Babylon a wicked place destinated to destruction yet God hath some of his people hid in Babylon for whose sake Babylon holds the word of God though obscurely and Baptisme in substance though very corrupt They aske us Where was your Church before Luther we say Even in Babylon among themselves Why doe they hout at our answer as insufficient and not first contest against this voice from heaven or blot this text out of the booke 1. Babylon is cast off vnto destruction but the Lord is not unmindfull of his people in the common perdition of Babylon Farre be it from him to doe this thing to slay the righteous with the wicked saith Abraham shall not the Iudge of all the world doe right such is his faithfulnesse and care over his people who are in covenant with him as they shall see him finde out a time which shall put a difference betweene him that sweareth and him that feareth an oath betweene him that feareth God and him that feareth him not 3. Babylon is hastning to destruction but shall not be destroied before Gods people in Babylon be called out for their safety Hee warneth Lot to get out of Sodome that he may not perish with the Sodomites He warneth the congregation to get away from the Tents of Corah He warned his elect by a voice in Ierusalem saying Migremus hinc so as they fled into little Pella before the destruction of the citie for though his iustice be never so fierce yet he remembreth mercie in iustice and will rather by voice from heaven as here warne his children than their safety shall not be provided for 4. Gods people called out of Babylon heare and answer the call and therefore they are not Gods people that stay in Babylon they only stay in Babylon after the call whose names are not written in the booke of life and of the Lamb and who are to be rolled up in the common-destruction of Babylon Secondly whence must Gods people depart from her that is Babylon As the Church of Christ is described by a woman Rev. 12.1 so is the Synagogue of Antichrist Revel 17.1 Againe as Christ the head of his Church hath a city for his seat and throne which is called Ierusalem which was a type of the Church of God so hath the head of this Antichristian apostasie his seat and throne which is called Babylon that great city Now because it is granted on all hands that Babylon is the seat of Antichrist it is worth inquirie what this Babylon is The Papists would have us to seeke for Antichrist every where but where hee is and have sought to leade us aside to many conjectures Some of them tell us that by Babylon is meant the wicked world but that cannot be for then when Babylon falleth the world shall fall which it doth not for how could the Merchāts bewaile her fal unlesse they wil say they must moane her in hel 2. Neither is the wicked world the seat of Antichrist for he must sit in the Temple of God which is not the whole world 3. Neither are the people of God called out of the world but in a spirituall sense whereas here is also a locall egresse out of Babylon commanded Some of them say that the Easterne Babylon in Chaldea is meant but as truly as the former For 1. that was fallen a thousand yeeres before and how could Gods people be called thence in S. Iohns time where they had not beene of a thousand yeeres 2. This Babylon had rule over the Kings of the earth in S. Iohns time and therefore must needs be that State and Monarchie which then stood at Rome and not that which was fallen in the Chaldean Babylon 3. This Babylon was not that in the letter or Babylon indeed but Babylon in a mysterie that is a State or Citie which resembled Babylon Some of them confesse the truth that by Babylon here is meant Rome the Westerne Babylon convinced partly by that plaine description of the woman sitting on seven mountaines having seven heads which were seven Kings or seven kindes of governments partly by the moments and weight of Reason and partly by the confession of so many Fathers who all speake as plaine as we that Rome is Babylon But though the Iesuites at this day seeme to speake with more judgement yet with as little ingenuitie for to defend their Pope and Citie they would shift it to Ethnicke Rome which is without all colour of truth For 1. this Babylon is the seat of Antichrist which I thinke Rome was not For if Ethnicke Rome were the seat of Antichrist then could not Antichrist sit in the Temple of God and then were Antichrist already come long since which they denie and all their fable of Antichrist quite spoiled 2. The Fathers acknowledged Babylon to be Rome in their time many yeeres after it had ceased to be Heathen and Christian. 3. Neither can it be proved that the Christians by vertue of this commandement departed from old Ethnicke Rome but continued constantly enduring all those bloudy persecutions raised by those Heathen Emperours Wee conclude therefore that by Babylon is meant here not Rome Pagan but Rome Papall Q. But why is Rome called Babylon and not Rome in plaine termes A. Besides many Reasons which might be given both from the mysteries of prophecies and from the purpose of God who would by leaving some things obscure exercise the mindes and diligence of his people Here Rome is called Babylon for the similitude and resemblance with it so as one egge is not liker another than Rome and Babylon For 1. They are like in pride and power Easterne Babylon was the seat and head of the Monarchie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Westerne Babylon ruled over the Kings and Kingdomes of the world Both sate as Queenes over the world both dwelt upon many waters both swelled in magnitude and greatnesse beyond all measure both alike potent saith Orosius 2. They are like in perfidiousnesse and treachery Babylon was a Citie estranged from the Covenant of God so is Rome once in covenant and married unto Christ but after breaking her faith by her horrible whoredome and Idolatries shee can call Christ no more Ishi nor Christ can call her Ammi and though shee can shew Baptisme and rehearse the Creed and Ten Commandements as an Harlot can shew the Mariage Ring yet is shee a wife no longer Christ hath given her a bill of divorce and who so marrieth her that is divorced for adultery is an adulterer Hence is this Papall Babylon called the great whore the whore of Babel the whore that sits on seven hils and no other whore else in the world doth so for many iust Reasons 1. As an whore is an apostate from her conjugall faith and plaieth false with him whom shee professeth her husband so this whore of Babel once married unto Christ is now joyned to another husband
their painted and Poeticall Purgatory helpe or ease them they would not be stayed by a voice from heaven but backe they would to Babylon and now must they partake in her eternall plagues by a sentence from heaven which is irrevocable That ye partake not of her sinnes This second part of our text hath three things considerable in it 1. That Babylon hath great sinnes 2. That not to depart from her is to partake in her sinnes 3. Who they be that doe partake in her sinnes For the sins of Babylon they were most transcendent both against God and against man I may not tire your patience with the enumeration I cannot name a fewer number than two which the Scriptures usually insist upon in this argument 1. Idolatry 2. Cruelty 1. Babylon was full of Images and false gods they worshipped Bel for God and made them Succoth and Benath The Dragon was worshipped also among them as God In a word it was a land of graven Images and they doted on their Idols Now all the Idolatry of that Easterne Babylon was a type and shadow of the unheard of Idolatries of this Westerne Babylon who not onely committeth but commandeth shamefull filthinesse neither onely defendeth her owne whoredomes but teacheth and forceth the same upon others Therefore the Scriptures call her a mistresse yea a mother of whoredoms with a full cup of filthinesse and fornications in her hand which she reacheth and forceth upon all her lovers That as all men both high and low small and great must fall downe before the God which Nebuchadnezzer king of Babel hath erected so must every man worship the breaden brazen woodden and golden gods which that Nebuchadnezzer of this Easterne Babel hath set up But I know not by what windlace the Iesuits as nimble as mischiefe it selfe have brought it about to a demurre among Divines whether these Babylonians be Idolaters or no which wise men see to be but the raising of a cloud of dust to trouble our eies whilest they worke their stratagems amongst and against us 1. For Doth the spirit of God call Babylon the mother of whoredomes and are they not Idolaters 2. Doe they translate adoration from the Creator to the creatures which is Nazianzens description of Idolatry and are they not Idolaters 3. Doe they erect and worship Images of the invisible God and are they not Idolaters 4. Doe they give all the honour to the Image which is due to the samplar and are they not Idolaters 5. Doe they command and compell every man to fall downe on his knees and adore their Hoast in their processions being an externall religious worship and are they not Idolaters 6. They doe teach that to Images as Images a proper religious worship is due as doe their learned Papists and are they not Idolaters 7. Doe they invocate all the Hoast of heaven and their Hoast in earth and is not this formally to Idolatrize 8. Are they so puzled in this argument as the greatest schollers are forced to say that some Idolatry is lawfull as Gregory de Valentia If some be lawfull let them give a reason why not all as well and if all or any be lawfull with them are they not Idolaters Thus while shee claimeth to bee the mother Church not without wrong both to Hierusalem and Antioch where the Gentiles were first called Christians we must in the Scriptures dialect hold her the mother of whoredomes And if the Iewes could not abide to be borne in fornication let us that are free borne scorne to take a notorious whore for our mother and leave her to the bastardly brood that are borne and bred up to Antichrist of whom may be verified Like mother like daughters The second sin noted in Babylon was cruelty and tyranny against the Church of God where she was called a destroier and a destroying mountaine and the hammer of the whole world As was the Easterne Babylon to Gods people among the Iewes so is the Westerne to the Christian Church among the Gentiles the great Abaddon and Apollyon called the scarlet Whore drunke first with the wine of her fornication and then drunke with bloud for in her is found the bloud of all the Prophets and of all the Saints The tyranny of Easterne Babel had three properties wherein the Westerne Babel doth farre surpasse 1. That was a Covetous cruelty for Nebuchadnezzer spoiled the city and the Temple Here Asa sackt Gods house and the kings house and besides carried away all the wealth of the land Even so the Romish Nebuchadnezzer robbeth the house of God carrieth away the Word the Sacraments the Scriptures preaching and the pure worship of God figured by these golden vessels instruments and pillars and besides robbeth and spoileth Kings and Princes of their kingdomes crownes treasures and revenues so as there is no kingdome in Christendome which hath not drunk deepe of his tyranny 2. That was an unnaturall and barbarous cruelty for they raged against Infants the seed of the Church and dashed their heads against the stones So is this Babylon as fierce and unnaturall in her cruelties hatching up savage monsters and parricides by teaching counselling acting triumphing and patronizing murders unheard of unread of in Babylon as Mastives which lie in the shambles have commonly bloudy mouthes so doe their mouthes run over with Romish Rhetoricke Vre seca occide Burne kill poyson stab blow up whom strangers friends old young men women brethren fathers kings princes kingdomes countries nay your owne king your native countrey shed bloud shed innocent bloud make no end of shedding innocent bloud let bloud touch bloud oh cruell Tigers to the life of man to the life of kings and kingdomes and so to the very life and soule of the world Nebuchadnezzer of Babel is not content to burne the three children of God but hee must make the fire seven times hotter than ever to shew that hee would burne them seven times over apeece if he could This Westerne Nebuchadnezzer hath kindled fires against Gods servants seven times hotter than that furnace devising torments as neere hell fire as any hellish tyrant could invent The Acts of the Church and the Acts of iustice record that not farre from this place the Romanists first murthered Richard Hun a grave and wealthy citizen and then hanged him and then condemned him for an Heretike and then burnt the dead man in Smithfield because hee appeared not being summoned to recant his supposed heresie 3. That Babylonish tyranny was as unsatiable as unnaturall The Church sate weeping in Babylon which noteth a long captivity so under this Westerne Babylon hath the Church endured a long Captivity not of 70. yeeres but of 7. times 70. almost thrice told and yet an end is not come These horseleaches are unsatiable doe not these enemies of mankind desire riuers of bloud to ride their horses to the saddles in the bloud of the Lutherans Domitius Nero
Write this Moses a Prophet of God Hee must make Canonicall Scripture of it And being so written it is unalterable and permanent It is sealed with the Kings ring as were the lawes of the Medes and Persians and is irrevocable 2. What must hee write This that is the whole narration of Gods dealing for his people against the Amalekites 1. De rebus gestis What God had done in the miraculous defeating of them already by the power of Moses his prayer 2. De rebus gerendis What God had further to doe in the finall destruction of this cursed Nation 3. Where must Moses write this In a booke Quest. What booke is this Answ. Some thinke it a booke now missing although the Scriptures yet extant be sufficient but this booke was no other than this present historie of Exodus and other his historicall Commentaries in his five bookes in the which this same storie is more fully repeated as Deut. 25.17 4. Why must he write this in a booke for a remembrance Israel saw the great works of God at least all Israel could not but heare of this and yet this is not enough it must be written to live in their memories and in the eyes of their posterities and after-generations Ob. But seeing Israel had many great and miraculous deliverances besides and above all this why is this so directly appointed to be written in a booke above the rest Answ. Israel had received a farre greater deliverance a little before from the Egyptians chasing them in the bottome of the sea and the Lord would not have this deliverance drowned in that but would have a thankfull memory of this also preserved and would have the glory of it maintained even above other great workes both by a booke and an altar and by a name God appointed it to be enrolled in parchment and Moses enrolles it in the stones of his Altar 2. Other great workes were lesse dependant and more transient in the present passages of them but this is dependant and must bee registred for future memory and use for divers passages of Scripture depend upon it and not only the present people of God then living but even the after ages descending of them must take knowledge of this fearefull sentence denounced against Amalek for these ends 1. That they might never make league or peace with them all their daies because the whole Nation stood accursed before the Lord. 2. That they might be ready in aftertimes whensoever God should command their kings to offer themselves cheerefully to the execution of this sentence in the utter extirpation of this hatefull people 3. That they should ascribe the honour of truth and iustice to the Lord when in aftertimes they should see King Saul reiected for failing in this execution and not destroying those sinners the Amalekites as the Lord had commanded him and the kingdome given to David who was better than he in that he effected the Lords whole decree in doing what Saul had omitted 1 Sam. 30.17 2. Rehearse it to Ioshua Quest. Why to him Ans. Because Ioshua must be Moses his successor and served to these two purposes 1. That hee for his time also should alwaies stand out in hostility against them not as a revenger of private wrongs and iniuries offered them but to beare in minde and publiquely to execute the iudgements of God which were charged upon them 2. That it might be an encouragement to him who was to bee the Lords Captaine and to leade out his people in the Lords battells against all the rest of the Nations in that hee seeing these enemies which made the first attempt and onset upon Israel so mightily revenged by God might hence assure his faith that God would goe on with him as he had now begun untill hee had given them actuall and full possession of that good land which he had promised them so long and so often Now from this first part of the Text wee may note 1. That in our way to heavenly Canaan we must make account of many Amalekites as Israel cannot set forth towards Canaan but Amalek will meet them Israel going into Egypt had no enemies but in their way to Canaan never wanted them A man may goe to hell merily and never meet with Amalekites to hinder him hee hath wind and tide with him But let all the Israel of God resolve in their way to meet with Amalek to fight with Amalek to overcome Amalek else there is no hope of ever seeing Canaan wee must not expect rest till we be thorow the Wildernesse 2. We hence learne to write up Gods mercies and deliverances in a booke of remembrance and as Israel keepes a Register and Catalogue of Gods mercies and favours towards us our friends our countrey our Prince our Magistrates and Ministers yea build up altars in our hearts to hold the mercies of God before our eies For 1. Nothing can more hearten our faith than the view of the monuments of Gods favour and gracious dealing of God with us 2. The renewing of them upon our selves and memorie perpetuateth every gift of God and makes us as thankfull as if we had newly received them 3. Nothing doth more binde the Lords hands from doing us good than the oblivion of his mercies when as every thankfull acknowledgement of old favours is but the invitation of a new so as it is a gainefull dutie Many have beene our deliverances publique and private of the Church and kingdome of our Prince and people of our own persons and estates when many Amalekites have risen against us But where are our bookes of remembrances where are our Altars or our Sacrifices where is our Iehova Nissi in which we proclaime God to be our banner and covert as the words import It was but one of ten of the Lepers that returned to give thankes for his cleansing For I will utterly put out the name of Amalek from under heaven In this second part of the text are two things 1. The Author of the reuenge 2. The severitie of it The Author or person executing this reuenge is the Lord who saith here I will doe it His arme is strong and power unresistable Who can turne him backe Yea although he appointed and raised meanes to doe it as Saul and David yet hee challengeth the revenge to be his owne 2. The severitie of this revenge in that the Lord will utterly destroy him with a totall and finall destruction and is not satisfied in overthrowing the kingdome and dominion only unlesse he put out the name and memorie of them from under heaven All which noteth a great detestation and an utter abolishing of this people Quest. Why what cause was there of such severitie in this execution Answ. The cause was the fierce wrath of Amalek against Gods people the Israelites if Amalek bee fierce against the people of God God will bee fierce against Amalek Now the fierce wrath of Amalek appeared against Israel because 1. It was unnaturall
themselves enemies but these digge deepe and fetch their counsells as low as hell and under the habit and profession of friendship and loyaltie cowardly lay traines and engines of death which can no more be perceived or prevented but onely by the piercing eie of God than can the issues of the next age 6. Amaleks warre was ill grounded and prospered accordingly for God turned it to the great good of his people who were 1. Exercised by them 2. Experienced in the goodnesse of God and in his gracious deliverance 3. Enriched and provided of armour and other necessaries by the spoile of Amalek As unprosperous have beene the wars of Romish Amalek and their plots and projects have turned against themselves and to the advantage of the truth and the Churches professing the same God hath strangely discovered the treasons against the Lords people and his anointed ones and mightily broken their armes and powers both by sea and land Such as have risen up against the Lord have fallen before him And though now of late they advance themselves as if all were to their hearts desire yet wise men see them no great gainers and were they greater than they be whosoever shall patiently wait to see Gods whole worke together shall doubtlesse rejoyce to see no difference betweene their gaines and Amaleks against Israel but onely that their confusion and overthrow shall be more dreadfull and fearefull as their sinnes have beene most Catholique and execrable 7. As Amalek after a doubtfull war must be overcome by Israel and written to perpetuall destruction so the Church hath justly deserved to sustaine a doubtfull conflict by Romish Amalek but after the triall of the Church Amalek shall be foiled being long since written to perpetuall destruction for when the childe is corrected the rod shall be cast into the fire 3. If we looke to our aids and succours we need not feare the issue of our conflict against Amalek For 1. We never want a valorous and victorious Ioshua to lead us and fight for us against Amalek That Ioshua was a Noble Generall with whom the Lord was and none was able to stand before him so as he set his foot on the necks of five kings at once but he was but a type and shadow of our Ioshua a mighty Captaine and an heavenly leader that great Michael that treadeth upon the necks of all Kings and Tyrants that rise up in armes against him and his people That Ioshua was in the valley but ours is upon the hill of his heavenly glory far exalted above all his enemies 2. As Israel had not only Ioshua fighting in the valley but also Moses praying on the hill so wee have many Mosesses lifting up hands and praiers which are powerfull and prevalent against Amalek And whereas we finde much unworthinesse in our praiers and our hands grow feeble we have an Aaron our heavenly High-Priest strengthning our armes and praiers which praiers joyned with the power of Ioshua shall bring downe the proudest Amalekites that ever ware triple Crowne and put to rout all forces levelled against the Israel of God When the Angell came to Gedeon and said The Lord be with thee thou valiant man hee replied If the Lord be with us why is it thus Why doth Amalek prosper Why doe they prevaile so long Why doe they triumph with great hopes to goe on to carry the victory If Romish Amalek be a people written to destruction why see we no meanes of their overthrow Answ. 1. We need not feare the braggs of those that use to triumph before victory The end of a thing is better than the beginning saith Salomon The issue of the doubtfull warre shall undoubtedly joyne the Churches happy triumph with their finall overthrow 2. After the Lord had written this sentence against Amalek he staied execution foure hundred yeeres till Sauls time but in the end the time of his patience being expired he forgat not the accomplishment So Amalek may prevaile awhile for the sins of the Church and we must not grudge to allow the Lord the time of his patience which though it may wait many ages yet at last will he assuredly rise up in most sharpe revenge and utterly destroy the kingdome and memory of Amalek from under heaven 3. The Church may thanke her selfe in part that Amalek prevaileth still over her For 1. Whereas the Lord hath commanded us to remember what Amalek hath done to us in our way and repeateth it againe forget it not we forget the strait injunction we remember not what they did to us in Queene Maries daies but have forgotten those furious flames and times We have forgotten what Amalek did to us in 1588. and remember not that they digged a sulphureous pit in 1605. wide enough to swallow three whole kingdomes Now while wee so easily forget that which wee are commanded to remember what marvell if God rub our memories by suffering them to be pricks in our sides and eies still 2. Neither doe we remember the Lords Oath to have war with spirituall Amalek 3. Neither doe we remember that it is the dutie of all the Israel of God to fight with God in blotting out their remembrance though the charge be very strait Deut. 25.19 Thou shalt put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven as God taketh his Churches part against Amalek so the Church must take Gods part in this great worke which the Lord will effect both for them and by them 4. It is likely also we lift not up our hands so fervently and so constantly against Amalek as we ought If Moses hold up his hands Israel prevaileth 5. It may be wee are wanting in encouraging and strengthning the enfeebled hands of our Mosesses How could Israel have expected to prevaile against Amalek if in stead of rearing up Moses his hands they had turned him off the hill with despight and contempt and taken up some Amalekite into his stead How can Popish Amalek but prevaile if Popish Priests shall finde any where better entertainement than faithfull Preachers who are so many Mosesses and men of God who would stand in the gap and are indeed the horsemen and Chariots of Israel Oh therefore deare brethren let us awaken our selves and in this tempest by the loud voice of our praiers awaken Christ who seemeth to sleepe in his ship with us Let us ply the Lord earnestly and binde him by his owne promise Gods promise and his peoples praiers are mighty Canons and battery against the thicke walls and towers of Romish Amalek While the Papists are some at their beads and some at their swords let us get us to our fortresse of faithfull and fervent praier and we shall not onely see the omnipotence of praier but the impotencie and flight of Amalek Did not our hands fall downe and our praiers grow feeble we should fill our hearts quickly with triumphant joy over them our hands with their spoiles and our mouthes would runne over with the praises of God for our deliverances from the power and plots of such fierce and implacable enemies Even so let thine enemies those accursed Amalekites perish O Lord but let them that love thy name be as the Sunne when he riseth in his might Amen FINIS Iudg. 7.18 Esr. 6.6 2 Sam. 1.21 Iudg 〈…〉 In hoc serviunt domino magistratus in quantum sunt magistratus cum ea faciunt ad serviendum illi quae non possunt facere nisi magistratus Ier. 51.45 Gen. 18.25 Gen. 19.15 16. Numb that they might not be swallowed up with them 16.26 Revel 17.8 Revel 17.5 Bellarm. Ribera Alcusan Baâ—on Viegas Lessiâ—s Malvenda c. Augustin Orosius Eusâ—b Hieron Tertull. Beda Victorinus Oecumenius Similis superbia Similis perfidia Ecclesia similis est foeminae quae ex antiqua soelicitate excidit ac signa tantum habet ornamentâ—rum enâ—m suorum thâ—cas arculas habet opâ—bus autem spâ—â—â—ata est Isidor Pâ—lusioâ— lib. 3. epist. Why Rome Papall is called the great Whore Prov. 7.13 Prov. 5.11 Marian. de reg lib. 1. cap. 7. Similis sâ—atus Similis exitus Ier. 51.37.25 Rev. 18.8 15.16 Ier. 51.63 Rev. 18.21 Ier. 50.40 Rev. 16.21 1. Mente 2. Matth. 3. Corpore 1. Cito Ier. 51.6 Longe Totaliter Finaliter Nos exivimus ab illis corpore illâ— a nobis animo nos ab illis loco illi a nobis fide nos apud illos reliquimus fundamenta parietum illâ— apud nos fundamenta scripturarum nos egressi sumus ab illâ—s secundum aspectum hominum illi a nobis secundum iudicium Dei Chrysost. de haereticis in oper imperfect in Matt. cap. 23. hâ—m 46. 1. Idolatry Isa. 21.9 2 King 17.30 Ier. 51.36 That Romanists are formall Idolaters Orat. in Christ. nat 3. Costâ—r Bellarm. De idolâ—lat lib. 2. cap. 7. Iohn 8. 2. Cruelty Ier. 51.25 50.23 Rev. 17.2.13.8 Rev. 13.19 2 Kings 26. Psal. 137.8 9. Prov. 4.14 Revel 14 8.10.17.2 2 Thess. 2. Ierem. 51. Acts 2.40 Gen. 20.12 Gal. 4.29 Ier. 51.34 Iudg. 5. 1 King 14.10 Ier. 51.5 â—saâ— 69. Isa. 41.14 Resemblance of Romanists with Amalek in 7. things Iudges 6.12 Deut. 25.17.19 Exod. 17.16 Exod. 17. â—1 Iudg. 5.31