his heart is not right with God It is true in a pang of temptation a man may be wheeled about as Peter and David yet the sight of Gods electing love quickens them to see their sinne how farre they are turned aside from God but there 〈◊〉 soul is bent as it were with the point of a compass touched with a Load-stone it may be jogged by windes and stormes yet it lookes still to the North pole though you may shake it from its course yet let it but stand a while it will directly look to the North pole there it will stand so it is with all the children of God they cannot but worke for Christ in John 16. 14. He shall glorifie me for he shall receive of mine and give it unto you So that the heart that is sincere it workes from Christ and for Christ and with Christ I laboured more abundantly then they all yet not I but the grace of God which was with me 1 Cor. 15. 10. So that you see what the manner of Gods people in this case is they are from Christ and for Christ and with Christ and it is a seal of Gods election the highest seal is God knowes who are his and that seal he manifests by his spirit in the Gospel it is the spirit that seals up our adoption and here is another seal we set to our seal while we cleave to him with all our heart and soul and seek after him and have none in heaven but him nor on Earth that we desire in comparison of him And thirdly the last assurance of a mans election and calling which I shall name at this time is that which Peter himselfe doth expresse in 2 Pet. 1. Give all deligence to make your calling and election sure How shall they do that he tels us in ver 5. Moreover adde to your faith virtue and to virtue knowledge c. He reckons sundry sorts of graces and he calls upon them to adde grace to grace and one degree of grace to another and saith he if these things dwell in you and abound by this means an open entrance shall be ministred unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as if men that did not grow in grace and gâ—ow from grace to grace if they get to heaven at length they must mend their pâ—ce thrust and croud for it but if these things be in you and abound so an open entrance shall be ministred unto you as if the great gates of Heaven were opened to you there must be a growing you are blind else and cannot see afar off you shall not see your state unlesse you grow from faith to faith and from knowledge to knowledge then an open entrance shall be ministred to you that you shall die in full assurance of faith and of the love of God And thus shall a man make his calling and election sure and by so doing he shall make sure to himselfe his preservaâ—ion from this world and shall be translated to everlasting rest wiâ—h the Lord in due time where there shall be neither false Prophet nor Jesuitâ— nor worldlings whose names are not written in the Lambs book of life Rev. 13. 8. latter part of the vers The Lamb slaine from the foundation of the world THere remayns now the latter part of this vers which is a description of Jesus Christ and he is described 1. By the similitude of a Lamb. 2. By his passion He is slaine And 3. By the antiquity of it He is slaine from the foundation of the world The note is this The Lord Jesus Christ was as a Lamb and though a Lamb yet was slaine and though slaine in fulnesse of time about 4000. years after the world began yet in effect he was slaine from the foundation of the world This is the sum of this latter part of the verse Not to stay long in any of these things and put to stay upon them because they are principles of our Christian faith and principles may not be passed over in hast especially considering the handling of them is a speciall branch of our calling Behold the Lamb of God saith John that taketh away the sinnes of the world John 1. 29. 36. It was his particular office to point at Christ and he doth it under the notion of a Lamb So it is said A Lamb stood upon mount Zion Rev. 14. 1. Now why a Lamb In a double respect and I speak of no more then what the Scripture hath respect unto First in respect of his innocency 2ly In respect of his meeknesse and patience 1. His innocency 1. In his birth That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the sonne of God John 1. 35. 2. Innocent in his life It behooves us saith Christ to Iohn to fulfill all righteousnesse Mat. 3. 15. And in 1 Pet. 2. 22. He did no sinne neither was guile found in his mouth 3. Innocent also in his death Pilate bare him that record Mat. 27. 24. when he had heard all things that were born witnesse against him hee tooke water and washâ—d his hands before the multitude saying I am innocent of the blood of this just person And as he was thus innocent as a Lamb So he was meeke and patient as a Lamb and the holy Ghost hath respect unto it Acts 8. 32. He was led as a sheep to the slaughter and like a Lamb dumb before the shearers so opened he not his mouth And therefore there is something respected in his silence and quiet subjection to the slaughter knife And his patience or meeknesse doth expresse it self in two things chiefly 1. In submitting not himself only but his will to his fathers will Father saith Christ in his agony in the Garden if it be possible let this cup passe from me neverthelesse not as I will but as thou wilt And if this cup may not passe away from me except I drinke it thy will be done Mat. 26. 39. 42 And that is properly after Gods own heart when a mans heart is subdued to the will of God in which respect he did not murmure at his Fathers hand nor did expostulate his being delivered into the hands of wicked men 1 Pet. 2. 23. Who when he was reviled reviled not againe when he suffered he threatned not but committed himselfe to him that judgeth righteously And so meek was be in this very kind as that be prayed for his very enemies and persecutors Luk. 23. 34. Then said Jesus Father forgive them for they know not what they do 2. His patience and meeknesse stood in keeping silence in his own just defence As a Lamb dumb before the shâ—arer keeping silence before his Accusers and Judges and Condemners He answered nothing before the high Priest any thing that might tend to his crucifying as he doth expresse If they will make it a point to crucifie him because he said He was the son of God Saith he I came into
more know all his elect if he know them all by name hee then particularly observes them and prevents us with blessings of goodnesse and preserves us from prevailing evills but if it be recorded of God is it not in vain to exhort to make it sure Answ If it were in vain methinks the Apostle should not have used it 2 Pet. 1. 10. Then that is it that lyes upon all Christians some think it is not possible but then it were a vain exhortation Make your calling and election sure if you do a wide and open door of entrance shall be minished unto you well then though I cannot make sure my election in it selfe for it is sure in it selfe but the Question is whether it it is sure to me that is my duty for he knowes who 〈…〉 and knows them by name and keeps them in his name and hath given his Angels charge over us and they will all watch over us and therefore our Saviour in Luke 10. 20. saith to his Disciples Rejoyce not in this that the Devils are subject unto you but that your names are written in Heaven Our election is sure enough in heaven no stormes will alter it there But now in a word can we make our election sure the Apostle intimates when you make your calling sure you make your election sure your calling that is but the actuall execution of this eternall election but they are so neere that many the Lord puts them one for another he tells his Disciples you have not chosen me but I have chosen you John 15. 16. he means of his selection his calling them out of the world then he doth communicate his electing love to such it is wrought for us before in Christs death in Gods councell and in his effectuall redemption wrought for us on the Crosse but yet it is not manifest to our consciences till calling but make your calling sure and then election is sure When you are called according to his purpose Rom. 8. 28. that is this book of life that is his purpose that we are in Gods purpose written to life look to that he hath saved us and called us Not according to our workes but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 1. 8. that is the book of life and grace of free grace purposing us to life and you read in Rom. 8. 30. Whom he predestinated them he hath called and whom he called them he justified now if a man be effectually called to grace that doth search election let me briefly touch it that which makes sure calling 1. In our effectuall calling there is a declaration of Gods love to the soul in Christ Jesus by the spirit of grace in the doctrine of the Gospell for that is Gods call in our calling God calls for his part by his grace and spirit and we answere that spirit by that faith which by the call of God is wrought in our hearts I say God calls effectually to his grace by manifesting the rich grace of God in Christ electing freely calling freely from the obedience of sinne and Satan to the liberty of the sons of God as to those in Queen Maries time when they wandered up down like Lambs in a large place Bilney he fetches in that one word in his lost and forlorn condition He read this promise and the spirit of God applies it Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chiefe This being applyed by the spirit it falls on him with power and he sees the goodnesse of God in Christ and the vanity of all things else and seeing so much glory in Christ and in particular to him also this lets him see the vanity of all other courses for this manifestation of Gods spirit doth effectually and manifestly open our eyes to see and hearts to believe what the Lord offers for faith is said to receive what the Lord gives of grace here is then that which makes calling sure for otherwise how can we know it but by the manifestation and declaration and revelation of the Spirit The things that eye never saw nor eare heard nor ever entred into the heart of man but he hath revealed them by his spirit 1 Cor. 2. 9 10. As no man knows the things of man but the spirit of man so no man knows the things of God but the spirit of God And we have not received the spirit of this world but the spirit which is of God that we may know the things that are freely given us of God The spirit of God it is that searcheth all things even the deep things of God and reveals them to us and lets us see the treasures of grace and lets us see them thus applyed this is the ground of effectuall calling God calling by his spirit and we answering that call and from both these springs another fruit of our effectuall calling which is likewise a certaine pledge of it that being thus called Blessed be God saith the Apostle that hath called us to the fellowship of his sonne actually and effectually 2. Thence it comes to passe that wee choose the Lord for our God We have none in heaven but him nor none on earth that we desire in comparison of him Away then with those beautifull Strumpets and all works of iniquity and wayes of darknesse wayes of ambition these are all blasted now I desire to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2. 2. and now it is that he rejoyceth in nothing save in the Crosse of our Lord Jesus Christ Gal. 6. 14. Now this electing love in that we elect God we could never choose God had not he chosen us and in some measure discovered what his electing love was to us this brings the heart back again to choose him and none but him now that is another security of our election and therein it differs from all others a man may have a kinde of sanctification by common gifts which will leave him still to work for himselfe but this is to abuse the very gifts of God which the spirit hath wrought in us though they be not such as accompany salvation still we are not lift up above our selves but when we are called effectually to Christ now no motion swayes us but as we see the will of God in it we cannot beleive as the Church beleives but we beleive our brethren and the Church as we see the Church follows the foot-steps of the will of God If I now please men saith the Apostle I am not the servant of Christ 1 Thes 2. 4. Nor of men sought we glory when we might have been burden some as the Apostles of Christ If a man be left to fast for himselfe or pray for himselfe or worke for himselfe and all is for himselfe that he work◠from a principal respect unto himselfe truly this will darken a mans effectuall calling and if it be his constant course doubtlesse
kind to keep Lamb-like silence when you are charged with any fault whereof you are guilty It is a dangerous sinne when men are found in a fault they have a thousand excuses for it and utter denyal of such things so as they will cut you a Weavers beame unto a very moate But you see the spirit of Christ Jesus will not doe it nor will he confesse it for they charged it upon him in his own person and so he could not confesse it Hee could not deny it because then he should not have stood in our room as he did And therefore it behooves those that are young or old if you be innocent then you may excuse it if you be guilty beware of denying for if you do you shall leave a difficult travayl upon Jesus Christ to plead your cause He that knoweth the heart and the truth of the thing he is ashamed of such a proud spirit that so defends himself as you doe Lastly it is a ground of singular comfort to all whose names are written in the Lambs booke of life and brought on to this Lamb-like frame of heart in the greatest horrour of spirit whereas the soule in this or that man is confounded and he knows not what to say Here is comfort for such a soule laid up for here is a sufficient plea before Gods Judgment seate the Lord Jesus Christ hath been silent at it he hath born and suffered for it It will come unto this passe with a soule under spiritual confusion Wee shall lye downe in our shame with our confusion upon our faces as in Jer. 3. 24 25. Wee cannot deny it nor excuse it and therefore we are ready to conclude woe to us that ever we were born That is not a just conclusion though for truly this we must come unto if ever we come unto Christ And therefore it is a way of justification and of life for a man to be confounded in himselfe for his sin for the Lord doth never justifie a sinner untill hee hath confounded him Many a man many times will say it is true godly friends have had a good opinion of me but they are deceived by my expressions performances and outward carriage Here the soule is mady times apt to sinke and would sink if the Lord Jesus stood not at a non-plus in his room for Christ could not tell what to say till hee had made satisfaction neither could he acknowledg the faults that were layd to his charge because himselfe was guiltless not deny them lest he should falsly justifie us We cannot tell now what to say to our owne estates sometimes The Church complaines all our Prophets are gone and our signes are gone the case is now desperate when wee are in a desperate taking But though wee cannot tell presently what to say yet the Text and the Gospel tels you Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world He himself could make no words about our justification it was a case past words excuses would not heale us then there was something to be suffered and that to the utmâ—st This he hath suffered wherefore he is able to save them to the utmost that come unto God by him Heb. 7. 25. He is now able to do it but when he stood before Pontius Pilate he could not tell what to say but now he hath suffered in Family Câ—uâ—ch and Câ—mmon-wealth In his family they forsook him and denyed him and forswore him therefore now having made perfect satisfaction unto the exact justice of his heavenly Father by being condemned to death crucified upon the Crosse dead and buried now his mouth is ever open to make intercession There is a stay and staffe unto a Christian Looke unto me and be yee saved all the ends of the earth Isa 45. 22. Now here is the brazen Serpent lifted up That whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life John 3. 14 15. Rest not now in a naked knowledge of this but look up to Heaven with your inner man be confounded because of your shame and yet see the Lord offering you Christ and giving you grace to receive him and to rest there that whatever cavils and temptations the Devil may make and your own consciences may make yet there is hope in Israel concerning this The Lord is righteous but I and my house are wicked may a man say my wayes are corrupt and my heart worst of all But the Lord hath laid upon him the iniquities of us all and by his stripes we are healed Isa 53 5 6 7. There is nothing that will cleare him before God when he stands in our case but he must stand ashamed and confounded for us all And though wee be thus and thus guilty in our owne apprehensions and culpable in the sight of men yet the Lord hath made satisfaction for us and therefore saith Deliver him for I have received a ransome And where there is any seede of God there will be a secret quieting of the heart upon this very ground which the Lord doth dart into the soule by causing it to rest upon him and cleave to him and hang about him where onely Redemption Reconciliation and Attonement for us are to be found Rev. 13. 8. latter part of the vers The Lamb slaine from the foundation of the world CHrist is here described First by the similitude of a Lamb. 2. By his passion a Lamb slaine Thirdly his passion is amplified by the antitiquity of it slain from the foundation of the world We shewed the last time that Christ was as a Lamb. Now we come to the next part of the description of Christ the next note then concerning Christs passion is this Christ though a Lamb was slain and slaughtered Though a Lamb. That is to say though innocent meek and patient yet slain and slaughtered So you read in Acts 2. 23. Him being delivered by the determinate councell and fore-knowledge of God yee have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain and in Acts 7. 52. You have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the just one of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers He was a Lamb murdered slain and slaughtered He was led as a Lamb to the slaughter Slaughter implyes a violent death put upon him partly by the justice of God partly by the wickednesse of men and partly by the malice of Satan By the justice of God the word is very strong in Isa 53. 10. It pleased the Lord to bruise him it is translated but it signifies properly to grind him the same word is translated destruction in Psal 90. 3. Thou turnest man to destruction and so it pleased the Father thus to grinde him to powder that he might have nothing of chaffe he ground him to dust with grief and horror anguish and agony and terrour and pain Isa 53. 6. The Lord laid upon him the iniquity of us all and so he ground him to dust
but we were by nature children of wrath as well as others How came we to be restored and reconciled to the Father from whom we fell as much as we could by the bloud of the Lamb that hath reconciled us to God Secondly by his death he hath paid a price of purchase for union and possession of union with the Sonne So doth the holy Apostle teach us Ephes 2. 13. to 16. You that were sometimes farre off are made nigh by the blood of Christ For he is our peace who hath made both one Jewes and Gentiles both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us So that he hath made Jewes and Gentiles one houshold of God and hath built us upon Jesus Christ the cheif corner stone This is the second purchase which the Lord hath given his blood for the price of We had never been united to Christ nor by Christ been brought to the Father but by the bloud of his crosse his blood hath flain all enmity between God and us Thirdly by the same price he hath also purchased us the holy Spirit These are the three persons in Trinity a possession of Christ to be our head of the Father to be our God and King and our Father as his Father therefore he tels his Disciples in John 20. 17. saith he Touch me not for I go to my Father and your Father to my God and your God As soon as he had by death overcome death now I go to my Father and your Father He hath purchased the possession of Gods fatherly love he hath also purchased union with himselfe and therefore he prayed that his passion might be available to this end that all that should beleive through the Apostles preaching should be one with them John 17 21 23. That they all might be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us that the world may believe that thou hast sent me And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one So that this is the purchase which the Lord by his blood hath purchased reconciliation with the Father and union with the Sonne and also the inhabitation of the holy Ghost as 1 Cor. 3. 16 17. Know yee not that yee are the Temple of God and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you And as he tels us in Ephes 2. 18. Through him we have an accesse by one spirit unto the Father So that this is a purchase of unspeakable blessings which the Lord hath given his blood for It was not meet the blood of the Sonne of God should be spilt in vain it were abhomination to God therefore he gives it to avoyd the greatest evill that can befall us to cleanse us from sinne and Satan and to redeem us from the curse of God and to free us also from death and hell and the world and all the enemies of our souls He gave his blood for all this not to redeem us from crosses but from the curse in crosses and that is the part which drives us from God Matth. 25. 41. Depart from me yee cursed So farre as any affliction might separate us from God he hath redeemed us from it Now from thence as Christ hath given his blood for reconciliation with the Father and for union with the Sonne and for communion with the holy Ghost so he hath given his blood for the purchase of some blessings that flow from these For by communion with the spirit we have 1. First communion with Christ in his death mortifying sinne and communion with him in his resurrection raising us up to righteousnesse Whence the Apostle professeth that he desires to rejoyce in nothing but the crosse of Christ whereby the world is crucified to him and he unto the world Gal. 6. 14. And in Rom. 6. 6. Our old man is crucified with him that the body of death might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sinne So there is the power of the spirit of Christ applying his death killing and crucifying sinne and the world in us crushing the head of the Serpent and consequently all the power of the Beast of the Catholick Church of Rome and the head of that Beast which is the Pope He did therefore shed his blood that he might destroy all the power of the enemy That we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without feare all the dayes of our life Luke 1. 74. This is the mighty power of the spirit applying the warme blood of Christ to our foules 2. The second fruit that flows from union with the blessed Trinity is ratification of the Covenant of Grace And Christ layd downe his bloud for that end to ratifie all the promises that a reconciled God hath made and that is God in a Covenant of Grace That he will write his law in our hearts that he will forgive our sinnes and remember our iniquities no more that we shall know him Jer. 31. 33 34. Christ gave his blood to ratifie this Covenant Heb. 9. 15 16 17. And as the Testament of a Testator stands not in force till the death of him that made it so the death of Christ ratifies this Covenant and as all the Covenants were confirmed by bloud so hath Christs blood done in a speciall manner And when he speaks of ratifying the Covenant he doth not onely speak of ratifying of it in word but cheifly in the hearts of Gods people and no price could have done that but the blood of the Sonne of God by which he hath ratified all the promises of God to the consciences of Gods people That when the heart and conscience of a sinner is overwhelmed with inward agony and fear of the wrath of God and the curse of the Law the fear of death and Hell now what shall satisfie a christian in this but the death of Christ and what shall ratifie it His death hath purchased reconciliation with the Father union with the Son and communion with the holy Ghost now he hath shed his spirit in our hearts whereby we cry Abba Father Gal. 3. 14. This spirit of God works faith in the hearts of Gods people whereby all these promises are confirmed they are all certainly made good because such is the value and virtue of the death of this innocent lamb of God they are now free from the terrour of death It was not possible the bloud of Buls and Goats should take away sinne therefore still they had new sacrifices for the conscience had lost the copy by which it pleaded reconciliation by the spirit of God now he applying the death of Christ to the soul doth fully pacifie the conscience and ratifie the Covenant to the soul that now all the promises of Grace belong to this or that servant of Christ and I pray mark it because it is as weighty as any point of Religion And of all the
live to our selves nor to the lusts of men but to the will of God 1 Pet. 4. 1 2 3. 2 Cor. 5. 15. So that this is that which the Lord now cals us to to wit to live now no longer to those things from which we were redeemed by an invaluable price We are redeemed from the bondage of sinne and Satan and from the world and not onely redeemed from these but purchased to life as a reconciled people to God to be as the friends of God Abraham was called the friend of God Though a man make no bones of breaking out against an enemy yet now being reconciled especially to him in whom we live or move and have our being it is for us to walke as those that are reconciled to God as those that are united to Christ as those that are sanctified by his Spirit as those that have the grace of Christ applyed to our soules as those that are dead to sinne and alive to righteousnesse It is for us to walk as those that look for a purchased possession to the glory of Gods grace when this life shall be no more If we be dead with Christ why are we not free from all that which is evil and free to all that is good Col. 2. 20. It is a staine and blemish to the blood of Christ to see a child of God live in any durty corruption to see a child of God a worldling to yeild to any temptation it is a staine to the blood of Christ To see a child of God set loose from the Father or the Sonne or the Spirit it is a staine to the blood of Christ for the blood of Christ is a purchase to redeem us from all evill and to purchase to us all good For a fifth use it may teach us to apply effectually the blood of Christ as we for our parts in our Ministery so you in your meditations and repititions there is the ground of your peace No conscience that hath been troubled with sence of sinne but there lies his grief the wrath of God that is upon his unbeleiving soule He is condemned the wrath of God abideth on him If you ransack it to the bottom there is it that crusheth the spirit all other will be cast off in case we be clear in this principle about the satisfaction of Gods justice provoked against us by our many and great transgressions what shall satisfie the soule now There is nothing in the world so fit to beget faith as the preaching of the cross of Christ If I be lift up from the earth I will draw all men unto me John 12. 32. If Christ be drawn up on the Crosse held forth for his drawing of people that are troubled about the wrath of God and the removing thereof and about satisfaction to God about all our iniquities this will draw soules unto him For how will you uphold any man to bear his burden of the apprehension of Gods wrath with any tolerable ease No way but by holding forth Christ the innocent Lamb of God crucified upon the crosse and his blood spilt as a price of satisfaction to Gods justice as a price of redemption from all evill and purchase of all good then saith the soule me-thinks there is some hope even for me For who shall hinder the power of the blood of Christ and who shall hinder the free passage of Gods grace if the Lord Jesus hath undertaken it and hold it forth especially to men that are sick and oppressed and cast downe and ready to perish for want of succour In such a case while this is held forth there is the blood of Christ held forth which was shed to purchase the spirit of grace as it is written in Gal. 3. 13 14. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a cuâ—se for us that we might receive the promise of the spirit The same blood of Christ that hath redeemed us from the curse and hath purchased the communion of the spirit he is wont in the preaching of the crosse of Christ to open Heaven to the soule to open the doors of the heart to beleive on this blood thus hâ—ld forth and so by this means you shall finde a support some satisfaction to all turmoils and agonies of consciende It is a wonder to see how this blood of Christ is mighty through God to make our peace while the spirit doth conveigh the efficacy thereof to the quieting and establishing the soule In fellowship with Christ and reconcilement with the Father that the soule sees Christ hath not dyed in vaine that he hath not heard the word in vaine nor waited upon Christ in vaine but sees there is life and peace and all in the blood of Christ And therefore wonder not now that the Apostles were so carefull in preaching the crosse of Christ ther 's the ground of all our reconciliation That satisfies the justice of God and that satisfies the soule the spirit applying it begets faith to receive it and there is they stay of the soul So this is the principall duty as for us to teach so for the people of God continually to attend unto to ponder upon this especially those whose hearts are at a losse about satisfaction of Gods wrath and pardon of their sinne It is that which in a speciall manner they stand in need to attend unto For a sixth use If any man shall aske how shall I know that all this belongs to me what it is for thee we cannot yet tell in case a man have had no impression upon his soule yet it may be to thee for ought thou canst tell because all the Elect are not yet called home but are to be called Therefore it is not the thing to say they have no hope in it because they are not yet washed by it for they may be before they dye But if for the present you would know whether you have part in it or no you see what the nature of it is where the blood of Christ comes where it is sprinkled you see what it doth it hath a redeeming power in it and a purchasing power It doth redeem thee from all evill from the power of sinne and Satan and of this world and of thine owne heart and withall from the wrath of God and the curse of the Law so that the Conscience is more pure and peaceable then before and both these go together But mind what I say further if this blood hath had this free passage in thine heart it hath purchased reconcilement with the Father union with the Sonne communion with the Spirit conformity to Christ and comforting thee in Christ Conforming thee to Christ in his death and comforthing thee in Christ and the fruits of his death the favour of God and the pardon of sinne and the blessed priviledges that his death hath purchased I say this is the efficacy of the blood of Christ where it is received in power If these
head of that Church It is cause of everlasting thankfulnesse and watchfulnesse not to be deluded by fine shewes of worldly men but let us see and know where true worship lies as the Lord hath declared himself in Christ and held him forth in the Gospel of truth Forthly let it teach us all where to bestow our admiration and adoration It was a charge that our Saviour gave to the Devill and which accordingly he himself practised and requires us to doe Mat. 4. 10. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serve The Devill askes this of Christ to bow downe to him and worship him The Lords Indignation is kindled his holy Zeale is inflamed against such a Sacriligious request Get thee hence Satan for it is written thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serve And as we are to worship him alone and no God but him so we are to admire none but him Who is like unto thee O Lord amongst the Gods who is like unto thee glorious in holinesse fearfull in praises doing wonders Exod. 15. 11. There is matter of admiration who is a God like unto the Lord that forgiveth Iniquity Transgression and Sinne of which you read Mic. 7. 18. and which the Church holds forth there upon this very ground who is a God like unto thee why what is there in him that you so magnifie him he is a God that forgives Iniquity Transgression and Sinne here is cause indeed of admiration They admire and adore the Pope why Because they had satisfaction to their consciences in their way and an ungrounded hope of a better state in another world and pardon of Sinne in this and now they come to fellowship with Christ by the worship of the Devill But who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth Iniquity Transgression and Sinne So that here is indeed matter of due admiration and let it be fastned there When a mans soul is brought low with the sence of Sinne and overpoured with the burden that lyes upon his conscience by reason of the guilt of Sinne what is matter of admiration now who is a God like unto thee that passeth by Iniquity transgression sin It is not the Pope of Rome that can take away sin it is not all the cunning of the Dragon that can do it And therefore to what end are all the admirations and worships that are put upon the Bishop of Rome and the Dragon that gave him his power They may please themselves in what satisfaction they apprehend they have but their own principles possesse them that they can never come to see the admirable goodnesse of God in forgiving their Sinnes But now when the Lord sheds abroad a spirit of grace and peace in the conscience and applyes the goodnesse of Christ to the discharge of the burden of Sinne and of quickning the heart in the peace of Christ Jesus this breeds admiration Blessed be God the Father of mercy and God of all consolation that of his aboundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope I say this blessing is worthy of admiration and not onely of wonderment but of acknowledging all glory and blessednes to him When the conscience is not pacified by a sorry duty done from man but by a sealed pardon from the spirit of God witnessed by the breath of the holy Ghost this is such a mercy to the soule as indeed raiseth the heart above all admiration of such a Beast I to a true detestation of this Beast and of the Dragon that hath so long bewitched and carried them captive to the imaginations of their own hearts and in the end to their everlasting perdition But let it be the care of Gods people as ever you desire to be blessed from the admiration of such a worm-eaten Religion so grow to an admiration of the God of mercy and grace and so we shall doe that upon just grounds which our Fathers did without grounds to this Beast and to the head of it Upon this ground this head being wounded and afterwards healed all the world wondred after him Here is an Image of Christ he was wounded to death and his deadly wound was healed and he riseth againe and he proclaims all power is given him in Heaven and Earth Now see how this Vicar of Christ as they call him usurps as Christ was wounded and is risen againe so it is with this Beast he is wounded to death and afterwards healed and restored and now all the world admire and worship him Have they forgotten that Christ dyed for our Sinnes and was raised again for our Justification and doe they stand admiring at this Beast as he that was wounded and healed Therefore let it be a ground of true thankfulnesse to the Lord for the great change that is wrought in Christendome and let us give the Lord the admiration that is due to him that we may be preserved from those delusions wherewith others have been deceived and may goe on in this way constantly which the Lord hath established and called us unto Revel 13. 5 6. And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and power was given unto him to continue forty and two moneths And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God to blaspheme his name and his Tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven THE events that followed upon the healing of the Beast the first was That all the world admired him The second was Vniversall worship given both to the Beast and to the Dragon that gave power to the Beast of which wee have already spoken The third event remains now to be spoken to and that is the deligation of power to this Beast upon his recovery and the power given him is four-fold 1. There was power given him to speak great things and in particular great blasphemies 2. There was power given him to continue that is as the word signifies to be doing to be active to be powerfull and efficacious in his worke 42. moneths 3. There was power given him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them 4. Power was given him of dominion over all Kindreds Tongues and Nations First There was given him a mouth speaking great things Secondly There was power given him to continue 42. moneths and both these Authorities or Liberties they are amplified by the effect it wrought in the Beast He did effectually take that power which was given him and employed it to the utmost As he had a mouth given him so he opened his mouth in blasphemies and that amplified by the object of his blasphemy against God and God distributed his Name his Tabernacle and those that dwell in Heaven The note then that the words do afford first is this That after the healing of the wounded head of the Beast there was given to him power to speak great things even blasphemies which also he did effectually and abundantly exercise or
more liberty and authority then will do them good and the People good for what ever transcendant power is given will certainly over-run those that give it and those that receive it There is a straine in a mans heart that will sometime or other runne out to excesse unlesse the Lord restraine it but it is not good to venture it It is necessary therefore that all power that is on earth be limited Church-power or other If there be power given to speak great things then look for great blasphemies look for a licentious abuse of it It is counted a matter of danger to the State to limit Prerogatives but it is a further danger not to have them limited They will be like a Tempest if they be not limited A Prince himselfe cannot tell where hee will confine himselfe nor can the people tell But if he have liberty to speak great things then he will make and unmake say and unsay and undertake such things as are neither for his owne honour nor for the safety of the State It is therefore fit for every man to be studious of the bounds which the Lord hath set and for the People in whom fundamentally all power lyes to give as much power as God in his word gives to men And it is meet that Magistrates in the Common-wealth and so Officers in Churches should desire to know the utmost bounds of their own power and it is safe for both All intrenchment upon the bounds which God hath not given they are not enlargements but burden and snares They will certainly lead the spirit of a man out of his way sooner or later It is wholsome and safe to be dealt withall as God deales with the vast Sea Hitherto shalt thou come but there shalt thou stay thy proud waves and therefore if they be but banks of simple sand they will be good enough to check the vast roaring Sea And so for Imperiall Monarchies it is safe to know how far their power extends and then if it be but banks of sand which is most slippery it will serve as well as any brazen wall If you pinch the Sea of its liberty though it be walls of stone or brasse it will beate them downe So it is with Magistrates stint them where God hath not stinted them and if they were walls of brasse they would beate them downe and it is meet they should but give them the liberty God allows and if it be but a wall of sand it will keep them As this liquid Ayre in which we breath God hath set it for the waters of the Clouds to the Earth It is a Firmament it is the Clouds yet it stands firme enough because it keeps the Climate where they are it shall stand like walls of brasse So let there be due bounds set and I may apply it to Families it is good for the Wife to acknowledg all power and authority to the Husband and for the Husband to acknowledg honour to the Wife but still give them that which God hath given them and no more nor lesse Give them the full latitude that God hath given else you will finde you dig pits and lay snares and cumber their spirits if you give them lesse there is never peace where full liberty is not given nor never stable peace where more then full liberty is granted Let them be duely observed and give men no more liberty then God doth nor women for they will abuse it The Devill will draw them and Gods providence leade them thereunto therefore give them no more then God gives And so for children and servants or any others you are to deale with give them the liberty and authority you would have them use and beyond that stretch not the tether it will not tend to their good nor yours And also from hence gather and goe home with this meditation That certainly here is this distemper in our natures that we cannot tell how to use liberty but wee shall very readily corrupt our selves Oh the bottomlesse depth of sandy earth of a corrupt spirit that breaks over all bounds and loves inordinate vastnesse that is it we ought to be carefull of Thirdly it may teach us to observe the hand of God in all the vast out-runings of the Sonnes of men when you see men outragious beyond all power wonder not at the matter for he that is above is higher then the highest and he regardeth it Eccles 5. 8. A man would wonder that a Bishop should take upon him to controul all the Churches and in very deed all the Common-wealths and Nations of the world and that in such high things both in nature and measure that a man would think it were not possible for a mortall man to undertake such a vast enterprize yet they have done it the Pope hath done it and the Bishop of Rome hath done it but wonder not at it for he that is higher then the highest hath given him this power John 3. 27. not given it him in an Ordinance but in his common Providence This transcendant power that he is able to carry all before him without controll it is a strange power he may say what he will and doe what he will for so many moneths the time indeed is limited So that it will be of this use to us if we see men outrageous and break bonds beyond measure is any common-wealth or Church our way is to see Gods hand in it and to look up to him to muzzle that power He is able to bridle the high King of Assyria that whereas he spake great things what is the God of Israel that he shall deliver you out of my hand the Lord can put a bridle in his nostrills and bring him back the way that he came And therefore when men speak great things against us from any part of the world know that he that is higher then the highest regardeth and our eyes must be to him that he will muzzle such and take order to cut them off The Lord will cut out the tongue that speaketh proud things Psal 12. 4. He hath promised to doe it and he will doe it effectually You have two places where the Lord useth the word to muzzle the one is about the Sea Marke 4. 39. the other is spoken to the Devill Mark 1. 25. Hold thy peace it is translated but the word in the Originall is be thou muzzled Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the Corne it is the same word It shews that the Lord hath a muzzle for the great Sea and a muzzle for the Devils of hell when we have to deal with them If it be the great King of Assyria he will put his bridle in his nostrils and make him return back the same way he came the Lord is above all when they are above the reach of men they are not above him he sits in heaven and laughs them to scorn Those that have been most insolent
required some-what large opening but it is a counsell of God and given of him for this end that it may be expounded and explained And the Lord hath promised blessednesse Chap. 1. to those that read and search this Booke and therefore he would encourage all to search diligently the meaning of it especially as God gives opportunity It was that which John mourned for that he found none worthy to open this book and to loose the seals thereof only the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah I think there is no man shall be diligently studious on this Book depending upon the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah for helpe but he shall find something more then he did expect It is true if a man go in confidence of his own gifts and knowledge he may foole himself but if in modesty of Christian wisdome and in the feare of God the spirit of any Christian Minister or other that layes hold of this Book he shall not be sent empty away What light God hath given me in this particular you have heard opened The use in a word is thus much First it is a word of stay to the soules of Gods people It serves to strengthen our faith that the Lord is exact in his Propheticall expressions Look what he speaks though it be many a yeare or day before he will not faile to bring it to accomplishment in his time It is truly observed if God tarry long a thousand years with God is but as one day till the appointed time come But when his time is come then one day with God is as a thousand yeares God will as soon faile a thousand yeares as one day Indeed till his time be come he thinks it not long though it tarry 1260. yeares but when it is come then he will not faile one day It is a memorable speech that in Exod. 12. 40 41 42. The sojourning of the children of Aegypt was foure hundred and thirty yeares And it came to passe at the end of the foure hundred and thirty yeares even the self-same day it came to passe that all the host of the Lord went out from the Land of Aegypt It is a night much to be observed c. Hee doth not say they dwelt there so long but were sojourners there And it came to passe at the end of the foure hundred and thirty yeares even the selfe same day it came to passe that all the best of the Lord went out from the Land of Aegypt as if God would put some Emphasis upon it The word in the Originall is in the bones of the day It is an usuall Hebraism the strength of a thing they call the bones of it that is in the face of all the people in the strength of the day even when it was full day God kept reckoning to a day he will as well faile a thousand yeares as one day when his time is come and till his time be come we must think it long if he stay a thousand yeares It must therefore strengthen our Faith that God is the same God in the New Testament as in the Old that if we could know times as exactly as God knows them we might write in the bones of such a yeare and day the bones of the Roman Catholick Church is broken and lyes bed-rid as it is foretold Jezebel shall be cast into the bed of affliction and all that commit adultery with her into great tribulation Let it strengthen the faith of Gods people in every time for if God be so exact in every circumstance what time he sets he will keep then it may more strengthen us in substantiall promises and threatnings and what ever the Lord hath spoken be not discouraged the Lord will make good what hee hath spoken he will not faile of a minute of time when his period is come Secondly it may serve to encourage us the more to pray to God for a speedy accomplishment of the power of this great Beast the Roman Catholick visible Church that hath bewitched the world for so many ages together and to grow this way in our prayers for the destruction of him from yeare to yeare and the neerer the time of the accomplishment grows the more earnest should our expectations be to see the accomplishment and the more earnest our prayers should be You read of holy Daniel that when hee understood by books that the Lord had set the captivity for 70. years then he set himselfe by prayer and supplication to seek the Lord in Dan. 9. 1 2 3. He takes this very occasion he found it was written that thereabouts it would be and he found that time was at hand therefore he wrestles with God in fasting and prayer for the accomplishment of that deliverance And so ought we to do and indeed about that time it is that in the Exposition of other Scriptures that holy man of God that hath given light to this Booke some-what after he encourageth to look for no small changes that may befall the State So that it may encourage us to look for such a great mercy It is a great mercy that the Lord hath discovered the vanity of subjection to the Roman Catholick Church from day to day the Lord discovers it more and more to this country and hath given us to see the true platform of a true Church from which the Roman Catholick Church is so far disproportionable to be governed by a supream head instead of a particular Church ordered by Pastors and Teachers there is such a vast distance that well doth the holy Ghost call it a great Beast a lewd Strumpet to undertake such an Institution Therefore as the thing hath been odious in Gods sight long so let us pray that he will go on to break the power of this Beast It hath not been in vain what a blow he hath given to the Image of this Beast by the late stirs in Scotland True it is before great deliverances there will be great afflictions whether here or else-where It is an usuall providence to the most faithfull ones of God But what ever bitter cup the Lord may give us to drink of yet the day of this great Beast is coming wherein he is to go to perdition He hath begun to fall before the Lamb and if he begin to fall before him say the Magicians to the Kings Favourite Haman Esth 6. 13. If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jewes before whom thou hast begun to fall thou shalt not prevaile against him but shalt surely in falling fall that is fall more and more It 's true there may be some pangs as a Beast when he is going to his last gaspe he will fling with his tayle and with his horns but he is falling and leaves not falling till he finally fall though there be pangs as dying creatures to win the horse or lose the saddle but otherwise he will never stand that there may be a Factotum at that time and will grow
doctrines of Religion there is none sanctified so effectually and immediatly to beget faith in the soul as the preaching of the crosse of Christ All the doctrines of the Gospel are for the begetting of faith but they have no efficacy this way further then they are sprinkled with the blood of Christ other promises do confirme faith and they may also beget it but it is with reference to the crosse of Christ That which gives satisfaction to Gods justice that gives satisfaction to our consciences for conscience is convinced that if God deal in justice as he knows no reason but he should then he of all men is most miserable the burden of thâ—s lies heavy and is ready to plunge him to hell what will satisfie the conscience now nothing in the world except it see some reason why Gods justice should be satisfied and how shall that be done onely by the death of the lamb of God So that well doth the Apostle make the crosse of Christ the ratification of the Covenant for that cuts of all sinne and curse and the rigor of the Law hell and death and devill and damnation and all evil that can befall us in this or another world and doth satisfie the justice of God that it might remove all these and bears the whole burden of the desert of our sinnes purchaseth reconciliation with the Father union with the Sonne communion with the holy Ghost But what is all this to me will the soul say unlesse these be so given that faith be wrought in my heart to discerne all these and finde them The Lord doth indeed all these the spirit of God comes and so preacheth the Gospel and so applyes the Gospel as that in preaching these things he doth beget faith in the heart to believe that all these things are indeed belonging to such a soul and to every one whom he is pleased to accept to the benefit of the crosse of Christ and to fellowship therein and now indeed is the whole Covenant of Grace confirmed when by the death of Christ the virtue of it is applyed by the spirit to the soul Not that there is a reconcilement to God before faith and union with the Sonne and communion with the holy Ghost before faith It is before in Gods purpose and Christs purchase but when the spirit comes to apply this whose work it is to give accomplishment to the work of the other persons he applying this works saith and ratifies the Covenant and thereupon the heart is satisfied and the justice of God satisfied and the spirit at rest from unsupportable anguishes which did before plow up the tender heart of a christian that he lay sprawling as it were in his blood 3. A third benefit that flowes from the former in respect of the price paid and in regard of the virtue and efficacy of the price when it comes to be applyed you have not onely lawfull right unto the creatures to eat and drink c. but some right and title to them by the blood of Christ And he hath also paid a price for the possession of eternall glory Vntill the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory Ephes 1. 14. Untill doth argue that there is a purchase we do not yet receive and when shall that be received when both we our selves and the creatures shall be redeemed to the glorious liberty of the sons of God Then shall we receive the full benefit of the price which he hath paid whiles he suffered upon the Crosse Therefore wonder not that though Christ being a lamb yet he was slain that he being slain we might be redeemed and might enjoy the purchased possession redemption from all evill in every kinde from sorrow paine c. from the evil of them And his blood also was a price for a purchased possession of reconciliation with the Father of union with the Sonne of communion with the holy Ghost dominion over all sinne ratification of the Covenant to our soules and at length the possession of everlasting glory This was the reason why the lamb was slaine and had it not been for these divine and supernatural and blessed ends he would not have prostituted his life to such a bitter and shamefull death as the death of the Crosse was It was not meet the onely begotten Sonne of God should come down into the world to lead a miserable life and to dye an accursed death but for noble and glorious ends and you have the sum in these particulars For the use of it First it is a cause of just humiliation to us whose sins were so out of measure sinful as that there is no ransome to be given for them but such an invaluable price as the blood of the Sonne of God All the Gold of Ophir all that the world can give what is it to this invaluable blood of the Sonne of God Yet this was our case and estate that if we had had many worlds for our inheritance and given them all for the redemption of one soule it had not been sufficient This was our estate and this is the estate of all such as yet live in sinne to this day It is a desperate estate that cannot be repaired nor themselves rescued from by ransome but the blood of Christ If our sinnes had been of a lesse nature a lesse price might have made satisfaction And yet such is the pride of the hearts of the sonnes of men that because we live civil lives though yet natural we have good natures are so well bred do so many good offices that we think it is not so dreadful a matter nor that we are so dangerous for our estate as others If it go ill with us what will become of desperate roaring ruffines whatever becomes of them it is a frivolous matter to you or to such as are civil and hinder the free passage of the grace of God but if our natures be so good and our carriage so comely I pray you what need such an invaluable price be given If a small matter would have saved us from the world what need such an invaluable price be given to rescue us from it You will say I hope I am not so addicted to the world I would drive a bargaine home to the head and would not be cheated But is that all you know by your selves certainly there is more for if the Lord did not see that inveglement which the word hath of us and that close combination of us to it the Lord would not have thought it needful to send his onely Sonne to redeeme us from this present evill world Frugality is not a vice in any but a virtue and if there were no more but good husbandry surely there need not such a price to be paid to redeeme us from the world But certainly the Lord sees such power of worldlinesse and untemperance in us and such power of passions and lusts that no means would rescue us therefrom
a good action from his hands Take him without the vertue of Christ since the world began there never rose a good thought in all mens hearts if there did it was by the vertue of this Lamb of God that was slaine from the foundation of the world The heart of man Jeremiah complained long before Christs time is deceitfull above measure and desperately wicked who can know it Jer. 17. 9 Who can know the bottomlesse depth of it This is the very state of all the world since the world began the whole frame and state of the world is enmity against God Rom. 8 7. It is not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be and that in such a deep measure you may see by the medicine that the Lord prepares for it it shews the depth of the depravation of the world from the beginning it hath been corrupt and incurable unlesse it were by the vertue of the death of Christ by the sonne of God made man taking upon him mans nature and the greatnesse and infinitenesse of the vertue of this remedie doth evidently argue the bottomlesse depth of the corruption of the world since the world began No man would bespeak a Smiths great hammer to break an egg-shell a man would think it a marvellous vanity if he should Truly the Lord hath prepared the strongest iron hammer to break the Serpents head and which is wonderfull this iron hammer the Lord Jesus that breaks all before it The stone cut out of the mountaine that breaks the iron mountaine of Rome Dan. 2. 34. It is the same it was it makes men many times wonder how they came to be well conceited of the old Religion when Antichrist reâ—gned then were golden dayes as they say then there was nothing but every man regarded other mens good as their own precious golden seasons in the old world then an easie matter would have perswaded them all but to what end was Christ slain from the beginning of the world if it were not full of wickednesse if it were not so tough that this hammer of hammers must come to break it in pieces If men were so tractable children to Parents servants to Masters and yoke-fellows so abundantly in sweetnesse and amiablenesse what needed Christ to be crushed in pieces Say not saith Solomon Eccles 7. 10. what is the cause that the former dayes were better then these for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this It is not a wise question for the truth is thou art deceived to think the elder times were better it is true it is possible men by the policy of Satan may grow worse But take them at the best had there not been a Lamb slain to rescue the same from the corruption of it no flesh had been saved It is true in some ages when the Gospel found free passage there was some difference It was so in Davids time better then in Sauls and Solomons for a time better then in Davids and so in Hezekiah's time better then in Zedekiah's and so it hath been up and down but take it the best all flesh have corrupted their wayes there is not a good thought not a good word nor a good practice since the world began Sometimes in morall vertues men have more exceeded when the Devill knew they were farre off from spiritual grace he tempted them not when he knew he had them fast in a golden and silken chaine or cord of morall vertues so I may call them he led the prisoners of those dayes in a golden chaine The strong man armed kept the house all the time of the Grecian and Persian Monarchy long before Christ and if any were delivered it was by the death of Christ as well as now It is true we read in ancient Poets I think it was fetched out of Daniel from Nebuchadnezzars dreame there was a golden world and then a silver world and then a brasse and sometimes iron there was all The Babylonian Monarch was gold but when it was gold it was but golden fetters of sinne and a land of wickednesse that held men close to the Devill and the silver Monarch of Persia was but silver fetters and the brasse Monarch of Greece it was but brazen fetters It is true when Religion brake forth then hee put upon them more chaines strong beastly lusts men with men committing filthinesse Rom. 1. 17. These were iron chains to cary men captive to Satan He sees Learning break forth and therefore he layes stronger chains and bands upon them Be no more stiffe-necked lest your bands encrease saith the Lord and so from golden bands you have silver and from silver brasse and from brasse iron and all to lead you captive to your last execution And what is the difference if a man be pynion'd with a golden cord or a silver or a brazen and iron cord the one is more glittering then the other but all bring to destruction Therefore look at all the world living in wickednesse since the world began or else in vain was the Lamb slain The very frame of mans transgression brought in a necessity of a like remedy and therefore a like need of the blood of Christ And it is a vain Question as Solomon saith why the former times should be better then these so it is a vain apprehension that men have of themselves as good to say I thank God I have a good heart and you shall finde me tractable and reasonable though they be but naturall and so their children are very tractable you may lead them with a twinde theerd and need not use violence you may soon break them what then are you but eggshels what need then a iron hammer to crush all the power of the enemy do not you and your children stand in need of the virtue of the blood of the Lamb as much as others have since the world began That men have stood in need of the blood of the Lamb from the foundation of the world to rescue them from the power of the strong man if they were so tractable young or old I know there is a great difference between spirits God forbid we should defame the work of God in nature but take the best spirit there is unconceivable enmity in the best natur'd man against Christ there is an in-bred emnity against him ever since the world began as is impossible to be healed but by the blood of Christ Christ came to crush them whiles they are in the shell and unlesse he heal them verily children of a span long cannot be saved Therefore let no man flatter themselves in their good inclination there is that in us since the world began that Christ must be broken and crushed to break the league between us and the Devill Christ himselfe in his soule and body must be striken he kils himselfe by the stroke he gives to the enemy Folly is bound up in the heart of a child and it is noâ— goodnesse of nature or what ever
sure he never fetched any acceptance from Heaven But you read of another fire fetched from Heaven by Eliah and that was to destroy those that mocked him 2 Kings 1. 10. 12. Which practise when James and John would have followed in Luke 9. 54 55 56. You shall read that they being offended with the Samaritans because they would not receive them Master say they shall we call for fire from Heaven to consume them as Eliah did Our Saviour utterly rejects that You know not saith he of what spirit ye are Now minde you that fetching fire from Heaven which is to destroy mens lives and not save them that James and John are taught to refusâ— as being incompatible to the Gospel But that which they refuse the Successour of Peter as they call him takes up if any Scribe or Pharisee or Samaritan refuse him then fire comes down from Heaven consuming fire and vengance and wrath and blood-shed and extreamity of outraged evils he causeth to come down upon them and in pretence from Heaven to destroy the Church and people of God that I take to be the cheif parâ— of the meaning of that But if any man will urge the letters of the Text which you need not in mystical Scriptures yet it is not without truth therein Gregory the seventh he declares this that he had strange power when he had much people about him he would have shaked the sleeve of his gound and caused fire to come down Now it is evident it might be for he was a Conjurer and 22. Popes together as their own storyes do record they were wiâ—ches and gave their soules to the Devil that they might obtaine the Popedome but they were but lying wonders for miracles require divine power but the Devil cannot go beyond the power of nature so that you may take it in the proper meaning their own men do much magnifie it and make it one of the markes of their Churche whereas Protestants that want miracles are not Churches So that those censures by which they thundred against christian Emperors they did follow with such success that they made all wonder that none could stand against them not Henery the fourth nor Henery the fifth not Leo the Emperour nor the King of Fraunce none of them all were able to take up armes against him they did all admire him Who is able to stand against him end to make Warre with him And that gave such free passage to his Laws that all christian States presently took up what injunctions he put upon them Fourthly by these miracles and the mighty successe of them he had power to cause them that dwell on the earth to make an Image to the Beast that had the deadly wound and was healed that is the Roman Catholick visible Church What is this Image of the Beast he causeth all the earth that is all earthly States to receive it he will suffer none to be without it what is this Image an Image not of their own making they must make an Image by his appointment It is an Image of the first beast not of the second directly and consequently the officers of that Beast must represent this second Beast but be an Image of the first if the first Beast was the Roman Catholick visible Church then if he causeth all the Earth to make an Image to that Beast then he causeth all Churches and Common-wealths to frame their State and platforme according to the Image of the Roman Catholick visible Church and therefore he causeth all Christian Princes to erect all their Churches in a Roman Catholick way what is that Metropolitan National Provnciall Diocesan Cathedral and Provincial Churches These are all lively characters of the Roman Catholick Church reserving stil pre-emenency to their mother Catholick Church of Rome but otherwise they are the lively Image of such a Church even as daughters are of their mothers and being overcome with the power of his miracles and deceits and delusions as you heard by the Policy of Canonists by carnall Policy and by their Votaries and by working miracles signes and lying wonders it is a wonder to see what power he had that all the power of the Popedome and of the Catholick Church was in a model and representation drawn in all Churches in Christendome during the time of 42. moneths which is 1260. years and then a great part of his Image was marred in a great part of Christendome but yet he still continues so then there is a lively Image of the Roman Catholick Church though it may be some are drawn from subjection thereunto and yet though they be drawn off from subjection to it yet still the Image and representation is written in the very foreheads of such Churches that is a fourth thing Fiftly He had power to give life to the Image of the Beast what life that it should both speak and cause That as many as would not worship the Image of the Beast should be killed How doth he put this life into the Image of this Beast to speak It is to speak with authorty as in verse 5. A mouth speaking great things He would speak and speak with authority that now these Diocesan Metropolitan and Provinciall Churches they can speak with authority as the Roman Catholick Church doth and their words must take place and he puts that life into it by his own canons and laws which they take up the canons and laws made by the Church of Rome do so animate Provincial and Diocesan Churches that they speak the same language not altogether so corrupt but with like authority and require like subjection of all persons and by your leave they grow to it for very conscience sake that those things which were indifferent before yet being laws of the Church now they must binde conscience this is to speak great things Now they have power likewise to cause as many as will not worship the Image of the Beast they shall be killed a signe none of them took that power like the beast but yet though they have not power to kill them yet to deliver them to the Secular power and they must kill them â— whatever the Diocesan Church doth agree on against her Hereticks that will not obey the Government or doctrine of the Church what then The deliver him to the Secular power then they cause him to be put to death and they deliver him to fire and faggot so you see the mighty power of this Beast There is one thing remaining of his power and that is the sixth and last effect He causeth all both small and great rich and poor free and bond to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads Kings and Princes Ministers and Clergy men as they call them high and low whatever they be he causeth them all to receive a character or marke either in their right hand or in their foreheads A marke in the hand that character themselves call an indelible character and