wheresoever he goeth Rev. 144. So the Saints on earth who à re those hundreth forty and foure thousand who are bought from the earth follow the Lambe where ever he goeth If he go before them in holy doctrine these sheepe heare his voice and follow him Ioh. 10. 27. If in holy example they imitate him in all wherein he propounds himselfe a patterne to them as in humilitie patience love meekenesse obedience faith and the like As for their affection to him First they love Iesus Christ with a strong flame of love which much water cannot quench and with a love stronger then death and love not their owne lives to the death for his sake Secondly they love him inseparably For as the Saints in heaven would not for al the world forgoe his presence for one day So nothing in the world can drive the Saints from their priviledges in Christ as a cloud of Martyrs do witnesse but as Ruth to Naomi Ch. 1. 16. Thirdly as he loveth them so they him Ioh 13. 1. they once loving him they love him constantly to the end and to all eternitie 5 The Saints in heaven enjoy God the meanes of all their lives Iesus Christ is their temple their light their tree of life their Christall river and all Even so is he to the saints in earth Rev. 22. 3. 5. For though they have meanes and are tyed to them here on earth yet doe they enjoy God above all meanes acknowledging him their life the length of their daies and that they live not by bread but by every word of God That it is he that giveth them power to get substance that blesseth their children with encrease that he that cloathes the Lilies cloatheth them and if all meanes should faile yet he would without them yea and against them sustaine them rather then they should want any thing good or fit for them 1 This as a touchstone trieth who be true members of the Church and who are not He that is so is partly in heavē alreadie hath more to do in heaven then in earth And therefore he cannot be a true member of the Church First who hath no birth but from earth discerned by hatred or neglect of the immortall seed of spirituall parents of the seed and issue of Iesus Christ the sonnes of God he is far from heaven that cannot abide any thing that is heavenly Secondly who hath no inheritāce but in earth discerned by minding things earthlie either onlie or principallie How dce men delude themselves that suppose themselves as neere heaven as any and yet are as farre distant thence in affection as in place having their hearts drawne downe and wedged into the earth as with Iron barres Their whole studie paines and sweat is for things below The heaven they dreame of is not onelie upon earth but earth it selfe and angrie are they when men would acquaint them with better treasure or portion But thus it cannot be with Gods children who are minded as good Nehemiah 2. 3. whose person being in the King of Persia his Court yet his heart was at Ierusalem And as Daniel while he was in the land of his captivitie yet he opens his windowes to Ierusalem Thirdly who hath no conuersation but in earth discovered when no part of the whole course thereof savours of heaven But 1. servants and slaves are they to lusts farre from freedome from sinne nay rather swimme with the streame and drinke in with delight the corruptions of the world but thoughts of heaven are tedious 2 converse and combine themselves with sinners against God and runne with all loose companie to all excesses and vanities Now would they examine this course could it goe for currant or heavenly Do the Saints in heaven sweare and swill and drinke and raile and breake Gods Sabbaths and lye and deceive and can that life be heavenly that doth so Fourthly who hath no delight but in earth discerned in that 1 It is an unwelcome voice to call them to delight in the face and presence of God And how can he be admitted to the presence of his glorie that hath no delight in the presence of his grace but is as heavy to the parts of his worship as to some punishment 2 In stead of delight in the Law of God the rule and charter of heaven they make their lusts their Law and while they professe heaven they walke by no direction but the Magna Charta of Hell And were it not for Gods restraining grace they would be as impious and impudent in sinne as Cain as Cham as the damned nay the Devill himselfe 3. In that they rest more contentedly in the meanes of their outward good then either in the meanes of grace or the author of both The newes of the smallest outward profit rejoyceth their hearts but the newes of heaven and eternall good things by Iesus Christ affects them but a little 4. In that they prize not the life of godlines nor the state of Saints nay scorne it in themselves and others So much of the triall 2 This teacheth three things First that the Christian though he be in the world he is not of the world no more then Christ himselfe was of the world Ioh. 17. 16. for they no longer cleave to the corruptiōs defilements of the world but are separated from them by regeneration Neither can they runne with the world because being in some measure conformable to Iesus Christ they also living among sinners are separate from sinners They cannot cast in their lot with wicked men but are as Lot who was in Sodom but not of Sodom for his righteous soule was vexed with their uncleane conversation Secondly that the Saints set for heaven may not enjoy the earth as their portion seeing their whole estate their friends their fathers house their treasure is not below They are here but strangers travelling home to their country and therefore by the weined carriage of themselves to these things they must as the Patriarches Heb. 11. 14. declare plainly that they seeke a countrie Thirdly that the world may not enjoy the Saints as her darlings And here First the world may not gaine our affections and desires 1 Ioh. 2. 15. Love not the world c. They must be affected as mariners in the midst of a rough sea whose wishes and desires are still at the haven and have not their mindes and affections where their bodies be Secondly it may not gaine our conformitie with it in the customes and guizes of it because it lyeth wickednesses Rom. 12. 2. Fashion not your selves like to this world The Christian must bee cast into another forme fashioned to the manner of the countrey and corporation to which he belongs Thirdly it may not gaine our strength to defend or patronage it But as the Apostle 2 Corinth 10. 3. though we walke in the flesh that is carrie this bodie of flesh
strive with unreasonable men that are not guided by truth humility charity or Christianity but by fury railing pride pretences of law threatning and violence the dragon will shew not his hornes only but his crownes to See wee the wicked of the world giving up their crownes to the dragon and with all their strength and power and authority setting their crownes on the dragons head wee on the contrary must learne with all our power to set up and uphold the Crown and Scepter of Christ in our selves and others for as all the limbes of the dragon reioice to see him crowned and domineere to the ruine of the Church so let all the children of Sion reioyce in their King Psal 149. 2. Shall the Papists triumph and glory wheÌ„ the Antichristian forces prevaile against the reformed religion and shall not wee when the woman prevaileth against the dragon Quest. How may I uphold Christs Crowne and Scepter against the dragon Ans. 1. Cast down thy Crowne at the feet of the Lambe and worship him that sitteth on the Throne as the Seniors Rev. 4. 10. this is done by 2 practices 1. If thou deny thy selfe and diselaime whatsoever is in thy selfe as being void of all power and strength to attaine any thing that is good 2. If thou ascribest all power to God and Iesus Christ of creation and providence of preservation yea of finall victorie against all enemies whom hee will make his footstoole and set his feet upon their neckes and crownes as Ioshua did II. Alow thy heart for his throne and chaire of state that in it he may sit and command and beware of resisting his person or entrance or peaceable possession in thy soule Psal. 24. open thy gates that the King of glory may enter avoid whatsoever would hinder his peaceable entrance or coÌ„tinuance especially in foure things 1. Infidelity for Jesus Christ is no way received but by faith Iohn 1. 12. 2. Impenitency he dwelleth no where but in an humble and contrite soule 3. Raigaing sinneâ— which are as iron gates and percullices to keepe out Jesus Christ out of his kingdome and hold the sinner in rebellion against his Sove aigne and King where any sin raigneth there Christ cannot raigne and as no man can serve two contrary masters being enemies so no man can bee subject to two kings enacting contrary lawes 4. Idolatry what communion betweene Christ and Antichrist 2 Cor. 6. 15 16. III. Take the oath of allegeance to Jesus Christ to submit to his lawes willingly David tooke this oath Psal. 119. 10. I have sworne and will performe to keepe thy righteous judgements A seeming subject is most pernicious such as the Pope and Jesuites have catechized to refuse the oath of allegeance to our Soveraigne they are among us but not of us Such subjects to Christ are wicked men and hypocrites Christians onely in name and profession are counterfeit are in the Church but not of it 1 Joh. 2. they want all the notes of good subjects which are 1. To know and attend to the lawes and word of his King the word of the Law and the Gospell is the municipall lawes of this kingdome called the word of the kingdome a good Christian will attend to the word preached as a good subject to his Kings Proclamation 2. To obey his lawes yeelding obedience to the whole law in true indeauour so did David have respect to all the Commandements Psal. 119. 6. and also faith and repentance to the Gospell 3. Neither this by constraint but as a willing people Psal. 100 of unwilling made willing drawne by the Father as the sheepe of Christ to heare his voyce and follow him IIII. Resist the Dragons incroachments upon this Kings kingdome know the enemies the Devill world sinne Pagans Papists Heretiques Atheists they would pull thee from allegeance to former slavery furnish thy selfe with weapons against all the enemies of the kingdome which are the word faith hope love righteousnesse patience especially prayer against the kingdome of darknesse and the proceeding of the enemies of the Church Hester must stand up and intercede for her people let us not faile at this time Shal the Pope injoyne a fast for the prosperity of the warres against the Church and wee shamefully neglect it And his tayle drew downe the third part of the Stars Having spoken of the five properties by which we have heard the Dragon described wee come to the second part of the description which is by two effects The former against the Starres of heaven in this verse The latter against the woman in the next verse For the meaning every word is mysticall wee must stand a while in the interpretation in which are foure things to be considered First what is meant by the Starres of heaven Ans. Fondly doe the Papists understand here by the dragon Lucifer drawing downe with him in his fall many Angels which they say are meant by Stars of heaven not attending the scope of the place for I reade not in all the Scripture where Satan is called Lucifer Calvin cals it a grosse ignorance to father Satans name upon Isa. 14. 12. but it is called by this name Rev. â—2 10. 1. These Starres fell to earth after Iohns prophesie whereas they fell before mans sall 2 These starres fell in the Church when the battell was pitcht against the woman but Satan fell and his angels before there was any Church in the world or before there was any mention either of Christ or his Church 3. Those fell with the dragon these cast downe by the dragon 4. These starres were cast downe by the dragon to the earth from mysticall heaven to mysticall earth but those Angels were cast downe by GOD from heaven into hell where they are reserved in chaines of darknesse to the judgement of the great day and both taken in their proper acceptation But this place is an allusion to Dan. 8. â—0 where Antiochus Epiphanes a type of Antichrist is said to cast the starres unto earth and tread upon them where he calleth by the name of the Host of heaven those whoÌ„ our Euangelist calleth the starres of heaven that is the Ministers and Pastors of the Church called by this name as we have declared verse 1. 1. As they are set in their orbes by God and receive their light from the Sunne and move in their certaine order and station so are these set in their severall stations to keepe the watch of the Lord by a perpetuall decree so long as day and night succeed one another 2. As they shine in the darknesse of the night so doe these give light to the Church in the darke night of this world partly by doctrine and partly by holy example Matth 5. 14 Ye are the lights of the world and the light of the starres is not for themselves 3. As starres are eminent and in high place above the earth so the Pastors and Teachers are in eminency as
joyne to it For efficacy of doctrine is no proofe of truth because there is an efficacy of errour by which the dragon prevailes against all the earth But is the doctrine effectuall to turne men from the power of Satan to God then it is true not else Nor yet be much dismaied that among our selves after the knowledge and profession of the truth so many should turne away to Popery and are seduced by Priests and Jesuites for how can a carnall doctrine but prevaile among carnall men what looke they after in their religion but men on earth at Princes lawes times persons and earthly respects not one of them after God or his word or rules of direction from it but hate the Scripture as a theef the gallows their Religion then must needs be good But none are altogether given up to Antichristianisme but they they are first given up to Satan to bee seduced Oh that Papists would heare and lay to heart that they are pitifully seduced by the chiefe seducer under Satan which is a plaine signe of perdition for among whom doth Antichrist raigne but onely them that perish Rev. 14. 6 How can they expect to raign in the heavenly Jerusalem with Christ who stick in mysticall Babylon unto Antichrist how shall hee triumph in heaven with Christ that fights on earth for Antichrist But well may we with a sea of teares take knowledge of the generall sinne of our land in the hatred and abuse of the light and bringers of it for which the Lord may justly deliver us up to delusion and efficacy of errour and if we goe on resolved to give no better entertainment to the light the Papists themselves are not more effectually deluded in maine points than it may please God many among us may bee Finally marvell not that so many great wise and learned men in the world oppose resist the truth plot cōtrive against Gods Ordinances servants for how can earth but stand in opposition to heaven they are but pieces of earth and of the world delivered up to Satan to deceive earthly affections lusts motions desires carry them away earthly policie dignity favour ease wealth is all they aime at their way and their end earth is their portion and they the dragons for the dragon seduceth all the earth and only that Doth any resist and oppose heavenly doctrine he is earthly-minded he savours the earth some base lust or sinne is the dragons chaine to hold him under delusion to destruction Thirdly wee learne hereby to beware of seduction and carefully prevent it Quest. What meanes may we use thereunto Answ 1. Get out of the estate of nature into the estate of grace become a beleever by faith get into the hand of Christ and none shall pluck thee thence Iohn 10. Give all diligence to make thine election sure by adding grace to grace and bringing forth fruits of faith the dragons delusions are onely effectuall in them that perish 2. Get out of the world answer the voyce of Christ calling thee out of the world for what is the whole earth but a company of seduced and deluded people If thou art still in the world hee that seduceth all the world cannot but carry thee away from God Demas embraced the present world and forsooke the truth The young man went heavily from Christ for hee had great possessions nay they had him rather The dragon thought to have seduced Christ himselfe by the profer of the world All this will I give thee Oh therefore get thee with all speed out of the world in affection in conversation love it not live not after it 3. Avoid persons and places of seduction Persons are 1. False teachers and false Prophets that come in sheepes clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves Mat. 7. 15. not Priests and Jesuites onely who study the art of deceiving but sweet-tōgued Prophets who by libertine doctrine or loosenesse of life leade the way to wickednesse They are accursed in the Law who make the blinde goe out of the way and all the people must say Amen Deut. 27. 18. 2. Perswaders to Popery and false worship whereof there are not a few at this day and such as perswade to any schisme or separation from the truth Let servants be choice what Masters they serve and bee sure their Masters serve the same Master in heaven with them but above all beware of a Snake in the bosome our weaknesse needeth a faithful Counsellor so neare us For places 1. Beware of ignoran tand rude places which are destitute of instruction and able instructers where the eye is blinde that man is misled any whither and such a people are led away as a prey to the dragon a wicked Ministery makes a naked people Where doe the Frogs and Locusts Priests and Jesuites sculke and croake bin ignorant and untaught places where men are taught no difference betweene the mists of Popery and the shining light of the Gospell where the watchmen are blinde the embassadours dumbe and teachers untaught need teachers themselves in the principles of Religion 2. Avoid infected places where abominations are set up and maintained no poyson kils more certainly or speedily Whether they be Popish Countries to which the Spirit of God would have us bid farewell Revel 18. 4. Goe out of her my people lest yee partake of her sinnes and plagues Or Popish houses where deceivers are harboured idols and lies set up and worshipped a little Breaden god adored true religion reviled and the mysterie of iniquity embraced Avoid these This is the third meanes to avoid seduction 4. Sticke close to the word of God which onely can hold us upright Mat. 22. 29 Ye erre no knowing the Scriptures Here in cleaving to the word First indeavour to grow up in sound judgement for the discerning af doctrines and signes which carry great pretenses of truth and by which the dragon usually seduceth many 1 Iohn 4. 1. Beleeve not every spirit but trie the spirits whether they bee of God for many false spirits are gone out into the world Alas how doe the body of our people lye open to seduction and are ready to entertaine any doctrine any religion for want of this abilitie They embrace a religion because it is established by authority commauded by the law professed by the Prince embraced by the multitude freest fr ōtrouble But aske them a reason of their faith call them to account in Catechisme you would thinke them speechlesse you can force no answer savouring of judgement or reason is there then no need of this exhortation Secondly grow up in sound love to the Word for else thou canst not but bee given up to beleeve lyes 2 Thess. 2. 10. it is not learning knowledge wisedome that can arme or fence us from delusion but love of the truth as in the instances of Adam Iudas Hymeneus and Philetus c. but love of the truth will quench in us love of the world and selfe-love and
an happie condition they shall not be rolled in the destruction of evill men but shall be hid in the secret chamber of Gods providence when the storme of wrath shall come like haylestones yea like tallents of ledd upon the heads of sinners then shall there be a difference betweene him that feareth God and him that feareth him not then shall it be seene that it is not in vaine to serue the Lord. 4 It is a terror for evill men seeing it is as impossible for a sinner to avoyd wo as God to be untrue in proclayming it Sorrow followes the sinner as a shadow the body Most common it is for the wicked to applaud themselves in a wofull condition for whatever their estate seemes it is most unhappy They spend their dayes in pleasure and forecast that none shall have more pleasure then they But it is like Belshazzars when the writing on the wall appeared ouer against him They lay about them for wealth and a secure estate here below and rather then want it will curse and resist the people of God as Balaam little thinking that the Angell stands with a drawne sword to meet them in every corner to slay them No all the earth cannot make him happy who fights against heaven and whom heaven hath accursed earth cannot blesse He hath sowne tares and tares he must reape 5 Here is a spurre and incitement unto repentance and a trumpet to awaken secure soules that while it is called to day they may heare the voice lest all these woes seise upon them and oppresse them unawares It stands every sinner in hand to rise out of the bed of security and get a melting and bruised heart considering the day that commeth which shall burne as an oven and all that are proud and all that do wickedly shal be as stubble Mal. 4. 1. But seeing men are loth to apply this part to themselves we must helpe it home a little more particularly 1 What a fearefull wo is denounced in Scripture against all Popish and Antichristian Idolaters Rev. 14. 9. If any man worship the beast and his image and receive his marke in their hands and foreheads the same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God and be tormented with fire and brimstone for ever Whosoever shall do thus and persevere after admonition and will not come out of Babylon must perish in her destruction They prepare fire and faggot for the Saints whom they call heretickes but worshipping the beast and his image Christ prepares fire and brimstone for them and the smoake of their torment shall ascend for evermore Now there is no way to avoyd this woefull damnation by wilfull persisting in that Apostasie but instead of the character of Antichrist by taking in our foreheads the seale of CHRIST by which he separates us from the world by faith and holinesse and from Antichrist by zealous profession of the truth which he persecutes and marketh us up for his owne sheep the property of which is to heare his voice and follow him Ioh. 10. 2 What a dreadfull wo belongs to our voluptuous gallants that are at ease in Sion who put the evill day farre away and remember not Iosephs affliction Amos 6. 1. Silkes and Velvets cannot cover the secure sinner from this woe Greatnesse of birth place power treasure cannot elude these threats which are more stable than the foundation of the earth but according to the cursed seeds thou sowest shall thy harvest bee Gods people sow in teares to reape in joy and thou must have a share in the sorrow for sinne and in the afflictions of Gods people or never looke to share in their joy 3. Were the Prophet Esay living where hee proclaimed one woe upon drunkards hee would powre out ten thousand upon this drunken age which is drowned with drinke Esay 5. 11. 22. Woe bee to them that rise up early to follow drunkennesse and to them that continue till night Woe bee to them that are mighty to drinke and strong to powre in strong drinke How will the drunkard escape this woe and all the threates in the Booke of God which shut him out of heaven where is no roome for drunkards There is but one way and one there is to leave thy cup of drunkennesse and come drinke another cup a cup of mercy a cup of teares for thy sinne a cup of the blood of Jesus Christ a cup of the water of life that heaven may be opened to thee a sorrowfull and sober penitent which thy sinne had shut and barred against thee 4. What a fearefull woe doth our Saviour denounce upon all contemners of the Gospell and despisers of the blessed light of it Mat. 11 24. It shall bee easier for Sodom and Gomorra in the day of the Lord then for such And whence else was the heavy woe here upon the earth and Sea but for sinnes against the Gospell not receiving the truth in the love of it 2 Thes. 2. See we any woe or heavy hand of God upon the Kingdome in this effect who seeth not the cause the contempt of the Gospell doth any extraordinary crosse and judgement lie on this City on your trades on your estates why are yee blinde to this day and will not see the cause you poare like blinde men on secondary meanes fewnesse of buyers troubles abroad scant of money scarcity of times and the like but you see not the next cause at home your contempt and sleighting of the Gospell your Sabbath-breaking your want of reformation according to the rules of Gods Word your causlesse hatred of the bringers of the truth c. change your course and God will change his entertaine his best blessings and then expect inferior else know as sinne is linked fast so are Gods judgements these shal be but the beginnings of woe and one woe shall follow upon another till repentance come between For the devill is come downe c. The reason of the former woe denounced followeth and is twofold 1. The comming downe of the devill 2. His wrathfull disposition where of the reason is given because he knowes his time is short For the Exposition Quest. What is this comming downe of the Devill was not Satan before among the inhabitants of the earth till now that this victory is gotten by Christ were not wicked men under this curse and woe before this by Satans wrath and ruling Ans. Yes the devill was the Prince of the world before this and was commander among the Inhabitants of the earth and sea but he is now said to come downe in three respects 1. In a more generall and universall mischiefe intended by the dragon which was to spread it selfe over the face of the earth which was by a generall Apostasie of the world from Christ to Antichrist foretold in 2 Thess. 2. 2. In a farre more dangerous and mischievous manner of working by which he shall prevaile farre more efficaciously than ever before For whereas
1. By their paucity The remnant of her seed 2. By their property twofold 1. They keepe the Commandements of God 2. They have the testimony of Iesus Christ. First of the dragons wrath and warre then of the persons against whom In the former 1. What kinde of warre this is 2. With whom The kinde of warre will appeare if wee consider the Captaine and the weapons The Captaine of this warre under the dragon who is Generall of the field is described in Chap. 13. 1. and 7. The Beast whom the Euangelist so calleth rather than the Bishop of Rome or rather a succession of them because hee is a Prophet here not a Doctor these spake plainly they enigmatically especially in arguments dangerous and envious Besides if hee had plainly named him hee had not left it a mysterie so deepe This beast riseth out of the sea that is out of those very floods which the dragon cast out of his mouth after the woman namely of herefies superstitions traditions abominations and wicked constitutions and decrees against the truth and professors which enthroned Antichrist and set him in his Chaire He hath seven heads a monstrous Hydra sits on seven hils and hath gotten seven kindes of government into his hand and ten hornes hee hath the power of ten Kings to uphold him Hee hath on his heads the name of blasphemy not in open profession for hee will disclaime it in word but in deed and truth brings into the Church and maintaines under glorious titles of Headship blasphemous doctrines religion and idolatrous worship so it is expressed Verse 6. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God and his Tabernacle and those that dwell in heaven 1. He opposeth himselfe against all that is called God challengeth all that God can doe hee can create and that his Creator he cannot erre he can make something of nothing hee can make Gods Word of authority or no authority hee can make Kings and transferre kingdomes he shewes himselfe as if hee were God and suffers his flattering Canonists to stile him God Oh high blasphemy 2. Hee blasphemeth the Tabernacle of God that is the Church of God resembled by the Tabernacle challenging to bee the head the husband the Lord of it oppressing it with tyranny infecting it with heresie blaspheming and condemning for arch-heretikes all that yeeld not to his blasphemies And if by the Tabernacle of God wee meane the body of Christ as some doe what more horrible blasphemy against it then to undertake to create many thousands every day out of a few pieces of bread to sacrifice to eate and destroy it at their pleasure 3 He blasphemeth all that are in heaven that is the Saints in the heaven upon earth stiling them heretickes schismatickes rebells the most wicked of al men unworthy of common light aire or any society or sufferance in the earth In the 7. verse it is given to this beast the dragon seales his Commission to make warre with the Saints alluding to his type that little horne Antiochus Dan. 7. 21. an eminent figure of the Roman Antiochus that is said to make war with the Saints and prevaile against them So as this prophecy is meant of the warres of Antichrist against the Saints and is manifest by the time of 42. months the time that the woman was hid in the wildernesse This of the Captaine The weapons also are answerable to the warre which is twofold Ecclesiasticall and Civill in ordine ad spiritualia So the beast hath two swords One is spirituall by which he wounds the soules and consciences of men and that for their consciences This sword is his Canons Constitutions Councells deceitfully called Decretalls doctrines of devills heresies the Popes head-ship Jesuitisme the sharpest point of it sophisticate distinctions sleights of equivocations cursings anathemaes excommunications damnatory proscriptions damnable Bulls and Breves degradations condemnations Popish absolutions for murders of Parents and Princes canonization of Traitors and the like enamilings of his spirituall sword The other is the secular sword with which he layes about him to force the obedience and subjection to the former This is his tyrannicall inquisition Guisian massacres English powder-plots pistolls poniards poisons fire sword insurrections rebellions invasions Armadoes treasons slaughters butcheries of Princes and people Kings and kingdomes that yeild not themselves as slaves to his beastly authority And this of the kind of warre The persons with whom it is waged will further open it that is the remnant of her seed namely such of the faithfull who when al the publique assemblies were openly corrupted by Antichristian Idolatry yet retained the ancient faith and stept out sometimes to make profession of the same The beast could no sooner meet with them or finde them out but presently he brandished his sword againstthem whether they were 1 Kings that ruled not according to the Popes rules who were warred against as tyrants or 2 Pastors and Bishops who taught not according to the Popes decrees with whom the Pope warred as against heretickes or 3 Private persons called lay-men who lived not according to the Popes lawes these he warred against as out-laws and excommunicate persons In a word seeing the dragon could not now make warre against whole congregations as formerly he had done for now in the darke times of Antichrist they appeared no where he watched if he could find any of the remnant of the seed any scattered and dispersed Saints who privately as they could exercised the pure worship of God who kept themselves to the comaundement of God in freeing themselves from the abominations idolatries and superstitions of Popery and who had the testimony of Jesus sqâ—aring their consciences to the written word and would not receive the Popes Laws traditions and decretalls for Articles of Faith These were made meat for the sword of the Beast excited by the dragon to make warre with the remnant of the womans seed Of the wrath of the dragon wee have spoken before which admits no truce as also of the renewing of his assaults though he be never so foyled in them Only now in this wrath of the dragon which is continued against the woman hid in the wildernesse note that Wicked men hate and malice the godly whom they never knew nor saw as the dragon the woman now out of sight Hest 3. 6. Haman thought it a small thing to lay hands on Mordecai only but sought to destroy all the Jews yet he knew but few of them and only one of them Mordecai had offended him Pharaâ—h pursues al the Israelites though he knew but few and drownes all the males and Herod kills all the infants which he never saw and Balak calls Balaam to curse all the people of God 1 Because of the generall enmity put by God betweene the two seeds of the Woman and the serpent And hatred is of kinds not individualls only The wolfe hateth all lambes A man naturally hateth all serpents even those he
many shall be borne in her The Church typed by Salomons wife hath in stead of parents children whom she maketh Princes in all lands Psa. 45. 16. Cant 7. 2. The navell of the Church is described to be as a round bowle or cup and as a heap of wheat hedged about with Lillies A bowle or cuppe never wanting sweet and gracious liquor A round bowle a capacious figure in signe of fruitfulnesse and equally affected as a round figure to fruitfulnesse on every side Which fruit is to God as precious and fragrant as an heape of wheate hedged about with Lillies Cant. 1. 15. the spouse hath made her bed ready for the sweet embraces of her bridegroome and professeth that her bed is greene for two causes First because of the flourishing of it It must be a greene bed in which Christ himselfe resteth and delighteth It flourisheth with peace There is quiet rest in a pure and peaceable conscience there is in that bed and heart a sweet repose Secondly because of the fruitfulnesse of it It is ever greene by many children daily begotten and borne unto God This doctrine is strengthened by three reasons 1 Because she is the Mother of all beleevers Gal. 4. 26. Jerusalem which is from above is the Mother of us all that is all the elect and beleevers whether in heaven or earth Hence her name is Catholike first in respect of all ages secondly all places thirdly all kindes of persons And therefore it is that the number of her children are numberlesse Rev. 7. 9. I beheld and lo a great multitude which no man could number of all nations kinreds people and tongues stood before the throne with long white roabes and palmes in their hands 2 Shee must needs be a fruitfull mother who is mother to all the Sonnes and Children of God according to that auncient saying Wheresoever God is the father the Church is the Mother so that Not borne of the Church not borne of God And who but she is Mother to all that innumerable company of Saints in earth and in heaven For there is no entrance into that Jerusalem which is above but by that Jerusalem which is from above 3 She must be a fruitfull Mother that doth perpetually bring forth children from the beginning to the end of the world For as Christ is an everlasting Father so hath he an everlasting issue The faithfull are called the seed of Christ begotten by the travell of his soule Isa. 53. 10 11. in whom his dayes are prolonged here upon earth and himselfe being personally in heaven yet continues here in earth to the end of the world in this heavenly propagation Seeing then this is an ever-childing mother that never growes old we may conclude that never was any so fruitfull Never to content our selves with our first birth of our naturall Mother unlesse we be borne againe of this Mother For 1 Naturall birth suppose it never so royall or noble is but of mortall and corruptible seed but this is of seed incorruptible and immortall 2 Naturall birth is from the first Adam in sinne this is from the second Adam in righteousnesse 3 By the first birth we dye because we come of them that have dyed but by this we are quickned never to dye more 4 Naturall birth can onely advance to a naturall happinesse but this to a supernaturall and heavenly 5 By the first birth thou art an heyre of hell and till thou art borne againe canst never see the kingdome of God Joh. 3. 5. by this second to an heavenly inheritance unfading reserved in the heavens 6 The first birth never so glorious and royall shall rot in dust and consume with time this because it is of an immortall seed shall never fayle but persevere to all eternity when time shall be no more Nay further stand not upon it that thou art borne within the Church no nor of Christian parents for it is nothing to be a Jew without if not within it is nothing to be in the Church unlesse thou be of the Church it is nothing to be the seed of Christians unlesse thou be the seed of Christ. The birth of Ismael was as good for parentage as Isaacks both from Abraham But get good assurance that thou art borne of this Mother in which is more honour and comfort then to be the Sonne of an Empresse If thou wouldest be assured of the inheritance get good assurance of thy legitimation for the sonne of the bond woman shall not inherit with the sonne of the free woman Wouldst thou be assured of safetie in dangers and protection in perillous times be sure thou know and acknowledge thy Mother that under her wing and in her lappe thou maiest rest securely seeing that out of the true Church as out of the Arke is no safetie no salvation Qu. How may wee come to know this Mother to be our Mother that we may have comfort of our new and heavenly birth An. The true knowledge of this woman stands in two generals I. To know her the true Mother and spouse of Christ in her selfe II. To know her to be also our Mother 1 The former is so much the more necessary because the Church of Rome not onely a stepmother but a professed harlot challengeth herselfe to be this woman and the Mother of this living child and by fifteene notes as arguments alleadged by her deare sonne Bellarmine De notis Ecclesiae obtrudeth herselfe as the Mother of all beleevers in the new Testament I am not at leasure to unloose all the bundle which perhaps he thought would prevaile by their number if there should be no weight found in them but I wil onely mention the first five and by them we shall easily discerne the rest Bellarmine his first note that the Romish Church is the true Mother is because she is called every where Catholike But this is a false note For 1 A consequence holdeth not from being named to being Christ was called a Demoniacke and Impostor must he therefore be so Rev. 3. 9. Many call themselves Jewes and are not And chap. 2. 2. Some say they are Apostles and are not 2 What where the Churches in the Prophets and Apostles dayes as Jerusalem Corinth Galatia Ephesus Were they not true Churches yet were they never called Catholike 3 They onely thus style themselves because saith the Father Never was there any heresi which did not desire to be accounted and to seeme Catholike But falsely for two reasons 1 Because they have departed from the Catholike faith 2 Because it is but a particular Church if so much and can no more be catholike then a finger can bee a hand or a hand a man True it is that the true Churches doe call them Catholike but how onely Ironically and so that note endeth either in a jest or Irony His second note is Antiquitie which is as deceitfull as the other
starres of heaven both in themselves in respect of divine and heavenly light and gifts of wisdome and knowledge especially of sanctitie and heavenly conversation as also in respect of the high regard and reverent respect which faithfull Pastors have amongst true beleevers for as they have the highest place in the Church of God so walking worthy their place they have the highest place in the hearts of beleevers Now these starres set by God in their orbs shining in so high place are said to be drawne downe and throwne to the earth 11. The second thing in the meaning is How the starres are said to be cast downe to the earth Ans. To fal froÌ„ heaven to earth here is not to be taken literally but it is in matter of religion to fall froÌ„ a heavenly profession and hope to carnall and earthly counsels and courses and then the Pastors are said to fall from heaven to earth when they fall backe in their 1. judgement 2. affection 3. practice and conversation 1 Then in judgement they fall and faile when the light that was in them is turned to darknesse when they turne away from divine and heavenly truth to errours lies mens fancies and traditions to doctrines of libertie to please carnall mindes and turne from substance to superstition 2. When in affection they change the love of the word into the love of the world they affect the winning of wealth and ease above the winning of soules in stead of minding divine studies to save themselves and others now they minde earthly things in stead of the love of Christ which they seemed to professe and expresse in feeding his I ambes now they are carried with selfe-love seeking and feeding themselves only here is a lamentable â—all of starres from heaven to earth 3. When in practice they exchange their godlines with gaine their piety and sanctimonie into earthlinesse covetousnesse and worldlinesse their conversation which seemed and should have beene in heaven into earthly fleshly and unfruitfull courses This is a woefull fall of the starres which have lost their station as pernicious to the Church and to theÌ„selves as if the starres in heaven should fall upon the earth III But how or by what meanes could the dragon cast downe such excellent men that shined by the light of holy doctrine and conversation as bright as the starres in the heavens Ans. By his taile by which word are there implied all those base artes wicked instruments meanes by which the dragon casts down the stars and these are three which the word most expresly implieth 1. By force and tyranny Dragons have more force in their tayles than in their jawes and therefore this is a figurative speech befitting the nature of a dragon when by the rage of persecution and bitter war and wrath by their fire and sword and cursed cruelty the dragon forces many of the Pastors who had shined and ought still to have done in their places to fal froÌ„ their shine froÌ„ their doctrine holy professioÌ„ holy conversatioÌ„ first to corrupt earthly doctrine then to corrupt and earthly life and behaviour such as other men of earthly mindes and professions have undertaken and expressed 2. By flattery and insinuations by which as by a dragons tayle the Pastors were beaten downe for as dogs do use to fawne and flatter their masters with their taile so the dragon not by open force onely but by secret fraud and insinuation assaileth the stars namely by many faire promises and sugred perswasions making offers of wealth and preferment favor and what else the world can bestow on her favorites by which meanes hee drew many ambitious pompous and câ—vetous teachers from their former study and care in propagating the truth and from their diligence and labour in advancing the salvation of men unto earthly studies and cares how to build their owne houses and feather their owne nests not caring that Gods house lay waste 3. By poyson and infection much poyson lieth in the taile of a serpent the dragon poysoned a great number more with heresie and poysoned opinions against the truth of Christian religion for which end he daily stirreth up heretikes and false apostles and false teachers who being furnished with all arts to deceive draw a number of the starres away from sound and heavenly truth into the apostasie of earthly and impious doctrines cleane contrary to the Scripture and to the person natures and offices of Jesus Christ. Thus the Prophet Isay 9. 15. saith The false prophet which teacheth lies is the taile calling him so in foure respects 1. For basenesse and contempt let them beare themselves aloft in conceit of their wit and learning and others admiration of them 2. For their base flattery and playing the parasites and sawning upon patrons and Princes as dogs on their masters with their tailes for a bone or a crust 3. For their inconstancy and mobility as a dogs taile wags and moves easily on this side and that so they in their doctrine and conversation are here there and buzzing every where for an advantage 4. Especially for their poysonfull and hurtfull disposition and effects for as venomous beasts hide their venome in their tailes by which on occasion they doe much hurt and mischiefe so false and corrupt teachers by eloquence sophistry and base shifts hide the poison of false and erronious doctrine by which they infect and taint the Church of God for which cause Isa 59. 5. false doctrine is compared to the egges of Aspes which if they bee eaten bring most present death and broken sendeth forth a Basiliske that is is most perniciòus both Autoribus to those that invent and devise them and also Auditoribus to those that receive and digest them it bringeth eternall destruction to both as certainly as if they should eate the egge of a Basiliske which is most deadly of all serpents slaying men onely with her sight and poysonfull vapours that sparkle out of her eyes In the times next after the Apostles at which the spirit of God here more expresly aymeth how the imperiall dragon bestirred himselfe and how many starres he drew down stories are not silent to relate 1. Infinite numbers by persecution as Euseb. lib. 8 cap. 3. when wicked Dioclesian commanded the Christians oratories to be demolished and laid even with the ground the Scriptures to be burnt the Bishops to bee cast in prison and compelled by torments to renounce Christianity and offer unto Idols many suffered death constantly Sed alij infiniti animis prae formidine perculsi facile post primum impetum prorsus tandem succubuerunt In the seventh persecution under Decius we read of Serapion and Nichomacus who through their tyranny renounced Christianity and Cyprian de lapsis lib. 2 cap. 8. mentioneth Enaâ—stus a Bishop in Aftrike and Nicostratus a Deacon who made shipwracke of faith and as starres fell for feare from heaven to earth 2. Many starres
or our cause Concerning the militant Church what wee hold will plainly appeare in these Conclusions 1. That God will alwayes have a true part of his Catholike Church in the earth that shall hold and constantly maintaine the true faith in their severall ages to the end of the world and that the true Church cannot faile upon earth 2. That this part of the Catholike Church cōsisteth of men which are visible exercise visible ordinances of word Sacraments government c. and often in times of peace appeareth glorious in many particular and visible congregations for we never deny that particular Churches are often visible 3. That these visible particular Churches are not alwayes visible after the same manner neither is any part of the visible Church alwayes so necessarily visible but it may be discontinued and disappeare as all the visible Churches in the old and new Testament ever have done 4. This number of men in whom this part of the Church consisteth may come to be a few and by tyranny or heresie their profession may bee so secret amongst themselves that the world shall not see them neither can any man point to any particular Church and yet the Church is not destroyed for as the Sunne is a shining Sunne in it selfe though in the night we see it not nor in the day a blinde man cannot discerne it so the Church wanteth not her shining glory in her selfe though in the night wee see is not nor in the day a blinde man cannot discerne it the Church wanteth not her shining glory though the blinde world especially in the night of persecution cannot discerne it 5. Although the Church cannot faile upō earth yet the external governmēt of it may faile for a time the Pastors may be interrupted the sheepe may bee scattered the discipline hindered the externall exercise of religion suspended and the sincerity of religion exceedingly corrupted so as the members of the Church are onely visible to the true members within themselves By which conclusions we shall easily meete with the subtilty and vanity of all their reasons which ordinarily conclude from the externall forme to the failing of it selfe in the being and from the invisibility to the blind world to the invisibility amongst themselves as if they would conclude A man is hid therefore he is no man or A blinde man cannot see therefore no other man also or because hee that is without dores cannot see what I doe within therefore neither hee that is within with me Having thus bounded and laid the question let us see how they bend the force of their arguments Ob. 1. The body of Christ is visible but the Church is the body of Christ 1 Cor. 12. 27. Ye are the body of Christ speaking to men visible Ans. 1. They might tell us what they meane by the body of Christ the Scriptures make mention of a threefold and never a one visible to humane sense 1. His naturall body that is invisible in the heavens 2. His Sacramentall body that is invisible in the Sacrament 3. His mysticall body and that is spirituall and no object of sense II. They might alleage the Scriptures sincerely and not as they use deceitfully to suppresse the words of the Text which would fully answer their arguments the words of the Textare Yee are the body of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for your part which words suppressed by them sheweth us 1. That hee speaketh of a particular Church which then was visible but this is farre from proving the Catholike so to be which is the question 2. That both parts of their reason be false the former because it is not generall for the whole body of Christ is not visible and the later because the Corinthians were not the whole body of Christ for the Apostle saith they were both part of it Object But the Apostle writeth to visible men Sol. 1. From a particular to a generall the reason cannot hold because I see some men by me therefore I can see all men that ever were or shall bee or because I can see a particular congregation at Corinth I can see the Catholike Church in heaven and earth borne and unborne in the way in the countrey Such fond reasons may bee plausible to Romish blinded and hooded sots but as the Sunne maketh mists to vanish so the light of the Gospell doth these mists and fogges of subtilty and deceit 2. They might remember that the Church is a society of men not as men for so a number of Turks might be the body of Christ or a nest of Arians but as beleevers therfore the Church as the Church cannot be seene but beleeved which force of words hath made Bellarmine himselfe to confesse whose words are Videmus enim coetum hominum qui est Ecclesia sed quod ille coetus sit vera Christi Ecclesia non videmus sed credimus and what say wee more or lesse 3. They seeme either not to know or to dissemble the reason why the Church is called visible which is not because the men are visible but because of the external visible forme which being interrupted the visibility is gone though the persons not seene to the world they remaine seene amongst themselves 4. How absurd is it to define a Church by our senses and measure them by flesh and bones this is as one saith Chirurgum agere non Theologum hee that doth so would make a better Surgeon than Divine but these muzes cannot long hide them Hence then I conclude this first objection from their owne premisses thus If the Church be the body of Christ then it is not visible because it is not his naturall body for Christ had not two naturall bodies but his mysticall then invisible this being the true difference betweene a mysticall and a physicall body the one is subject to sense the other the object not of sense but of faith Object II. But the Pastors and Doctors the Sacraments the preaching of the Word the building of the Church are visible ergo the Church is visible Sol. 1. All this concludeth but particular congregations to bee visible which wee deny not but no reason can conclude hence the visibility of the Catholike Church and then it is too short to reach our cause and controversie 2. Consider the visible Church two wayes First according to her external matter and forme and thus consisting of men met together to performe externall Ecclesiasticall actions so farre I say a particular Church is visible Secondly according to her inward forme and so farre as they be of the Catholike Church by effectuall vocation faith righteousnesse and holinesse thus are the same members invisible for though wee see the men professing the faith yet who knoweth which or whether of them professe in soundnesse or in hypocrisie 3. Although a Church be now visible in eminent Pastors in numerous professors and in their glorious fruition of Christ and his ordinances yet no Church in the
from this marke of Antichrist saith the Pope never did yet it is truly verified of him both in mysticall and literall sense 1. In the true and mysticall sense for this booke hath as many mysteries as words by fire from heaven in Scripture is meant Gods wrathfull vengeance executed upon sinners called the fire of his wrath In this sense the Popes flatterers call them gods of revenge Hildebrand in an epistle to the Germanes having excommunicated Henry the fourth called him afflatum fulmine smitten with a thunderbolt Here wee have the Pope confessing that hee brings fire from heaven Did they not vaunt and Kings and people feare that being stricken with the bull of excommunication they were smitten with a divine revenge as with fire from heaven 2. In the literall sense boast they not of Zachary the Pope as hee was in his progresse to Ravenna that in the day he was protected with a cloud from the heat of the Sunne and in the night armies of fire in the heavens gave him light What shall I speake of the fiery streames which they say have reached from heaven to earth to point out the lost host as was wont to be read on Corpus Christi day What of the fiery tongues which they fetched from heaven on some of their Saints to make them equall with the Apostles or of the fire from heaven to destroy the enemies of some of their martyrs Their Legend is full of such fables but this shall suffice for the pointing of Antichrist of Rome by that wonder in that text which is true both in the true mysticall sense and in their false literall But these are called lying wonders and collusions 1 In their originall they proceed from the father of lies who is a lying Spirit in the mouthes of all false Prophets 2. Their matter is lies appearances juglings at best wonders not miracles such as Iannes and Iambres seduced Pharaoh withall 3. Their end is lying and seduction confirming lies idolatry superstition and apostasie so leading and settling men in errour for destruction III. The Dragon seduceth numbers by open tyranny and persecution we see how the apprehension of Christ drove away all his Disciples for a time and how the fanne of tribulation blowes away the chaffe from the wheat for ever And thus the whole world was seduced here in speciall manner being forced by open tyranny and rage of the Imperiall Dragons to the levell and prescript to the rites and religion of heathenish and idolatrous Rome Thus hee seduceth us outwardly Within us he hath many meanes and wayes to seduce us as 1. By exciting and stirring our originall sinne blinding our mindes with clouds of darknesse and our understanding with mists of errour working on our wills to embrace things whith corrupt judgement directeth unto stirring our affections to rebell against right judgement and will And thus hee seduceth us by our selves Iam. 1. Every man is seduced by his owne concupiscence 2. By working on our naturall faculties both our spirits and senses Hee knowes how to dull our spirits and make us drowsie and easily give off in any good meditation or service And contrarily hee can refresh and excite them in evill to make them watchfull and of long continuance and constancy in such objects And for our senses hee can draw the eye to behold wishingly the forbidden fruit the eare to set open it selfe to receive lies and slanders the tongue to blaspheme curse sweare lie and revile the smell to wind a commodity which must be compassed by oppression wrong or the like 3. By finding out our inclinations and intents and purposes that he may suggest according to those inclinations as it were hanging his weight upon us to force our owne disordered motions Thus hee doth and can out of our owne universall corruption and from observation of our counsells speeches and gestures lay fit traines for us first receiving true intelligence from our selves by observing our motions lusts affections and then sits himself down in counsell with us in our secret chambers in all our consultations of sinne himselfe being the President of our privy Councell 4. By sweetning his allurements so as no temptation is so bitter or poysonfull against God or man but hee can guild and sugar it and then layeth them in secret and in the darke so as we easily take and no sooner take than are taken by meanes the waters are both stolne and sweet IV. The last thing in opening the doctrine is the reasons why the dragon seduceth the whole earth Namely 1. The just judgement of God upon the world for the contempt of his word and the unkinde usage of the Gospell by which the world meriteth to bee seduced see 2 Thess. 2. 10 11. 2. The desperate wickednesse of Satan 1. Proclaiming open warre against God and withstanding the word of God the faith of men the glory of Jesus Christ. 2. Exercising incessant fury against mankinde all which he seeketh to bring back into his owne damnation 3. Advancing himselfe in his horrible pride to enlarge his owne kingdome to establish his greatnesse upon earth and to shew himselfe the Prince of the world In the generality of persons that the whole earth is seduced by Satan wee learne First how false a note of truth a multitude is the way of the world is the way of errour and of seduced persons to destruction rather conclude with our Saviour the multitude walkes in the broad way but strait is the way that leadeth unto life and few finde it The wisedome of a Christian is not to number voyces but weigh them and not to looke who goe in the way so much as in what way wee goe neither to hold it a good plea I did but as the most did seeing the whole earth is here seduced and deceived Secondly marvell not that many bee seduced and carryed away from God and his truth into so grosse and palpable errours seeing the dragon seduceth here all the earth 1. It is a generall but a righteous judgement of God to give up them that love seduction to be willingly blinded and carryed to destruction 2. Heresies false doctrines and delusions are just punishments of the contempt of the Gospell and word of truth 3. The world is the Princedome of Satan he must prevaile and command his subjects and tyrannize over all earthly and worldly minded men Let us not marvell that Papists are so resolute in such horrible delusions not onely against the cleare light of the Scripture but against common sense as stifly to maintaine transubstantiation judicial forgivenesse of sinnes by a Priest purging of sinne by penall workes and satisfactions salvation by merite of workes worshipping of Angels Saints Images Crosses crusts blocks stones and a thousand such senselesse dotages seeing the Lord hath smitten them with blindnesse that they cannot see the truth Let us not be moved that Popery doth so prevaile in all Countries that Princes and people learned and unlearned
dreadfull and severe against such revolters Was cast out The second thing to be observed in the overthrow of the dragon is the manner of it namely Sathans dejection or rather ejection out of the Church Quest. What ejection is here meant Answ. 1. Not that after his fall for that was not by warre as this but a just sentence and punishment that was because hee stood not in the truth this because heestood against it 2. Nor that finall ejection in the day of judgement for after that hee never assaults the woman but after this hee doth after that he is cast into hell but here into the earth 3. Therefore Satan is cast out of heaven these two wayes 1. By the head of the Church 2. By the members Christ our head hath obtained a perfect victory over him two wayes 1. By the power and merit of his death by which he encountred the devills and conquered them spoiling principalities and powers Col. 2. 15. So as the Dragons erecting a crosse for Christ set up a gibbet for themselves as Haman and for Christ a chariot of tryumph 2. By the vertue and efficacie of it daily applyed to the elect through the power of his resurrection ascention and sending of the holy Ghost into the hearts of the faithfull by whose grace as by a stronger then himselfe Sathan the strong man is ejected and can keepe possession no longer This is when faith apprehends the merit of his death and the efficacie both of his resurrection ascension and sitting at the right hand of God whence hee sendeth the Spirit But this ejection by the head is not properly meant for it was done before Iohns prophecie but this was after This ejection of Sathan then is properly by the members three wayes 1. By casting out and resisting Paganisme idolatry blasphemie impiety and all injustice and immanity against God and man in which the Dragon ruled and raigned as the god of the world 2. By the preaching and promulgation of the Gospell which is the hammer of the dragons kingdome and the utter overthrow and eversion of his whole power Luk. 10. 18. The Disciples in their ministery saw Satan fall downe like lightening 3. By open profession and maintenance of the faith and truth of the Gospell and lifting up the name and glory of Christ there where formerly Satans throne was This secondary ejection here meant and aimed at seemeth to be when after the daies of the Romish tyranny by the heathen Emperours the great and unlimited power of the old Roman Monarchie in which the Dragon had ruled and overspread the earth with all idolatry and blasphemie and had poisoned and corrupted the whole knowne world was now broken and throwne downe the maintenance of Christian faith and profession was restored and liberty given unto Christians by the manchild afore-mentioned Now was the devill cast out his idolatries detected the deceivablenesse of heathenish error discovered and his whole power so broken as hee could no longer either hinder the preaching of the Gospell or the propagation of Christian religion nor keepe the nations longer from the truth of the Gospell as he had long before done by his tyranny This I take to be the ejection of the dragon out of the Church aimed at in this text The note is that till Christ and his Gospell came the Dragon was not ejected Wheresoever Christ is not there the dragon stands in full state and strength Matt. 12. 29. the strong man keepes the house till a stronger come to dispossesse him This house is the uncleane world the whole world that lyeth in wickednesse 1. Iohn 5. 19. Whole mankinde in the first Adam all unregenerate men for so the world is taken Rom. 5. 12. By one man sinne entred into the world that is the whole world out of Christ or the whole world not chosen out of the world 2. Tim. 2. ult Before men come to the knowledge of the truth namely of Christ they are all in the divels snare taken of him at his will These snares are errours of judgment lusts of life depravation of manners or some raigning sinne or sinnes by which Satan holds them under his vassallage as a fowler can hold the bird by one foot or by one twig and snare as well as by the whole body or net For first as sinne hath given him possession of all mankinde as in Iudas his heart so hee never goeth out of himselfe nay hee is loath to be cast out and when he is it is not without extraordinary reluctation molestation Mark 1. 26. The uncleane spirit departs not without tearing and vexing and throwing him in the midst of them saith Luke all signes of extreme impatience Secondly none can cast him out but Christ for onely Christ is stronger then hee men cannot cast him out no not holy men as that man said Master wee came to thy Disciples but they could not cast him out Angels cannot cast him out for they cannot satisfie sinne onely the seed of the woman breakes the serpents head Gen. 3. 15. Christ onely is that Angell which Iohn saw Revel 10. 1. descending from heaven by his incarnation having the key of the bottomlesse pit that is power over hell and death as Revel 1. 18. and a great chaine in his hand the strong chaine of his omnipotence which chaine hath many linkes 1. The strong linke of his passion and death upon the crosse which had more strength in it then the lives of all men and Angels 2. That invincible linke of his resurrection for it was impossible for him to bee held under death The Jewes could devise to put him to death but not to hold him in the grave but by his mighty power hee opened his owne grave and all the graves of the Saints 3. That mighty linke of his ascension by which he opened heaven for his Church when the devill would for ever have barred it up against us 4. That mighty linke of sending out the holy Ghost and sending out the Apostles and Pastors with a mighty and unresistable commission for the conversion of the world But what was the end of this mighty chaine of so many strong linkes Even to binde up Satan the Dragon described here and there in the same words a thousand yeares The power of Christs death published in the ministery of the Gospell bound up the devill by destroying Paganisme and converting the nations to the faith as fast as ever any Conquerer bound his enemy in chaines and restraines him from the execution of his mischievous will against him for had not the Dragon beene bound Christianity could not have conquered the world as it did but now saith Christ Iohn 12. 22. speaking of his death is the prince of this world cast out though not wholly and fully as in the last day Thirdly the wicked world is so farre from impeaching the state and power of the Dragon that it strengtheneth and establisheth it
to keepe him under for ever but yet the third day he arose gloriously so there is a third day for his members wherein they shall rise from under all the infamies and reproachfull slaunders of evill men as out of the graves For if the Head be risen so are the members Secondly the spouse of Christ cannot be cast into such a deepe but he whom her soule loveth hath his hand under her head Cant. 2. 6. so as the Lord never suffers his servants to be so farre cast downe but his hād under thē at lēgth shal lift up their heads Let what floods and waves of reproches and persecutions rise against them they cannot sink Christ is with them in the shippe he will seasonably rebuke the waves still the windes stay the blustring stormes cleare the heavens and make a calme for them 3. So it shall be in regard of the godly whose graces and holinesse must bee exercised but not extinct whose glory and happinesse may a while bee suspended and obscured but not prevented or hindred The Sunne of the world may bee set with clouds covered shut in and hid for many dayes Acts 27. 20. but yet clouds will bee dispersed and the darke mists and fogs will be scattered and the Sunne will recover his shine and strength even so the shine of grace and innocency may bee clouded and darkned many dayes but when God hath exercised his Church a while he will over-blow the tempest againe the Sunne of grace shall rise and disperse these blacke clouds and cause them to vanish unto nothing After darknesse saith Iob I shall see light And suppose the Saints walke in blacke a while yea all the while they are here below yet they shall walke in white Rev. 3. 4. when their mourning garments shall bee taken from them and they clothed with whitenesse of holinesse and glory 4. It shall so bee in respect of the wicked accusers who must not alwayes have their will and force their rod must not lye alwayes on the lot of the godly but when the Lord hath by them whipped and corrected his Children they must be cast into the fire as Ashur was Object But wee see the godly haled to death and destruction by false accusation as Naboth as Christ himselfe as the Christians and Martyrs in all ages executed as traitors heretikes and wicked men Besides how goe the godly hanging down their heads as men onely despised and carying the scorne of the times as men onely worthy of hatred and thus they goe heavily to their graves and their innocency is buryed with them Answ. All this impeacheth not this truth For First this promise is made good so farre as the Lord seeth good for his servants Secondly often in this life the innocency of those who die as guilty is restored them as Naboth whose innocency is recorded to all posterity and the Martyrs in the ten persecutions after-ages honoured their memory and sufferings though they dyed as the greatest malefactors and the poore Christians in Queene Maries dayes who were cursed to hell and burned in the flames for most accursed heretikes and traitors God stirred up Master Fox to cleare their innocency to honour their memory and cause all ages to glorifie GOD in their grace and constancy Thirdly many wrongs must bee reserved for the brightnesse of the great day to reveale and some things perhaps never come to light in this world but then the Saints committing their cause and names in well-doing unto the Lord hee will keepe faithfully that which they commit unto him and for his owne name is jealous of theirs Fourthly in the Courts of men the day goeth against truth and innocency so high as from which in earth is no appeale and so the matter must rest yet there is a day and an high Court of heaven which is without corruption of Judge or witnesse this shall right all errours of inferiour Courts there innocency and innocents shall stand in tryall and the righteous shall there shine as the Sunne in the firmament Mat. 13. 43. if not in the kingdome of the world in the Kingdome of the Father And for the godly whose grace and innocency appeareth not here nor themselves in this strange Countrey are knowne what they are When Christ who is our life shall appeare then shall wee also appeare with him in glory and if Christ be contented to bee obscured here so may we also This doctrine serves to terrifie the enemies of the Church whose tongues are now their owne none may controll them they priviledge themselves to devise and disperse what lyes they list But they must know First that the mouth of wickednesse shall bee stopped Secondly that truth is strongest and will prevaile though they may outface and smother it for a while Could they hinder Christ from rising can they hinder the day from dawning or the Sunne from his rising or course no more can they bury innocency and grace so low but it will rise againe Thirdly they must bee called to reckoning for all wicked speeches and false accusations of the Saints when they would esteeme it their happinesse to lie ever in the darke cave of their rottennesse but they must be fetcht in to carry the shame and perpetuall reproach which they would have cast upon innocency Againe this may comfort the Saints who heare there is a day when their righteousnesse shall bee brought forth they shall have their desire As falsehood and darknesse feares nothing but to bee discovered so truth and light feare nothing but to be hid Now they rejoyce in the day of manifestations of things rolled in darknesse Now shall their innocency triumph when shame shal cover the faces of all accusers as they did Hamans before his hanging In that day shall men and angels see that they were not seditious factious rebellious proud hypocrites and worst of all men but humble peaceable obedient to the good lawes of God and men sober fruitfull sincere gracious and holy Oh how sweete and honourable shall that sentence of absolution from Christs owne mouth be after all the unjust sentences of wicked men 3. This teacheth us a rule of wisedome to judge not according to outward appearance but with righteous judgement Iohn 7. 24. Judge of persons as of coyne by the touchstone not by heare-say We judge of a great heire not as hee is in minority but according to his livelihood and future great estate Labour to esteeme of Saints not as they are here besmeared but as they shall appeare like Christ in glory Seest thou one for Christ made like unto Christ in reproaches and suffering ignominy and rejection now conclude this man must bee like him in glory though the world cast a sea of shame upon him 2 Tim. 2. 12. If wee suffer with him wee shall also raigne with him 4. This is a ground of patience and constancy in wel-doing and suffering evils Grieve not to see the darke night shut
watched and brought upon the world since the fall was the raysing of Antichrist He had beene mischievous before and wrathfull in open tyranny but now he putteth forth a greater wrath in secret delusion Which truth will appeare if we consider 1 Antichristianisme in it selfe 2 In comparison with open tyranny 3 In the more feareful fruits and grievous effects of it 1. Antichristianisme in it selfe is the most fearefull plague that ever the wrath of God or Satan strucke the world withall if we consider 1. The cause 2 The effect 3. The generality In the cause it proceedeth from the greatest wrath that ever God put forth upon earth for 1. It is a wrath from the divine iustice due to the most fearefull sinne in the world which was the worlds reiecting the truth of the Gospell wherein the wrath of God is come both upon the Jew and Gentile to the uttermost 2. It is a wrath of the dragon whetted by the wrath of God in which God sendeth the strongest and most prevailing delusions that ever were in which that wicked spirit who seemed to bee cast out of the world by the preaching of the Gospell is returned againe and hath brought seven worse spirits than himselfe 3. It is a wrath not onely punishing sinnes of such a deepe staine but with most fearfull sinnes such as immediately forerunne damnation even that universall damnation of all those who chased away the truth of God to embrace the delusions of Antichrist 2 Thess. 2. 10. God shall send strong delusions that all they may be damned who loved not the truth 4. It is a wrath so great as the Spirit of God finds no parallell to compare it with but the great day of Gods wrath and therefore in the opening of the sixt Seale Revel 6. 12. which describeth the comming of Antichrist into the world hee resembleth the time of his appearing to the greatest day of wrath that ever was before it and describeth it by all those fearefull events which shall accompany Christ himselfe when he commeth to his last and universall iudgement The signes of the wrath of that great day of wrath are seven by this wrathfull day of Antichrist notably resembled 1. Great and fearfull earthquakes shall goe before the comming of Christ Matth. 24. 7. Even so at the comming of Antichrist the foundations of the earth shal be shaken a new face of things shal appear the pillers and foundations of old Apostolicall doctrine and discipline shall bee shaken downe and a new Ecclesiasticall Monarchy shall eate up the ancient civill and Imperiall government which was the studd and pillar upholding the earth and societies of men 2. The Sunne shall bee darkned as sackcloth Mat. 24. 29. and Christ the sunne of righteousnesse who shined so cleare in the firmament of the Church the onely Saviour Mediatour and satisfaction shall bee wholy darkned and horribly ecclipsed in the day of Antichrist the holy doctrine concerning his person natures offices and benefits shall be cleane obscured as the Sunne at midnight a blacke vaile of traditions and a thicke curtaine of humane constitutions blacked and darkned all his most sacred Ordinances the Sacraments by theatricall pompes and devises shal be adulterate the worship of Christ by adoration of Idols and veneration of creatures wholy depraved Now is the Sunne of the Church turned into darknesse 3. The Moone shall be turned into blood So the Church which as the Moone receives all her light from the Sunne of righteousnesse shal seem all blood partly by the cruell and bloody warres and partly by the bloody persecutions of Antichrist who shall boast of both swords and fill both his hands with weapons of wrath and cruelty 4. The Starres shall fall from heaven Marke 13. 25. So in the appearing of Antichrist the Bishops and Pastors shall become Apostates from the truth and of shining starres in holy doctrine holy life and beautifull graces in their severall Orbes shining in humility charity sobriety diligence and heavenly-mindednesle shall fall to pride ambition contention wordlinesse warre seats of Judicature and whatsoever is earthly and sensuall and pompous 5. At the comming of Christ the heaven shall depart as a scrole so in the day of Antichrists comming the Church the heaven upon earth shall bee shut up and hide it selfe and shall not bee visible and conspicuous to the world And although many good and godly men still in all ages contested against Antichrist yet were they condemned for heretikes and were counted no part of heaven nor faithfull members of it 6. The Mountaines and Ilands were removed out of their places By Mountaines are meant Kings and Emperours who by the fraud and power of Antichrist were removed from their high places and authority which was swallowed and ingrossed by Antichrist and by Ilands the people and nations who were all forced upon paine of damnation in stead of obedience to Christ to submit themselves to the tyrannie of Antichrist Nothing so firme as Mountaines nothing so farre off as Ilands but Antichrist reached them 7. As in the day of Christs wrath the wicked shall in utter despaire of their estates call for the hils and Mountaines to cover them and hide them from it so shall the great day of Antichrist drive great ones to utter despaire not knowing what shall become of them and of their estates and this shall bee the hire and recompence of all the ayders and supporters of Antichrist in the day of their particular iudgement if their consciences bee awakened at farthest in that last and great day of wrath in the generall iudgement Thus wee see the Scripture setting out the day of Antichrist to bee as wrathfull as the great day of Christ which of all dreadfull things is to all wicked men most terrible Secondly now consider the great wrath of Antichristianisme in the effect and we shall see it the most horrible mist and black darknesse that ever the world was stricken withall Other heresies and hereticks which made way to this are called the black horse Revel 6. 5. as being contrary to the white horse Verse 2. which was the integrity of Apostolike doctrine but those did obscure and darken the light as in the evening But when Antichrist comes this heresie chaseth away all light as at midnight Not that the Church ceaseth to bee no more than the Sunne ceaseth to be at midnight but it appeareth no more in that Horizon or Hemisphere thā if it were not all Heaven passeth as a scrole which is no lesse but lesse seene Hence is the Kingdome of Antichrist called spiritually by the name of Aegypt Rev. 11. 8. for it resembleth that Kingdome especially in three things 1. In Idolatry 2. In cruelty and oppression of the Israel of God 3. Most of all in blindnesse and darknesse with which that Kingdome was covered for three dayes Exod. 10. 21. And betweene the darknesse of that Aegypt and this there is apt resemblance 1. Of all the plagues of
1. 9. Whosoever are enlightened with light of nature or grace have it from this Sunne And not onely these but they who in heaven shine in the light of glory doe borrow of this light Dan 12. 3. they shine as the starres which receive all their shine from the sunne And more they shall shine as the Sunne in the kingdome of their Father Mat 13 43. Because they shall participate of the sunnes brightnesse 2 The effects without are foure and in respect of these also Iesus Christ is compared to the sun 1 The sunne driveth away darknesse otherwise there would be a perpetuall night And at the rising of the sunne things which before were involved in the darkenesse of the night appeare as they are so this Sunne of the Church drives away the darknesse of ignorance the night of our miserie chaseth away the black and thick mist of our sinnes bringeth back the light of knowledge and the day of grace to us who else had layne in perpetuall night and shadow of death And now foule things appeare as they are and sinne appeares out of measure sinfull 2 As the sunne by his beames gives direction to all the waies of our naturall and civil life so this Sun by the beames of his wisdome grace directeth us in all the wayes of spiritual eternal life And as a man can do nothing cōmendably without the light of the sunne so without this Sun we can doe nothing at all 3 The sunne is the most comfortable Creature in all the world warming and refreshing with his beames all living Creatures yea under God quickning creatures dead in themselves so Iesus Christ is the life of the Church and the quickner of all the elect unto eternall life they being in themselves dead in trespasses and sinnes He also warmes his Church with the beames of his love which reflect backe as the sunne beames doe upon himselfe both the head and members He comforteth with his gracious aspect all the faithfull in all corners of the world who had never had life nor breath nor shew of grace without his shine upon them 4 The sun of the world maketh preserveth the severall seasons the Summer the winter the spring the Autumne Iesus Christ the Sun of his Church hath in his power al times seasons He hath in his hand the seed time in grace here the harvest of glory hereafter He appointeth the Summer season and prosperitie of the Church He changeth that season bringeth on her a sharpe winter of trouble affliction All the vicissitudes and changes in the Church are appointed and directed by his wisdome Dan. 2. 21 Nothing befalls the Church by chance but by his most oculate providence 1. Is Christ the Sonne of the Church wee are taught many things As First to a knowledge our Sunne yea to admire our Sunne as ten thousand times passing the sunne of the world For 1 That is a meere creature though glorious but this Sun is the mighty God the creator of that 2 That serves the outward man in the things of this life this the spirituall man in the things of life eternall 3 That riseth on good and bad but this onely on the good onely on Ierusalem Isai. 60 1. Thy light is risen upon thee 4 That riseth every day and every day setteth but this Sunne riseth and never setteth Isai. 60. 20. 5. That obscureth the starres this enlightens beleevers by his presence who shine as starres 6 That may be eclipsed or darkned but the light and grace of this Sunne can never lose or lessen his shine and glory it may be a while clouded from us but never eclipsed in it selfe Secondly We are taught to rejoyce in our Sunne All creatures rejoyce in the sunne but hatefull Bats and Owles which flye the light All creatures in nature follow the sunne and thrive and prosper in it the silly plants as Marigold Dazie Turnsoll so all that are new Creatures doe follow and prosper in this sun And if wee be so we wil draw neere to the Sunne that we may have the blessed beames of his grace to shine upon our cold and frozen hearts that by his spirituall heate we may be revived and refreshed to everlasting life We can open our windowes to let in the Sun-shine to our comfort and why should we not set open the doores and windowes of our hearts that the beames descending from Iesus Christ may enter in enlighten and comfort us Oh our little respect of the ministery shewes plainly enough wee would shut out this Sunne if we could Many of our hearers doe what lyes in them Thirdly we are taught to be thankfull that this blessed Sunne is risen unto us who were in woefull darknesse How thankfull was Paul and those in that dangerous voyage with him Act. 27. 20. when not having seene Sun Moone nor starres for many dayes they saw againe the desired light of the Sun But in so dangerous a tempest of Gods wrath as we had for ever beene tossed and drowned in to get a glimpse of this Sunne of righteousnesse is a farre greater cause of thankfulnesse to God which disperseth all clouds and stormes and brings a most calme and comfortable season The poore men in the Gospell to whom Christ restored sight how glad and thankful were they so soone as they were able to behold the sunne They leapt for joy praised God and preached Christ they made it knowne they had met with Christ No lesse joyfull is he whose eyes of mind Christ hath opened to discerne his change that hee is turned from darkenesse to light Fourthly wee are taught to imitate our Sunne labouring to preserve our purity though wee see much foule behaviour and being conversant among sinners and in many occasions yet as our Sunne did we must keepe our selves pure and not be plucked away with the errour of the wicked as Lot in Sodom abstaining from evill and all the appearance of it Fiftly Wee are taught to walke beseeming our Sunne 1 Warily and uprightly because this Sunne discovers those rubbes and perills by which men fall and hurt themselves In a mistie and darke night to stumble and fall is no such great disgrace but at noon day the sunne shining argues blindnesse or heedlesnesse or some great distemper of body and mind For Christians now to sinne against such light is farre more shamefull then in darkenesse of Popery and ignorance 2 Watchfully In the darke night men may sleep but in the day and sunshine it is time to awake from sleepe and shake off security and walke as in the day The sun of the world may be seene of all eyes but it sees nothing But our Sun seeth all things even the hidden secrets of hearts which no eye else can see neither can any deepe bee hid from his infinite light and knowledge This should move us to watch all our wayes and actions thoughts
and evill workes Psa. 1. 1. and 2 Cor. 6. 17. Touch no uncleane thing but hate the workes of them that fal away 2 Pet. 1. 4. To attaine or retaine the godly nature thou must flye the corruptions of the world through lust A man that would keepe his clothes cleane will not runne into a flaxdressers shop 4 Soundly reforme thy owne uncleannesse wash unto cleannesse An hypocrite may draw out water and wash but there followes no reformation or cleannesse he slubbers and sluts up the businesse and leaves the soyle in But sound reformation brusheth off moats as well as palpable foulnesse appearances of evill as well as apparant evils nor will it stay waiting when soyle will goe off of it selfe but will force it off He knowes it will not leave him but he will leave it What himself sees not or cannot shun he will be glad if another tell him and help him to be rid of it And from thy selfe help to cleanse all about thee Greeve for the abominations and foulenesse of others which thou canst not helpe and for the slaunder of Gods religion by it So David Psalme 119. 136. and Ieremy 5 Observe and make right use of Gods afflictions for when Gods children are loth to be at the paines to clense their garments the Lord himselfe is faine to play the Landresse as once when he washed Ierusalem he whitens them againe by afflictions Dan. 12. 10. As a Fuller washeth and cleanseth a cloth by beating it so doth the Lord. Thou mightest save the Lord some labour and thy selfe some blowes If wee would judge and cleanse our selves wee should not be judged of the Lord. 6 Pray with David Let no man be ashamed because of me What a griefe were it to heare the Papists and scorners to triumph because of thee What a woe that thy pride covetousnesse swearing drunkennesse which professest goodnesse should cast dung in the faces of all Gods Children Doth not offence of one bring woe enough but that with offence of God thou shouldest scandalize all And were it their names only it were a lesse sin but the name of God through their sides is wounded and blasphemed And the Moone was under her feet Here is the second propertie of this woman Where 1. the meaning 2. the doctrine In the meaning two things 1. What is meant by Moone 2. what by under her feet 1 The Moone is not properly taken but by a Metaphor or borrowed speech For this elegant Prophecy of the Revelation is as full of mysteries us of sentences yea as of words The Moone therefore signifieth the world and all earthly things which are aptly compared to the Moone in foure things 1 In inferiority The Moone is the lowest of all celestiall bodies and betweene the Sunne and Moone is no comparison So the world and the externall blessings of it are the least and lowest of Gods blessings neither is there any comparison betweene heavenly and earthly things as there is no proportion betweene sublunary and superlunary things 2 In mutability and ever-changing inconstancy If she increaseth she decreaseth as fast if she be now in the full she is presently in the wane if she shine a few nights that brightnesse shall in a few dayes be turned to blacke darknesse and never is she seene two nights together with one face So all worldly and earthly things are of as round a figure as the Moone unstable and in nothing constant but in inconstancy 1 Ioh 2. 17. The world passeth away and the lust of it yea and the lustre that is whatsoever is desirable in it 3 In her spots and obscurity For the Moone in her chiefe shining is clouded and specked with black spots and a darknesse within her obscureth her so are all worldly things The greatest wealth of the world is spotted with many wants cares feares The greatest glory with sad adversity and some sense of miserie The most delicate pleasures are but bitter-sweet and moth-eaten and very baites covering mortall hookes And all the desirable things the world affordeth cannot supply a light and comfort without some darknesse Not so the sunne and the Churches Sun is a brightnesse and blessing with which God ads no sorrow 4. In the end and use For by Gods ordinance the Moone is set to governe the night as the sunne to rule the day So the profits and pleasures and worldly comforts serve for our use and benefit while wee are in the night of this world and in this vale of darknesse covered with vailes of sinne and clouded and compassed with the darkenesse of calamities the fruits of sinne But the Sunne rising there is no need of the Moone So when that blessed Sunne of righteousnesse shall rise in his glory upon us and wee shall walke in that blessed light of heaven there is no need of the world or worldly comforts That blessed Sun shall swallow up and drowne all the lights of these candles and the Moone it selfe As that holy woman and Martyr going to her death said I goe now to a place where money beares no mastery Rev. 21. 23. That Citie hath no need of the worlds sunne nor Moone for the glory of God and the Lambe is the light of it And ch 22. 5. There shall be no night there nor any use of a candle c. for the Lord gives them light Where the Sunne never sets what need the Moone Isa 60. 20. 2 In the treading the Moone under her feet 1. What is meant by feet 2. What to tread under feet For the first Feet are often taken in Scripture Metaphorically and signifie the affections desires cares endeavours Because as the feet carry the body are the instruments of motion So these carry our minds to and fro For the mind is borne about by the affections as the body by feet Ecc. 4. 17 When thou entrest into the house of God looke well to thy feet Prov. 4. 27. Remoove thy feet from evill that is affect not in desire act not in endeavour For the second The treading of the Moone under the feet of this woman is in one word the contempt of the world And hath in it three things in the phrase implyed 1 A disaffecting of earthly things and a contempt of things below For we shew our disrespect and base account yea a casting out of our affections the things we tread under our feet 2 A mind elevated and lifted above the world and all earthly things The womans affections are set above them all as wee stand wholly above the things which we cast under our feet 3 A setled and undaunted resolution against the varieties and changes of crosses and afflictions swallowing and digesting yea stoutly contemning the calamities and adversities as well as the prosperitie of the world and by no meanes will suffer her selfe to be divorced from her Sunne And this was the very estate of the Virgin-Primitive Church next after the Apostles which
be in an infinite distance So when a company or congregation of men consent in Apostolicall doctrine and allow this doctrine to be the guide of all businesses and matters of faith and manners here is a Church crowned and this crowne may be discerned by all neare and farre off Wherein the Crowne of the Church being a Crowne of starres differs and gets beyond the glory of all earthly crownes These may be seene on the heads of Princes neere hand but not farre off But this being a crowne of starres may be seene a farre off as the starres may And yet so surpassing glorious is the crowne of the Church that as a whole starre and the glory of it can never be seene with humane eye no more can the glory and crowne of the Church Whereof as in the starres that which we see of them is in no proportion to that which we see not nor yet can see 4 To note a difference betweene Christs carrying of the starres and the Churches carrying of them Hee beares them in his right hand chap. 2. 1. as their Lord their disposer and defender But she in the Crowne of her head as her chiefe ornament 1 The Apostles and ministers are as Starres in the Firmament of the Church Dan. 12. 3. and Rev. 1. 20. The reasons of this doctrine are foure 1 Starres are in high place the Apostles and Pastors are in highest place in the Church of the New Testament Ephes. 4. 11. above Cardinals Patriarches and Priors Popes and the greattitles of Antichristian offices unknowne to the Scripture 2 Starres are the brightest part of the firmament so are the Apostles and pastors of the Church the brightest parts and shine or should shine clearest in the heaven of the Church 3 Starres receive all their light from the Sunne so these have no light of their owne but receive all their light from Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse 1 Ioh. 1. 1 That which we have heard and seene c. 1 Cor. 11. 16. What I have received of the Lord. 4 Starres have not light imparted to them for themselves but to carry light unto others so the office of the Apostles and Pastors is to convey spirituall light to men on earth living in the darke night of ignorance and error Which they doe partly by the light of holy doctrine and partly by their lightsome and unblamable conversation Ministers being called starres must resemble starres 1 In humilitie Many things in starres teach it As First starres of great magnitude shew but small The Star shewes ten thousand times lesse then it is How is he like a Star that makes ostentation of all perhaps more then is in him Secondly they receive all from the Sunne so the Minister hath received all Thy gifts are the Lords Talents if thou hast received them why dost thou boast as if thou hadst not received them Thirdly in their most swift motion they seeme to move very slow So must the godly Minister in all his course be more active then seeming doing his duty reserving all the praise to God Fourthly the Starres the nearer the Sunne the lesse is their shine so the Minister who comes nearer to God then ordinary men the nearer he comes to God the more humble he ought to be as Iohn Baptist He must increase and I must decrease Why should the Starres pride themselves seeing the Sunne from whom they receive all was so humbled that being the Lord of all was yet servant of all This duty he specially commended to his followers Learne of me for I am humble and hath shewed us the way to be great in the house not ambitiously with Diotrephes seeking preheminence but to become the least and lowest is to become greatest 2 In stabilitie both in their direction and motion both in holy doctrine and conversation If the starres were not fixed in their orbes but erred and wandred up and downe uncertainly how could the passengers by sea or land be directed by them So if the Ministers be wandring starres as Jude 13. in their doctrine unstable as reeds and wavering with every blast and storme of times that their word is this yeare yea the next nay or suppose their doctrine be the same yet if in their life they walke crookedly and disorderly sorting with base and evil men in their evils and licenciously fashioning to the loose humours of men and times how can the passengers to heaven take direction from them With what certaintie and assurance can he strengthen others that himselfe is a wavering minded man unstable in all his waies 3 In fidelitie and stedfastnesse in their places The starres abide in the heavens and descend to the earth So the Minister above all other must have his conversation in heaven and shunne earthlinesse and covetousnesse as rocks For how can he lead men to heaven that himselfe cannot be gotten out of earth Many shooting starres there are that are alwaies gliding from place to place posting after benefits insatiably and when they have gotten them as little intend the office as some secular men such all the world sees the world is all they seeke So they may finger the fleece the glebe the tythe let the flocke starve and sinke to hell and so they and their money and their people perish together 4 In unitie and concord One star differs from another in glory in shining and in luster one much excels another in beauty and brightnesse some are of the first and second magnitude some of the fifth and sixth yet all agree one envies not another nor hinders another so the Ministers have diversities of gifts in this life and this makes them of divers judgements but yet ought not to be adverse in affection in action None of the greater or higher Starres are proud none envious none spitefull against another none study how to crosse anothers motion If they should runne one against another or crosse one anothers motion the world would fall to confusion Such tumults and confusions like a dreadfull earthquake have wee seene in the Churches by the dissentions and hatefull proceedings of these Starres one against another forgetting themselves to bee Starres Brethren Ministers or Christians Many such Starres were in the Apostles dayes that shined and preached Christ of envy against such as preach him of good will 5 In constancy and continuance in their office The Starres never deny their light to men nor are ever weary of their motion though infinitely swift Ministers must never deny their light but freely enlighten others never be weary of doing their duty never fall to idlenesse and lazinesse much lesse cast off their callings remembring the wo denounced on him that preacheth not or doth it negligently A lamentable thing that any preferment should choake a Preacher or that he should do lesse worke the more wages he receiveth No earthly occasion hinders the starres either motion or shining Motives
more place in the Church to domineere and tyrannize against the Saints as they had done but they are now conquered and expulsed out of heaven Quest. 3. What conquest was this or when was it obtained Ans. The conquest of Michael against the dragon was 1. Generall 2. Speciall The former was when before this time the dragon was most powerfully conquered 1. By the death of Christ spoyling all principalities and powers 2. By his powerfull resurrection thereby conquering and triumphing over sinne death hell Satan the world the grave c. 3. By the powerfull preaching of the Apostles in the conversion of the world to Christ. 4. By the profession confession and Martyrdome of the Apostles themselves whereby the most potent tyrants were convicted and subdued This generall overthrow is not here properly meant but a speciall victory and overthrow of some speciall dragons that rose up afterward to waste the Church because this is a prophesie after S. Iohns time the proper interpretation and accomplishment whereof is plentifully cleared in Ecclesiasticall History For 1. What place had the dragon in the Church when those fierce Tyrants and tygers those imperiall dragons Nero Domitian Dioclesian Trajan and the other who shed a sea of Christian blood to abolish the very name of Christ were miserably destroyed and extinct by foule and fearefull deaths and destructions and some of them as Iulian the Apostate being wounded to death blasphemed with extreme fury cryed with his bowels and blood in his own hands Vicisti Galileae 2. What place had the dragon in the Church when noble Constantine had slaine those foure savage Tyrants and Monsters Maximinus Maxentius Licinius and Maximinian and became the great Protector of Christian faith and to signifie that now the dragon was overcome not without Gods speciall Providence he set up upon the gates of his Palace his owne picture with a dragon lying slaine under his feet and a Dart thrust through him as Eusebius reports which is a plaine demonstration of the accomplishment of this Prophesie 3. What place had the dragon in the Church when by the free preaching of the Gospell by orthodox Pastors and Bishops the Idols and heathen gods were cast downe their worship abolished their Temples destroyed Paganisme was turned into Christianisme and Christs Kingdome grew so fast as that it was received through the world in the places and countries where the dragons had formerly cast it out 4. What place had the dragon in heaven when those innumerable droaves of Heretikes such as Valentinus Basilides Manes Marcion Photinus and especially Arrius who had infected the whole world and other most deadly enemies to Christs person natures and offices were first wounded and smitten and condemned with the sword of the Spirit the hammer of heresies and after with the hand of God upō them in miserable and wretched deaths as Histories are plentifull in observation Thus have wee seene the truth of this Prophesie when and how the dragon and his Angels were cast out of heaven and their place was found no more Quest. 4. How can it be said that the dragons place was no more found in heaven seeing he returnes againe and renewes his warre against the woman vers 13. and 17 Answ 1. Our Saviour in Iohn 12. 31. saith The Prince of the world is cast out and so the death of Christ hath cast him out of possession so as although hee may come to claime yet never to possesse 2. He may come to assault the Church molest the woman but never to dispossesse her of her heavenly happinesse all the dammage he brings her is but nibling at her heele he cannot reach her head Ioh. 14. 30 The Prince of the world came against Christ but found nothing in him that is had no power no advantage against him and so it is in proportion with the members 3. Hee may shew himselfe in temptations and in raising horrible and hidious persecutions as at this day but without all power or hope of prevailing He comes not to stand to it if hee bee resisted nor to overcome in the issue but to be overcome and at last so fully overcome as his place shall never bee found in heaven nor in the Church but shall be bound fast in chaines of blacke and hellish darknesse for ever Doctr. Note hence that all the enemies of the Church shall bee finally destroyed so as their place shall bee no more found Iob. 20. 7. The wicked shall perish for ever like his dung and the eye that hath seene him shall say where is hee Psal. 37. 10. 36. Yet a little while and the wicked shall not bee yea thou shalt diligently consider his place and it shall not bee and He flourished as a greene Bay-tree but hee passed away and loe hee was gone I sought him but he could not be found For why 1. Gods curse takes hold on them and is too strong for them Genes 12. 3. I will curse them that curse thee This curse cuts off First their persons Psal. 37. 38. They that are cursed of God shall bee cut off Secondly their plots counsels hopes aymes and wishes as in the same place The end of the wicked shall be cut off and frustrate Thirdly their present jollity even in this life often the curse meets them in every corner as the Angell with his sword did Balaam so in Pharaoh Haman Iudas Iulian and almost all tyrants and heretikes came to lamentable destruction Fourthly alwayes their hoped happinesse in the life to come for as GOD hurles the wicked man out of his place in earth so hee sends him into his own place as is said of Iudas that he may dwell for ever in the place of his iniquitie Iob 8. 4. 2. Gods justice pursueth and hunteth the wicked man to destruction let him seeke never so many muses and burrows of craft and policie to hide himselfe in the Lords revenge followes him step by step till it overtake him 2 Thess. 1. 6. It is a righteous thing with God to render tribulation to them that trouble you Achan troubleth all Israel and the Lord troubleth Achan Ioshua 7. 25. the enemie makes the Saints drinke the cup of affliction but they taste but the top which is medicinable but the Lords justice reserves for him the dregs and bottome of his cup of wrath for poison they chase the Saints unjustly out of the earth with a sea of sorrow but the Lord justly casts them out of earth and heaven into a bottomelesse sea of everlasting wrath 3. They must bee covered with shame that warre with Sion Psal. 129. 5. First because she being Gods owne Spouse and delight hee accounteth her cause to be his her sufferings his her enemies his and cannot but out of love and jealousie avenge her quarrels and execute vengeance on her adversaries Deut. 32. 43. Secondly because her sonnes are the blessed seed If Mordecai be the seed of the Jewes Haman shall fall before him and make no
would be taken but the Lord provides a ransome for him the enemy himself shal pay his ransom himselfe shall suffer for him he shall sinke and perish that the other escape Herod seekes the Babes life his owne life shall ransome it and that the Babe may escape he shal die that sought the Babes life 4. The pride of wicked enemies must needs give them a fearefull fall For if for the humiliation and scourge of the Church God suffers him to prevaile a while the more he prospers in his way the more he provokes God and prides himselfe against him till hee be at the height fit to bee taken downe Rabshakeh because the gods of the Nations could not deliver the people out of his hands growes to high blasphemie against the God of heaven Psal. 73. 6 9. Pride compasseth them as a chaine and then they talke presumptuously and set their mouth against heaven so doe Papists at this day 5. As his seed time is so is his harvest like to bee As a man sowes so shall he reape he is ever sowing iniquitie and cannot but reape affliction Prov. 22. 8. his owne wickednesse takes him by the heele as hee brewes sorrow so must he drinke hee drinkes deepe of the cup of sinne and must drinke deepe of the cup of vengeance according to his conception so is the birth like to bee he hath conceived mischiefe and must bring forth wrath his sorrowes are comming on him as on a woman in travell as certain as sharpe but hopelesse and desperate Object The enemies have a wealthy and flourishing estate Answ. 1. All they have is from the wrath of God and shall in wrath be snatched away from them so that their place which knew them shall know them no more 2. Riches shall not availe in the day of wrath nor can deliver from death Prov. 11. 4. However our adversaries would blinde their Proselytes they shal know that wealth can never buy heaven nor release from hell nor Purgatory the next chamber to it as idle Monkes have dreamed Ob. But they are strong and potent and prevaile Answ. 1. They may prevaile for a time but shall not escape 2. It is enough they deceive themselves with a conceit of stability and sure footing but let not us be deceived for company but looke into the Scriptures we shall see that nothing is more vaine than a wicked mans prosperitie Psal. 37. 2. they are soone cut downe and wither as grasse there is a little flourish but no stability if the flower bee not cut downe it withers of it selfe and verse 20. They shall be consumed as the fat of Lambes offred in daily sacrifice which no sooner came to the fire of the Altar but it melted and vanished into smoake so are these and how thē are they stable shal we compare their vain and unstable stability with any thing more vaine Psa. 1. 4. see him compared to chaffe 1. Nothing is more vile than chaffe it is good for nothing so is nothing more vile than a wicked enemie of God and his Church 2. Nothing more vaine so nothing more light than a wicked man hee is lighter than vanity and can hold no waight Psal. 62. 10. let him be waighed as Baltasar he will be found too light and the heavier he is with sinne the lighter hee is to God 3. Nothing is sooner blowne away than chaffe nor nothing more easie to bee blowne away out of his place than a wicked man they may shew like Mountaines but are but heapes of chaffe they may seeme like rocks for firmnesse and stability but wanting solidity before God have no stablishment David did but looke off them and they were gone and their place not found Object But they continue long in their fiercenesse against the Church and we cannot hope of any issue or end of their malice Ans. For the time of Gods patience they are still but whē that is expired they are hurled away out of their places as chaffe lyes still unmoved in a calme season till a strong winde arise and then it is seene no more so wicked men who are chaffe may be still till the wrath of God as a storme or whirlewinde arise and carry them quite away see Hos. 13. 3. Againe though the Lord seeme silent while hee doth not teare them in peeces like a Lyon yet hee doth alwayes as a moth consume them when his wrath blazeth not out in flames at once to burne up these thornes yet it feeds on them as fire on fewell and moulders them away insensibly Object They have many faire pretenses for their practises they intend the advancement of religion the setting up of the ancient Catholike faith the suppressing of heretikes the blowing up these apostates and heretikes with whom no faith is to bee kept Ans. Iezabel may for a time cover her cruelty with pretext of piety and religion 1 King 21. but God will ere long shew that piety shall be no cloke to villany and murder Secondly let this provoke the enemies to some moderation toward the people of God if not for love of grace in them yet for love of themselves hee that would not goe under continuall expectation of sudden ruine let him cease his enmity against the people of God nothing in the world can save a wicked man from being cast away in his malice cast not downe thy countenance on them as Cain who was therefore cast out of his fathers house raise not false reports against them nor receive any invent not words against them as did Davids enemies Haman was hanged on his owne gallowes for such inventions and suggestions against Israel Afflict them not by word or deed by fraud or force for this is a token of perdition 2 Thess. 1. For the notes of a man whose place shall not bee found but hastening his ruine First one in the Text hee that is a plotter against Christ the Head or against his Members runnes upon the point of this heavy curse Iudas plots against Christ and presently his place was not found hee went to his owne place Act. 1. 25. the Jewes plotted against Christ and the Romans came and tooke away their place and Nation The Nation or kingdom that wil not serve thee shal perish so he that cōtrives against the members of Christ hasteneth his own ruine God gives such over to run riot that every one may see the end of their way Saul when he hunts David and had set an envious eye upon him and watched him mischief that all Davids piety and wisedome and innocency cannot prevaile but hee bolts on GOD gives him up to runne to witches which himselfe had condemned that all might see God gone from him Even so when men contrive against Gods servants against their owne consciences and their owne protestations as Saul did to David make grace and innocency their Butt to shoot at and as much hope to make a league with hell as with them God gives them
wicked enemies of it For 1. By these overthrows the most desperate enemies are daunted for a time and by the terrour of judgements discouraged from their mischievous enterprises against the Church Did not Gods plagues on the Egyptians stop their unreasonable violence against Israel yea however the kings heart was hardened to destruction yet the people were overcome so as to do them all the good they could leaving themselves bare and naked to adorne and enrich them with their Jewels And how hath the heavy hand of God felt by our enemies made them lesse bold to attempt the like mischiefes yea rather inclined them to be at a kinde of peace with us 2. By the dreadfull overthrows of wicked men the Lord sets up his Church and makes even the enemies themselves submit and stoop to her Psalm 18. 44. When Davids sword prevailes in the Lords battels strangers shall bee in subjection though dissemblingly The proud Aramites were forced to submit themselves wiih halters about their necks to the King of Israell 1. King 20. 31. 2. Chron. 32. 22. When that memorable judgement was executed against the King of Assur and his proud army many are said to bring offerings to Jerusalem and presents to Hezekiah who was magnified thenceforth of all nations So by the fearfull hand of God against proud Herod the Lord made his word to prosper and beleevers to multiply Act. 12 23. 24. 3. By the judgements of God powred out upon wicked men they themselves are convinced in their consciences and forced to acknowledge themselves in a wrong course and that the state of the godly whom they persecute is farre more happy then their owne If Balaam in his prosperity wished himselfe in the number of Gods people what did hee when the sword came against him in the slaughter of the Midianites Numb 31. 8. And when the Egyptians were hurled among the waves did they not wish themselves in the state of the meanest Israelites And shall not all wicked enemies who now brave it out against the Saints do so also when the waters of Gods wrath arise and beginne to returne forcibly upon them III Motives to this duty are these 1. The end proposed by the Lord of all his actions is the setting up of his glory but especially when in overthrowing the dragon hee sheweth forth all his glorious attributes of power justice hatred of sinne revenge of sinne as also of mercy care and love of his Church the over-mastering of her enemies for the terrour of all proud adversaries and the encouraging and confirming the faith of the Saints 2. As this is the Lords end so wee cannot disappoint him of this end without our own great prejudice For as thankfull praises for old mercies invite new so ingratitude being a bundle of many sins hinders the course and current of Gods blessings unto us If we would continue perpetuate mercies to ourselvs we must not deprive the Lord of his due praises 3. The Lord hath manifested his pleasure and that hée is well pleased to have the mindefulnesse of his mercies towards his people to dwell with his Church to beget in them more love of himselfe and a greater desire of promoting his kingdome Hence himselfe pleased to be the institutor of feasts speciall services for perpetuall memory of mercies deliverāces as the Paslover to perpetuate the memory of the Angels passing over the Israelites houses in slaying the first born of Egypt saving thē frō the revenging Angell And in their entring into the land of Canaan hee appointed the feast of Tabernacles in remembrance of all that providence and preservation of them and theirs from all enemies while they dwelt not in walled townes but in Tabernacles forty yeares in the wildernesse 4. The very Heathens themselves after their victories would institute publique solemnities to their gods in way of thankfulnesse and dedicate dayes and temples to them for remembrance and shall Christians come behinde them and as the manner is after victories eate and drinke and bragge and sweare in the meane time forget their songs to the Lord 5. We cannot better or liker to our life of heaven exercise our selves on earth when all the Saints shall solemnly and tryumphantly sing and sound out the glory of God for their finall deliverance from the Dragon and all his Angels by Jesus Christ when the Angels Saints Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs and all the blessed company of heaven shall joyne in the song of Moses and the Lambe Now the Saints on earth must resemble and begin this life of heaven and seeing all other services and spirituall duties shall cease and onely this shall remaine in heaven our care must bee that it cease not upon earth This doctrine casts out of the society of the Church such as grieve and repine at her prosperity and happy victories for he cannot be a member of the Church who rejoyceth not in her joy nor a sonne of this mother who is not glad in her prosperity Is it a note of a righteous man to rejoyce when hee seeth the vengeance Psalm 58. 10. what is hee then that pineth when hee seeth Gods revenge powred on the heads of his adversaries 1. Such as grieve when Antichrists kingdome is shaken when they heare any newes of defeating his forces and cannot containe or conceale themselves but by magnifying the Catholike Captaines and contemptuous discourses against the Protestants forces bewray what they are and on what part they stand good subjects must they needs bee while they bewray such sure affections to the enemies of GOD our religion our Countrey our King and our Kings Children and good souldiers to Christ and trusty who are sorry when their Generall gets a victory I cannot tell whether to impute their boldnesse more to want of grace in disclaiming the truth or want of wit in such discovery of themselves 2. Such as rage and storme against the power of the Word which discovers the nakednesse of Popery So shamelesse and foolish are some ignorant sots and so earnestly set for their Popish Dagon that if they heare any thing against the doating doctrines of Popery they are ready to tumult as the Ephesians for their Diana It is nothing with them to revile the Ministers and give them all the lie and charge them with ignorance or falsification But what need clearer evidence to cast them for treachery against Christ his truth and holy religion established by the lawes in regard of which if folly it selfe did not leade them they would forbeare 3. Such as cannor endure our solemnities and daies of publike joy for our deliverances against the bloody Papists but as Vipers swell with poyson and griefe that their mother hath any cause of joy and that the Church and Kingdome was lifted up by God from such destruction as never came into the heads of any wretches but Papists or devils The barbarous heathens could not expresse their joy sufficiently in their triumphs gratulatory rites
our losses great hee can if hee please double our portion as Iobs at the latter end Also for things pertaining to godlinesse and a better life we have strong consolation in that Christ hath power 1. To merit 2. To apply 3. To uphold 4. To perfect our salvation 1. He hath power to merit our salvation because he hath power to satisfie wholly by himselfe the justice of God without any piecing or patching to his merit and righteousnesse He hath power to pay the whole debt and to cancell the bill and hand writing that was against all Gods chosen He is of power to pardon sinne Mat. 9. 6. that ye may know the Son of man hath power to forgive sinne on earth and he hath power to fulfill the Law 2 He hath all power to apply his merit to our salvation because to this end he did mightily raise himselfe from the dead by his owne power and ascended into heaven that by a powerfull intercession he might apply his sacrifice to the Saints From thence he hath power to send his Spirit to acquaint us with the things given us of God And he is of power to worke faith in the hearts of the Elect whereby they may apply to themselves his whole merit and obedience while they are here below 3 He is of power to uphold our salvation divers wayes By setting us upon a strong foundation and a sure rocke not to be shaken by any contrary power By strengthening us by a powerfull word which is a mighty organ and a strong arme able to save 2 Tim. 3. 16. By comforting and strengthening us by the Spirit of strength and power 2 Tim. 1. 7. God hath not given us the spirit of feare but of power And by making us invincible in suffering Phil. 4. 13. I can do all things by the power of Christ assisting me Yea to saile by hell to heaven and to passe by the crosse to the crowne 4 He is of power to perfect our salvation and hath engaged this power to this purpose 1 Pet. 1. 5 Wee are kept by the power of God to salvation And why First He is of power to make our imperfect duties pleasing to God hiding all the imperfection of them under the mantle of his mercy Secondly He hath a superior power to al enemies that none of them can separate us or plucke us out of his hands for he hath the keyes of hell and death Rev. 1. 18. Thirdly He hath power to lead us through death dust into his owne glory so as we have assurance of a glorious resurrection by the working of his mighty power Phil. 3. 21. Fourthly He hath power not only of preparing mansions for us in his Fathers house but in the last day to descend from heaven to fetch us up to himselfe that wee may be ever with the Lord. Our Ioshua hath power to bring us into Canaan II. Here is a ground of comfort and encouragement in all well-doing and to goe on fearelesly in good duties wherein commonly we have the power of the world against us For why First He is of power to strengthen us of weake to make us strong Of our selves wee are able to doe nothing that we have any power to any thing that is good it is from his power His grace alone is sufficient for us 2 Cor. 12. 9. Without mee yee can doe nothing Secondly He is of power to reward our least labour of love to his name or Saints and all the power of the world cannot hinder him Thirdly He is of power to cleare our innocency to disperse the fogs and clouds of calumnie and reproches and to make our righteousnesse shine as the sunne at noone-day He can and will make our darknesse light Fourthly His power encourageth our prayers because he is able to receive them and doe abundantly above all that we aske or thinke Fifthly He is of power to make us perserve for he is able to perfect his worke and this power shall uphold a poore Christiā if the truth should faile from the Church and Kingdome Object I am weake and oftentimes carelesse in keeping my ground and grace Answ. Quicken up thy selfe become a member of Christ and if thy faith be weake that thou canst not comprehend him his power is strong to comprehend thee yea the weakenes of God is stronger then men 1 Cor. 1. 25. Object But the enemies are strong and powerfull Jesuites other seducers subtle and sundrie adversaries armed with power grace of times cruelty c. Answ. Yet this power of Christ layes such hold on every true Beleever that no seducer can deceive him nor no power plucke him out of his hands No power can dismember this Head nor reach their graces 6 He that is of power gave us strength when we had none is of power even in death and in our dust when al strength is gone both to keepe faithfully for us what we commit unto him till the last day also to renew us with strength as the Eagles and change our vile bodies to be like his glorious body like it in quality not equality in strength shining agility incorruption fitted as a glorious member to be united to so glorious an head and that for all eternity III Another ground of comfort is that out of this power of Christ we may conclude the stability of the Church which is his Kingdome This power hath upheld the truth these many hundred yeares against the divell the world the Turke Antichrist Popish Princes and forces against tyrants massacres inquisitions torments pouder-plots against false brethren and hypocrites that against all the gates of hell it is not onely taught and preached but triumpheth and conquereth so as all the world may see a mighty power protecting it The Church is an heavie stone to lift at because it hath all Christs power for it and therefore if all nations rise against it they shall be torne in pieces The truth is stronger then all and must prevaile at last it may be smothered as fire under ashes extinct it cannot be so long as Christ who is truth hath power to uphold it The promise is strong that all the gates of hell shall not prevaile against it For as Christ is truth that uttered it so he is Omnipotent to accomplish it This power shall ever keepe this Arke upon the waters from drowning Hitherto of the consolation Instruction also ariseth from this power of Christ and 1 To Ministers that they preach Christ the power of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. that is not onely by preaching to acquaint men with the power of Christ but so to preach as Christs power may be put forth in the Gospell which is the rod of his power and so as to bring in subjects daily under this power of Jesus Christ Preaching a mans selfe will not doe it nor preaching of men will not doe it nor every learned nor every idle discourse of Christ but to speak from the spirit and
Let the Turke come hee may expose the body to bee slaine with sword fire teeth of beasts and in all this nothing comes contrary to the condition of mortall men But let the Pope come and hee will doe all this and beyond all this by his fraud and impostures hee taketh the minde and delivers up the heart to bee ruled by the devill that lusts and vices as wilde beasts prevaile against reason religion and humanity it selfe and this is most unnaturall and monstrous If they spoyle our goods maime our bodies deprive us of our liberties there are some remedies and hope of recovery or by a right use of these tryals wee may better our selves in grace But if Antichrist withdraw us from grace delude our soules sit in our consciences and so cast us into the wrath of God what remedie is left Now shall wee finde that a gash in the soule as it is the deeper so it will prove more incurable than any bodily wound Of the third this tyranny of Antichrist is beyond all externall tyranny in the difficulty of recovery because it is more pleasing to sense than the other Externall oppression and tyranny every man naturally avoydeth and resisteth but this every naturall man chuseth and desireth for it dazelleth the eyes with external pompe outward splendor worldly power in all which it is contrary to the simplicity of the religiō of Christ. This Antichristian poyson which was by a voyce from heaven said to be powred into the Church in the dayes of Sylvester naturall men drink up without all inquiry and are willingly detained under Antichristian slavery and without a mighty arme of Christ a stronger than hee are never pulled out All this sheweth the fearefull wrath in this Antichristian tyrannie beyond all other III. The third argument will further cleare it that Satan commeth with greater wrath in Antichristian delusions than in any open tyranni◠or persecution besides drawne from the effects of this wrath which are more fearefull than any or all other judgements of God besides The miserable effects of this wrath are especially three 1. An upheaping of the measure of sinne In open tyrannies the enemy fights against the Christian man and this is the enemies sinne in this hee makes the Christian fight against Christ and his truth and his Church which is his own horrible sinne In the other it is miserable to see men besmeared and all imbrued with their owne blood but here is a greater misery to see men wallow in their inward filthinesse and bloody vices and pollutions The former may bee a meanes to open the blinde eyes and the sealed eares to bring in a sight and sense of sinne and soften the heart but here is nothing but increasing of sinne for this is a meanes to harden the heart more and blinde the eyes more and wrap men not onely in darknesse but in the hatred of the light 2. An unhappy resisting of the meanes of recovery In other tyrannie tyrants may chase men to the Rocke of their salvation and drive them toward heaven as Israel toward Canaan by the oppressions of Aegypt but this tyranny gallops men to hell and intercepteth all meanes of reconciliation and repentance so long as they are under this thraldome which is plaine in these particulars First it is a turning of men from truth to fables from light of Scripture to the darknesse of humane traditions and devises Secondly a going an whoring from Christ to many lovers and harlots Thirdly a denyall and renouncing of the onely sacrifice and merit of Christ. Fourthly a sinning against the whole Gospell and all the Offices of Christ. Fiftly a settling of men in contempt and hatred of holy Scriptures and now what greater plagues can be imagined than thus to fight against Christ and that salvation so dearely purchased by him 3. Another effect is a rushing headlong into a gulfe and maine sea of wrath This tyranny findes men sonnes of wrath but casteth them into a deeper wrath than it findeth them in For is it not a greater damnation to fight against the light than to want it Is not the issue in a deeper wrath to refuse the remedy than contract the disease Is not that judgement heavier which brings eternall confusion of the whole man than that which onely can bring the outward man to confusion Thus having cleared the doctrine wee come to the Vse 1. Of all judgements in the world beware of spirituall plagues in which is the greatest wrath which either God or the dragon can inflict on a man in this life We must more feare blindnesse of minde than of the body feare more the stone in the heart than the stone in the bladder feare more to be drawne to errour than to torment Wee have had great cause to feare the power and forces of Antichrist but much more the efficacy of his delusions For where God giveth up to efficacy of errour it is such a token of his wrath as except he should presently send him to the place of his iniquity he cannot strike him with a more severe judgement this being a signe that the Lord hath denyed or deprived such a one of his saving grace that hee hath rejected him from his care and speciall Providence and that hee meaneth to glorifie himselfe in his utter destruction Here for fuller application of this point consider two things 1. The markes of a man under this wrath 2. The meanes to avoid it The markes of one that lyeth under this wrath are these 1. Ill use of gifts bestowed and not profiting by good means of grace vouchsafed when Gods Word and Ordinances are too weake to prevaile with a people or person to reclaime him Esay 5. 4. What could the Lord doe more to his Vineyard Which when it failed of all his expectation hee would lay it waste nothing but bryars and thornes should thenceforth grow in it and hee would command the clouds to raine no more on it The unprofitable servant that imployed not his Talent to increase had his talent taken away and himselfe bound hand and foot unto execution Heb. 6. 8. the ground often watred and dressed that still beares thornes and bryars is neare a curse and the end is burning So the bad ground of wicked mens hearts which under a powerfull Ministery grow more stony more secure more hatefull their conscience more seared their courses more obstinate against the meanes of grace are neare a blow and the longer it is a fetching the heavier it will bee So when the Lord addes to his Word his hand and addes some stinging externall crosse to awaken the soule and bring it low before him but this gracious warning and summons is set out and no good use made of it it hardens so much the more as in Pharaoh and causeth the Lord to leave such persons to themselves as a father who cannot prevaile against his sonnes stubbornnesse by admonitions nor corrections leaves him with sorrow to himselfe or
the earth For First this was Christs commandement Goe teach all nations Mat. 28. Secondly the Apostles obeyed this commandement and fulfilled it Col. 1. 6 13. The Gospell is come unto you as it is unto all the world Thirdly the incredible swiftnesse and power of the Gospell shewes the divinity of it in that before the destruction of Jerusalem or within thirty yeares it was spred into all the inhabited world as many Fathers hold And therefore if any barbarous nation or new-found land bewray utter ignorance of Christ either they were not inhabited or they have had some sound of the Gospell but have suffered it quite to die and bee lost 3. The detection of Antichrist is so plaine and manifest in this fifteenth age past as children can point at him 2 Thess. 2. 3. 4. Horrible persecutions wasting the Church not onely by heathen Emperours but ever since by fiercenesse of Antichrist the Apollyon of Rome foretold in Mat. 24. 6. 5. Generall defection from the faith foretold in 2 Thess. 2. 3. through the spreading of the leaven of Popery which drove the woman into the wildernesse 6. Universall corruption of manners and obstinacy against the truth see Luke 17. 26. and 2 Tim. 3. 1. By all which signes Satan knowes that the last day which is the time of his torment is not farre off For the third Quest. What use makes Satan of this knowledge Answ. Knowing that hee shall shortly bee cast and confined into hell hee recompenseth the shortnesse of his time with cruelty of wrath This knowledge of his damnation doth but whet up his malice against mankinde and seeing that the sentence passed against him hasteneth upon him hee is so much the more busie to pull as many as possibly he can into his owne ruine and damnation a manifest signe of furious and desperate wickednesse Certaine things are hence to bee collected and observed I. There is a determinate time of Satans rage and of the Churches conflict against him The warre lasts not alwayes And why 1. There is an houre for the power of darknesle and but an houre that is a certaine and determinate time in which by Gods permission he may put forth his malice in the world but beyond it hee cannot passe Luke 22 53. 2. As it was with the Head so also with the members There was a time when Christ was assaulted and tempted in the wildernesse and a time when the Devill left him not willingly but because hee could stay no longer the date of his Commission being expired So there is a time when his members and disciples in the ship of the Church shall be tossed and almost covered with waves and a time when there shall bee a great calme Mat. 8. 26. 3. The wickeds rod must not alwayes lie in the lot of the righteous Psal. 125 3. Our mercifull God seeth our weaknesse and need of breathings and refreshings and so mingleth his cup according to our health and strength and as wee are able to beare Whereas were Satan and his Impes left to themselves they would never cease smiting and afflicting 4. Our experience sealeth the truth of the promises who after a storme meet with a calme after a weary hill a sweet dale and after darknesse see light And it assureth of the maine promise of all that after a good fight fought there is a crowne of righteousnesse to bee given by the righteous Judge Which incourageth us with constancy and patience to stand out a little while in this fight Re. 3. 10. there is but an houre of temptation and cannot wee watch one houre are wee sure of victory if wee stand to it but one houre more and shall wee faint Heb. 10. 37. Yet a very little while and hee that will come shall come therefore cast not away your confidence but care a while and be ever safe Behold the field is even almost wonne the battell even at an end and wee are in the last houre of conflict a few stragling enemies are to be rooted out and therefore let us renew our courage and strength as those that are not at leasure either to feare or feele the blowes seeing victory is in our hands already Also it may comfort us in all the assaults and troubles of this life in ward and out ward seeing God hath determined them all and hee that hath appointed the beginning hath appointed the end also The try all is but a storme or cloud and it will vanish And if Satans rage bee limited to a time to a short time so is the wickednesse of his instruments and this time they shall not passe And if now bee the season in which the Lord useth them justly as rods to afflict his children yet ere long these rods must be cast into the fire 2. Note here that the sharper the aslault of the dragon is so much the shorter it is the fiercer the wrath the lesse time it lasteth For why 1. The harder a man worketh the sooner will his worke be done the more busie and violent Satan is the sooner will his measure be full the sooner shall the Elect bee tryed and purged and chased to heaven and the sooner will hee bring destruction on the wicked whom he gallops to hel and hastens to swift damnation 2. Violent things cannot bee lasting or perpetuall and extremes are nearean end It is true that wicked spirits and men are in their affection endlesse and perpetuall in their violence against God and all good things and persons and therefore according to this affection their plagues are endlesse but actually violent they cannot alwayes be First because themselves cannot long subsist but must give place to death and hell Secondly if themselves would never end yet would God put an end to their violences as Matth. 24. unlesse God had put an end and measure to those miserable dayes of Jerusalems destruction no Jew had beene left but for a few Elect God shortened them Which greatly comforteth Gods people in the midst of the great confusions and tumults now stirring in the world 1. Doe wee see iniquity abound and sinne more shamelesse than in former times Is the Sunne in the heavens a witnesse against the earth of such contempt of the Gospell and despight of the grace of GOD the bringers and messengers of it and professors of the grace of God as former times of the Gospell cannot parallel Doe wee see envy cove tousnesse idlenesse and scorne of godlinesse in Ministers see we the raigne of drunkennesse adultery pride blasphemy obstinacy and desperate impenitency in people such as is wonder the earth openeth not her mouth as hell to swallow up her inhabitants so highly sinning against such a light Now hence wee must conclude that the devill is come downe in this age with more than ordinary wrath and in more tyrannous manner than in former dayes And in this outrage of sinne see the outrage of Satans wrath and
that the more furious his wrath is the shorter it is like to bee For this is an infallible signe of the last times and the last houre when Satans wrath seemes to mingle heaven and earth let us lift up our heads the Lord is not farre off to put an end to this confusion 2. Doe we see Antichrist furious and wrathfull laying about him with both his swords so busily as that hee is in hope to gaine the morsell he hath long gaped for Doe wee see him make havocke and waste in the florishing Churches of Bohemia the Palatinate and other parts of Germany is he casting downe the worship of God banishing the Scriptures of God killing the Ministers and people of God setting up his Idols and puppets for gods before those that receive his marke in their hands and foreheads What may we hence gather but these two things First that we are cast into the last of the last times for the nearer wee are to the last moment of the last houre so much the more busie shall wee see Antichrist and the spirit of error active in putting forth their wrath Second that Antichrist his time is short the sharper the assault is the shorter it will bee and how can hee that reads the Scripture with judgement but know that as there is an houre of judgment vengeance to light upon that Antichrist Rev. 14. 7. so it is not farre off their neckes 2. Let all wicked men beware of boldnesse and fiercenesse in sinne which argues them not only delivered up to the wrath of the devill but that their time is not long for their measure fils apace See it in Iudas how industrious hee is neare his death A man in the high formes of sinne easily loseth his life in the service of some sinne or other God usually taking them at their hight and top How many judgements of God witnesse this truth dayly upon drunkards swearers riotous persons and quarrellers who come to untimely deaths and seldome live out halfe their dayes How suddenly hath the Lord taken downe proud and scorne full persons in the hight of their pride and pursuit of his children examples are too many to recite And how many wicked men are so like the devill that as he refuseth not to bee thrust into Hell at the judgement-day on condition he may play Rex against the Church and vexe and torment the Saints till then so these care not for hell and damnation afterwards so they may a few dayes live as they list and bring to passe as lawlesse persons their wicked devises and villanies in trampling downe the servants of God and in service to their owne damnable lusts as drunkards swearers revengefull men and the like 3 Wee must from the dragons practise picke out our lesson and dutie concerning our owne time 1 As the divell knoweth and observeth his time so must wee labour to know ours and the fitnesse of it for dutie Christ sharply reprooves the Jewes for not knowing their time Luk. 12. 56. Why discerne ye not this time Mat. 16. 3. Hypocrites can yee discerne the face of the sky and not the face of these times How few be there who know the happy times and opportunities they enjoy Satan knows the time of his mischiefe and slips it not men know not the day of their visitation nor the acceptable time nor the day of salvation which God offereth for grace and conversion The Lord may justly complaine of us as of the Jewes Ier. 8. 7. The Crane the Storke the Swallow know their times but my people know not me How else comes it that the Lord stretcheth out his hands all day long and knocketh continually by the hammar of his word at the dore of every mans heart offering the precious mercies of grace and glory but who open unto him or answer his gracious invitation Why do our youth riot out their time and cast the care of religion into their last accounts but because they know not their time Did they consider that youth is most fit for impressions of grace that grace is in that age most gracefull that now they have fresh wit quick senses all powers lively instruments for grace and that now they have strength and vigour called for 1 Ioh. 2. 14. to overcome evill knew they such a seed time of grace would they sow to the flesh would they not seeke wisdome early Whence els is it that our elder men after long teaching and trayning in the profession are as ignorant as children spend their time as vainely as the heathen in earthly lusts but because they never knew their time Should not they that have had more meanes have beene more expert in the word doth not their time who have beene bred up in the profession and lived twenty or thirty yeares in it call for double or treble measure of knowledge and grace as they have doubled or trebled their yeares beyond others the divell would be loth to slip any part of his time so foolishly Why else do our great and rich men wallow in lusts feed their senses pamper their bodies cast away their soules eate up their time in eating gaming riot and wantonnesse but because they have not learned neither from Gods booke nor the divells diligence to know their time and the fitnesse of it for their owne good Have they not many houres free from so necessarie labour as poore men are bound unto as many houres free from cares and distractions for necessaries which lye heavy on poore men many houres and dayes in a weeke free to hearing reading prayer meditation want they any thing but grace and will to do themselves good and doth not their very time tell them if they knew the voyce of it that they ought to be as farre above others in grace and piety as place and opportunities of grace But why be these so farre below their inferiors in knowledge in practise in use of the meanes why do they suffer the poore to receive the Gospell and the grace of it from them but because they know not their time neither the worth nor use of it and therefore they so miserably wast it 2 As the dragon knows his time is short and therefore bestirres him so wee must know our time is short and yet hath long wings to fly swiftly from us and therefore not to wast it out idly Object Who knows not that his time is short experience and sense teacheth it every day few children but can shew some markes of their parents mortality Answ. Sense and observation and experience may teach the dragon that his time is short But thou must have a better and higher teacher or else thou canst not learne this lesson And therefore Moses seeing few men wiser by the sense and experience of the shortnesse of their lives and uncertainty of dayes and that nature and experience cannot teach this skill to benefit themselves by the frailty of themselves or their predecessors goeth