and hearts of multitudes and corrupted great part of the World with the Wine of her Fornication even the common sort of people see Rev. 17. 2. And the inhabitants of the Earth have been made drunk with the Wine of her Fornication c. Paral. That Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath not only caused Kings of the Earth and great men to commit fornication with her by dancing after her Pipes in all her mysterious allurements and detestable errors but hath also intoxicated the Minds and Hearts of multitudes and miserably corrupted and bewiâ—ched great part of the World or common sort of people by her erroneous and wicked doctrine O what a world of poor people hath she a long time deceived and made to commit Spiritual Fornication with her in Italy Germany Poland France Spain Portugal Ireland and lastly in England and Scotland too besides many other Countreys 1. As first Is it not a strange intoxication that such a multitude of the Inhabitants of the Earth should believe that a wicked man should be appointed of God to be the Vicar of Christ as if God had no more regard to the Honour of his own Name and the good of his Church and Dignity of his Son than to substitute a Child of the Devil as all wicked men are to be Vice-gerent to the most holy Jesus in the highest transactions that relate to Heaven and the Souls of Men Surely if God shut Judas out of his Bishoprick for his wickedness tho an Apostle it can't stand consistent with his truth and holiness to set up or allow of a wicked and imperious Pope got up to the highest pinacle of pride and make him the Immediate Deputy and successor of Christ and to impose a Wolf as Shepherd upon the universal Church 2. One who saith that he is an infallible Judge to determine Articles of Faith and indued with power to Impose them upon great Penalties so that as a Lord he hath Dominion over Mens Faith Consciences and Souls too which the Apostles disclaimed 3. Is it not a strange intoxication that such a multitude of poor People should believe that the Church cannot err tho God and Thousands of good Men see and fully know there are not such abominable Errors in Principles nor such villanous Enormities cursed Actions cruel and immoral Practices in the World Nay such that Turks and Infidels do abhor Yet this doctrine that the Church is infallible and cannot err the poor deluded multitude believes and hate nay kill others that oppose it and venture Body and Soul upon it 4. Is it not a strange intoxication that such a multitude of the Inhabitants of the Earth should believe that the Pope tho never so wicked nay a priest tho he be a treacherous villain a contriver of Murther and an abominable Adulterer hath power to absolve his equals and fellow Sinners from all their Sins tho directly committed against God If he come to confession tho the pretended penitent keeps his old evil habit of wickedness still contrary to what God and Jesus Christ in his blessed Word saith where 't is recorded that 't is God alone that forgiveth Sins and bloâ—â—eth out our iniquities and that a man must be born again i. e. the evil habits must be changed and all wicked practices must be forsaken or no forgiveness nor entring into the Kingdom of heaven John 3. 3. 5. Is it not a strange piece of Witchcraft and Intoxication that such a multitude of the inhabitants of the Earth should believe that there is a Purgatory which is no part of Heaven nor Hell and that men may be redeemed out of it with Money tho God saith The redemption of the Soul is precious and ceaseth for ever Psal. 49. i. e. After the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all and that 't is only the Blood of Christ which purges and cleanses from all sin 1 Jo. 1. 9. and that we are not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold but with the precious Blood of Christ as a Lamb without Blemish and without Spot 6. Is it not a strange Intoxication and a clear demonstration that the Inhabitants of the Earth have drunk of the Wine of this Whores Fornication that such a multitude of poor Souls should believe that a filthy and wicked Priest by speaking a few Words can not only make Bread and Wine sacred but also turn and change the Bread into the real Body and Blood of the Son of God and make whole Christ of a pittyful Wafer-cake by a charm of five Latin words viz. Hoc est enim corpus meum and this transubstantiated Idol they fall down before adore as their Maker anathematizing and cursing all that shall deny this Idol of indignation to be adored with the highest degree of Divine Worship which is proper to God only for she saith 't is her God as she singeth in her Roman Missal Plagas sicut Thomas non intueor Deum tamen meum te confiteor Wounds as Thomas did I not see Yet do I confess thee my God to be In this as one observes they out-do the vanity of the Heathens who thought none was so witless as to believe that that which is eaten is a God yet this God of theirs these Canibals devour even Flesh Blood and Bones in their conceit the poor deluded multitude believieng contrary to their own natural Reason and all their sences that they eat real Flesh when they eat that Wafer-cake the substance nor quality being changed the Form Colour and Taste of Bread remaining after the Words of Consecration 7. Is it not a strange Intoxication that such a multitude of people should believe that evil and idle doctrine of hers viz. that no person how good and pious so ever he be can be saved out of the Pale of their polluted ungodly and devilish Church notwithstanding 't is a great doubt and question whether any member of such a false Church can be saved sith the Holy Scripture saith that no Idolater hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of God and again that If any man worship the Beast and his Image and receive his mark in his Forehead or in his Hand the same shall drink of the Wine of the wrath of God c. Rev. 14. 9 10. And he shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone in the presence of the Holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb c. Besides considering the Scripture directly holdeth forth that all who are born again or truly regenerate shall be saved let them be of what Church they will provided they are sound in the essentials of the Christian Faith and not guilty of Idolatry for certainly the new birth comprehends a change of all such erroneous principles as well as of other evil and corrupt habits and wicked practices 8. Is it not a strange kind of Spiritual Intoxication that such a number of the Inhabitants of the Earth should believe that 't is no Sin
Covenants to drive a Trade in Perjury forswear every thing they are justly charged with and is fully proved against them Ninthly To foment Wars and Broils in every Kingdom and Countrey where they have Power contrive the Ruine of Towns Places Cities Countreys and Kingdoms by Fire Sword and most Cruel Devastations Tenthly To slaughter kill and barbarously murther both Men Women and Children even all that dare make a shew of Conscience and Religion so far as to abhor and dissent from these Villanies This is such a Scheme of Religion and Systeme of Divinity to come from an Apostle a Shepherd a Vicar and Successor of Christ from a Church Sheep Saints and the pretended followers of the Meek Peaceable and Innocent Jesus who taught altogether otherwise by his Doctrine and Example that it might well be wondred at and is the strangest Mystery that ever appeared of which we challenge the whole World to shew the like in the Turks and Saracens For men to Swear Lye and to Forswear themselves and yet be true Men to contrive Rebellion Murther and Treason and yet be as Innocent as the Child unborn To be elevated to the highest Pinnacle of Pride even above Emperours and Kings above Jesus Christ and God his Father and yet be humble and lowly To commit gross Idolatry and yet be the Servants of the Living God To be filled with and make a Trade of Excess and Drùnkenness and yet be Patterns and Standards of Sobriety and Temperance To cast down the Truth to the ground deface the Laws of God and burn the Scriptures and yet be the true Witnesses of it To forgive sins and yet be the greatest Sinners themselves To commit Fornication and Adultery and yet be spotless and pure in heart To foment Wars and Broils in every Kingdom and Countrey where they have power to contrive the Ruine of Towns and Places Cities Countreys and Kingdoms by Fire Sword and cruel Devastations and yet be as harmless as Doves to all mankind the only Sons of Peace and Quietness To slaughter kill and barbarously murther Men Women and Children that dare not be so wicked as themselves and yet to be full of mercy tender pity and compassion an Apostle Shepherd Vicar Successor of the Meek and Lamb-like Saviour And for the dear Consort of this Impious Head on Man of Sin do not only confederate with him but a Principal in all these unparallel'd Villanies and most butcherly and rapacious Murthers and yet be the Holy Catholick Church of God the pure and spotless Spouse of Jesus Christ the true Sheep the harmless Lambs the best of Saints and close followers of the Lord Jesus who always taught the contrary by his holy Doctrine and meek Example We say these things not being found by secret search but are written in Capital Letters upon her forehead appear in open view to be read by every one that is not wilfully blind Let any one shew us a greater Mystery in the World than this and we will subscribe to it 4. It cannot be the Turks because they are not the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth which this Babylon is said to be Rev. 17. 5. And upon her forehead was a Name written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH And here we demand in excuse to the Turks this one Thing From whence did proceed the Murthers Massacres and Martyrdoms of all the Religious Professors of Christianity that have died by violence in the Christian World for the space of twelve hundred years last past And from what people did proceed those horrid Oaths Blasphemies and Execrations that the World hath wofully been acquainted with most horrid and strangely astonishing to repeat Came these unparallel'd Degrees of Impiety from the Turks from the Waldensians Lutherians Calvinists or any Non-conforming Protestants No no why whose Language then is it Whose Why 't is the Language of the Beast of the Bottomless Pit and Bloody Whore who bare these Blasphemous Sons of her own Body daily nourishes them at her Breast and strengthens them in their sinful courses by accounting them the Sons the precious Sons of Sion the true Sons of the Catholick Church the Darlings of Heaven the beloved ones of the Virgin Mary and gives them Pardons for these Bold and Heaven daring sins as often as they commit them and come to ask Pardon for them so that Sin and Pardon is as constant and common with them as Breathing and Eating And these things are done to Seal and Confirm Lies which is the more heavy heinous and prodigious For if men may Lye by Allowance may kill and shed Innocent Blood without controul of Conscience and Church censure◠may Swear and Blaspheme and Challenge God himself to Damn them may burn men for Religion consume Cities to Ashes conspire the death of Kings the Ruin and Overthrow of Kingdoms Whore and Murther Infants and yet be accounted a Church the Members and Parts of it called Saints Holy Children and the Sons of the most high God Then may we claim a Patent and take a License to change the name of all things and alter the Ideas of the minds of men call and account Beelzebub a good God and all his black Tribe the pure Saints of the most High call the lower Regions of Blackness and Darkness to which he is confined the Heaven of Glory and Eternal Light of which things we ought in Justice to clear the Turks until Witnesses of undoubted credit shall come forth and evidence that the Turkish State is the Mother of as great Abominations as these are 5. And Lastly The Turks cannot be Mystery Babylon because they never were made drunk with the Blood of the Saints and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus which this Woman Mystery Babylon is expresly said to be Rev. 17. 6. And I saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and I wondred with great admiration Now let any man shew such blood-shed Saints bloodshed by Massacres and Martyrdom for the Professing of Christianity which must be if the Text be answered in that clause Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus by the Turks either within their Dominions or without as hath been shed by a Generation nearer home and we shall become like the Man without the Wedding Garment wholly speechless and say not a word more about Babylon 6. Now that Babylon in the Apocalypse is Great Rome that in former times Reigned and in suture times shall be destroyed is owned by some of the Papists themselves and is asserted by all Protestants the Difference betwixt them is brought to this narrow Point The one wholly confines Babylon to Rome Heathen and there totally to terminate the other brings Babylon down lower to Rome Antichristian or Papal Rome Now that this work may be to edification and more full satisfaction in this great case we shall advance to the last and chief
a time between both the Church of God had been at as great uncertainty as if no time had been set almost Therefore if we take the finishing their Testimony to respect their work then it is our concernment to consider wherein this finishing part doth lye And that I conceive to be in a witness to the Kingly Office of Christ. His Prophetical and Priestly Offices were first Witnessed to And this hath been lastly contested for even to blood in the last Wars in England as the other had been upon which this last War hath been commenced The Testimony being further confirmed in the Martyrdom of many of those concerned in the finishing of this Testimony The sufferings of the Church in these late years has been carried on against her otherwise than in former ages in other Methods and under other names and pretences all bespeaking that the time of finishing the Testimony is come and the War commenced and it may be an overcoming if not killing also Sixthly where this shall be Ans. It will be there where this finishing part of the witness to Christ is born for there the last War is which is the last effort which Antichrist shall make against the Church of God and overcoming and killing will be And where they shall lye dead and where they shall rise when the Spirit of life from God comes upon them Now where shall all these things be The Holy Spirit tells us it shall be in the Street of the great City Rev. 11. 8. Not in all the Ten but in one Street and upon their resurrection the tenth part of the City falleth not the whole City at once v 13. So that in the Street or Kingdom where the Testimony hath been finished there all the rest follow and there the deliverance of the Church shall begin to an utter overthrow of all her Persecutors and Mortal Enemies Seventhly When this shall be Ans. To know the beginning and end of these times and things there are two ways of calculating The one is beginning at the Head of a number so reckoning forward to its end The other is back-wards as Daniel did Chap. 9. beginning our reckoning at the end of the number and so reckoning to the beginning Now by one of these two ways in Gods time we shall infallibly know But to the Question I suppose both ways may be a help to us now and Scripture numbers have a dependance one upon the other and there lies the harmony of them when that is understood The great number which includes all the rest throughout the sufferings of the Church of God under the three last of Daniels four Monarchies is that of 2300 years which I have indeavoured to carry on by Scripture to the end of it within forty five or forty four years from this year of our Lord 1686. There are two other great numbers in Daniel chap. 12. one of 1290. the other 1335. which is forty five more than the other so that altho' they both begin together they do not both end together by 45 years That they begin together is evident for the 45th is the addition of so many to the 1290. therefore blessed is he that lives to the forty five longer than the 1290. for altho' the Churches deliverance shall begin at the 1290. it shall not be compleated till forty five more Therefore blessed is he that lives till that time so that when ever these 1335. years begin they end with the 2300 years also Again the 1290. is thirty more than 1260. in Rev. 11. therefore tho' they may end together yet they cannot begin together And because of this expositors have generally judged that the 1290. in Daniel relate to the Jews and the 1260 to the Gentile Church but by what reason I cannot be satisfied Hence they head this 1290. at Julians attempting to rebuild the Temple The reason of which was this he had apostatized from Christianity and restored the Gentile Worship and Sacrifices and as an affront to Christians put the Jews upon Sacrificing also who told him that it was not lawful for them but in the Temple at Jerusalem therefore he orders them to build it which they attempted to do but could but attempt for God by his immediate power prevented them This Julian began his Reign in 365. and Reigned but three years so that this opinion time hath confuted For add 1290 to 368 it makes but 1658. at which time they reckon'd the Jews would be called but no such thing hath been Therefore they expounded all these places which we read Sacrifices with a supplement in Dan. 8 12. chap. 11. 31. chap. 12. 11. to intend the Jewish worship which Julian attempted to set up in confront to Christianity to be the abomination that makes desolate for all or any of which I see no reason It is properly translated Sacrifice in one place as chap. 9. 26 27. And this doth relate to the taking away of the Sacrifices then in being of Gods own appointment which accordingly were taken away as Christ himself also admonished Mat. 24. 15. by Titus c. 368 1290 1658 But the abomination which makes desolate I conceive is some corruption in the Gospel worship the true worship of God And therefore seeing we as before find the Apostle concerned so much in forewarning the Church by a Spirit of Prophesie of what had also been expresly foretold by the Spirit of God If it was expresly foretold it must be written some where or other and take the Apostles own exposition 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. Why may we not rather reckon this to be the abomination to astonishment foretold by Daniel and this came in in the 383. year when Syricius was Bishop of Rome and continued 15 years in his time Marriage was forbidden to the Priests and in the 425. year Caelestinus was Bishop of Rome and continued eight years He assumed the temporal power as 2 Tim. 3. 1 2 4 5. and why we may not head these numbers here I would be glad to understand In the last of which I conceive Antichrist did make his first visible appearance in the World so that add the 1260 to 425 it makes 1685 and you bring it to the end of 2300 days within forty five years or a year or two which time I conceive is alloted to pour out the Vials and to accomplish the great revolutions in that shall come upon the Earth in order to the possessing of the Kingdom that shall be given to the Saints of the most high Dan. 7. 26 27 28. There is time expressed by time times and dividing of time three times in Scripture as Dan. 7. 25. 12. 7. Rev. 12. 14. I find time thus expressed but in one place more and that is Dan. 4. 23. where it's certainly taken for years and by what rule we will construe it otherwise in other places I see not And that in Dan. 12. 11. seems plainly to relate to a special time of the Enemies accomplishing
policy and force of Arms not by pretended Miracles false Signs and lying Wonders therefore Rome Heathen cannot be this mystery of Iniquity or Babylonish State. 12. This wicked State under consideration is declared not only to depart from the Faith by a Palpable Apostacy but to forbid Marriage and Command a long Lent and many other fast days whereon some sorts of Meat are prohibited to be eaten which doth so fully agree to the Papal State of Rome that nothing can be more plain unless the Spirit had expresly told us this will be fulfilled by Rome Papal for these two things we have their Canons upon Record the which if none can shew the like of the Heathen State of Rome then Rome Papal shall carry the Title of this mystery of Iniquity and Babylonish State. 7. If the Babylon under consideration be only confined to the Power of Heathen Rome then there is a more evident and apparent mystery upon the State or Power of Rome Heathen than upon any Power oâ— State that went before it or shall come after it for so the Text Imports Rev. 17. 5 And upon her fore-head was a name Written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT c. But there did no such mystery appear upon the Power or State of Rome Heathen therefore this Babylon cannot terminate there what great mystery appeared upon the Power and State of Rome Heathen more than appeared upon the Power and State of the three foregoing Monarchies 8. This Babylon cannot be confined to the Power of Rome only in its Heathen State because Babylon is to continue till the good people shall with the Horns that did support her which is the last part of the wicked and Persecuting Power answerable to the teâ— Toes in Daniels great Image reward and destroy her for the injury that she did unto them according to these three Texts of Scripture Rev. 18. 4. Dan 7. 22 26 27. Rev. 17. 16. And I heard another Voice from Heaven saying Come out of her my People that ye be not partakers of her Sins c. ver 6. Reward her even as she hath rewarded you and deal unto her double according to her Works In the Cup that she hath filled fill to her double How much she hath Glorified her self and lived Deliciously so much Torment and sorrow give her And the ten Horns which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore shall make her desolate and naked and eat her Flesh and burn her with Fire which the Power of Rome in its Heathen State felt not but ended its Course without being destroyed by good People and the ten Horns which is the last part of the Image Government And in the days of these Kings viz. ten Toes ten Horns ten Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed and the Kingdom shall not be leâ—t to another People but it shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever Which could not be fulfilled in what Constantine did in the time of Maxentius as Dr. Hammond would have us believe for these three reasons 1. Because the ten Horns that afterwards the Roman Power fell into were not come up and so could not destroy the Power of Rome in its Heathen state 2. Because Babylons Persecution mystery and confusion did not utterly cease which it must have done so as to rise no more for ever if the power of Rome Heathen destroyed by Constantine had been this mystery Babylon 3. Because tho there might be a body of good people with Constantine when he overthrew Maxentius yet the Power of the Kingdom was not so Established in the hand of good People as not afterward to be Left to others as the Text affirms And the Kingdom shall not be Left to another People For as we shall anon shew the Kingdom or Power that ceased to be in the hands of Heathens and by mighty and Divine Providence came to be in the hands of worthy and renowned Christian Emperors came afterwards into the hands of very Devils incarnate who acted all the violence of the Heathen Power over again and indeed out-did them 9. Those that are for confining this Babylon to the Power of Rome in its Heathen State are not well aware what they do for if they do Demand it their opposits who hold it to be Rome Papal may Grant it for arguments sake But then the remedy is worse than the disease for they slip into such a Precipice as neither Baronius Bellarmine Dr. Hammond or the Rhemists can save or deliver them from The true State of the Case 〈◊〉 this Rome Heathen is Mystery Babylon thâ—â— say the Papists And the more willing they are to say so because it is a good argument to Prove that Peter was at Rome he subscribing his first Epistle from Babylon 1 Pet. 5. 13 The Church that is at Babylon Elected together with you Saluteth you c. But this being allowed the worst is to come This Babylon is Destroyed when the power of Rome Heathen is taken away so as to be no more for ever but then what Condition doth the State of Babylon fall into Doth it become the Throne of the Lamb the City of the living God the Habitation of Holiness and dwelling place of Zion the true Church the place of the holy ones and Saints of the most High O No! What then Hearken and an Angel from Heaven shall tell you Rev. 18. 1. 2. And after these thinge of the horns hating the Whore making of her Naked and burning her flesh with Fire I saw another Angel come down from heaven having great Power and the Earth was Lightned with his glory And he Cryed mightily with a strong voice saying Babylon the Great is fallen is fallen and is become the Habitation of Devils and the hold of every foul Spirit and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird. Now you Papists if you will have Babylon to be Rome Heathen take it but then make Rome Papal better than an Habitation of Devils if you can If it be not Rome Heathen then adieu to Dr. Hammond and the Rhemists we have what we desire If it be then Rome Papal â—s a far worse if possible than Rome Heathen â—n Babylon never was And then what a fine Church do the People make themselves 10. If the place Seat and City of Rome was not utterly ruined so as to be no more for ever as a place of Commerce Trade and Humane Society when the Heathen Power ceased then Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylon because at the ending and downfal of this Babylon the Place Seat and City will be utterly ruined so as to be no more a place of Trade Commerce or Humane Society Rev. 17. 16. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and shall eat her flesh and burâ— her with fire v. 18. And the woman which thou sawest
Great in respect of place or chief residence where this power and great people are seated and by way of eminency as a Mystical City it may indeed well bear the Bell away For what people have given further occasion to be spoken of in respect of power people and place of chief residence throughout the whole world as Rome has as will hereafter be made more evident III. Mystery Babylon is not only a mysticaâ— City and Woman but a bad Woman and City a City of Confusion For so the word Babel or Babylon signifies viz. Evil or Confusion Parallel Rome Papal or Church of Rome is not only a mystical Woman City but a very evil Woman a City indeed of confusion there is the name of the lamb much spoken of but his doctrine contemn'd slighted and under valued and his Laws and Ordinances trampleâ— upon and notoriously violated his institution not regarded nor his example imitated either by the Bishop himself his Cardinals or inferior Orders they having his humility and self-denial only in their mouths but none of it iâ— their hearts like those the apostle speaketh of who in words profess they know God but in workâ— deny him For under this verbal and pretended humility lies covered the greatest pride in the world and under this verbal meekness and self-denial the greatest oppression cruelty superstition covetousness vain glory and love of the world that ever was manifest as appears by their pompous and glistering garbs their cruel persecutions and the vast sums of money brought in from all parts of their dominions by sleights cunning and deceitful Cheats Besides a meer hodg-podg of principles one Order or Fraternity professing that which another writes against and cries down which is the more strange to come from a Church infallible and that cannot err Besides the strange mixtures in their visible worship of traditions and humane inventions of lying and diabolical tricks of blessing by a Cross Pardons and Indulgences for money consecrating holy water and cleansing by it which are too numerous and tedious to relate and less needful to mention because so well known to all men And let any people in the Christian world pretending to religion be compared to them for supernumeraries trifling â—nsignificant ceremonies crouded into their pretended worship Nay let all the people in the Christian world be laid in the ballance against the Church of Rome in this respect and they will be found inconceivably wanting for which we have this Reason to â—udge her to be Babylon or the City of confusion If there is more confusion in contrariety of principles practices contradicting pretensions supernumeraries foolish and unscripturâ— inventions crouded into their visible worship in the Church of Rome than is to be found amongst any sort of people pretending to Religion in all the world besides then is Rome Papal or the Church of Rome the great Babylon or City of confusion But there is more confusion in the forementioned respects to be found in the Church of Rome than in any other Church or people in the world pretending to Religion Ergo Rome Papal is Mystery Babylon IV. Mystery Babylon is not only set forth 〈◊〉 a Woman and City of Confusion but is also called A WHORE a word which carries in it one of the highest Impeachments yet no other that was given to Israel Judah Jerusalem in the days of old upon the very same reason Isa. 57 3. and 16. 17. and Hos. 4. 8. 5. 3. For they being joyned in covenant with God as a woman is to an husband to be the Lords to serve him in Obedience and Subjection did like to an adulterous Woman break Wedlock and set up other Lovers or Idols in his stead and continued so a long time till a Bill of Divorce wâ— given and God proclaimed them Adulteresses and that he was not their husband nor they his wife but a whore and divorced Yet it is observable that they tho they worshipped Idols cryed The Temple the Temple of the Lord are we and would by all means be accounted the Church of God. Paral. Even so in like manner Rome Papal or the Church of Rome is not only called a Woman But according to Scripture History and notorious matter of Fact she is a whore having utterly adulterated from what she was once and so may justly bear that brand or black name for in the Apostles time she joined her self to the Lord to be his by firm tyes of a Gospel covenant and profession and as a renowned Spouse of Jesus Christ owned and professed him in the time of heathenish Rome and received the Apostles and Servants of God amongst them and withstood the fury of the Emperors suffering Persecution and had their faith spoken of throughout the whole World but yet after all this like Israel of old She left God Jesus Christ and almost all his Holy Laws and Ordinances and made Idols to her self of Saints Angels Reliques and Images upon which she doted and forsook the Son of God upon the working and appearance of the vile person or man of Sin who exalted himself into the place of Christ and became her head by which means she is so far degenerated from what she once was that she retains nothing of what really appertains to true godliness but the bare names of God Christ and Christian Religion having corrupted the true worship of the Son of God her first Husband and notoriously abandoned obedience and subjection to him taking this vile person the Pope to be her head and chief guide and setting him up in the place of and in dignity above Christ her first head and only guide of her youth and yet like Israel of old still cryes The true Church the Holy Catholick Church and Mother Church are we having on her forehead a strange mystery written i. e. God Christ Truth Verity Unity Universality Infallibility And yet with that on her forehead and in her heart too is written Devil Pope Lying Blasphemy Idolatry Deceit Perjury Blood and Horrible Cruelty towards the best of men professing Christ and Religion in uprightness and truth for which her abominable Idolatry and change of her first Head and Husband and setting up this vile Person with which she commits most horrid lewdness or Spiritual Whoredom together with the Kings of the Earth she is ranked by the Holy Ghost amongst the worst of Women and stil'd the great Whore and as her type and predecessor of old a well favoured Harlot but since her Spiritual Adultery and Whoredom hath been so apparently proved upon her by many worthy and eminent authors or Protestant Writers we shall conclude this black character with this following Argument and proceed to the next mark If there be no body of professing People in the Christian World that have so apparently declined or adulterated from what they once were deserting the holy headship doctrine example and right government of Jesus Christ having set up another visible publick and universal head
of the Church in room and stead of him whose Power Laws and Edicts are preferred above and before the authority laws and precepts of the Lord Jesus Christ as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath done then the Church of Rome is mystery Babylon or the great Whore spoken of But there is no body of professing people in the Christian World nor throughout the Earth who have so apparently declined adulterated and deserted the Holy Headship Doctrine Example and right Government of Jesus Christ ut supra as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath done Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is mystery Babylon the great Whore. If any should think this argument not weighty let them shew if they can that some other people different from the Church of Rome have made as great or like change in point of Religion and Headship and matterâ— thereto pertaining so as this black character of Whore great Whore may more fitly and fully be made to meet upon them and we must confess our argument not weighty but till then we conclude it carries conviction in the Bowels of it V. Mystery Babylon is not only set forth by a Woman City of Confusion and Whore but also a great City and great Whore and the great City was divided c. Rev. 16. 19 And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City Rev. 17. 18. I will shew thee the Judgment of the great Whore Rev. 17. 1. I think it necessary to reassume this character again the Spirit of God noting this as a most eminent mark of her Paral Now that the Church of Rome is not only a Whore and Mystical City but a very great City and Whore will yet appear more evident 1. She hath a great name no name so great in the Christian World as the name of Rome she is called a Queen and being joined by Contract to her universal Head viz. the Pope or Man of Sin she would seem to be far greater than Emperors and temporal Princes and pretends a power to give them their Crowns and set them upon their Heads and kick them off again at pleasure 2. Great in Power She gives Rules and Laws to Kingdoms advances her Ecclesiastical Edicts above Temporal she sets the Pope and the chiefest of her Sons above secular Jurisdiction makes them unacountable and pretends a power to Absolve to Bless and Curse at her pleasure and without controversy the lesser is blessed of the greater 3. Great in multitude There are no People besides that are in a spiritual united Body and visible community professing Christianity comparable to her for multitude or the vast numbers of her Children 4. Great in actions vile actions such as deposing and poysoning Princes fomenting jealousies raising Wars setting Nations together by the Ears invading rights and properties of Nations and Kingdoms by subtile insnarements and cunning stratagems making tumults and uproars contriving Masscres burning Cities and carrying on dreadful devastations where she is gain-said and that which adds to her greatness is that invincible confidence she hath that all persons and things are made for her and given to her so that all things she doth are allowed as Legal and Just in Heaven tho the actions are most vile and as unhumane as any can be in the Judgment of any undeceived mortal from whence we shall frame this argument Arg. If there be no united Body of People or visible Community in the Christian World that is so great in name power multitudes and actions vile actions as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath been and still is then the Church of Rome is mystery Babylon But there is no united Body of People or Community in the Christian World that is so great in name power multitude and actions vile actions as Rome Papal or Church of Rome Ergo Rome Papal is this great City Whore or Mystery Babylon VI. Mystery Babylon is said to sit upon many Waters which is expounded to be People Multitudes Nations and Tongues Rev. 17. 1 17. And he said unto me the Waters which thou sawest where the Whore sitteth are people and multitudes and nations and tongues c. which according to the learned Mede Peter Du Moulin and other famous Protestant writers is more than a third part of the ten considerable parts which the Roman Monarchy fell into not long before the Pope that man of Sin and Head of mystery Babylon assumed the imperial Seat and Throne which afterwards became ten Kingdoms with Crowned Heads assisting the Beast against the Lamb and Persecuting of the Saints distinguished into ten Kingdoms of the Empires I. of Germany II. France III. England IV. Scotland V. Denmark VI. Polonia VII The Kingdom of Spain VIII The Kingdom of Navarre IX The Kingdom of Hungary X. The Kingdom of Naples and Sicily All which Rome Papal had in possession as our French author saith in the days of Pope Leo the tenth Paral. So then it appears evidently that the Church of Rome has directly this mark of Mystery Babylon also she sitting upon many Waters viz. people multitudes nations and languages that she sate upon or ruled over more than one third part of the ten which was formerly under the Roman Empire in its civil state is evident whichâ— more than one third part hath since fallen into ten Kingdoms under the Government of ten Crowned Heads and have all agreed to give their Power to this last Beast as they received power as Kings one hour with him according to what was foretold which makes good what St. John â—n the Apocalypse hath made known as also Daniel concerning the little horn which had â— mouth speaking great things whose looks were more stout than his fellows Dan. 7. by whom three of the first horns of the Roman power in its civil state were pluck't up by the roots and in their place succeeded ten Kings or Crowned Heads who have their Crowns given to them by this last Beast and as they had their Crowns given by and hold their Kingly power under the Pope little Horn last Beast or man of Sin in requital of his fatherly care in giving his Sons so great a Patrimony so they give their power to him and ingaged against the Lamb in making War with and persecuting the Saints of the most High and will do so till the VVord of God or Prophecy of Daniel and Revelations of St. John c. is fulfilled which ten Crowned Heads answer to the ten Toes in Nebuchadnezzars Image and to the ten Horns in this 17th of the Apocalypse which are so concerned in the Beasts Kingdom and who will at last by the gracious providence of God that is some of them be overcome by the Lamb and turn to hate the Whore and make her desolate whom before they for a long time join'd with and supported and for whose pleasure they did persecute the Saints which ten States or Kingdoms are by our French author Peter du Moulin in his book called the accomplishment
or a great secular power clothed in Scarlet Vestments as Rome Papal doth then Rome Papal 〈◊〉 Church of Rome is Mystery Babylon But there is no visible state in the Christian World that doth so apparently sit upon command and govern the Beast or secular power cloth'd in Scarlet Vestments as Rome Papal or Church of Rome Ergo Rome Papal c. is Mystery Babylon To reinforce this argument we challenge any Papists Atheists or any else to shew where there are any other people or party to whom these Characters agree as well as with Rome Papal and then we will let this argument sall X. The Beast that Mystery Babylon sits upon commands and governs is not only clothed in Scarlet but is also full of the names of Blasphemy Rev. 17. Paral. Now that the Church of Rome hath this mark also of Mystery Babylon is evident viz. that the Beast cloathed in Scarlet that bears up that whorish Churhc is full of the names of Blasphemy this appears by his ascribing that to creatures which belongs to God and Jesus Christ only and in divers other respects 1. When the cursed Beast is called our Lord. God the Pope and whatsoever he doth no man may say to him Why do you this And whosoever obeyeth not his precepts incurreth the Sin of Idolatry doth he not in this shew himself indeed to be God What greater Blasphemy can there be 2. When he is called universal Head of the Catholick Church is not this Blasphemy against Christ who alone is the head of the universal Church 3. When he is called the Lamb of God he Light of the World the Root of David the Lion of the Tribe of Judah 4. When the orders of the Church Oral Traditions and Decrees of Councils are said to be of greater authority than the Holy Scriptures Cardinal Hositis in his Advertisement to King Sigismund hath these expressions If they that is the Hereticks say it is written that is the voice of the Devil speaking in his members they call the Scripture Paper and Parchment and that 't is an absurd thing to attribute more authority to the Scripture than to the Church which they call a nose of Wax which suffers it self to be turned hither or thither as a man pleaseth and that the Scripture is the Daughter and their Church the Mother is not this horrid Blasphemy against God and the Holy Spirit who gave the Scripture forth and whose sacred off-spring they are 5. When the Virgin Mary Angels and Saints are invocated with Prayers and Addresses that only belong to the Divine Majesty as if those creature were infinite and could hear us at so great a distance as Earth is from Heaven which they could not do if perpendicularly over us much less from all parts of the World over which they cannot be whether this ascribing Infiniteness and Omnisciency and Divine adoration to Creatures which is only due to the Creator is not Blaspemy 6. Whether it be not Blasphemy as well as Idolatry to say that Images ought to be worshipped with the same honour and worship which is given to him whose Image it is For so Azorius affirms and Bellarmin saith that Images are not only to be worshippeâ— as they are exemplars but also properly and by themselves so as the worship may be terminated iâ— them 7. To conclude with this mark Whether it be not Blasphemy with a witness to affirm that a Priest can make a whole Christ of a Wafer Cake by uttering a few words And is not this to exalt the man of Sin above God himself For this which they affirm iâ— to do more than God indeed can do see Mâ— Pools Dialogue p. 109. there are some thingâ— which it is no dishonour to God to say he cannot do them because they are either sinful so God cannot lie or absolutely impossible God himself cannot make a man alive and dead at the same time God cannot make the whole to be less than a part of it he cannot make three to be more than threescore he cannot make a Son to beget the Father he cannot make the same man to be born at two several times as Popish Authon confess and therefore he can't make the same Body to be in two several places much less in two thousand places at one and the same time to which we may add Can God make that to be that which it is not All know the Bread is not Flesh but really Bread after Consecration Arg. If no people in the Christian world are born up and supported by a Scarlet coloured Beast full of the names of Blasphemy maintaining from him such blasphemous Opinions than Rome Papal or Church of Rome then Rome Papal is Mystery Babylon But there is no people in the Christian world that are born up by such a blasphemous Beast as the Church of Rome is Ergo Rome Papal as Mystery Babylon XI Mystery Babylon is not only said to sit upon a Scarlet coloured Beast full of the names of Blasphemy but also that she is adorned with great pomp and outward glory Rev. 17. 4. And the Woman was arrayed in Purple and Scarlet and decked with Gold and precious Stones and Pearl c. Parallel Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth not only sit upon a Scarlet coloured Beast c. but she is also beautified and adorned with great pomp and external glory beyond any people calling themselves a Church of Christ in all the Christian world This is such a visible brand and mark upon this people and well noted by all that much we need not speak to it for all the world knows the Church of Rome delights in outward Gaudery being a people whose Worship is filled not only with detestable Tradisions and blasphemous Doctrines but also to please the carnal and sensitive Eye she seâ— it off with rich and costly Pictures curiousâ— drawn and other outward gallantry 2. Looâ— into the Patrimony of consecrated Saint there you shall find riches and honour thâ— not durable riches and righteousness 3. Looâ— upon their Garbs and Vestments and theâ— you shall find her Popes and Cardinals gâ—â— stering in cloath of Gold and adorned liâ— Emperors and splendid Princes nay and are some of her Priests and Heads of Partiâ— What think you saith one of the Antiâ—â— Fathers of this Man the Pope sitting on hiâ— in his Throne glistering in Purple and cloâ— of Gold sitting in the Temple God shewing out himself as if were a God her Priests are adoâ—â— in such costly Habiliments that for riches thâ— might become the highest Order of â— Jewish Priesthood 4. Look on the Instâ—ments and Mode of their Worship and the you shall find rich Altars and Candlesticks Gold the Vessels for Oyl and Poâ—s of Pâ—sication as if their Predecessors had been Solomon's Temple 5. Look into 〈◊〉 Churches and there you shall find great oâ— ward glory and bravery 6. Enquire coâ—cerning her Revenues and vast Incomes aâ— there you
will find she out-does all Commâ—nities in the World. Arg. If no people in the Christian World hath such riches splendour outward pomp and bravery in the maintenance and management of their Worship as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome is this gaudy Harlot or Mystery Babylon But there is no People or Church in the Christian World that hath such riches splendour outward pomp and bravery in the maintenance and management of their Religious Worship as the Church of Rome hath Ergo the Church of Rome is Mystery Babylon XII As Mystery Babylon is thus adorned with outward pomp and external riches and glory so likewise another mark or character the Holy Ghost hath laid down of her is this i. e. upon her fore-head a name is written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH Mother of Harlots may refer in part to external Whoredoms but chiefly 't is to be taken in a mystical sense i. e. she breeds and brings forth Spiritual Harlots viz. unclean Communities Parallel That this Character meets directly in the Church of Rome is very clear upon her forehead denotes as our late worthy Annotators observe the open guilt â—nd impudence of this Spiritual Harlot Mystery Babylon that is there is a Mystery in what follows in her name the Great not to be understood of the Chaldean Babylon but of a City or Policy under the Gospel as cap. 11. 8. she is called Spiritual Sodom and Egypt so in a spiritual or mystical sense she is called Babylon because a City like to Babylon for Idolatry and Persecution of God's Israel Not a meer Harlot but one that breed up Harlots and nourishes Idolatry communicating it to others and this is the true name of Rome instead of Mother Church 1. Here is a name written in capital Letters and written upon her fore-head so as to be read of all i. e. there is no way to hide oâ— cover her Whoredoms or to defend or deliver her self from being the Mother of Harlots if this were not to be seen and read by all inlightened Christians and Professors it would not not so much concern us for if the Book of the Revelations were not written for the Christian World it leaves us at an uncertainty nor are we in a capacity to make a Judgment in this great case who this great Whoâ—â— is 2. Nay and if this Babylon were a small and private People and Community of Christians or such who pretend themselves so to be she could not be called Great Babylon and Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth But Rome is a great People a great Whore or false Church and her detestable Spiritual Adultery appears obvious to the whole World nay her Images and Idolatry causes both Jews and Turks the more to hate and abhor that Christian Religion which she professeth as it has been manifestly made known by many worthy Writers 3. And for Mystery see what we have said in the first Chapter of this Treatise wherein is opened that strange Mystery of the Romish Church Is it not this Mystery Babylon that says she is the true Church by pretending to Visibility as one of the chief Evidences thereof and yet 't is positively said That the true Woman or Church of God was for the space of 1260 years in the Wilderness Rev. 12. where she was hid all that time or abode in an obscure condition Is it not a Riddle and confus'd Mystery that she being Queen Regent riding upon the Beast in state all along and yet that very poor and distressed Woman that fled into the Wilderness and abides there in a suffering condition all the time of the Beasts Reign Is not this a Riddle and strange Mystery that one pretending her self to be the only true Church of God and Mother of Peace Purity and Charity and yet notoriously known to be the breeder bringer forth and cherisher of Division Falshood most Bloody Butcheries and Barbarous Cruelties and Murders 4. She is called Babylon or Babel i. e. Confusion and doth not this agree to the Church of Rome doth she not openly shew her self to be the absolute Antitype of old Babel 1. In devising and setting up another way to Heaven than what God hath ordained and appointed viz. a Tower of their own raising not by Christ alone but by the demerits of their own good works and you know what some of those works are that she calls meritorious which is to destroy and cut the Throats of such she calls Hereticks i. e. godly Protestants This is the way she haâ— found out for the Salvation of her dear Children 2. In plucking up or endeavouâ—ing to rase out the true Worship of God as old Caldeaâ— Babylon did and setting up Idolatry in the room of it 3. The Church of Rome may well be called Babylon in respect of her Doctrine Principles and Modes of Worship which iâ— such a jumble strange mixture and heap oâ— Human Inventions that may well go foâ— â—onfusion it self see our third mark in her orders diversities and long muster Roll of officers that are so numerous as well as unâ—criptural that if mixture and confusion be â—ny where 't is to be found in this pretended Church where you have Pope Cardinals Priests and Arch-Priests Bishops Lord Bishops and Arch-Bishops Deans and Archâ—eacons Suffragans Patriarchs Abbots Friars Monks Nuns Seminaries Jesuits followers of St. Francis Jansenius Augustine Capuâ—hins c. and what not this Romish Harâ—ot hath received some of her jolly Church â—relats with their exorbâ—tant power from her heathenish Predecessors Romuâ—us and Numa Pompilius who made Flamins Arch-Flamins and a Ponâ—ifex maximâ—s to sacrifice unto the Gods and some of her ceremonies she has taken from other Infidels as the shaving of Priests Crowns like the Priests of Isis and Serapis in Egypt nay for confusion and filthy abomination she has out-done Heathen Rome for Numa the King of the Antique Romans forbad them to think that the Image of God had the shape of a man or form of other living Creatures yet this mother of Idolatry alloweth the Image of God the Father in form of an old Man and Holy Ghost in form of a Dove tho the holy Prophet inveighâ—ing against this detestable vanity demandeth To whom will ye liken God Or what similitudâ— will ye set up unto him Yet this whorisâ— Church to these teachers of lies as one observes and counterfeits of God to the shame of Christians adoreth these Images or rather the Devil in them whose worship it is and so fulfils that which is written of her Rev. 9. 20. That men would not repent of the works of their hands and of the worship of Devils and Idols of Gold and Silver and Brâ—sâ— and of Stone and of Wood which neither can see neither â—ear nor go As she appeareth in all these things to be Mystery Babylon the great and abomination of the Earth so as
worthy Mr. Ainsworth observeth in her Divine service she has Babels very language an unknown Tongue so is it an Idol wholly made as the Scripture speaketh according to her own understanding and is all the works of the crafts-men the Prelates and Popes the lovers of this great Whore who have patched together in their several ages the limbs of this deformed monster the Mass and Canon thereof a sacrifice for the sins of the quick and the dead with the Litany and Collects Anâ—hems and Responds and in this Liturgy God and his Angels Apostles and Martyrs and Confessors with he Saints and she Saints and some that had Satans sanctity are wrapt up together with a Stage-play like worship with musical instruments to make them merry as Nebuchadnezzar with melody celebrated the dedication of his Golden Image which Portal and Missal these Artizans have framed exceeding all superstitions abominations and confession that ever were in the World the meer device and forgery of their own Brains by the help of the Devil provoking God to Jealousie and Wrath which suddenly she must pertake of without mixture 4. Mother of Harlots Hath not Papal Rome this very character upon her forehead It meets in none as in her all Protestants of what denomination soever utterly disallow of Fornication Whoredom and Adultery in persons of any Ranks whatsoever maintaining constantly that Marriage is honourable in all whereas the Church of Rome 't is notoâ—iously known gives publick toleration to â—bominable Whoredoms and the most shameâ—ess and unatural Bestialities as ever were in the World but this Epithet Mother of Harlots â—ay more properly refer to Spiritual Adultery â—nd that the Church of Rome is a Mystical Moâ—her is very plain and evident for do not all her Children own her to be the Mother Church â—nd therefore 1. Protestants are exhorted to return into the bosom of their mother 2. All polluted and national Churches in the European Kingdoms sprang from her as the Churches of France Spain Portugal c. and do call her Mother 3. All corruption in Doctrine and Discipline were bred and brought forth by her she is certainly the Mother of all these cursed titles and errors following viz. Universal Supream Infallible Head Holy Father the Pope his Holiness in the abstract our Lord God the Pope unerring Church Priestly Absolution selling Pardons Indulgences Dispensations adoring the Crucifix worshiping of Images Anointing and sprinkling of Holy-Water the adoration of the Mass nay and the adoring the Devils own Engine i. e. the Cross or Gibbet whereon the Devils Emissaries killed or crucified the Lord of Life and Glory for the curse of the Law was to be done away by â— cursed Death upon a tree oâ— which whosoever was hanged the curse of God was upon him this death the innocent Lamb Jesus Christ suffered fâ—â— our sakes at the hands of wicked Sinneâ— Pilate and the Jews the Children of the Dâ—vil who used all exquisite torments to makâ— his death miserable Crowning him wiâ—â— Thorns piercing his Hands Feet and Sides with Nails and a Spear hanging him on the Tree until he died And this pretended Tree or Cross Thorns and Nails with other counterfeits of them this Mother of Harlots teaches her Children to adore and honour with as good Ground and Devotion as one observes as the Ophites or Serpentories are said to honour the Serpent the Devils instrument for to bring man to the knowledge of good and evil And that all the World might take notice that Rome is the City where our Lord was crucified this Mother of Harlots doth proclaim that the Cross was that Altar whereon the great Sacrifice Christ was offered whereas the Scripture teacheth that the bodies of those Beasts whose blood was brought to make reconciliation in the holy place were burnt without the Host or Camp of Israel and not on the Altar which stood before the door of the Tabernacle according to which figure Jesus also that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood suffered without the Gate of Jerusalem which was a reproach yet will these God-eaters and crucifiers of our blessed Saviour make the cursed Cross to be the Altar most holy and so greater than Christ the sacrifice as being that which sanctified him for the Alâ—ar sanctified the offering And hereupon they call the Cross blessed and ascribe unto it worthiness to bear the Talent of the World they account it among the most precious Reliques and not only the whole but every piece thereof they adore it salute it pray unto it and trust therein for Salvation crying Hail O Cross our only hope increase thou to the godly Righteousness and unto sinners give pardon save thou the company gathered together in thy praises yea the very sign of this Idol made in the Air upon the forehead or over any thing is Sacred and Venâ—rable and hath force to drive away Devils and do many like feats wherefore this abomination hath prevailed above other and is like Beelâ—ebub Prince of the Devils the Badg of the Beast and Character of Mystery Babylon Imprinted in Churches Chappels Altars Houses and High ways in Books Writings in Prayers Sacraments in Garments Bodies and Souls of Men both Quick and Dead nay nothing is well hallowed without it no Sacrament perfect without it And this great honour hath the Cross because the Devil and his Instruments Killed or Crucified our Saviour upon it so that a marvel it is how Judas lips scaped honour seeing he also was Satans instrument to betray Christ with a kiss wherefore this Spiritual Egypt Pseudo Catholick Church deserveth more to be branded by some Satyrist for worshiping monsters than the first Egypt whose less impiety a Heathen Poet did deride 4. As she is the Mother of Harlots and Mother of all corrupt Doctrine and Detestable Errors c. So also is she Mother of all personal vices and fleshly abominations as horrid Oaths and Blasphemies most astonishing perjury and subtil equivocation hypocrisies uncleannesses lying subornations secret poysonings stabing throat-cutings adulteries covenant-breaking and what not are these things allowed amongst Protestants No certainly yet they are not only allowed by this Whore but esteemed meritoâ—ious if it be done for the good and promoâ—ion of Holy Church and for these things may she not rightly be called Mystery Babylon the great the mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth Which I shall conclude with this Argument Argu. If this name Mystery Babylon the great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth in all these respects we have noted doth not so fully and fitly agree to any People as they do to Rome Papal or Church of Rome then Rome Papal c. is Mystery Babylon but this name Mystery Babylon the great Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth in all these respects noted does not agree so fitly and fully to any people in the World as to the Church of Rome Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is Mystery
Babylon XIII But further to put it out of all doubt who this Whore is 't is said she was drunk with Blood this is another Mark and Character the Holy Ghost hath given to know her by And I saw a Woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints and the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and I wondered with great admiration Rev. 17. 6. Now if the Church of Rome be guilty here or hath this black Mark and Character upon her she is the unhappiest Church and People in all the World and gives cause enough to Angels as well as to the Apostles and Holy Men to wonder i. e. to see a Woman pretending to be nobly descended the Daughter of the great King of Heaven and Earth the only chast Spouse of the Lamb the Mother of all Peace Holiness and Innocency not only defiled with all those foul and abominable errors Idolatries and detestable pollutions but also guilty of so much Blood of Saints and of the precious blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and not only guilty of Blood but also drunk with Blood yea drunk with such Blood but that this the Church of Rome is guilty of nothing is more clear which indeed gives cause to every good man in the World to abhor her And that we may make this most evidently to appear 1. Consider what it is to be drunk 2. What things do necessarily contribute to it 3. Shew what the true and proper signs of it are 4. Whether such things can be fixed upon the Church of Rome 1. To be drunk is to take in excessively any thing as disorders nature in its course and operations this we take to be a general definition of it including the proper and metaphorical notions thereof 2. Such things as necessarily contribute to it are 1. Great and vehement desire or thirst after it 2. Plenty of the thing thirsted after 3. The greedy taking their fill of it 3. The signs of drunkenness are 1. When the faculties are so disordered that they will not submit to the best Reason that can be given them 2. When they will abuse those whom they are most obliged to love and respect 3. When they have cast off all considerations of their own and others good and for bear no mischief but what they are restrained from by force 4. That these things are evident in the Church of Rome will appear 1. Because she hath shed a Mass a very great Mass of Blood of Saints and of the Martyrs of Jesus who is able to account the numbers of them that she hath murthered in all parts of the Christian World only upon the account of Religion particularly in Bohemia Germany Poland Lithuania France Spain Italy Portugal Low Countrys England Scotland and Ireland 'T is enough to peirce an heart of Stone to hear of the barbarous crueltys and devilish inhumanities exercised for more than five hundred years upon the poor Waldenses and Albingenses by the hands of this Bloody Whore or Romish Harlot besides the wonderful numbers and multitudes of them for according to the account I have met with in History hundreds of Thousands nay some millions of those Godly Christians were most unhumanely butchered by the bloody Papists Children Born of her own Body nay in every street of this great City the Blood of the Saints hath run down like a River were this not notoriously known to the whole World I could give an account of the vast numbers slain in Bohemia in France and in Ireland of late years where there were not fewer than two hundred thousand souls sacrificed to allay the thirst of this Bloudy Whore. So that it is out of dispute she hath the first signs of a most filthy shameless drunken Strumpet i. e. she has been excessive in drinking of innocent Blood and 2. Not only so but she has drunk so much that she is intoxicated and disordered that she would never submit to the best reason that could be given her for she has been so mad that none could disswade her from exercising her cruelties on the Bodies of the Saints whose Blood she thirsted after in as unhumane a manner as incarnate Devils could devise as if to murther them was not sufficient nor could it satisfie her but she would have them die many deaths as hanging by the Feet by the Hands by the middle on a Beam by the Hair of the Head on Tenters pouring melted Lead on their Heads Boiling in Caldrons rosting alive and burning alive The poor Waldenses living in and about the valleys of Piedmont about the year 1560 were most cruelly and barbarously murthered to allay her excessive thirst some were stript stark naked and whip'd to death with Rods of Iron others drawn through the Streets and Burnt with fire brands some thrown down an high Tower and some cut in pieces with sharp Knives fourscore persons had their Throats cut as Butchers kill their Sheep threescore Women were so cruelly rackt that the Cords pierced their Arms and Legs to the Bones and then being cast into Prison they all died except nine of them young Virgins were Ravished in a Barbarous manner until they died Children were pull'd alive out of their Mothers Bellies and the Breasts of many Women cut off so that the Infants died of Famine and many other strange kind of tortures for many years together multitudes of those Godly Waldenses indured And the Albingenses who professed the same doctrine and principles were all along in the like or worse sort and manner if possible butchered in the City of Bezier there were saith my author threescore thousand persons slain the Priests and Fryers going about the Streets in the mean time with Crosses and Banners and singing Te Deum Laudamus in the year 1655 in the Valley of Lucerna and other places this bloody Strumpet thirsting still after the Blood of the Saints and like a filthy drunken wretch caused an Edict to be put forth that such who would not turn Papists within three days must take what would follow and indeed that was bad enough as you may see in Sir Samuel Morelands History of that late Persecution it began Jan. 25. 1655. upon which some Thousands of those poor Souls were forc't to fly for their lives in the depth of Snow when all the Valleys were covered with Water there being amongst them some Women with child others newly delivered some sick and diseased Children crying and lamenting Old Men and Women some decreâ—it leaning on their Staves all dragged or forc't over the Ice Snow c. with bitter tears sighings cries and wringing of hands beating of Breasts mourning and complaining of the cruelties of those merciless Papists but alas so drunk with Blood before that they like brutes regarded none of their cries no more than the bleating of Sheep but this is not all no sooner that they were forc't from their haâ—itations but their houses were pillaged rifled and ransackt of all that was left and this not sufficient neither to
willed they set up and whom she willed they pulled down when she willed they raised Arms and when she willed they laid them down again what shall we say The Church of Rome hath had such power over the Kingdoms of Europe thâ—â— the power and wills of Princes have been controuled and over-ruled when in any considerable case they have gone contrary to the sense and interest of the Church and to such a degree as they have sometimes made thâ—â— do penance resign up their Crowns and receive them again as an act of kindness that he set them upon their Heads with his Foote such is the Pride and Grandeur of St. Peter Chair See our first Chapter If the Church of Rome is that People Woman or Church that above all others in the World hath reigned over the Kings of the Earth then Rome Papal is Mystery Babylon But the Church of Rome is that People Woman or Church that reigns and hath reigned over the Kings of the Earth Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome Mystery Babylon CHAP. III. Proving that literal Babylon in Chaldea was a Type or Figure of Rome Papal or the present Church of Rome and that in many particulars WE having shewed and clearly evinced by an induction of fifteen particulars that Rome Papal is Mystery Babylon the great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth she having all the marks or characters directly meeting in her that are by the holy Ghost given of that great Whore we shall in the next place briefly consider how the acts and progress of the Romish Church do most fitly and fully comport with other Types and Prophecies of her in the holy Scripture and first with literal or Chaldean Babylon from whence I find most writers conclude she had the name Babylon given to her in respect of the growth acts and deeds of that old Babylonian Monarchy which we shall now open and run the parallel in divers particulars as followeth I. Literal Babylon had a great Head or King ever her called a Head of Gold also Lucifer or Son of the morning So likewise Rome Papal hath a great Head or King over her called the Universal Bishop whose power is magnified above the powers of Emperors and all Kings and Princes of the Earth II. Literal Babylon had dominion over many Countreys or Provinces In like manner Rome Papal hath had dominion over many Countries or Kingdoms no less than the Territories or Jurisdictions of ten considerable Kingdoms called ten Horns â— we have shewed III. Chaldean or Literal Babylon fell under a four-fold circumstance in respect of her Supream Head viz. Nebuchadnezzar 1. That he was when in great Pride he insultingly said Is not this great Babylon that I have built by the might of my power and for the honour of my Majesty 2. He was not when by the Watchers and the Holy Ones he was toss'd from his Throne and made to eat Grass with Oxen till seven times past over him 3. Yet he was When his Reason and the Hearts of his Nobles and Glory returned to him again 4. He went off finally when God brought the Medes and Persians against his Successor into whose hands the Kingdom was translated Rome or Mystery Babylon is foretold by the Angel to fall under a four-fold circumstance also in respect of the Beast that is said to carry the Whore and make War with the Saints and the Beast which thou sawest was is not and yet is and shall go into perdition Rev. 17. 8. 1. He was of old in his Pagan state triumphing in great glory and grandeur but received a wound yea a deadly wound in one of his Heads viz. in his sixth Head which was the Pagan power in Constantine's time and so he was not The Christian Emperors having the Government of the Roman Monarch and to the same purpose speak our late Annotators on the 13 chap. of Rev. v. 3. and chap. 17. 8. It must saith he be the sixth Head viz. the Pagan Emperors who had that mortal wound and that wound was the Conquering the Pagan Emperors and the abolishing of Paganism and Idolatry and putting an end or stop to Persecution which was done by the seventh Government viz. the Christian Emperors He yet is i. e. his wound was healed by the rising of the eighth Government which was of the seventh who appeared in a new dress viz. a beast with two horns like a lamb but spake like a dragon which was the Antichristian power or Papal Rome and more particularly the Pope time the best opener of these great Mysteries has fully discovered these things to 〈◊〉 4. He shall go into perdition i. e. be utterly destroyed by the bright appearance of the Lord Jesus and be cast at last into the botomless Pit after the 42 Months are expired so that in these four respects Chaldean Babylon it appears was a lively Type or Figure of Papal Rome who from hence also shews her self to be Mystery Babylon IV. The Chaldean Kingdom or Literal Babylon Invaded Judea Besieged and took Jerusalem and trampled it under foot c. Even so in like manner the last Beast the Pope and Papal power hath Invaded the City of the living God or true Gospel Church taking away all her sacred Rights Laws and Priviledges and not only Besieg'd her closely Block'd her up but trampled under foot the Holy City for a long space of time Rev. 11. â— V. Chaldean or Literal Babylon was a moâ— lofty proud and imperious people called the Lady of Kingdoms and the glory and beauty â— Excellency for which God doth severely threaten her Isa. 13. 19. Behold I am against thee O thou most proud saith â— Lord God of Hosts c. Isa. 50. 31. So in like manner Rome who is Myster Babylon notwithstanding her horrid crime and most amazing wickednesses is a vâ—â— proud and imperious people exceeding all â— the Christian World saying in her Heart sit a Queen am no Widow shall see no sorrow for which haughtiness and pride the Lord will suddenly remember her with Judgments and sore severity he being now risen up to make Inquisition for Blood and to avenge upon her the injury done to Sion Rev. 18. 7. How much she hath glorified her self and lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow give her VI. Chaldean or Literal Babylon set up Images and had Idols of Silver and Gold Wood and Stone to which they bowed and worshipped which were also representations of the Gods and Saints whom they adored to wit of Bel which was Jupiter and Nebo and Succoth berioth and the like and such who would not bow down to her Images she threatned to cast into the Fire into the burning fiery Furnace Jer. 5. 30. Jer. 10. 3 9. Isa. 46. 1. Dan. 3. 6. Rome in this shews her self to be her Antitype very plainly for hath she not ordained to her self Temples Images of Christ and the Virgin Mary and other Saints nay and not only these but the
taken c. Jer. 50. 9. From hence we may conclude as some to judge that those people who shall be the Instruments in the Hand of God to destroy Mystery Babylon shall be the people in these Northern Countreys as Brandenburgh Sweedland Denmark the United Provinces together with England Scotland and Ireland and it may be hoped the people of these Nations and Kingdoms some of which were always accounted as Horns of the Beasts do already begin to hate her and are preparing War against her and that from hence her ruin shall suddenly come and it may be a just and righteous thing with God thus to order the matter since she hath such an Implacable hatred of these Northern parts because of that which she calls the Northern Heresie and hath of late without all doubt designed and secretly resolved utterly to destroy these Protestant Countries and to make these Kingdoms and States desolate but God hath and will put it into their Hearts to agree and fulfil his will i. e. Hate the Where and make her desolate eat her Flesh and burn her with Fire Rev. 17. 16. and so avenge the righâ—eous Blood she has publickly and secretly poured out like water nay I am very confident a very short time will make this thing to appear and it shall as fully be made good in the Antitype as it was in Type concerning the Medes c. Nor shall they do it alone I mean the common people of these Countreys with their heads and renowned Heroes but Gods choice and beloved ones in these Nations shall joyn in with them and so fulfil also what is said in Jer. 51. 20 21. Rev. 18. Thou art my Battle Ax with thee will I break in pieces the Nations and with thee will I destroy Kingdoms c. Come out of her my people reward her as she hath rewarded you double upon her c. XI Chaldea or Literal Babylon carried away into captivity Judea and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem or the Church and People of God and there held them for the space of seventy years a prefixt time by the Almighty and when that set time was come to an end the Lord brought them back and caused Cyrus to make Proclamation fâ—â— the rebuilding the Temple and Holy City Ezra 1. 1. 2. So likewise hath Papal Româ— captivated the true Israel and holy people â— God and held them also under sore oppressâ— on and persecution for the space of 126â— years a set time also prefixt by the Lord aâ— when that time is expired to which Periâ— 't is hoped we are arrived the Israel of Gâ— shall be delivered and our captivity shall be returned but as they gradually returned out of the Literal captivity so shall the Lords people out of their Spiritual captivity and as it was said of them When God brought back at first the captivity of Sion they were as those who dreamed Psal. 126. 1. So likewise are we at this very time under this most amazing providence of God who hath begun to deliver us from the cursed yoak of Mystery Babylon and now also you shall see I doubt not Liberty proclaimed as it were for the rebuilding of the holy Temple the second time the work having been obstructed by those Saâ—ballts and Tobiahs of our times and the work shall go on in the hands of our renowned Zerubbabel and that not so much by might nor by power but by the Spirit of the Lord Zech. 4. 6 7. and the great Mountain on the other side of the Flood shall become a plain XII Literal Babylon or the Chaldean Monarchy was brought down not only suddenly but with great vengeance which they could not avoid by all their craft subtilty nor strength and also in such an hour as they little thought of when Belshazzar was feasting with his Concubines and drinking Wine in Bowls and Vessels taken out of the Temple which was at Jerusalem Dan. 3. 1 2 3. praising the Gods of Gold and Silver of Brass Iron Wood and of Stone doubtless they thought themselves very safe and little dreamed of their sudden overthrow till the hanâ— writing came out of the Wall The saâ—â— night wâ—â— Belshazzar the King and the Chaldeans slain and Darius the Median took tâ—â— Kingdom c. Dan. 3. 31. So in like manner shall Rome or Mystery Babylon not only suddenly in one hour comâ— down but with great vengeance which sâ—â— shall not be able to avoid nor put off with 〈…〉 her craft subtilty nor strength but as a mil stone is cast into the Sea so with violence shâ—… the great City Babylon be thrown down aâ—… shall be found no more at all Rev. 18. 2â—… and that too when she thinks her self safe anâ— secure and seems to fear no danger but saiâ— in her Heart I sit a Queen shall see no soâ—roâ— nor know loss of Children nor Widdow-hood 〈…〉 more And somewhat like this sudden fall can't but think we have seen of late in 〈◊〉 pect of Babylons fall in England the teâ—… part of that great City and as suddenly 〈…〉 may hope it will come upon her in otâ—… places in due time CHAP. IV. Shewing that by the little Horn Dan. 7. and vile person Dan. 11 is meant the Papal power of Rome or the Pope who is the supream Bishop thereof all the marks and chief characters of the little Horn meeting directly also in him as the head of the present Church of Rome SOme will have this little Horn to be Antiochus Epiphanes others Julius Caesar others the Turks I suppose Antiochus Epiâ—haâ—es might be a type of this little Horn for it could not be Antiochus because he rose up â—nder the Grecâ—an Monarchy whereas this is â—â—id directly to rise up under the fourth Moâ—archy or when the Roman Empire stood â—pon his last Legs 〈…〉 For concerning this little Horn read 〈…〉 Text Dan. 7. 7 8. After this I saw in â—he night Vision and behold a fourth Beast readful and terrible c v. 8. I considered â—â—e Horns and behold there came up among â—â—em another little Horn before whom there was three of the first Horns pluckt up by the Roots and behold in this Horn were Eyes like the Eyes of Man and a Mouth speaking great things And so the Popes of Rome were kept under by the Emperors who kept a strict Eye over them curb'd their insolencies and exorbitances and at the first appearance nipping their aspiring projects in the very bud Sometimes deposing and banishing some proud Prelates when they shewed at what they levelled their designs But after the power of Rome which before was in tire in one Emperor fell into ten parts and divisions which happened in or about the year of our Lord 456 as Du Moulin and the learned Mede shew 〈…〉 large out of the Roman Histories upon thâ—… division and Weakening of the Empire thâ— Bishop of Rome took his Advantage to maâ—â— his advance and rose up to regal power enacting Laws raising Taxes and
levying Souldiers By which means he struck in witâ— partys and encroached upon Italy and the parts adjacent 2. This power arising upon the weakening and division of the old State of the fourth Monarchy or Kingdom is called a little Horn because truely so at its first beginning Dan. 7. 8. And behold there came up among them another little Horn c. The Papâ—â— power or Bishop of Rome before this division was but low and small being confined to his Episcopal power over the Church till by his Arts he had got up gradually to the Regal Seat and power of the Temporal Sword which he managed with so much Craft and Policy that afterwards he enlarged his Dominions but is very rightfully in his Infancy stiled a little Prince Power or Horn arising up amongst or after the rest which began presently after the death of Julian about the year 365 in which time was a most fearful Earthquake the like never known before betokening the decay of the fourth Kingdom in its Civil State or Power by a division or falling of Nations who set themselves against the power of Rome and harassed wasted and destroyed the Provinces thereof for near forty five years together See Mede lib. 3. pag. 659. 3. This little Horn after his rise to Temporal Power plucks up three of the ten Horns by the Roots Dan. 7. 8. Before whom there were three of the first Horns plucked up by the Roots The Papal Rome having gained the Temporal Sword tho but a little Horn at his beginning did practise and prosper so that betwixt the year 365 and the year 456 or soon after when Rome was sack'd by Gensericus he gained such enlargments that he came to possess about three parts of ten of the former or old Roman dominions according to the rule or measure of the Compass as we find in Mr. Mede Lib. 3. p. 658. and famous Du Moulin ubi supra upon which three characters of the little Horn we frame this short argument If the Pope of Rome did rise to Temporal Power upon the weakening of Caesarean Dominion which before did hinder him in his aspiring usurpation was but little in his first rise and appearance did enlarge and grow to a possession of power about a third part of the old Roman Dominion Then the Pope of Rome is the little Horn the wicked power and vile person sâ—… forth by the Prophet Daniel But the anâ—â—cedent is true Ergo so is the consequent 4. This little Horn hath Eyes like the Eyes of a Man c. The Pope of Româ— hath Eyes like the Eyes of a Man i. e. the resemblance of a humane look but a Heart likâ— the Dragon out of which foul mouth he utters presumptuous things His predecesson had Eyes like a Leopard a Bear a Lion 〈…〉 Dragon But his high Eyes like a Man 〈…〉 which there are three things to be noteâ— 1. He looks higher 2. Sees further and 3. Is more enticing than those thâ—… went before him 1. He looks higher that is makes pretence of Prety and desigâ—… for Heaven 2. Sees further that De ceit Flattery and Policy will do more than strength 3. Is more inticing to Kings and People than the Eyes of a Leopard Lion or Dragon or the former powers in their Heathenish State. 5. This little Horn hath a Mouth speaking great or presumptuous things above the rate of ordinary men Dan. 7. 8. The Pope of Rome hath a Mouth speaking great or presumptuous things above the ordinary rate of men This is evident in many respects of which we shall give you but a few instances out of many 1. That he is he says the highest Deputy of God above all the Kings of the Earth 2. That he is infallible and cannot err which is an incommunicable attribute of the most high 3. That he is universal Head and Bishop of the Catholick Church 4. He assumes the attributes of his Holiness and holy Father such an oracle that has right or power to give Laws to the World to which all ought â—o subscribe and yield obedience and none â—…ught to dispute greater and more loftily â—an no man speak unless he will say I am â—he supreme Being and there is no God in Heaven or Earth above my self which would â—e so highly ridiculous that every Idiot would be able to detect it 6. The little Horn had his looks more stout than his fellows Dan. 7. 20. whose looks were â—ore stout c. The Pope of Rome has looks more stout than the Horns that have been contemporary with him which appears in three things 1. In his terrible Bullâ— that he makes to roar and stare most dreadfully 2. In his power and acts of deposing Princes 3. In asserting himself to be Gods Vicegerent against whom no person upon any cause or pretence whatsoever ought to lift up hand or tongue upon the penalty of a total ruine in this World and an eternal ruin in the World to come 7. The little Horn makes War with the Saints Dan. 7. 21. I beheld and the same Horn made War with the Saints and prevailed against them and for a long time even to the wearing out of the poor Saints of the most high v 25. The Pope of Rome hath made Waâ— with the Saints and prevailed against them and that to their ruine as to Liberty Estate and even Life it self as the true Witnesses of Christ have most sadly experienced in many Countrys in divers by past ages even for such a series of time that may be properly called a wearing out of the Saints of the moâ—… High. for his cruelty ended not in a month or a year but hath lasted for many hundred years so that for length of time numberâ— of Countrys and multitudes of Persons there is no Power that ever reigned hath out-done or equalized this vile and bloudy Monster upon which we frame this Argument If the Pope of Rome may be more fitly said to have Eyes like the Eyes of a Man a Mouth speaking presumptuous things and looks more stout than his fellows to have made War with the Saints to have prevailed against them and worn them out more than any other power that ever yet reigned Then he is the little Horn or vile person under consideration But the former is true Ergo so is the latter 8. The little Horn is diverse from the rest of the Horns Dan. 7. 24. And he shall be diverse from the first and shall subdue three Kings The Pope of Rome is diverse from the rest of the Potentates in these four respects 1. The manner of his rise 2. His pretentions to power 3. In his progress to his height of dignity 4. In his management of the power he has usurped 1. He was small or little in his rise but an ordinary Bishop before he came to be a Temporal Prince 2. He pretends not to hold his Kingdom by Inheritance or gift of the people as other Kings do but by a special and divine
Patent 3. In his progress to the height of his dignity by leaving his fixed station as pastor of a Church and by Deceit Treason and Violation of all Laws mounts the Throne of imperial grandure 4. He rules by a supreme ecclesiastical power as well as temporal pretends to the Keys of Heaven as well as the Sword of Justice on Earth shewing himself to be the Beast that hath two Horns like a Lamb spoken of Rev. 13. 11. 9. This little Horn hath so many marks upon him that they are too numerous to handle distinctly after our usual methods and therfore we shall put the remaining part into a General rank and conclude this subject The Pope of Rome hath so many marks or characters upon him that are too numerous to be handled distinctly in a little room and therefore we shall but touch upon them so far as they shew the Text made good and form an Idea of truth in the minds of men 1. He must change times and laws 2. Continue a long a space of time 3. He is a vile person 4. Had not the honour he hath fairly given him either by God or man but gained it by flattery 5. Removed the proceeding by the Arms of a flood 6. He became strong by a small people 7. He shall have power over the fattest places of the Provinces and there scatter his Riches 8. Such as do wickedly against Religion he shall accept 9 Under him the Saints fall by captivity and spoil by sword and flame many days 10. Shall do according to his own Will not accounting himself tied to any Laws 11. He shall exalt himself above every God and speak marvellous things against the God of Gods. 12. Shall not regard the God of his ancestors 13. Nor the desire of Wedlock 14 Nor any God in a pious way 15. Shall give honour to them that have armed forces 16. Shall own a strange God with splendid Ceremonies Dan. 11. 38. 1. The Pope of Rome hath changed times and laws in two respects 1. He hath set up and pluckt down Kings which is called a Changing of times and seasons Dan. 2. 21. 2. He has made strange alterations of the Laws Orders and Institutions used in the Church in respect of Officers administrations of Sacraments and celebration of days 2. Hath continued above twelve hundred years 3. He is as vile a person as any in the World tolerates all kind of wickedness by his Dispensations Pardons c. 4. Had his exaltation neither by Inheritance lawful conquest nor rightful gift from rightful donators 5. He had the help of Phocas to kill the Emperor Mauritius and by the help of Gothes and Vandals enlarged his power 6. Became strong by a small People having only a declining Church and apostate Christians to assist him 7. He hath power over Italy which is reputed to be the Garden of Europe c. 8. He accepted entertained and encouraged the people of any nation that would turn wicked and sacrifice all Prety and Religion to serve his Interest 9. Under him the Saints have fallen by flames captivity and spoil many days 10. He hath done according to his own will and doth not look upon any Laws to be obligatory to him either from God or men 11. He the Pope hath exalted himself above every God that is such that are so accounted amongst men or Gods on Earth by excommunicating deposing treading upon their Necks and kicking off their Crowns by his Blasphemous Edicts and Injunctions he exalts himself above God himself and his written Laws c 12. He doth not regard the God of his Ancestors either the Idols of the Emperors or the God of the good Bishops that went before him 13. He hath been remote from the desire of Women in a lawful way nay and frights his Clergy from it too who are made uncapable of Spiritual promotion and censured as heinous transgressors if married 14. He hath not regarded in a pious way any God for tho' he doth name the true God often and in words profess him yet in works he doth defie him and profane his holy name 15. He gives honour to them who have armed Forces and lends them assistance to carry on his black diabolical designs 16. He hath owned a strange God a mark compleatly made up in the Mass which is adored with splendid Ceremonies 17. The people of the Saints 't is said shall take away his power to consume and destroy it to the end i. e. the Lords people in their representatives shall take away the Papal power c. and is it not done in part already here in England upon all we may frame this Argument If all these characters meet no where so clear and evident as upon the Pope of Rome then the Pope of Rome is the little Horn and vile person set forth in the Book of Daniel But all the aforesaid characters meet no where so clear and evident as upon the Pope of Rome c. Therefore the Pope is that little Horn. CHAP. V. Shewing that the Prophecies of our Saviour in Mat. 13. 15. Also that of Paul Acts 20. 29. and 1 Tim. 4. and 2 Thes. 2. 3. Concerning false Prophets and grievous Wolves as also of the Man of Sin may and ought to be applied to the Pope and Church of Rome FIrst The Lord Jesus foretold that Enemies should come in his name and deceive many and that they should appear in Sheeps clothing and under that Vizard hide their devouring Teeth see his words Mat. 13. 15. Beware of false Prophets which come to you in Sheeps clothing but inwardly are ravening Wolves that is have a design to destroy Now 't is most evident that the Popes of Rome and their long Succession have thus especially at first appeared i e. in Sheeps clothing covering their hellish designs under the name of Christ Vicar of Christ an Apostolical Bishop c. the true Church holy Church and Christian Religion but with an intent hereby to deceive for all their pretences of Jesus Christ's being the truth Christ hath been but as a Vizard to hide their wolvish nature and devouring teeth for whilst they under the notion of Christianity hide themselves they have carried on most pernicious and destructive designs and that in these three respects following viz. 1. If there have appeared any Kings or Queens in the Christian World that have been piously inclined they have forth with endeavoured to pervert them by their Diabolical Doctrine oft destroying them with their holy Poyson 2. If any Ministers or Men of Parts and Piety have risen up to set forth Gods holy truth and so bless the dark World with Gospel Light and Saving Doctrine they have either choaked them with Gifts and Preferments or affrighted them by dreadful fears or by a ravenous thirsting after their Blood and have most wickedly and treacherously destroyed their lives by cruel torments 3. If collective Bodies of pious Congregations of Saints or good Men
have sprung forth in the World they have followed them like Blood-hounds and devouring Wolves with Fire and Sword fearful Massacres Devastations Murthers and Slaughters till they have spoiled them torn in pieces and devoured them Compleatly fulfilling the Prediction of Christ and that of the Apostle Acts 20. 29 30. For I know this that after my departure shall grievous Wolves enter in amongst you not sparing the flock Also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw the Disciples after them who can this Prophecy so exactly agree to as the bloody Popes who at first arose out of the Church and acted the part of Wolves to purpose as hath been hinted II. 'T is also evident that all the marks of the Man of Sin spoken of by St. Paul 2 Thes. 2. 3. do agree exactly to the Pope and the Romish Church 1. As first he was to rise after there came a falling away from the Primitive Faith see his words That day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that Maâ— of Sin be revealed c. This cannot mean a particular falling away as our worthy Writers have shewed but a general Apostacy of the Church from the Holy and Apostolical Doctrine and Disciplinâ— of the Gospel or such a falling away that should be obvious and visible to all that should not fall out in a corner or amongâ— a few private Christians because 't is laid dowâ— as a general Rule whereby the Saints in general might know and judge of the Revelation of Antichrist or Man of Sin. And now 't is well known that there happened this falling away or general Apostacy three or four hundred years after Christ out of which and soon after which falling away he Pope shewed himself to be this Man of Sin nor did he arise till that Apostacy happened in the World. 2. Another mark he hath is this i. e. He shall exalt himself above all that is called God c. viz. Magistrates and Rulers as Kings and Emperors for these are called Gods I said Ye are Gods c. There are Gods many c. This mark meets directly in the Pope or Popes of Rome he exalts himself above all and every one of these who are called Gods. 1. He has assumed a Name above them 2. greater power than they in that he pretends to give them their Crowns and not only so but has power to excommunicate them nay and depose and devest them of their Regal power as he pleases and also in his disposing of Kingdoms yea making Emperors wait aâ— his Gate hold his Stirrup prostrate themselves to kiss his Toe and then to tread upon their Necks as Alexander the Third did to Frederick Barbaross And this is allowed and justified by the Doctors of the Romish Church And Bellarm. de Rom. Pont. lib. 5. c. 8. giveâ— â— as a reason why the Pope would not come to the Council of Nice lest if the Emperor should come thither he should attempt to sit above him so that by these two words in the Text the Apostle describes him both in his Enmity and Pride Opposition and Exaltation For observe first he assumeth to himself an higher power than those that are called Gods theirs is Humane his is Divine their 's on the Bodies or Estates of Men his over the Conscience their 's to the living his to Mens Souls after death 3. The Man of Sin 't is said by the Apostle shall also exalt himself above all that 's call'd God or that is worshipped as God sitting in the Temple of God shewing himself to be God verse 4. Even so the Pope makes himself like God and as God as the King of Babylon of old said I will be like the most High Isa. 14. 14. And as Gods place of residence of old was said to be in the Temple of Jerusalem so he as God sitteth in the Temple of God not in the Material Temple but in the Spiritual Temple i. e. the Church of God which is so called the Apostle speaks of him as a Bishop who had a Seat and the Popish Writers give the Pope that and such like Titles Dominus Deus noster Papa idem est Dominium Dei Papa tu es alter deus in terra Council Later Sess. 4. Thou art another God on Earth And as God he maketh Laws to bind the Conscience and dispenses with Laws both Natural and Moral and pardons sins as he pleases past present and to come can deliver Souls out of Purgatory and translate them to Heaven so that this Man of Sin is not to be looked for amongst the Turks Pagans or Infidels he sitteth in the Temple the Church of God not that it can be the true Church where he sitteth and acteth but rather the Synagogue of Satan But that which he calleth so and which bears that name and also was really so before the falling away when he first got up He also exalteth himself above God when he makes the Scriptures to derive their Authority more from the Popes Canonizing than God himself and without it no Man is bound to believe them â—it 2. 23. Again if the Pope should err by commanding Vice and forbidding Vertue the Church is bound to believe Vice is good and Vertue to be evil Bellarm. lib. 4. de summ pont c. 5. Besides he can forgive sins tho' the evil habits be not changed what is all this then to make himself God and to exalt himself above God c. 4. The Man of Sin 't is said could not get up until that which then i. e. in the Apostles days did let was taken away For the Mystery of iniquity doth already work only he we now letteth will lett until he be taken away verse 7. which was the Heathen Emperon Government or sixth Head of the Beast This also shews the Pope to be the Man of Sin for he rose to his glory and wicked grandeur not till the sixth Head or Pagan power was gone or taken out of the way for tho' the Mystery of iniquity did work gradually and corruptions crept into the Church early yet did he not appear till after the Christian Emperors had made way for him hence he iâ— said to be an eighth and of the seventh III. There is another Prophesie concerning this cursed Antichristian state it is iâ— 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. Now the Spirit speaked expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing Spirit and Doctrine of Devils No doubt but Rome is concerned in the place for either by Doctrine of Devils are meant such Doctrines that are brought iâ— by the power and influence of the Devil or Devilish Doctrines or else the Doctrine of Damons the Apostle hereby signifying that is the latter times that is after the general Apostacy the Man of Sin or Papal Rome should bring in the Doctrine of the Pagans concerning Daemons which were lookt upon by them to be an inferior sort of
arguments that are broughâ— by others to prove that France Germany or any other countrey under the Papal power should â— there intended with those that may justly be alledged to prove England is the spot where that prediction was to be accomplished And now saith he if the witnesses are upon thâ—â— feet as I am strongly inclined to believe they are and am more and more confirmed in my notion in that respect and that so as they shall never more be flung upon their backs then I may confidently affirm that it will not be long ere they shall hear a great voice from Heaven saying unto them Come up hither And accordingly they shall ascend up into Heaven in a Cloud their Enemies beholding them in which ascent of theirs they must be conformable to the resurrection and ascention of Christ himself But whereas it is objected that if the witnesses are risen indeed so as to be on their feet in pursuance of that sacred prediction Rev. 11. there must needs have been some more than ordinary appearance of the presence of God in the midst of his people or at the least in a greater degree thereof than as yet we see Ans. I say no it doth not therefore follow that it must be so nor indeed it cann't rationally be expected till the time comes of their ascention for this is an established rule with me that there must and will be a signal proportion or resemblance betwixt the Death Resurrection and Ascention of Christs witnesses and that of Christ himself Now as to what concerneth the resurrection of our Saviour himself in his own person thus we are told that he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs being seen of his Disciples forty days and speaking to them of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God yet for ought as appears to us he appeared unto them in all that time but as he did before there was no discovery of any signal Majesty or visible glory upon him more than they had seen upon him before his Death and Suffering neither indeed was the Spirit come down upon them And the reason is expresly rendred because that Jesus was not yet glorified neither could the glorification of Christ be expected till his â—…cention and consequently they could not look 〈…〉 the effusion of the Spirit till then Wherefore tho' it is true there is as yet no appearance of any signal glory upon Gods people nor any considerable measure of the Holy Spirit thâ—â— there was before yet for as much as it is highly rational to conceive that there must be and will be as clear resemblance or proportion as I said before betwixt what passed at the Resurrection of Christ and his Ascention and that of the Witnesses from hence it plainly sollows that we have 〈◊〉 just ground to expect that abundant effusion of the Spirit which God hath promised and we have been a waiting for till we see the Witnesses upon thâ—â— Ascention-work For as it is evident that thâ—â— will be a time of great confusion and desolation upon the Enemies of God so it is as evident and we may no less groundedly expect but that it will be a time of great glory and refreshment unto Godâ— people by the abundant pouring out of the Spirâ—â— upon them whereby Conversion work will swiftly go on and prosper and the Gospel run and 〈◊〉 glorified to which let me add why may we noâ— then expect such great light to break forth or thâ— Spirit in such a manner to be given as to convict 〈◊〉 Gods Children who they are that are in the trueâ— order of the Gospel so that all the Saints and Protestant Churches may be United into one Body anâ— Communion according to that holy Primitive anâ— Apostolical pattern and purity Then saith he 〈◊〉 may justly conclude that as it was promised of 〈◊〉 in the Type it shall be much more in the Antitypâ— viz. That the glory of the latter House should exceed the glory of the former which in the Tyâ—â— was fulfilled by Christ's Personal presence therâ— according to that promise The desire of all Nâ—tiâ—◠〈…〉 and I will fill this House with glory saith 〈…〉 of Hosts Hag. 2. 7. Now if the Personal 〈…〉 of Christ in that day and state of his Humiâ—… filled that latter House or material Temple 〈◊〉 glory so that it exceeded the glory of the forther we may after the same rule as justly conclude that tho' the Spiritual or Gospel Temple in the first Edition of it in the Apostle's days was glorious through the abundant effusion of the Holy Spirit that the same Spiritual House in the second Edition thereof in the latter days to be sure will not come short but rather exceed in glory c. To which let us add the glorious Deliverance promised from outward Oppression and Persecution which never quite ceased in the Primitive days together with that glorious Union they shall have that pure Language and shall serve the Lord with one consent together with the great increase of the Church bringing in both Jews and Gentiles into one Sheep-fold but till the Ascention of the Witnesses comes to pass these things cannot groundedly be expected He also gives some hints concerning the time of the slaying of the Witnesses as also of their Resurrection which things he doth not presume positively to determine but rather conjecturally expresseth himself the exact time he mentions I shall not relate but you may conclude he fixes the slaying of them between the year 1680 and 1688. For since the â—ime that the pretended Protestant Plot was talk'd â—f and as they said discovered and several worthy Christians Executed as the ever Renowned William Lord Russel Sheriff Cornish the Noble Earl 〈◊〉 Essex Col. Sidney and that godly Woman and Martyr Mrs. Gaâ—nt c. What a Flood of contempt reproach and what not hath been as he â—â—serves cast upon the whole of the true interest 〈◊〉 Christ in this Kingdom with the barbarous slaughter of those worthy Christians and Witnessâ—â— in the West together with that Storm of Persecâ—tion which we have no ground to doubt was â—â—â—ried on by the Popish Enemy and Emissaries of Râ—â—â— together with the turning out of places of truâ—â— many good Protestants and the taking away of Charters of Cities and Corporations silencing worthy Ministers c. nay striking at the root and whole constitution of the English Government â—â—thing being designed but the utter subversion of the Protestant Religion things growing every day worse and worse nothing appearing but the blackness of darkness and that which was worst of all many of Gods witnesses seemed to be strangely despirited whilest others truckl'd to the Enemiâ—â— yoak suffering Chapels to be erected for Popery and Cursed Mass Priests and Jesuites and that toâ— in many of the chief of our Cities nay in famoâ—â— London it self and that in the very Heart of it Oâ—â— state seeming desperate and hopeless in the view 〈◊〉 all at home
the Kings of France have by their liberalities made the Popes great at this day it is the most flourishing State of Europe it is in the middle of the Popish Empire between Spain Germany England exactly as a Street or place of Concourse is in the middle of a City 't is also four-square as such a Place or Street of a great City i. e. almost as long as broad and I believe saith he that 't is particularly in France that the witnesses must remain dead i. e. That the profession of the true Religion must be utterly abolisht this is already done by the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and by the enormous Cruelties of the Souldiers Pag. 254. saith he we are in my opinion certainly in this Persecution which must extinguish the true Religion for three years and a half if we will reckon those 3 years a half from the abrogating of the Edict of Nantes in the month of October 1685. The deliverance of the Church will fall out in the year 1689. And this is absolutely the conjecture of Monsieur du Moulin in his accomplishment of the Prophesies he hopes that the Persecution of the Church by the Antichristian party shall cease in the year 1689 But in p. 255. He seems to intimate he is not confident it will happen then one main reason I cite this French Writer thus far is to give you all his reasons why he Judges France to be the Street of the great City where the two witnesses shall be slain c. And to gratifie my Reader I shall also here add something out of Clavis Apocalyptica written many years ago by a famous German Doctor who indeavours to make it appear that Germany is meant by the Street of the great City in which the two witnesses shall lye as dead but by the way 't is observable what he says p. 46. Concerning the 7 Trumpets in the Second period saith he from the three hundred ninety fifth until the one thousand six hundred fifty fifth year of our Lord where the seventh seal is opened and seven Angels with seven Trumpets declare to the Roman Empire by seven Judgments its ruine c. 8. which Plagues have been fulfilled See he calls the Trumpets Plagues The first by the invasions of barbarous nations Anno 395. v. 7. The Second by the destruction of the City of Rome which first happened by Alaricus Anno 410. v. 8. The Third by taking away Imperial dignity in Augustulus Anno 476. v. 10. The Fourth by the Abolition of all eminent publick charges at Rome Anno 552. v. 12. The fifth by Saracens as the first wo c. 9. The Sixth by the Turks Chap. 9. v. 13. as the second wo. In the Third Period when the 1655. year doth begin the seventh Angel doth sound and withal the seventh Judgment is executed upon the enemies of the Church with the third woe whereby the Mysteries of God are fulfilled Rev. 10. 7. Now tho this great Author was mistaken as all have been hitherto who have prefixt upon an exact time and yet he may be right as to the seventh Trumpet which he says brings in the last Plagues and the third and last woe But to proceed p. 69. The two witnesses shall be overcome and killed saith he that is they shall be removed and thrust out of all Ecclesiastical and Political Offices and Imployments it appears he understood the death of the witnesses to be taken as we have hinted before i. e. Only a Civil death and so too do all Expositors affirm that I can meet with but now observe what Street it is in his Judgment they must lye as dead in and that is he saies Germany p. 74. The tenth horn yet remains Germany or the German Empire cannot be accounted saith he but one of the Horns which we do not deny and a Kingdom saith he by it self in the whole body of the fourth Monarchy this is the Principal Street in the great City the Principal Horn of the Beast the Principal Kingdom in the fourth Monarchy whose head is represented by the City of Rome this German Empire is called the Street per excellentiam because it is the Principal Street in the Empire because 1. 'T is called the Roman Empire 2. By reason it is as it were a Figure and Image of the old Roman Empire having seven Heads in regard of the seven Princes Electors and ten Provinces in respect of the ten Circles into which it is distributed 3. It hath the pre-eminency above all other Kings adhering to the Papal State now saith he in this Street we must seek the War c. he seems to say more for Germany being the Street in my Judgment than Jurieu for France to be it But they that read our great Writer Dr. Goodwin will soon I am persuaded see more ground to believe that Great Britain is that very Street of the great City in which the Witnesses of Christ were to be slain and lye dead than any other for as my worthy Friend before cited intimates God values not nor accounts of People and Nations from their Greatness or external Grandeur but from their Light Glory Excellency of their Spirits Purity now what Nation or Kingdom is so famous or has been since the beginning of the Reformation or hath obtained so great Light as this of Great Britain It must be in one Street of the great City doubtless where the Witnesses have finished their Testimony in which they were to be slain and lye as dead and I question whether in any one Kingdom of Europe the faithful Witnesses of Christ may be said to have finished their Testimony as here in this Nation for by finishing their Testimony may be meant as some observe bearing Witness to Christ not only in respect of every one of his Offices but also in all his Ordinances And that according to the Primitive purity of them which many think there has not been the like Testimony upon this respect born any where else as also in respect of true Church Constitution and Discipline and to true Magistracy and Ministry and to Christ's absolute Authority as King of Saints and King of Nations and born in such a publick manner as it has been here formerly and of late take the Doctors words p. 165. And if in this last Combate the Witnesses be singled out as one party and by Witnesses be meant only such faithful Christians and Professors as do in respect of their Godliness and Sincerity hold forth an Eminent Testimony and Witness above that which others of the croud of the common Professors do and so not men of Learning but of Holiness and Zeal are they who are here said to be the real tormentors of these Enemies Then surely in that part of the Reformed Churches where such Witnesses are chiefly found who do continue eminently to hold forth such a kind of powerful Testimony as holy men for this is a Testimony of Holiness not of Learning surely
there especially will be the Seat of this War and the field where this Combate is to be fought Now then look generally over almost all the Reformed Churches and how few of such Witnesses with difference from the common croud do appear amongst them the fire the heat of those godly men their first Reformers which is the thing that should torment these Enemies at last being gone and the light only remaining which gives but a faint cold and dull Testimony and which these Enemies do therefore despise Only in the Witnesses of Great Britain both the light and heat of Religion have been kept up and increased and among them only hath the profession of the power of godliness been continued with difference from the croud of common Professors And according to what appears in view more of such true Witnesses now in these last days wherein this slaughter is to fall out are to be found in it and belonging to it than in all the Reformed Churches besides and that according to the Testimony which they of those Churches who in these times of scattering have come hither for refuge have and do give and surely the place of this killing the Witnesses must be where most Witnesses are And so that that Kingdom may be designed more than any other as in which also more Eminent are found of those last sorts of Champions for the Beast who receive only the number of his name who yet shall be the chief Executioners of this last slaughter Add unto this this conjecture upon Daniel 11. ult which Chapter from v. 36. hath Graserus and Mr. Mede in his Discourse of Daemons upon 1 Tim. 4. 1. 2. applied unto the Pope who is that King there mentioned Now when he shall go forth in this last War in such fury and rage with a purpose utterly to destroy the main event and issue of that expedition of his is made to be this viz. That he shall plant the Tabernacle of his Palace between the Seas in the glorious holy Mountain yet he shall come to his end and none shall help him Dan. 11. ult which the Dr. says he fears that these British Islands are here intended in that they so eminently above all other places of the Churches Reformed and with difference also from all others do stand between the Seas even wholly among Seas penitus toto divisos Orbe Britannos which Islands likewise God hath made the Eminent Seat of the Church in these latter days and which he hath loved above all the Inhabitants of Jacob. And in that the Angel there calls this Mountain in an high and transcendent phrase yet of further difference the Mountain of delight of holiness or as Junius turns it the Mountain of holy comeliness it seems in some way of peculiarity from others even in that respect also to note out a place which for holiness should more eminently be Gods delight and comely in his Eyes where he should have a most holy people and which he should make a Land of uprightness where his Ma jesty and Glory should more eminently shine which place notwithstanding for the tryal of the Witnesses in it God shall again give up unto the power of Antichrist there to plant the Tabernacle of his Palace or Throne or his Clergy as Graserus reads it even as a sign Nebuchadhezzar did his Throne at Taph-hannes when he had Conquered Egypt as a sign of that his Victory by the Conquest of which Kingdoms and regaining them unto him he shall seem so rooted in his ancient power that in hope of all the rest the Whore shall fing I am no Widow and that just before her fall Yet this prevailing is but a preparation to Antichrist's ruin for is follows there in Daniel Yet he shall come to his end and noâ—e shall help him which notes out as that this is to be done just before his end so also that that regaining his power should seem so to strengthen him that he should be as it were out of the danger of ruin and as for ever secure But this his sudden Victory is but as the planting of a Tent or Tabernacle in a Field not to stand past three years and a half tho that Party and their Abettors do in their hopes think they build for Eternity but it being of mans not Gods planting it shall come to nothing I cannot but conclude what this great man hath said that Great Britain is more like to be that Street of the great City in which the Witnesses should be slain rather than France or Germany or any other Kingdom and also am much persuaded the late times have accomplished what he so long ago foretold Methinks three years and a half sometimes since expired looked just like the times he mentioneth had not the Pope placed his Tents here again and hoped to have had a setled Throne and hath not also here been a dreadful slaughter of the true Witnesses of Christ as we before have hinted and doth there seem any ground to expect the like again So that either the time is past or I hope the Dr. was mistaken if it be to come it will be the amazingest providence and revolution that ever was in the World I must conclude we are in a most happy hour or else there is the most dismal hour near that ever the Godly knew or saw since the Reformation a little time will shew us more I can't but expect the ascention of the Witnesses to draw on apace in which will first fall out that great Earthquake wherein 7000 men of name will be slain who were the chief instruments in bringing that death and dismal hour upon the Witnesses of Christ which the Dr. hath most excellently opened moreover there is one thing more he hath shewed his thoughts upon that I am affected with viz. concerning Daniel's 1290 days and 1335 days or years the first he says begun from Julian's time which he concluded ended at 1650 or 1656 and that the other 45 years will bring in the Kingdom of Christ which makes 1335 and that will expire about 1695 or 1701 between which time he prefixeth the Death Resurrection and Ascention of the Witnesses and the Earthquake c. We are no doubt coming towards the end of the wonders and the Vials of Gods wrath will suddenly be poured forth upon the Enemies of the Church neither can I think that Jurieu is in the right who thinks the Papal power c. will fall without or with little Blood for although when the Harvest is ripe there may not fall so many as at the time of the Vintage yet 't is said of men of name shall be slain seven thousand how many of other sorts who can tell Besides that is a certain number put for an uncertain but when the Vintage time comes the Blood shall come out of the Wine-press even to the Horse Bridle by which our Expositors generally say is intended a wonderful slaughter and under the second Vial which
not of him afterward For Ezra who came up the seventh of Artaxerxes and Nebemiah who came the twentieth of his Reign both Governed and set things in Order themselves according to the Commissions they had And what Ezra writes of Zerubbabel is but Historical of things past and done But if this be not right they that go by History must be much more out who make the time between Cyrus his decree and the sixth of Darius his Reign in which it was finished to be at least a hundred twenty four or six which is almost double seventy Obj. 3. is about the one and twenty days Dan. 10. 13. Some reckon it in the time of Cambyses Reign and so part of the time of the interruption upon the work after the Foundation was laid but this could not be For Daniel lived but to the first of Cyrus absolute Government Dan. 1. v. last He prospered all the Reign of Darius Dan. 6. 28. and in the Reign of Cyrus that is to the first of his absolute Government and then dies For he came not out of Captivity which doubtless he had done if he had lived being a man whose heart was set upon the work of God and the good of his Church Others take it to be the one and twenty natural days of Daniels fasting as v. 2. But this cannot be because the holy Spirit that we might not be misled reckons them twice by weeks of daies as v. 2. 3. That we might not take them for the time after v. 13. Of one and twenty days as usual in Scripture a day for a year And in what sense can we suppose that the Prince of the Kingdom of Persia could withstand an answer from God of Daniels prayer when the Angel tells him that from the first day he set his heart to understand c. he was heard v. 12. Therefore to conclude what Persons Histories say did Reign which the Scripture knows nothing of or the time they say they did Reign is nothing to me For I cannot think that God in his Word would have been so distinct and particular in the persons Reigning and their time had it not been for a guide to us to calculate by Therefore let others go by what Rule they please I desire to abide by that word which I know is a sure word of Prophesy and cannot deceive any that have the mind of God in it An Essay towards the understanding the Time set in the Scriptures respecting the Witnesses left in the Word for the Use and Benefit of the Church AND First why two Witnesses First Either because the Scriptures tell us That in the Mouth of two or three Witnesses every thing shall be established Two are sufficient and less cannot holding forth this truth to us That let God's faithful Servants be never so much reduced as to their number yet he hath not left himself without sufficient Witness in this World. Or Secondly To signifie unto us the greatness of that Apostacy that should be from the truth of which the false Church should be composed the whole Earth wondring after the Beast and that but few comparatively should be found faithful in the time of the Holy Cities being trodden under footby the Gentiles Or Thirdly Signifying to us That as the Church at the time of Christ's coming was but one National Church therefore represented by one Candlestick Zech. 4. 2. Now under the Gospel the true Church of God the Mystical Body of Christ her Head consists of several visible Churches and therefore is represented by two Candlesticks Rev. 11. 4. Secondly Who those Witnesses are Ans. Leaving them to their own thoughts who take them to be either the two Testaments or Magistracy and Ministry or two particular Persons I conceive them to be the faithful people of God that have obtained Grace to hold the truth of Christ in all Ages in a faithful adherence to him under all the Apostacies that have been made from them and Oppositions that have been made by them that have Apostatized from them that have not loved their Lives unto the death for the Love they have had to Christ and his Gospel Thirdly The time of their Prophesie is set down Rev. 11. 3. and is 1260 days that is so many years which time is contemporary with the Gentiles treading under foot the Holy City for forty two Months Now although in forty two full Months there are more days by about eighteen than 1260 yet the Text seems to give us to understand that these times shall begin and end together though thus differently reckoned the one by the Sun the other by the Moon as may more fully appear in the next consideration of their work Fourthly Their work is implied in the name given them they are called Witnesses To make a Person a true Witness he must have a full knowledge of what he says or testifies 1 John 1. 1 2 3. Therefore they are Gods Children here intended that have experienced the things they testifie unto so the matter of their Testimony is that Act. 1. 8. to testifie to Christ his Person and Offices the alone Mediator as revealed opened and held forth in the Gospel which is that upon which the true Church of God is Built Eph. 2. 19 20 c. And which is the Temple not given to the Gentiles whilst the Court and Holy City is given to them to tread under foot forty two Months all which time the Witnesses here intended are to Prophesie and Testifie to those truths that others under a name and profession of Christ Apostatized from and intruded their false Doctrines and Corruptions instead of the truths and true worship of God Acts 20. 28 29 30. 2 Thes. 2. 1 2 3 12. c. 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. c. 2 Tim. 3. 1 2 3 4 5. 1 Pet. 3. the whole chapter 2 Pet. 2. the whole chapter the Epistle of Jude all are Prophetical of great Apostacies that would be from the Truths and Purity of the Gospel Now I say the work of the Witnesses is to stand up for the defence of the Gospel and they shall do so for 1260 years together and then they are slain and lye dead for three days and a half that is three years and a half then the Spirit of life from God shall come upon them Fifthly Their finishing their Testimony this must either respect their Testimony it self or the time allotted to them that is the 1260 years I conceive the first is intended for after or when they are upon the finishing it there is a fresh War made upon them in which they that make the War upon them prevail so as to overcome them and kill them and then they lye dead for three years and ½ now how long time this shall take up is not said And if the holy Spirit who had been so exact in setting down the time of 1260 years of their Prophesy and the three days and ½ of their lying dead had omitted