the windings of his tail are against Jesus Christ so they are against us He tempts us as I said before somtimes to question our son-ship and somtimes to destroy our selves and someimes to fall down and worship him by his setâ—ing before us the glory of the world as he did before Christ The eleventh thing to be enquired into is What the third part of the stars of Heaven are which by the tail of the great red Dragon are drawn out of heaven and cast into the earth The third part of the stars of heaven are those that are unstable infirm unsetled not built upon the sâ—re foundation that in appearance have shined like stars in heaven they are not to be understood the material stars but it is a Metaphorical kind of expression borrowed from the stars they shined as the stars As there hath bin some in our days that have shined so in shew but are now cast down out of heaven into the earth so that now their lights are put out they themselves are become earthly worldly carnal and the like The twelfth thing to be be enquired into is What the earth is into which the great red Dragon casteth the third part of the stars of heaven The earth somtimes is put for the men of the earth As O earth hear the word of the Lord sometimes it is put for the material earth as Gen. 1. 20. but here it is to be taken for that which the first man is off the first man is of the earth earthly so that it is taken for that earthly mindedness worldliness wickedness wretchedness and filthiness which was in Adam after his fall The thirteenth thing to be enquired into is What the meaning of the great red Dragons standing before the woman which was ready to be delivered is standing is a posture of readiness to devour so that it holds forth this the readiness that the Dragon is in to devour the man-child and that term before her that is before the womans face facing of the woman the womans readiness to be delivered signifies her being nigh at hand to bring forth Now what a sad thing it would be for a woman to have one that seeks her life and the life of her child stand facing of her when she is ready to bring forth it will endanger both the woman and child so it is here O what a sad thing it is to the Church of Christ to have the great red Dragon stand facing of her when she is ready to be delivered of Jesus Christ it is the only way to make the Church of Christ miscarry Thus you see that the meaning of the Dragons standing before the woman holds forth That there is a readiness in the Dragon to devour the Babe either by facing of the woman and so making of her miscarry by reason of fear or by devouting of the Babe when he is born The fourteenth thing to be enquired into is what the meaning of that saying is for to devour her child as soon as it was born To devour is to eat up quite to make an end of as soon as it was born that is so soon as it was brought forth So soon as ever the Saints of God are in a readiness to bring forth Christ in them the great red Dragon stands before their face for to devour him he cannot endure Christ should be in them or brought forth in them but seeks to destroy him 〈◊〉 just as Herod and the Scribes and Pharisees after Christ was born did seek to devour Christ without us so the Dragon seeks to devour him within us and for this purpose she stands before us and faceth us that he might be the more ready to catch and lay hold of Christ and quash the appearing of him in us You know what a sad thing it would be for a woman to have her child as soon as it was brought forth snatcht from her and devoured and eaten up before her face O how it would trouble her So for a soul to have Jesus Christ so soon as he is brought forth in it snatcht from it and devoured and eaten up before its face O what a sad case that soul will be in O how it will cry out for is Jesus is Jesus as the woman would for her child O my child my child The terms in the words being thus explained the first Thesis or Basis upon which I shall build my discourse is this That there is such a thing as the great red Dragon in heaven It is cleer from the words and it is cleer from other Scriptures as that Scripture in Luke 10. 18. saith Christ to his Disciples I beheld Satan fall as lightning from heaven he was in heaven and Christ saw him fall from his seat Question But you will ask me What Is Satan in heaven To that I answer as followeth First Satan in heaven is Satan in a Priestly shape Secondly Satan in heaven is Satan in a Prophetical shape Thirdly Satan in heaven is Satan in a Kingly shape First of all Satan in heaven is Satan in a Priestly shape appearing as the Priest Christ Jesus acting his Priesthood doing the very office and work of Christ as offering sacrifice to God putting up petitions to him praying and the like Secondly Satan in heaven is Satan in a Prophetical shape as the Prophet Christ acting him as a Prophet prophesie as he did that is to say speak to edification exhortation reproof and of things to come O how Satan hath bin in heaven in some in this respect in our days In what a Prophetical shape he hath appeared who have prophesied out of their own hearts who have followed their own spirits and have seen nothing but vanity and lying Divination saying The Lord saith and the Lord hath not sent them and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word and they have with their lyes made the heart of the righteous sad when God hath not made sad Ezek. 13. All which we cannot but see fulfilled in our days Thirdly Satan in heaven is Satan in a Kingly shape acting the Kingly Office of Christ reigning ruling and commanding within the heart and without as Christ But to make things more plain the Dragon in heaven is the Dragon on high Secondly The Dragon in glory Thirdly The Dragon at rest For heaven presents us with all these three things Height Glory and Rest First of all The Dragon in heaven is the Dragon on High that is to say in the Chair Seat and Temple of God shewing himself that he is God and saying that he is God 2 Thes. 2. 4. He it is that exalts himself as the Eagle that sets his nest among the stars Obad. 1. 4. He is that Lucifier that ascends into heaven and that exalts his Throne above the stars that sits upon the mount of the Congregation in the sides of the North Isa. 14. 13. He is that Capernaum which is exalted unto heaven and which shall be
Christ shall not shine into your Souls he will have you one way or another and if he cannot prevail one way he wil another he will endevor to catch you by the inclination of your mind and nature he will watch which way they are carried so set a trap for your spirit Secondly If it be so That there is such a thing as the great red Dragon in Heaven then Friends take heed of him for he stands at Joshuah's right hand he will appear in his white rayment to you because you are Saints he will put on his most beautiful robes when he appears to Saints thereby to deceive them Take heed of his Heads lamb-like Horns and glorious Crowns lest by his subtilty strength and glory he fetch you down from your professions and though he appear in never so much glory stoop not at all and do not obeysance to him O noble Saints no not a jot notwithstanding his crowns of glory Thirdly If it be so That there is such a thing as the great red Dragon in Heaven having seven heads ten horns and seven crowns upon his heads be not afraid of him let not his monstrousness trouble you do not fear lest he should by his policy and strength set upon you fear not his strength nor policy your God will strengthen you with strength in your Souls by the Spirit against him never think that you shall not be able to deal or grapple with him seeing God will make perfect his strength in your weaknesses Do not cry out O surely surely I shall be overcome by his temptations but rather fill your mouths as Christ did his against him with It is written It is written It is written and bring no railing accusation against him as Moses durst not but cry The Lord even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke him then you shall see him go from you and leave you as he did Christ Fourthly If there be such a thing as the great red Dragon in Heaven and that this Dragon is the old Serpent and the Serpent is the Devil and Satan then this may serve to inform some that deny the Dragon old Serpent Devil and Satan that say there is none such I say this may serve to inform them of the truth of it that there are such Quest But may some say If there be such from whence is the Dragons rise otherwise the Serpent Devil and Satan 2. What was his fall And 3. where is this Dragon otherwise the Serpent Devil and Satan Answ. Without question his rise with other Angels was from God but his not keephis first state but falling away from it was from himself and in himself Secondly What was his fall It was this He being at first a good and holy Angel himself and partaking of the brightness of the angelical Glory living and dwelling in the same with the rest of his Brethren the Angels fell from his first estate or principality and lost his own former habitation or beginning and God hath reserved him in everlasting chains under darkness unto the Judgment of the great Day Jude v. 6. The forsaking of the Society of his fellow good Angels if I may so say and forsaking of his first estate of Glory leaving his former habitation was his fall like Adam and us who left our first estate and habitation which was in God and fell to the eating of that which was forbidden 3. Where is this Dragon He is in the Ayr 2. He is in the children of disobedience Eph. 2. 2. wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the power of the Ayr the Spirit that now works in the children of disobedience The second Thesis or Basis upon which I shall build my Discourse is this That the Tail of the great red Dragon is that by which the Dragon draws the third part of the stars of Heaven out of Heaven into Earth This is clear from the words what the Dragon and the Tail of the Dragon is and what Heaven and Earth is I have at large shewed before and therefore I will not unfold the terms again but make some Application of the words First This may serve to inform us of the truth of this how that the great red Dragon by his tail draws the third part of the stars of Heaven out of Heaven and casteth them into the Earth This we may see fulfilled in our days how many shining stars hath the tail of the great red Dragon drawn out of Heaven and cast into the Earth So that though they shined as stars in Heaven before now they are become earthly worldly carnal and wicked and do not stick to commit all manner of wickedness with greediness Quest But may some say How doth the Dragon with his tail draw the third part of the stars of Heaven out of Heaven and cast them to the Earth These manner of ways following That is to say First He deals with them as with Adam and Eve just as he drew Adam and Eve to eat of that which is forbidden so he draws the stars of Heaven out of Heaven and casteth them into the Earth See how he drew them to eat of that which was forbidden Gen. 3. Yea saith the Serpent unto the woman hath God said Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden No saith the woman We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden but of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden we may not eat of it nor touch it for God hath said it lest we dye Yea hath he said it is it indeed so are you not mistaken are you sure God spoke it See how the Serpent sets upon her and endeavors to make her question the authority of Gods Word And hath God said Ye shall surely dye that is certainly dye If you eat ye shall not certainly dye Here the Serpent makes himself to have more power then God Ye may eat safely ye shall not though God hath said it dye For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as gods knowing good and evil As if the Serpent should say Let God say what he will you shall not dye for instead of dying if you eat your eyes shall be opened and you shall be as gods in the knowing of good and evil Come saith the Serpent eat do not fear you shall not dye for you shall know good and evil and ye shall know good and evil as gods know it even that very day you eat it shall be so ye shall no sooner eat but it shall be so These things he gives as Reasons that the woman should not dye if she did eat because her eyes should be opened and they shal know good and evil as God that very day they did eat Now when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasant to the eyes and that it
was a tree to be desired to make one wise the woman takes of the fruit thereof and presently falls upon eating See when the Serpent had made her question the authority of Gods Word and told her that she should not certainly dye if she did eat but her eyes should be opened and she should be as God in the knowing of good and evil and likewise had perswaded her that the tree was good in respect of food and pleasantness to the eye and that it was a tree to be desired because it makes one wise the woman together with the man presently takes of the fruit of it and eats as I said before The man and the woman had a desire to have their eyes opened they had a desire to see but not in the light of God they thirsted after knowledg they coveted to be as God in knowing good and evil they coveted to be that which God would not have them they coveted to satisfie their eyes and their pallates they coveted wisdom that was not the wisdom of God and this was their fall So that though they shined like stars of Heaven before now they are cast down from thence into Earth and are become now earthly worldly carnal and sinful So that this is one way that the Dragon draws stars out of Heaven into Earth by making Souls question the Authority of Gods Word whether or no it be true The second way or manner how the great red Dragon draws with his Tail the third part of the stars of Heaven out of Heaven and casteth them to the Earth is by taking of them up into an exceeding high mountain that is by lifting them up on high and so shewing of them the glory of this world by promising them it if they will fall down and worship him Thus he hath dealt with many in our days he hath exalted them on high and given them a sight of his glory as credit honour repute esteem in the world which are the Devils glory Now those that have been like shining stars in Heaven in the appearance of others the great red Dragon by the presenting of this his glory before them hath by his Tail drawn them out of Heaven and cast them inthe Earth So that this is another way the Dragon takes to draw the third part of the stars of Heaven out of Heaven and cast them into the Earth he shews them the glory of this world and by that draws them out of Heaven into Earth as he hath done many in our days who are turned from their shining like stars in Heaven to the Devils glory that is they seek after credit honour repute and esteem in the world of which thing we have had woful experience in our days The third way and manner how the great red Dragon draws with his Tail the third part of the stars of Heaven out of Heaven and casteth them to the Earth is by his false application of Scripture to Professors as that place of Scripture 1 Cor. 6. 12. All things are lawful And if all things be lawful then say they all manner of wickedness is lawful and so we may commit it The Apostle saith not there that all manner of wickedness is lawful as fornication idolatry adultery and the like for saith the Apostle in Vers 13. The body is not for fornication but for the Lord And besides if we look in the beginning of that 13 Verse he speaks of meats for the belly And in 1 Cor. 10. 23. he speaks not there neither that all manner of wickedness is lawful though many say it is confirmed from these places of Scripture for he speaks against that in the beginning of the Chapter and besides he speaks there of going to feasts and eating of meats and in Vers 19. he speaks of his liberty to do those things which the weak could not And then that of Rom. 14. 14. the Dragon makes a false application of to poor Souls I know and am perswaded by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of it self but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean to him it is unclean Say some nothing is unclean to us no not sin we can commit any sin for we esteem not any thing to be unclean but those that do to those it is sin O subtle Devil He speaks in the Chapter of observing days and eating herbs he doth not there speak that sin in it self is not unclean whether they esteemed it not to be unclean or whether they esteemed it to be unclean sin is unclean And then that place of Scripture the Devil makes application of to Professors Tit. 1. 15. Vnto the pure all things are pure but unto them that are defiled and unbeleeving is nothing pure but even their minds and consciences are defiled We are pure say they and so all things are pure to us adultery fornication c. we are not defiled but beleeving and so all things are pure to us but those that beleeve not their minds and consciences are defiled O poor creatures where are you who hath bewitched you The meaning of that place is not that sin is pure to those that are pure and beleeving that is a delusion of Satan for those words all things are meant days and meats See in Rom. 14. 20. All things saith he indeed are pure but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence In which Chapter he speaks of meats and days as I said before which are now pure to him seeing the Ceremonial Law is abolished by Christ which put a difference between meats Thus you see how the Devil beguiles them thereby leading them to all manner of wickedness So that this is another way the Dragon takes to cast shining stars out of Heaven into Earth he makes false application of Scripture to them and so draws them out of Heaven into Earth The fourth way and manner how the great red Dragon draws with his Tail the third part of the stars of Heaven out of Heaven and casteth them to the Earth is by ushering in Errors with these six glorious Truths following that is to say God doth all things Is all things All things are in God All things are of God All things are through God And all things are to God First of all God doth all things and it is clear from Scripture 1 Cor. 12. 6. He worketh all in all But yet it is to be taken that he doth all things in his Son nothing out of his Son by him and in him he made the world and he upholds it by him But with and under this glorious Truth the Devil ushereth in somewhat that is not truth thereby to draw those that are like shining stars in Heaven out of Heaven into the Earth that which he ushereth in in this saying God doth all things is this If he doth all things then he doth sin he acts sin there is not any thing that is but he doth it wickedness is that he doth
A WONDER and yet no WONDER A GREAT Red Dragon in Heaven REVEL. 12. 3. And there appeared another Wonder in Heaven And behold a great red Drogon c. 2 COR. 11. 14. And no marvel for Sathan himself is transformed into an Angel of light LONDON Printed by J. Macock for Giles Calvert at the black spread Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1651. To my deerly beloved friends which are in Christ Jesus Grace Mercy Peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ THat which at this time moved me to present you with this ensuing Discourse is that heavenly and glorious shape and form wherewith the great Red Dragon is now come forth in the Spirits of Professors never was the Dragon in more glorious habit then now O how he is arrayed how his mouth is ful fraught with pretended immediate and perfect enjoyments of God in the Spirit under colour of which he seeks to deceive and by his taile to draw those down out of heaven into the earth that have shined as stars in heaven he is great and he is red that is to say he is mighty and he is bloody His mightiness and bloodyness lye hid under his glorious appearances He is called in Scripture that old Serpent whose tail is full of windings and turnings who was of old in the begining Gen. 3. He is called likewise the Devil and Sathan a Deceiver and an Adversary he is all these names under beautiful Discoveries and appearances of God he is wrapped up and covered in and under Doctrines Speakings Writings of men and Discoveries of God he ushereth in Errors with glorious truths In his appearing to Professors he looks first how their Natures are inclined he casteth an eye first at the bent of their Spirits That way which they are inclined he wil sute himself in apparell if they be inclined towards Notions Fictions Forms or pretended high injoyments of God without power he sutes himself accordingly he makes use of Scripture likewise to strengthen him in his Designs These and many others are his subtilties now adayes this Dragon is described to be a wonder in heaven Revel. 12. because of his seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns upon his heads a wonder indeed you wil say it is when you come to be taken up with John into the Spirit The Dragon wants no wisdome to tempt deceive and devour for he hath seven heads no power to bring about his designs for he hath ten horns and he wants no glory wherewith to promise to professors if they will fall down and worship him because he hath seven Crowns Beloved Friends therefore I have written this ensuing Discourse likewise to shew you the multiplicity of subtilty power and glory that is in him to deceive and which I have seen to be in him Do not therefore O do not slight what I have written though confused and scattered it is the day of smal things which God would not have you despise consider well what I have written before you begin to censure it and if you finde any truth in what I write mind that more then he that writ it If you inquire whose this Discourse is it is the discourse of a bruised Reed and of smoaking flax of a suckling of a babe in Christ out of whose mouth God will perfect his praise Yours in him who is the truth and no lye Edw. Hide Junior REVEL. 12. 3 4. And there appeared another wonder in heaven and behold a great Red Dragon having seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns upon his heads And his taile drew the third part of the stars of heaven and did cast them to the earth And the Dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered for to devour her child assoon as it was born IN the beginning of this Chapter There is a great wonder spoken of which appeared to John and which he saw a door being opened in heaven to him The wonder is as followeth A woman clothed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet and upon her head a Crown of twelve stars This woman is the Church of Christ his Spouse the Lambs bride as appears by many places of Scripture as Ephes. 5. 32. Revel 31. 9. The Sun wherewith she is cloathed is that light and glory which shines forth in the Gospel which is Christ the Son of Righteousness for so he is called in Malac. 4. 2. but unto you that fear my Name shall the Sun of Righteousness appear with healing in his wings The Moon is a light below the Sun and borroweth its light from the Sun and is nothing but that light and glory which shined and doth now shine forth in the Law The terme under her feet is nothing else but beneath her the Crown of twelve stars which is upon her head holds forth that Royall and Kingly glory wherewith the Church of Christ is cloathed so that the meaning of the wonder is this It holds forth that multiplicity of glory which the Church of Christ is in and under for there is a glory of the Sun a glory of the Moon and a glory of the stars a crown of twelve stars above her the Sun of righteousness in the midst of her and the Moon under her feet so that there is glory above her glory in the midst of her and glory beneath her insomuch that she is hem'd in with glory or it holds forth that variety of glory under which the Church is for there is one glory of the Sun another of the Moon another of the stars for one star differeth from another in glory 1 Cor. 5. 41. This woman so cloathed with glory being with child and cryed travelling in birth and pain to be delivered there appears presently another wonder in heaven which is that which I intend now to speak to And there appeared another wonder in heaven and behold a great red Dragon having seven heads and ten horns and seven Crowns upon his heads c. The words are one of the Wonders which John saw being taken up by the Spirit into heaven there being a door opened to him It is said in heaven it appeared to him from whence we may draw this conclusion That there is no seeing of a Wonder but in heaven there is no seeing of heaven without being taken up by the Spirit into it unless a door be opened in heaven to us If we have a desire friends to see a Wonder we must desire God to take us up into heaven and there to open the door of heaven to us for so Iohn was taken up into heaven see Revel. 1. 10. and there a door was opened to him see Revel. 4. 1. This Wonder is a Wonder indeed What That a great Red Dragon should be seen in heaven Stand astonished and be amazed ô ye heavens was there ever such a thing heard of If you could but see it you would stand astonished and admire But to come neerer to
the words Behold it is a word of Speculation See take notice of what a great Red Dragon where may you say in heaven O Wonderfull this is a strange thing indeed how can this be To make it plain we shall enquire what this word Wonder is it is somewhat seen which causeth admiration It signifies a sign what this Wonder or sign is It is a great Red Dragon in heaven having seven heads and ten horns and seven Crowns upon his heads But you will aske me what is this great Red Dragon in heaven I shall shew you what it is by and by but first we shall enquire into 1. What heaven is in which this great Red Dragon appeared 2. What the appearing of the great Red Dragon in heaven is 3. Wherefore it is called another Wonder 4. What the great Red Dragon is 5. What those Epithites are which are given unto him 6. The place where he is 7. His seven heads 8. His ten horns 9. His seven Crowns upon his heads 10. What his Taile is 11. What the third part of the Stats of heaven are which by the taile of the great red Dragon are drawn out of heaven and cast into the earth 12. What the earth is into which the great Red Dragon casteth the third part of the stars of heaven 13. What the meaning of the great Red Dragon's standing before the woman which was ready to be delivered is 14. What the meaning of that saying is For to devour her child as soon as it was born The first thing to be enquired into is what heaven is in which this great red Dragon appeared Heaven is taken variously in Scripture sometimes it is taken for the materiall heaven the Firmament Gen. 1. 8. Sometimes it is taken for things that are or may be shaken yet once more I shake not only earth but heaven it self and this word yet once more signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken as of things that are made that those things which cannot be shaken may remain Heb. 12. 26 27. Now those things that are or may be shaken are Prophesies Tongues and Knowledge see 1 Cor. 13. 8. But heaven in this place is taken for the glory and light of God which Stephen saw when he was praying The second thing to be inquired into is what the appearing of the great Red Dragon in heaven is It is this there was seen a great Red Dragon in heaven by John it was such an appearance as was accompanyed with seeing so that Iohn could say I saw it and it was no lying wonder that he saw but a true one what an excellent thing it is for a man to declare nothing but what he hath seen what hath appeared indeed to him by a door being opened in heaven to him as Iohn did or by being taken up in the Spirit as he was The third thing to be enquired into is Why it is called another Wonder That is because of the Wonder going before in the first verse of this Chapter And there appeared a great wonder in heaven a woman cloathed with the Sun c. The fourth thing to be enquired into is What this great Red Dragon or Wonder is It is the old Serpent called the Devill and Sathan which deceiveth the old world Revel. 12. 9. Revel. 20. 2. And he laid hold on the Dragon that old Serpent which is the Devil and Sathan and bound him a thousand years So that if any enquire what the great Red Dragon is that Iohn saw It is the old Serpent called the Devill and Sathan but what is the old Serpent the Devill and Sathan He is called the Devil and Sathan and he is the Devil and Sathan The Wonder is the Dragon in heaven the Dragon is the old Serpent the old Serpent is the Devil and Sathan I pray mind it for there are some now adayes that hold neither Dragon old Serpent Devill not Sathan you see that there are such and that from Scripture if you do not deny Scripture and I my self by woful experience have found that there are such Quest But may some say What is the cause why the Dragon is the old Serpent and the Serpent is called the Devill and Sathan Answ. The Dragon is the old Serpent because the Serpent was from the begining he it was that craftily and subtilly insinuated into Adam and Eve and prevailed with them for to eate that the fruit whereof was death and he is called the Serpent because of his subtiltie and because of those windings and turnings that are in him as I shal shew hereafter and the Serpent is called the Devill because of his accusing the Saints day and night before God for the word devill signifies an Accuser and he is called Sathan because of that aversness that is in him against the Saints for Sathan signifies an Adversary the Serpent Devill and Sathan are nothing but the Dragon multiplyed the Dragon come forth into variety the Dragon made known under three denominations for as I said before the Dragon is the Serpent and the Serpent is called the Devill and Sathan and he is the Devil and Sathan The fifth thing to be enquired into is what those Epethites are which are given to the great Red Dragon they are two First he is Great Secondly he is Red First he is Great that is he is a hughe Dragon very large and big his greatness doth many times affright a Saint it was not a little one that Iohn saw but a great one such a one as did beget admiration a Saints adversary is a great Devil a mighty one not a small one that is the reason many times that Saints are faint to take to themselves the whole Armour of God to withstand strong and great Goliah Secondly He is Red That is another Epethite which is given to the Dragon as greatness holds forth bigness and mightiness so redness betokens bloudiness cruelty O! he is a bloudy and cruel Dragon no less than the bloud of Saints will content him If he can but draw bloud of a Saint he is satisfied Saints see what an enemy you have to wrestle with but let not his greatness and bloudiness affright you for he is a chained Dragon Jude v. 6. The sixt thing to be enquired into is the place where he is that is in Heaven John saw this wonder in Heaven Heaven as I said before was the glory of God It is not a local place which some fancie to be in the Firmament neither consisteth it in meats and drinks but in Righteousness Peace and Joy Rom. 14. 17. The seventh thing to be enquired into is what the great red Dragons seven heads are Seven you know is a perfect number and the head holds forth Wisdom Policy and Craftiness for in the head are all these We use to say such a one hath a wise crafty politique head So that the meaning is this That there is a perfection of Wisdom Policy and Craftiness in the great red Dragon to
brought down unto hell Matth. 11. 23. Secondly The Dragon in heaven is the Dragon in Glory which is nothing else but the Dragon in an Angel of Light 2 Cor. 11. 14. Gal. 1. 8. And no marvel for Satan himself is changed into an Angel of Light And Satan was changed into an Angel of Light in those false Apostles in this respect in preaching another Jesus Spirit and Gospel that was not preached received and accepted and truly we may see the Dragon changed into an Angel of Light in our days in this respect There is another Jesus preached that was not preached not that Jesus which dyed at Jerusalem but one which is within us say some when as he that dyed at Jerusalem and he within us is all one Jesus or another Jesus that is they preach salvation by works another Spirit which is a Spirit of freedom to do any manner of wickedness and another Gospel which is justification by Works not that Gospel which Paul preached That Christ dyed at Jerusalem for our sins according to the Scripture and that he was buried and that he rose again 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. In which saying lies hid more glory than we dream of and is more hard to be believed than many think it is Thirdly The Dragon in heaven is the Dragon at rest for Heaven notes rest See Revel. 18. 7. She saith in her heart I sit a Queen and am no Widdow and shall see no sorrow She sits a Queen sitting notes rest she sits a Queen that is as one in State and Honour and no Widdow that is she is in no Widdows state which is a sorrowful state she sits a Queen there is the great red Dragons being at rest in her which is the Dragons being in heaven I shall further illustrate it by these four following things that is to say The Dragon in Heaven is the Dragon in and under things that seem to savour of Piety Zeal Holiness and Righteousness The Dragon in Heaven is the Dragon I say covered over with a seeming savour of Piety Zeal and Holiness He pretends much Piety Zeal and Holiness in Professors much Prayer much Fasting much keeping of the Sabbath much giving of Alms as in the Scribes and Pharisees he did When the Sons of God came to present themselves before God He came with them Job 1. 6. which was to shew how religious he was but under these his specious shews lies subtilty mingled with bloudyness and cruelty Secondly The Dragon in Heaven is the Dragon in Peace for Heaven notes Peace that is at quiet with a Professor that he doth not disturb nor molest him night nor day so that the poor soul knows not what to do Now the Dragon is then in Peace when he sees all is so in the soul as he would have it he will never trouble that soul but if it be not so in the soul as he would have it as it is not in Saints O then he is never at Peace and Quiet but is always tempting and troubling it so that the soul hath no quiet in its Spirit the Dragon thinking thereby to bring about his Designes Thirdly The Dragon in Heaven is the Dragon in joy Now then the Dragon is in joy if I may so say when by his tempting and troubling of a Saint he hath gotten the best of him then he rejoyceth O how merry and joyful he would be indeed if he could quite ruine a Saint The Dragons joyfulness lies in the Saints sadness trouble and overthrow The more or less sad troubled or overcome they are the more or less is his joy Lastly The Dragon in Heaven is the Dragon in a pretended perfect immediate and high enjoyments of God in the Spirit Allegorizing the Scripture and so denying the letter thereof Those whose eys God hath opened cannot but subscribe to this for this is to be seen now a days in Professors O how have they pretended perfect immediate enjoyments of God in the Spirit under pretence whereof denying the Scripture O how they have vaunted and said we enjoy God immediately that is without the Scripture Alas what is the Scripture say they how scornfully they have spoken of it though it be profitable for Instruction that the man of God be throughly perfect to salvation as Paul saith Some there are that Allegorize the Scripture and under pretence of that make void the Letter which allegorizing the Scripture they call the spiritual interpretation of the Letter when as the spiritual interpretation of the letter is that interpretation which the Spirit of God gives of the Letter It is true there are some things in Scripture which are to be taken otherwise then they are set down in the letter that is when they are allegorically parabolically and symbolically spoken But they allegorize every place of Scripture almost which I know no warrant for and so deny the letter I will name but one place of Scripture and that is in 1 John 4. 2. Every spirit that confesseth Jesus Christ come in the flesh is of God that is come within us say they And so under pretence of this deny Jesus Christ in manifestation in the flesh and suffering at Jerusalem c. and so utterly overthrow what Christ hath done for us and so they become the greatest Antichrists in the world There are two sorts of Professors in the world that deny Jesus Christ come in the flesh One sort of Professors are those that altogether look at Jesus Christ within them and deny him without them and these are those that deny Jesus Christ come in the flesh and so are the Antichrist There is a second sort of Professors that look at Jesus Christ altogether without them as one suffering at Jerusalem and being raised c. but never look at him as within them they never find the Life Power and Spirit of him within them and so they are Antichrist as well as the other Now that Professor which acknowledgeth Christ come in the flesh and Christ come in his flesh and whose faith is fixed on Christ as one in the Heavens and in every place and as one that is in his heart as well as he is in the Heavens and in every place is not Antichrist If it be so that there is such a thing as the great red Dragon in Heaven then beg of God a sight of him in Heaven for you cannot see him till a door be opened in Heaven to you as there was to John He may stand at your right hand and left hand and you see him not Till you be taken up by the Spirit into Heaven you cannot discern his seven heads ten horns and seven crowns that is to say those multiplicities of subtilties policies and glory wherewith he deceives poor Souls and till you know his tricks you cannot beware of them but he will set upon you on every side and you shall see it not he will blind your eyes that the light of the glorious Gospel of Jesus
With this snare the Dragon catcheth many Souls Secondly God is all things and it is dear likewise from Scripture 1 Cor. 15. 28. That God may be all in all He is all things in and to Saints he is Righteousness Peace Joy strength against sin and he is all out of them abroad in the world he rules and he raigns God is all that is he is the Substance of all things he goes beyond all he is all in this respect likewise because he brings about all things so that this is a glorious Truth God is all things Now the Dragon he ushereth in with this Truth this Error If God be all things then he is sin and wickedness and if he be all things then he is this Dog this Tobacco-pipe he is me and I am him as I have heard some say Thirdly All things are in God this is a glorious Truth likewise from Scripture All creatures all created things are in him But yet it is not to be taken that they are materially in him but vertually radically Now this great red Dragon ushereth in with this glorious Truth another Error thereby as I said before to draw shining stars out of Heaven into Earth which Error is If all things be in God then surely sin is in him and I am in him though I walk never so wretchedly But stay a little you run too fast There is a two-fold Being in God First There is a Being in him so as to live move and have our Being Secondly There is Being in him by vertue of being born again So that here you are caught Fourthly All things are of God this is cleer from Scripture likewise Rom. 11. ult. for of him are all things and that in 1 Cor. 8. But to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things all creatures all created things which belong to the old Creation and to the new Creation are of him though in a different sence they are of him but yet because they are of him yet this doth not follow that these creatures and created things are himself as some say then were every created thing and creature a God and so make an infinite number of Gods all things are of God say they if all things be of him then sin is of him and not of the Devill and we are of him and if we be of him then we are himself for whatsoever is of him is himself Stay a little that will not follow for as I said before if that were a truth what a many Gods would you make And besides that will not follow that sin is of him because all things are of him for the Scripture saith sin is of the Devil and therefore not of him he is not the cause of it These are those Errors which the great Red Dragon ushereth in with this truth All things are of him Fifthly All things are through God This is a glorious truth suitable to Scripture see Rom. 11. ult. For of him and through him are all things It is through him that such a thing comes to pass and that such a thing is and that we are alive it was through him that the Jews were cut off and the Gentiles ingraffed into a good Olive tree it is through him that is it was Gods doings here the great red Dragon ushereth in an Error with this glorious Truth Are all things through him then sin is through him all that wickedness that I commit is through him that is by his means it is through Gods means that I am an adulterer fornicator c. he is the Author of it O thou deceived creature the Devil hath thee fast sin is through your corrupt nature and the Devil and not through God Sixthly All things are to him that is a a Truth likewise from Scripture Rom. 11. ult. And to him are all things to whom be praise c. All things are to him that is to his praise to set forth his praise And here the great red Dragon ushereth in this Error If all things be to his praise then sin is and therefore I will sin for all my sins that I commit shall be to his praise and the more I sin the more it shall be to his praise These are the six manner of ways by which the Dragon ushereth in Error with Truth thereby to draw the stars of Heaven out of Heaven and cast them to the Earth The fift way and manner how the great red Dragon draweth with his Tall the stars of Heaven out of Heaven and casteth them to the Earth is by the Dragons winding with his Tail into Professors rotten and unsound Principles But you will ask me What are they These following that is to say That they are very God and infinite and Almighty as the very God is That they are in Honour Excellency Majesty and Power eqâ—ally and the same with the true God That the eternal Majesty dwells in them and no where else That there is no such thing as the Holiness and Righteousness of God That unrighteousness in them and the acts of uncleanness prophane swearing drunkenness and the like filthiness and bruitishness are not unholy and forbidden in the Word That these acts in them and others are approved of by God and that such acts and the persons that commit them are like God That the acts of denying and blaspheming God or the Holiness and Righteousness of God That the acts of cursing God swearing prophanely and falsly by his Name and the acts of lying stealing cozening and defrauding others the acts of murther adultery incest fornication unclean Sodomy drunkenness filthy and lascizious speaking are not things in themselves shameful wicked sinful impious abominable and detestable in any person That the acts of adultery drunkenness swearing and the like open wickedness are in their own nature as holy and righteous as the duties of prayer and giving of thanks That whatsoever is acted by them whether whoredom adultery drunkenness and the like may be committed without sin and that such acts are acted by the true God or by the Majesty of God and by the Eternity that is in them That Heaven and all happiness consist in the acting of those things which are sin and wickedness That those are most perfect and like to God and Eternity which do commit the greatest sins without least remorse or sense That there is no such thing really and truly as unrighteousness and sin but as a man or a woman judgeth thereof and that there is neither Heaven nor Hell neither Salvation nor Damnation and that these are one and the same thing and that there is not any distinction between them or between light and darkness That Reason is God That we shall not have peace and quietness in our spirits till we come into this liberty of whoring swearing and the like That man is deified That the spirit after a man is dead goes into a Dog or Cat That God beleeves in God That all the women in