of Ministry and the Powers of Heaven shall be shaken signifying the removing of the Church-Governments and Authority then established When the Lord of the evill servant ver 48. to the end that beat his fellow-servants and eate and dranke with the drunken should be cut asunder which is that the Lord should deprive Antichrist of his ministry that evill servant when the wise servant which gave meat to the Lords houshold in due season should be blessed restored and comforted Now the Holy Ghost relates to the then time especially shewing in what estate the Church should be in respect of the ministry thereof set downe under the name of Virgins that is men exempted from all worldly imployments to Jesus Christ 2 Their Imployment or Ministry is set out in their Lamps 3 Their Ordination in their taking their Lamps by which lawfully they may minister in the Church to Jesus Christ 4 They are first summed up together ten Virgins to shew that in respect of office calling Ministry they did seeme to be one and agreed 5 They went forth to meet the Bridegroome a metaphor taken from marriages partly in use amongst us so far as sufficiently to set out the minde of God in this text In that we see usually at weddings young men youth or Virgins accompany the Bride to the place of marriage and present her to the Bridegroome which thing is most clearly held out and proved by that saying of the Apostle 2 Cor. 11.2 I have espoused you French Approprier to one husband that I may present you as a chaste Virgin to Christ Hence the Apostles are called the Children of the Bride-chamber Markâ— 2.10 1 You see what was done in Church-constituting 2 That it was the Ministers office here called the Virgins to present the Bride or Church to Jesus Christ proved from the practise of the Apostles and of the five wise Virgins here mentioned ver 2. 1 These ten Virgins are divided into five and five 2 They are distinguished by their qualifications the one five are said to be wise the other to be foolish the wise are the true ministry the foolish the false Antichristian ministry 3 In that they are divided into five and five it shews that there should be a representation in the false Antichristian ministry of the true Gospel-ministry of Christ some way though not aright as the Corinths begin with false Apostles so these 2 Cor. 11.13 The five Virgins that are said to be wise or the true Gospel ministers are 1 Apostles 2 Prophets 3 Evangelists 4 Pastours 5 Teachers Now these ordinâ—rily are ordained to present the Church as young men Virgins the Bride to the Bridegroome Now as the wise so the foolish are also five in number Antichrist having that falsely in his false Christ hath in his true Church in truth 1 To the 12 Apostles the Pope set up in Rome 12 Cardinals Anselme Revel 13. Antichristus habiturus est pseudos Apostolâ—s suos Vâ—de Pâ—tteâ— Number of the Beast cap. 14. As there is a cleare and eminent Antithesis between Jerusalem and Rome so is there also betweene Christs Apostles and the Popes Cardinals there being no persons in the whole world of what rank order or dignity soever styling themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vicem gerentes Apostolorum as they doe Idem ibid. As the Apostles truly were and are the root and foundation of the Christian Church and all Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction so the Cardinals falsly pretend themselves to be and so they truely are and doe in expresse words declare themselves to be the very basis and foundation of the Romish Hierarchy read that that followeth hereof So that hence you see he proves that what the Apostles were in the true the Cardinals in the false Hence the Pope sends a Saphire to the new made Cardinals as foundation stones It is also a cleare Note that the five foolish Virgins are signified in these because the Cardinalls as the Apostles of Christs ministry consists of Arch-bishop Cardinals Bishop-Cardinals Presbyters and Deacon Cardinals that as the Apostles executed the place of Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers in the true so these Cardinals falsly in the false Now as the Cardinals arose from Presbyters First so in the fall of Presbytery and that falls with them is the full fall of Papacy and Babylon and from these five and not the five wounds of Christ as Mr. Potter and so by five times five multiply them to 25 to make their Monks Fryers and Masse-priests to be the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to them 1 Chron. Chap. 25. for what relation is there betweene Christs five wounds and 25 ministers Potter Chap. 24. and the 25. 2 To the Prophet the Pope constituted in his Church an Anti-prophet or Arch bishop which God remarkably as it were to compleat this Scripture called the Arch-bishop of this Kingdome by that name Rev. 16.13 where some Ecclesiasticall person under the sixth violl in which time wee live is called by the name of a prophet or Anti-prophet hee being to be in that place in the false Church the true Prophet is in the true Object Why doe you allude this to the Arch-bishop of this Kingdome more then to others of other Kingdomes Reply 1 The first Arch-bishops of the world were set up in this K ngdome others tooke their patterne from hence and ye know what honour Anselme had in being called Papa orbis in a whole Councell of Bishops at Barsnense 1098. and againe ye know that the Arch-bishop of this Kingdome called the Image of the Beast ruled independently from the Pope as supream himselfe c. Which was to be slain Rev. 19.20 3 The Bishop was understood in all ancient writings which ordinary Evangelists in Scripture the first 200 yeares as in my book called the Resurrection of Churches appeares 4 The presbyter answeâ—s to the pastor in the true Church hence the presbyter usually useth the name Pastor not Deacon as made first and inferiour to pastors 5 The Deacon in the false Church was the Anti-teacher to the Teacher in the true who was the first minister of Antichrists Church who had not as full authority in Church affairs as the Pastor to administer Sacramentrs nor the Pastor as the Bishop to oâ—daine Ministers but the Bishop with the presbyters as the Evangelist with the pastor and Teacher were to do nor had the Bishops that authority as the Cardinals had in the false church as the Evangelists had not that authority as the Apostles in the true Church Object In the Hierarchy of Rome are 90 Orders and more mentioned by Fox in his Book of Acts and Monuments and then what do you tell us of those five Reply There are so but none of these preached the word as is here signified by the Lamps but either as Bishops or Pastors Priests or Deacons be their Order what they will and so still the teaching ministry of theirs are to be redâ—ced to one of these five Object What
BABELS FALL In the Foolish Virgins Sleep Among which Presbytery lyeth with Predictions of the great disputes to be at the raising of the true Ministry Written by a Witnesse of the Truth John Brayne Ely to Samuel 1 Sam. 3.17 What is the thing the Lord hath said unto thee I pray thee hide it not from me God doe so and more alâ—o to thee if thou hide any thing from me of all the things God hath said unto thee Samuel to Ely 1 Sam. 3.18 14. Samuel told him the in quity of Elies house shall not be purged by Sacrifice nor offering for ever The man of God said to Eli 1 Sam. 2.35 God hath said I will raise me up a faithfull Priest which shall doe according to that which is in my heart and in my minde and I will build him a sure house and he shall walke before mine anointed c. Ely said to Samuel It is the Lord let him doe what seemeth him good LONDON Printed for T. B. in Kings-street at Westminster MDCXLIX To the Honourable John Lisle one of the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal Honourable AS David and the Apostles before me said We believe and therefore speak so I believing the truth of the Scriptures did presume to write you of many things strange before but now evident since accomplished I am once more bold to write you from the Gospel of things shortly to be fulfilled which will seem strange but will prove most true in its time however mine enemies are stirred up to hate and oppresse me for it the day will come they will be ashamed at it Sir I hope I have deserved no other but your love wherewith you have loved me and the love of those love God in the Country and those hate me doe it without a cause even for my standing for and witnessing to the truth of the Gospel with which I am intrusted which should occasion their love were they of God and not hate to the defence whereof you are called and blessed shall you be if you contend for it and consent not to the detaining of the discovery thereof which the Lord preserve you from and keepe you to immortality and life and set you with Christ in his sight to the full enjoyment of himselfe for ever Is the hearty desire of your Servant in the Gospell John Brayne Aprill 1 1649. TO THE READER THe predictions following are drawn from Propheticall Scriptures and are no Inthusiasticall Dreams they seem strange indeed at first but strong is the Lord that doth them for hath he said and shall he not performe it God hath foretold us when hâ— shall build up Sion he will appear in his glory which sets us now upon the expectation of glorious things these are therefore written that God may be glorified Magistrates may be directed Ministers instructed and the Truth revealâ—d Concerning all which in much confidence I affirm if the Lord give me leave to live but a little while I shall not be ashamed of what is herein written Thus leaving thee and them to the Lord to declare himself herein as he please to the glorifying of himselfe for ever And this I dare affirm so far off as thou seest we are from seeing these things so far off are we from seeing peace and deliverance and as men act against this they act against their own deliverance from which the Lord prevent us graciously I rest thine in the Lord John Brayne BABELS FALL In the foolish VIRGINS Sleep The Kingdom of Heaven that is the state of the Church under the Gospel Administrations are usually set out by the Lord significantly in Parables some whereof have thâ—ir allusions drawn from Marriage and Marriage-Feasts corresponding with the predictions of the Prophets foregoing and in especiall that of MAT. 25. from Vers 1. to Vers 11. IN which ye have the estate of the Church Ministry and Government thereof unto the end of the world according to the wisdom of the infinitely wise God held out and commended unto us under the notion of a Marriage in which Christ is the Bridegroom the Church is the Bride and the Ministery the Virgins I know the Expositions extant of these are quite contraryâ— Aug. lib. 83. Q. 59. Inter parabolos à Domino dictus solet quarentes multum exercere ista quae de decem virginibus posita est 〈◊〉 quidem hinc multa senserunt quae non sunt praeter fidem sed quoâ—â—dò partibus omnibus ejus conveniat expositio id elaborandum est He that hath a minde to see the diversity of constructions given by the Ancients of this parable let him read Salmeron in parabolas who hath taken the paines to collect them together Those that have written lately understand by the wise and foolish Virgins the severall Members of the Church In which are wise and foolish from whence some would confirme mixt societies But that this cannot be meant is plainly evinced in this that the Church-Members are to be understood in the Bride which is the Church that is the Lambes wife and therefore the Virgines are such who are ministerially imployed about the Marriage of the Church to Christ 1 And that which helps most clearely to open the Parable is this That the Lord mainly aimeth at the discovery of the state of the Church under Antichrist in taking the parable from a Night-Marriage 2 And the restoring of the Church to its quendam primitive estate after his tyranny 3 And briefly sheweth what things were to happen concerning the Ministery both true and false as the one related to Christ and the other to Antichrist untill the second taking of the Gentiles to himself againe Object Parables serve onely to illustrate and prove nothing Reply I know it is so generally conceived but let me tell you that the Church practise and many precious prophesies of the Church are so laid up in them and to be proved from them and so from them as from no Scripture like them the Lord sets not out the state of the Kingdome but by parables 2 The Kingdomes Government is never to be clearly knowne but by them and to be proved thence 3 The Lord declared the Government in parables as being most fit to conduce to the maine end of Gods hiding the Church from the world And this is plainly seen in the answer of Christ to his Disciples Mat. 13.10 to the end of ver 15. who demand of Christ why he taught in parables who answers To you it is given to them it is not given to know the mysteries of the Kingdome but to the parables it selfe 1 The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then is a note of time and relates to the predictions of the former Chapter ver 15. the abomination of desolation or time of the tyranny of Antichrist ver 29. the darkning of the Sunne of earthly glory the Moone shall not give her light the sad estate of the Common-people and the Starres shall fall from Heaven the fall
be a suddain ending of our troubles which we going against God leads us into the wildernesse about and about I could instance in many things in Parliament and Army but I forbear praying God to direct Parliament Army and People to set them in a right way to do Gods will willingly by which means our losses what ever to us Ministers would be repaired Kings and the Nations would willingly give their Kingdoms to Christ people willingly take the course to be in communion with Christ knowing in all Christ seeks us not ours and repaires all losse with wonderfull advantage giving a 1000 fold in this world and in the world to come eternall life with himself for ever I have thought good to conclude with these considerations 1 That the three Woes spoken of Rev. 11.14 had respect to the Wrath of God causing by degrees the fall of the false Church which fell utterly in the last Woe though I know usually men apply it to the last Judgement of the wicked which cannot be Now in the first Woe fell of the false Church ministry Cardinals and with them Votaryes Fryers Abbots Abbyes with their maintenance and with them as false apostles the Apochryphall Scripture they had set up with the golden Legend the Book of false miracles Buls Indulgencies c. ceased with them here 2 Under the second Woe fell the Archbishops and Bishops and with them Chancellors Commissaries Deanes Deanes and Châ—pters c. their Lands c. and with them fell the Common-Prayer Booke in which was the allowed Ministry of the Land with the Homily-Booke 3 Vnder the third Woe which is that I formerly spoke of mentioned in the Epistle I dedicated to his Excellency the Lord Fairfax Generall which is yet to come in which is the fall of Presbyters and Deacons as the Root of Antichrist in whom fals the now preaching maintenance by Tythes Gleabs Church constitutions c. It any more be in the false when people come to see they are in a Bable that is in a Confusion indeed and there is then way made for the Calling Ministry and Church constitution of Christ when the World hath nothing of the now or past Ministry left then is that and not before fulfilled That Babel is fallen Illustration this is understood as I suppose by that Rev. 16.12 The sixth Angel poured out his viol on the River Euphrates and the waters thereof were dryed up that the way of the Kings of the East may be prepared 1 Many things in one part of the Rev. said to be done under the sixth in another are said to be done under the seventh because in one part of the world that is done under one in another is done under another Part of this vision begining under the 6 is ended under the 7th 2 Here by waters I understand the Ministry of Antichrist belonging to Babel as Euphrates did which was that in the false as the River of God spoken of in the true Revel 2.12 Psal 46.5 There is a River the streams whereof shall make glad the City of God 3 The great River that had that multitude of Priests Friers Bishops c. is to be dryed up and taken clean away 4 By which only the way of the Governours of the Sun rising is prepared intimating that as men East of Babel could not come to Jerusalem for that water so the Gospel ministry of the new Jerusalem cannot come to it for the water of Babel remains Object How can you prove the Apostles of the true slept in the time of administration of the false Church especially under Presbytery Reply 1 The Presbytery and the rest before them say the Apostles are extraordinary Officers and are ceased as in the Propositions of the Assembly 2 They apprehend not that in excomunications c. Of Church Administrations they were to do it with the Apostles and Apostles with them as that 1 Cor. 5.4 Intimates we should doe in doing it and so cease not So that Antichrist end seems to me thus to be brought about in the Lords taking down Ministery means and Ordinances these being not long to be ministred by any Authority from or of Rome when the Lord wil decide that great controversie of the calling of the Ministery that now is where it be of God or not when there wil be no visible form of Church Government left no more then was in that time in this Kingdom which was before the birth of Christ into which miserable estate of confusion or desolate condition Babell fals and ends who in her glorious estate was Babell that is Confusion but in this as being that Jericho or City of the Curse devoted with all within her to be destroyed not the gold or garments of Babell being to be left at all for the Lord Jesus now falling on her grinds her to powder when if this prove true what will they say that so bitterly speak of the false and reputed Schismaticall teachers saying God will pluck off the vizard of these persons and notwithstanding their pretences discover with what lying spirit they are led so that their madnesse shall in their destruction be manifested to all to the comfort of the people of God and everlasting shame and confusion of their own faces O man remember thy end Babell fals Revel 18.10 In one houre shall her judgment come the Almighty God hastens her to her end and she cannot find rest but in the judgment aforesaid in which God as in her everlasting grave entombes her for ever at which the Saints in Heaven above and on earth beneath shall sing songs of praise and glory to God for ever Amen Now that the glory of this truth may shine as the Sun in the threefold fall of her triple Crown See Revel 16.19 The great City was divided into three parts so that as there were three woes fell on the Hierarchie of Rome so it shews why but three because the great City the mysticall Rome was divided into three parts the first part subject to Cardinals and the second part subject to Episcopacy and the third part subject to Presbytery these are divided in Judgment and Government preaching one against an other and are three and yet but one City and do belong thereunto and the City never fals untill all these parts are faln upon which fals the Cities of the Nations O London fall to Christ or thou wilt fall for opposing Christ in this very time comes either thy greatest happiness or unhappiness thou ever hadst upon thee The Lord make thee wise in this thy day to know the things of thy peace that thou mayst finde mercy and not in judgment have them hid from thee Luke 19.42 Revel 11. vers 3. Mentions that Ministry which was ordained of God to supply the place of the true and falne Ministry of the Church set out under the name of two witnesses who are ordained of God to prophesie and thereby to feed the Elect of God during the time of