〉 the Church or Temple of God and my Reaâ—â— why I look upon it to be so is this Because 〈◊〉 the Destruction of this Woman namely Wickedâ—â— which you have in the latter part of the 8th Vâ—â— Then upon this cometh forth two women wâ—â— the wind in their wings Verse 9. which are 〈◊〉 two Churches of both Jews and Gentiles which 〈◊〉 to be after the destruction of Antichrist and 〈◊〉 conversion of the Jews the one is the Jews 〈◊〉 will then be formed into a Gospel Church and 〈◊〉 other the Church of the Gentiles and this Winâ—â— their Wings I take to be their Gospel Doctrine and it signifieth their spirituality and their sâ—fâ—â— the Wings are God's Attributes for then they 〈◊〉 be built up and established and set upon her 〈◊〉 Base Verse 10.11 Then these two Women 〈◊〉 the two Churches of the Jews and Gentiles shaâ—â— beautiful and glorious in the eyes of all peâ—â— Zech. 14.20 21. So thus you see the Reason 〈◊〉 the Apostle St. Paul called Antichrist a Man 〈◊〉 why
and â—eign some not all should depart from the Faith that is they should Apostatize from the very Doctrine of the true Christian Faith they would disown the true Doctrine of Faith they would depart from the very fundamental Doctrine of Justification and Sanctification and Salvation by the Righteousness Merits and Spirit of Christ alone and look to be saved by their own righteousness and Meritorious works in conjunction with Christ's Righteousness and Merits when it is said in Act. 4.12 Neither is there Salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved and in Rom. 10.3 4. For they being ignorant of Gods Righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness have not submitted themselves unto the Righteousness of God for Christ is the End of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth for by the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified And they departed from the Faith of one Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 And they have made to themselves many Mediators And they have departed from the Faith of one intercessor in Heaven and have made to themselves many Intercessors when as it is said in Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect it is â—â—d that justifieth who is he that condemneth it is 〈…〉 that is risen again who is 〈…〉 â—â—cession for us he is our Advocate with the Father 1 Joh. 2.1 2 3. And lastly they depart from all other fundamental Doctrines of true Gospel-worship and Discipline and in all these departings they depart from God himself who is the chief Good and ought to be the last End and by this they fall into all mischief and Heresie being drawn away and seduced by these seducing spirits who are false Teachers to give up the sole conduct and government of their souls unto them that have their own Consciences seared with an hot Iron who feed them with Doctrines of Devils or Demons they teach or speak lies in hypocrisie And here the Apostle layeth down their forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from Meats to be part of these Lies For saith he Speaking lies in hypocrisie having their conscience seared with a hot Iron forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the Truth Mark they pervert the very End and Design of God in the Creation of these things God has created them to be made use of in his own way and ordinance the one in Chastity and the other in Temperance Not but that a Minister or any others are left to their liberty whether they will marry or not but they ought not to be imposed on by others but in this case they are a law to themselves neither doth this destroy a holy fasting or abstinency when it is done heartily and sincerely according to God's own appointment and prescription in his Holy Word but it wholly destroys all Impositions that are irregular and also it destroys all Pharisaical Hypocritical Meritorious Fasting and Penance But you will say How can this forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from Meats be part of those Lies and Doctrines of Devils which they speak in Hypocrisie First in forbidding to marry they injoyn the penalty of Damnation and pretend that if any persons in Spiritual Orders do marry they do not only forfeit the said Office but do also incur the guilt of damnation and they will yet sooner absolve them of the guilt of Fornication or Adultery as they pretend than of that offence Now this is Diametrically contrary to the Holy Scriptures which is the whole Faith and Truth which they are departed from and therefore it must needs be a lie for the word of Truth saith plainly That it is better to marry than to burn 1 Cor. 7.9 Secondly They do command all to abstain from Meats and make the ignorant people believe that they shall be damned if they eat flesh on certain times and seasons which they have prohibited without a dispensation from the Church which is the 〈…〉 Now the word of Truth saith Whatsoever is sold in the Shambles that eat asking no questions for Conscience sake And further it is said If any of them that believe not bid you to a Feast and ye be disposed to go whatsoever is set before you eat asking no questions for conscience sake Here you see the Man of Sin commandeth one thing and the holy God by his servant Paul commandeth another therefore this must be a lie because God is a God of Truth and cannot lie and the same Apostle saith Let God be true and every man a lier Rom. 3.4 But the Man of Sin is a lier and is departed from the Faith and the Truth is not in him Thus you see how they do impose upon the easie credulous ignorant people and make them believe that if they do disobey the Canons or Commands of their Church they do incur the penalty of damnation because say they our Church is infallible and cannot err And therefore you must believe as the Church believes or as she commands ye to believe which is to assume that Power and Prerogative which peculiarly and properly belongeth unto God viz. to make them a willing people in the day of his power Psal 110.3 Why even so Antichrist by force or fraud makes them an ignorant willing people in the day of his Dragooning power by the permission of God. But here lieth the great difference whereas God when he doth come by his Spirit by the Omnipotent power of Grace to work upon the souls of sinners to make them a willing people he also maketh them a wise and understanding people Psal 119.130 The entrance of thy words giveth light it giveth understanding to the simple God worketh first upon the Understanding and then upon the Will and by that he enlightens the Mind in the knowledg of Christ and then the Will is sanctified and changed and so of an unwilling people they are made willing But Antichrist when he exerts and puts forth his power to proselyte a soul he works first upon the Understanding and then upon the Will also but it is to put out the common light of the Understanding in Spiritual things and wholly depraveth the Will and resigns it up to the will of Antichrist and then leadeth the Mind wholly into the dark that they may not discern their deceit nor see the true way to come to the knowledg of Christ and therefore they take away and rob them of the Key of Knowledg namely the Holy Scriptures which is the Rule of Life and Faith that every man ought to walk by and believe because it is the revealed Will of God. But say they our Church is infallible and cannot err that is she is so good and so holy that there needs no amendment nor reformation in her
which if it were true would be a higher degree of perfection than ever any Church of Christ has yet 〈…〉 and the Apostles time We read of Seven Churches at one time in Rev. 2. and Rev. 3. but we find they had all of them their failings there was neither Infallibility nor Supremacy to be found among them tho notwithstanding it is true the Gospel true Catholick Apostolical Church is perfect and infallible but not in nor of her self but she is so in Christ her Infallible Head for there her perfection lieth Ephes 5.26 27. That he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Therefore this Doctrine of Infallibility of theirs must also be another Lie which they speak or teach in Hypocrisie for the Scripture saith in Jam. 3.2 In many things we offend all And in Eccles 7.20 For there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not Therefore the Man of Sin cannot be infallible altho in conjunction with all these many Antichrists and false Prophets which do belong unto him And pray mind what another Servant of God saith tho acted by the same spirit as Paul was 1 Joh. 2.18 19. Little children it is the last time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists whereby ye know that it is the last time And here followeth their Apostatizing from the true Church and Worship of God They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us Pray observe it was these many Antichrists that went out from the Church of Christ and made the first rent or schism But the true Church of Christ kept her standing tho perhaps not so visible in some Centuries or Ages because she fled into the Wilderness into her place prepared by God for her and was hid there after the Dragon by the permissive will of God got into the Temple of God which is called Heaven in his Son Antichrist for as God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ so o◠the contrary the Dragon is Antichrist's Father Re◠12.1 2 3 6. After this great fight in Heave◠which was persecution of the Church is the W◠man or Church of Christ fled into the Wilderne◠where she hath a place prepared by God that the should feed her there 1260 days which is all the reign of Antichrist And the Antichristian Church that woman is in the Wilderness also Rev. 17.3 B◠as the true Church is in the Wilderness in mere to her because she is in her place which God d◠prepare for her to hide her in from the Dragon the cast out floods of wrath and malice after her 〈◊〉 the false Antichristian Church is in the Wilderness in judgment to her for she is bewildered and I 〈◊〉 there These many 〈…〉 did not go first from them for she kept close to Christ's Standard in all Ages They followed the Lamb whithersoever he went and did not flinch nor run from their Colours but these Antichrists deserted the service of Christ and run from their Colours to Satan the Enemy And now to clench this Nail that is driven into the head of Antichrist the Man of Sin pray look into the same Chapter where he is described and prophesied of and observe strictly what is the cause that produced this dreadful effect namely what was it that provoked God to bring this tremendous judgment upon them and there you shall find that it is charged upon them by way of prediction for their despising and departing from the Faith 1 Tim. 4.1 which is from the whole Doctrine of Faith namely the Gospel of God 2 Thes 2.9 10 11 12. Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they receive not the love of the truth that they might be saved And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie that they all might be damned who believe not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness They please themselves with the conceit of being saved by their own righteousness which is unrighteousness in competition with the Righteousness of Christ for Justification they departed from the very Doctrine of Faith the means of Grace and Salvation which is the Spiritual food under Christ for the souls of true Christian Believers to live upon Psal 19.8 9 10. Now that person must needs perish and die that refuseth and despiseth his natural food and will not feed upon it but pretend to live upon the wind why even so it is with a respect to Spiritual food that soul or souls must needs perish and be damned that reject and refuse the means of Grace and Salvation Because saith the Apostle they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved and for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie that they all might be damned That is the whole of their Faith Doctrine Discipline and Worship is one great lie as the whole of the true Gospel-Faith Doctrine Discipline and Worship is called the Truth in the same Chapter in opposition this great Lie. So that the whole of their Spiritual opinion is only a heap of lies and deceit wrapt up and incorporated together And therefore called by the Holy Ghost a strong delusion and a lie It is a Delusion full of Delusions or a Lie full of Lies The Apostle by the Holy Ghost prophesied clearly what a dreadful Judgment God would inflict upon all them that would be thus horribly guilty For this cause God shall send them strong Delusions first hence we may observe that God did not proceed in 〈…〉 we may observe that this Judgment did not come of it self but God sent it Thirdly God sent them the Truth but they did not receive it in the love of it Fourthly you may observe that it was not an ordinary weak puny Judgment or Delusion that God sent which should not be able or strong enough to do the work no but it was a strong delusion that should overcome them Fifthly you may observe that this strong Delusion was not then come because that the Man of Sin was not yet revealed Sixthly the cause of it was then commencing for the Mystery of Iniquity did then begin to work Seventhly hence we may observe that they themselves did chuse these Delusions which was their great sin by which they provoked God to give them up unto them and so God in his Justice made their sin their punishment for it is said The Backslider in heart
that saw them have always been satisfied that it was a real thing Tho it is true the wicked enemies many times 〈…〉 believing Jews did of our blessed Lord and Saviour's casting out Devils when they said that he cast out Devils by Beclzebub the Prince of Devils Matt. 12.24 But when the pharisees heard it they said this fellow doth not cast out devils but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils They blasphemously and boldly did assert that Christ the Eternal Son of God did derive his Power and Authority to work Miracles by from the Devil when as Christ himself is the Omnipotence God the Second person in the most Glorious Trinity Rev. 1.8 I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending saith the Lord which is which was and which is to come the Almighty John 8.58 Jesus saith unto them Verily verily I say unto you Before Abraham was I am Prov. 8.23 30. I was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the carth was Then I was by him as one brought up with him and I was dayly his delight rejeycing always before him And likewise concerning that wonderful Miracle of Christ rising from the dead How did they porsuade and bribe the Soldiers that watched the Sepulchre to tell the Governor that while they slept his Disciples came by night and stole him away Matt. 28.11 12 13. But now this Transubstantiated Miracle of yours does not nor cannot satisfy any Man's Senses or Reason unless it be with Ignorance I dare be bold to say and appeal to all men that no Romanist himself can have his Sense and Reason satisfied as to the truth of it for it cannot be it is impossible All that can be said is this their unbelief has overcome and captivated their Sense and Reason and so they do lay a force upon it and suspend the following of the dictates of it as our Saviour Christ saith Mark 4.12 That seeing they may see and not perceive and hearing they may hear and not understand They may force their Tongues and so extort a Confession that the Bread or Wafer in the Sacrament is the Real Body and Substantial Flesh of Christ but the Eye saith Tongue thou liest at the same time for the Eye seeth no change upon the Accidents but they remains still as they were before which if there were such a change wrought upon them then the Elements would cease to be and quite disappear but he seeth the Elements still remaining as they were But implicit Faith and Unbelief hath so blinded his spiritual Eyes that he must not believe his own corporeal Eyes by which means be cannot or will not perceive the deceit And their hearts being so hardened through the deceitfulness of sin that they will not exercise their thoughts about it and their hearts are so beclouded or vailed over with their false Doctrine that although they hear better things with their Ears yet-they must not believe them because they are bound to believe as their Church commands them to believe And the Hand that 〈…〉 Mouth that can taste nothing but Bread or the Wafer the Mouth cannot taste one bit or morsel of Flesh or feel the least Bone or Gristle in it And as for the Wine that is really turned into blood they must take the Priests word for that and pawn the Salvation of their Souls for the truth of it too But tho they do blind themselves in this nature yet their Senses and Reason do their Office tho they will not hearken unto them nor give the least credit unto what they inform them And Christ and the Apostle tells them that it is Bread after Consecration and that the Cup is a Cup in which the Wine is 1 Cor. 10.16 17. And their own Senses and Reason tell them that it is so but they will not believe Christ nor the Apostles no nor their own Eyes Nose Hands nor Mouth but they will believe as the Church believes or believe the Priest before them all altho they have neither their own Senses Reason nor Understanding on their side nor the Holy Scriptures on their side which is the revealed will of God and ought to be the Rule for every Christian to live and walk by But Sir your own sense and reason and understanding and the Sacred Scriptures are all against you and this is the main reason why your Priests will not permit nor allow the use of the Gospel-light that holy and Sacred Touchstone to the people for if they did it would discover all their spiritual coyn to be but dross and counterfeit and it would never pass among the people Joh. 3.20 For every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved They first put out the light of the Gospel and then they bring them to resign up their sences and reason and understanding and conscience and souls and all unto the conduct of the Priests or Church And when they have them thus in the dark why then they lead them which way they please for he is no longer acted nor guided by his own reason or understanding nor by the holy Scriptures but by the Priests O Sirs look to the Word of God Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them O precious souls do not deceive your selves I beseech you by sollowing these blind Guides but take our blessed Redeemer's advice and counsel in Mat. 15.14 Let them alone that is as much as to say do not follow them they be blind leaders of the blind and if the blind lead the blind both shall fall into the ditch And the Prophet Isaiah saith in Isa 9.16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err and they that are lead of them â—re destroyed Again secondly if it be so that your Priests do by vertue of their Consecration convert the Bread â—nd Wine into the real substantial person of Christ 〈◊〉 wit of Body Soul and Divinity why then it 〈…〉 follow that Christ must be as compleat substantial and intire lacking nothing of all these blessed personal perfections as he was when he was here personally upon Earth before he ascended up into Glory for this must be the inevitable and necessary consequence of it for even so it must be or else it is but a meer fantastical imaginary Sham-Christ and is of the number of those sort of false Christs which our Saviour Christ bids us beware of which are out in the desert among the false Prophets Matt. 24.23 24 25 26. Then if any man shall say unto you Lo here is Christ or there believe it not for there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets This was prophesied by our Saviour Christ that when Antichrist the Man of Sin did or should arise that then these false Christs and false Prophets should arise in great numbers with him and shall shew great signs and
wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect Behold I have told you before Wherefore if they shall say unto you Behold he is in the desert go not forth behold he is in the secret chambers believe it not And Antichrist was to arise and come with all Power and Signs and Lying Wonders saith the Apostle which is the same character which our Saviour gives of him This desert where these false Christs are I take it to be a Church or People professing the name of Christ in words but deny him in works being abominable disobedient and unto every good work reprobate Titus 1.16 They are a Company of Deserters that have deserted Christ and run from the true Christian Colours for you see they are a sort of nominal Christians that do own Christ's Name but they do follow another Jesus as I have already shewed from the Apostles words 2 Cor. 11.4 They are a people that have deserted Christ's Standard who himself is Generalissimo of all the Christian spiritual Soldiers or Army But these false Prophets and others are those that are gone over to Antichrist who is Head and Generalissimo of all the many Antichrists and Apostates Now that our Saviour Christ prophesied here of Antichrist's rising it appeareth to me to be as clear as the Sun that shineth in the firmament because the Apostle hath laid down the very same Character of Antichrist and his Disciples and false Prophets as our Saviour had done before for our Redeemer saith that there should arise false Christs and false Prophets which should shew great signs and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they should deceive the very elect And the Apostle saith that the Man of sin Antichrist should come after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish Our Saviour saith consequentially Signs and Wonders and Deceit And the Apostle also saith Signs Wonders and Deceit If it were passible they shall deceive the very elect saith our Saviour that is by their great Signs and Lying Wonders They shall come with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish saith the Apostle And then here followeth their desertion of the Standard of Christ their General Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved Here they first desert God and then God deserts them as you may see in those following words of the Apostle as I have already proved And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie that they all might be damned who believe not the truth That is those who believe not the Gospel of God in opposition to this lie but had pleasure in unrighteousness Surely then this must needs be a dreadful desert when a Church or people desert and leave God And God doth cast off them and desert and leave them this I humbly conceive to be the meaning of our Saviour Christ in Matt. 24. which does agree and suit so well with that of the Apostle Paul's description of Antichrist the Man of Sin this is that desert where these swarms of false Christs and false Prophets are and do reside it is a deserted false worship And hear again what is said in 1 John 2.18 19. with which Scripture I shall close this Head and so go on towards the finishing of this Discourse Little children it is the last time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time There be the false Prophets which Christ tells us should arise and show great signs and wonders to deceive the credulous people And here followeth their Apostatizing or Desertion to wit They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us But they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us Thus you see that this Doctrine of yours is not true and your Tronsubstantiated Christ is but a false Christ and of the number of those Christs that are out in the Desart Now I pray Sir do not take it amiss that I deal thus plainly with you nor do not think much of my repeating over some things that have been mentioned under former Heads for you know in a trial at Law among Men you have often one and the same thing repeated over and over by the Witnesses and others c. Ay and we have it so in Scripture also in many places and in many cases and I will give you one which relates unto this our Tryal or Discourse Gal. 1.6 7 8 9. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel Which is not another but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ But tho we or an angel frem heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed As we said before so say I now again If any man preach aâ— other gospel unto you than that ye have received 〈◊〉 him be accursed And what the Apostle saith 〈◊〉 say I and let all good men say Amen to it 3. Thirdly If this Doctrine of yours be truâ—â— then after Consecration as you call it there would appear all the lineaments of a Man visibly to aâ— the spectators with all the faculties of a Man for 〈◊〉 was Christ when he was here upon Earth personallâ— in Body Soul and Divinity before he laid dowâ— his Life and after he took it up again viz. after he arose again from the dead Luke 24.39 Behoâ—â— my hands and my feet that it is I my self handle 〈◊〉 and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see 〈◊〉 have If this Doctrine of yours be really truâ— why then it would necessarily follow that all thâ— spectators as well as the partakers would be satisfied that it is so and not an imaginary fancy for such is the nature of Miracles as you see haâ—â— been clearly proved by several instances both from Scripture and Reason which do witness the trutâ— of it 4. Fourthly If this Doctrine of Transubstantiation in your sense be true viz. That Christ is iâ—â— tire in his person with all the lineaments and facuâ—ties of Man after Consecrating the Elements in thâ— Sacraments then Sir I would fain know what 〈◊〉 the Reason that he doth not speak or what should hinder or impede Christ from speaking personally and vocally now as well as he did to his Disciple after he arose from the dead when they were under doubts and fears whether it was he or no wheâ— he said unto them Why are ye troubled and why 〈◊〉 thoughts arise in your hearts Behold my hands and mâ—â— feet that it is I my self handle me and see for a spirâ—â— hath
This is my Body which is broken for you so far you go but you leave out and omit this do in Remembrance of me likewise also the Cup after Supper saying This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood which is shed for you Mat. 26.26 27. And as they were cating Jesus took Bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the Disciples and said Take Eat this is my Body and he took the Cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of it Here pray Sir observe by the way that it is said that Christ took Bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the Disciples what is to be understood by this word it why it was it Bread for had it been Christ's Real Corporeal Substantial Body it should have been more properer thus He took the Bread and blessed him and brake him and gave him to the Disciples And he took the Cup and gave Thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of it Now if your Doctrine were true then it should have been After Christ had given Thanks he gave him to them saying Drink ye all of him and not drink ye all of it that is all the Congregation both Minister and People that are Christ's true Disciples must all partake of the Cup or Wine in the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper But by what Authority your Priests are so uncharitable as to deny the Lay-people the Cup I know not when as our Saviour Christ commands expresly that all his Disciples must drink of it that is of the Wine in the Cup and not of his Material Blood that was then running in his Humane veins and the Cup may rather be taken for the Blood of Christ than the Wine if it be to be understood literally because the Cup only is mentioned and not the Wine for it is said This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood which is shed for you Christ himself did partake of this Holy Ordinance at the same time when he did institute it The same night in which he was betrayed But now if your Doctrine be true then Christ did eat his own Substantial Body and drink his own Material Blood and yet was visible with his Disciples before their Eyes without any alteration in the least It is said His Blood is shed for many for the remission of sins And yet then at that time Christ had not actually and properly shed his Blood but virtually in the Decree of God he had done it before the foundation of the world for all those that ever were saved before Christ came in the flesh and for all that ever should be saved after he came in the flesh down throughout all Ages to the end of the world 1 Pet. 1.20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for you Revel 13.8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world Act. 2.23 Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledg of God ye have taken and by wicked hands have Crucified and slain This Ordinance of the Lords-Supper is to be kept up and practised in the Churches of God for a Remembrance of Christ's Death and Passion from them words of our Saviour which words you omit and leave out namely Do this in Remembrance of me as will yet further appear by and by from the Apostle St. Paul's words when he celebrated this Holy Ordinance of the Lords-Supper in the Church of Corinth But again from our Saviour's words which you do take and interpret as if spoken literally whereon you lay so much stress and make it serve for a foundation to build this Doctrine of Transubstantiation upon which was spoken before the Ordinance of the Lords-Supper was Instituted by our Saviour himself in Joh. 6.51 53 54. I am the living Bread which came down from Heaven if any man eat of this Bread he shall live for ever And the Bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world Then Jesus said unto them Verily verily I say unto you Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood ye have no life in you Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath Eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day Here you see it is Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood c. How so what is the meaning of that word of our Saviour Christ viz. Whoso eateth c why this refers to what Christ had been speaking before in the same Chapter which leads to this Discourse of Eating his flesh and drinking his blood in setting out the usefulness and excellency of the Grace of Faith and the absolute necessity of it vers 35 40 47 48. here you shall see that this Whoso eateth Christs flesh and drinketh his blood is this viz. Whosoever believeth in Christ and resteth upon him alone for Spiritual life here and Eternal life in Glory hereafter Pray mark the words of our Saviour And Jesus said unto them I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst And this is the will of him that sent me that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day Verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on me hatâ— everlasting life I am that bread of life What bread of life Why that bread which by faith in his Righteousness and Merits alone justifies and acquits the soul from the guilt and pollution of sin without any works or righteousness of ours in conjunction or iâ— competition with Christ's for he will have no Rival he will have all the honour of saving a sinner tâ— himself for he is made the only Spiritual bread oâ— flesh for the new creature to live upon and it is nourished and strengthened thereby even as our natural bodies are fed and nourished and strengthened by our natural food Joh. 3.16 For God so loved tâ—â— world that he gave his only begotten Son that whose ever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life It is not said here whosoever eateth the material flesh of Christ shall be saved but whosoever believeth on Christ shall have Everlasting liâ—â— Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only Spiritual bread for every believing soul to live and feed upon Spiritually by the mouth of faith But you will say Here is a plain Text of Scripture for your Doctrine viz. This is the Bread which cometh down from Heaven that a man may eat thereof and not did I am the living bread which came down from Heaven 〈◊〉 any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever and tâ—â— bread that I will give is my flesh which I
at the day of Judgment That light is come â—nto the world and men love darkness rather than â—ight because their deeds are evil they hear of Christ but will not come and believe in him nor reign up the conduct and government of their souls â—nto him and this Ordinance of the Lords-Supper 〈◊〉 to quicken and strengthen the believers graces and 〈◊〉 shew forth the transcendent wisdom and grace of â—od in contriving and bringing to pass this blessed â—ork of mans Redemption by his only begotten â—n Jesus Christ This holy Ordinance may be compared with â—â—ly reverence unto a tender hearted loving Husband that is just taking his leave of his dearly beâ—â—ed Wife and going some long voyage by Sea or â—â—he tedious journey by Land And at his departure when he taketh his leave of his wife he saith 〈…〉 long time from thee therefore I will leave this Diamond Ring or this precious Jewel with thee as a Token of my intire love and affections unto thee for thee to remember me during my absence until I return unto thee again But when he returneth his Wife hath no need of the Ring or Jewel to remember him by because he himself is now personally present with her why even so our Lord Jesus Christ our Head and Husband just the very night in which he was betrayed leaves this Ordinance this precious Jewel with his Spouse the Church as a Love-token for to remember him by during his absence while he is personally sitting at the right hand of God the Father as you may observe from them words of our Saviour Do this in remembrance of me The true Catholick Apostolick Church is Christ's Spouse Cant. 5.1 I am come into my Garden my Sistor my Spouse and Christ is the Church's Husband Isa 54.5 For thy maker is thy Husband the Lord of Hosts is his name and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Isael the God of the whole Earth shall he be called But if this Doctrine of Transubstantiation in your sense be true viz. that the Bread and Wine is Transubstantiated into the very person of Christ namely into Body Soul and Divinity which makes up the compleat person of Christ as much now as he was before and after his Death and Resurrection and as much as he will be at the great day of Judgment for he will be then in Body Soul and Divinity but there will not be one soul that will even dare to stand by and own this strange Doctrine in that day any otherwise than to abhor it and to be ashamed of it And Christ is in Body Soul and Divinity now at the right hand of God in Glory But if this Doctrine of yours be true That Christ is Personally and Corporeally present every time that the Priest saith the Mass Then first in the first place It will consequentially follow that either the Priest maketh a new Christ every time the Mass is said and so we have one Christ personally in Heaven and they have thousands of Christs personally upon Earth Or Secondly They fetch down Christ materially personally from the right hand of God the Father And if so then in the third place Christ has no time at all in Heaven with the Father I call it time in Heaven for distinction sake to intercede and plead as an Advocate and Mediator with God the Father for sinners all his time would be taken up and spent in attending upon the Priests every time they say Mass in all those many remote places round the Globe almost which takes in their Mass-hours perhaps all the four and twenty Hours being upon several Horrizons Fourthly If this Doctrine be true then Christ is come and then this Ordinance ceases to be as I conceive and there needs no such thing to remember him by or to shew 〈…〉 swade him to stay when he is come in your Mass for according to your Doctrine there is a compleat Christ that cometh in the Mass every time it is said for when Christ doth come from the right hand of God to judg the quick and the dead as you your selves do confess and own in your own Creed to my own certain knowledg which I shall have occasion to speak more of by and by for Christ will come then in no other manner as to his person than in Body Soul and Divinity if he went to Heaven so he will come again so as you may see Act. 1.11 Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven this same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven Now if Christ be thus come then I humbly conceive this Ordinance should be at an end for when once the substance is come then the shadows must flee away and cease to be for what need the children of the Bride-chamber mourn when the Bridegroom shall come again to them and be with them for ever for what need a man have any thing to put him in mind or to remember a friend that is always present with him and is always before his eyes Why when Christ doth come his people shall see him eye to eye Isa 52.8 and Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh in the Clouds and every eye shall see him And they also which pierced him that shall be both Jews and Gentiles Zech. 12.10 Again thirdly the same Apostle saith That Christ was to be offered up but once and he gives this as one reason of it viz. for saith he If he had been offered up often then must he have suffered often since the foundation of the world And the Apostle Peter whom some do count Prince of the Apostles saith That Christ suffered once 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sin the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the spirit Mark ye it was the humane flesh or body of Christ that suffered and died and not his Godhead for that is not capable of suffering I pray Sir observe these following Scriptures and believe them Heb. 9.25 26 28. For Christ is not entered into the holy place made without hands which are the forerunners of the true but into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us nor yet that he should offer himself often as the high Priests entered into the holy place every year with the blood of others for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world But now in the end of the world hath appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself So Christ was once offered to bear the sin of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto Salvation Here you see Christ was ordained and appointed to be offered up but once and that was a sufficient sacrifice for sin in the wisdom and account of God but you 〈◊〉 once offering up himself
St. John called her a Woman The one reâ—â— him as a Prince in his temporal power and 〈◊〉 other respects him as head of the Church 〈◊〉 spiritual power for it is both one and the 〈◊〉 person tho successively and conjunctively thâ—â— all the Reign of Antichrist But there are some persons in the World 〈◊〉 would fain have this the Antichrist to be the 〈◊〉 Turk and that for this reason because it is 〈◊〉 1 John 4.1 2 3. Hereby know ye the spirit of every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is 〈◊〉 the flesh is of God. And every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not 〈◊〉 and this is that spirit of Antichrist whereof youâ— heard that it should come and even now already 〈◊〉 〈…〉 How did they come to 〈◊〉 this â—ur Saviour Christ told them and us so in Matt. 24. â— 25 26. And also the Apostle Paul by the Spirit 〈◊〉 Christ gave a very clear description of him in Thess 2.7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already â—â—rk That was the Man of Sin Antichrist â—â—s way was a preparing and paving for him to â—t into the Church or Temple of God even then 〈◊〉 his time But some people will say and them â—â—ly perhaps that are the persons principally concerned That this cannot be meant of us because â—â—e do confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh â—ut pray give me leave to tell you that there is â—â—ore in this than a bare verbal confession that Jeâ—â—s Christ is come in the flesh pray mind what the apostle saith to this Rom. 10.9 10. That if thou â—â—â—lt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt â—â—â—eve in thine heart that God hath raised him from the â—â—â—d thou shalt be saved For with the heart man believeth â—â—â—o righteousness and with the mouth confession is made â—â—â—o salvation This sort of Faith leads the Soul 〈◊〉 of his own Righteousness in point of merit or Justification and leads him to the Righteousness â—â—d Merits of Christ alone for Justifiction for let â—â—em confess never so often with their mouth that â—â—us Christ is come in the flesh if they do not believe in their hearts that his Righteousness and Meâ—â—â— alone is sufficient to justify and acquit them â—â—â—m sin and render them acceptable unto God 〈◊〉 will joyn their own Righteousness and Works â—â—â—h that of Christ's it will avail them nothing 〈◊〉 the same Apostle saith That by the deeds of the 〈◊〉 shall no flesh be justified for by grace are ye saved though faith and that not of your selves For it is 〈◊〉 gift of God not of works lest any man should 〈◊〉 The proper work and office of the Tongue is confess from the heart That Salvation cometh 〈◊〉 Christ's Righteousness and Merits alone which 〈◊〉 wrought out in his Rising from the dead by â—â—ich he was justified and acquitted from all the 〈◊〉 which lay upon him when he hung on the â—â—ss he was put to Death in the Flesh but Justice in the Spirit But if a bare verbal Confession of Jesus Christ â—â—â—g come in the flesh be sufficient to make a 〈◊〉 a true Christian then no doubt but Judas was a good Christian and was saved although 〈◊〉 Scripture calls him Son of Perdition A lost Son. â—â—on by external profession of the Christian Reliâ—â—â— but lost for his Treason and Rebellion as it 〈◊〉 call the Man of Sin Antichrist For no doubt Judas as he was an Apostle and a Preacher of â—â—â—st tho a great Hypocrite and Traytor yet he 〈◊〉 often confess that Jesus Christ was come in the 〈◊〉 Nay all the Protestants that ever were Hangâ—â— burned for Hereticks confessed that Jesus 〈◊〉 it was come in the flesh And therefore if this 〈…〉 come in the flesh does acquit them that hanged and burned them from being the Antichrist why then it does also acquit them that were Hanged and Burned from being Hereticks for Antichrist is the greatest Heretick that ever was in the World and all Hereticks are Antichrists but not them that are commonly called Hereticks but them that call them so that put darkness for light And thus you see clearly that they condemn themselves of being guilty of the Blood of the Martyrs by their own Argument which they vainly use to clear themselves from being Antichrist Again Thirdly If a bare verbal Confession of Jesus Christ being come in the flesh be sufficient to interest them in the great privilege of true Christianity then may the Devils themselves come in for a share of this kind of Christianity and great Privilege for they went a great way beyond this of a bare Confession that Jesus Christ was come in the Flesh for they owned and confessed him to be the Son of God and worshipped him as Christ told the Devil when he tempted him Luke 8.28 When he saw Jesus he cried out and fell down before him and with a loud voice said What have I to do with thee Jesus thou Son of God most high I beseech thee torment me not Luke 4.41 And Devils also came out of many crying out and saying Thou art Christ the Son of God and he rebuking them suffered them not to speak for they knew that he was Christ And the Apostle James 2.19 Thou believest that there is one God thou dost well the Devils also believe and tremble Alas it is not a notional confession of the Head only of Jesus Christ in the Flesh in words only that will make a Man a true Christian and intitle him unto all those glorious privileges which does arise therefrom for people may confess that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh in words and yet at the same time deny it in works Titus 1.16 They profess that they know God but in works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and unto every good work reprobate 2 Pet. 2.1 But there were false Prophets among the people even as there shall be false teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bringing upon themselves swift destruction Jud. 4. For there are certain men crept in unawares who were before of old ordained to this condemnation ungodly men turning the grace of God into lasciviousness denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ This is a denying Jesus Christ to be come in the flesh Doctrinally Again This Man of Sin is one that pretends to the Apostolical Office and working of Miracles and Wonders 2 Thess 2.9 Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders Who is this him that cometh Why it was Antichrist the Man of Sin as you may 〈…〉 if he that cometh Who is this he that cometh Why it is even the same again with him that cometh viz. The Man of Sin the Antichrist And what does he do after he cometh Pray mark For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus whom we have not
preached and if ye receive another Spirit which ye have not received or another Gospel which ye have not accepted ye might well bear with him Here the Apostle Prophesied of another Jesus that is of a false transubstantiated Christ as I humbly conceive which he saw by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost would come into the Gospel Church or Temple of God which caused God to turn it into a Desart And these are the same false Christs which our Saviour does forewarn us and commands us not to go out after them That is that we should not believe in them Matt. 24.23 24 25 26. And there was Signs and Wonders to attend these false Christs which our Saviour spake of insomuch that if it were possible they should deceive the very Elect But they are but lying Wonders and false Signs as the Apostle declares they are made up of deceit But here the Apostle Paul spake of another Spirit which St. John calleth the spirit of Antichrist 1 John 4.3 Rev. 16.13 14. This is the same spirit by which they do work their pretended Miracles Signs and Lying Wonders and this is another Gospel which is their Canons and Councils Decrees and Prescriptions and unscriptural Traditions of old Fathers and so they did cast off the true and pure Gospel of God and do not adhere unto it to this day and place these Scriptures of their own invention in the room of it and cry them up to be Canonical and Infallible And this is that another Gospel namely A false Antichristian Gospel stuffed with nothing but Errors and Heresie And pray observe what the Apostle saith by way of caution concerning this kind of Gospel and them that Teach it Gal. 1.8 9. But tho we or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed As we said before so say I now again if any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received let him be accursed The Apostle spake by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost prophetically and clearly of what was to come into the Temple of God when the Man of Sin should be revealed And in the 13 14 15. verses of that 2 Cor. 11. he gives a clear character of those persons that should be guilty in assisting to bring in and preach up another Jesus and another Spirit and another Gospel into the Temple of God viz. such are false Apostles deceitful workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ and no marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of light therefore it is no great thing if his Miâ—â—◠〈…〉 righteousness whose end shall be according to the works they are for works of Merits and in 〈◊〉 end they shall have as much salvation as they have earned by them these you see are the Devils Minsters and they are acted and influenced by his spirit Rev. 16.13 14. And I saw three unclean spirit like Frogs come out of the mouth of the Dragon and oâ— of the mouth of the Beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet for they are the spirits of Devils working miracles which go forth unto the kings of the earth Acts 20.28 29 30. Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost have made you overseers to feed the Church of God which 〈◊〉 hath purchased with his own blood For I know thâ—â— that after my departing shall grievous Wolves enter 〈◊〉 among you not sparing the flock Also of your oâ—â— selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. Noâ— the spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils speaking lies in hypocrisies having their consciences seared with a hot iron forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth Now what Sect or sort of persons are there to be found among Christians that do forbid Men that are in spiritual Orders to Marry or if they are Married that do forbid them to take that Office or Place upon them And these are the person here intended by the Holy Ghost which sent the Apostle an express from Heaven with the foreknowledg of it The Apostle Peter who some call the Prince of the Apostles was a married man for we read 〈◊〉 a miracle that our Saviour Christ wrought to cuâ— his wives mother of a Fever Mat. 8.14 15. aâ—â— several of the other Apostles were married meâ— 1 Cor. 9.5 And the same Apostle namely Paul saâ—â— in the 1 Cor. 7.9 It is better to marry than to burâ— viz. than to burn in lusts here and in Hell he after to all Eterniy for Fornication and Adultery it is better for them to be married seven times to â—ven wives successively in Gods way and holy Ordnance than it is for them to borrow or make be with their neighbours wife once And then as for commanding to abstain frâ—â— Meats at certain times and seasons that is univerâ—â— and reacheth to all and the same Apostle saiâ— That we may eat whatsoever is sold in the Shambles â—ing no questions for conscience sake 1 Cor. 10.25 〈◊〉 does not say eat whatsoever is sold in the Fish-marâ— tho he did not prohibit that and all those amâ—â— Christians that are thus guilty which are foâ—â—â—â—der this Character are those thâ—◠〈…〉 Man of Sin the 〈…〉 theirs from Christ their Head for tho they confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh in words yet in works they deny it Again the Turk never professed the Christian Religion nor owned the true Gospel of God and the pure Instituted Worship of Jesus Christ and afterwards Apostatized from it and rejected and despised the Faith and Truth of the Gospel and fit in the Temple of God and usurp a power over all Christian Kings and Princes and Rulers and over all Worship and Worshippers and sit in the room of Christ in his Temple and give Laws to mens Consciences as this Man of Sin doth and as the many Antichrists do Nor did the Turk broach nor bring in strange and monstrous Doctrines of Devils into the Church or Temple of God for mind the Apostle Act. 20.30 Also of your own selves shall men arise this could not be Turks for they were Christians and what shall these do speaking perversethings to draw away Disciples after them 1 Tim. 4.1 2. Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed â—o sedning spirits and Doctrines of Devils c. Now can you think this to be meant of the Turks It is spoken of persons that profess the name of Christ that do call themselves Christians Here we see was Prophesied that in the latter times that is in the time of Antichrist's power
Ages from Adam to the end of the World are the purchase of Christ Acts 20.28 Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Job 19.25 For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth This was spoken about One thousand six hundred years befor ever Christ was born or took flesh upon him Thus you see that Christ is the only Sacrifice that is sufficient and propitiatory for the sins of all true Believers both under the Law and under the Gospel for they are all of them purchased at the price of his precious Blood alone And none else beside him is the Sacrifice for sin and his Blood is the only Purgatory for sinners and no other for we are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot Now dear Sir Pray be pleased to take the Candle of the Lord and look about all Christendom and see and consider well with your self who there be and what Sect or sort of persons are there to be found among them that are called Christians or do but own the name of Christ that do make a Sacrifice of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper and they are the persons that are here intended by the Holy Apostle who spake as he was moved and inspired by the Holy Ghost for he could see by the Infallible Spirit of God even in that day That a certain Sect or sort of people would come up upon the Stage of Christendom or into the Temple of God that would forbid Marriage to pretended Religious Orders of Men and Women tho the Holy Scripture saith plainly and literally that it is better to Marry than to Burn. And the same Apostle saw by the same Spirit That the same sort of people that forbid Marriage would further reject the Scripture by commanding all persons whatsoever to abstain from Flesh The Apostle had an Expres◠sent him from 〈…〉 tidings 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. But the Apostle tells us we may eat whatsoever is sold in the Shambles to wit Butchers meat asking no questions for Conscience sake And the Apostle did see by the same Infallible Spirit clearly and spontaneously that a sort of Idolatrous Gentiles which are only nominal Christians would come into the Church or Temple of God that would make a Sacrifice of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper in that Scripture which I quoted before to wit 1 Cor. 10.20 21. But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice unto devils and not unto God and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of Devils ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's Table and of the Table of Devils Now Sir the Protestants do not make a Sacrifice of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper they do not look upon the Elements of Bread and Wine to be Transubstantiated into the real person of Christ namely of Body Soul and Divinity after their Blessing or Consecrating of them and so offer him up as a Sacrifice as you of the Roman Community do own and pretend to believe and that the Elements are miraculously turned into the real substantial Body of Christ viz. Body Soul and Divinity and then offer him up as a Sacrifice sufficient and propitiatory for the sins of the living and the dead But here will appear two Sacrifices you will see by and by in this one The Apostle saith that it is a Sacrificing unto Devils and not to God and they that are guilty of this practice have fellowship with Devils in it and not with God for saith he Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of Devils ye cannot be partaker of the Lord's Table and of the table of Devils Thus you do hear what the Apostle saith it is not my word but his which he spake by Divine Inspiration They offer up sacrifices unto Devils But here I say are two Sacrifices as you may observe in this one The first is this whereas the Priest doth pretend to offer up a Sacrifice sufficient and propitiatory for the sins of the living and the dead why here the Apostle telleth us plainly that this is to offer a Sacrifice unto the Devil and not unto God So that it is clear that they do offer a Sacrifice unto the Devil under a specious pretence of sacrificing unto God. And the second Sacrifice that springs out of this one Sacrifice is this viz. The poor Lay-people do really offer up their Senses Reason Understanding and Faith and all that should be dear unto them both as Christians and Men in Sacrifice to the Priest and they are no longer Masters of their own Senses Reason Understanding Soul and Conscience for 〈…〉 another They have eyes and see not they have cars and hear not they are fallen under that heavy Judgment which the Gospel Prophet predicted and also our Saviour Christ himself Isa 29.10 11 12. For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep and hath closed your eyes the prophets and your rulers the seers hath he covered And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed which men deliver to one that is learned saying Read this I pray thee and he saith I cannot for it is sealed And the book is delivered to him that is not learned saying Read this I pray thee and he saith I am not learned Matt. 13.14 15. And in them is fulfilled the prophesie of Esaias which saith By hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand and seeing ye shall see and shall not perceive For this peoples heart is waxed gross and their cars are dull of hearing and their eyes they have closed lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart and should be converted and I should heal them I do believe that this Prophesie does principally refer to the Jews and took place upon them first for rejecting and disbelieving Christ the true Messiah but those Christians that have contracted the same guilt as they did to reject the Gospel of Christ they do make themselves guilty of the same sin with the Jews and by that means have lain themselves in the bed of unbelief with them and are both Sacrificers now in Gospel times which is to deny that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh so they lay themselves under the same Judgment with the Jews for one and the same cause produceth one and the same effects at one time as well as at another without preventing Mercy But the Apostle Paul speaks clearly of a sort of Christians that would cast off and reject the Gospel of God for which God did bring the like judgment upon them in 2