is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth Revel 18. 8 For her sins which God hath remembred which have reached unto heaven therefore shall heâ— Plagues come in one Day Death and Mourning and Famine and she shall be utterly burnâ— with Fire For strong is the Lord God wâ—â— Judgeth her v. 11 12 13. All sorts of Merchandize Traffick Trade and Commerâ— with Humane Society shall cease so as to be no more in her at all and the good thingâ— which she in fulness enjoyed before even alâ— things that were Dainty and Goodly are noâ— Departed from her and shall find them 〈◊〉 more at all ver 14. For in an hour is sâ—â— made desolate And a mighty Angel took up a Stone like a great Milstone and cast it into the Sea saying Thus with violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all ver 21. And the Voice of Harpers and Musicians and of Pipers and Trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee And no Craftsmen of whatsoever Craft he be shall be found any more in thee and the sound of a Milstone shall be heard no more at all in thee ver 22. And the light of the Candle shall shine no more at all in thee and the Voice of the Bridegroom and of the Bride shall be heard no more at all in thee verse 23. But the Place Seat and City of Rome was not so utterly ruined as to be no more for ever a place of Trade Traffick Merchandize and humane society when the Heathen Power of Rome ended Ergo Rome Heathen cannot be the Whore of Babylon under present consideration whose Seat or City hath since had a Powerful Government Reigning in Pride and Pomp for some hundreds of years VII As touching that notion of the Papists i. e. that by this great Whore mystery Babylon is meant Rome after she shall Apostatize from the Pope to Paganism again at the latter end of the World it is such an opinion that has no foundation in Scripture nor in the Judgment of the Antients besides some of the Papists themselves reject it as improbable and detestable as our Annotators observe for then Sr. John in the Revelations passes by in utter silence all the transactings that have been in the World under Papal Rome even ever since the seven head or Christian Emperors Government went off of the Stage which is near 1260 years which is ridiculous to suppose Besides it cannot be understood of Rome in either of the other notions as hath been proved 1. Because Antichrist is to sit in the Temple of God 2 Thes. 2. 4. as God therefore not in a Pagan City The mystery of Iniquiry was working in the Apostles time but v. 7. the Roman Empire hindred the appearance of Antichrist till the Popes had wrung Rome out of their hands and were the sole rulers there then Antichrist shewed himself 2. Because there is nothing said of this great Whore or this Babylon but admirably agreeth to Rome in its present state We shall conclude with the whole If by mystery Babylon is not meant the whole World of wicked men nor old Chaldean Babylon nor Jerusalem the Turks nor Saracens nor Rome in its Heathenish State nor Rome after she shall desert the Pope and turn again to Paganism then it must be Papal Rome or the Romish Church But she is none of the former six we have proved Ergo she is Papal Rome Now to make way for the second Chapter we shall state this argument following If all the marks and characters left us upon divine records to know mystery Babylon by do most aptly and directly agree to Rome Papal then Rome Papal is mystery Babylon But all the marks and characters left upon divine record do most aptly and directly agree to Rome Papal or the present State and Church of Rome Ergo Rome Papal is mystery Babylon CHAP. II. Wherein is clearly proved that all the marks of mystery Babylon doth fully meet in and agree to Rome Papal or the Church of Rome FIrst of all let it be considered Babylon is set forth by a Woman which Imports either a single Person ranked in the feminine Gender or a body of People related to some Head Husband or publick person to whom she is joyned in Wedlock by Covenant or Matrimonial Contract as Eve was related to Adam therefore called woman or as Judah Israel who were Joyned in Covenant with God and therefore called a woman or as the true Church now Marryed or Joyned to Christ and therefore called a Woman A single Person as Eve was she cannot be because the Character given of her in respect of her State and Actions doth no way Comport with it she must therefore be a body of People related to some Head Husband or Publick Person as Judah and Israel of old was who are often called by the Title of a Woman and in like manner Babylon before the Degeneracy where a People Joyned in Matrimonial Contract by Gospel Covenant and Profession to the Son of God. 1. Mystery Babylon it appears from hence Imports a body of people that were once united in a solemn Gospel Covenant to the Son of God and hence Metaphorically called a woman and I saw a woman set c. And the woman was arayed in Purple and Scarlet c. Parallel Rome Papal or Church of Rome is a body a great body of People which before their apostacy were a true Church by Gospel Covenant and profession united to the Son of God as her publick head and husband Rom. 1. 6. Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ. To all that be in Rome beloved of God called to be Saints 2. Mystery Babylon is a City a very great Mystical City in a threefold respect 1. In respect of power Rev 17. 2. In respect of people Rev. 18. 10. 16. 18 19 21. 3. In respect of place or Residence where this power and people is seated City being indefinitely taken for either of these or comprehending all as in these Instances Psal. 121. Isa. 14. 31. Acts 19. 28. Parallel So likewise the Church of Rome is a City a very great mystical City and may be so called in a threefold consideration 1. In respect of power which is twosold 1. Civil 2. Ecclesiastical signified by two horns like a Lamb. 2. In respect of people which are great the fame of which people as a mystical City or Church was great before the power and chief dominion of the place was joyned with it as a Church which came in by the Apostasy Rom. 1. 8. First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole World. And since they adulterated from their primitive Purity and become Antichristian they have been and still are a great people no united body calling themselves a Church of Christ in respect of number and for fame coming near them 3.
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
to Lie Swear and For-swear to Kill Slay and Murther such they call Hereticks tho never so Godly if it be for the cause of Holy Church with a thousand things of the like nature which the people do believe and dare not disown upon their Salvation but boldly adventure to ingage at all opportunitys to Fight and make War burn Citys lay waste Countries and Kingdoms and destroy by Massacres and all manner of Murthering ways all Ranks and Degrees of Men who oppose the horrid principles of this vile Church and cursed practices of these Sons of Belial Nay they will go boldly to their own deaths when convicted and justly condemned for such like villanies and deny to day what they were convicted of yesterday and tho never so notoriously guilty yet will take it upon their Death they are as innocent as the Child unborn what can this be tho they drink it down as sweet Wine but an Infusion of the rankest and most deadly Poyson that the lowest celler of the bottomless Pit can afford the very Wine of the Whores Fornication and the most dangerous Intoxication in the World Which is attended with this aggravation i. e. the best medicines of the wisest Physicians will not recover them for Babylon having made the multitude drunk with this sort of Poysoned Wine how rare is it to have any to come to themselves or to their right minds again And to shut up this Head take this argument Arg. If no people in the Christian World have made the multitude of the common People or Inhabitants of the Earth drunk i. e. corrupted and Intoxicated their minds with wicked Lyes Falshood and detestable Doctrines as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath done Then Rome Papal c. is Mystery Babylon But no People in the Christian World have made the multitude of the Inhabitants of the Earth Drunk i. e. corrupted and intoxicated their minds by wicked Lies falsehood and detestable Doctrine such as before mentioned as the Church of Rome hath done Ergo Rome Papal is mystery Babylon IX Mystery Babylon is said to sit upon a Scarlet-colour'd Beast and this Beast is full of the names of Blasphemy And I saw a Woman sit upon a Scarlet coloured Beast full of the names of Blasphemy c. Rev. 17. 3. So that it appears the Woman and the Beast are distinct by the Woman is meant the false Church by the Beast is meant the secular power or civil state or the Antichrist or that Government that is the eighth and of the seventh who assumeth both the Civil and Ecclesiastical Authority by whom the Whore false Church and Worship is supported That the Beast and Whore are distinct is evident 1. From other Prophecies relating to the same thing 2. From the letter of the text 3. From arguments grounded on reason 4. From the confession of the Whore her self 1. From the Prophecies in the Scripture describing the same state of the Roman Monarchy Dan 2. the latter part of the Image is partly Iron and partly Clay two states that were really distinct that could never so in corporate as to become one 2. From the letter of the text I saw a Woman sit upon a Scarlet-coloured Beast full of the names of Blasphemies The colours of the Royal and Imperial vestments as the Angel declared them distinct so the Apostle saw them distinct 3. They appear to be distinct from argments grounded upon reason For 1. The Beast is in the Masculine Gender the Whore in the Feminine Gender 2. Because the Whore is said to ride upon the beast the one carrying the other 3. The horns being of the Beast 't is said shall hate the Whore if they were not distinct the Whore must hate her self and eat her own flesh c. which is nonsensical 4. The Beast shall abide tho in captivity after the Whore is thrown down and destroy'd 4. From the plain confession of the Whore her self they are distinct who saith I sit a queen I am no Widdow c. Ergo she has a Head or Husband which is the vile Person little Horn and Ecclesiastical Beast or that man of Sin St. Paul declared should rise after the then present Romish power which did lett was taken away which the primitive Fathers as Tertullian Cyprian Jerome and others understood to be the Imperial power in its pure civil iron or unmixt-state or Legs of the Image Dan. 2. Paral. Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath not only drawn into Idolatry the Kings of the Earth great men abusing God his Son Jesus Christ and the Christian Religion and the blessed books of the Old and New Testament but she hath made the lower and ruder sort of the people drunk too as hath been shewed And 't is no wonder she thinks she may do any thing having a dispensation from heaven as she pretends which the Pope keeps the Keys of fearing no power on Earth And now that she hath the secular power to support her upon which she sits or rides in great pomp is evident and that they are really distinct for what of the secular power is still left at Rome is under the conduct and management of the Church there being no civil administration of Justice or exercise of Laws but what is authorized and allowed by the Pope the Head of this Ecclesiastical State to make this further evident the Pope doth not only exercise a power of appointing seculars at Rome and near to it but he claims the like supremacy abroad in other Kingdoms if the secular Princes fall off from him or will not be reconciled to him and own him as head of the Church he will excommunicate and depose them and takes away their Crownâ— and Sceptres from them that the Pope is a temporal Prince as well as an ecclesiastical Bishop i. e. makes Laws exacts Tribute raises Souldiers and acts a Monarch is notoriously known which fairly affords him the title of Beast that his Royal and Scarlet Robes the Chair he sits in to his very Hose and Shoes with the Vestments of his Cardinals is Scarlet so that ye need not doubt but here you have the Scarlet coloured Beast besides no man can reasonably doubt that what the Civil power claims the Ecclesiastical power exercises and that this Princely Pope is in the Masculine and this Harlot or false Church in the Feminine Gender is owned by all partys That the Church state doth sit upon ride and govern the secular at Rome Italy and all its Territories that the Church of Rome owns that she is no Widdow but hath a head called his Holiness or supreme ruler of the Church is so evident that we cannot find them upon any file of record of controversy There remains therefore no more to be done here sith this black character of Mystery Babylon doth so well meet in the Romish Church Arg. If there be no visible state in the Christian World that doth so apparently sit upon command and govern the Beast
Truths of Jesus Christ all which fully shews that this second mark of drunkenness drunk with Blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Jesus meets in the Church of Rome Thirdly She has the other mark of drunkenness upon her also i. e. she matters not who she abuses and exercises her cruelties upon she has sometimes cut off her own dear Children viz. Roman Catholicks amongst such she calls Hereticks as it happened at Bezier and other places crying out Kill all both Catholicks and Hereticks saying the Lord knows who are his nay she has made the Wife to kill her Husband the Husband to murther the Wife Children to destroy their own dear Parents and Parents their Children â—f these things do not shew she is drunk drunk with Blood what can From whence â— shall draw this argument and conclude Arg. If there be no body of people or community of Christians in the World who have been guilty of so much Blood Blood of Saints â—nd good Men even so as to be drunk with Blood as the Church of Rome are Then â—he Church of Rome is Mystery Babylon But there is no people or community of Christians â—hat are so guilty c. as Rome Papal or Church of Rome is Ergo the Church of Rome â— Mystery Babylon XIV Mystery Babylon hath one mark more whereby she may be known i. e. She â— said to sit upon a Beast that hath Seven Heads and Ten Horns the Seven Heads â—â—em to signify as the Angel opens it seven sorts of soveraign governments as well as hills read the Text And here is the mind that hatâ— wisdom the seven Heads are seven Mountains on which the Woman sitteth And there arâ— seven Kings five are fallen one is and one â— not yet come but when he is come he maâ— continue a short space And the Beast that wâ— and is not even he is the eighth and of the seveâ— and goeth into perdition Rev. 17. 9 10 11 Besides all that we have said it we find nâ— Papal Rome here viz. having this characteâ— upon her we will acquit her for ever for tâ— city that is built upon seven Hills is Rome nay you will find that all Authors do general assert that Rome is the only City in the Worâ— that is founded on seven Hills and fame for it by its old Poets as it is noted by â— late Annotators as Ovid Virgil Horaâ— Propertius The names of these Hills aâ— known viz. Palatinus Quirinalis Aveâ—â—nus Celius Veminalis Esquilinus Capitâ—nus But the seven Heads do not only as â— said before signify seven Hills or Mountaiâ—â— but also seven Kings that is seven sorts governments which ruled or were to rule that City where the Beast reigned that caâ—ried this cursed Harlot the term Kings Scripture signifying rulers whether the government was in a single person or more â— Deut. 33. 5. Now that Rome hath had Sevâ— sorts of distinct soveraign governments in her is so notoriously known that the Romanists can't deny it â— Kings Romulus being the first King II. Consuls III. Tribunes IV. Decemvirs V. Dictators VI. Emperors that were Pagans VII Emperors that were Christians five of these were fallen or gone off the stage before St. John received his Revelations the Government of the Pagan Emperors was in being at that very time the seventh was to appear and to continue but a short spaco viz. the Christian Emperors government For it cannot be the Papal power for that was not up in St. Johns time so not the sixth Head. And as the Papal power for that reason could not be the sixth Head so for a very good reason it could not be the 7th Government because whensoever that appeared it was to continue but a short space which cannot intend the Papal power but answereth to the Christian Empire for that government did continue but a little while comparatively but 't is evident the Papal power has continued longer than any of the other soveâ—â—ignties that wont before and if the Papal power be not the sixth Head nor the seventh then it must needs be the eighth which is of the seventh and â—oes into perdition â—…fe it can't be any power at all of the fourth 〈◊〉 Roman Monarchy But a power it is yea and a great power too of the fourth or Roman Monarchy And that which carrys the Whore according to the express letter of the Text and so acknowledged by the best of exposition so that in the whole by the Woman City or Whore that sitteth upon the seven Mountains and where there hath been seven several sorts or forms of Government is meant Rome there is no cause to doubt for the great Sons of Rome themselves as Baronius Bellarmine and many others do confess the same but would defend their Mother from being Mystery Babylon by putting it off to Rome-pagan which we have clearly detected in the first chapter of this treatise And therefore do affirm that Rome Papal is neither the sixth noâ— seventh sort of government but is the eighth and of the seventh The Christian Emperon in an overheated zeal and bounty to the Roman Bishops giving him the advantage by getting that power which through policy and pride he attained to in the end so he comes to be the last Beast or eighth Government in which there is a secular and an Ecclesiastical power joined together which makes up â— Beast a blasphemous Beast who hath two Horns like a Lamb which is this twofold power but a mouth like a Dragon and a Whore a most devilish drunken and bloody Whore. c. Arg. If Rome Papal or Church of Rome be born up by a secular power which hath had seven soveraign governments in a City seated upon seven Hills or Mountains then Rome Papal or Church of Rome is Mystery Babylon the great Whore. But Rome Papal or Church of Rome is born up by a secular power which hath had seven soveraign governments in a City seated upon seven Hills or Mountains Ergo Rome Papal c. is Mystery Babylon XV. There is yet one mark or character more of Mystery Babylon i. e. she is said to be that City that reigned over the Kings of the Earth and the Woman that thou sawest is that City that reigns over the Kings of the Earth Rev. 17 18. Now that Rome is such a City that since St. Johns time hath for several hundred of years reigned over the Kings of the Earth is so evident none can deny nay and that Rome Papal hath governed a great part of Italy her self owneth ever since Constantine who gave it as she saith as a Patrimony to St. Peter and that she hath governed or hath had her Kingdom over Germany Poland France Spain Portugal England Scotland and Ireland c. is clear so that their Kings have been governed by her whom she would they killed and whom she would they saved alive whom she willed they worshiped and so became guilty of drinking the Wine of her fornication whom she
and abroad many good men basely misled joining in with them unawares in carryâ—â— on the design of this Whore in this her great 〈◊〉 last attempt wherein she doubted not but to 〈◊〉 all the Hereticks under her Foot and utterly to extirpate the Protestant Religion such a death 〈◊〉 face of things never sure appeared before this hoâ—â— and power of darkness and it was strangely prâ—â—ged as many feared by that lightening before 〈◊〉 in 1678. upon the discovery of the Popish 〈◊〉 when our hopes were raised by that great zeal 〈◊〉 our brave English Parliaments against the Paâ—â— and Popish Religion most thinking at that 〈◊〉 our morning light appeared to break forth the â—â—â—terness of death was over but lo what a sudden châ—â—â— did we see how was our light turned into darkâ—â— and our joy to sorrow and lamentation and 〈◊〉 â—oy and triumph attended our Popish Enemies what â—ingings of Te deum at Rome and in all Popish Countreys and sending gifts one to another for joy that these witnesses of Christ were overcome and â—aid by the walls and their testimony and spirits gone in this Kingdom which was always a terror to the Popish Church together with that wonderful success they had about the same time over the Protestants Turks in Hungary that Kingdom being restored to her too these things made her doubtless to say â—n her Heart I sit a Queen c. But as God foretold the â—eople of the Nations viz. the neighbouring Nations would not see nor indure to see the dead bodies â—f Gods witnesses and people put into Graves 〈◊〉 for their eyes were upon us before they appeared for our help and the fear of them doubtless â—â—id prevent under God our Enemies from attempting that which we may conclude they longed to be 〈◊〉 The worthy Gentleman I mentioned before â—ells us that he was so much the more strengthned in â—is opinion in respect of the death and resurrection of the witnesses from a threefold testimony The first is that of Socrates who in his Ecclesiastical History affirmed that such things did appear in â—â—ch a year which he mentioned that gave him â—â—use to conclude there to begin the Epoch or beginning of the 1260 years of the witnesses prophesying in sackcloth viz in the year 426 which brings â—â—wn the said time of the slaying of the witnesses â—â—ft to the same year he speaks of which if he was â—â—ght the witnesses must now be risen and upon â—â—eir feet The second was Mr. William Alleine whose â—â—count brings the great things down to the very â—â—ne year Third Mr. Bright-man he says also affirms that about the self same year Antichrists Kingdom should expire And our Author looking for these great revolutions just at that time and now perceiving them to appearance come to pass as he says it may be easily supposed could not but be filled with joy besides intimates he still continues in a hopefulness of expectation that the present work will go on sol hope it is with us all for that God who hath begun to work such a miraculous and blessed work wâ—â—â— perfect it he that hath shewed us such things wâ—â—â— yet shew us greater and certainly the present work of God in this Nation is the admiration of all the Nations round about and strikes terror into the Hearts of all the Lords Enemies And in particular makes the French King to have other thoughts thâ— he had a few months ago and we hope his time 〈◊〉 at hand to drink of the cup of divine vengeance Dr. Goodwin speaking p. 172. of the resurrectiâ—â— of the witnesses saith that whereas through a forced consent and yielding the Popes power 〈◊〉 again been entertained by that tenth part of 〈◊〉 City for the killing the witnesses they now 〈◊〉 cast off that power with a mighty commotion 〈◊〉 insurrection and so proceed to ruin the oppoâ—â—â—â— party unto the witnesses who were the instruments of that former slaughter of which pâ—â—â— the remnant unslain do as men affrighted gâ—â— glory to God and turn back again to embrace thâ— truth and acknowledge God to be in these witnesses and in their cause So that although this may and shall end in 〈◊〉 ruin of Rome which is the highest effect of 〈◊〉 fifth Vial for this Resurrection and Ascenâ—â—â—â— of the witnesses are truly the preparation unto 〈◊〉 yet this other passage of the Earth quake c. 〈◊〉 here is said to be the same hour with their rising is rather to be understood of the means or thing making way unto that their Resurrection so that this Insurrection or rising of the people in the tenth part of the City which is meant by the Earth quake is the preparation unto their resurrection which ends in the ruin of Rome the scope of the holy Ghost here being to shew what did properly and peculiarly concern the rising of the witnesses as the means to it yet so as still this Earth-quake here and fall of the tenth part of the City are reducible unto that fifth Vial as a degree unto it and so that fifth Vial may also be ultimately intended in this passage recorded of the witnesses rising as the preparation unto it thus in the interpretation of the Vials I shewed that there may be many sprinklings of the same Vial both long before it come to its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vigour also after all which are notwithstanding to be reduced unto that Vial of the kind whereof they are or unto which they are either preparations or appendixes 1. By the tenth part of the City I understand as Mr. Brightman before me some one tenth part of Europe which as it all once belonged to the Jurisdiction of the City of Rome and is in this book called ten Kingdoms so now again upon the Gentiles or Idolatrous Papists their recovering the outward court shall now at last more or less come under the Jurisdiction of that City but especially or at least this tenth part of it here intended where most faithful witnesses shall be â—ound and where most of them shall be triumphed over and slain shall during these three years and a half become a part of the City again and so is â—â—lled a tenth part of the City City being put â—ere as it often is in this book for the extent of the jurisdiction of the City of Rome which had these ten European Kingdoms by Charter allotted unto it Chap. 17. and unto which these Kingdoms are a second time to agree to give up their power in one of which ten or in the tenth part of the whole the witnesses shall first begin to rise and therein shall this Earth quake accompany their resurrection this tenth part of the City may perhaps be all one with that Street of the City mentioned v. 8. 2. By the Earth-quake here which is said to be a great one is meant as still in this book it is a great concussion or shaking of States Poliâ—ique 〈◊〉
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
pretence of the most High and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction doth influence and govern the Secular Power and State of Kingdomâ— Of this last opinion were the ancient Waldenses who felt the bloody Power of of Rome venting it self in most horrid and Barbarous Cruelties against them and that for a long Series of time as appears by our most Authentick Ancient and Modern Writers who give a very ample account of the great Persecution of Christians for many hundred years last past in all parts of the Christian World where they have had Power To which opinion of the Waldenses most of our Modern Protestant Divines agree of which we shall mention only Cartwright Fulk the worthily Admired and Learned Mede not forgetting famous Du Moulin of France as may be seen in their works at large 7. Some of the Papists who grant that by Babylon Rome is meant but would have it to be Rome towards the End of the World when they say Rome shall apostatize from the Pope to Paganism again and now because we will not take things upon trust nor refer the reader to many Books and Quotations it appears needful that we remove the Objections with as much brevity as we can And first That Mystery Babylon cannot be fairly applyed unto the whole World of wicked men nor to old Chaldean Babylon nor to Jerusalem the Turks nor Saracens nor terminate in the Heathenish State of Rome noâ— Rome towards the End of the World when they say Rome shall Apostatize from the Pope to Paganism again And that none else can be meant or intended by her but the Papal Power of the Church of Rome 1. Mystery Babylon cannot be the whole world of wickedmen for in opposition to this 1. The Apostle John speaks here of a certain great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth v. 18. This cannot be meant of the wicked world 2. The World of wicked men are those Inhabitants of the Earth whom this Woman made drunk with the Wine of her fornication Now she that made them drunk and those that were made drunk cannot be the same 3. This Woman v. 9. sitteth on seven mountains and so do not all the wicked of the World. 4. We are Commanded to come out of this Babylon but we are not obliged to go out of the World. 2. If she were the old Chaldean Babylon then 1. Where is the mystery mentioned Rev. 17. 5. 2. Mystery Babylon here mentioned is by all acknowledged to be the Seat of Antichrist So was never old Chaldean 3. Besides it is generally agreed to by all not without good grounds that Literal Babylon was no more than the Type of her which is all we will speak to it 3. It cannot be meant the City of Jerusalem 1. Because Jerusalem did not reign over the Kings of the Earth in St. John's time when he saw this Vision and wrote the Revelation which this City Babylon is expresly said to do Rev. 17. 18. And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth Jerusalem having been not only under captivity divers times before but was then entirely under the Power of the Roman yoke as the whole History of the Gospel doth confirm and themselves do most plainly Confess We have no King but Caesar. 2. Jerusalem was never in so high esteem with the Beast as to be capable to ride as Queen Regent upon him as this Woman Whore or City is said to do Rev. 17. 7. And the Angel said unto me Wherefore didst thou marvel I will tell thee the mystery of the Woman and the Beast that carryeth her which hath the seven heads and ten horns Rev. 17. 7. compared with verse 3. so he carryed me away in the Spirit into the Wilderness and I saw a Woman sit upon a Scarlet Coloured Beast full of Names of Blasphemy having seven Heads and ten Horns For by the Woman sitting and the Beast carrying is undoubtedly signified Influence Power and Dominion which Jerusalem was far remote from not only under the Roman Monarchy but also under the three Kingdoms that went before it viz. the Babylonian Grecian and Persian as might be largely illustrated both out of Sacred and Humane History 3. Jerusalem did not sit upon many Waters which is Interpreted to be People Nations and Tongues that is had not command or dominion over them as this Woman Whore or City is said to have Rev. 17. 15. And he saith The Waters which thou sawest where the Whore sitteth are Peoples and Multitudes and Nations and Tongues The whole Land of Judea being under Tribute to the Roman Government at that time Luk. 2. 1. And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the World should be taxed and particularly Galilee Nazareth Judea and the City of David called Bethlehem 4. Jerusalem was not capable to Enchant and Bewitch all Nations round about her either by her Religion and Doctrine or by great Gifts and Rewards 1. Because the Roman Power kept her under and much in awe on the one hand not owning nor subscribing to her Religion 2. The Christian Doctrine and Religion Blocked up her way on the other hand that she could not Extend her Influence to either Neighbouring or Remote Nations as this Woman Whore or City is said to do Rev. 18. 23. For thy Merchants were the great Men of the Earth for by thy Sorceries were all Nations deceived 5. Jerusalem though she were guilty of much Blood from the beginning of her Excellency and Glory in Solomons time Killing Prophets even all that were sent unto her Murthered John Baptist and our Lord and Saviour as also the blessed Martyr St. Stephen yet in her could not be found that great Mass of Blood that was shed and Myriads of Christian Saints that have been Barbarously Murthered by Massacre and Publick Martyrdom since they were ruined and destroyed by Titus Vespasian which we find positively charged upon this City Babylon Rev. 17. 6. And I saw the Woman Drunk with the Blood of Saints and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and I wondred with great Admiration as indeed well he might as shall be shewn And in her was found the Blood of Prophets and of Saints and of all that were slain upon the Earth that is since the Destruction of Jerusalem 6. And Lastly not to multiply more upon this head Though Jerusalem was fearfully destroyed as the History of Josephus shews yet shall she rise again be Built upon her own Heap be replenished with her own Children which this City Babylon under Consideration shall never be after this Catastrophe which John saw visionally coming upon it Rev. 18. 21. And a mighty Angel took up a stone like a great Milstone and cast it into the Sea saying Thus with violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all 5. It cannot be the Turks and Saracens for two reasons
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
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
Gods a kind â—â— middle Beings between their highest Gods and Men whose Office was to be Advocates or Mediators between Men and the highest Gods because they judged it was not lawful for Men to come to the highest Gods immediately and these they worshipped by Images Even so the Papists or Mystery Babylon hath divos and divas Saints of all sorts whom she hath Canonized to be called upon in her publick Prayers Altars and Feast days dedicated and kept unto their memory and many other Honours acknowledging them to be Mediators between God and Men and unto these Daemons or petty Gods she makes her Prayers and hath their Images and to whom they do divine Homage like as did the Pagans of old CHAP. VI. Shewing the Judgments of divers Eminent Men concerning the Death Resurrection and Ascention of the Witnesses and final downfal of Mystery Babylon and that in all probability it will be in this present Age Together with an account of divers strange Prophesies relating thereto some very Ancient c. HAving clearly demonstrated that the Church of Rome is that great Whore Mystery Babylon It may not be amiss before we conclude this 〈◊〉 Treatise to give you some account concerning her full and final overthrow which hath been for â— long time the expectation of Gods people and multitudes of Prayers have and still do go up to Heaven for the accomplishment thereof and reason there is for it considering what a Plague she hath been to the World and Church of God for so many hundred of years and certainly God will at laâ—â— hear that mighty cry of Prayer and of innocenâ— Blood that continually is in his Ears and since the Death Resurrection and Ascention of the Witnesses if rightly understood gives such clear light as touching the fall of Babylon we shall give you some brief hints concerning this important and weighty point The Beast is to continue for the space of forty two Months and the Witnesses are to Prophesie in Sackcloth for the space of 1260 days which most Writers conclude to be one and the same term of time and that by days is meant yeaâ—â— all generally conclude and the long continuance of the Beast and Papal power clearly shew that to be the mind of Gods Spirit in those Mystical numbers Yet a late Worthy and Learned Writer hath said a great-deal to prove the forty two Months are to be reckoned by the Moon and not by the Sun and if so then as he shews the time of the Witnesses wearing Sackcloth is thirty eight years longer than the forty two months but yet are to terminate together he concluding the Witnesses put on their Sackcloth so many years before the beginning or Epoch of the forty two Months See his Book intituled The command of God to his people to come out if Babylon Moreover he saith the time Epoch or beginning of the forty two Months must be fixed at the cessation of the seventh sort of Government or Christian Emperors Reign which saith he was in the year 475. and the whole time of the Beasts Reign and Tyranny being but forty two Months which by the Moon he accounts to be just 1222 years the period of which will be saith he in 1697. And this we will say he hath doubtless fixed the Epoch or beginning of the Beasts Kingdom more fairly than many Writers before him have done because all along where the Reign of one Head or Government ended the other begun as 't is said you know the King never dies Take his own words p. 25. Thus far the matter is determined according to the Prophesie i. e. Whenever the 7th King asserted to be the Christian Emperors Government expir'd viz. by a civil death or the cessation of the Imperial Name and Power immediately the eighth King according to the Prophesie must succeed and bear up the Roman City in gratideur and whoever hath born up that City in Supremacy since that time must be according to Prophesie that eighth King i. e. the Beast Now I appeal to all the World what year that was when the Western Imperial Name fell and it is known in all History to be the year of our Lord 475. For in the wonderful disposes of God no one hath claim'd a Title of Empire from that City since that year but the Pope I do commend the ingenious Reader to the Book it self Now if this be true or can be granted we are very near the final ruin of the Papistry nay and from divers other authors most or all that I have met with agree it will be in this very age Peter du Moulin a wise and renowned French Authour in his book intituled the accomplishment of the Prophecy saith from the year 1689. Popery shall fall and go down but all conclude that the tenth part of this great City falls first and I doubt not but the providence of God hath brought us forth in the time of the accomplishment of that part of the Prophecy for that great Brittain is that part of the great City I see no cause to doubt and that also the witnesses are risen or arising and will soon be upon their feet is the thoughts of several worthy men but I being limited to the number of Sheets cannot inlarge as I would do therefore we shall 1. Briefly give you our understanding who the tâ— witnesses are in which we agree and accord with sâ—vâ—iâ— learned men 2. What is meant by the slaying of the witnesses 3. Also some probable conjectures concerning the tiâ—â— when slain as also of their Resurrection standing 〈◊〉 their feet and ascention 1. 'T is not unknown to the Judicious Reader what different sentiments there have been about who or what the two witnesses are some thinking they are the Old and New Testament others Magistracy and Ministry others two sorts of Godly Churches some have thought them to be Moses and Elias who tho along time since are glorified in Heaven yet shall come again and be killed on Earth which is the most improbable of any of the otherâ— yet the Papist writers and some others of late timeâ— have asserted this But we Judge by them are meant Gods faithfâ—â— people called two witnesses because of the smaâ—ness of their number who have born witness to the truths of Christ all the time of Antichriâ—â— reign or else called two as comprehending both Ministers who are more directly intended and people also they may be called two as soâ—â— think in respect of their twofold Testimony to 〈◊〉 true Gospel Ministry and Magistracy and this thâ—â— conclude because called also two Candlesticks 〈…〉 alluding to those two Sons of Oyl i. e. 〈…〉 and Zerubbabel 't is evident God calls his people especially his faithful Ministers his witnesses Ye are 〈◊〉 witnesses saith the Lord Isa. 44. 8. and saith Christ â—â— shall be witnesses unto me Act. â— 8. and Act. 5. 32. We are his witnesses c. also called two because two 〈◊〉 the number which God
ordained as sufficient to establish a Truth by as much as to say God hath â—ad sufficient witnesses to bear a testimony to his Word and Gospel in every age against Antichrist his abominable lies usurpation and cursed Idolatry 2. As touching the slaying of them it must either intend a natural Death or external slaying or else â— civil death now I see no ground to conclude the former because they were so killed all along whilst they Prophecied in sack-cloath besides friends nor enemies would not suffer their Dead Bodies to lie â—â—buried in the Street for the space of three years and half for the best of expositors conclude generally that is the time meant by three days and a half therefore it must be a civil Death or slaying This then I conclude to be intended viz. near the end of the two and forty months or 1260. years of their Prophecy the Beast who rose out of the bottomless Pit shall make a new rally or attempt upon Gods faithful people quite to extinguish or put â—n end to their testimony and so far prevail as they shall be lookt upon as dead in Law or be accounted as dead and lost people in the eye of the Enemy and in their own sight also both in respect of the Ministry and Magistracy too To this effect also Dr. Tho. Goodwin speaks p. 154 155. This killing them considered as witnesses not as men that is a taking away of all power from them of prophecying as they were wont a general silencing of Ministers and deposing Magistrates and men of worth that profess and uphold Religion c. putting them out from all places c. That the Popish party should again arrive to such â— in some one or more Kingdoms that were formerly a Horn or Horns of the Beast or one â— the Streets of the great City nay and prevail â— far as to have great hopes to work the utter â— of Gods faithful people and witnesses as to rejoyâ— and conclude the day will nay is their own â— that to such a degree that she viz. Mystery Babylâ— shall say in her Heart I sit a Queen and shall see â— sorrow nor know less of Children any more This â— ing dead saith the Dr. here of the witnesses â— needs be taken metaphorically and understâ—â—â— of a civil death and of a suppression of them â— their cause And as they are witnesses to be put doâ— and extinguished that they for a time remainâ— men dead laid forth by the Walls for dead and â— men in whose Testimony there is in appearâ—â—â— no likelyhood of a revival their Enemies has â— now got such power over them this certaiâ— made the great matter of their Enemies rejoycâ— that as the Pharisees thought they had Christ 〈◊〉 enough when they got him condemned and crâ—cified and had him in the grave so these Enemies shall think they have the witnesses doâ— sure enough for ever so great desperate 〈◊〉 helpless in all view will the suppression of 〈◊〉 witnesses be by their Enemies And this is principally intended in their being said to lie 〈◊〉 And oppositely the revival of them and the cause is set forth by a resurrection from the deâ— this great man hath given such an account of â— slaying and lying dead of the Witnesses that cannâ— I think be gainsayed and speaks tho' so maâ— years ago as if he had lived to see what our Eâ— have beheld actually accomplished in this Kingdom in a few years last past time is the only opener â— interpreter of these Mysteries was there ever sâ— â—n hour upon the Lords people since the beginning of the Reformation as hath been in these five or six years last past both here and in France if he is right certainly we have seen the death of Gods witnesses â—nd with this doth a worthy pious and learned friend â—gree in a late manuscript which is come to my â—and and also in his said Papers he speaks of that â—treet in which they are said to lye as dead and alâ—o of the Resurrection of them as already tho' but â—ately come to pass yet with that care and caution that 't is left to the consideration of the wise and thinking Christian for too great confidence in matters of this nature is not necessary But because some are ready to object saith he that if the witnesses are already slain and are rose in these nations they think there would then be a far greater appearance of divine Glory in order to the rescue and deliverance of Gods people in other parts of the World as well as here whereas we know that the generality of Christs witnesses elsewhere do yet remain under great Persecution c. In answer whereunto he saith it ought to be duely considered that the death and resurrection of the witnesses spoken of Rev. 11. must have of necessity a peculiar reference unto one of the Streets only of the great City for so the Text expresly tells us their dead bodies shall lye in the Street or in that Street of the great City v. 8. which â—eems plainly to point unto some one principal Street or part of the Roman Jurisdiction which must needs denote such a Street as where there shall be the greatest number of the most eminent and faithful witnesses of Christ even are such who have born the clearest testimony against the supperstiâ—ions and abominations of the Mystery of iniquiâ—y and that have born the clearest testimony concerning Christ and the Gospel in the due exercise and administration of the Kingly Priestly and Prophetical offices of the Lord Jesus for aâ— reference hereunto it is that Christ values natioâ— and Kingdoms not in respect of their opulency â— greatness or vastness of dominions but where there are the greatest numbers of his chosen Jewels this may serve to Answer clavis Apoc. in assertiâ— Germany to be this Street also our French Authoâ— concerning the Kingdom of France some one Street we see by the plain words of the text is designed â— the scene where this glorious Prophesie was to bâ— accomplished for the work must begin some where And what that Street should be but thâ— Kingdom of Great Brittain we see no cause to doubt which all acknowledge to have been once one â— the ten Horns of the Beast and where also I thiâ— we may modestly affirm there are the greatest number of Christs most enlightned faithful Witnesses I will not determine but I suppose there are fâ—â— of Ingenuity but have read and considered tâ— several convincing arguments of Dr. Goodwin â— Rev. 11. wherein he doth assert and I think â— clearly prove that that prediction concerning tâ— death of the Witnesses and their Resurrection muâ— of necessity be limited to one of the Streets of the great City and cannot fairly be expounded as having any immediate reference unto any of the rest so â— doth as clearly demonstrate that the English Juridiction must of necessity be that street which â— doth by comparing the
Ecclesiastical for of either or of both it is used thus under the sixth seal the great alteration wrought in the Roman Empire when it turned from Heathenism to Christianity brought aboâ—â— by the power of Constantine with the depoâ—â—â—â— those Heathenish Emperors Captains and altering the face of the Empires Religion is called 〈◊〉 Earth-quake Chap. 6. so that the like mighty commotion with an alteration of the face of things either civil or ecclesiastick shall fall out in a tenth part of the City and shall accompany or usher 〈◊〉 this rising of the witnesses 3. Now by and through this Earth quakes falling thus out in a tenth part of the City this tenth part of it is so shaken that it falls that is ceased to be a part of the City or to belong unto its Jurisdiction any longer or which is all one falls of as we say from being of the number of those thâ—â— give their power to the Beast which if it prove 〈◊〉 be any of the Protestant States that should yet again as was said embrace the Beasts power and come under his Jurisdiction or in order to 〈◊〉 bringing in again of the Popes power should 〈◊〉 these witnesses and so thereby become a part 〈◊〉 that City and be reckoned pertaining unto its Jurisdiction yet now revolting from under the power of this City and recoiling again through this Earth-quake it may truly be said to fall namely quâ Urbis pars est as it is a part of the City which it before was but now ceaseth to be it now utterly renouncing either to belong to its Jurisdiction or to be of its party any longer and as Earthquakes are from inward motions in the bowels of the Earth so this here may seem to rise from within that Kingdom it self whether thro' the supream Magistrates beginning to hate the Whore as the promise is Chap. 17. or the peoples abominating the cruelty and contempt put upon the Witnesses and their cause their Consciences having been enlightned in the truth while themselves were troden under as the outward Court by these Gentiles and so they come to shake off that Yoke and the Witnesses having a Spirit of life now come into them these take heart and join with them and their cause whether I say through the working of either or both of these I cannot determine but I think through both for the ruin of the City unto which this is at least the preparation is to be effected through Gods changing one of the ten Kings Hearts so to hate the Whore as to eat her flesh and burn her with fire Chap. 17. And this voice speaking unto the witnesses out of Heaven Mr. Mede conjectures to be that supream authority with which the people also shall joyn for an Earth-quake certainly notes out a commotion in the people and nations Thus far the Doctor Now that which is said to be previous to the slaying of the Witnesses is the War which the Beast would make against them when they were about finishing their Testimony in Sackcloath or in the end of the 1260. days or years which plainly implys two things First That about that time as the Doctor intimates the Beast that rose out of the Bottomless Piâ— viz. the Papal power would recover strength again in this Nation or that tenth part of the City called also a Street where the Witnesses should be â—â—ain and lie dead Secondly Make War against them with all imaginable power craft and policy that Hell could afford endeavouring utterly to root out Gods faithful Witnesses or Protestant Interest now have not we seen these things which the Dr. hath upon this account writ is it not evident that things in England have for many years last past been carryed on by the Papal Power not only in the late Kings reign but also before have not we seen a strange Spiritual War managed by Popish councils Priests and Jesuits and had they not very far prevailed Yea so far as to the killing of Gods Witnesses according to what the Dr. saith is meant thereby how much different hath the late times of trouble been to former days What a base compliance with the Antichristian party have we seen What a strange dispiriting of godly people nay and Ministers too Never sure such a civil death in every respect hath been seen nor known before this hour Now as to the witnesses standing on their Feeâ— saith the Dr. p. 170. First As men erect and taking Heart their cause being just tho' before condemned Secondly As ready to defend it and as men able and resolved now to confront their Enemies which strikes a mighty dread into their guilty Consciences great fear fell upon them that saw them their Hearts begin to sink and die at the Witnesses first beginning to live and have not we seen somewhat much like this what a strange Spirit do we see now in all sorts of Protestants against the Whore or Antichristian party both here and in Scotland also More especially as touching the Ascention of the Witnesses they shall hear a voice Come up hither it certainly signifies some more glorious Church State and restoration of the Primitive Purity that shall attend the Saints and Church of God and when that comes to pass may be such a measure of the spirit may be given as to unite all Faithful and Godly Protestants into one Body and Communion and then the Spouse or Church of God will come forth out of the Wilderness as terrible as an Army with banners Cant. 6. 4. CHAP. VII Shewing the Judgment of divers Learned Meâ— upon the pouring out of the seven Vials particularly Monsieur Jurieu a late French Writer as also Dr. Goodwin Mr. Canne c. Proving that none of the seven Vials are yet poured out and Monsieur Jurieu's Arguments answered c. Together with an answer to what he says of the slaying of the Witnesses and that by the Street is not meant the Kingdom of France THus I have given you a brief account of the Judgment and Opinion of divers Worthy and Learned Men concerning the riâ—e and ruin of Antichrist and Mystery Babylon together with the Death Resurrection and Ascention of the two Witnesses which is left to you to receive or reject according to your own conceptions and understandings according to the Light and Knowledge God hath given you of these great Mysteries There is one thing more I shall speak to and a little further open which is a matter of great Importance to understand in order to the finding out the final overthrow of the Papal Power and ruin of Antichrist which is that of the seven Vials and last Plagues spoken of Rev. 16. It seems not a little strange to me to see how exceedingly the learned and most renowned Expositors differ about the time of the pouring out of the Vials some concluding they are all already poured forth others that there are only the first three poured out and some others affirm there is not one
he could have been made of the rage of the Croisades In all Languages and in all sorts of stile a Sea of Blood Rivers of Blood streams of Blood signify a very great slaughter Now the proper character of the Croisades is slaughter Murther which falls not upon the head of the Antichristian Empire but upon the people all was turned into Blood. Never was there such a prodigious effusion of Blood in the Sea i. e. among the peoples in the first Croisade there died more than 2 Millions of men in 3 or 4 years 't is evident that God did lead these wretched creatures as it were to the shambles that they should find the punishment of their crimes he took so great a quantity of Blood that he might cure the Ulcers of Christendom for that he might purge it of that vast rabble he permitted the Devil to inspire them either with such sottish superstition or an extravagant ambition that they must go and deliver the Holy-land or go and conquer Kingdoms in the East this Plague lighted only on the Sea not at all on the dry land upon the subjects of the Popedom not at all upon the Popes On the contrary the Popes Improve that evasion to greaten their power to plunder whole Countreys to make Generals of Armies to act as soveraign Monarchs and to lay a heavyer yoke upon Kings whom they ordered to march and sent them as their slaves into the East and during their absence plundered their Kingdoms We must not saith he imagine that all the Plagues laid down by St. John must tend to the ruin of the See of Rome or to the diminution of its power for some are to light upon the head of that Empire to crush it others upon the people to punish them because they worship the Beast the Plague of Blood and Slaughter is for the people This Plague of Croisades saith he is divided into two Plagues because of its long duration for it lasted 200 years from the end of the eleventh age until the end of the thirteenth this he Judges the time of the 2d Vial and Plague The third Vial or Plague fell upon the Rivers or lesser Waters which he fixes upon some particular nations as of France under the conduct of St. Lewis The fourth Vial poured out on the Sun 't is known and confessed saith he of all who know any thing of Prophecies Dreams and Visions that the Heavens the Sun the Constellations and the Stars are Emblems of Dignity and Grandeur on Earth c. The Sun does always signify the Soveraign the Stars inferiors Magistrates and so by the Sun under the 6th Seal 't is always understood the fall of the Pagan Empire that the Antichristian Kingdom is treated of here saith he is generally agreed to therefore it cannot be doubted that the Sun is the Soveraign of this Kingdom And he fixes upon the increase of Antichrists authority and power in the thirteenth and fourteenth Centuries to be meant hereby when the Sun by his excessive scorching heat i. e. the Pope by his usurpt authority tyrannized over Kings and Emperors p. 89. deposing and taking away their Crowns c. The fifth Vial and Plague poured on the feat of the Beast he affirms with other Writers to mean the City of Rome and when was it that this Vial of Gods wrath fell upon the seat of the Beast i. e. Rome it was saith he when Rome lost its Sun which is spoken of in the foregoing Plague i. e. the Pope the Papal Court that like a Gulf or Whirl-pool drew to it all the riches of the Kingdoms of Europe In the year 1305. Clement the V. left Rome to go to Avignon the City that was Mistress of the World then became desolate when its Masters kept their seat at Avignon p. 94. The sixth Vial and Plague he affirms are the Turks who pass over the Bosphorus and invade the Greek and Latin Empires at this I can't a little wonder because most expositors conclude and I think with good reason that the rise and increase of the Turkish Monarchy began under the sixth Trumpet and not only so but because 't is said the Angel poured forth his Vial upon the great River Euphrates and mark the Water thereof was dryed up c. which seems to intimate the decay and wasting of the Turkish power and not the increase of it but he would have us understand the Kings of the East to mean the Turks and not Euphrates p. 200 201. the time that this Vial was a pouring forth he says was about 125 or 130 years viz. from 1390. until 1526. by this he must believe the Battel of Arma-geddon is long since past which he runs into a mystery by shewing that Arma-geddon signifies a cutting off by a Curse or Excommunication which he applys to the Orders Laws and false Oracles of the Popedom and the Antichristian head there is saith he 't is known a Curse and a Arma-geddon at the end of every Canon The seventh Vial and Plague he affirms was by the Preaching of Luther and other reformers by which the Latin Church was divided into three parts Papists Lutherans and Reformed I suppose he means the Calvinists the Voices and Thunders and Lightnings that are said to be under the seventh Vial mean he says the Voices of Preachers who labour'd in the reforming the Church page 217. The great City he affirms is the Antichristian Kingdom and this City under the pouring forth of the seventh Vial is said to be divided into three parts this he says is exactly come to pass i. e. one part remained with Antichrist one part did separate from him under the name of the Ausburge confession A third part did separate under the confession of those who are barely stiled the Reformed Sweden Denmark and a great part of Germany make the second part England and the united Provinces the reformed part of France and part of Germany make the third part these saith he are the three grand parts that divide the western Church which is the great City Let this be attentively minded saith he for I affirm that this passage does as it were speak with a Tongue is able alone to convince that our Systeme of the seven Plagues is most undoubted truth this division of the great City into three parts so clearly points out the three communions of the Latin Church that to deny it can proceed only from unreasonable passion and opinionativeness And if we have hit upon the truth in this point we have done so in all for if this character of the seventh Plague is true and is already accomplisht all other Plagues are also accomplisht and if they are accomplished I do boldly affirm they cannot be applied to any other effects than those to which we have applied them He further shews that England cannot make a fourth part because in doctrine she agrees with other reformed communions in which she differs from the Lutherans p. 220. who
refuse such communion c. Thus saith he in truth there are but three grand parts into which the Latin Church is divided i. e. Papists Lutherans and Calvinists and this division is not her utter ruin but after she is thus divided God will prepare to give her the last cup of his wrath which signifies that the division of the Latin Church into three parts must continue until the compleat ruin of Popery This is the seventh and last Vial-glass which thanks be to God will in a little time be run out now we have that we seek namely an evidence that the Antichristian Kingdom is near at an end We need not longer wait for the accomplishment either of all the 7 Plagues as some of our interpreters say or of some of the 7 Plagues as others say it is done all is accomplisht we are at the end of the seventh period First That in the whole explication of this 16th chapter there is not the least forced application the Emblems which the Prophet makes use do exactly resemble the events set down in History Second that in the Application of these seven Plagues unto the events every thing does hang together no part of this System contradicts another this being supposed I do intreat them to consider if chance may hit right in some points but never does so in all I say again that we are at the end of the seventh period for it ought to be well observed that there is not one Vial which is distinct and separated from others lasted 200 years this hath already lasted 170 years it cannot last much longer 't is true the Papal authority whose beams so scorched men under the fourth Vial lasted above 200 years but this was because it was inlayed or jointed in those that preceded and those that followed And its particular strict period must be reckon'd to be only 108 years which begun at the year 1270 when the Croisades ended and continued until the grand Schism which happened in the year 1378. for then began the diminishing of the Papal Authority and the darkning of the Kingdom of the Beast The seventh Vial hath lasted already longer than any of the rest and 't is probable that it must last about 200 years which none of the others hath done but we shall see the reason of this when we shew that this seventh Period is it self divided into three Periods i. e. the Harvest the Vintage and the time that is betwixt the Harvest and the Vintage the Harvest is already past the time betwixt is almost expired and we are approaching to the Vintage p. 223 224. He then preceeds to explain what he understands by Harvest and Vintage which the ingenious reader may guess at I thought good to cite thus much of this Author for their sakes who have not his book it being grown scarce and also because he is so much cryed up and lastly because what he speaks concerning the Vials seems new nor shall I passover this mans sentiments about the Vials without some modest reflections tho' he seems to write with great confidence in which he differs from most worthy men before him 1. It may be doubted whether he is in the right or no in my Judgment about the 7 Vials because it appears to me very clear that the Angels that are said to pour them out are brought forth under the seventh Trumpet to which I find some worthy men agree which if this be granted he is mistaken 2. Because the Angels that pour them forth are said to come out of the Temple clothed in Pure and White Linen and have their Breasts girded with Golden Girdles Rev. 15. 6. which signifies doubtless a more Perfect and Pure State of the Church than was in any of those centurys he mentioneth when divers of those Vials he says were poured cut for till near the time of the coming forth of the seventh Trumpet the Saints and People of God are called Witnesses clothed in Sack-cloth mourning as it were for the loss of the visibility and glory of the Gospel Church state according to the Apostolical constitution and are represented as a few or small number of scattered Christians but under the latter part of the 6. Trumpet the Tabernacle of the Testimony in Heaven was opened Rev. 15. 4. signifying as I conceive the restoration of the Church to its former glory and purity in a great measure and that the Witnesses had put off their Sack-cloth being gloriously and differently clothed which will not be perfected till the ascention of the Witnesses which will be about the beginning of the seventh Trumpet for the text says when that begins to be sounded the Kingdoms of this World become the Kingdom of our Lord and his Christ Rev. 11. 15. 3. It should seem strange that all the Vials that contain in them the whole of the seven last Plagues to the utter overthrow of the Beasts Kingdom should be already poured out save the remaining part of the seventh and yet so little be done comparatively to the ruin of the Whore or Papistry or that the 6. first Vials should be so long a time a pouring forth and so little effected for the ruin of Antichrists Kingdom and so much should be expected to be done in so short a time as this French Writer says by the remaining part of the seventh 4. And why he should suppose if 2 or 3 of the Vials should not be yet poured out that the Whore and Beasts Kingdom must continue still at least 200 years I know not for if we should conclude with some worthy men that none of the Vials should be poured forth to this day yet why may not the ruin of the Papal Power or end of the Beasts Kingdom be near for tho' it be granted they may have their distinct Periods yet they may be very short since God positively intimates his Judgments for the ruin and downfal of Babylon shall be swift and on a sudden and as it were in one hour which certainly signifies but a very short time besides he strangely confounds and mixeth the Vials with some of the Trumpets which I can't see any ground to believe considering the method God uses in this Book Moreover at the resurrection or at the ascention of the Witnesses which finishes the second Wo brings the period of the 6. Trumpet then the tenth part of the City falls this is all of the fall and ruin of the great Whore or great City we read of till the seventh Trumpet begins ' to sound And to conclude with this I shall say with what our late Annotators intimate on Rev. 11. 15. it seems that the seven Seals the seven Trumpets and the seven Vials are all mentioned in the same form of Speech and therefore the seven Vials are not to be divided some to one Trumpet some to another 2. Because the seventh Trumpet 7 Vials are one the same thing nothing being revealed under the seven Vials
a most glorious pouring forth of the holy Spirit upon the Angels who pour out the Vials and that they must tarry in the Temple as the Disciples were to do at Jerusalem until endued with power from on high Luk. 24. 59. and this may be expected at the Ascention of the Witnesses and not before for as yet we see not such a spirit given from the glory of God and from his power nor may we expect it until then that the Church cometh out of the Wilderness as clear as the Sun and as terrible as an Army with Banrers Cant. 6. 4. and like Pillars of smoak perfumed with Myrrh and Frankincese Cart. 3. 6. 7. the Judgment of the 7 last Plagues for the ruin of the Enemy will be the time of Glory and Salvation of the Church and by the 14440 on Mount Sion with Harps c. Singing the Song of Moses c. are held forth I am perswaded the ministrations of the Saints under the seven Angels with the seven Vials or seven last Plagues which days we hope are now even upon us or very near and that we might let in what light worthy men of different opinions have helpt us to about the Slaying and Resurrection of the Witnesses we shall give you a brief account of what Jurieu our French Author saith of them see p. 241. c. these words when they shall have finisht their testimony must saith he not be understood as if the holy Ghost would say when the 1260 years shall be finisht for after the 1260 years are run out there can be no Persecution seeing the Beast shall have lost his power so that this Persecution must begin and end within the 1260 years but yet at the end of them 't is the ordinary custom not only of Scripture but of all men to say that something comes to pass when this or that is finisht because it happens when that thing is finished and very near its end this is therefore the last Persecution of Antichrist against the Church this Persecution hath its Characters 1. 'T is compared to a War The Beast that comes up out of the Bottomless Pit shall make War against them 2. This War of Persecution must end in a victory over the two Witnesses and shall overcome them mark God does not reckon the Death and Martyrdom which the faithful suffered for the truth as a victory that the Devil gains over them a very good note for 't is said they i. e. the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus overcome them i. e. the Beast and his Emissaries and they loved not their lives unto the death Rev. 12. 11. He speaks of martyrs when he saith He that overcometh I will make to sit down on my Throne c. So that when 't is said that the Beast shall overcome the Witnesses this signifies that he shall make them saint under their Tryals which thing ought to be well observed that we discern the singular Character of this present Persecution that hath conquered and overcome above a Million of Souls he means the late and present Persecution in France 3. This victory of the Beast must prevail even to a total extinction of profession there shall remain no more signs of outward life in the faithful who shall stand for truth they shall lye on the ground as dead bodies 4. This murther and effects of this Persecution shall be done in the Street of the great City 5. The death of these Witnesses must be 3 years and a half denoting these 3 years and a half 6. During those 3 years and a half the truth shall remain as it were dead but notwithstanding not buried men shall not dare to make profession of it notwithstanding it shall be visible the people who are neighbours of them who shall have slain it shall hinder it from perishing and putrefaction 7. At the end of 3 years and a half the faithful who are oppressed and whose profession shall have been violently suppressed shall rise again after that shall ascend to Heaven and shall be exalted 8. At the same time and after the exaltation of the faithful there shall be an Earth quake i. e. a great emotion and trouble in the World and in Antichrists Kingdom 9. In this emotion a tenth part of the City shall fall i. e. a tenth part of the Antichristian Kingdom shall be taken away from it and seven thousand men shall perish in this Earth-quake and be buried under the ruin of this City that this shall be brought about with some Blood sheâ— tho' not considerable Now when I search after the time in which this Persecution must happen I cannot doubt but this is that in which we now are after this Persecution shall be over God will begin to strike those sore blows to destroy the Antichristian Kingdom which must be destroyed with in 25 or 30 years That none may wonder saith he that I speak so positively about a thing which seems to be as yet hid in futurity I intreat all equitable minds to consider that I have as I think with great evidence proved 1. That the Reign of the Popedom must last 1260 years 2. That these 1260 years began about 450. or 455. and consequently they must end about 1710. or 1715. This being so we are but 25 or 30 years from the end of the Popish Kingdom And if this be so the present persecution must needs be the last since there is no probability that this present persecution being ended the calm restored to the Church should leave room for another For we must allow the space of at least 20 or 25 years in which Popery shall be attacqued and not be the Aggressor and the Persecutor And certainly a shorter time cannot serve for the utter destruction of so vast a Kingdom for it shall not be destroyed in a way of violence but in a way of perswasion Yet he says it shall not be done without blood and slaughter I have saith he further proved that the fall of this Popish Babylonian Monarchy is divided into two parts viz. The Harvest and the Vintage that the Harvest is the reformation of the last age and the Vintage is the reformation that must be made in this present age c. He then proceeds to shew his apprehensions that France must be that Street of the great City in which the two witnesses should be slain and lye as dead c. p. 24â— The bodies of the two witnesses saith he shall lye in the Street of the great City 'T is to be observed that in the Text 't is not in the Streets in the Plural but 't is in the Street in the Singular And I cannot hinder my self from believing that this hath a particular regard to France which at this day is certainly the most eminent Countrey which belongs to the Popish Kingdom her King is called the Eldest Son of the Church the most Christian King i. e. The most Popish according to the dialect of Rome
to endure their Yoke as fish cannot live in waters which are turned into blood 3. Vial on Rivers he concludes means Popish Doctrines 4. Vial on the Sun in all likelyhood saith he is the Ottoman Emperor as the 4th Trumpet raised him so the 4 Vial shall pull him down I think it rather means the German Emperor 5. Vial on the Seat of the Beast is meant the City of Rome saith he which is here threatned and all agree with him in this 6. Vial poured out on the great River Euphrates and the waters thereof were dryed up that the way of the Kings of the East might be prepared c. The sixth Vial destroyeth the Empire of the Turks and their Religion which the sixth Trumpet had advanced to the highest pitch of its Grandeur for the River Euphrates does saith he undoubtedly signify the people of that part of the world and its waters being dryed up denotes the end of that Empire and their Religion after which there will be nothing to hinder either the Kings of the East who shall be enlightened and converted or the Jews who are there dispersed in great numbers from marching into the West to help to finish the destruction of the beast he after intimates that he believes by the Kings of the East the Jews are meant c. And by the Ê’ unclean Spirits he judges are intended the Jacobins the Cordeliers and the Jesuits 7. Vial poured into the Air he thinks signifies the Antichristian Religion and that this Vial shall clear all places of it It is done that is the mystery and total ruin of the Papacy time shall be no more for the Whore or Church of Rome her Idolatry Of the rise of the Beast As touching the rise of the beast he says p. 275 It was when that Imperial Edict came forth to establish Rome as Soveraign over all other Bishops which was in 445 in favour of Leo I. and so may hope to see the end about 1705. but reverent Mr. Knowles rather fixes on the year 428 or thereabouts for which he cites Simpsons History of the Church lib. 4. Socrat. hist. Eccl. cap. 3. Helvicus in concil Taurinat cap. 7. Magdeb. cent 5. cap. 10. Which ended in 1688. a year I hope that hath laid a foundation for the utter ruin of the Papacy in this Kingdom brought a sudden change great overthrow upon the OldWhore here amongst us we have a King now blessed be God who has it put into his heart with other Kings and States to hate the Whore and the work we hope is begun Some brief hints of this French Ministers Answer to Mr. Jurieu about the Vials SAith he Mr. Jurieu builds his commentary on Rev. 16. i. e. in that he considers the seven Vials as seven Periods of time making the first Vial to fall upon the 10th age and lasted 150 years p. 2. and the 6. Vial he affirms to have continued from the year 1429. till the time of Luther at which time he begins the seventh Vial. This saith he is the great principle that Mr. Jurieu goes upon i. e. the 7 Vials are certainly 7 Periods of time and after this principle saith he he draws three conclusions 1. That there is a difference between the Vials and the Plagues that the 7 Plagues are the Judgments of God and the 7 Vials denote the 7 Periods of time wherein those Judgments are to fall upon the Papal Empire 2. That all the Plagues are designed against the Papal Kingdom and not so much as one of them against the Empire of the Turks 't is certain saith Jurieu that the 7 Plagues are entirely intended against the Empire of the Beast 3. That there are in all thirteen Plagues whereof the 6 first have destroyed the Roman Empire as civil these 6 Plagues fell under the 5 first Trumpets and that the 6th Trumpet which is divided into 7 Vials shall destroy the same Empire as Ecclesiastical and Papal and that the Vials have been pouring out since the 10th Century that the 7th is not yet wholly poured out but that it begun at the time of Luthers reformation and will end at the general reformation c. Now saith this learned French Minister whereas Mr. Jurieu's principle is that the 7 Vials are certainly 7 Periods of time this hath no evidence in it being neither certain nor clear to those that are versed in the reading the Prophets saith he Jurieu affirms that the 7 Vials signifie an Hour-glass and not a cup for a cup is of another form than a Vial in that this hath a large Belly and a narrow Mouth to which our Author saith it is not about the form of a Vial that we treat but about the signification of it nor is there any Greek Author that ascribeth to the word Vial the signification of an Hour-glass But by all Dictionaries it does appear that the term Vial signifies a Cup a Chalice in a word a vessel designed to drink in so that Mr. Jurieu's great principle is more than doubtful but then the use to which St. John applies this term Vial does make us plainly see its falshood in Rev. 5. 8. The 24. Elders fall down before the Throne having Golden Vials full of odour which are the Prayers of the Saints where Hour-glasses used to offer Incense in and to scatter perfumes in places of worship Again he saith that the term Vial can have no other signification but this i. e. in that the wrath of God whereof they are said to be full chap. 16. the Vials are said to be full of the wrath of God and are poured out are saith he Hour-glasses said to be cast into the Air on the Sun or Sea c. Moreover he refutes Jurieu about the Trumpets and that they rather signify Trumpets proclaiming War than Trumpets whereby the Jubilees were published and so shews his weakness in asserting the Trumpets to signify Periods of time sith years of Jubilee were years of joy but these Trumpets brought in woe and lamentation with them so that it is not true faith he that the Trumpets of St. John intimate Periods of time by an allusion to the Trumpet which published the Jubiles and it is yet less true that the Vials are Hour-glasses to mark these Periods by Mr. Jurieu's principle being false saith he all the conclusions which he draws from it must necessarily be false also 1. 'T is false that there is a difference between the 7 Plagues and the 7 Vials seeing they are the same Judgments of God against the Enemies of his Church 2. 'T is false that the Plagues are designed only against the Empire of the Beast for saith he the Trumpets and Vials have in part for their object the Turkish Empire and Mahometan Religion 3. 'T is false that the 6th Trumpet is subdivided into the 7 Vials and that the 7 Vials have been pouring out since the tenth Century for 't is the 7th Trumpet that is subdivided into
are risen or suddenly here in Great Britain will rise Bone methinks is coming to his Bone or already have not we seen of late a day like that spoken of Ezek. 36. 7 8. A noise like that of shaking and the Bones came together Bone to his Bone and Sinews and Flesh coming upon them and is not Breath come into them and do they not begin to live is not their hopes revived and are they not up upon their feet They â—ay be a very great Army in due time Look about you O ye Saints what is your expectations are ye ignorant of the signâ— of the times and willingly ignorant do you not look for great things or are ye still as men that dream know ye assuredly that the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ is near nor let none perswade you there is no greater glory nor different Kingdom state approaching than what hath been since the Resurrection and Ascention of Christ for 't is not till the ending or the latter end of the fourth Monarchy that the God of Heaven will set up his Kingdom in the glory of it when the knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall fill the Earth as the waters cover the Seas all the Kingdoms under the whole Heavens shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High. Dan. 7 Look suddenly for a fearful and an amazing Earthquake for it will come it cann't be far off and it will be such a dispensation that England has not known it will be the time of Jacob ' s trouble but he shall be saved out of it woe to the Earth to the wicked to those who have had a hand in the slaying the Witnesses who are Enemies to the power of godliness who strive to keep up an Antichristian state their day is near and the time they must be judged God will now turn his hand upon his Enemies his wrath is come and the day in which he will plead the Controversie of Sion the Decree is gone forth and it cannot be reversed watch and pray take heed you are not found in the Earthly Spirit for if you are you will be shaken in pieces and full with the Enemy and rise no more yet I doubt not but the Enemy will strive kick and struggle exceedingly like a Beast that has received its deaths wound just as they go off the Stage and somewhat like this methinks we plainly see at this very time But tho' the work may seem to be obstructed yet I doubt not but it will revive again and in due time prosper and be accomplished The Mystical Numbers in Daniel and the Revelations calculated by the H. Scriptures only without the help of Humane History By a worthy Minister of the Gospel GOD having given the Scriptures to his Church 2 Tim. 3. 16. for her use and benefit here on Earth so the Times Numbers part thereof have are and will be of use to her Therefore the Angel Dan. 10. 21. for the opening the Vision and the confirmation of his Faith in the Will of God revealed therein v. 14. concerning his Church and what should befal her for times to come here on Earth tells him that he would shew him what was noted in the Scriptures of truth And although this part of the Word hath been most hard to be understood yet besides that common advantage to our Faith that the times are set by God not only in his own Eternal purpose but his revealed Will which is a good Foundation of Faith to believe and expect accordingly the more particular knowledge of them as truly opened must be of special use and help to our Faith both to prepare for suffering and expect deliverance With what diligence then should we with unbiassed minds make our applications to him that is the Revealer of secrets An Essay towards which followeth First I premise there is as sweet a Harmony in this part of the Word as in any other Secondly That this harmony and the right understanding of the Times set is to be found out in the Scriptures them selves The first number I shall begin with is that great number of 2300 days a day for a year as is usual in Scripture Dan. 8. 14. Which I conceive includes all the lesser in Daniel and the Revelations all of them being but parts of this God in his wisdom having so divided this number according to the several Circumstances of Providence the Church was to come under I conceive this number of 2300 was headed or doth take its beginning from the year God translated the Babylonian Monarchy to the Medes and Persians which was the third and last of Belshazzar's Reign who was also the last of the Babylonian Kings 1. Because I find no times set in Scripture to begin before they are given forth tho' several a great while after 2. The Question Dan. 8. 13. is How long is the Vision to give both the Sanctuary and the Host to be trodden under foot and the answer is to 2300 days So that time relates to the suffering of the Church then to come 3. Daniel chap. 8. 1. dates it in the Third of Belshazzar in the year he saw the Vision tho' when he saw it he was in Shushan a chief City in the Province of Elam which is in Persia. Daniel was in Babylon call'd to Expound the Hand-writing when the City was taken chap. 5. 13 30. But when Darius the Median had taken Babylon and had so inlarged his Dominions by the Kingdom of Babylon he for the better Government of the whole Dan. 6. 1 2. set over the Affairs of the Kingdom 120 Princes and three Presidents over them of which he made Daniel chief so that there is great reason why he should be in the Royal City Shushan But this falling out in the third of Belshazzars Reign that he lost his Kingdom Daniel dates the Vision that year tho' he was in Persia when he saw it God chap. 7. and in the first of Belshazzar's Reign shewed in Vision unto Daniel under the representation of four Beasts the four Monarchies which should rule in those parts of the World where his Church then was and was to be in after times during all her suffering state till Christs Kingdom on Earth was to come Dan. 7. 27 28. God having before shewed by Jeremiah chap. 25. 11. the sufferings of his Church under the first of these for 70 years The ending of that Monarchy and the 70 years was to be together in the self-same year which was also to fall out in the Reign of Nebuchadnezzar's Grandson Jer. 27. 7. which was this Belshazzar Now in the last of this Belshazzar and the first of the Medes and Persians God shews to Daniel how long the Church was to suffer under the three that were to succeed and 't was to be for 2300 years longer before the Churches deliverance was to be compleated and Peace and Righteousness established in the Earth under the blessed
offered by the Learned Mede Lib. 3. p. 643. 1. Because though they did arise to great Power in the World yet they had not their seat in that great City which in St. Johns time reigned over the Kings of the Earth which this Babylon is Expresly said to have 2. That they did not rise by Apostacy from the Christian Religion which this Babylon with her head the Man of Sin did for as this worthy Author saith the Turk whatever he be could be no Apostate because he was of a Nation that never was Christian. To which we shall add somthing for the clearing of this head that we may discharge that Debt we owe to God to the Church and the World. 3. It cannot be the Turks because they are not strangely and wonderfully mysterious which this Babylon is said to be Rev. 17. 5. And upon her fore-head was a name written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH And the Angel said unto me Wherefore didst thou Marvel I will tell thee the mystery of the Woman and the Beast which carryeth her which hath the Seven Heads and Ten Horns What special mystery hath shewed it self to the World from the Turks and Saracens more than from other common Empires or Kingdoms that is matter of admiration to the wisest of men Is it matter of wonder that the Turks do own but one true and most high God Is it matter of wonder that they do own Jesus Christ to be a Prophet and a good man Is it matter of highest wonder that they prefer Mahomet above Jesus Is it matter of wonder that they appear true to their Contracts in matters of Civil Commerce Is it matter of highest wonder for them to endeavour to keep what Dominion they have and to enlarge it to make Slaves and Prizes of those profest Enemies they take Prisoners We say in none of these things is there any high Mystery or matter of greatest Wonder being things common to all Places and Kingdoms Invested with Power For 1. Did not the great King of Literal Babylon own the only true God yet still held the Church in Captivity 2. Did not Israel own the same and yet kept their Idols after their revolt from Judah 3. Did not Judah prefer Moses above and before Christ and at that time when Christ was personally among them working most Stupendious Miracles which did evince his Divine Mission Nay did they not prefer a Common and Notorious Villain before the Blessed Lord of Glory when they desired a Murtherer to be freed and pressed hard to have the good and Blessed Jesus the Saviour of the World killed And did not this wise Apostle know this to be true in fact and to Equal nay outdo any thing that the Turks or Saracens ever did or can be accused of And if St. John was Transported with astonishing wonder at Matters much less than he had seen before doth it not give good reason to suspect him of Weakness and Defect that he should suffer himself to be surprised with the greatest wonder at far less things than he had seen and known before certainly therefore we must conclude there was something more of mystery in Johns Vision than what had been shewed to the world by the great Turk or any other Power and indeed undoubtedly the greatest Mystery that ever the World was acquainted with For the Characters of Babylon must either be singular that is such as none have besides or else they must be transcendent to go far beyond what others had in a Lesser degree Otherwise John might have kept the Description of Babylon to himself there being no clear Distinctions to render the wisest and most Discerning men able to make Judgment upon her The mystery then that is written upon this woman Babylon seems clearly to lye in these particulars following First That she doth transact the most horrid wickednesses that ever the world was or is like to be acquainted with Secondly That under this monstrous Guilt she is prodigiously Confident and without all regret or show of shame and most Impudently boasts of the highest Sanctity and Holiness in the World viz. That she is Totally Pure Infallibly Certain and cannot err c. That this indeed is a Mystery to be wondered at let it be Considered 1. That a Shepherd should be a Wolf and devour that flock which he pretends to be an Overseer or Pastor of 2. That a professed Servant of Jesus Christ and the meanest of Saints should exalt himself above his Master and not above his Master only but above the God of his Master and all other Deputed Gods that are Vicegerents to the King of Heaven by slighting and trampling upon the holy Scriptures and Laws both of God and Princes dispensing with the breach of them indulging the highest violation thereof and setting up his own Inventions Traditions and Decrees above them insomuch that there is a thousand times less danger in their esteem in respect of Excommunications and Corporal Punishments in this World or of Damnation in the World to come in breaking and violating the Laws of God and Princes than there is in the violation or breach of the Inventions Traditions and Decrees of Mystery Babylon and her Head. 3. That one sitting in the Temple of God pretending himself as a poor Apostle Vicar and Successor of Christ nay as the Successor of a poor Fisher man should wear the highest Ensigns of Imperial Dignity 4. That he should be so Lordly and prodigiously Insolent who was commanded to the greatest Humility and Abasement as to tread upon the necks of Emperors kick off the Crowns of great Princes and make Kings his Foot Pages 5. That he should pretend highly most highly to God Christ Religion and Holiness and yet Espouse to himself as the Darlings of his Bosom not only the Chiefest Sons of Belial but all that will decline Sanctity and Religion and embody themselves with those first born Sons of Wickedness that are of the highest Magnitude and engage themselves in such Monstrous and Butcherly Practices that humane Nature as such could never act in the Butchering Brute Beasts 6. That the Spouse of this prodigious Monster should in Profession own God Jesus Christ and the things of Religion of which Justice and Charity Holiness and Compassion are not the least parts and yet under this Vizard and in the very time of these pretensions perpetrate the greatest and most unparallel'd Villanies in the World First In being the Top of Pride Secondly In committing palpable Idolatry Thirdly Fill themselves with Excess and Drunkenness Fourthly To curse swear and blaspheme the very name they profess to be sacred Fifthly To cast down the Truth burn the Bible deface the holy Books and Laws of God Sixthly To assume not only a Power to Dispense with the Violation in the highest Nature but to pardon and forgive them at pleasure Seventhly To commit Adultery and account it a Venial Crime Eighthly To break