and lay his foundation as low as hell and build his turrets as high as heaven and place his Miter above the stars yet in that day hâ— shall die the death of the uncircumcised and perish like the Amorite whose fruit is destroyed from above and root from beneath and the Amos 2. 9. multitude of his offences shall consume the multitude of his forces and it shall be more possible for him and easie unto him to weigh the fire or measure the wind or call againe the day that is past or recover the verdure of the withered grasse as a holy one faith then to avoid this counsell and decree of his downfall here determined by the Spirit against him saying And the number of him is 666. And then all Kingdoms and people shall see th' eternity of that eternall City as one of her own calleth it and th'immortality of her soul meaning the soveraign power and supremacie of her Caesars and high Priests to wither die and sorsake the earth for ever and as Babylon her mother left unto her th' inheritance of her pride and prophanations so shall she also leave unto her the heritage of her death and judgements for as her glory hath been great so shall her dishonour when all her excellency shall be translated into shame and sorrow Now therfore as King Belshazzar cried aloud when he saw the hand-writing against him that they should bring the Chaldeans Astrologians and inchanters to read and interpret so thou that once and long before our dayes hast been deemed by Laws of all Nations a power so soveraigne and holy call now about thee thy Councell and thy Clergy who call themselves good men learned and wise whose onely grace is to love antiquity gravity wisdome and constancy caâ—l them I say cloath them with purple and chaine them with gold yet shall they not deliver thee from this judgement to come but as the mill-stone which â—he mighty Angel tooke and cast into the sea which may not rise and float againe with such violence thou and thy Church in that houre shall be thrown down and shall be found no more And all such Kings on earth or rather Kings of earth whose love thou hast stollen to the losse of their souls that have lived in drunkennesse delights and wantonnesse with thee shaâ—l weep and waile for thee as for their fiâ—st-borne when they shâ—ll see the smoake of thy torments ascend and the Apples which thy soule Iusted after to depart from thee and no man to buy thy tâ—ash and commodities any more for that God which judgeth thee is a strong Lord and thy derision shall be the joy and Allelujah of Sion But her faire and â—aâ—cyon day may not long endure before the Lord that with justice judgeth and fighteth shall come in the clouds of heaven to render unto every man according to the wayes wherein his heart hath waâ—ked as more directly is revealed in the 20. Chapter following But as concerning the day and houre of the comming of that Lord who for the glory of his name shall bring these things to passe it is fast sealed up in the treasury of God far beyond the aime of all â—is servants on earth or Angels in heaven and yet his beloved servant Daniel is bold in spirit and layeth downe the yeare to be the five and fortieth yeare according to his Chaldaicall supputation after the consumption and extermination of Antichrist that it may be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet Verily the Lord of hoasts will doe nothing but he revealeth his secrets unto his Servants the Amos 3. 7. Prophets DAN 12. 11 12 13. And from the time that the daily Sacrifice shall be taken away and the abomination that maketh desolate set up there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety dayes Blessed is he that waiteth and commeth to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty dayes But goe thou thy way till the end be for thou shalt rest and stand up in thy lot at the end of the dayes FINIS
travell and guard and watch him day night behold and learne his end he that is wise will marke his deliverance and happy man that can tell his teares and sit and sorrow with him To this man maketh God answer early or late delivereth him and how much the longer withholdeth his countenance retyring as it were his pitty from him so much the more entendeth t' advance his love and mercy towards him to make him great and a pillar in his house a comforter of the weake and broken knees of others and in his time sendeth downe his promise the rich and hidden treasure which from the beginning dwelled with himselfe and with his holy one who day by day laboureth washeth and bindeth up this broken one not leaving t' apply unto his stripe untill he have wrought and shaped in him a full and perfect assurance that God hath given him unto his Sonne in him and through him forgiven and covered all those his transgressions which cryed our so justly against his bloud and whereas in the day of his trespasse was a stranger and an enemy now in his Son and for his sake is reconciled and beloved and is unto him as a sonne and he to him a Father the treasure which his soule in the great day of his trouble so unspeakeably desired and therewithall commandeth him to beare written up in the apple of his eye night and day to read and consider what great things have been done for him This man is now so assured his â—innes are forgiven him as sure and perswaded that his Lord and Redeemer was once dead now liveth never dyeth more what Register may record the sinnes of him whose transgressions God forgetteth what power may discover the nakednesse of him whose shame and offence God covereth who shall be able to cast away whom God approveth or lay to the charge of him whom God chooseth may sinne wherein he was conceived may trespasse and filthinesse wherein his youth delighted may the bold and bloudy offences which his age hath committed may flesh and infirmities wherewith he is clothed may powers and blasphemies wherewith he is compassed nay this man is at rest fully perswaded God being with him nothing may prevaile against him as it is written God justifying who may condemne This man is now so assured God loveth him as that he is sure and fully perswaded neither fire nor sword neither death nor life neither Angels nor powers nor principalities neither things present nor things to come neither natures above nor depths below nor any creature other whatsoever may separate him from the love which God beareth him in Christ Jesus his Lord. And this is the saith of Abraham and of Abrahams posterity which reacheth justice to the sinner and life unto the just as it is written But the just shall live by faith And this is the faith whereof th' holy Ghost pronounceth by the mouth of his servant Paul in a place saying Being justified therefore by faith wee have peace with God in Christ Jesus our Lord. For he is truly justified whose sinnes are forgiven as it is written Blessed is the man whose sinnes are forgiven and whose transgressions are covered And he is truly at peace and one with God that is beloved of him and all this grace is reacht unto him in Christ and through him as it is written For death and bondage was given by Moses but grace and truth by Christ Jesus And this is the rest and peace from above the birth and baptisme of the holy Ghost the fire that purgeth the sonnes of men transforming them from sinners into the sonnes of God and no man shall see it or have his part therein that cannot sing the song of the little children which sat in the market place crying and calling one t'another We have mourned and yee have not sorrowed Murtherers stand forth tell me may you compare your beleefe with this mans saith behold thou beleevest one onely God Father Almighty of whom are all things and one Lord Jesus Christ his onely Sonne for whom and by whom are all things and one Spirit God holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne the power the life and quickner of all things and thou beleevest that the Sonne in the fulnesse of time descended from the bosom of his Father came into the world was made flesh conceived by the holy Ghost borne of a Virgin and that he dyed and rose againe for the redemption of all that beleeve in his holy name and thou beleevest those that beleeve in him are his Church chosen and gathered from all the winds a Company undefiled a holy Universitie as he is holy that hath chosen them and thou beleevest they wayle and weep and joy together and thou beleevest their Lord is mounted up into the heavens seated on the right hand of God all power in heaven and in earth subdued unto him and thou beleevest all flesh shall rise and stand before him every man to receive according to his thoughts And all these things beleevest thou thou doest well thy father the Devill beleeveth them also and it is so farre that this faith may save either thee or him as that it shall encrease both your stripes for unto whom much is committed of him much shall be required and he that knoweth and doth not shall be beaten with many rods And better it were thou hadst never been borne then to have heard and beleeved all these things and not to have sorrowed with the Mourner And this was the faith of Simon Magus one of your first-borne who hearing Philip preaching th'Incarnation Death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus and forgivenesse of sinnes in his holy name and seeing the great and wonderfull works wrought by the same beleeved the promise and revelation of life and was baptized as it is written And Simon also beleeved and was baptized and yet was neither begotten by water nor by the holy Ghost he beleev'd as did the lyar his father of whom he learnt his jugling to plane the creatures of God and was reborne by water from below not able to beget the sinner a new for it is impossible that bloud of beasts or water of fountaines may either purge or prepare the sinner And therefore Peter comming to Samaria to purge those sinners whom Philip had prepared by water from above laid his finger to the wound fellow quoth he thou hast no part nor fellowship with us nor in this administration and shewed him the cause why namely his unrepentance giving him t' understand it was not possible for his soule to be purg'd of that gall and bitternesse wherein it lay because his heart was not prepared by water And this was the faith of the Traytor thy predecessor Balaam who sold the truth and life everlasting for the reward of iniquitie like unto thee he knew and beleeved as thou doest that the bloud of his Master was innocent bloud and was baptized with the selfe same baptisme
wherewith thou art baptized and yet was neither begotten by water nor by the holy Ghost for it was not possible for him to be purg'd with Peter his heart unbroken hard and cruell râ—fusing to sorrow with the Mourner And this was the faith of Julian thy Pastor I touch your mysterie now Sir Balaam whose broad seale and subscription hangeth even this day unto thy letters Pattens confirming thy Throne and Vicardome to thee and thy posterity was baptized with the selfe-same baptisme where-with thou art baptized and begotten by the selfe-same faith which thou beleevest and yet th'uncleane spirit re-entred his house prepared and swept and his blasphemous end is knowne to yee all this day to be worse then his beginning but had he been begotten by the faith which Abraham beleeved th' enemy at the returne with his seven thousand powers had found his house guarded by the stronger the watchman of Israel had defended his gates and kept his walls from ruine but it was not possible for him to be clensed with Abraham his heart not prepared with water like unto Abrahams for his soule was found among the stiffe uncircumcised children which would not regard their fellowes crying Wee have mourned and ye have not sorrowed But I will leave thy penance thy beliefe with all and every point of thy Doctrine to him that commeth after behold a voyce shall rise against thee discover thy blasphemies contained in thy conspiracy held at Trent against the holy one of Israel and Jacob his chosen and strike thee so with the two witnesses of God out of whose mouth comes fire to destroy the gainesayer that all thy Magicians all thy false reformed Prophets shall not be able to recover thee to life againe and returne unto the man who once laboured and was lost but now refreshed and is found againe whose warre and woes are turned to such a peace and joy as the world can neither give nor take away from him and let us make research into his life beholding how he worketh he that is wise will marke his steps and follow where he goeth Like as the good and fruitfull Tree planted by the river side bringeth forth her fruit in time and due season so fruitfull now is this branch become and after the two noble parts of his faith spreadeth out his root to moistnesse and bringeth forth a double fruit Th' assurance of mercy and forgivenesse of his sinne worketh in him such a true and perfect hatred of sinne as no man knoweth but he that is baptized in Silo with him and this hatred dwelleth not idle hidden up and sleeping in him but as a Citie built upon a hill sheweth his bastions and beauty to the passers by so breaketh forth this fire within him making knowne to all his members the power and strength thereof retiring them from their old and wonted wayes remembring unto him with what a precious bath and price he is washt and bought from th'uncleane and vaine conversation wherein once he walked now and ever after to be holy as he is holy that hath chosen him What fountaines may yeeld water enough to bewaile the state of this man for in his members he findeth a law bidding and commanding unrighteousnesse intising to regard his pleasures past maintaining to be bold to returne againe casting before him day and night the vomit which now his soule hath cast up and bleedeth to see or to remember more and in his spirit findeth another law remembring unto him the day of his trouble when feare and judgement led him chained to death and how he followed weeping and had nothing to say for himselfe how then and in that day he pittyed and delivered him with charge to remember with what a great and precious charge he was redeemed and recovered againe commanding him therefore not to dare to look backe or grieve the seed of God the holy one that hath done all these things for him Ah poore and miserable soule who shall deliver him from his body of sinne for to the law of his spirit consenteth he loveth and faine would doe thereafter but cannot for he dwelleth in a house of rebellion not contented alone to pursue him by day as it is written All the day long am I punished and chastised every morning but while the night lendeth the little ease unto his heavie eye his members watch to sinne Like righteous Lot in Sodome so dwelleth he closed in a Citie whose buildings are transgressions whose streets are wayes of error whose bulwarkes are the strength of death whose gates doe leade to hell dying daily tormented daily crying daily to be delivered from sinne or from the body thereof and in a great and strong patience though now of all creatures most miserable scorned of Angels disdained of men hated of the world pursued of his owne unspeakeably endureth all hoping with a hope which cannot be confounded for the revelation of his life laid up in the bosom of his Lord and Redeemer then and in that houre to be declared and given him when he shall come to judge the world with a righteous judgement rendring to every man just and truly according to the wayes wherein his heart hath walked And this is the death to sinne the great affliction happy man that hath his part therein for he shall see the day wherein he shall hunger no more nor thirst any more wherein the Sunne shall not burne him by day nor fire by night any more for the Lambe that loveth him shall feed and cover him and lead him to the fountaines of water of life and satisfie him and deliver his eye from teares and he shall weepe no more Th' other branch of his faith namely th' assurance that God loveth him worketh in him of the contrary part such a love of God and of his Lord and Redeemer as no man knoweth but he that hath it and this hidden and secret name resteth not idle covered or sleeping in him but as a Sacrifice salted doth prove it selfe seasoned to the mouth of the taster so breaketh forth this hidden light and sheweth her beams unto the Worlds end according to the Commandement He that loveth God loveth his brother also not him alone with whom he prayeth weepeth rejoyceth daily which love is commended unto him by the names of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but now loveth he every man as his brother knowledging every man his neighbour on whom he may have mercy every man his brother whom he may love which love is commended unto him by the names of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and called in Scripture the love of God Because it is not learnt of flesh nor after the will of flesh but of God and by his example who being fellowed in glory with the highest disrobed himselfe of his beauty came downe into the world was found amongst us in weaknesse in flesh and shape of a servant obedient to death even to the
among al the Sons of women there was none found his grâ—ater because whoso is not first prepared by the ministry of John who was appointed the minister of the baptism of water shal never be purged by his Lord which comes after who sanctifieth by the ministry of the Baptisme of fire I doe not meane the fire of this world nor yet the Element so called for it 's imipossible for any such fires to purge to sanctifie or to refine the sinner But the fire of this birth is a heavenly power and finger from above which writeth in the heart prepared by water and in no other Tables the indeleble Covenant of mercy and love which before all worlds in the precious blood of the Mediator thereof God made with Abraham and his Sons for ever namely that he would remember their sins and their iniquities no more and that he would be to them a God To 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and a Father and they to him a people Sonnes and Daughters And this is the word and ingraving of God which being written in a molten heart and blowne downe with water refineth it to the sey of Rom. 10. 8. Deut. 30. 12. the gold of Ophyr And this is the birth and purgation of fire called in Scripture the Baptisme of the holy Ghost the life the justice the promise and felicity of God as holy David describeth saying Blessed is the man whose sins are covered and whose God is the Lord Psalme 32. 2. 33. 12. JEHOVAH And this is the Tree and first beginning of the wisedome and counsell of God and hee that cannot attaine thereto shall never see the raigne and prosperity of Israel according to the eternall decree proceeded out of the mouth of the highest never to be repented of or called back againe Vnlesse a man be John 3. 5. begotten by water and by the spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God The fruit of this Tree of life spreadeth it selfe into foure branches and as the Heavens by immutable ordinance shut up the course and labour of the yeare in foure seasons so hath the Scriptures complected the whole voyage and travell of this sanctified and new begotten servant in these foure Peace Patience Hope and Love I doe not meane the peace betweene Amon and Moab that is to say the smooth the Civill and dissembling truce of the Kings and Councellors of this world but a peace which passeth their affairs a peace which is heavenly and from above even the peace and reconciliation betweene God and the sanctified in the price and mediation of the Lord of the Covenant for what power what preparation what terror or what else may feare him in whose heart the finger of God hath once engraven a full and perswaded assurance that neither fire nor sword nor death nor life nor powers nor principallities nor things present nor things to come nor natures above nor depths below nor any creature other whatsoever may separate him from the love which God beareth him in Christ Jesus his Lord May the sin wherein he was conceived or the follies and offences wherein his youth delighted or the bold and bloody treasons which his age hath committed or flesh and blasphemies wherewith he is intrenched nay this man is at rest fully perswaded God being with him nothing may prevail against him as it is written If God justifie who can condemnâ— Isa 50. Rom. 8. And this is the peace which the world cannot give nor take away from any to whom it is given the peace which the Holy one the Redeemer of Israel speaketh of in a certaine place saying Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you but not as the world giveth let not your hearts therefore be troubled nor feare John 14. 27. And forasmuch as to be at peace and one with God is to be at war and odds with sin and with all her pleasures this man in wonderfull patience prepareth and armeth himselfe to meet the enemy And tho his flesh with all her desires like multitudes of Armies incompasse his soule be sieging pursuing tormenting it day and night as it is written Wee are Ps 44. given up like sheep to be eaten and for thy sake O Lord we are slaine all the day long yet in silence and quietnesse he endureth all sustained by the Word which saith In patience possesse your soules Looking assuredly for the promise of good things to come and that with such a Luke 21. 19. stable and full perswaded expectation as no power in Heaven above or in the earth below may shame or confound his hope fully perswaded that tho now he live closed in flesh as in a City of transgression like righteous Lot in Sodome scorn'd of Angels despis'd of men hated of the world and pursued of his owne yet that his mourning shall tarry but till morning 〈◊〉 for then his life shall be revealed which now lyeth hid laid up in the bosome of his Lord and Redeemeâ— and shall be declared and given him even in that morning when he shall come to judge the world with righteous judgement rendring to every man just and truly according to the wayes wherein his heart hath walked And in the exercise of these three consisteth the death to sin called in Scripture by the names of Mortification the great affliction the Dust the Tears the shame and oppression of Sion Happy man that hath his part therein for he shall live to see the raigne Rev. 7. 14 15 16 17. wherein the Sun shall not burne him by day nor fire by night any more and wherein he shall not hunger nor thirst nor want nor weep any more The fourth and last branch of this Tree of life is Love the light and perfection of the whole estate and travell of a Christian for can a City built upon a hill hide her face from the passer by or may a Sacrifice salted convey his seasoning from the mouth of the taster may the Sun shine and not shew his beauty or may a Candle burne and not bewray her light And tho these creatures could forget their natures yet cannot the plant in whose heart the eternall Covenant of Love is once engraven forget to burne with like affection first toward God then toward men I meane not those alone which have received like part and fellowship with him but towards those also that are his enemies which love is commended to us by the names of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and is called in Scripture the love of God because it is not learnt of flesh nor after the will and wisedome of flesh but by the sample and patterne of that love wherewith God first loved us Who being fellowed in glory with the highest as testifieth the Prophet Zach. 13. 7. disrobed himselfe of all his beauty and came downe into the world and was fonnd in dishonour in weaknesse in flesh and shape of a servant obedient to the shame and
were very learned was not asham'd of this low and contemptible Calling For he was in that estate instructed of God prepared and fitted for a more excellent work and employment to feed the flock of God to comfort and refresh the Souls of repentant Men and Women He was not troubled at the Glory nor affraid of the pride and power of Rome Whose power saith he is breath not to be accounted of nay To the Church of Rome p. 1. we are not only ready to give up our bodies but our souls to be sacrificed in witness of the cause pleaded before you this day Or should our voice be ashamed of her preparation Behold yee scorners like as a mighty wind that passeth your ear and bloweth not upon yee so shall yee hear great things to day and not be moved therewith And poor and slight and simple as she goeth she hath authority to give joy to the living and life unto the dead And in the Treatise to Q Eliz. thus he writeth I your Servant cannot but speak the things I know and testifie what I have Advertis to Q. Eliz. p. 41. seen and heard what though I be no Minister nor Son of a Minister Shepherds and Clowns have been Divines sometimes and why not I 7. But to come nearer the matter chiefly intended here we may consider that when the Assyrian Chaldean and Persian Monarchies drew to their fatall end and period it pleased God to raise up Prophets holy men Jonah Amos Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel Ezra c. whom he instructed with heavenly wisedome and furnished with extraordinary gifts enabling them to foreshew and denounc his Judgments upon the Churches Adversaries inevitable ruine to their chief Cities seats of the Empires and also to admonish the people and forewarn them of the evils to come that his Elect might be brought to repentance and all others being admonished left without excuse So now in this last age the time of the reign of the 4th Beast the Roman Monarchy hastning to an end it cannot be denyed but that God raised up many Prophets sent divers of his Servants to detect oppose and cry out against th' Abominations Idolatries Superstitions and Delusions of Rome the Western Babylon denounc Judgments to his and his peoples implacable Enemies and comfort his chosen and faithful with promises of deliverance and salvation To the Church of Rome p. 1. Amongst whom certainly this Author who ever he was is not to be accounted the least Many and sundry voices saith he have been heard out of the wildernesse in these latter dayes whereunto had we given good and diligent ear we had perhaps discerned the time of our visitation Nevertheless he that writeth testifyeth the Kingdom of God is at hand 8. Amongst many great and weighty matters which he treateth of and unfoldeth in his writings that concerning the period and final determination of the reign of Antichrist and his Church Dominion is one of the most remarkable at present chiefly noted and generally fixed in the minds of the people in respect of its near approach He declareth the number of the Beast viz. the Pope sole Monarch as the Jesuits will have it both spiritual and temporal of the Western Babylon in manner as Daniel did the hand writing against Belschatzar the last Monarch of the Eastern Babylon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mene Mene i. e. Numeravit Numeravit which Daniel thus interpreteth Dan. 5. 25. seq Numeravit Deus regnum tuum complevit illud God hath numbred thy Kingdome and finished it h. e. God hath finished and ended the dayes of thy Kingdome and the end of thy life and the Chaldean Empire is come 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thekel appendit i. e. Appensus fuisti lancibus inventus es minus habens Thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Upharsin or as after v. 28. Upharsin dividentes i. scindunt Allusio est ad Persas qui dicuntur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nam haec dictio est aequivoca Gemminatio autem ista 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 facta est ad majorem exaggerationem vel ut alii volunt prius significat finem Regni secundum mortem Regis finem vitae ejus Vatab. Annot. in Dan. 5. 25. Nota Upharsin verti potest primo dividentes secundo Peâ—sae Pharsin enim sunt Persae Q. d. Persae in stant tibi ô Belshazzar qui cum Medis divident regnum tuum Ar. Mont. in Loc. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pheres Divisum est Regnum tuum datum est Medis Persis Thy Kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians In the same night saith the Prophet v. 30. was Belschatzar slain and Darius the Mede took the Kingdom And then ended the Babylonian Monarchy So that the number of the Beast or the number of the man of sin is nothing else but the period and final determination of the usurped Tyranny and Dominion of Antichrist as this Author well Expos Apoc. c. 13. v. 18. interprets which the Lord for the glory of his name consolation of his Church and confusion of her Foes with a mighty and outstretched Arm will bring to passe in the year 666. viz. in 1666 the Millenary number for brevities sake being omitted For the time of the Reign of the Beast and of the Churches sufferings and persecutions during her abode in the wilderness is expresly mentioned to be 42 Months Apoc. 11. 13 15. a time times and half a time Apoc. 12. 14. 1260 dayes v. 6. that is so many years a day being put for a year as Ezek. 4. 6. the beginning of which term he placeth at the year 406. at what time Innocent the first then Bishop of Rome obtain'd at the hands of the Dragon priority of place suffrage and censure over all Which was effected and brought to passe when Honorius the Emperour at th' importunity of the said Bishop subjected the power of th' East Empire which most withstood the West and Roman supremacy with all other Churches whatsoever to the Church and Sea of Rome in the said year 406. 9. And then in that year saith this Author In Apoc. 13. 18. my Lord of Rome shal lay down his proud waves and though he fortifie never so strong and lay his foundation low as Hell and build his Turrers as high as Heaven and place his Miter above the Stars yet in that day he shall die the death of the Uncircumcised and perish like the Amorite whose fruit is destroyed from above and root from beneath and the multitude of his offences shall consume the multitude of his Forces and it shalâ— be more possible for him and easie to him to weigh the fire or measure the wind or call again the day that is past or recover the verdure of the withered Grasse as a holy one saith then to avoid this Council and Decree of his downfal here determined by the Spirit against him saying And his
number is 666. 10. And then all Kingdoms and People shall see th' eternity of that Amm. Marcel l. 14. c. 13. l. 15. c. 17. Aeterna in antiquis inscriptionibus nominatur Ortel Thesaur voc Roma In numis antiquis insidens Scuto Roma victoriam dextrâ scipionem sinistrâ gerens cum hac inscriptione visitar Romae aeternae Martin Lex Philolog voc Roma eternall City as one of her own calleth it and th' immortality of her soul meaning the Soveraign power and supremacy of her Caesars and high Priests to wither die and forsake the earth for ever And as Babylon her Mother left unto her th' inheritance of her pride and prophanations so shall she also leave unto her the heritage of her Death and Judgements for as her glory hath been great so shall her dishonour when all her excellency shall be translated into shame and sorrow 11. And here by the way I thought fit to note and let the Reader know that it is now well understood and received as a truth as it ought that the Pope viz. the succession of Popes for 1260. years namely from the year 406. to 1666. is the very Antichrist the Man of sin foretold in the Scriptures and Rome Babylon signifyed under the name of Babylon Apoc. c. 17. 18. now denied almost by none except the blasphemoâ—s Sect of the Familists who violently wrest the Scriptures into sensless Notions inextricable monstrous Allegories pervert hide and darken their genuine true direct meaning by strange unheard of Dreams and Enthusiasms strains of Philosophicall inventions Exotick affected termes barbarous forreign and Uncouth Language whereof the writings of Henry Nicholas Jacob Behmen Dr. P. and other namelesse Impostors of our Age are ample testimonies It being the design of the said J. Behmen with his Translators and Abbettoâ—s as it seemeth by the multitude of irrational Atheistical Books which they have lately published and yet promote to undermine and subvert the true Christian Apostolical Faith and Doctrine of the Gospell and knowledge of Christ crucified and in stead thereof introduce and spread amongst us the horrible darknesse of the Gentiles vain Philosophy preferring their muddy poyson'd puddles before the pure wholsome fountain of Gods word their abstruse perplexed Speculations before the plaine comfortable saying doctrine of Christ his Prophets and Apostles that if it were possible they might draw in others into the same Condemnation with themselves Of which I thought fit to admonish the Reader that he may beware of their train and avoid the snares which they have craâ—â—ily spread throughout our Israel It being an undoubted truth that to entertain the doctrines of Familisme is to renounc the Christian Faith leave the way to Life everlasting because they are altogether repugnant to and inconsistent with the true estate of a Christian and means of salvation For these Familists have arrived to this height of impudence not to be asham'd to affirm That perfection may be attain'd in this life that there is no Resurrection of the body but what is past already that there is no Judgment to come but that Christ is now at this present upon his Throne and Seat of Judgment within every one judging and condemning the world that there will be no eternal Condemnation Reward or Punishment but that all at last must go into God and as a drop of water falls into the vast Ocean so all must as they dream be swallow'd up and involv'd in th' immense and boundlesse Abysse of Eternity c. From which sad and deadly imaginations the Lord preserve every poor humble penitent soul they being no other than the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 profunditates the depths the profound Profunditates Satanae sunt abditae latentes ejus cogitationes in speciem bonae honestae apparentes quando se in Angelum lucis transformat 2 Cor. 11. 14. Sed cum Paulus dicat se non ignorare profundas illas Satanae cogitationes 2 Cor. 2. 11. simplex erit sensus si profunditates pro sublimioribus quibusdam mysteriis accipiamus Acsi diceret qui non cognoverunt errores illos pestiferos quos ipsi haeretici profunda dei mysteria jactant cum tamen ex Satanae officina prodierint Marl. in loc Adverte non esse hic 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ut de elatione superbia accipias sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. profunditates quibus versutiae nequitiae diabolicae fraudis intelliguntur Zeger in loc Impostores quales hodie sunt Familistae blasphemias suas vocabant profunditates seu profunda mysteria abstrusam sapientiam longè perfectiorem quam quae ab Apostolis praedicaretur Christus concedit esse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 profunditates sed Satarae à malo Doemone ex Orco inspiratas eoque aversandas exterminandas procul Par. in Apoc. 2. 24. wiles and deep delusions of Satan 12. And yet some of this Generation have had the face to affirm that this excellent Author was of their minde in this matter and thereupon have preferred and commended his writings to their Proselytes as a means to bring them to their principles Whereas on the contrary they might if they would have understood what their woful estate is like to be and what his minde thoughts concerning them were while he ranks them with such as are to be excluded from the holy City and Land of rest for ever writing thus And all those that so poison doctrines of death lifting To the Ch. of Rome p. 37. up their bold and shamelesse voice like Cantibanks in market places avouching the goodnesse and proofs of oyls and ointments which cannot give a foot to the lame nor Eye nnto the blind as Arians Vbiquitists Libertins Familists Coinonists or any such other Antichrists like to these shall be cast out and reap their part with Lyars and Sorcerers whose worm dyeth not whose cry is everlasting and shall not enter into the rest of God for ever nor see his holy City 13. But that these Enemies both of Scripture and reason may have no colour or occasion to alledge Behm myst mag c. 36. n. 15. I speak without book I shall declare the matter in their Rabby's own words as I find them rendred by his Translator who was best acquainted with them The Antichrist saith Behmen who is the Tower of Babel viz. the self will of the Ham-like man domineereth in the Temple of God and there hath set up himselfe in the place of the holy Spirit Sect. 16. He tells us That the temple of God is the formed word of the humane languages and tongues in mans understanding as it is written the word is nigh the namely in thy mouth and heart and the seat and habitation of the opposite adverse Divell is the monstrous property out of the dark world Sect. 17. In this formed word of divine understanding the Antichrist viz. the will of self out of the properties of nature hath set up
the Lamb to give thee leave among the rest to bid battel to the seed and remainder of his handmaid and to give up their blood to the pleasure of thy Swords during the thousand two hundred and sixty the dayes of relegation but when those two and forty moneths shall be expir'd thou shalt lay downe thy proud waves and he that is highest shall set thee alive in judgement and the earth shall accuse thee of deceit the Heavens of blasphemy and thou shalt be divided and cut out in pieces for thou hast troubled the meek and him that pursued peace hast loved lyers destroyed the true and fruitfull branch and overthrowne the walls of such as mourn'd and did thee no harme And in that day thy Crownes shall be turn'd to baldnesse thy silke to nakednesse thy sweet and pleasing voices to houling thy lights to darknesse and the blood of his servants shall he weigh before thee and value it unto thee and thy parts shall burne untill thou pay the price thereof And that judgement may even now begin to take hold of thy bones it shall be shewed thee this day what manner of men they are which heare and doe the Commandements of God their bredth their length their heigth their depth their name and their countenance shall be laid before thee and thou thy Prophets and Children shall see and wonder and die All are learned all have knowledge and the covenant of death was written in our hearts when wee were yet but tender lodged and sleeping in the loins of Adam wrapt us up in our sins and transgressions like as the Spider in his toile the silly Flie against the day of slaughter But he that is highest pittying the world which he loved so in the riches of his benignity devised a way to set free againe the work of his hand which law through sin had imbondaged to death and made a testament of life and peace in the blood and mediation of his Son the price and redemption of that which was lost and wrote inheritors of his mercifull Covenant all and as many as beleeved in the Mediator thereof And unto Adam his lost Child gave it he saying The seede of the woman shall bruise the Serpents head and all the Children of Promise tooke hold thereon imbracing the seed which by the death of death delivered the sinner And unto Abraham his Servant renewed he his Covenants Cast me out Agar with her Sonne quoth he for that which is borne after flesh is bond and shall not inherite with the free And remembring his mercy promised in his time to visite Sara and to raise unto him a seed which should be the joy of many Nations and Abraham beleeved and got a grave and honourable name above all his Brethren namely to be the Father of all those many Nations that were to inherite the Covenant and Testament of promise And by the hand of Moses his faithfull calling Israel unto him in the Wildernesse before the fearfull Mount gave unto them the Covenant of captivity once for all written downe by the hand of his Angell in two Tables of stone commanding it to be set up in the eye of Israel that they might see and read their wounds and transgressions which had subdued them to death and calling to mind his Testament of mercy wherein from beginning his soule delighted promised by the same Moses to raise them up a Prophet from among their Brethren like unto him and every soule that would inherite his favour and Covenant of promise should heare him And Moses calling Israel together testified unto them that day heaven and earth bearing witnesse he had set life and death curse and blessing to wit the Covenants of works and faith of Law and grace before them But Israels heart was fat and understood not all these things and seeking the inheritance by the Law of works which had concluded them being yet unborne under curse and reproofe fell out and lost the way which led to the blessing and land of the Fathers covenanted by promise but by David his Boy whom his heart approved calleth them back againe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith hee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 giving them to understand the table of Sina whereon they thought to save themselves justified to their face all their doings were abominable as it is written The Lord looked downe from heaven upon the Sons of men to see if there were any that understood and sought after God But behold they are all gone astray all are become abominable there is not one that doth good no not one There is not a godly to be found on earth not a righteous amongst the sons of men all lie in wait for blood and every man hunteth his neighbour as with a net he that is best is but a bryer and he that is most righteous as a thorne And ever and anon remembring his mercy testified by the same David that if they would attaine the Land and Inheritance promised the Fathers they should not offer him his beasts or his birds to eate but unharden their hearts and heare his voyce that day that then it should come to passe they should enter into his repose and Canaan spirituall into the which their Fathers could not for their unbeliefe All the Prophets bearing witnesse thereunto that looke how high the heavens were distant from the earth so far were his offerings differing from theirs for all their wayes and thoughts were spotted like to the garment of a Tyger transgressors of his fiery Covenant which he strake with their Fathers in Horeb as it is written And the testament which I gave them they kept not and my soule despised them saith the Lord And still and evermore remembring his mercy commended unto them the day to come wherein he would strike a new and an everlasting Commandement with the house of Israel not like to that he covenanted in the Wildernesse which neither they nor their Fathers were able to beare but his new Covenant should be a Covenant of mercy and love and no man should be able t' attaine it by rending his Garment by Rams or streams of Oyle but by rending his heart by hearing and beleeving the redemption which should be set in Sion for he had said and would not repent for ever The just shall live by faith But Israel was hard and evermore in heart turned back into the Wildernesse chusing rather to be the Sons of Agar inhabitants of Sina which ingendereth to death then children of promise Citizens of Jerusalem from above which begetteth to life refused his Law and Testament of grace so often covenanted and commended unto them which he notwithstanding in fulnesse of time performed unto Jacob sending downe out of his bosome the Mediator thereof apparrelled in blood mounted on his little hill in his city of peace with promise that every sinner should be deliver'd from shame that putteth trust in him And when the time came was found walking in the stâ—eets of
Jerusalem his steps beautifull as are the steps of God the flames and Angells of heaven ascending and descending at his commandement and it was fulfiled which was spoken In Jury is God knowne great is his name in Israel and opening his mouth taught them and marvellous gracious and true were the words which proceeded from him told them their Fathers were wonderfully indeed fed and cloathed in the Wildernesse and yet were dead because they were not fed nor cloathed with him who feedeth and arayeth to life everlasting and the food and rayment which he gave was his blood and they that are fed and apparrelled therewith are those that beleeve in him commanded them not to work as did their Fathers in the Wildernesse but as did Abraham whose Children they pretended to be and were not for he beleeved in him being yet but promised whom they refused now performed and witnessed plainly in their eares that day there were no other works but these alone that led from the rod of th' oppressor to the Land of promise saying This is to doe the work and commandement of God to believe in him whom God hath sent Which thing your Fathers the Pharisees denying to doe evermore seeking after their hard and brazen progenitors t' establish a righteousnesse and justice of their owne to work the works and Commandements of God according to their way and meaning by doing refusing the justice appointed by God to work his works and Commandements according to his way meaning by beleeving rushed against the square approved precious stone which was set up in Sion and were bruised and broken to death everlasting And doest thou know Balaam what it is to beleeve in him whom God hath sent We speak the things we know and testifie what we have seen and learnt That which is borne from below is flesh subdued unto sin imbondaged to death and cannot see th' inheritance and Kingdome of God wherefore it was requisite a new birth to be established subduing the flesh unto the spirit delivering from the power of sin and breaking the chaines of death Without the which vaine and impossible is the Commandement to believe in him whom God hath sent as it is written Vnlesse a man be begotten by water and by the holy Ghost he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God So many Baalists heapt on another at your conspiracy heâ—d at Trent against God and his anointed and knew not what it is to be borne of water and of the holy Ghost have ye indeed so planed the câ—â—atures of God wrought in them a beliefe ye are successors and dispensers in heavenly things and understand not earthly There was a man sent from God his name was John your Fathers ran out in troops to see him a strange and sour fellow was not lodg'd like a Prince nor cloathed like a Courtier neither wine nor water dranke he no other drinke but â—ears and in his mouth never entered bread Murderers how chanceth it that hanging up his dead body in your Courts and Caves drawing it through your streets once a yeare at the least denying it the naturall courtesie of buriall you have not considered that he was appointed from heaven the Minister of the Baptisme of water as of himselfe he testifieth in a place saying He that sent me to baptize with water said unto me on whom thou seest the Spirit discend and tarry he it is that baptizeth with the holy Ghost Doe yee know wherefore his Lord gave him that honourable testimony namely that he was more then a Prophet and that among all the sons of women there was none to be found his greater because who so is not prepared by him which was appointed the Minister of the baptisme of water shall never be purged by his Lord which comes after who sanctifieth with fire and with the holy Ghost for this was the Angell appointed to goe before the face of the great Dominator and teach the Children that sat in Prison in darknesse and shadow of death that if they would be Sons of the Fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob they should prepare their hearts by water as did the Fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob. And therefore his Lord in parable calleth him the Mourner wot ye why because who so sorroweth not with him shall never rejoyce with the Bridegroome shall never see the birth of the holy Ghost the faith which beleeveth in him which God hath sent The poor woman which entred into the house of Simon the Pharisee where her Lord was at meat and falling downwashed kissed his feet how commeth it to passe ye wise that nayling up her dead body in your Groves and Temples to the view ye have not considered her tears and her love preaching and crying so many hundred years the birth of water of the holy Ghost but yee say when Elias commeth he shall restore all Murderers and doe ye indeed lie in wait for another Elias behold the first came and had not his God delivered him from your hands by wonder sending downe his Chariot and Horsemen of fire ye had slaine him with the rest of his Prophets for ye sought his life also and the second came a righteous and holy man and behold as innocent as ye pretend to be his righteous blood shall be found in your Courts and his holy head in one of your vessells and doe ye yet more attend a third Elias like to your stiffe reprooved brethren which walke stinking in your streets to day gaping the comming of a second Messias wherefore thus saith the truth there shall no Elias come and he that reading considereth the dwelling the fare and rayment of the second Elias how read and swolne were his eyes with tears how dry his lips with sighs and doth not weep and wayle with him if seven thousand Mourners should rise from the dead they cannot make that man to sorrow This was the voyce who in the dayes of his flesh called unto Israel from out of the Wildernesse crying that if the would be sons and daughters of God they should not look up unto their paâ—entage boasting their pedegree â—etcht from the loins of Abraham but should take up the true and perfect sorrow for their sin and th' unspeakable deâ—iâ—e to be reconciled to God as did his servant Abraham that then the God of Abraham would turne to thâ— Children aâ— he did unto the Fathers write his Laws â—n their hearts cover their offences and be unto them a God and a Father and they to him sons and daughters and every one which was to receive the light that followed in whose hand was the power to make of a â—â—nner a Son unto God hearkened to the Mourner of Israel sate downe and sorrowed with him And he that sorrowed sorrowed indeed his eye refused sleep his mouth dened t'eate lost and dead was his cheere his mirth was tâ—â—n'd to sadnesse and if an asked what ill he had seight and could not speake so great was his sorrow
Arrows of Heaven into the pâ—ace from whence they come or to meete the whirle-winde comming in his strength like a King his men of Armes and Fifers by his side and shoulder him out of his point into another it shall be easier for thee I say to doe all these things then t'answer the voices which shall be heard against thee And I thy Brother am in Babylon mourning over thee and it and there will tarry notwithstanding the rage and violence of all thy Spades thy Speares and Arcu buzadoes this day and tomorrow and the third will pay my vows Amen ESAY Bell is fallen Nebo is smitten down whose Images were burthens for the Beasts and Cattel of the field to overcharge and weary them FINIS AN ADVERTISEMENT TO Q. Elizabeth Presented to her Majestie by the Author thereof First Printed in Anno Dom. 1589. And sundry times since TO HIS MOST EXCELLENT SOVERAIGNE PRINCESSE Queene Elizabeth IF it be impertinent and out of season in regard of your other pleasures to advertise these few words let truth be blamed for I your servant cannot but speake the things I know and testifie that which I have seen and heard what though I be no Minister nor Sonne of a Minister Shepheards and Clownes have beene Divines sometimes and why not I I doe not advertise you concerning the wisdome of a Princesse of this World how to relieve your people if they be oppressed nor how to curb them if fullnesse make them wanton nor how to raise a little weale to great nor how to uphold it from falling downe againe for all these things may you doe and perish but I advertise you concerning a wisdome from above which if you understand and doe thereafter then shall your Scepter be a Scepter of continuance and you a Princesse and a Queene for ever not like to Babylon nor Monarch of the East nor like the rakehell rout of Emperors and Kaisers of this world which for a season flourish and then goe downe to hell but like unto his Servant David who in the dayes of his flesh performed the duties of a King of this world and yet remaineth a King for ever for he observed the counsell and wisdome from above which made him so faire in situation like to Mount Sion never to remove And this wisedome which we speake is a Law not that of fearfull Sinai a Law of condemnation a Statute of execution a Covenant of death condemning the transgressor to everlasting captivity But it is a Law proceeding out of Sion a Law of pardon a Statute of deliverance a Covenant of life redeeming the sinner from the wrath of the day to come And therefore this wisedome is called in Scripture the new Covenant the Covenant of Levi the everlasting ordinance the truth the light the life the reward the promise the power the salvation the redemption the sanctification the justice the counsell the correction the hidden purpose the secret intent the mysterie and Kingdome of God And one in a certaine place calleth it the wisdome from above because it is not a vertue ingendred or in begotten by any grace or benefit of nature growing to perfection by long studie and large experience Iam. 3. 17. but a mysterie and secret from above which God determined before all worlds and hath revealed it to the glory of those whom he hath chosen and this is the wisdome whose nature we advertise not in the teaâ—mes and eloquence of the Theologall discourses of this age but in the power and strength of God able to raise from death to life the soule that understandeth it The whole nature and work of this heavenly wisdome is perfectly set out and declared unto us in these two First in her Tree next in the fruit thereof Her Tree in Scripture is disciphered by the names of cleansing or washing or purging and sometimes expressed by a borrowed word as a new making a new birth a birth from above a re-begetting and is so called not in a naturall but in a spirituall meaning not because it reduceth us into our parents calling us out of their bowells againe but by comparation way of similitude that like as by our naturall and fleshly generation we are borne servants and sons of wrath which sometimes we were not so by this spirituall generation and birth from above wee are borne free and made the sons of God which by nature wee are not for that which is of nature is flesh subdued unto sin imbondaged to death and cannot see the inheritance and Kingdome of God but that which is born from above is Spirit redeemed from the captivity of sin and of death and chosen to inherite the Kingdome and promise of God And this birth and propagation from above is wrought and brought to passe by these two to wit by water and by fire whereof this purgeth the other prepareth I doe not meane the water of Jordane nor any waters from below for it is impossible for the water of fountaines to breake to mollifie or to prepare the sinner but the water of this birth is a force and vertue from above which turneth and as it were transhapeth the hard and stony heart of the sinner into tears preparing it by this kind of water to receive the promise and redemption of God And therefore the Scripture compareth the man that is begotten by water to a Mount that is become a Valley unto a Cedar now become a Plant to a rough and crooked way that is become a plaine unto a wise and prudent one but now become a babe unto a stone transformed to flesh and to a substance hard as Diamond translated to a nature as soft as water by these and such like speeches describing the man whose heart is turned from all the joyes and contentments of sin into a feare and sorrow for them and from all her temporary and false pleasing lusts into a restlesse and indicible desire to be restored to grace and reconciled to God again For the hill doth not more differ from the Valley the Cedar from the plant the crooked from the plaine the discreetly aged from the little child the hardnesse of flint from the softnesse of flesh the substance of Diamond from the nature of water these I say differ not each from other more then this man now from that he was And this is the birth and preparative of water called in Scripture the Baptisme of John Whose ministry was ordained as testifieth the Prophet to prepare the way before the great Redeemer and Messenger of the Covenant Mal. 3. 1. 4. 6. by turning the hearts of the Children into water like to the hearts of their Fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob that God might also turne unto them in mercy and love as hee did unto those their Fathers And therefore his Lord in a certaine Scripture gave him in regard of his ministry that honourable testimony namely that he was more then a Prophet Mat 11 9. 11. and that
eat her flesh as England and others have done yet these three heads shall love her still and to their dying day shall burne in delight with her but when those three and every of them shall also forsake her thâ—re shall not be found either Kingdom or creature under heaven that shall fall downe and worship her Vers 31. And behold the middle head was turned with them that were turned with it and did eat up the two under wings which thought to reigne And the Prophet saw this middle head the head of evill impart his fellowship to all Princes and Kingdoms which desired to be in league with it But my taske which hasteth to an end will not suffer me now and here to sound this gulfe of Santa Liega sufficeth that for Sions sake the Prophet passing by doth point thereat And the Prophet beheld that this middle head did devour and eat up the under wings namely the power of the Longohards and th' intestine faction which thought also to reigne The first by the sword of Charls surnamed for his exceeding power the great who at the command of Babylon his god aseended into Italy took her King Desiderius prisoner and led him captive into France and gave his Kingdome to another And thus vanished this seventh contrary fether after it had humbled the whore and spread it selfe over all her quarters 200. and 4 years and the fear thereof descended it appeared no more Th' other first began in the days of Cono th' Emperor who having an action of contrary opinion against Gregory the second for so the beast was then called followed it so hotly that he brought his holines into such disgrace as that he kindled a desire in the hearts of many to change their Prelate for a Prince and to edifie their first and ancient forme of government again This desire thus begun by time as naturally all conspiration doth 798. gathered stâ—ength and adventured but somewhat too young to check the beast who by reason he was so wel guarded by his foreâ—aid head champion Charles easily neckt it Notwithstanding some 100 and 50 years after this ulcâ—r now grown to a riper head under the practise of one Alberique and Octavian his son brake out anew and charg'd the beast in so sharpe a manner as without doubt he had received the maâ—e had not his head in the midst avoided it once againe whose name was now chang'd from Charles the great to Otho the great who as being by oath devoted came to Rome banisht her new risen Consuls hang'd her Tribuns and mounted her Prefectus urbis Mr. of misrule naked on an Asse crowned and aâ—tended through the city with great derision from thence committed to prision and there executed with exquisite torments And by this means the heat of this defection was so asswag'd that it 967. appeared not for 7 years after but then under the leading of one Cincius flam'd out anew in so furious a sort as it had doubtles fir'd the beast out of alâ— his holds had 974. not his middle head Otho the second hasted into Italy to quench the same who knowing how much it imported to punish exemplarily so dangerous an evill prepared in the Vatican a â—umptuous feast invited therto all the nobility and chief of the City when all were come saluted and set caused forthwith to be proclaim'd that no man on pain of death should either speak or move at any thing that should be seen or heard presently entred armed men and compassed the place â—ound where the guests were whereat whilst every one amazed doubting what this first course meant this middle-head drew forth a paper and whose names were therein written commanded to be drawn from the table and in presence of all there to be slaine The rest were courteously entertained and were as merry as the fear of so cruel a feast would give them leave Ne yet for all this the feaver so left these patients but that 1136. they fell some 162. years after into relapse again but Frederique the first for so was now this head called with the blood of 1000. and the wounds and imprisonment of as many more so branded this Hydra which had been so often headed as it could never after recover head againe but her breath departed and her purpose vanished and appeared no more Ver 32. And this head did put the whole earth in fear and ruled therein and over the dwellers thereof with much labour and it held the government of the world more then all the wings that had been That this head and his fellows have more maintained and advanc'd the rage and blasphemy of the beast then all the fethers that arose before them and made more diligent and cunning inquisition after the blood of Sion then they is it not eternally cronicled in the registers of every particular Nation And therefore they are called the heads of th'eagle and who knoweth not that heads are more able in evil then fethers And the Prophet beheld that this head continued longer held the government of the world more then all the fethers that had been for from the rising of the first fether Julius Caesar to the end and expiration of Momyllus Augustulus the last were not 560 years whereas this head arose in the year 801 and hath already continued above 700 and 90. and yet still continueth and shall till he that now is be taken away Vers 33. And after this I saw and behold this middle head sodenly vanished as did the wings In that the Prophet saw this middle head sodenly vanish as did the wings he signifieth that it shall not be rooted out by force or sword of any but depart quietly and die as it were in bed but yet as the truth fore-saith in the chap. following not without paine meaning that th'Electors shall not choose to the liking of the beast nor the beast consecâ—ate to the liking of them And in this difference this head shall die ne shall this difference be exempted from paine Vers 34. But the two heads remained which also reigned over the earth and over the inhabitants thereof And when the power of this great head which is now so little like a tale thaâ—'s told shal be clean ended yet the fear of th' other two shall still remain and have dominion over the earth those that dwel therein â—ill the fulnesse of their malice and tiranny be accomplisht also which may not long be unfulfild for behold in the very next verse their destruction cometh Vers 35. And I saw and beheld whilst the head on the right side devouâ—ed that which was on the left By the right head is ment as through all this prophecy the strongest so as the Prophet implyeth that the sword of Spaine shall dâ—vide the strength of France that her pride by division made lesse may at the last as every divided Kingdom doth returne to nothing Neither shall the prosperity of this right head
be long free from like retaliation but as the truth fore-saith He that divideth with the sword shall perish by the sword For how may Esdr 4. 12. the sword for ever escape him whom heaven hateth and earth doth persecute and of whom may be truly said which was spoken of Ismael Manus eorum contra omnes omnium contra illos And thus shall these heads perish and hast the faster to their end because the judgement of the beast is nigh in the very next verses attending to come in Vers 36. Then I heard a voice which said look before thee and consider the things which thou seest Vers 37. So I saw and behold as it were a Lyon came hastily out of the wood roaring And I saw that he sent out a mans voice unto the Eagle and spake saying Vers 38 Hear thou and I shall tell thee what the most High doth say unto thee The roaring of the Lion is the breath of the Highest which shall rebuke th' Eagle for her unrighteousnes and cast before her all her spoyls and set her alive in judgement and with the spirit of his mouth rise up against her and lay unto her charge as in the text following Ver. 39. Art not thou he which of the 4 Beasts remainest whom I made to reigne in my world that by them the end of things might come Vers 40. And the fourth is come and hath overcome all the beasts that were past and obtained power over the world with great fearfulnes and over the whole compasse of the earth with extream oppression and hath possessed so long time all the world with deceit Ver. 41. For thou hast not judged the earth with truth Ver. 42. But hast troubled the meck and hurt the peacefull and thou hast loved lyers and destroyed the dwellings of them which brought forth fruit and hast cast down the wals of such as did thee no harme Ver. 43. So as thy unjust dealing is ascended to the most High and thy pride unto the Mighty Ver. 44. And therefore he that is Highest hath beheld the proud times and behold they are ended and their abominations are finished And if thou plead not guilty hereunto behold a thousand witnesses shall rise up against thee and prove the inditement true that the just judgement which hath so long attended for thee may at the length be pronounced against thee in form as in the text followeth Vers 45. Therefore appeare no more thou Eagle nor thy fearfull wings nor thy wicked fethers nor thy malitious heads nor thy cruel claws nor thy vaine body And least in thy drunkennes thou maist think thy sin may over-shoot this judgement to come and in thy madnes glorifie thy selfe as thou hast ever done perswading thy selfe thou shalt ever be because thou hast been long and like a fool hast not considered the more thy yeares the nigher thy grave behold thus saith the truth In the year which shall be 1666. this Rev. 13. 18. judgement here pronounced shall lay hands on thee And as all thy fearfull wings and fethers be already descended and blown down so before that day which is so nigh at hand the tyranny of thy malitious heads and cruel claws shall be consumed and brought to nought And in that day thy vaine body shall be burnt with fire and shall so cleane be cut off from the land of the living that neither son nor nephew as the Prophet Esay 14. 22 Esay 14. 24 saith nor branch nor remnant of thy name shall be found upon the earth For as it is purposed so shall it come to passe and as it is consulted it shall stand Go to now take counsell of thy Seers and call thy inchanters about thee build thy devices as high as heaven and lay their foundations low as hell yet shall they not deliver thee from the day appointed but as Salmanazar destroyed Beth-arbel in the day of battel wherein the mother with the children was dasht in peeces or like the milstone which the mighty Angel did cast into the Sea with such violence shalt thou be thrown down and be found no more And all hell shall be moved at thy comming and prepare it self and raise up all her dead against that day to meet thee and all the Princes and Kings of Nations whom thou hast slaine with the cup of thy fornication shal rise out of their torments against thy coming and at thy fight shall wonder and cry and Esay 44. 10 say unto thee Art thou become weak also as we art thou become like one of us Is thy pomp bowed down unto the grave and are thy pleasures departed like ours and is the worm spread under thee and do the wormes cover thee also how art thou fallen from heaven O Lucifer son of the morning which hast cast lâ—ts upon the Nations and saidst in thine heart I will ascend into heaven and exalt my throne above besides the stars of God and I will sit upon the mount even the holy mount of his Sanctuary and Congregation I will ascend above the height of the clouds and will be like the most High And all hell which once did wonder worship and kisse thy feet beholding now thy nakednes thy shame and judgement shall die for grief of mind and dying shall say Is this the man that made the earth to tremble and Esay 14. with his word did shake the Kingdoms that made the world a wildernes and a wast of the Cities thereof Then shalt thou lying in tormenâ— death gnawing on thee answer them and say We have erred from the way of truth and the light of righteousnes hath not shined upon us nor hath the Wisd 5. Son of understanding risen over us we have wearied onr selves in the ways of wickednes and we have gone through dangerous paths but the way of the Lord we have not known What hath pride profited us or what profit hath the pomp of riches brought ns all these things are vanished like ashadow and as a Post that passeth by And casting up thy eye to heaven shalt see the righteous stand in great boldnesse before thee and before the face of such as tormented them and took away their labors and thou shalt fear exceedingly at the sight of them and be amazed at their wonderfull deliverance and dye for grief of mind and dying shalt say These are they whom we sometimes had in derisron and in a parable of reproach we fools thought their life madnesse Wisd 5. and their end without honour But how are they counted among the children of God and their portion among the Saints Vers 46. That all the earth may be refreshed and come again as one delivered from thy violence that she may hope for the iudgement and mercy of him that made her And thy death shall comfort and refresh the earth and deliver Sion from her great and violent oppressions but their prosperities may not long endure as testifieth the Prophet Daniel
For may Israel dwel safe and the kings of th' East not know it Nay verily they shall arise and Dan. 12. 12. Ezek. 39. come downe like a storme and like a cloud shall cover the earth and compasse round the tents of the Saints and the beloved City till fire descend from God out of Rev. 20. 9. heaven as it is written and devoure them And in those days shall be finished the mistery of God fore-declared to his servants the Prophets and witnessed by the mighty Angel which came down from heaven stood upon the sea and upon the earth and raised up his hand and voice to heaven and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Behold it is come and it is Rev 10. Ezek. 39. done saith the Lord this is the day whereof I have spoken For the hope of which day the stones of Syon dye day by day tho little â—steeming seven thousand deaths in regard of the precious assurance ingraven in their breasts that they shall then and in that day behold the L. that hath so mercifully gathered them from among the Nations That hath so wonderfully preserved them from the sorcery of Babylon which hath destroyed all the earth That daily leadeth them in and out before the scorners the covetous and foolish wise of this world so prudently and so invisibly that they seeing are not seen and living are not known That hath bestowed on them a thousand treasures more then these so secretly as no man suspecteth but they that have them That hath so surely and fully perswaded them that tho they now goe on their way weeping yet they shall then returne againe with joy and bring their sheafes with them and all the earth shall then know which now is hid how much the Lord their Redeemer loved them and night and day shall praise and magnifie the just judgement and mercy of him that â—ath done all these things for them Which day in due time He that is Highest shall manifest to all He that is Prince and Lord above all who onely hath immortalitie and dwelleth in the light which none can attain unto whom no man ever saw nor can see unto whom be all honour and power everlasting Amen Zach. 2. 7. Save thy selfe O Zion thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babel ANd thus my Lord at length I am come a shoar delivered from a dangerous scopulous sea as any is in all the Ocean of the scripture praying if I have made too bold t' impart my voyage to your Lordship you would be pleased to ascribe it to the common humour of Travailers who cannot chuse but tell what adventures they have passed and what wonders they have seen Strange and long were it to tell your Honour all I saw and I fear in respect of your hours I have been too long to tell so much too much doubtlesse in regard of my Pen which is so sad and so uncourtly as were it not for that naturall engraven Noble courtesie wherewith your Honour is beautified above all comparison your Honour might not endure her plaine and carelesse apparition And thus most humbly commending my service to your Honours disposing take a shorter leave then else I would because I am setting forth to sea againe in hope God willing if bread and water fail me not to discover the Revelation and to make knowne to my gracious Soveraigne Princesse that I also among the rest may be bold to speake though I care not to be known FINIS A BREIFE EXPOSITION OF THE XI XII and XIII Chapters of THE REVELATION WHEREIN MOST OF THE GREATEST MYSTERIES conteined in the whole Book are unfolded The Contents are in the next Page LONDON Printed by M Simmons in Alderse-gate-Street 1651. The Contents of these Three CHAPTERS TH' estate of the Primitive Church before her dispersion The Churches first persecution by the Heathen Emperours The Flight of the Church into the Wildernesse The two Witnesses The rising of Antichrist his seven heads and ten hornes The second Beast and his two hornes The practise of Antichrist and his Clergy against the Church The Image of the Beast The Marke of the Beast The Name and Number of the Beast The End of the Beast and destruction of his City The yeare of th' End of the World discovered by th' Author TO His dread and Soveraigne Lord JAMES the first of England Scotland France and Ireland King c. Grace and Peace HOw many there are most Noble King that have aimed at the unfolding of this divine and hidden Prophecy would require the skill and vertue of a Prophet to refer 'T sufficeth to know they have all left the mark very faire and open for others to hit Wherein howsoever their Zeale by priviledge of charity may find excuse yet their ignorance and errour within these cases â—â— no lesse hurtfull to the Reader then dangerous to the Writer may not find the like grace What I have seen or dreamt I feare not to offer to the censure of time the discoverer of error and Mother of truâ—h appointed from above th' only indubitate touch stone of all divine and Propheticall enterprises And although your Highnesse may doubt of my bold and hardy direction in this dangerous and scopulous sea wherein so many great and learned Pilots have overshot the Cape as one that feareth all Physitians for that he hath fallen into the hands of so many unskillfull yet forasmuch as the Church is sicke and the physick of this prophesie needfull I could not chuse but speak the things I know leaving to your Princely gust to iudge whether the Needle of my Compasse bee truer toucht then theirs And for this prophesie was directed chiefly unto Kings unto a King I have the rather presumed to recommend the same and unto You most noble King before all other whofe fame of wisedome Justice and goodnesse hath advanc'd your name and Scepter higher then any power of greatnesse can doe And although it bee presented by one awaked out of time yet if it may find but litle protection under your gracious favour for a season yeares and age I doubt not will give it aâ—â—â—iration and honour enough 〈◊〉 hope of which grace most humbly I reverence your most Princely hands commending all their labours to the God of Heaven who hath exalted your arme so high and made you so honourable throughout his world CHAP. XI 1. The regenerate Christians only are the Church and heritage of God 3. The residue are outcasts and refused 7. Of the two testifiers and preservers of truth 13. Antichrist killeth them but the Lord restoreth them life againe 15. Great dissention ariseth thereupon the day of judgement is foreshewed VERS 1. And there was given me a reed like unto a mete yard and the Angel that stood by me said Rise and measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that adore therein AS in a common field a good Surveyor doth measureout
the Spirit to honour the sufferings of the Saints so highly as to ascribe unto them the chiefest stayes and supportations of their precious hope and calling namely patience and faith saying Here is the patience and faith of the Saints VERS 11. And I saw another Beast comming up from the earth and he had two hornes like the Lamb but he spake like the Dragon THe holy Ghost in the verse foregoing having pronounced sentence of death against Antichrist before he comes to the execution thereof descendeth to the arraignment and condemnation of his Clergie that so they may be carted to the valley of Hinnom both together whom the Lord here figureth under the name of the Beast saying And I saw another Beast comprehending under the singular number of one Beast by a manner of speech common to the holy Scriptures the whole corporation and university of false and lying teachers who from the first Eremite Hypocrite Father Priest Monk Fryer to the last trumping and vagabond Iesuite have avouched the honour and adoration of Antichrist And is most aptly deciphered by their earthly sensuall and divellish minds in pointing to their countrey and place of extraction whence and where such weeds doe grow saying comming up from the earth And commendeth their making and acquaintance to us by two exquâ—site tokens the one their person the other their doctrine Touching their shape and person the Spirit saith that it was in robe and exteriour appearance the very face and countenance of the Lamb deckt and garnished with his owne two hornes to wit the Law and the Gospel wherewith the Lamb doth save and kill for so the Spirit saith And he had two hornes like the Lamb. But as concerning the use and force of the hornes the Spirit saith they were therein so contrary to the Lamb that when they did open either to teach the Law or preach the Gospel they spake and taught like the Dragons Doctours and like the Priests of Jupiter teaching and preaching unto the children of the world that they ought to worship the God of heaven as the Dragons Priests had taught their fathers to worship the Gods of the heathen Which detestable prophanation of the worship of God and preposterous adoration of his name the Spirit detecteth in saying But he spake like the Dragon VERS 12. And all the power of the first Beast he did in his sight and he made the earth and the inhâ—bitants therein to adore the first Beast whose wound of death was cured BY the power of the first Beast is meant the purpose and plot of the Dragon for the upholding and establishment of their false and godlesse religion to the prophanation and extinction of the true worship and service of God which forasmuch as he could not effect by force and open eâ—mitie I meane by the bloody persecutions of his prophane and Ethnick Caesaâ—s he did devise to put a new string to his old bow and to work it out by fraud and falshood of friends and thereupon perswaded his Ethnick Caesars that in policie it was the best to play Christians forasmuch as the world was now so given as Jupiter with all hâ—s idols must needs give place to Christ because most voices went that way And the better to bring the mystery of iniquity to passe he caused his new christened Caesars to set up a race of sycophâ—nticall high and princely Priests who under colour of proctering the affairs of the Lamb should cunningly clâ—p Jupiters coat upon the Lambs back and bestow all the ceremonies and ritualls of Jupiter and his idolls upon Christ that so by turning Jupiters worship into Christianisme he might turne the worship of God into Paganisme and idolatry and that so he might at the least prophane and desolate the true worship of the true God whose Majesty and truth of deitie they could no way blemish And for the better successe in this their project should cause to be erected throughout all Kingdomes and Natâ—ons certaine covents and swarmes of false ungodly and prostituted Clerks who by avouching and maintaâ—ning against all commers that Antichrists name is Simon Peter and that the supremacie his Caesâ—rs and his Kings gave him is the very keys of heaven and hell which the Lamâ— committed to the dispensation of his Saints and servants and that the throne aâ—d seâ—r of wickâ—dnesse is Peters Chaire and Sea Apostolique and that the execrable forme of Jupiters worship wherein his Lords and Caesars deligâ—ted is the very true worship and service of God which â—he Lamb and his Apostles delivered And by these mists legerdemains and new editions of old idolatry should establish in the sight of Antichrist the â—elfe same pâ—ophanation and devout impiety which his Antecessors the Caesars so ardently embraced for so much the Spirit rippeth up in saying And all the power of the first Beast he did in the sight of Antichrist and thereby so strongly deluded and seduced the children of disobedience most properly here as elsewhere described by the name of the earth and the inhabitants therein that they loathed the Sacâ—ifices of the God of heaven and refused to worship as the Lord commanded and chose rather as the Spirit saith to adore the first Beast that is to say to worship the God of their fathers as the Dragon commanded them just after the prescription of his Caesars and manner of the heathen And that we may the better discerne from whom those Proctors of Don Antâ—christ borrowed this their abominable Church-service the Spirit remembreth the repaired wound of their masters creditors pate mentioned in the third verse Whose wound of death was cured VERS 13. And he did many signes so that he made fire to come downe from heaven to the earth in the sight of men THe holy Ghost having arraigned and condemned the Clergy of Antichrist touching their doctrine proceedeth further to detect their abomination and forgery in seeking to confirme their false doctrine by lying signes and works of wonder condemning therein first their vanity secondly their presumption For as nothing can be more vaine and ungodly then to seeke by lying signes and wonders to confirme the doctrine of the Lamb and his servants which is all sufficiently established by their owne magnificent and divine miracles unto which the Church of God upon her allegiance is enjoyned to subscribe so nothing can be more presumptious and wicked then to attempt by fignes and wonders the confirmation of any other doctrine then that which the Lamb and his two witnesses have sealed and delivered unto us according to the statute of God Deut. 13. And though their signes were many as the Spirit reporteth saying And he did many signes yet were they but forgeries and lies not wrought in truth and dignity but in falshood and fallacy as our Lord himselfe and his servant Paul foretold us Mat. 24. 2 Thess 2. In which regard the holy Ghost squaring the miracles of these exorcists after the rule of their doctrine which was in shew