Constantine the Great After these things he sheweth the fall of the Empire and the rising of the Ten Kings by the Emblem of a Beast with ten Horns that came up out of the Sea Chap. 13. ver 1. This Beast doth signifie the Roman Tyranny in the last and the Antichristian Edition And he further addeth in the latter times of this Kingdome that the Eternal Gospel shall be preached to every Kindred Tongue and Nation Chap. 14. ver 6. 7. Then also the deceived Kings shall be undeceived and The Kingdomes of this world shall become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ Chap. 11. 15. That is those Kingdomes which formerly were the Kingdomes of the Beast shall become subject to the Laws of Christ and of his Gospel Here is a plain Example though not in the Age of the Apostles of whole Christian Nations in the times of the Gospel I willingly yield That the preaching of the Gospel is that by and through which primarily and immediately Churches are gathered yet by the Authority of the Magistrate the same Gospel also is countenanced Laws are made Parishes are divided Ministers maintained and the Body of the Nation brought to attend to that which is or at least may be the mean of their Salvation I cannot think but with great horrour what would ensue if the Designs of some men should take place It would be the very Abaddon and Apollyon to the Church of God But let us look what is spoken of the Kings of Europe They shall hate the Whore and make her desolate and naked and shall burn her flesh with fire Chap. 17. If they shall hate the Whore then they shall destroy the Idolatries and Superstitions of that Church which they did formerly so love and admire and on the contrary part they shall countenance the Gospel bring in their People and do as much for the Church of Christ which they did formerly persecute and hate Of the New Ierusalem it is said The Kings of the Earth shall bring their glory to her Chap 21. But lest any should think That this is meant onely of the Glory of the Church in Heaven Let sundry passages of the Prophet Esay be considered The scope of all whiâ—…h is to shew That the Kings of the Earth shall bring their Glory unto the Church There is much spoken also of the coming in of whole Nations of the Conversion of Kings and the adorning of the Church by the bounty of Kings Reade Chap. 60. per totum with many other places If these things were rightly considered men would not have such prejudices against a National Constitution and setting up of the Gospel by the Authority Power and Command of Kings and Princes What shall we make of the Reign of Christ upon the Earth Is it not directly and diametrally opposite to the Reign of the Beast And the Reign of the Beast let the Angel himself together with our own experience shew wherein the formality and the being thereof doth consist So he speaketh The Horns which thou sawest are ten Kings which have received no Kingdome as yet but receive power as Kings one hour with the Beast These have one minde and shall give their power and strength unto the Beast These shall make war with the Lamb but the Lamb shall overcome them for he is the Lord of lords and King of kings Rev. 17. ver 12 13 14. The effence of the Kingdome of the Beast lyeth in the Confederacy of Kings and in their yielding themselves to the Name and Headship of the Bishop of Rome This is the Reign of the Beast upon the Earth So by the Rule of Proportion the Reign of Christ and of the Lamb shall be in the holy association and concurrence of Christian Princes to set up the Gospel of Christ his Name and Headship as the Regent-Law among the Nations From all that hath been said it is cleer That this Doctrine is not contrary to the Authority of Magistrates nay it is most forcible and effectual to establish the Laws and Government of the Church Upon the same grounds I do here desire to speak a word or two and Oh that I could speak it with tears The Reformation in Germany and now lately in England hath been and yet is much deformed by abalienation of the Churches Revenue and in passing away that which former Ages have bestowed I may speak of a great part at least upon the preaching of the Gospel These are Scandals to the Enemy Let our Consciences in the mean while judge Whether this be not a Scandal given rather then a Scandal taken Whether we do not open the mouthes of the Enemies of the Lord to speak evil of the Reformation And whether we are not faulty in this Point Moses went in Gods way and by his Command and it was a glorious work to deliver Israel from the Bondage of Egypt yet withall when he was in the discharge of so excellent a work then the Lord stood in the Way to kill him Exod. 4. 24. Our Armies are going forth against the Enemies and the Proteâ—…ant Armies are like to go forth more and more These are the times or at least do border upon the times of the Suâ—…per of the Fowls of the great Vintage of thâ—… Batâ—…el of Armageddon There are like to be great Commotions of State Army against Army in the times of the end of the Beasts Kingdome And therefore by collation of all Circumstances we cannot be fat off from the performance of all that hath been foretold It is meet for us to see our own sins and specially that which I have hinted before we go on in the Lords work These things I have thought good to annex by way of Appendiâ—… My purpose is not to speak any thing to please or diâ—…please any Party Neither can I tell how any Party will be pleased with me it may be I may displease all However I do desire to please mine own Conscience in delivering that which I conceive to be a Truth of God There is one thing whiâ—…h I think meet more â—…ully to explain my self in I have in the preceding Treatise made it a good part of my work to prove the Roman to be the Fourth and the last Metal Kingdome and that the Roman doth begin in the consideration and notion of such a Kingdome when the Church and the Conâ—…inent of the Church came under the Dominion and Soveraignty of the People of Rome This I know the followers of Iunius will not away with and many learned men in these times do follow this way of Interpretation But because we will not unnecessarily controvert and make our selves more enemies then needs we will be content to say That the Roman doth begin at the end or ending of all four Metal-Kingdomes and where they end in the method order and way of account the Roman doth begin And whereas we have endeavored Chap. 6. pag. 116. to prove the beginning of the Roman as The fourth Metal-Kingdome to be at that instant of time when the Church came under the Dominion of that People the same Arguments mutatis mutandis will prove the beginning of the Roman at the end of all four Metal-Kingdomes And so the followers of Iunius and we shall agree in the substance of the Interpretation Let us compute the Name or Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome as Decreed and Enacted under the Emperor Phocas and in that series and way of account it will be 666 years from the beginning of the Roman as that great Empire doth succeed at the end of the four Metal-Kingdomes Here is the Name of the Beast and the Calculation according to the Number of a Man according to the Divisions and Parts of the Body of Man in Daniels Image If we go either way the Account will be made good FINIS Hier. in Levit. Quot verba tot mysteria quot syllaba tot sacramenta 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iren. lib. 2. c. 39. l. 3. c. 3. â—…us l. 3. c. 23. Epiph. Haeres 51. Rev. 16. Acts 1. 7. * In his Treatise concerning the Kingdom of Christ upon the Earth Note Note Note Note * And besides the Testimonies of Josephus Dio the Historian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iews 〈◊〉 Taxâ—…d by Gabinius 〈◊〉 3â—… Note
THE CONSCIENTIOUS READER Whosoever he be that hath a Minde given to him to calculate the Times and to search into the sense of the most admired Book of the Revelation BEfore I come to the Body of the Treatise it shall not be impertinent to remove a few prejudices in the beginning and that I may the better be understood briefly to shew the whole Patern of the Work When the Spirit doth speak of the Name of the Beast and the Number thereof he doth insinuate that every vulgar understanding is not fit for such a Computation For saith he Here is wisdome let him that hath understanding count the Number of the Beast c. Now I do not assume to my self such a peculiarity of wisdome above other men for none hath greater cause to have the consideration of his own unworthiness to be set before him But because I have had a long time a great inclination to the study of the Prophecies to compare them with the stories of the Church and finding the Lords blessing upon mine endeavors I am the more willing to communicate that to others which I have found to befor my private satisfaction I may speak it with modesty that I have spared no pains to compare the whole Body of the Prophecy Period with Period Time with Time Vision with Vision I have perused many Commentaries both of the Modern and Ancient Times and used all means convenient for the discovery of Truth And therefore though in this kinde of Learning I will not take it upon me to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet I may be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though I have not this wisedome I do profess my self to be the lover and admirer of them that have it Now whereas it may be some prejudice that in this Treatise mention is made of a Fifth Monarchy and the Reign of Christ upon the Earth I must needs acknowledge the truth of the Doctrine rightly stated but not as the Opinion of the Chiliasts which doth ordinarily congregate with it many Heterogeneal Falsities and Unsavoury Errors For though there may be cause to maintain the Reign of Christ upon the Earth yet it is not necessary to maintain his Visible and Personal Reign And though there may be cause to defend the Resurrection of the Martyrs slain in all the times of the Beasts Kingdom yet it is not necessary to defend their historical literal and corporal Resurrection at the beginning of the thousand years And though with Mr. Brightman and Mr. Forbes we hold the New Ierusalem to be the glorious state of the Church upon Earth yet we are far from the riot of their Opinions who hold that men shall live without Ordinances without Sin and Misery in those times But if it be further alledged That they that are for this way the very best of them have many absurdities I answer That Piscator Alstedius Mede and some others have but generally spoken of the thing and have not descended to particulars And as they have had great reason to depart from other interpreters so have they used great moderation in managing the Point leaving many things for the discovery of future times On the other side for the 1000 years I would gladly know of them that differ Where they will seat this period of time If they will say That it is the state of the Church in Heaven then let them shew what is the Battel of Gog and Magog and how the Camp of the Saints and the Beloved City may be besieged in Heaven But if they take it for the Reign of Christ upon the Earth then they must necessarily come to admit one member in this disjunctive They must say Either this period of time is already past or else it is to come If it be already past VVhere hath the Church enjoyed these years of her Felicity and of her rest from Persecutions upon Earth Adde moreover to all this That the Reign of Christ for 1000 years is immediately opposed to the times of the Reign of the Beast and the Resurrection of the Martyrs to their death that hath been in all Antichristian times Those Souls are onely represented in the figure to live again that were beheaded for the Word of God and for the testimony of Iesus that had not Worshipped the Beast nor received his Mark c. If therefore we will rightly understand the meaning of these things here is no Visible or Personal Reign as some do imagine But when the Gospel of Christ is set up as the Regent-Law among the Nations then the Lord Christ doth take the Kingdome and doth begin to Reign And this the Lords Name be praised is begun already by the Preaching of the Eternal Gospel by Luther and others Rev. 14. 6 7. For now whole Nations Kingdomes and Common-wealths have set up the Faith of Christ as the Religion of the State when it was persecuted and trodden down before by the Authority of the Bishop of Rome and by all States and Governments that did own and submit to him as Head of the Church And for the Martyrs I conceive That here is no liâ—…eral and corporeal Resurrection of their Bodies onely Iohn in the Vision and in the Figure saw the Souls of them that were Beheaded for the Testimony of Jesus And the times of the Antichristian Tyranny being ended he saw their deliverance and emersion from under this kinde of death These things I thought good more largely to note to take off the prejudice of the Millenarian Opinion Meer necessity doth compel me to maintain that which I conceive to be a truth of God And if the matter were rightly stated I believe here will be nothing found that will cross the Analogie of the Christian Faith the Authority of the Magistrate and the support of the Publick Ministery but rather it will establish all these things But to come a little more near to the main scope of the present Discourse Seeing I take 666 to be the Number of years to the setting up of the Name of Universal Headship in this perhaps they may be offended that are against all Calculation of Prophetical Numbers But for such a way in general we have good ground from the Scriptures both of the Old and New Testament If any have gone too far in other Points to determine to a particular year before the Prophecy hath been fulfilled and so have been mistaken in the present case there cannot be the same suspicion of Falshood VVhen we say That 666 is the Number of years to the setting up of the Name or Universal Headship of the Beast in which respect it is called the Number of the Name in this we are on the surer side because the truth of the thing is already verified and made good in the experience of the Church And whereas all the Reformed Churches and our late Assembly of Divines in their Confession of Faith Chap. 25. Sect. 6. do place the formality of Antichristianism in this as the
19. vers 1 2 3 4 5. That when the Saints did sing their Halelujah at the Judgement upon the great Whore then a voyce was heard The Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth vers 6. Here I demand Did not the Lord God Omnipotent Reign before He did not Reign before in the sense of that text For the great Whoâ—…e had Ruled all the world and had corrupted the Earth by her Fornications all was under her Power and she spilt the Blood of the Martyrs at her own pleasure But at her destruction the Lord Christ did begin to Reign and that was the time of the marriage of the Lamb of the glory of the Gospel-Church when the Lamb's Wife had made her self ready vers 7. So it is said Rev. 11. 15. The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall Reign for ever and ever Here I demand Were not the Kingdoms of this world the Kingdoms of Christ before the sound of the Seventh Trumpet before the fall of the great City before that time when the Kingdom of the Beast began to be destroyed I Answer They were his Kingdoms jure by Right they were his by vertue of Purchase 1500 years ago and more but he entered not into the actual Possession till the destruction of the Tyrannical Kingdoms of this world He received Institution jus ad rem above 1500 years ago but he had not Inâ—…uction jus in re till the destruction of the Beast's Kingdom And therefore these words are specially and Emphatically added 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou hast taken to thy self thy great Power and hast Reigned In which words the holy Spirit doth insinuate That before the sound of the Seventh Trumpet the Lord Christ by his own free and voluntary permission did suffer the Beast and other Monarchical States to encroach upon him and to detain his Power for 1260 years At the end of this time he doth resume and take the Power to himself alone This is the scope of the Prophecie And for the Argument of Mr Hayne That Christ was an established King upon Mount Sion when Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired against him I will further adde That in those times when the Beast ruled over all and when all worshipped his Image and received his Mark in those very times the Lamb stood upon Mount Sion and with him 144000 having their Fathers Name written in their forehead chap. 14. vers 1. Now I believe none that understand the scope of the Prophecie will affirm That Christ was stated in his Monarchical Kingdom in all the times of the Reign of Antichrist upon the Earth To speak properly These were rather the times of the Patience of the Saints and of the Exinanition and concealment of the Glory of Christ's Kingdom The Kings did agree to give their Power to the Beast and must do so till the Word of God be fulfilled When this is done the Beast shall be destroyed his Body shall be given to the burning Fire and then the Lord Christ shall begin to Reign Mr Hayne It must be granted That Christ's Kingdom when it was set up was more powerful than Romes which to this day never could though assisted by the Gates of Hell either by Might or Policy prevail against Christ's Kingdom Answer It is true That the Kingdom of Christ is in it self stronger than any Monarchical Kingdom whatsoever But the great Question is Whether it be his mind at all times to eâ—…ert and put forth his Power If this had been his mind why did he not dash in pieces the Babylonian the Persian the Graecian and the Roman Powers as soon as they had any Being Why had they any liberty given them to Afflict the Saints In these Variations and Changes of Empire the Lord Christ would not put out his Power till the times of his Reign upon the Earth should begin Again We do not absolutely and simply affirm That the Lord Christ did not exert and put out his Power in the times of the Metal-Kingdoms For he armed his Saints with Faith and Patience and made them able to Suffer But this we affirm He did not put forth his Power to the destruction of these Kingdoms in their Tyranny and Rage against the Church When the Babylonian stood in all greatness of Power it could not overcome the Spirit of Christ in the Three Children And when the Ten Horns did agree together to give their Power to the Beast The Lamb did overcome them for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful chap. 17. vers 14. It is manifest then That the Lord Christ did put out his Power to hold up the Faith of the Saints and to make them able to Suffer But for the present he did not break those Tyrannical Empires in pieces to make them submit to the Laws of the Gospel He did not nor will not exert and send forth that part of Power till the time and season doth come when his Monarchical Kingdom shall begin The Apostle saith 1 Tim. cap. 6. vers 15. In his times he will shew who is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the only Potentate the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords He will set forth his Monarchical Sovereignty and Potency but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in his own times in that season which the Father hath appointed for his Sovereignty and Dominion Now that time according to the Scriptures is at the end of the Metal-Kingdoms and more particularly at the end of the Antichristian Kingdom But let us proceed Mr Hayne Christ in S. Iohn's time was the Prince of the Kings of the Earth Rev. 1. 5. Had all things given him by his Father Luk. 10. 22. All Power in Heaven and Earth was given him before his Ascension Matth. 28. 18. So that he was the Head of the Church his Body and in Place far above all Principalitie and Power and Domination and every Title and Name that is Named not in this world only but in the world to come Eph. 1. 21 22. Therefore at Christ's being here on Earth or near unto that time he had an absolute and boundless Sovereignty far above all Monarchs that hereâ—…ofore lived or shall ever live hereafter Answer To this matter I have spoken before scil That the Kingdom given to the Son at his Ascension was far greater than any Earthly Kingdoms whatsoever But the Question here is Whether did he enter into the Possession of that Kingdom yea or no There was a Power given to Christ at his Ascension by vertue of which he was able to destroy the Beast the false Prophet the Dragon Gog and Magog Death and Hell and all other Enemies yet we see that he doth not nor will not execute and put forth his Power in their destruction till the time appointed of the Father till the Saints have passed the time of their Patience and Sufferings
Such a sense may be admitted For we read in the Scripture That the Davidical Kingdom should be destroyed for the sins of Manasseth King of Iudah 2 King 23. 26. yet the destruction was many years after his death Though such a sense may be admitted yet it will not stand in the present case for in this Chapter the little Horn is said to continue till the destruction of the Fourth Kingdom It is said in express terms in the 26 Verse That the Iudgement shall sit and they shall take away his Dominion to consume and to destroy it to the time of the end Here I demand Whose Dominion is it that they shall take away Is it the Dominion of the Fourth Beast Hornless and harmless No This is immediately spoken of the little Horn that should wear out the Saints of the most High and should change Laws and Times a time and times and half a time Touching this little Horn it 's said That the Judgement shall sit and they shall take away 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Kingdom They shall bereave him of his Dominion Therefore it is clear That the times of the little Horn shall continue to the end of the Beast's Kingdom and to the beginning of the Kingdom of the Saints And yet further Daniel did desire to know the truth of the Fourth Beast and of the Ten Horns of the little Horn that came up after them I beheld saith he and the same Horn made War with the Saints and prevailed against them until the ancient of dayes came and judgement was given to the Saints of the most High the time came that the Saints possessed the Kingdom vers 22. From these words also it is manifest That the times of the little Horn do extend to the beginning of the Kingdom of the Saints Now how this should be verified in Antiochus Epiphanes it is not as yet made so clear to me But if you apply this to the Papacy all things will agree for it is manifest That the Two-Horned Beast in the Revelation must wear out the Saints a time and times and half a time Rev. 12. 14. Rev. 11. 7 8 9. Now when this time is once fulfilled the Beast and the false Prophet shall both of them be cast into the Lake of fire and the Reign of Christ and of his Saints shall begin upon the Earth Rev. 19. 20. Rev. 20. 1 2 3 4. But by the way because some stand for a Personal Reign of Christ at the end of the Fourth Kingdom because then the Son of Man is said to come in the clouds of Heaven I Answer That they have no Reason to take that strictly which we can prove from the Harmony of Scripture ought to be construed with some kind of Latitude These things are shewed to Daniel who saw afar off as joyned together and yet in experience they do not meet in the same juncture of time As for example A man that traveleth in Wales or some such-like hilly Country while he is yet at a long distance he may see the tops of two great Mountains as though they were near together yet when he cometh to look upon them with a more distinct view the one may be ten or twelve Miles beyond the other in the distance of place It is well known also That when the Apostles made mention of the coming of Antichrist they also spake of the end of the world 2 Thess. 2. What then shall we argue as many do That the Discovery of Antichrist will not be till the end of the world This cannot be We that live in these times may see more clearly That Antichrist hath been revealed many hundred years ago and the end of the world is not yet come If therefore a Reason be demanded why these two The Revelation of Antichrist and the End of the World are coupled together we may say That the Apostles who saw afar off spake of these things because they should happen in the last times though in the particularity of time the one might be before the other In like manner the Prophet Daniel who lived very remote from the Dissolution of the Fourth Kingdom from the glorious Kingdom of the Saints and from the coming of the Son of Man in the clouds of Heaven to him all these things in the general and in the lump may be represented together when in a more distinct and particular consideration the one may be before the other The consuming of the Kingdom of Antichrist with the word of his mouth and the establishment of the Kingdom of the Saints may be before the Personal appearing of the Son of Man in the Clouds of Heaven But now it is not to our present purpose to meddle with this Difficulty That which we have to say is only concerning the Fourth Beast That either he must signifie the Seleucian or the Roman Kingdom But we have proved by many Arguments against Dr Willet and others That the Seleucian cannot here be meant Therefore we may safely conclude That the Fourth Beast with Ten Horns is the proper Embleme and Type of the Roman Kingdom From whence also we gather That Daniel in his Prophecie and Iohn in the Revelation so far as this Point is concerned do speak of one and the same matter And by the Interpretation of the one we may finde out the sense of the other Prophecie There is no Principle that can be more useful and demonstrative than this To discover the Truth by the Harmony of the Prophecies Now let us go to the beginning of the Roman as the Fourth Metal-Kingdom and so let us see how there is a Chain of 666 years from that beginning to the Universal Headship of the Beast This shall be the Subject of the Chapter following CHAP. VI. That the Beginning of the Roman as the Fourth Metal-Kingdom is not from the time of Julius or Augustus Caesar or from any other vulgar Beginning but precisely from that instant when the Church of God came under the Dominion of the Romans 60 years before the Birth of the Lord and 666 before the going forth of the Decree That the Bishop of Rome should be Head over all the Churches THere are in this Proposition Two Parts that need special Confirmation First That the Roman did begin as the Fourth Metal-Kingdom when the Church came under the Dominion of that People Secondly That from this beginning there is the space of 666 years to the Universal Headship For the Beginning of the Dominion of the Romans according to different Relations men may differently state the Epocha thereof But laying aside all other considerations we are to note in what sense Daniel doth begin it as the Fourth Metal-Kingdom And here I stand upon it That we are principally to look to the state of the Church How the Church and the Continent adjoyning came under the Dominion of that People For the clearing of this we will also demonstrate two things First That the Beginning of
Roman Obedience or that all had the Mark of the Beast who were Subjects under that Jurisdiction To speak properly they sin onely against the Kingly Power of Christ and his Regal Office as Mediator that submit to the Roman or rather to the Antichristian Dominion in these last times Princ. 12. The Mark of the Beast ought so in special to be expounded that the whole Company which câ—…rrieth the Mark may be set in direct opposition to the 144000 who had their Fathers Name written in their Forehead This is clearly proved from the collation of two Scriptures Chap. 13. ver 16 17 18. with Chap. 14. ver 2 3 4 5. In the former Scripture we have a description of those that worshipped the Image and received the Mark and immediaiely after them there is the description of those that were with the Lamb upon Mount Sion and had their Fathers Name written in their Forehead It is plain then That there is an immediate Antithesis or Contraposition betwixt the Lamb and the Beast the Name of the Lamb and the Name of the Beast the Followers of the Lamb and the Followers of the Beast There is then a perfect contrariety betwixt these two as may be seen in the whole Body of the Prophecy They therefore who will rightly expound the Book of the Revelation must diligently observe the Contraposition and by the one expound the meaning of the other contrary But withall this Rule ought to be remembred That oppositio must be in eodem circa idem the opposition must be in the same and about the same matter And therefore to apply the matter to particulars I cannot see how Mr. Potter doth proceed by this Rule in that Contraposition of his between the Number of the Beast and the Numbers of the New Ierusalem First whereas he opposeth the Number 144 to the Number 666 he should have proceeded in eodem and made the opposition in the same matter If therefore 144000 be the Characteristical Number of the Subjects of the Lambs Kingdome then 666000 should be the Number of the Subjects of the Beast and so Subject will be opposed to Subject and Number to Number Secondly Mr. Potter opposeth the Number of the Beast to the Numbers of the New Ierusalem which cannot properly be said to be oppositio in eodem an opposition in and about the same matter For in the true Apocalyptical method the Beast is not so much opposed to the New Ierusalem as to the Lamb his Riâ—…al in Kingly Power If we will speak plainly the New Ierusalem is opposed to the Whore of Babylon the Gospel-Church to the Roman Idolatrous Church For after that the Saints had sung their Halelujahs at the destruction of the Great Whore these words are immediately added Let us be glad and rejoyce for the Marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her self ready Chap. 19. ver 1 2 3 4 c. Therefore the contrariety standeth more immediately betwixt the Lamb and the Beast the New Ierusalem and the Whore of Babylon Therefore the Number of the Beast is not so immediately opposed to the Dimensions of the New Ierusalem And yet further in the opposition between the Lamb and the Beast between the Whore of Babylon and the New Ierusalem we must go so far onely as may be well warranted by Scripture or by necessary deduction from Scripture And therefore whereas Mr. Potter layeth down this Maxime The description of the New Jerusalem is not for this reason onely set down in Scripture that by it the knowledge of the true Church of Christ might be described but that the false Church of Antichrist by way of Antithesis might by the same description mutatis mutandis be also manifestly revealed pag. 122. This Position of that learned Author I do in part receive but yet I do not think that we are to extend it to every particular without any restriction We reade in the description of the New Ierusalem of 12 Gates 12 Apostles 12 Angels 12 Foundations and yet I do not think that we have warrant to look after such a set Number of Gates of Angels of Apostles of Foundations in the City of Rome And yet further if we could finde such certain Numbers in the City aforesaid it were not to the purpose in hand For in the true sense of the Prophecy not Rome within such Walls or Gates but the Romish Church in such a largeness and compass of Territories is immediately opposed to the New Ierusalem or the Gospel-Church that shall be in the latter times at the end and destruction of the Beasts Kingdome We reade in the slaughter of the Witnesses that they did lie slain in the streets of the great City spiritually called Sodom and Egypt and where our Lord was Crucified Chap. 11. ver 8. Now there is none that will say that they did lie slain in the streets of Rome literally so called but within the verge and precincts of the Romish Church This properly is the Great City that is opposed to the New Ierusalem to the Holy City to the Lambs Wife that comes from God out of Heaven Princ. 13. The Number ought so in special to be expounded that it may appear to be 666 in that method and way of account which is called the Number of a Man For so it is expresly said Let him that hath wisdome count the Number of the Beast for it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Number of a Man They therefore who will have Lateinos or some such Grammatical word to be the Number of the Name how do they make it appear That this is the Number of a Man or that it is the manner of men to calculate States and Governments by Anagams or Numeral Letters of any Grammatical Name whatsoever Princ. 14. The Number ought so in special to be counted not according to the subtilties of humane invention but according to the nature of the subject matter and the manner of the Holy Spirit in such-like descriptions For the nature of the subject matter the great sin of the world is in receiving the Name and the Mark of the Name And shall we think when the Lord Christ speaketh to his Churches concerning these things that only they who have skill in the subtilties and mysteries of Art shall have ability to understand his meaning Surely though the Number it self may be more mysterious yet the Matter Numbred must be in more open view Secondly for the manner and use of the Spirit in such-like descriptions his use is to speak Parabolically and Typically and yet we finde no one instance of the discovery of a Government by the extraction of the square-root Very often we finde when he speaketh of the rising of a Government or the destruction of a State he doth usually Number such a Chain or Line of years to each such remarkable occurrence and he doth refer us either to the Chronologie of the Bible or to the Stories of the Church These
Nation Yet if we seriously consider the times we shall finde That the light began to break out and the day began to dawn at the taking of Constantinople in the year 1453. For the Greek Empire being destroyed and that Eye of the Christian world being put out it pleased the Lord by this means to cast many learned Grecians into this Western World This gave occasion to the reviving of the Languages and the reviving of the Languages brought in the study of the Scriptures and other ancient Authors and things began to be cast into another mould By this means the more learned sort were brought off from the Doctrine of the School-men and the more zealous ones from Visions Dreams and Revelations and so the world was prepared to receive another kinde of light Not to mention the troubles which Reuchlin Pagnin and Arias Montanus did meet withall it is manifest by the Epistles of Erasmus how much the Monks and Friars were inraged at him He tells us how in England France Spain Italy and every-where in a manner they did both publickly and privately inveigh against him And it went for a received Maxime among many That Erasmus did more hurt then Luther How could that be He revived the Tongues he was an instrument to bring men to the study of the Scriptures and ancient Authors and by those amoeniores literae which he so often speaks of he did bring the world from Monkish darkness and foolish Revelations Campanella therefore calls the War betwixt the Protestants and the Papists Grammaticale Bellum a Grammarian War because by the study of the Languages by the Greek and the Hebrew Tongues the Reformation of the Church was introduced And it is the sentence of Melancthon Non aliam ad veterem barbariem reducendam magis compendiariam esse viam quam si studia linguarum interirent There is no more compendious way to reduce the ancient barbarism then if the studies of Languages should peresh Orat. tom 4. pag. 465. As light then as men make of Humane Learning in these times it was one chief mean under God to bring the world out of Antichristian darkness And it is the judgement of so id men that if it should be totally abolished it would occasion the return of that darkness once again Now let us come to consider the Stories and the time of the immersion how the Church came first under this darkness It is clear from the process of the aforementioned Discourse that about the time of the Emperor Phocas the Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome was publickly proclaimed the Scriptures began to be slighted and the Traditions of the Church immoderately extol'd Now here is a great demand How is it possible that the Church could apostatize and degenerate so far in one or two Centuries seeing in the age of the Christian Caesars when Chrysostome Hierom Augustine and others lived there was so much light The answer is clear The Goths Hunnes and Vandals and other barbarous Nations came out of the North overturned Churches burned Libraries overthrew Schools of Learning and by this means the world was organized and fashioned to receive the Kingdome of Antichrist and all that whole body of false Doctrine that should be set up in the Consciences of ignorant people by Visions Dreams and Revelations From all which I do conclude If there should be a total abrogation of Book-learning it would be a compendious way means to bring the Church into its former darkness For as experience sheweth That the taking away of that Learning was one chief meâ—…n to introduce Antichristian darkness So the restoring and renewing of it again was one principal mean of the recovery of the former light Thirdly they do symbolize and come in the nearest similitude to the true formality of Antichristianism who do build their Corsciences upon men and do make men the Lords of their Faith In this sense we are to take the words of our Saviour when he saith Mat. 23. 9. Call no man your Father upon the earth for one is your Father which is in heaven Neither be ye called Masters for one is your Master even Christ. Some are so void of understanding as to take these words according to the letter as though the practise of Christianity should extinguish civil relations and distinctions betwixt man and man But these are idle conceits we are to look to the scope of our Saviours meaning The Jews in his time were divided into divers Factions into the Sects of the Pharisees Sadduces Herodians Gaulonites and the like Now it was the ambition of those times for every man to have his Rabbi and each Rabbi to have his Scholars depend upon him as the Lord of their Faith In this sense our Saviour speaks that they should call no man Rabbi Rabbi and gives this reason One is your Master even Christ and all ye are Brethren In these words he doth especially point at the formality of Antichristianism that should be in the Popes Kingdome For though there is much ado made betwixt the Criticks in the Greek Hebrew and Syriack Tongues about the true Origination of the word Papa yet I finde That all do agree in the signification that it is as much in sense as Spiritual Father Now then if we look to the practise of the Romish Church we shall finde it apparent That the Body of the People do depend upon their Teachers as their Spiritual Fathers and all the Spiritual Fathers of the lower degree do depend upon the Bishop of Rome as the Father of all And herein that Hierarchy doth directly oppose the true Church of Christ as it is described Eph. 4. ver 4. 5 6. There is one Body and one Spirit even as you are called into one hope of your calling one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all The Apostle further speaketh how the Mystery of Iniquity did begin to work in the Church of Corinth Every one of you saith I am of Paul and I of Apollo and I of Cephas and I of Christ Is Christ divided was Paul crucified for you or were ye baptized in the Name of Paul 1 Cor. 1. 12 13. It appears by this That the Unity of that Church was broken by many divisions several Believers had their several Rabbies on whom they did depend and though Paul and Cephas would not take so much upon them to be the Lords of peoples Faith and the Heads of Parties yet the false Apostles did wonderfully affect such a kinde of Title and too many carnal Christians in those days were too forward to pin their Faith upon other mens sleeves and to come in the nearest formasity to the Antichristian practise in these last times The world is too apt to fall into Divisions and to say I am of Paul I am of Apollo and I am of Cephas And in this men must needs symbolize with them who make the Bishop of Rome the Lord of their Faith and do profess themselves
all Nations to bring forth her Christ-like issue and by the Dragon with seven Heads and ten Horns we must necessarily understand the great persecuting Empire of the Romans which for 300 years did endeavor to devour her Childe When she was delivered the next attempt was to drown her with a stood of Barbarous Nations that came out of the North. After this she fled into the Wilderness and was there fed 1260 days So many years the Church was under Antichristian persecution When these times were ended and the Whore of Babylon burned then began the marriage of the Lamb and the New Ierusalem came from God out of Heaven as a Bride adorned for her Husband All these are but Emblems and Figures of so many several changes and varieties that the outward Visible Church should meet withall upon the earth She doth very much resemble the Moon in her several forms and appearances The outward Visible Church is one and the same in substance but she is distinguished according to different relations in sundry changes of time These things are so clearly delivered in the whole body of the Prophecy that no further question may be made But to the Point in hand concerning the future glory that the Church shall injoy in the later days let us compare it with a passage in the Prophecy of Zachary The Prophet in the Vision looked and beheld a man with a measuring line in his hand Chap. 2. ver 1. Men go to measure when they build Cities and Towns and this is spoken in relation to the waste of Ierusalem mentioned in the former Chapter ver 12. How long wilt thou not have mercy on Ierusalem and the Cities of Iudah against which thou hast indignation this three score and ten years In opposition to this waste of the Church in all the times of the Babylonian captivity the Prophet in the Vision did see a man with a measuring line in his hand to measure Ierusalem to see what is the breadth thereof and what is the length thereof The same things are spoken in effect Rev. 21. 15. The Angel had a golden Reed to measure the City and the gates thereof and the wall thereof and the City lieth four-square and the length is as large as the breadth And he measured the City with a Reod twelve thousand furlongs All these figurative expressions do set forth the repair of the Church in opposition to her waste in all Antichristian times For in the beginning of these times the Angel was commanded to rise and to measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein but to leave out the Court that was without the Temple and not to measure it for it was given to the Gentiles and the holy City should they tread under foot forty and two moneths Chap. 11. ver 1 2. The whole time of the Beasts Kingdome was the space of treading down the Holy City by Antichristian Gentiles In opposition to the waste and conculcation the Angel doth measure the walls of the New Ierusalem and doth foretel the repair of the Church and the restitution of that glorious state which she shall have in the latter times Much more might be spoken to the same purpose but this shall suffice to shew that the Tenet of the external glory of the Church will not bring us back again to Popery neither is it absolutely so in all although it may be Antichristian in the position of some Circumstances onely What if Rome Antichristian be called The Great City that ruleth over the Kings of the Earth Is not the New Ierusalem the Great City that cometh down from God out of Heaven What if Rome Antichristian be the Woman that is adorn'd with gold and silver and precious stones Chap. 17. Is the Bride the Lambs Wife altogether destitute of these Ornaments Are not the streets of the City all of gold like to transparent glass Rev. Chap. 21 What if Rome Antichristian be the City whose Merchants be the great men of the earth Rev. Chap. 18. Is not the New Ierusalem that City of whom also it is foretold that the Kings of the earth shall bring their glory to her Do not all the Prophets specially the Prophet Isaiah speak of the call of the Jews and of the glory of that Church that shall be in the latter days From all that hath been said we may conclude though the outward splendor of the Church may be Antichristian in some cases it may be truly Christian in others CHAP. XV. Concerning thâ—…se things that are not Antichristian â—…ut are onely falsly so called by the Separation VVE will not go over all the Points but insist onely upon those that are of greatest moment to wit Magistracy and Ministery By these we may judge of the rest For the standing of the Magistracy they take it to be Antichristian because they have a power over other men and the Beast his Heads and Horns in the Revelation and Daniel they finde by reading That these do signifie Empires Dominions and the Kingdomes of the world But herein they are greatly deceived For in the Prophecies aforesaid the Beasts and their Horns do not absolutely signifie Empires Dominions but Idolatrous Empires and Dominions and not absolutely Idolatrous Empires but such Empires and Dominions which do Lord and Tyrannize it over the Church of God and do try the faith and patience of the Saints By many passages of the present Discourse we have sufficiently cleared the Point That when Christ shall begin his Reign upon Earth this will not be with the abrogation of all Magistracy Power and Authority onely the Authorities and Governments shall acknowledge him as indeed he is the onely Lord and Head of the Church The Reign of the Lamb is immediately opposed to the Reign of the Beast as therefore the Beast in the times of his Empire did not disannul the Being of Governments though they were under his Power and Headship no more will the Reign of the Lamb abrogate and take away the Governments of this world though they are made subject to his Laws Magistracy is the Ordinance of God they are guilty of a foul error then whosoever they be that shall go about to pluck up Magistracy under the colour and pretence of an Antichristian Encroachment But this engine now a-days is more principally used against the Ministery the great designs to throw the Ministery out of the consciences of the people and therefore they are told again and again That the Ministers are Antichristian in their Titles in their Ordination by Bishops in their Maintenance by Tythes c. For Antichristianism in Title to make this good they reckon up a defamed Catalogue of Names the Pope Cardinals Archbishops Bishops Parsons Vicars Curats But to this abundant satisfaction is given as by others so by the old Non-conformists themselves and specially by Mr. Ball in his Answer to Canne Among many other passages these are his own words pag. 45. To contend about
and in what manner those Princes and Potentates of the Earth do sin Whosoever they be that hold up the Name and Headship of the Beast in direct opposition to the Name and Headship of the Lamb. Thou mayest further understand how greatly they do aggravate their sin that compass Sea and Land that make search and inquisition into every corner and persecute unto the death all that will not live in subjection to this Name or Headship Hereby also thou mayest be informed what sympathy what bowels of affection thou shouldst shew to those that live under the Tyranny of the Beasts Kingdome For iâ—… on the one side poor Souls do Worship the Beast receive his Mark and Name Christ as he hath cause enough doth denounce the most grievous Judgements against them On the other side if they refuse to subject their Consciences to his Papal determinations such is the hard condition of many Countreys that it is the loss of all yea of life it self This is the Glassie Sea mingled with fire through which the Saints have passed which also they are yet in passing But how few of us are sensible of their hard condition How few do mourn for the affliction of Ioseph If that be true that the Members of the Protestant Churches abroad are in imminent danger If they have been lately Massacred in Piedmont without sparing Age or Sex If they are bleeding in Switzerland divers there having been put to death for no fault but being Protestants If the designes be upon the whole Interest by the Popish Party almost in all places of Europe Then we have reason to condole with our Brethren in their Sufferings And the reading of the present Treatise will help us more clearly to see and judge of that which is the cause of the Quarrel We shall see also what is the Minde of Christ concerning these things and to what issue they will be brought at the end of all Hereby also thou mayest be advertised to beware of the Opinion of such that make the Christian Magistrate the Fountain of all Church-Power This is to set up a Civil Anti-Christ in the stead of a Spiritual Christ is the Head of his own Church and therefore he hath appointed Laws by which his Kingdome is to be governed Censures by which his rebellious Subjects are to be punished and Officers to dispense those Censures If there be no such Name or Headship What should be the meaning of the Apostle when he speaketh of the Incestuous Corinthian Concerning him that hath done this deed in the Name of the Lord Iesus Christ when you are gathered together and my Spirit with the power of the Lord Iesus to deliver such a one to Satan 1 Cor. 5. 4. And in that other place Now we command you Brethren in the Name of the Lord Iesus that you withdraw your selves from every Brother that walketh disorderly 2 Thess. 3. 6. And in that Scripture Whatsoever ye shall binde on earth shall be bound in heaven for where two or three are gathered together in my Name I will be in the midst of them Matth. 18. ver 18 19 20. In these several places the Name of Christ is his Power and Headship in and over the Church his own House which is not onely opposite to the Name of the Beast but in an inferior degree to that Spiritual Power and Supremacy which some would give to Princes and Potentates of the Earth The London-Ministers in their Vindication do speak to good purpose when they say Christ Iesus is the onely Head of the Church governing it not onely inwardly and invisibly by the working of his Spirit but outwardly also and visibly as a Political Ministerial Body In which he hath appointed his own proper Ambassadors Assemblies Laws Ordinances and Censures to be administred in his Name and according to his own way pag. 4. By this account then they must be judged to come neer a very dangerous Errour whosoever they be that take this Name and Headship from him and give it to Temporal Princes Calvin and other friends of ours have been much offended at the Title that was given to Henry the Eighth and his Successors And our Adversaries also have hereby taken occasion to insult over us For these are the words of Wadesworth in a Letter of his to Mr. Bedell Nâ—…r will I saith he insist upon the passions that moved King Henry violently to Divorce himself from his lawful Wife to fall out with the Pope his Friend â—…o Marry Lady Anne Bullen and soon after to Behead her to disinherit Queen Mary and to inable Queen Elizabeth and presently to disinherit Queen Elizabeth and to restore Queen Mary to hang Catholicks for Traytors and to burn Protestants for Hereticks to destroy Monasteries to pill Churches Were these fit beginnings for the Gospel of Christ I pray was this man a good Head of Gods Church For my part I pray our Lord to bless me from being a Member of such a Head or such a Church pag. 11. Now what saith Mr. Bedel to all this You demand saith he if this man King Henry were a good Head of Gods Church What if I should demand the same touching Alexander the sixth Julius the second Leo the tenth or twenty more of the Catalogue of Popes in respect of whom King Henry might be Canoniz'd for a Saint But there is a story in Tullies Offices of one Lutatius that laid a Wager That he was bonus vir a good man and would be judged by one Fimbria a man of Consular Dignity He when he understood the case said He would never judge that matter lest either he should diminish the reputation of a man well esteemed of or set down that any man was a good man which he accounted to consist in an innumerable sort of excellencies and praises That which he said of a good man with much more reason may I say of a good King one of whose highest excellencies is to be a good Head of the Church And therefore it is a question which I will never take upon me to answer Whether King Henry was such or no unless you will before-hand interpret c. pag. 131. He hath some other passages concerning the use of the Authority of the said King in doing things that were good and in removing the Popes Tyranny Which Acts of his saith he whosoever shall impartially consider of may well esteem him a better Head to the Church of England then any Pope these thousand years pag. 132. But for my part I conceive here are two Questions to be answered Whether that King were rightly and truly a Head of the Church at all That being granted the second Whether he were a good one yea or no To determine these Questions I am clearly of Fimbria's judgement in that other case As on the one part I am loth to diminish the lawful Power of Princes which they have they ought to have and ever had in disposing the affairs of the Church so on
be deluded by the power of Satan What shall we think of the Oracles among the Heathen of the answer of the Gentile gods of the power which the Devil hath in those Countries that lye wholly under gross Idolatries There is no doubt to be made but that Satan had great power to deceive the world by wonders See August in his Book Of the City of God Lib. 10. Cap. 16. The Scripture also is very plain to the same purpose If there arise among you a Prophet or a Dreamer of Dreams and giveth thee a sign or a wonder and the sign or the wonder cometh to pass whereof he spake unto thee saying Let us go after other gods which thou hast not known and let us serve them Thou shalt not hearken to the words of that Prophet or Dreamer of Dreams for the Lord your God proveth you to know whether you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul Deut. 13. ver 1 2 3. In which words it is plain That the Truth may be set up in the Church of God according to the written Word and yet for the tryal of the sincerity of men God may suffer seducers to arise to do great things We have a large experience of this in all the times of the Beasts Kingdome For when our Saviour saith There shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signs and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect Mat. 24. 24. these things are specially spoken of the times of the Kingdome of Anti-Christ when the Devil by the permission of God had great power given to him to deceive the world by wonders and signs and great variety of Revelations From hence I am induced to believe That the answer given by the Crucifix at Winchester was reall and it was done by more then an ordinary power Let us consider the meaning of that place in the Prophecy of Zachary Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain so the Lord shall make bright clouds and give showers of rain to every one grass in the field For the Idols have spoken vanity and the Diviners have seen a lie and have told false dreams Chap. 10. ver 1 2. Here I demand How could the Idols speak vanity The word in the Original is Teraphim Idols made after the similitude of a Man With these Idolaters did usually consult in matters of great difficulty And Mr. Pemble upon the place saith It is very probable thâ—…t the Devil used the like feats to cozen the Iews as he did to the Greeks and other simple Gentiles And we may say the same touching the answer of the Rood God in his just judgement might suffer apostatizing Christians to be deceived by the immediate delusions of Satan because they did not receive the truth in the love of it that they might be saved But of all others that place of the Apostle is most proper to the purpose The Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Devils speaking lies in hypocrisie having their Consciences seared with a hot iron forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. Seeing the Apostle doth here so plainly speak of the Apostacy of the latter times and of the Prohibition of Marriage Meats and other lawful things all do agree in it That he pointeth to the times of Antichrists Kingdome Onely the great Question lieth here Why the Prohibition of Marriage is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Doctrine of Devils Mr. Mede in his learned Treatise concerning the Apostacy of the later times thinketh that this is Genitivus materiae a Genitive case of the matter because Daemons and the Souls departed are so much worshipped in the Papal Kingdome Though it is true in the general That Daemon-worship as he saith is used in that Kingdome yet it is not the meaning of this Text For here is plainly Genitivus efficientis a Genitive case of the efficient cause for the Doctrine of the Prohibition of Marriage is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Doctrine of Devils because it was brought into the Church by the suggestions of those impure Spirits to cast miserable mortals upon all occasions of sin If therefore we do determine the case that the Devil in the Rood did utter this voice touching the Marriage of Ministers God forbid it should be so it doth singularly agree with the words of the Apostle when he speaketh of the Prohibition of Marriage in Antichristian times that it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Doctrine of Devils For to say truly The Prohibition of Marriage as it did continue for many hundred years together so it had its immediate original from the delusion of Satan Now for the fall of the house at Cleve or Calne we may probably believe That God might suffer the Devil to do great wonders for so Spondanus calls it mirandum to deceive the world What else should be the meaning of that place Rev. 20 He layed hold on the Dragon that old Serpent which is the Devil and Satan and bound him a thousand years and cast him into the Bottomless Pit and shut him up and set a seal upon him that he should deceive the Nations no more ver 2 3. By this he doth tacitely imply That the whole time of the Beasts Kingdome was a time of the loosing of Satan in which God was preased to give him leave to do great wonders to deceive the world and therefore in the two last Verses of the former Chapter these words are expressed And the Beast was taken and with him the false Prophet that wrought Miracles before him with which he deceived them who had received the Mark of the Beast and them that worshipped his Image These both were cast alive into a Lake of fire burning with brimstone ver 20. When this was done an Angel came down from Heaven with a great Chain in his hand and bound the Dragon the old Serpent that he should deceive the Nations no more All this plainly declareth That in Antichristian times the Devil had freedome to do great wonders to deceive the Nations If therefore at the fall of the house they who stood against the Marriage of Ministers were marvellously delivered and those that stood for it were slain out-right or sorely bruised we must not wonder at these things The Devil can do great things to deceive them who forsake the Scriptures and the known Will of God to hang upon Visions Dreams and Revelations There was a time when the Devil could not touch a hair of Iobs head Thou hast made an hedge about him and his substance is increased in the Land yet we see when God did give leave the Devil could cause fire to come down from heaven to devour his sheep he could blow down
the house upon his Children by a violent wind he could do any thing when he was let loose And so truly the times of Antichrist were the times of the loosing of Satan God did permit him to do great things to deceive that kinde of people who had forsaken the plain way to Salvation written in the Word to look after dispensations of a higher light by Visions Dreams and Revelations Now then to make Application of all these things to our times my speech and exhortation is to them who amongst us have departed from Ordinances and from Scriptures and are now for extraordinary Revelations my earnest desire is to them That they would lay these things to heart If they go on if they build upon such uncertain grounds let them seriously consider whether they may not be deluded by the power of Satan and whether God in his just Judgment may not deliver them over to believe lies I will not make mention of that Sect which goeth under the Name of the Quakers what they are and who they are God knows I do desire to contain my self in such things as I have some experience of There have been some friends of my familiarity heretofore whom I did conceive to be people of good hope these as I have observed have departed first from the Ministery and then have come to slight the Written Word and then last of all to hang upon Revelations and extraordinary Enthusiasms of the Spirit I have seen a Book scattered abroad by these men it beareth the Title of Gerard Winstanley his new Law of Righteousness The argument of the Treatise is That the Propriety of Goods is the Curse laid upon the Creature That all things should lie in common and that the whole earth should be brought to a Publick Treasury For probation of this as he doth make some mention of the practise of the Apostles in the Primitive times and that which shall be in the future glorious estate of the Church so for the more special confirmation of this he doth depend upon an extraordinary Revelation as it is expressed pag. 57. In the beginning of the Treatise he doth distinguish three Ministrations the Ministration of Moses of Christ and of the Spirit And saith he as the worshippers in Moses Ministration envied those that worshipped the Son of Man So those who now worship Christ at a distance in their several Congregations and Forms and are most zealous these are the bitterest enemies to the Ministration of Christ in the Spirit pag. 14. But further when he comes to expound himself concerning the Ministration of the Spirit he slights all outward Forms and doth look onely to inward Teachings Now I will speak a word or two to the followers of this way I will not say in positive terms that they are led by the delusions of Satan neither will I judge of their final estate they stand or fall to their own Master yet nevertheless I may be so bold seeing they have so often in their mouths the Whore of Babylon and Come out of Babylon my people and that every thing is Antichristian not onely in Mâ—…nistery Magistracy but also in the propriety of goods to desire them to look home to their own hearts whether they are not most Antichristian themselves or whether that Spirit which did so strongly deceive the Antichristian world doth not deceive them also when they do believe and profess such things as are directly and diametrally contrary to Scripture For these men though I do desire to speak moderately of them yet in some particulars they are delivered over to deep delusions when they go so palpably against the written Word and pretend extraordinary Revelation It were good in this case that they would judge themselves that they do not prove in the event the greatest promoters of the Kingdome of the Beast I am perswaded that Gregory the Great was in the main a godly and zealous man yet it appeareth by his Dialogues that he did run into foul errors into Idolatry into wil-worship and the like when he left the Scriptures to follow Revelations This is the only word which I do desire to speak to them Secondly here is also a word of Admonition for all those who endevour in these times to extinguish Book-learning For though it is a most certain truth and much to be lamented that men have looked too much to Scholarship and have made an Idol of it for they have not regarded the inward teachings of the Spirit in the heart nor the Spiritual understanding of the Mystery of Salvation which are the principal qualifications to prepare and fit men for the Ministery These things I confess have been too much slighted and the slighting and neglect of them hath been a great cause of hurt to the Church of God and damage to the Souls of men This shall never be denied by me For how may we probably conceive that a Minister will come home with the Demonstration and Evidence of the Spirit so powerfully at least to the Conscience of the Hearer when he himself is altogether a stranger to these inward workings How can he so effectually bring home the lost Sons of men to Christ when he himself never had a true feeling of his lost condition They must needs then run into a great extream who dote so much upon Secular Learning and do neglect the chiefest thing But yet on the other side they go as far out of the way who would have this kinde of learning to be extinguished in the Church of God This I much fear may be one mean to throw the world back again upon Visions Dreams and Revelations to set up the Kingdome of Antichrist once more Now whereas it is alledged That there were excellent Preachers in the Apostles times when there were no Universities nor was there any Humane Learning acquired by study Though this should be granted those extraordinary Revelations are now ceased Therefore we must be contented to go in the ordinary way and not to look for those extraordinary distributions which were in the first times They who are for the dissolving of Universities and for the total cashiering of Humane Learning let them stay untill there be a renovation and a return of these extraordinary gifts unto the Churches Some are of opinion that such times shall come if that be true let them be patient till they do come However as the case doth stand for the present I believe they who take away Humane Learning do what in them lies to reduce the Antichristian times All do agree that in these times the Church was in an eclipse or great darkness Now let us inquire after the time of the emersion how the Church came out and the time of the immersion how she was brought into this darkness For the time of the emersion most do pitch upon it that she waded out of obscurity at the time of Luther when the eternal Gospel began to be preached to every Kindred Tongue and