A Voice from Heaven OR A TESTIMONY AGAINST The remainders of Antichrist Yet in ENGLAND And in particular the Court of Tryers For Approbation of MINISTERS Born by GUALTER POSTLETHWAIT Pastor to a Church of Christ in Lewes in Sussex LONDON Printed for Livewel Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head-alley 1655. To the Saints and faithful brethren that are in England Scotland and Ireland especially to that little flock of God over which the holy Ghost hath made him overseer Gualter Postlethwaite wisheth grace mercy and peace from God our Father and from the Lord JESUS CHRIST Brethren and beloved SOme thoughts have of late more then formerly and more sadly visited my heart that I wish may prevaile more upon your hearts First the thought of the greatness the soveraignty and soveraigne perfection of God the foolishness of God is wiser then men and the weakness of God is stronger then men He is the onely Potentate the King of kings and Lord of lords and that in the most undoubted right that has made all things of nothing by the word of his mouth for himself Vaine man would be wise although he be borne like the wild asses colt he will provoke God to anger transgresse his Laws change his ordinances and breake the everlasting Covenant But who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him He that reproveth God let him answer it Do we provoke the Lord to anger are we stronger then he Adde not unto his words lest he reprove thee and thou be found a lyar The world yea the hight of the people do languish because the earth is defilled by deniations from the laws ordinances and Covenants of God 'T is mans deformitie to walke according to his own invention in any thing will prove his own destruction Can God endure to be prescribed by creatures Shall Man coin Laws for Rules of acceptable walking with God in Spiritual Civil or Ecclesiastical things It would be and is horrible impudence for any to do it All the sin and misery in the world brake in at this door viz. by hearkning to Reason against Institution 'T was Israel's sin to do that was right in their own eyes in Civils Judg. 17. 6. much more in Ecclesiasticals The Apostle held a war with reasonings and thoughts of men 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. These are no competent judges of the doctrine of God in Christ but must be overthrown Secondly the thought of the fatal miscarriages of man managing any thing by his own wisdom and strength Eve became the mother of mischief to all living by trusting to carnal Sense and Reason in judging of the tree of knowledge of good and evil The sons of God brought the Deluge on the old world by taking such wives as they chose Israel provoked God to anger with their own Inventions not onely in point of Worship but in the matters of their Commonwealth when they followed their own fancies and the Customs of men but in determining what kinde of Government to set up in the Nation and were convinced of their mistake by a signe from heaven God thundering his displeasure against them from heaven and raining tokens of his wrath upon them and the tyranny that followed was as teaching of the same God giving them such recompence of their error as was meet Gedeon would have a new way of remembering the victory by a costly Ephod and Israel went a whoring after it which thing became a snare to Gedeon and to his house Alas 't is but a shew of wisdom that is in Will-worship Col. 2. 23. and by this means men are beguiled of their reward vers 18. and righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people Prov. 14. 34. We think by our own inventions to get us glory among the Nations whilst we conform our selves to the worldly glory of their government but our way were to keep to Gods statutes and judgments without adding or diminishing then the Nations would say Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people Deut. 4. 6. Thirdly the thought of the perfection of the Scriptures They are able to make us wise unto salvation 2 Tim. 3 15. to teach us how to behave our selves in the Church 1 Tim. 3. 15. how to behave our selves in the Commonwealth David teaches the Church to pray Give the King thy judgements and thy righteousness unto the Kings Son Psal 72. 1. The Scriptures are able to make the man of God perfect throughly furnished to all good works 2 Tim. 3. 16. Therefore my beloved brethren accept no Law-giver but Jesus Christ neither in Church nor Commonwealth Let this be your profession The Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Law-giver he is our King And though other Lords besides him rule over us let us bâ— him onely make mention of his Name that will in due time save us from devilish government in the Church when he shall give the body of the Beast to the burning flame and cast the Beast and false Prophet into the lake of fire that burns with brimstone and from all worldly government in Commonweals when the Stone cut out of the mountain shall smite on the toes of the Image Then not onely the Clay but the Iron and the Brass and the Silver the Gold-government shall be broken to pieces and be carried away like dust by the wind and no more place shall be found for them no not for the goodliest Government that ever was invented by the wit of man And till that time change of Governments will be the disease of the world whilst Crowns and Diadems are transposed from one Man and from one People to another I must say it although I delight in it considered in it self as little as others that complain of the great cry of Overturnings wherewith the world is now Alarm'd There will be overturnings till he come whose right it is Oh the stupidity of men that apprehend not Gods displeasure against the Governments of this world by the often changes that are made 'T is to be feared that this is Judiciary that God may leave Europe and the wise Nations thereof unto themselves to walk in their own counsels because they trust in and leave nothing of their own doings nor of their stubborn way whilst he passes over to America and thence to the East-Indies to set up the government of Jesus Christ amongst the Barbarous Nations The Lords word brethren is to me to you Love the Truth and Peace Let us not of a fond affection to Peace and Ease lose Truth yet in our striving for Truth let us strive lawfully or else we shall not be crowned Wherein I would have every one be wary not with a carnal but spiritual wariness walk in your Warfare by a divine Rule act from a divine Spirit keep to a divine Frame of Spirit and stand every one in his place striving for Truth I hope in what
every dark hole But give me leave to say Take heed take heed that you set not up Episcopacie again Saints are afraid what the Commissioners for trial of Ministers will come to at last Some spake out their fears at first sight and wished it came not to another Episcopacy Let it be seriously enquired into I confess that at first I was pretty well satisfied with the Ordinance for their sitting save that 't is grounded in part on the defence of Patrons rights and properties but since my scruples increase That which most satisfied me at first and made me think favourably of these Commissioners I mean as such Commissioners was that their Commission gives them not power to invest into Office but that will not answer all my scruples now For though they are not to invest into Office yet they are to take the beginnings of their proceedings from the presentation of the Patron that presents to Benefice with care of souls originally and I know no qualification that is put on his presentation but onely care taken to preserve his rights and properties and so when they do confirm this presentation they do in effect invest into Office and supply the place of the Bishop to give the Complement to the Parish-Priest And again is there not the same-kinde of Tyranny exercised over the elections of the people that was formerly even as whom the Patron and Bishop could agree in he was the man for the place let the people be never so much grieved even so now if the Patron and Commissioners agree that brings in a Minister into a Parish in spight of their hearts But 't will be said that they are not looked on as Churches But I answer There cannot be denied but in many of them there are some reliques of a Church some poor Saints that are nourished in this Wilderness that should not be imposed on Let it be considered what Temple of God that is that Antichrist is described by usurping over it 2 Thes 2. 4. was it not the woman in the wilderness Rev. 12. 6. with 17 3. Antichrist raigns over the universal visible Church during the wilderness-state of the Church that is hid in the confusions of Antichristian order and lurks among the crowd of Gentiles in the outward Court that God owns not as a Church Rev. 11. 2. and therefore his Remnant is this Temple during the confusion of Antichrist lurking secretly among the Gentiles in their corrupt order Lastly does not the Ordinance for empowring these Commissioners provide for the propagation and continuance of our Parish-priests for though the Commissioners are not to make them so yet they approve them that are so without any alteration Apost pag. 104. of their standing Aaron would have excused his making the golden Calf if he could when he said There came out this Calf but Aaron should not have cast the metal into the fire over such a mould and then the Gold would not have come forth in such a shape so the aforesaid Ordinance should not cast Ministers in the fire of examination over the Parish-mould that is not taken away and then when any come out of this fire they shall fall into that mould they become Parish-Ministers or are continued to be so Let things be seriously weighed I make not cavils but speak out of conscience and the fear of the Lord. The fear of his Majesty makes me stand upon such things as these whose Name should be sanctified his Kingdome be submitted to and his will be done in earth as it is in heaven The Lord make his people of quick understanding in his fear not judging by the sight of the eyes and the hearing of the ear Things may have fair faces and be well spoken that are very foul filthiness of the fornications of Mystery Babylon whose abominations are in a golden cup. I cannot but look upon what Mr. Goodwin once said speaking of the Vid. a late tract of the world to come pag. 28. World to come in opening Eph. 1. 21. viz. That Christ will not cease till he has thrown down every rag all that dross and defilement that Antichrist and Popery brought into the World I cannot but look on this as comprehending as much in brief as I have said Jesus Christ will never rest sayes he till he hath thrown out all the dross of this world both of doctrine and worship that conformity to the World hath brought in I know the great Objection against what has been said is that Ministers will want their certainty but for all this they that trust in the Lord will say Cast up take away the stumbling-block and that with a great deal of fervour because of the promise They that trust in the Lord shall possess the land and inherit my holy mountain Isa 57. 13 14. God hath kept me I bless him from many a snare by enabling me to take the promise for my maintenance and when I first entered into the Ministery that Psa 37. 3. was set on my heart When I was in doubt whether to serve the Lord with a little means or go to seek more yea rather accept more for I was offered it in more places then one And I have been tried whether I would stick to i◠God hath kept me to it though with much experience of my frailty through this comfort of the promise I have refused livings when I might have had them and laid thē down when God call'd for them in the witness of the Truth That I say in the strength of God is Vincat veritas ruat coelum Let us gain Truth with the greatest damage for he that is the fountain of truth is the fountain of good that hath riches of glory to supplie all our wants I proceed now unto a Use of exhortation Vse 2 to all Gods people to come out of Babylon according to such Scriptures as these viz. Isa 52. 11. it is an exhortation Diodate on the place sayes Diodate to the people to come out of earths Babylon and not to be allured and enticed by the unclean and profane benefits thereof And to all the Church redeemed by Christ to seperate it self from the communion and affection of the world and the corruptions and Idolatries thereof 2 Cor. 6. 11. If any say We are in a captive state yet heare what Calvin saith on Cal. in loc the place he admonishes them says he that although they be captives yet that they do nothing for the sake of their lords that their condition may be the better that they suffer not themselves to be drawn away from the pure worship of God that they be not polluted with their rites that they seeme not to worship their idolls c. assent to their religion The Prophet doth not sayeth he exhort the Jews to be clean when they shall be free but whiles they shall be held captive and undergo the peril of their lives Add Jer. 50. 8. and 51. 6. and 51.
Nor Antichrist which is the other beast vers 11. he is indeed one of the heads but not the beast it self differing in number original shape and exercise of power Vide Cott. in 13 Revel p. 4. c. what then can this beast be as he concludes but the Catholike visible Roman Church and this beast answers to and is most fitly thought to succeed in the place of the Roman Empire 'T is reckoned also amongst the detestable sins of Antichrist that he causes an Image to be made to the first beast Rev. 13. 14. that is to set a Church in every Nation c. that may have the likeness of the Roman Church viz. Metropolitan National Diocesan Cathedral and Provincial Churches as Mr. Cotton shews pag. 233. And indeed if the first beast be the Catholick visible Church of Rome these are the living Characters of her and so may well be thought to be the Image they are as like as mothers and daughters and the Parishes are but reliques of them Now these being sins of Antichrist the Doctrine cannot be doubted of and those that will meddle with this sin it will draw in more sin upon them even as the needle drawes in the thred Rev. 18. 5. Her sins have reached unto heaven the holy Ghost gives this a reason of our text Take Beza's criticisme on the word rendred by reaching He uses saies he the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereby is signified sins mutually following one another and springing one from another at last to grow unto such an heape that they have reached even to heaven And how naturally Antichrists blasphemy of the Tabernacle of God Rev. 13. 6. that in the language of the Revelations best signifies the Church followes on the continuance in his Churches Let all men judge and whether that be not the reason why the Congregations of Christ are so evil spoken of Secondly because they are harlots and will entice as the harlot to draw us away to their leud courses Rev. 17. 5. She holds forth her abominations and filthiness of her fornication in a golden cup. Babylon hath golden pretences for her abominable idolatries The prevention of Schisms and Heresies for a Catholike Church visible Reverence to the womb that bare us and the paps that gave us suck for Metropolitane National or Diocesan Churches and Parish-Churches Decencie for the Surplice c. She hath the alluring smell of a Leopard to draw people after her 'T is dangerous to come neer her lest they be ensnared being besotted with her Cott. in Rev. 13. vers 18. sweet smell to the carnal sense She contrives all things should be very sightly a comely proportion in the number of the Beast is contrived 't is pleasing to the fancie and easie to remember 't is 666. She is Mystery Babylon subtil of heart her ways are such that thou canst not know them Therefore hearken not to her A void her pass by her turne from her and pass away Pro. 4. 15. And she is stubborne if you will return to to her well but she will not return to you Gods people would have cured her but she is not cured as 't was said of old Babylon Jer. 15. 9. I never knew any that would have a through Reformation that durst take along their whole parish with them to the worke but have been forced to lay aside the most of them as the Jews the Samaritanes Ezra 4. 1. c. when they would prepare for distinguishing Ordinances as their phrase is knowing right well that there were dogs enough if indifferently all were admitted to the management of that matter to snatch the bread out of the childrens hands and drive them from the Table Why should they be washed in the same Laver at least their children that must be washed in their right that may not eat at the same Table Let us take the Prophets counsel forsake we Babylon and go every one to his own country let us wash our hands of her and expect what God hath determined of her Myst iniq pag. 660. as Du Plessis once said of the Roman Church So much for the reason of the point A word or two of application Let all according to their places farther Vse 1 and facilitate Gods peoples going out of the Antichristian Churches according to the exhortation Isa 62. 20 Be wise Oh ye kings be instructed ye judges of the earth serve the Lord in this worke cast ye up cast ye up an high way for the people of God and take away the stumbling-block and gather out the stones out of the way of Gods people First take away Parishes by an act of State viz. the Ecclesiasticalness of them and all that may represent them to be of Ecclesiastical consideration leave not so much as a broken piece of the Image of the beast such are the parish and its Ecclesiastical appurtenances as Hozekiah made the brazen serpent Nehushtan a piece of brass and brake it to pieces because the Children of Israel unto those dayes did burn intense unto it 2 Kings 18. 4. So do ye make them common civil things and leave no shape of the fomer Ecclesiastical state in them Take Josiah's example in demolishing the Altar of Bethel and the high place there he brake down and stamped to powder the high place Parishes are our high places in this apostacy of the latter times temples of mans invention Away with all those consecrated places for worship those holds of Mahuzzim Daemons or Saint-Gods as Mede expounds them opening the 39 verse of the 11 of Apost pag. 104. Daniel as a part of the description of Antichrist He renders the text thus He shall make the holds of the Mahuzzims with all or joyntly to the forreigne God He paraphrases thus And though the Christian God whom he shall profess to acknowledge and worship can indure no compeeres yet he shall consecrate his temples Ecclesiastical holds joyntly to the Christian God and his Mahuzzims Deo Sanctis i. e. to God and the Saints This may seeme a nicety to most that I should inveigh so against these But is not God as Jealous as ever And should not Saints be as zealous May monuments of Idolatry be better indured then heretofore Sure I am the argument for the demolition of these is perpetual and why the precept should not I know not Daniel 7. 5 6. and also verses 25. 26. The true reason why these are suffered is hinted by Mr. Cotton when he says Vial the 7. pag. 14. When the zeale of God lifts up the hearts of people Saith he then they will not endure a consecrated place in all the world where they come And when this vial is poured out then the earth shall be full of the knowledge of God and then all the chappels o◠ease and Churches of State and temples of glory wherewith the world hath been deluded shall be thrown down they will not leave them a stone upon a stone that shall not be
45 46. Strive to be formost in reformation as the hee-goates delight to go before the flock Deliver every one his own soule stay not for others so as to lose your selves These are not commands onely but have the force of a promise that the people of God shall come out of Babylon And 't is as much as to say Ye shall come out if it be not your own fault And this is a Cordial not to be neglected as in the Type so neither in the Antitype that the Lord gives his people But what hopes of Deliverance one rumour comes one yeare and another yeare comes another rumour and in the land is violence ruler upon ruler as some render this last clause The Lord endeavours to defend our heart against such discouragements as these Jer. 5. 46. before quoted Take Calvin in loc Calvins note on it I doubt not says he but the Prophet here bids the Jews be of good and cheereful heart although the earth do often change the Lords thereof because that mutation althought it be manifold cannot at all detract from Gods rule viz. swaying all things to the accomplishing of his promise to his peoples good in their Season My deare brethren whom I long to see upon mount Zion and meet in the Rendezvous of the 144000 there following the Lambe and singing the new song I beseech you suffer the word of exhortation in these following particulars First reform not onely substance but circumstance hate the garment spotted by the flesh Under the Law a man might not onely be defiled by a leprous man but by his clothes Jude alludeing to this type exhorts us to hate the garment spotted by the flesh vers 23. Calv. in loc Jude is so far from suffering evil to be cherished by indulgence that he commands to cut off all preparations and all accessaries as they call them that they avoid whatsoever is of any affinity or neere to vice Willet on the place Willet on the place gives us this exhortation We that profess saies he the glorious Gospel of Christ are taught that we should not neither in opinion or in any external usages rites or customs which may breed offence conform our selves to the carnal and spotted profession of poperie but to decline in all things the very shaddow shew or least suspition thereof Secondly take away not onely Idolatrous Notions but the things The Lord commands that the graven Images of the heathen Gods be burnt with fire Deut. 7. 25. But it might be objected The Silver and the Gold is never the worse we will therefore save that and call it silver and gold we may put it to a good use so we looke upon it as of no holiness but common silver and gold Therefore the Lord adds Thou shalt not desire them nor take them unto thee lest thou be snared Dod and Cleaver on the Commandments give this comment on the place God say these reverend lights labours with the people of Israel that when in the land of Canaan they met with Idols covered with gold and silver they should not covet or touch one parcel of the plate or meddle with it for if they did it would ensnare them and make them remember the Idol and from remembring fall to likeing and at last to worship it Therefore it is an abomination to God and he that will keep a piece of gold of the Image it is the next way to make him a worshipper of the idol This is that which the Apostle means when he bids us purge our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit We must not onely purge our selves of evil intentions as the Corinthians that eat things sacrificed to Idols in the Idols Temples that said they went to the civil Feast of their Friend and acknowledged but one God and one Lord but as the Apostle teaches them they must not eat the things sacrificed to Idols nor sit at meat in their temples even so we must lay aside all superstitious things and actions and have no fellowship with wicked men in them Thirdly return not onely to the true object of worship but to the right means that are instituted in the word of God Enquire not how others have worshipped their Gods Deut. 12. 30. we should in reformation take no notice how idolatrous superstitious people have done before us but what thing God commands observe to do that ver 32. This is that spoils reformation that mens eyes do not look right on and their eye-lids look straight before them Prov. 4. 25. and so as the Serpent beguiled Eve by drawing her eyes from institution to carnal considerations so are men beguiled from the simplicity that is in Christ 2 Cor. 11. 3. Lastly Beware of Antichrist's brokers and buy nothing of him at second-hand The Prophet reproved the Hypocrites of his time who though they would not eat of polluted and unclean flesh yet the broath was found in their vessels It Will et on Jude 23. hath been the old stratagem of the Dragon and his vicar Antichrist to deceive men by an image and men that will not abide Papacy are yet well a paid with Episcopacy and those those that cannot bear with Episcopacy fall in Presbytery which how neer of kin to it ye have seen before As there is the strength and juice of the swines flesh in the broath though not the outward form so is there the force and strength and nature of Episcopacy in Presbytery although it in shape shape be somewhat different Therefore Epist â—â— vind Câ—â—â— Mr. Ellis once Popery sayes he rective or in point of Government I shewed was very probable for the substance though not the formality of it to follow upon the Presbytery on the ground that it s now endeavoured upon I do not scornfully upbraid any 't is far from my heart but I faithfully warn men of the devils method whereby he goes about to deceive I shall conclude all with that noble Speech of the noble Lord Du Plessis May we not Myst iniq p. 660 661. lawfully say with the Prophet We would have cured Babel but she would not be cured Forsake her and let us go every one to his own Country let us now wash our hands of her and expect what God has determined of her especially since her judgement is come unto heaven on the contrary the Lord hath set forth our righteousness And what then do we wait for from the same counsel the same prophesie and therefore from the same certainty but that those Kings and the same States who have worshipped her finish the work of God who will put into their hearts to fulfil his will and his pleasure to execute his sentence and let not the present state of things astonish us in one day in one hour in a moment are his works performed and this work must without doubt be performed And long ago as of a thing already done near at hand and most certain the Angel cried out redoubled it It is fallen it is fallen Babylon But God forbid we should forget that other cry that follows Go out of her my people ye to whom God hath given power to know her ye which know her but too well take heed it be not your damnation Can any man now pretend an excuse that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues lest being defiled by the contagion of her Idolatry and Enchantments ye be made partakers of the sentence long ago pronounced against her of eternal fire that remaines for her But because we are for the most part incredulous and stupid let us pray unto God of his mercy to draw us as a Lot out of this spiritual Sodom as St. John calleth it to pull us to himself by the hand of his Angels to grant unto us that we look not back again and that we may before he pour down his judgements on Babylon get to that holy Mountain to that little Segar * Zoar. his Church how small and contemptible soever it be in the eyes of the world Is it not a little one saith Lot and my soul shall live Now to him Father Son and Holy Ghost for the bottomless depths of his Judgements and of his Graces be Praise and Glory World without end Amen