the Lords posts but they must have been utterly taken away So in Popish baptisme water is the Lords ordinance by them abused and turned to an idoll salt oyle c. are Antichrists ordinances set up also for idols these latter we utterly reject because they were never Gods ordinances in baptisme the water we reteyne having put away onely the abuse and lye of Antichrist annexed thereto If this bee not so then the Iewes should not onely have repented of and put away their lye when they used those lying words The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord c. Ier. 7. 4. but they must have destroyed the Temple it selfe also And whereas the Papists and other hereticks make lyes of the Scriptures and of Christs holy words This is my body make their idoll of Transubstantiation and the like they thould not onely repent of their lies and put away their idols but also renounce Christs words and put away the holy Scriptures if this doctrine of our opposites be true 8. Nor doe they in deed repent who stil reteyne such baptisme as themselves think to be an idol c. for true repentance bindeth us to cast away all idols c. Answ. This is already answered neither doe we reteyn such a baptisme as wee think to be an idol but that ordinance of God which was an idol by Antichrists abuse and is through the grace of God restored unto his former truth that onely doe wee reteyne repenting of our former abuse thereof amongst them God himselfe as I have shewed was made an idoll by the Gentiles their repentance bound them to cast away their idolatry but to reteyn God still Wheras they say We have gotten the Lords baptisme by comming to the Lord in true faith and repentance who baptiseth us with the holy Ghost and with fire As for the outward washing which we had it need not be repeated as before is shewed and we may as lawfully eat the Lords Supper without a new washing as the idolatrous Isralites turning to the Lord might eat the Passover without a new cutting or circumcising 2. Chron. 30. 1. 5. 11. 18. 25. Ezr. 6. 21. And afterward say We have renounced that Romish baptisme as an impure idol in their abuse standing up in the place of Christ and his precious blood which it is not pretending to give grace and wash away sinns which it doth not c. they doe but shift and contradict themselves and deceive others and still run into errours more and more Answ. Great words as if he would beare down all before him But let us heare his proofes For first sayth he speaking of the Lords baptisme they speake of that which is inward whereas our question is of that which is outward Answ. A good beginning The Apostle sayth there is one Lord one faith one baptisme Eph. 4. 5. Himselfe also a little before sayd against the Anabaptists There is one baptisme as there was one circumcision Now against us he would have two baptismes one outward an other inward Whereas though there bee two actions one outward doen by men the other inward doen by Gods spirit yet both are but one baptisme one sacrament as the outward body and the inward soule make not two men but one man A sacrament is a sacred order between the outward visible thing and the spirituall invisible which have a mutuall proportion and likenesse between them The Apostle sayth That is not circumcision which is outward in the flesh but that which is of the heart in the spirit Rom. 2. 28. 29. If they have in Rome but the outward washing without the inward then have they not true baptisme but a false deceitfull signe Secondly it is not true that I spake but of the inward work onely for I spake also of the outward which being had in Rome need not be repeated as I shewed by the example of the Israelites Now which of us two shifteth contradicteth and deceiveth I or he let indifferent men say 2. They spake sayth he of abuses in the ministration and opinions of the Ministers thereof whereas our question is of the thing it selfe not of the abuse Answ. We speak of the thing it selfe Baptisme abused by the ministers and receivers neither of which are in Gods covenant and therefore can have no true signe or seale of his covenant unto them in that estate Secondly if it were not for abuses and opinions of men God and his truth and ordinances could never bee changed into lies and idols as the Apostle teacheth us they were Rom. 1. 23. 25. The Athenians were idolaters against the true God whom Paul preached and whom they ignorantly worshiped Act. 17. 23. If one would take them in hand to excuse them say Our question is of the thing it selfe the true God and not of the Athenians abuses and opinions were it not a worthy plea yet such we have for Antichristians baptisme 3. Their assertion sayth he implieth that they had not the Lords baptisme till they got it themselves by comming to the Lord in true faith and repentance which is plain Anabaptistry and covert Popery and Arminianisme whereby they debase Gods grace and exalt mans works For it must be understood either of the inward or outward baptisme if of the inward besides that it toucheth not the question it implieth Popery if of the outward it conteyneth Anabaptistry Answ. Deliver my soule ô Lord from lying lips from the deceitful tongue Psa. 120. 2. First he citeth as my words till they had got it themselves by comming to the Lord whereas the word themselves is of his own addition Secondly hee wresteth them to such a meaning as in his conscience he knew I never intended namely to debase Gods grace and exalt mans worke as doe the Papists and Arminians As if I thought that we came or could come to the Lord of our selves without being drawn of the Father or as if our comming to him were a meritorious work which errours I abhorr 3. Neither doe my words imply such a meaning any more then our Saviours when he sayd Come unto me all yee that labour c. and J will give you rest take my yoke upon you c. and yee shall finde rest to your soules Math. 11. 28. 29. To conclude of that speech Therefore they could come of themselves or their comming should be a meritorious work or the like were an openinjury to our Lords words His two baptismes inward and outward is before shewed to bee but'an evasion wee acknowledge but one baptisme Eph. 4. 5. Neither if it be understood of the outward doth it as hee sayth conteyn Anabaptistrie for the Anabaptists doe not hold that they have the outward baptisme by faith and repentance but doe repeat the outward vvork and baptise againe vvhich I deny So herein he hath done me double vvrong 4. Jf they had died in infancie they had not then had the Lords baptisme nor had been baptised
sayd a litle before that the church of Rome is fallen into most sinfull and deep defection and apostasie and so is a notorious harlot and idolatrâ—ss Wherefore his distinction here between the apostasie the church of Rome making the one Antichrist the other Gods temple under his covenant of grace neyther accordeth with the scriptures nor with his own assertion Next this where he sayth that by the Temple of God in Israel was figured the church of God among Christians it is graunted But withall let it be noted that himself can not deney but the Temple and tabernacle in Israel was not the church and congregation of Gods people properly but a sacramental signe of Gods dwelling with them which I before confirmed by these scriptures Exod 25. 8. 2. Chron. 6. 2. Ezek. 37. 26. 27. Rev. 21. 3. Secondly he himself affirmeth that the temple at Ierusalem did primarily figure out Christ and secondarily the church both the catholik or universal and particular churches likeweise particular Christians and in several respects both their bodies and their soules and consciences Vpon which graunts of his it foloweth that there is no necessarie consequence of this his proposition Jf the Pope of Rome with his hierarchie be the man of syn spoken of in 2. Thes. 2. then is the church of Rome the Temple of God there spoken of for he understanding by the church the people as in 1. Cor. 3. 16. 17. 2. Cor. 6. 16. Eph. 2 21. and yet granting that the Temple in Israel was not the people all may see the weaknes and insufficiencie of this inference that because the Pope of Rome sitteth as God in the Temple of God therfore the people of the church of Rome are that Temple of God there spoken of consequently Gods true church For why now may we not as well if not much better say that by the Temple of God is understood the doctrine and profession of Christ the true Temple or as in my former †book I shewed thus As the Temple was an outward signe of Gods presence with his people and of his inward dwelling in their harts * by saith and by his spirit unto their salvation so Antichrists temple is an outward shew of his presence with that seduced people in whose harts †he dwelleth by Popish faith and by his spirit of errour carying them to damnation But as Antichrist shal not professedly deny the true God or Christ though in deed he falsly * sheweth himself that he is God so shal hâ— not professedly deny the Temple or church of God but falsly vaunt his adulterous synagogue to be the same Vnto this exposition mine opposite hath given no answer and it being according to the scriptures trueth of the thing in controversie I leave it to the prudent reader whether the outward shew and profession of Christ and Christian religion be not the first thing here intended of th'Apostle by the Temple of God And this is further confirmed by Rev. 11. 1. Where the Temple Altar and Worshipers are three distinct things and the people are the worshipers there spoken of neyther the Temple nor the Altar of which place we shal treat anone Then wheras he granteth that the Temple in Ierusalem did primarily figure out Christ how is it that he wholly neglecteth the primarie thing figured and insisteth upon the secondary the church or people of Rome Seing it is knowen how the Pope pretendeth him self to be Christs vicar and deputie on earth and to be the servant and worshiper of Christ in heaven and may we think that th'Apostle in warning them of the mysterie of iniquitie would not imply the chief point of the mysterie that Antichrist should in pretence sit for Christ and in his sted as his vicar generall on earth Thus to sit in the Temple or for the Temple of God may well be understood that Antichrist should sit for Christ a pretended friend but in deed an adverse foe Now for that which the Temple secondarily figured namely the church catholik and also particular and so mens consciences he wavereth in his application He sayth this terme the church of Rome is taken eyther particularly which he applieth to the Laterane church in Rome the Popes parish church or more generally for all other such Christian churches as are come under the Popes jurisdiction c. This later I hold to be most proper here for what needed there such warning to the Thessalonians other christian churches through the world if a Bishop of the Lateran parish a corner in Rome had exalted himself above God therin onely and had not usurped also a pretended Christian power over all And the complement of the prophesie is an evident exposition of it for who knoweth not that the Pope scorneth to be Bishop of the Lateran parish onely it is a jurisdiction over the catholik church throughout the earth which he chalengeth And now what proof bringeth mine opposite that the church of Rome as God constituted it is taken generally for other Christian churches under the Popes jurisdiction None at all neyther can he bring any jote of Gods word for the same Againe what proof maketh he that the catholik Romane church wherin the Pope sitteth is the true church of God None but this J suppose these men themselves being better advised wil not deny them to be the churches and Temple of God But he should have shewed if it had been possible for him that the Romane church is by divine institution the catholik or universal church which because I assure my self it can never be doen I conclude that this Romane catholik church is a fiction of the Popes braine and a meere idol like himself and is no otherweise the Temple of God then the Pope is Christs universal vicar namely in lying words and vaine ostentation And so the maine ground for the Temple of God wherin Antichrist sitteth to be the true church of Christ is overthrowne As for the Popes Laterane parish I both deny it to be Christs true church and that it onely is the Temple of God wherin Antichrist should sit His proof of the former is this Jf we understand it of a particular church as the Apostle wrote his epistle to the church of the Romans how shall we soundly deny it eyther to be the Temple of God or Antichrist to be set therin Thus have we suppositions and questions in sted of proofes To his demand I answer it is the Temple of God in pretence not in trueth even as the Pope is a bishop of Christ in pretence but in deed is Antichrist the man of syn as mine opposite granteth The church that was in Rome in Pauls time wil no more justifie the Popes synagogue there now then the Christian ministers which were then in that church Rom. 12. wil justifie the Antichristian prelates that there reigne at this day Secondly the Laterane parish at Rome is of the
the true churches apostate in Rev. 2. 3. were still golden candlesticks though some of them rustie but I would have it likewise graunted me that there were other churches but copper candlesticks though they pretended to be golden namely such Antichristian haeretical synagogues as of whom it might be sayd They went out from us but they were not of us 1. Joh. 2. 18. 19. And if those petty Antichrists were no golden candlesticks much less can the great Antichrist with his synagogue be a golden candlestick for he farr exceedeth them in idolatrie heresie and impietie That Antichrist could sit in any true church then as he sitteth now in the church of Rome namely as God and so to be beleeved with his lyes worshiped and obeyed I utterly deny for that church that so doeth departeth from Christ the foundation and denyeth both the Father and the Son 1 Ioh. 2. 22. 23. and whether it be a particular church or a more general it skilleth not universalitie in worshiping the Beast causeth but universalitie of damnation Rev. 13. 16. 17. 14 9. 10. 11. Obj. Wheras he would be taught how that whorish company that worship the Beast and Dragon can be the true catholik church and spouse of Christ though that which J noted before be sufficient for the point in hand yet let him first remember how but a litle before he told us the catholik church of the now Romish religion as themselves describe it hath one part therof on earth an other under the earth a third part in heaven and now here he speaketh onely of such as are on earth and those also such as worship the Dragon and beast Rev. 13. 4. wheras the catholik church in deed conteyneth all churches people of God from the beginning of the world c. Answ. By this then it appeareth that the church of Rome lyeth apparantly when she calleth her self the catholik church and therfore is not the true church or Temple of God But I would be taught in deed how that whorish company here on earth which worship the Beast can be the true church eyther universall or particular Here first he asketh whither I think there was no other churches of Christians catholik or particular wherin Antichrist sate since th'apostasie of the man of syn but such as worshiped the Dragon and the beast And who then were the Tabernacle and those that dwelt in heaven whom the beast blasphemed and the saintes with whom he made warr 42. monethes Rev. 13. 5. 6. 7. and of what church they were c. Answ. He seemeth to use the word sit in two senses 1. for oppressing blaspheming killing the Saincts that resisted Antichrist and 2. for quiet governing and having in subjection the wicked that beleeve and obey him with such aequivocations his writings are too full Such churches or persons as resisted the beast and whom he blasphemed and killed they were of God and of them there is no question But the other sort given over of God to beleeve lyes and to worship the man of syn as God like as he sheweth him self that he is God they are not the true church of God catholik or particular and of such is the present church of Rome now iâ— question As for the Saincts that dwell in heaven whom Antichrist blasphemeth they are where he is noâ— in the true church out of which he is gone both he and his and therfore doth he persecute them The scripture by him citeâ— Rev. 13. 6. yieldeth a strong argument against his purpose thus The true Tabernacle church and heavenly people are blasphemed and warred against by Antichrist The church of Rome now is not blasphemed and warred against by Antichrist but blessed commended mainteyned Therfore the church of Rome now is not the true tabernacle church or heavenly people Obj. Jerusalem came to be a hâ—â—lâ—t old in adulteries and the Jewes to be a synfull nation laden with iniquitie c. sonns of the sorceress the seed of â—he adulterer and the whâ—re a rebellious people c transgressing after all the abominations of the heathens and polluting the house of the Lord c. yet they were stil notwithstanding the citie people and temple of the Lord. Esai 1. 3. 3. 12. with Ier. 50. 28. 51. 11 35. 36. 45. 50. 51. Answ. One findeth a dead and stinking carkess of a man and to prove it a living man he sayth Such an one was so and so diseased he had the burnâ—ng ague the palsie dropsie the gangrene the plague yet was he a living man therfore this is likewise Such is the mould of mine opposites argument For the Papists the worshipers of the Beast are sayd of God to be dead men Rev. 20. 4. â— not partakers of the first resurrection that is dead in syn not revived by Christ now to prove them alive examples of other persons and peoples of Israel are alleaged who because they were great synners but not dead in syn therfore these dead men under Antichrist must be living also He hath been answered that the Iewes whiles they continued Gods Church though greatly corrupted are not fit resemblances of Antichrists church which the holy Ghost calleth no where Iudea but Babylon Rev. 17. Wheras I sayd The very word Temple speaking of that wherin Antichrist sitteth as God leadeth us to understand Antichrists church to be but a counterfeit shewing this reason that the Temple in Israel was not the church or people properly but a sacramentall signe of Gods dwelling with his people 2 Chron. 6. 2. and of his inward dwelling in their harts by faith Eph. 3. 17. 2. 22. so Antichrists temple is an outward shew of his presence with that seduced people in whose harts he dwelleth by popish faith and by his spirit of error carying them to damnation c. Rev. 13. 4. 14. 16. 14. 1 Tim. 4. 1. 2 Thes. 2. 10. 11. He answereth Then when th'Apostle sayth to the church of Corinth ye are the Temple of God 1 Cor. 3 16. his meaning should be according to this glose ye are a counterfeit church And when Christ sayd Destroy this Temple Joh. â— 19. speaking of his bodie the word Temple should lead us to understand Christs body to be but a counterfeyt Would any man of good understanding and affection have made such inferences upon my words Doth not the very word God when it is spoken of Baal and of images made with mens hands lead us to understand them to be but counterfeyt gods or would any adversary if I had so spoken of Baal and the word God which is applied unto him by the Prophet 1 King 18. 27. have wrested my reason against the true God But sundry such abuses I beare and forbeare to reply unto because my opposite cannot now heare his reproof and to other men it would be fruitless Hetherto of th'Apostles phrase the Temple of God Now touching the Man of