was not a sufficient Sacrifice for the sins of his people and therefore you 〈◊〉 offer up Christ often even as often as the Mass said as a Sacrifice sufficient and propitiatory for tâ—â— sin of the living and the dead which is to profâ—â— that you do know God but in works you deny hâ—â— at the highest rate that ever can be imagined by aâ—â— that ever called themselves Christians for you sâ—â— it clearly proved that as often as Christ is offeâ—â— up so often must he suffer and if it be so wâ—â— then how many millions of times must Christ haâ—â— suffered by your Priests since this opinion has beâ—â— broacht in the world among you that the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper is a Sacrifice and thâ— you do offer up Christ in the Mass in Body Soul aâ—â— Divinity a Sacrifice sufficient and propitiatory fâ—â— the sins of the living and the dead and is not thâ— to say plainly that Christ's Sacrifice of himself wâ—â— not a sufficient and propitiatory Sacrifice for the sin of his people nothing can speak bolder and plainâ—â— than this does Again fourthly Let us hear furthermore whâ—â— the Apostle St. Paul saith who himself lived 〈◊〉 Rome which is more than I can understand thâ—â— ever the Prince of the Apostles did I cannot saâ—â— that St. Paul never dreamed of this new-found Doctrine of yours but yet this I am sure in the fiâ—â— place that he never taught any such kind of Doctrine there And secondly That he did see in his daâ—â— by a Prophetick Spirit that there would be such 〈◊〉 Doctrine brought after his time which I shâ—â— prove anon But to our purpose before us Heb. 〈◊〉 9 10 11 12 13. Then said he Lo I come to do 〈◊〉 will O God He taketh away the first that he may establish the second By the which will ye are sanctiâ—â— through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once 〈◊〉 all And every Priest standeth dayly ministring offing oftentimes the same sacrifice which can never 〈◊〉 away sin But this man after he had effered one sacrifice for sins for ever sat down at the right haâ—â— God expecting till his enemies be made his footâ—â— But why is it said that Christ is expecting till 〈◊〉 enemies be made his footstool Why Christ repects it because God the Father hath determined 〈◊〉 promised it in Psal 110.1 The Lord said unto my Lâ—â— sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies footstool This does unavoidably lead me to a digrâ—â— on therefore Sir I must beg leave of you for 〈◊〉 present to pursue this digression But I will certainly meet you again anon upon the same Topâ—â— and discourse out the point with you In the first place God the Father hath said 〈◊〉 Christ his only Son Sit thou at my right hand 〈◊〉 I make thine enemies thy footstool God the Fâ—◠〈…〉 of all his Enemies why it must be infallibly him that opposeth Christ most And pray who is that Why It is the Man of sin Antichrist His very Titles as well as his Characters and Practises signifie the same It is he that is gotten into the Temple of God and claims a power and soveraignty over Kings and Rulers and over Mens souls and Consciences But he is but a Usurper for he exalts himself unto that Power and Dominion for it is a power that properly and peculiarly belongeth unto Jesus Christ for it is he that is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the only Ruler of Princes Rev. 19.16 Rev. 17.14 1 Tim. 6.15 Prov. 8.15 16. By me Kings reign and Princes decree justice by one Princes Rule and Nobles even all the Judges of the earth Here you see whose right it is to Rule over Kings and Princes and Judges of the Earth Ay and Christ is to have this power restored unto him again because God the Father hath promised it unto him And also it is his right in Ezck. 21.27 I will overturn overturn overturn it and it shall be no more until he come whose right it is and I will give it him Rev. 17.16 17. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast these shall hate the whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall cather flesh and burn her with fire for God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will. I am apt to think that this is Antichrist's will which they fulfil and to agree and give their Kingdom to the Beast until the Word of God shall be fulfilled Dan. 8.25 He shall stand up against the Prince of Princes but he shall be broken without hands Isa 47.8 9 10 11. Rev. 18.7 8. And that which is to antecede or go before the destruction of Antichrist to usher it in upon him you have in Rev. 16.17 18 19 20 21. Here is already or will be suddenly a threefold division among them and strange unusual thunder and lightning and fire and great hail of that magnitude that it will be sufficient to knock down an Ox and great earthquakes both literal and metaphorical But you will ask me who this Antichrist the Man of sin is why my answer in the genral is this That the Apostle Paul has described him and set several infallible marks upon him that he may easily be distinguished from all other persons in the World he is the head of the many Antichrists which did Apostatize from the true Gospel Worship Doctrine and Discipline he is the chief head and promoter of all wickedness and therefore called the Man of sin by way of Eminency as you may see in that famous descriminating Chapter 2 Thess 2.2 3 4. Here the Apostle brings it in by way of caution to the Christians of that day and in the spirit of Prophesie also viz. that ye be not soon shaken in mind or troubled neither by Spirit nor by Word nor by Letter as 〈…〉 that the 〈◊〉 Christ is at hand Pray hath had his day for as Antichrist hath sat upon Christ's Throne viz. the Temple of God and made his people his footstool which is indeed to make Christ his footstool for what is done to his people is done to himself As you may see in the Case of this Apostle Paul when he was a Persecutor Acts 9. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Who art thou Lord I am Jesus whom thou persecutest Why so Christ will depose the man of sin and take the Throne himself and make Antichrist his footstool for if Antichrist will exalt himself above all that is called God and sit in the seat of God himself then he must be abased and made Christ's footstool For the Word of God saith He that exalteth himself shall be abased And therefore Antichrist must be made Christ's footstool for Christ in his day of Exaltation will debase this Usurper and tread him under his feet But to return to what I was upon let no man deceive you by any means for that shall not come except there come a falling away first
and that Man of sin be revealed the Son of Perdition The Apostle gives him the same Name or Title here as our Saviour has given Judas who betraied him Joh. 17.12 And the Apostle has a great deal of reason for giving Antichrist this Title for as Judas under the pretence of the greatest friendship proved our Saviour's greatest enemy why so does Antichrist and as Judas had a hand in crucifying Christ's real Body so hath Antichrist in crucifying of Christ's mystical Body the Catholick Apostolical Church Pray mind how the Apostle has laid down the Prophesie wherein he gives the infallible Marks and Characters of Antichrist First there was to be a falling away that is the Apostatizing from the true Doctrine of Faith 1 Tim. 4.1 2. Secondly The man of sin must be revealed That is he must appear visible in the Church or Temple of God in his Colours Thirdly here is his practices when he is thus revealed viz. he opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped That is above all the Civil Magistracy and above all the Ministry both which Orders of Men are called Gods in Scripture Psal 82. Joh. 10.34 35. and there is a Civil Worship or Reverence that is due unto them both above all other men But this is not all but he exalts himself above God himself and placeth himself in the room of Christ so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God and he opposeth and deposeth all power that standeth in the way of his exalting himself both Ecclesiastical and Civil and he exalted himself by taking to himself that power which belongeth only to God viz. the Soveraignty over all Kings Princes and Rulers which either his Sword or Deceit can Conquer Dan. 8.25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in and by peace shall destroy many That is those which adhere unto his Doctrine and are reconciled unto him as their Head and so are at peace with him by which peace their Souls will be destroyed for it is a peace with Satan and therefore judge what kind of fruit that peace must produce Lastly He Exalts himself above all true Worship and Worshippers which is above all Churches and over mens Souls and Consciences Rev. 18.13 And he assumes to himself one of God's Glorious Attributes namely his Holiness for none is essentially Holy nor Holiness but God So that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God That is where none but Christ ought to sit And this is his standing up against the Prince of Princes but he shall be broken without hands saith Daniel 8.25 He shall be destroyed by the brightness of Christ's coming saith St. Paul 2 Thess 2.8 Therefore evil shall come upon thee thou shalt not know from whence it cometh and mischief shall fall upon him he shall not be able to put it off and it shall come suddenly saith the Propher Isa 47. When God begins he will soon make an end and her plagues shall come in one day saith John Rev. 18. that may be in one year which is at hand I doubt not Now whosoever is found under these marks and indelible characters which are here given and what I shall yet find out and and add That is the Man of Sin be he who he will that claims this universal power both Spiritual and Temporal Rev. 17.18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the kings of the earth And who this Woman is and what she doth or hath done you may see in the same Chapter Vers 5 6. And upon her forehead was a name written Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus and when I saw her I wondred with great admiration But why is he called the Man of Sin by the Apostle Paul and called a Woman by St. John in the Revelations The Reason why he is called the Man of Sin I humbly conceive respects him as a single person and a temporal Prince with all his temporal power and cruelty Dan. 7.7 And the Reason of her being called Woman is that which respects her Ecclesiastical Power as Head of the Church in conjunction with the Body so she is a Woman And as he is Antichrist the Man of Sin so he is Head and Husband to this Woman their Church which is made up of the many Antichrists As our Saviour Christ is called the Man Christ Jesus and the Holy One who alone is Head and Husband to the true Catholick Apostolick Church of God for both the false Antichristian Church whereof the Man of Sin is Head and also the true and pure Church of God whereof Christ is Head are preâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 Woman the false Antichristian Church is 〈◊〉 presented unto us as a Whorish woman a Strum 〈◊〉 Rev. 17.1 2. But the true Church is represent unto us as a Chast Virgin and a Clean Church without spot or wrinkle Ephes 5.27 And 〈◊〉 an illustrious beautiful Woman richly clothâ—â— Rev. 12.1 Psal 45.13 14 Cant. 6.10 But 〈◊〉 false Church this Whorish woman hath deserâ—â— Christ who was her Head and Husband before 〈◊〉 plaid the Harlot with many Lovers by forsake her Husbands bed the pure Worship and Ordnances of God and is become guilty of spiritual â—â—nication and adultery Rev. 17.4 5. and there 〈◊〉 Christ hath deserted her and cast her off and giâ—â— her a Bill of Divorce and so the Text tells 〈◊〉 that this Woman is in the Wilderness Rev. 17. 〈◊〉 And we have this Antichristian Church or Womâ—â— prophesied of also in Zech. 5.7 8. And behold thâ— was lift up a talent of lead and this a woman that 〈◊〉 teth in the midst of the ephah And he said Thâ—â— Wickedness Here is Antichrist the Man of Sin 〈◊〉 the Church or Temple of God and my Reaâ—â— why I look upon it to be so is this Because 〈◊〉 the Destruction of this Woman namely Wickedâ—â— which you have in the latter part of the 8th Vâ—â— Then upon this cometh forth two women wâ—â— the wind in their wings Verse 9. which are 〈◊〉 two Churches of both Jews and Gentiles which 〈◊〉 to be after the destruction of Antichrist and 〈◊〉 conversion of the Jews the one is the Jews 〈◊〉 will then be formed into a Gospel Church and 〈◊〉 other the Church of the Gentiles and this Winâ—â— their Wings I take to be their Gospel Doctrine and it signifieth their spirituality and their sâ—fâ—â— the Wings are God's Attributes for then they 〈◊〉 be built up and established and set upon her 〈◊〉 Base Verse 10.11 Then these two Women 〈◊〉 the two Churches of the Jews and Gentiles shaâ—â— beautiful and glorious in the eyes of all peâ—â— Zech. 14.20 21. So thus you see the Reason 〈◊〉 the Apostle St. Paul called Antichrist a Man 〈◊〉 why
shall be filled with his own ways Eighthly we may observe that altho this Mystery of Iniquity did begin to work even then in the Apostles day yet it was not to come to that full measure and degree of iniquity which it was to come unto until after his death that was not until the Man of Sin should be revealed Act. 20.29 30. Ninthly and lastly it is to be observed that the cause of God's sending this strong delusion unto them was for their abandoning and casting off the Gospel of God which tendered Life and Salvation by Christ's Righteousness unto them and following after lying vanities it was that which provoked God to inflict this sore judgment upon them so that they have eyes and see not and ears and hear not which may very aptly refer to this viz. that these persons have as great natural Gifts and Endowments as other persons have namely Sence Reason and Understanding with all the Intellectuals and Faculties that belong unto men as men but they are not suffered to make use of them upon Spiritual objects or occasions neither will they suffer themselves to make use of them in that way and manner as would most glorifie God and tend to the Salvation of their own souls their Consciences are seared with a hot Iron they have quite lost all Spiritual feeling for tho Sences Reason Understanding and all the Faculties do their work and office yet none of them are to be believed And who are blinder than those that will not see They are just like the Images which they do bow down unto and pray before if not worship them And they have no better Spiritual use of them than a condemned Malefactor has of the temporal use of his legs which only serve to carry him to the place of execution Nay give me leave to tell ye that they have no more use of their Sences Reason and Understanding in Spiritual things than these very Images have which they adore of natural Sences Reason and Understanding 〈…〉 least for look into Psal 115.4 5 6 7 8. Their Idols are silver and gold the work of mens hands they have mouths but they speak not eyes have they but they see not they have ears but they hear not noses have they but they smell not they have hands but they handle not feet have they but they walk not neither speak they through the throat Pray mark the winding up They that make them are like unto them so is every one that trusteth in them First they have mouths but they must not preach the pure Doctrine of the Gospel of God therewith 2. They have eyes but they must not see the way to Life and Salvation by the Righteousness and Merits of Jesus Christ alone with them 3. They have ears but they hear not That is they must not nor will not hear the Preaching of the Gospel with them 4. They have Noses But they must not smell any savour in the holy ways and pure worship of God with them them 5. They have hands but they must not believe them when they tell them that the Bread or Wafer is but Bread and is not flesh nor a material body 6. They have feet But they must not walk to the House of God with them but they will walk to the Idols Temple with them 7. And lastly They have Throats but they must not pray nor speak unto God through them in a right manner according to his will and mind but they pray with them unto Saints departed and preach up the Infallibility of the Church and the Doctrine of Implicite Faith with and to it And thus they come to have eyes and see not and ears and hear not and so are like unto the Images they make and pray to and before and by this means the holy Bible cometh to be a sealed Book unto them Isa 29.10 11 12. And now I leave any one to judg whether this Man of Sin that sitteth in the Temple of God and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped can be the great Turk or whether it can be meant of any sort of Protestants whatsoever for they do not assume any such universal power and dominion or Soveraignty over Kings and Rulers Kingdoms and Nations and over mens souls and consciences But if the Turk be not Antichrist the Man of Sin nor the Protestants then pray who is Antichrist my answer is this viz. I will name no body but I will refer ye to the Scriptural Characters that I have observed and let it be compared to some mens Office and Offices and to their Faith Doctrine Worship Discipline Manners and Practices in the world and they shall answer for me and tell you plainly who Antichrist the Man of Sin is for the Holy Ghost in the Sacred Scriptures have drawn his Effigies or Picture so clear and conspicuous that any man of Gospel-sense or that hath but the use of natural reason may wink with both eyes and tell who the Antichrist is and where he sits for indeed the Holy Scriptures have written his name in his forehead so that we may read the very Scriptures that relate unto him in his Office Doctrines Worship Discipline Practice and Manners as clear and as plain as we may read his Office Doctrines Worship Discipline Practice and Manners by and in the Holy Scriptures Rev. 17.5 6. with which Scripture I shall conclude this Digression viz. And upon her forehead was a name written Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus Now he that runneth may read who this Man of Sin the Antichrist is if he be not wilfully blind if they will but give themselves leave to adhere to sense and reason I have made a tedious digression by which I have gone a little out of my way but it was to meet with Antichrist the Man of Sin and his Adherents which are all out in the Wilderness with the Woman or deserted Church and Idolatrous worship which doth belong unto him and doth attend upon him God awaken the Kings of the Earth and open their eyes that they also may see and know who this the Antichrist is Rev. 17.16 17 18. that he may ride them no longer But now my Dear Friend although I have taken a very long turn with Antichrist yet I remember my promise unto you viz. That I would meet you again upon our old Topic or Point of Doctrine that we were discoursing upon before I met with Antichrist the Man of Sin namely the Doctrine of Transubstantiation for I have not done with that as yet for I have more considerations to offer against it for the confuting of it the first shall be this viz. Christ saith in Rev. 1.18 I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Pray mistake not for as Christ was
preached and if ye receive another Spirit which ye have not received or another Gospel which ye have not accepted ye might well bear with him Here the Apostle Prophesied of another Jesus that is of a false transubstantiated Christ as I humbly conceive which he saw by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost would come into the Gospel Church or Temple of God which caused God to turn it into a Desart And these are the same false Christs which our Saviour does forewarn us and commands us not to go out after them That is that we should not believe in them Matt. 24.23 24 25 26. And there was Signs and Wonders to attend these false Christs which our Saviour spake of insomuch that if it were possible they should deceive the very Elect But they are but lying Wonders and false Signs as the Apostle declares they are made up of deceit But here the Apostle Paul spake of another Spirit which St. John calleth the spirit of Antichrist 1 John 4.3 Rev. 16.13 14. This is the same spirit by which they do work their pretended Miracles Signs and Lying Wonders and this is another Gospel which is their Canons and Councils Decrees and Prescriptions and unscriptural Traditions of old Fathers and so they did cast off the true and pure Gospel of God and do not adhere unto it to this day and place these Scriptures of their own invention in the room of it and cry them up to be Canonical and Infallible And this is that another Gospel namely A false Antichristian Gospel stuffed with nothing but Errors and Heresie And pray observe what the Apostle saith by way of caution concerning this kind of Gospel and them that Teach it Gal. 1.8 9. But tho we or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed As we said before so say I now again if any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received let him be accursed The Apostle spake by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost prophetically and clearly of what was to come into the Temple of God when the Man of Sin should be revealed And in the 13 14 15. verses of that 2 Cor. 11. he gives a clear character of those persons that should be guilty in assisting to bring in and preach up another Jesus and another Spirit and another Gospel into the Temple of God viz. such are false Apostles deceitful workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ and no marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of light therefore it is no great thing if his Miâ—â—◠〈…〉 righteousness whose end shall be according to the works they are for works of Merits and in 〈◊〉 end they shall have as much salvation as they have earned by them these you see are the Devils Minsters and they are acted and influenced by his spirit Rev. 16.13 14. And I saw three unclean spirit like Frogs come out of the mouth of the Dragon and oâ— of the mouth of the Beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet for they are the spirits of Devils working miracles which go forth unto the kings of the earth Acts 20.28 29 30. Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost have made you overseers to feed the Church of God which 〈◊〉 hath purchased with his own blood For I know thâ—â— that after my departing shall grievous Wolves enter 〈◊〉 among you not sparing the flock Also of your oâ—â— selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. Noâ— the spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils speaking lies in hypocrisies having their consciences seared with a hot iron forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth Now what Sect or sort of persons are there to be found among Christians that do forbid Men that are in spiritual Orders to Marry or if they are Married that do forbid them to take that Office or Place upon them And these are the person here intended by the Holy Ghost which sent the Apostle an express from Heaven with the foreknowledg of it The Apostle Peter who some call the Prince of the Apostles was a married man for we read 〈◊〉 a miracle that our Saviour Christ wrought to cuâ— his wives mother of a Fever Mat. 8.14 15. aâ—â— several of the other Apostles were married meâ— 1 Cor. 9.5 And the same Apostle namely Paul saâ—â— in the 1 Cor. 7.9 It is better to marry than to burâ— viz. than to burn in lusts here and in Hell he after to all Eterniy for Fornication and Adultery it is better for them to be married seven times to â—ven wives successively in Gods way and holy Ordnance than it is for them to borrow or make be with their neighbours wife once And then as for commanding to abstain frâ—â— Meats at certain times and seasons that is univerâ—â— and reacheth to all and the same Apostle saiâ— That we may eat whatsoever is sold in the Shambles â—ing no questions for conscience sake 1 Cor. 10.25 〈◊〉 does not say eat whatsoever is sold in the Fish-marâ— tho he did not prohibit that and all those amâ—â— Christians that are thus guilty which are foâ—â—â—â—der this Character are those thâ—◠〈…〉 Man of Sin the 〈…〉 theirs from Christ their Head for tho they confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh in words yet in works they deny it Again the Turk never professed the Christian Religion nor owned the true Gospel of God and the pure Instituted Worship of Jesus Christ and afterwards Apostatized from it and rejected and despised the Faith and Truth of the Gospel and fit in the Temple of God and usurp a power over all Christian Kings and Princes and Rulers and over all Worship and Worshippers and sit in the room of Christ in his Temple and give Laws to mens Consciences as this Man of Sin doth and as the many Antichrists do Nor did the Turk broach nor bring in strange and monstrous Doctrines of Devils into the Church or Temple of God for mind the Apostle Act. 20.30 Also of your own selves shall men arise this could not be Turks for they were Christians and what shall these do speaking perversethings to draw away Disciples after them 1 Tim. 4.1 2. Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed â—o sedning spirits and Doctrines of Devils c. Now can you think this to be meant of the Turks It is spoken of persons that profess the name of Christ that do call themselves Christians Here we see was Prophesied that in the latter times that is in the time of Antichrist's power
â—â—rist's offering up himself a Sacrifice to satisfie â—â—â—vine Justice and so to make up the breach that 〈◊〉 had made between God and Man and reconcile 〈◊〉 and Man together And this great and only â—â—crifice we are in special manner to commemorate 〈◊〉 the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper from them â—â—â—rds of our Saviour Christ Do this in remembrance â—â—â—one Why even so the Passover and all the Sacrifices under the Ceremonial Law were instituted and â—â—â—â—â—inted by God for a Remembrance that Christ 〈◊〉 to come in the flesh and die in the flesh to reâ—â—â—â—â— fallen Man And here I will shew you the 〈◊〉 over and the Sacrifice both joyned together in 〈◊〉 Antitype or that which they signified unto us 〈◊〉 also the sanctifying purging nature and virtue â—â—â—â—â—ysical operation of it in 1 Cor. 5.7 Purge out â—â—â—â—â—fore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump as 〈◊〉 unleavened For even Christ our passover is sacriâ—â—â—â— for us â—â—d as there was a Remembrance of Sin in the â—â—â—â—â—fices to shew what an evil and dangerous thing 〈◊〉 and how contrary it is to the holy Nature of 〈◊〉 why even so there is a remembrance of sin 〈◊〉 Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to shew 〈◊〉 an evil there is in sin and also how contrary 〈◊〉 the Holy Nature of God. 〈◊〉 Sacrifice under the Law and the Sacrament 〈◊〉 the Gospel are like two great Looking 〈◊〉 in which Believers saw the deformity of 〈◊〉 in which they also see the great Love of 〈◊〉 poor sinful Dust and Ashes In the Glass under 〈◊〉 they saw that Christ was to come and be ofâ—â—â—â—â— for sin and in our great Glass under the 〈◊〉 we see that Christ hath come and has â—â—â—â—â—ered up for sin Sin is such a hainous â—â—â—â—voking thing that nothing short of the 〈◊〉 precious Blood of Christ the spotless 〈◊〉 God could appease or extinguish the 〈◊〉 God that was kindled against sinners and expel the guilt and expiate sin and satisfie the Justice of God and justifie and atone them to God and purchase Eternal Life and Salvation for them at the price of his own precious Blood and copious Righteousness and Alsufficient Merits And he made up the Breach that sin did make between sinful man and that God who is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity with any approbation thereunto For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord And Christ received the wages that was due unto us sinning men and poor sinners receive the gift of God that was purchased by him For although God gives it yet Christ purchases it All the Sacrifices under the Law of Moses no nor all the good works nor pretended sacrifices under the Gospel they all cannot take away nor expiate the least vain sinful thought for all our Righteousnesses are all but filthy Rags Tho it is true we shall not be saved without Good Works and right Gospel Sacrifices yet we shall never be saved by nor for them for Christ saith Luke 17.10 So likewise ye when ye shall have done all these things which are commanded you say We are unprofitable servants we have done that which was our duty to do Eph. 2.8 9. For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves for it is the gift of God No for Faith it self is not of our selves for it is the Gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast For if Man were to be saved by and for his own works he would be proud and make his boast of it For there is not a prouder person upon Earth in the account of God than a Pharisaical self-conceited righteous person is Pray see what is said of him in Prov. 30.12 13. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes and yet is not washed from their filthiness There is a generation O how lofty are their eyes and their eye-lids are lifted up And in Isa 65.3 5. A people that provoked me to anger continually to my face that sacrificeth in gardens and burneth Incense upon Altars of brick The Prophet here prophesied of a Generation of pretended Christians Ay and of such as do look upon themselves to be the only Infallible holy Christians and that are Sacrificers in Gospel times Pray mind what he saith of them as followeth Which say stand by thy self come not near to me for I am more holier than thou It must needs be so when they count themselves the only Christians and all other to be Hereticks But see how God accepts these persons and their Sacrifices that are our Gospel Sacrificers viz. These are a smoak in my nose a fire that burneth all the day And no person is pure in his own eyes but the self-righteous person And I pray hear further what is said by our Saviour Christ of such a person Luke 18.10 11 12 13 14. Two men went up into the temple to pray the 〈◊〉 a Pharisee and the other a Publican the Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself God I thank thee that I am not as other men are extortioners unjust adulterers or even as this Publican I fast twice in the week It may be that was on Wednesdays and Fridays I give tithes of all that I possess He thought himself Cock-sure of Heaven and did not so much as dream of stopping at Purgatory by the way But see what it all came to at last And the Publican standing afar off would not so much as lift up his eyes unto heaven but snote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted I say again That all the Sacrifices under the Law could not take away nor expiate sin for they were but figures of Christ the great and only Sacrifice that was to be offered up in due time to take away sin from the ungodly and make them holy Pray Sir observe with me these following Scriptures for further illumination Heb. 8.4 5 6 7. For if he were on earth That is Christ he should not be a priest seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law which serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things Mind These Sacrifices were but examples and shadows when they were in force and according to God's appointment before Christ abolished them of Heavenly things that was to come that was the fruit and effect or product of the heavenly things that were transacted between God the Father and Christ his Son in his Eternal Council with the Holy Ghost which proceeds from the Father and the Son in order to Man's Redemption As Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the Iabernacle for see saith he that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the Mount
But now hath obtained a more excellent ministry by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant which was established upon better promises For if that first covenant had been faultless then should no place have been sought for the second Heb. 7.19 I do believe the Apostle Paul in Heb. 8.4 spake Ironically of those Priests that were so ignorant then Ay and that do now offer up material Sacrifices both of Jews and Gentiles in Gospel times for it does signify that Christ is not come in the flesh but that he is yet to come and die which is a down-right denying that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh in Works For says the Apostle if he were on earth he should not be a priest seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law If he that is Christ the only high Priest were on Earth he should not be a Priest because these Priests that offer Sacrifice under the Gospel are all Invaders and Usurpers of Christ's Priestly 〈…〉 under the Mosaical Law were all but Types and Shadows of Christ of his Coming and Dying for Christ is the High Priest and Priest of the most High God Heb. 7.15 16 17 23 24 25 26 27. For this Melchisedec King of Salem Priest of the most High God who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the Kings and blessed him And it is yet far more evident for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another Priest who is made not after the Law of carnal commandment but after the power of an endless life for he testifieth Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec and they truly were many Priests because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death but this man because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them for such an high Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens who needeth not daily as those high Priests to offer up sacrifice first for his own sins and then for the peoples for this he did Once when he offered up himself Here you see is the durable Priesthood Rev. 8.3 4. there Christ is the Golden Altar on which all our Gospel-sacrifices of Prayers and Thanksgiving must be offered up to God or else neither the person nor the offering will ever be accepted by the Lord. And look into 1 Cor. 5.7 and there you have the Sacrifice Thus you see clearly made out unto you that Christ is the only Priest Altar and Sacrifice of which all these Priests and Altars and Sacrifices and the Passover under the Law were Types and Figures and therefore the Apostle did as it were expose and ridicule or even laugh to see the ignorance of those Priests that do offer Sacrifices under the Gospel-Dispensation for a remembrance of Christ's yet coming to die for sin for that is the signification of all those material Sacrifices when as Christ was then come and had suffered and was gone to Glory this is more tolerable in the Jews who do not believe that Christ the Messiah is come than it is for any that profess themselves Christians and believe that Christ is already come for the Jews do not believe that the Messiah is come and therefore they keep up their Sacrifices and Offerings thâ— they have lost the very sense and meaning of them and the End and Design of God in his first ordaining and appointing of them but for any that pretend to be Christians and yet to offer up these kinâ— of material Sacrifices and yet do own that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh why I do say that thâ— they do confess in words that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh yet in these Sacrifices they do plainâ—â— deny it for it is a turning back again to the Jewiâ—â— Law for these Sacrifices say plainly that Jesus Christ is not yet come in the flesh because his 〈◊〉 in the flesh put an end to that Ordinance as well as to the Passover and all other carnal Ordinances and Ceremonial Rites when he had finished the work which God the Father gave him to do Again another Scripture for Illumination is that in Heb. 9.8 9 12. The Holy Ghost there signifying that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest while the first Tabernacle was yet standing for that first Tabernacle was the Ceremonial Law of Types and Shadows and material Sacrifices for Christ is the way into the holiest of all who was not then come nor manifested in the flesh when these Sacrifices were in force 1 Joh. 1.1 2. That which was from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our eyes which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the word of life for the life was manifested and we have seen it and bear witness and shew unto you that eternal life which was with the Father and manifested unto us What was this manifestation why it was Christ when he came in the flesh as you may see 1 Tim. 3.16 And without controversie great is the mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the flesh justified in the spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the world received up into Glory Christ was justified by God the Father and acquitted from all the sins of his people when he had suffered and died and rose again But Christ was not so manifested then under the Law when this Covenant was standing which was not faultless and all these Sacrifices in force and being which was a figure for the time then present in which were offered both Gifts and Sacrifices that could not make him that did the service perfect as pertaining to Conscience Heb. 7.19 for â—he Law made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better hope did c. Here you see all these Sacrifices and Services under the Law were all imperfect they could not â—each the Conscience to purge and sanctifie that neither could they purifie nor cleanse the heart â—hey were all but Figures and Types of that which â—as to come which was of the Lord Jesus Christ â—he great and only Sacrifice who was to come and â—e offered up who is said to be our Passover and is â—â—crificed for us And it is moreover said Neither by â—he blood of Goats and the ashes of an Heifer sprinkling â—â—e unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh No â—othing but the Blood of Christ the Lamb of God â—â—n cleanse a soul from the guilt and pollution of 〈◊〉 Joh. 1.29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming â—â—to him and saith Behold the Lamb of God which â—â—keth away the sin of the world Again Fourthly and lastly one Scripture more â—â—t the utter overthrowing of all pretended material â—â—crifices short of Christ and
his Righteousness and 〈◊〉 to expunge and expiate sin and guilt and sanctifie the soul and present it unto the Father without spot or wrinkle like himself fully justified and acquitted from all the demands of Justice and wholly discharged from the Law for Christ's being justified was his peoples Justification which the Law could not do in that it was weak for all the Sacrifices under the Law when they were in force could not take away sin and Sacrifices under the Gospel cannot do it for these material Sacrifices of yours themselves are an abomination in the sight of God and are as smoke in his nose Isa 65. For there never was but one real Propitiatory and sufficient Sacrifice for all the sins of Gods people both under the Law and under the Gospel and that was Christ who was offered up a living Sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God and that but once as I have already proved from the holy Scripture Heb. 10.1 3 4 5 6 11. For the Law having a shadow of good things to come and not the very image of the things can never with those Sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect But in these Sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sin but our Saviour Christ the great Sacrifice perfects for ever them which are sanctified there cometh all the Believers perfection in at that door and no where else For it is not possible that the blood of Bulls and of Goats should take away sins In Burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure O no for in these material Ceremonial Sacrifices there was much sin and imperfection and therefore God could take no pleasure in them And every priest standeth dayly ministring and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices which can never take away sin 12. But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever sat down on the right hand of God from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool So that here you see again That these Sacrifices and Offerings before Christ came in the flesh were but for a Remembrance of Sin and of Christ's coming in the flesh and dying in the flesh and rising again to redeem fallen lost sinners For whilst we were sinners Christ died for the ungodly And the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper after Christ's coming in the flesh and dying in the flesh and rising again from the dead for our justification is for a Remembrance that Christ is come in the flesh and has suffered and died in the room and place of fallen sinners to expiate the guilt and to wash away the filth and pollution of sin and to atone us to God who was the Just and the Holy One. He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God through him Christ is come and has died in the flesh and is justified in the spirit by which justification of his all true Believers come to be justified freely and pardoned fully Rom. 33.34 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of demneth It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us This word also signifieth that there is some other Intercessor Why look into v. 26. and there you will see that the Holy Ghost maketh intercession for the Believer and in the Believer the spirit indicts all our Prayers in us if we pray in a right manner Rev. 1.5 And from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness and the first begotten of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth Ay and that Antichrist shall know in a little time It draws on a-pace towards a period of his Reign Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood This is the only Purgatory for sinners there is no Purge to be had for Sin any where else and all that ever were purged and saved from the days of Adam until Christ came in the flesh were saved upon the account of Christ's coming and dying in the flesh to make satisfaction to the Justice of God for their sins as he was their surety of that better Covenant or Days-man to fulfil all Righteousness for them that believe With Holy Reverence be it spoken it is thus All they that were saved before Christ came in the flesh and died in his estate of humiliation were saved upon Christ's Word and Credit upon the account of that Confederal Covenant that was made in order to Man's Redemption between God the Father and God the Son from all Eternity That Christ in due time would come into the World and take up humane nature and stand in the room of poor sinners and lay down his Life for poor lapsed undone Man and to purchase Grace and Holiness for us here and Eternal Life and Salvation for us hereafter with himself in Glory It is Comparatively as if there should be a Covenant made between two persons for such and such parcels of Merchandize or for such a parcel of Land and the purchaser doth bargain and agree for the said Merchandize or Land wholly upon Credit and enters into Covenant or Bonds according to their agreement to pay him that he purchased the said Premises of so much Monies at such a time as they do agree upon punctually Now upon this Consideration and Contract he giveth the Purchaser as ample and peaceable possession and quiet enjoyment of it as if he had paid him every peny of the Money down upon the Nail And he reaps all the benefit of it until the time does come in the which he doth actually and punctually pay him his Money according to Contract Why even so it was with a respect to Christ in that Confederal Covenant between himself and God the Father in relation to every Believer that was saved before Christ came in the flesh and actually laid down his life for them 1 Pet. 1.18 19 20. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers But with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you 2. And secondly All those that should be saved after Christ came in the flesh and actually paid the price of Redemption by laying down his Life by which he purchased all them that ever should be saved for time then to come to the end of the World. Now this is like a Man that purchases all the Wine that such a Vineyard shall produce for so long time or like a Crop of Corn that a Man purchaseth as soon as the Seed is sown and payeth down every Farthing of his Money long before ever he receives any of the Wine or Corn Every true Believer throughout all
Ages from Adam to the end of the World are the purchase of Christ Acts 20.28 Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Job 19.25 For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth This was spoken about One thousand six hundred years befor ever Christ was born or took flesh upon him Thus you see that Christ is the only Sacrifice that is sufficient and propitiatory for the sins of all true Believers both under the Law and under the Gospel for they are all of them purchased at the price of his precious Blood alone And none else beside him is the Sacrifice for sin and his Blood is the only Purgatory for sinners and no other for we are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot Now dear Sir Pray be pleased to take the Candle of the Lord and look about all Christendom and see and consider well with your self who there be and what Sect or sort of persons are there to be found among them that are called Christians or do but own the name of Christ that do make a Sacrifice of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper and they are the persons that are here intended by the Holy Apostle who spake as he was moved and inspired by the Holy Ghost for he could see by the Infallible Spirit of God even in that day That a certain Sect or sort of people would come up upon the Stage of Christendom or into the Temple of God that would forbid Marriage to pretended Religious Orders of Men and Women tho the Holy Scripture saith plainly and literally that it is better to Marry than to Burn. And the same Apostle saw by the same Spirit That the same sort of people that forbid Marriage would further reject the Scripture by commanding all persons whatsoever to abstain from Flesh The Apostle had an Expres◠sent him from 〈…〉 tidings 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. But the Apostle tells us we may eat whatsoever is sold in the Shambles to wit Butchers meat asking no questions for Conscience sake And the Apostle did see by the same Infallible Spirit clearly and spontaneously that a sort of Idolatrous Gentiles which are only nominal Christians would come into the Church or Temple of God that would make a Sacrifice of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper in that Scripture which I quoted before to wit 1 Cor. 10.20 21. But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice unto devils and not unto God and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of Devils ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's Table and of the Table of Devils Now Sir the Protestants do not make a Sacrifice of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper they do not look upon the Elements of Bread and Wine to be Transubstantiated into the real person of Christ namely of Body Soul and Divinity after their Blessing or Consecrating of them and so offer him up as a Sacrifice as you of the Roman Community do own and pretend to believe and that the Elements are miraculously turned into the real substantial Body of Christ viz. Body Soul and Divinity and then offer him up as a Sacrifice sufficient and propitiatory for the sins of the living and the dead But here will appear two Sacrifices you will see by and by in this one The Apostle saith that it is a Sacrificing unto Devils and not to God and they that are guilty of this practice have fellowship with Devils in it and not with God for saith he Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of Devils ye cannot be partaker of the Lord's Table and of the table of Devils Thus you do hear what the Apostle saith it is not my word but his which he spake by Divine Inspiration They offer up sacrifices unto Devils But here I say are two Sacrifices as you may observe in this one The first is this whereas the Priest doth pretend to offer up a Sacrifice sufficient and propitiatory for the sins of the living and the dead why here the Apostle telleth us plainly that this is to offer a Sacrifice unto the Devil and not unto God So that it is clear that they do offer a Sacrifice unto the Devil under a specious pretence of sacrificing unto God. And the second Sacrifice that springs out of this one Sacrifice is this viz. The poor Lay-people do really offer up their Senses Reason Understanding and Faith and all that should be dear unto them both as Christians and Men in Sacrifice to the Priest and they are no longer Masters of their own Senses Reason Understanding Soul and Conscience for 〈…〉 another They have eyes and see not they have cars and hear not they are fallen under that heavy Judgment which the Gospel Prophet predicted and also our Saviour Christ himself Isa 29.10 11 12. For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep and hath closed your eyes the prophets and your rulers the seers hath he covered And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed which men deliver to one that is learned saying Read this I pray thee and he saith I cannot for it is sealed And the book is delivered to him that is not learned saying Read this I pray thee and he saith I am not learned Matt. 13.14 15. And in them is fulfilled the prophesie of Esaias which saith By hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand and seeing ye shall see and shall not perceive For this peoples heart is waxed gross and their cars are dull of hearing and their eyes they have closed lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart and should be converted and I should heal them I do believe that this Prophesie does principally refer to the Jews and took place upon them first for rejecting and disbelieving Christ the true Messiah but those Christians that have contracted the same guilt as they did to reject the Gospel of Christ they do make themselves guilty of the same sin with the Jews and by that means have lain themselves in the bed of unbelief with them and are both Sacrificers now in Gospel times which is to deny that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh so they lay themselves under the same Judgment with the Jews for one and the same cause produceth one and the same effects at one time as well as at another without preventing Mercy But the Apostle Paul speaks clearly of a sort of Christians that would cast off and reject the Gospel of God for which God did bring the like judgment upon them in 2
wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect Behold I have told you before Wherefore if they shall say unto you Behold he is in the desert go not forth behold he is in the secret chambers believe it not And Antichrist was to arise and come with all Power and Signs and Lying Wonders saith the Apostle which is the same character which our Saviour gives of him This desert where these false Christs are I take it to be a Church or People professing the name of Christ in words but deny him in works being abominable disobedient and unto every good work reprobate Titus 1.16 They are a Company of Deserters that have deserted Christ and run from the true Christian Colours for you see they are a sort of nominal Christians that do own Christ's Name but they do follow another Jesus as I have already shewed from the Apostles words 2 Cor. 11.4 They are a people that have deserted Christ's Standard who himself is Generalissimo of all the Christian spiritual Soldiers or Army But these false Prophets and others are those that are gone over to Antichrist who is Head and Generalissimo of all the many Antichrists and Apostates Now that our Saviour Christ prophesied here of Antichrist's rising it appeareth to me to be as clear as the Sun that shineth in the firmament because the Apostle hath laid down the very same Character of Antichrist and his Disciples and false Prophets as our Saviour had done before for our Redeemer saith that there should arise false Christs and false Prophets which should shew great signs and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they should deceive the very elect And the Apostle saith that the Man of sin Antichrist should come after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish Our Saviour saith consequentially Signs and Wonders and Deceit And the Apostle also saith Signs Wonders and Deceit If it were passible they shall deceive the very elect saith our Saviour that is by their great Signs and Lying Wonders They shall come with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish saith the Apostle And then here followeth their desertion of the Standard of Christ their General Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved Here they first desert God and then God deserts them as you may see in those following words of the Apostle as I have already proved And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie that they all might be damned who believe not the truth That is those who believe not the Gospel of God in opposition to this lie but had pleasure in unrighteousness Surely then this must needs be a dreadful desert when a Church or people desert and leave God And God doth cast off them and desert and leave them this I humbly conceive to be the meaning of our Saviour Christ in Matt. 24. which does agree and suit so well with that of the Apostle Paul's description of Antichrist the Man of Sin this is that desert where these swarms of false Christs and false Prophets are and do reside it is a deserted false worship And hear again what is said in 1 John 2.18 19. with which Scripture I shall close this Head and so go on towards the finishing of this Discourse Little children it is the last time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time There be the false Prophets which Christ tells us should arise and show great signs and wonders to deceive the credulous people And here followeth their Apostatizing or Desertion to wit They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us But they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us Thus you see that this Doctrine of yours is not true and your Tronsubstantiated Christ is but a false Christ and of the number of those Christs that are out in the Desart Now I pray Sir do not take it amiss that I deal thus plainly with you nor do not think much of my repeating over some things that have been mentioned under former Heads for you know in a trial at Law among Men you have often one and the same thing repeated over and over by the Witnesses and others c. Ay and we have it so in Scripture also in many places and in many cases and I will give you one which relates unto this our Tryal or Discourse Gal. 1.6 7 8 9. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel Which is not another but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ But tho we or an angel frem heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed As we said before so say I now again If any man preach aâ— other gospel unto you than that ye have received 〈◊〉 him be accursed And what the Apostle saith 〈◊〉 say I and let all good men say Amen to it 3. Thirdly If this Doctrine of yours be truâ—â— then after Consecration as you call it there would appear all the lineaments of a Man visibly to aâ— the spectators with all the faculties of a Man for 〈◊〉 was Christ when he was here upon Earth personallâ— in Body Soul and Divinity before he laid dowâ— his Life and after he took it up again viz. after he arose again from the dead Luke 24.39 Behoâ—â— my hands and my feet that it is I my self handle 〈◊〉 and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see 〈◊〉 have If this Doctrine of yours be really truâ— why then it would necessarily follow that all thâ— spectators as well as the partakers would be satisfied that it is so and not an imaginary fancy for such is the nature of Miracles as you see haâ—â— been clearly proved by several instances both from Scripture and Reason which do witness the trutâ— of it 4. Fourthly If this Doctrine of Transubstantiation in your sense be true viz. That Christ is iâ—â— tire in his person with all the lineaments and facuâ—ties of Man after Consecrating the Elements in thâ— Sacraments then Sir I would fain know what 〈◊〉 the Reason that he doth not speak or what should hinder or impede Christ from speaking personally and vocally now as well as he did to his Disciple after he arose from the dead when they were under doubts and fears whether it was he or no wheâ— he said unto them Why are ye troubled and why 〈◊〉 thoughts arise in your hearts Behold my hands and mâ—â— feet that it is I my self handle me and see for a spirâ—â— hath
be a Whoremonger nor an Adulterer for the Scripture saith That Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judg 6. Sixthly It could not be a Thief or a Murderer nor an Unrighteous Person nor a Lier nor a Fornicator nor an Extortioner nor a Reviler nor a Conjuring Sorcerer nor an Effeminate Person nor an Abuser of himself with Mankind neither could it be a Drunkard or a Glutton It could not possibly be any of all these sorts of bad Men that made or invented the Scriptures because they would never have denounced such heavy Judgments against themselves for all these Sins which are against the very Light of Nature 1 Cor. 6.9 10. 7. Seventhly It could not be any of these two Bed-Rolls of Sinners that made or invented the Holy Scriptures which you have discovered by the Apostle Paul in Rom. 1.26 27 28 29 30 31 32. and in 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5. Surely these Sinners would never have pronounced such a dreadful Sentence against themselves 8. Eighthly It could not be a Persecutor that made or invented the Scripture for it hath set a Cain-like mark upon him viz. the vilest and basest of Men Acts 17.5 But the Jews who believed not moved with envy took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort and gathered a company and set all the city in an uproar and assaulted the house of Jason and sought to bring them out to the people And our Saviour Christ calls them A generation of vipers and scrpents Matth. 23.31 32 34 35. Surely then if Persecutors had made or invented the Scriptures they would never have written thus against themselves 9. Ninthly It could not be a Sabbath-breaker or one that profaneth the Lords Day that made or invented the Scriptures because the Scriptures are very strict for the due observing the Sabbath or for keeping a Day unto the Lord and there is severe Penalties prescribed and made to be inflicted upon the Tranfgressors of that Holy Law of God. 10. Tenthly It could not be an Atheist that made and invented the Scriptures because it discovers the glorious Attributes of the Divine Being and his Works of Creation and Providence and denounceth Hell and Damnation against all Atheists therefore it could not possibly be an Atheist that made and invented the Holy Scriptures 11. Eleventhly and Lastly to name no more bad Men It could not be any Person made and invented the Scriptures that was an Idolater that invents and makes to himself any graven images or the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above or in the earth beneath or in the sea or in the waters under the earth Exod. 20.4 5. That bow down to them and say their Prayers before them and perhaps pay Divine Adoration unto them Read what the Scripture saith of these Psal 115.4 5 6 7 8. Psal 97.7 Isa 40.18 19 20. To whom will ye liken God or what likeness will ye compare unto him The workman melteth a graven image and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold and casteth silver chains He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image that shall not be moved Isa 44.16 17. He burneth part thereof in the fire with part thereof he eateth flesh he rosteth rost and is satisfied yea he warmeth himself and saith Aha I am warm I have seen the fire And the residue thereof he maketh a god even his graven image he falleth dewn unto 〈◊〉 and worshippeth it and prayeth unto it and saith Deliver me for thou art my god Now certainly it could be none of these sorts of Persons that made or invented the Holy Scriptures which we Protestants do own and believe to be the eternal unalterable Word and Law of God. Object But it may be some may say Yes it might be such a Person that made the Scriptures for we do not make these Images for any other end or design than to put us in mind of God and our Duty towards him and that they are the Lay-mens Books to teach and instruct them Pray give me leave to put a Case unto you Now suppose for Argument sake to illustrate the matter that the King's Majesty in Concurrence with his two Houses of Parliament the Great Council of the Land should make a Law for some Reason of State that it should be no less than High Treason for any of his Subjects to make his Image or to have his Picture or the Likeness of any thing that doth belong to him in Imitation of it and Issue out his Proclamation straightly and strictly forbidding all his Subjects attempting the doing it upon Pain of the inevitable escaping the severest Punishment which properly belongeth unto those that are Guilty of High Treason But yet notwithstanding this severe Prohibition of the King there should be some Persons would be so daring and bold as to presume to do it out of a pretended but blind Zeal of Loyalty and not rest satisfied in nor with their own Treason and Rebellion but they would force others of his Subjects to do so likewise or else they would knock them in the head or burn them because they were truly Loyal and kept to the Kings Laws in this Case made and provided Pray which of these two forts of Persons are the best and the most Loyallest Subjects think you I know you will say those that obeyed the Kings Laws for as it is in Spiritual things so in this Obedience 〈◊〉 better than Sacrifice Why the Law of the King of Heaven who is King of Kings and Law-giver to all his Creatures viz. the Great Charter of Heaven is that we shall not make nor have nor bow down to nor worship any sort of Images â—or the likeness of any of the things in Heaven or â—n Earth or in the Sea or in the Waters under the Earth Whatever some People think of it I will â—ssure them from the Word of a Jealous God it is â—â—o less than Spiritual High Treason and punishable by the Great Charter of Heaven with no less â—han Hell and Damnation without unfeigned Reâ—entance and a thorough Reformation Deut. 5. â— 9. Thou shalt not make thee any graven image or any â—â—keness of any thing that is in heaven above or that is 〈◊〉 the earth beneath or that is in the waters beneath 〈◊〉 earth Thou shalt not bow down thy self unto them 〈◊〉 serve them for I the Lord thy God am a jealous 〈…〉 God. Therefore it could be none of these sort of bad Men nor no other bad Men whatsoever that had any hand in the least in making or inventing the Scriptures which we that are Protestants of all sorts do own and believe to be the Word of God. 2. Secondly In the second place neither could it be good Men that made and invented the Scriptures of their own Brain First It could not be them which count themselves Good Nor Secondly Could it be them whom