2 Cruelty 3 Subtiltie 4 Power 5 Victory His effects are 1 Against the Starres he drew downe with his taile the third part 2 Against the Woman stood before her to devoure her c. First Of the dragon himselfe Quest. What is meant by the Dragon Answ. 3 Things 1 The Devill for so it is expounded ver 9. to be that old Serpent called the devill and Satan Now the devill is called metaphorically a serpent or dragon First By allusion to that story Genes 3. because under this forme and representation he deceived mankind Secondly For his poison and malice whereof he is full and by which he hath stung to death all the sons of men as was shadowed by those serpents in the wildernesse which slew all the Israelites that looked not up to the brasen Serpent Thirdly For his exceeding strength and power to hurt destroy whereunto adde his feircenesse and bloody cruelty against the Saints which makes the dragon dreadfull which is of all monsters the most fell and savage Fourthly For his slinesse subtiltie and craft wherein he resembleth the serpent which is more subtill then all the beasts of the field Genes 3. 1. and this is mentioned ver ◠which deceived all the world And this his nature is couched in his name drac◠cōing of a word signifying to see peircingly for he is subtile acute and quicke sighted to discerne a far off his pray and advantage against us 2 By the dragon is also meant the instruments of Satans fury For he worketh against the Church by wicked men and externall enemies who are comprized under the word Dragon And they having the same nature and disposition of the devill have also the same name Jer. 51. 34. The King of Babell is said to swallow up the Church as a dragon And Exek 29. 3. Pharaoh King of Egypt for his tyranny against the Church is called the great dragon that lies in the midst of his rivers Psal. 74. 13. thou dividedst the sea by thy power thou brakest the heads of Dragons that is the pursuing Egyptians in the waters And in the next verse he seemeth to call Pharaoh by the name of Leviathan Which as it is the great destroyer of the sea and swallowes up innumerable lesser fishes so he would swallow up all the Church before him and was a terrour to all nations round about him Object But here is mention but of one dragon whereas of devils be many legions and millions of fierce and wicked men and enemies of the Church Sol. The whole kingdome of the devill may be said to be but one dragon Because 1 It is a kingdome not divided against it selfe al of it is but one corporation or societie for although they be severall in themselves yet they all joine in mischiefe and malice against Christ and his Church as if they were but one and not many 2 All the members of that kingdome resemble the nature of their head which is the dragon and all have one common worke and are all fitly comprehended under one name 3 As all the company of the faithfull beare the name of Christ. 1 Cor 12. 12. So all the company of the wicked in whom Satan rules is called by the name of the Dragon in this place And of the devill Revel 2. 10 The devill shall cast some of you into prison that is the devils instruments who all beare his name And as well his instruments may be here put for himselfe as himselfe for his instruments there 3 Because this vision was properly of things and persōs after Iohns being in Pathmos it seemes yet to be fitlier brought lower to some more speciall instruments who have imbatled themselves against the Church since Christs ascention And then wee cannot more properly apply it then to the persecuting Emperours of Rome while it was heathen who were speciall ministers and instruments of the devils fury against the Church And all of them being many made but one dragon For First They were all one in fiercenesse and feritie of the it nature against Christ and his Church and put forth all their rage in maintenance of their idolatrie and worship of the dragon as 1 Cor. 10 20. led by the devill and ruled by his will Secondly They were all one in place one in judgment one in succession succeeding one another both in the throne and authoritie and in the execution of it against Christ and this woman his spouse with the crueltie rather of fell and fierie dragons then of men that had retained but one sparke of humanitie or pittie within them Thirdly All of them gave the dragon for their armes which doth not obscurely give us to understand what enemie the Spirit of God would more particularly ayme at and designe unto us And shew that The enemies of the Church though they disagree never so much among themselves yet all joyne against the Church for they all make up but one dragon As against David rose up Hadadezer King of Zobah and to his succours the Aramites of Damesek 2 Sam. 8. 3. 5. chap. 10. 6. After them Aramites and Ammonites and many enemies joyned as one man against him so against Christ the Sonne of David conspired Pharisees Saduces Herodians Essus Yea Christ himselfe was a signe of contradiction to all people and so is his Church Luk. 23. 12. Herod and Pilate had their private quarrels among themselves yet both agree and are made friends against Christ. Acts 17. 18. Epicures and Stoiks were as contrary in their sects and opinions as blacke and white One most strict in their way the other as loose and libertine One placed their happinesse in vertue and morall honesty the other in volupteousnesse brutish pleasures But as contrary as they were betweene themselves they all band and joyne themselves against Paul and his doctrine And all wicked tyrants and princes whatsoever private quarrels are among themselves yet all agree band themselves against Christ. Psal. 2. At this day all the catholike countries Spaine Fraunce Italy Germany whatsoever particular quarrels are among themselves yet all are in holy league as they call it against the poore Reformed Churches So of all heretikes if they be never so hostile among themselves yet all joyne against orthodoxe doctrine And all worldly evil men full of emnitie one against another yet all agree against the profession of godlinesse and practice of pietie 1 Because of that irreconcilable enmitie put between the whole seed of the woman and the whole seed of the Serpent Genes 3. 15. and therefore be that spawne and seed of the serpent never so poysonfull one against another nor will trust another yet all will easily strike hands against the godly as one man 2 All darknesse is contrary to all light and the whole kingdome of darknesse must fight against the whole kingdome of light because all light reproveth all darknesse alike Christ is an equall enemie
are so far from being overcome by externall violence that when their persons are most downe their graces are most victorious and invincible even in the eyes of the enemies themselves for 1 Can they seaver them from the truth and faith of the Gospell no they will not live without it but will dye that it may live they will water the furrows of it with their dearest blood rather then it should not grow they will rake it out of the fire into which the enemies cast it 2 Can they sunder them from the love of God and Christ as they intend by torment No they see their love stronger then death all the waters in the sea nor all their seas os sorrows and deadly torments cannot quench it 3 Can they cast them out of the favour of God and possession of happinesse as by their degradations excommunications anathemaes and great curses they desire No but the Lord is apparantly with them in sixe troubles and in seaven in the fire and in the water and never leaves them till they be with him in his immediate presence-chamber as wheat laid up for ever in his garner 4 Can they overcome their patience fortitude or constancy No but by the undaunted resolution of the Saints in their torments the mindes of the persecutors themselves seeme rather overcome then the Martyrs that suffer them Even Iulians furie was conquered by the patience of the Martyrs Roman Tyrants in the first tenne persecutions were even tyred with the stedfastnesse of the Saints in suffering Thus are they in their weaknesse most strong as dying but behold they live afflicted on every side but not overcome This is the priviledge of their estate of their cause of their graces that they are never lesse overcome then when they seeme most overcome and as the text saith they most gloriously overcome when they love not their lives to the death The point of doctrine from these words thus expounded is this Godly men must contemne their lives and not love them to the death in respect of Christ and his truth Luke 14. 26. He that hateth not his owne life cannot be my disciple that is he that is not ready to bring his life in his hand and offer it up in sacrifice when my cause and the Gospels calleth for it cannot be a good Christian. Act. 20. 24. Afflictions and bands abide me every where but I passe not neither is my life deare unto me so that I may finish my course with joy Heb. 12. 4. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood as if he had said Howsoever ye have endured a great fight in afflictions while ye were made a gazing-stocke to the world and while ye were companions to them that were tossed too and fro Chap. 10. 32. yet yee are not come so farre as you must make account of in the profession of Christianity because yee have not resisted unto blood Revel 2. 20. Bee thou faith full unto the death and I will give thee a Crown of life 1 Because of Christs merit and desert hee loved not his life to death for us nay hee was earnest to die for us Luke 12. 50. I have a baptisme to bee baptized with and how am I grieved till it be ended how then should our thankfulnesse binde us to give up if wee had a thousand lives for him shall the just sufter for the unjust and shall not the unjust hold himselfe bound to suffer for the just 2 The worth of truth bindes on all Christians this dutie to despise their lives for the truths sake for the truth of the Gospell is farre more worthy than all that wee can give in exchange for it God hath magnified it above all things Psal. 138. 2. The Sonne of God magnified it above his owne life it cost him deare he bought it with his life and precious blood The Saints of God the cloud of witnesses He. 12. 1. were prodigall of their blood and would and did spend it till the last drop rather then by any torments they would bee removed from the truth and faith of the Gospell and we are injoyned to buy the truth at any rate even with our blood if God call us to it but not to sell it for any thing in the world 3 Our neare relation unto Christ bindes us not to love our lives to death for his sake For 1 Wee are his redeemed ones wee are not our owne but bought with the price of his blood 1 Cor. 6. 20. and therefore wee must glorifie him in our soules and bodies whose wee are 2 Wee are his souldiers prest under his colours and if a souldier sell his life every day for a base pay how much more ought the Christian souldier in a farre more honourable warre esteeme his life at a small rate in the cause and quarrell of his Generall and if a souldier must stand in the place his Generall sets him in and must not remove though hee dye for it how much more ought wee being called to stand fast in the faith of the Gospell keepe our ground unremoved from our holy profession though it bee by the losse of our lives Thus then must a Christian souldier animate his owne resolution Shall any fouldier more feare or more love his Commander than I my Michael my Christ shall I more feare a Tyrant threatning death and torments then my Lord requiring my faithfulnesse and constancy doth a man of valour feare the dishonor and shame of a cowardly flight above torment and terrour of present death and should such a man as I flie who preferre in true judgement an honourable and happy death above a thousand base and disgracefull lives 3 Wee are not onely souldiers but houshold servants unto Jesus Christ and therefore must shew all good faith fulnesse to our God Tit. 2. 10. And herein a faithfull servant is differenced from a slothfull a sincere Christian from an hypocrite the hypocrite may bee a great Professor and call Christ Lord Lord and in the peace of the Gospell will say with Peter Master I will dye with thee before I will deny thee but if Christ be in hands and called into question the voyee of a Maide will make him turne his copy But it is proper to the Elect to stand fast and to hold that hee hath and maintaine against all challengers to the death the profession of truth committed unto his trust 4. We are yet nearer even members of Christ and the member naturally lifteth up it selfe and will lose it selfe to beare off a blow from the head and it doth but the duty And much more ought it to bee so in the mystic all body wherein the union is farre more straite then in the naturall 4 Our service to our fellow-members putteth us in minde of this duty which we owe much more to our head If for the edificatien of the Church we are bound willingly to lay downe our lives much more for the
of the Primitive Church under persecution were by Plinius Secundus an heathen Philosopher justified and discharged of all the foule things devised against them even to Trajan that persecuting Emperor as in these words of his letter The whole summe of that sect consists in this that they use at certaine times to convent before day and sing hymnes to Christ their God and confederate among themselves to absteine from all theft murder and adultery to keepe their faith and defraud no man which done then to depart for that time and after that to resort againe to take meat in companies both men and women and yet without any act of evill about the yeare of Christ 100. So did Aristides a Philosopher in Athens justifie the same poore Christians from those horrible slaunders in an oration before the Emperor Hadrian in the yeare 120. And many such examples the story affordeth But our text speaking of after times in the tyranny of Antichrist wee want not a number of instances amongst themselves falsifying their owne wicked slaunders against the Professors of true Religion We have heard Reynerius a great Inquisitor justifying the Waldenses that they lived justly before men and beleeved all well concerning God and all the articles which are conteined in the Creed To the same effect answered the Visitors of K. Lewis 12. of France and of Francis 1. which made one of them sweare that they were a better people then he or his people See many instances of many adversaries of the woman giving honourable reports of her enforced thereto by force of truth it selfe in hist. Waldens lib. 1. cap. 5. 3 The floods of cruell edicts and decrees cast out of the mouth of the dragon were often swallowed and hindred by earthly occasions and incumbrances which rise among the wicked and inhabitants of the earth themselves and the Lord ordinarily ordereth the counsells and quarrells of his enemies among themselves every one having his owne speciall ayme so as shal be good for the Churches escape As Paul got free by casting a bone betweene the Pharises and Sadduces So the Church escapeth often while bones of quarrells and contention are cast betweene wicked Princes In the yeare 1526. Charles 5 Emperour and Francis 1. King of France agreed to joyne all their power and forces and raise a flood wholly to carry away the woman and root out every where the mention of Lutheran Religion but the earth holpe the woman for the Pope himselfe intending their destruction as fiercely as they on other occasions brake the league and made the Emperour so much businesse in Italie that he professed by publique writing that the Pope was in the fault that he had not wholly suppressed the heresie of Lutherans Thus while the wicked plague the ungodly the Church hath some rest and breathing from their wicked decrees as in one other instance appeares anno 1530. For what a cruell edict did the Emperor Charles 5. thunder against the Professors of the Gospell that every one feared to be quite carryed away by that flood which rose out of the dragons mouth at the Dyet of Ausperg But see how God commanded the earth to open her mouth and swallow this flood that it should not hurt but helpe the woman Instantly the Turke as if he had beene earryed by the haire of his head came into Austria invading the Empire and now it was no time to wish the Emperor to graunt peace to the Protestants against the former edict that he might obteine of them ayde against the Turke the common enemie of Christendome In the greatest dangers of the Church she shall alwaies have some helpe and though she be much pressed she shall not be oppressed Wee see many floods may rise up and swell as a spring-tide to carry her away but they cannot drowne her The same was typified in that horrible persecution of Antiochus who when he was most raging and made most havocke in the Church yet was the woman holpen with a little help Dan. 11. 34. God stirred up Mattathias and his sonnes who were but an handfull to Antiochus his army and so prospered their small helpe that the cruelty and tyranny of that monster was stayed for the time Even so in the highest floods of Antichrist of whom Antiochus was a most eminent type the poore woman hath ever had a little helpe 1 Because of the presence of God who sitteth on the floods whose presence with the Church makes her safe Esa. 43. 2. â—eare not Iacob thou art mine there is the ground of safety in the covenant of God when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the floods that they do not overflow thee c. If his promise faile not he must be with his in the hotest fires of persecution and in the most unpassable floods of calumnies and here sies 2 Gods wakefull providence and protection ever deviseth and affordeth some helpe Moses was cast on the waters but God provides him a basket to helpe him out Ionas was cast into the sea God provides a Whale to carry him out Noah was tossed on a world of floods but God became pylot and he that shut him in helped him out And as the great flood could not drowne the Arke but the earth at length swallowed and dryed it up much lesse can these lesser floods drowne the Arke of the Church on which Gods protection is no lesse 3 Christs headship ever affords some helpe A man cannot drowne so long as his head is aloft let him be in never such deepes Christ the head of the Church is ever aloft and cannot sinke If al the floods that ever were cast out of the mouth of the dragon could have carryed him away then had they more easily carried away his body the Church but they could not sinke or drowne him therefore is she safe 4 The Church can pray in faith and the prayer of faith is a strong cable and sure meanes of her safety and stayeth her till seasonable helpe come Psal. 32. 6. Therefore shall every godly man pray and then surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come neare him Ionah prayed in the floods of great waters and was safe being coÌ„passed with waves weeds rockes and mountaines chap. 2. 1. Thesefore is the Church unmooveable and shall so continue to the end of the world seeing no flood shall carry her away and God whose she is is never wanting never wearie in helping her He had saved her from the dragon by raysing up a man-child he saved her the second time by hiding her and now the third time he drawes her out of the floods which intended to drowne her so as earth and hell wearie themselves in vaine in devising to overthrow her The more impudent the Papists who say we teach that the Church fayled from off the earth all the time of Antichrist for the space of a thousand
this Prophecy aimeth and pointeth at more specially which despised the riches pride pompe and ambition which crept in in the succeeding ages to his bane But as yet she endured afflictions and most violent persecutions and contemned both the force and flatterie of Tyrants by which they would have wonne her from the profession and fruition of Iesus Christ the Sun of righteousnesse The propertie of the Church and true members of it is to despise and contemne the best things and the worst of the world in comparison of Iesus Christ. First the best of the world is troden under the godly mans feet in this comparison Heb. 11. 24. Moses by faith refused to be the sonne of Pharaohs daughter He was adopted a Kings sonne he lived in all the delights of the Court exempt from all care he might have had some hope in time to have attained to the kingdome it selfe yet despising al that dignity went to visite his bretheren the Hebrewes and preferred their oppressed estate before his owne preferment and joyned with them as one certainly perswaded to be at length partner in the promise made to the Fathers The Apostles left all to follow Christ. The wise Merchant sels all to purchase the Pearle Paul accounts not his life deare to fulfill the ministration which he had received of the Lord Iesus Acts 20 24. The same Paul esteemes all worldly respects riches gifts knowledge compared with the riches and knowledge of Christ to be but losse and dung Phil. 3. 7 8. Secondly the worst of the world is contemned for Christ Heb. 11. 25. Moses chose to suffer adversitie with Gods people esteeming the rebukes of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt And ver 35. The saints were racked stoned hewed asunder and would not be delivered because they looked for a better resurrection The Apostles rejoyced to suffer Thirdly both best and worst is troden under foot Rom. 8. 38 39. The Apostle proves that neither life that is the pleasures of life nor death that is the paines and terrors before as well as the stroke of death it selfe nor things present that is evils of sense nor things to come that is evils in expectation nor height neither of prosperity nor depth of adversity nor any thing else can separate us from the love of God neither which he in Christ beareth to us nor wee in Christ unto him 1 As he that hath the Sunne careth but a little for the light of the Moone so the soule that is cloathed with Iesus Christ can tread earthly things under foot The bright sunshine and light obscureth yea and extinguisheth the light of the Moone and sublunary things As soone as Zacheus got Christ into his house and heart presently halfe his goods he gave away and with the other halfe he made restitution If wee could suppose a man to stand in the Sunne how small and insensible would the Moone be unto him how would the whole world scarce appeare as the pricke of a pinne And indeed so is it to the eye of his mind that is clothed with the Sunne He is no reasonable man that will not give over a worse title for a better 2 Faith is an invincible thing all things are possible and easie to it it is an hold or fort which yet never any tyrant could scale or winne Nay the gates of hell cannot prevaile against it and much more is the world too weake to winne it It is the victorie that overcomes the world One inseparable effect of it is sound love of the Lord Iesus which is as strong nay stronger then death much water cannot quench it no not a sea nor a world of waters of afflictions 3 Where the treasure is there is the heart as where the carkeis is thither the Eagles will resort and all other things are nothing to the treasure Christ is the Christians treasure layd up in heaven where Christs home is there is his where Christs estate is there is his And because hee cannot bestow his affections on Christ and the world too nor serve two Masters at the same time commanding contrary things no more then he can with the same eye looke upward and downward at once therefore he cleaves to the one and hates the other 4 The sound Christian hath a right Iudgement restored him and a spirit of discerning to esteeme things in their due place and degree of goodnesse And therefore although he knowes worldly things to be good creatures of God and so in their nature good yet with foure distinctions 1 Mutably good moone-like and not so unchangeably 2 Good but to good men only as the Camelion is coloured according to that whereto she is applyed but become evill to evill men and to sinners the occasions and instruments of much sinne Heb. 11. 25. Honours pleasures delights are called the pleasures of sinne not because they are so in themselves but because they are often occasions and instruments of sinne and are seldome had or held without some sin or other 3 Good but in no excellent or eminent degree of goodnesse neither in themselves as being mutable nor in their effect for they often make good men worse seldome bad men better Those are eminently good things which are so unchangeably such as are saving graces which alwayes make a man better 4 Good but so as in comparison they are not worth the name of good namely in comparison of heavenly and spirituall good things Hence Salomon esteemed wisdome above all wealth and pompe as 1 King 3. And Paul who acknowledged these the good Creatures of God 1 Tim. 44. And profitable helpes to performe duties of piety and mercy chap. 6. 18. Yet in comparison of Christ cals them very drosse and dung For as the light of the Moone in it selfe hath a comfortable brightnesse yet compared with the light of the Sunne is very darknesse So all worldly things in themselves are good comforts and helps yet compared with Christ and waighed with his worth vanish to nothing yea to worse then nothing 5 The true Christian seeth and discerneth in Christ that worth and excellency which al the world cannot afford 1 He sees Christ crowned with honor and glory of perfect wisdome holinesse victory and glory in respect of which all worldly glory is but smoake and windy vanity 2 He sees and enjoyes in Christ the dignity of his adoption by which of a child of wrath he becomes the child of God and attaines a true nobility in the blood of Christ and allyance with the Saints in comparisō of which all earthly nobility allyance is but rottennesse as rising out of sinfull and corruptible seede 3 By Iesus Christ he hath attained an happy communion with God the Father perfect remission righteousnes by God the Sonne sweet and inward consolation by the holy Ghost the safe serviceable attendance of the holy Angels a perfect rule of faith and life
former are such as demonstrate the presence of the strong man The latter such as shew the presence of a stronger than he Of the former sort are five First supine carelesnesse in religion is a signe of the dragons rule the Apostle in Eph. 2. 2. and 12. sets it downe for a note of a man in whom the Prince of the ayre ruleth that he is as an heathen or alien without God in the world an Atheist that cares for no religion or covenant cares not for Christ and his grace contemnes preaching praying Ministery Ministers prefers pigs before Christ as the Gadarens prefers pottage before the blessing as Esau this man is ruled by the Prince of the ayre and much more if thou seest a despiser of religion a scorner of goodnesse one that turnes his backe on the Ministery or gives it his presence but is a sonne of Beliall and will not indure the yoakes of God and Christ this man is apparently under the power of the devill and this cannot but bee a sure signe for 1. Where Christ can have no command the dragon must rule and command 2. Where the Scepter of Christ is resisted which onely casts out the dragon there the dragon is not cast out Were not hee a traytor in an high degree that should wrest the rod or Scepter out of the Kings hand breake it to pieces and tread it under his feet in contempt of his high authority yet so doth every wicked man with the Word the rod of Christs power 3. Where Christ is come hee makes communion with God and a serious seeking after him and therefore where is no seeking after God no fellowship with him Christ never came there A second note of the presence and power of the strong man is blindnesse of minde in meanes of knowledge so saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. If our Gospell bee now hid it is hid to them that perish in whom the god of this world hath blinded the mindes of them that beleeve not and 1 Cor. 2. 14. The naturall man perceiveth not the things that are of GOD c. When a man can discerne nothing of the things of God and seeth nothing in the Kingdome of Christ desirable or admirable he is in the state of nature under the power of the dragon The reason is because the kingdome of the dragon is a kingdome of darknesse and nothing casts out his power but the entertainment of the light and grace of the Gospell If a man sit in darknesse till this houre that hee shuts out the light offering to shine upon him and contents himselfe with ignorance of minde with hatred and resistance of the light this man sets up and upholds the devils power in his owne heart and here the dragon is not cast out Th◠third note of a man in whom the devill is not cast out is generall disobedience for He ruleth in the sonnes of disobedience Ephes. 2. 2. where sinne raignes the dragon raignes Hee that committeth sin is of the devill 1 Iohn 3. 8. the devill and sinne are cast out together For as a tyrant shewes his power and strength by forcing men to fulfill his lawes and Edicts so this strong man sheweth and upholdeth his state in speciall maner by prevailing temptations and alluremēts by which men fulfill the lusts wil of the flesh and wicked men are carryed as the swine into the lake of sinne Now the dragon stands in his state The fourth note of such a one is ripenesse in sinne when men are not punies in sinne but old sinners not bunglers but active and nimble servants of corruption 2 Pet. 2. 19. This ripenesse discovers it selfe in many unhappy men in whom the dragon beares sway foure wayes 1. By diligence 2. Hight 3. Chearfulnesse 4. Constancy in sinne 1. By diligence following sinne as a trade when a man is at all the appointments and services of sin approving and promoting all that is nought but disallowing and opposing all that is good so farre as he can Diligent servants will breake their sleepe to doe their Masters worke and so will these Prov. 4. 16. see Chap. 1. 15. 2. By the height of sinne for as the Spirit of God drawes the Saints forward in the degrees of grace so the dragon drawes wicked men to the height of wickednesse called Rom. 1. fulnesse of unrighteousnesse and this without reluctation or restraint of the Spirit Thus the devill entred into Iudas and filled his heart with mischiefe whence is it that the foulest sinnes come not amisse to many men but from the power of the dragon who bids his slave resist the Gospell as Elimas and he must doe it commit murder upon his owne brother as Cain scoffe his owne father as Cham sweare and blaspheme as many devils incarnate they must and will doe it 3. By chearfulnesse and delight in sinne our proverbe is Hee must needs runne whom the Devill drives so captaine-sinners make haste to evill and set their delight on it how doe graceles persons rejoyce to promote and compasse sinne in themselves eating it as bread and a sweet morsell Iob 20. and drinking it as a fish drinkes in water and provoke others to sinne to sweare to bee drunken to gaming and playes c were there a drop of grace in them it would disallow such horrible sinnes and stand against them but the stampe of the devill is upon them who rejoyceth in evill and draweth as many as hee can into his owne damnation 4. By constancy and incorrigiblenesse in sinne He that is filthy will bee filthy still as the dragons and devils be and men as devils are loath to be tormented before their time by the doctrine of repentance conversion mortification or holy life This is a sure note of one from whom the dragon is not cast out The fist is strife to keepe out or cast out the Spirit of God resisting the grace of God fighting against good conscience in ones selfe and others when men aredespisers and evill speakers of the way of God can contend with his Saints and haunt with wicked persons how can this but be a sure signe of the dragons holding possession for what other is his worke in the world but to fight against the whole kingdome and glory of God or what is a more manifest proofe of the power and state of a Prince then to command his subjects to fight for his title in all his quarrels Now if these be sure notes of the state and raigne of the dragon many may discerne their woefull condition who thinke well enough of themselves and will defie the Devill in word while in deed and truth he upholds his full power in them 1. How many Christians by profession are no better than Atheists who love not the presence of God neither in their thoughts but abhorre all thoughts of God and barre them out by weekes and months as most unpleasant nor in their soules which cannot endure the presence of Gods
inheritance his choise his habitation in which he hath promised to dwell for ever which how could he doe if he should suffer Tyrants either to destroy it or throw him out of possession Fourthly the Church is his kingdome which must have no end but if he should not save it the enimies would soone bring it to an end 3. It is a part of Gods glory which cannot passe in any other to bee the Saviour of his Church because First he alone will bee knowne the onely GOD that heareth prayer to whom all flesh must resort Psal. 65. 2. Secondly hee to whom the glory of the greater belongs to him belongs the glory of the lesser but hee onely hath the glory of saving his people from spirituall hellish and eternall danger by Christ and he onely will perfect his salvation by adding temporall and externall Thirdly for his glories sake he will bee seene the only Savior in such times and maner as none else can save as in many miraculous deliverances which all the world must ascribe onely to his hand Israel must be saved out of Aegypt by an Outcast drawne out of the waters and the sea must make them a way and become a wall to them and a Well to Pharaoh his followers To bring them along Iordan must runne back To feed them and save them from starving heaven must afford them a daily harvest and a rocke must yeeld them water forty yeares To save them from their enemies in battell the Sunne must stand still and the Moone stay her course as in the dayes of Ioshua in which all the world must behold the Lord fighting for Israel How miraculously was Ionah saved when hee was buried in a double grave Twofold instruction ariseth hence to the Church and people of God First wee learne in the greatest dangers and needs to waite for the Lords salvation in the depth of danger if wee be beset as Israel at the sea side or if wee be chased into the bottome of sea now to stand still and behold the salvation of the Lord Exod. 14. Quest. How may wee waite aright for the Lords salvation Answ. 1. Become Beleevers members of the Church for it is said The Lord will save Sion stablish thy faith in this promise give God the glory of truth and when thou art beset with sorrowes pains perils when thou art in the valley of death in the hands of death in the house of death now say Salvation is the Lords and as Iob If the Lord kill me yet will I trust in him 2. Beware of sinne for that which thrusteth thee from the Lord thrusteth away the Lords salvation from thee but sinne separates betweene God and us and may suspend his salvation from his Saints longer than is for their ease Bewaile thy sinne remove by repentance that partition which thou hast thrust betweene God and thee salvation is farre from the wicked because they are farre from God Psalme 119. 155. It is never so farre from the godly yet often not so neare them as they desire because they are not got so neare God by faith repentance and invocation as he desireth Dan. 9. 12. All Israel have sinned and therefore the curse is powred out against all Israel and Iosh. 7. 11. 12. Israel hath sinned a sinne and cannot stand before their enemies If wee would have the Lord to put forth his salvation we must put away our sinne which makes him seeme sometimes as if he could not save his people 3. Fixe the eye of thy soule directly upon the Lord and looke not a squint at men or meanes nor thinke all lost if they set not in for thy helpe for First the Lord whose salvation is needs them not to worke by Secondly all meanes are put in his hand and by his appointment are what they are and if hee doe use any men or meanes as in this Text he did the Christian Emperours yet the Church must sing as here salvation is the Lords Thirdly no meanes may share in his glory nor obscure or darken it Secondly it teacheth to ascribe all honour of salvation to the Lord as here the Church doth for First there is great reason that hee who is our salvation should be our song the Church here makes the author of her salvation the matter of her song so Exod. 15. 2. gnozzi vezimrath Iah The Lord is my strength and song It is equall that the honour of salvation bee returned to the Author of it Secondly the office of the Church is to give knowledge to the world by whom and by what meanes she is delivered that after-ages may repaire in like dangers to the same hand in which onely salvation is see Psalme 102. 18. and Esa. 38. 19. Thirdly for our selves we above all people have just cause to sing unto the Lord our salvation and say Now is salvation the Lords Time was in the dayes of the fathers when our nation lay in darknesse in Idolatry in the midst of Images and teachers of lies worshipping blockes and stones and crusts of bread The blindenesse and darknesse was palpable like that of Aegypt wherein no man could stirre out of the place where his ignorance had set him But God in his due time tooke pitty upon us and tooke possession of us as his people possessed our Kingdome our Princes and people with light truth and the blessed Gospell of salvation now was Antichrist detected darknesse dispelled Idols displaced Masse-mongers and god-makers cast out now was salvation the Lords when hee swept out that Antichristian vermine frighted away those uncleane birds pulled downe their Cages over their heads and made the happy restoring of the Gospell as a birth-day to our Countrey and this English Nation In the yeare 1588. when that invincible Navie as they termed it advanced it selfe with a Catholike strength to swallow up our Nation at one morsell they wanted not his Holinesse helpe to curse and excommunicate our Prince and people they wanted no Engines of torture and cruelty no cut-throates to exercise them they brought over heires for our Lands were provided of choise men designed to Bishoppricks our Baronries our dignities our livings our Offices of Councell and State all was their owne But no sooner they appeared in our Coasts but now salvation was the Lords who would shew the Romish and Babylons Balaam that there is no sorcery nor cursing against Iacob and make his Embassadours know that there is neither power nor counsell against the Lord and that he had no pleasure in such cursed crueltie and covetousnesse The Sunne the Moone the Elements fire water and windes fought against proud Sisera but salvation was the Lords In the meane time what did we but looke on while the God of our salvation made the confusion of that Armado the stupor and admiration of the whole world Add to this the hellish Powder-plot when the necke of our King and all his three kingdomes was upon the blocke and the stroke lifted
wicked men goe on in sinne as if they were able to make their party good against him 2. They are his enemies who will not suffer him to raigne over them Luke 19. 27. but cast off his yoake and tread his Scepter under foot Enemies to his Word are enemies to himselfe as First such as forbid to preach the Word as the enemies of Ieremy chap. 11. 19. and the Rulers to the Apostles Did not wee charge you to preach no more in this name Acts 4. 17. and 5. 28. Secondly such as consult evill against the Preachers of the Gospell under colcurs and pretences like those who said they were Abrahams seed yet went about to kill Christ why because his Word had no place in them Iohn 8. 37. Violencing of Christ in himselfe or his members is a signe of an enemy of Christ. Thirdly such as snuffe and murmure at holy and wholesome doctrine and conceive wrath where they should apply the truth for their owne reformation Iohn 6. 41. They murmured because hee said I am the bread that came down frō heavē Why he preacheth himselfe and hath his owne ends and what hath hee to doe with us what calling hath hee to bee so busie But what is it not the truth that is spoken canst thou hate the truth and not bee an enemy of Christ Oh what a fearefull thing is it to stand thus in enmity against Christ his Word or servants the power of Christ one day with one word shall smite them to the earth as all his apprehenders Ioh. 18. 6. and thou that wilt not bee subject to the rod of his mouth shalt be crushed with his rod of iron Ps. 2. 9. 3. That great Antichrist and all his deluded armies regular and secular are the greatest enemies to the whole Kingdome of Christ whose whole doctrine and religion is but a disthroning of the Sonne of God from his power and regency And now they fight with all their power and politike plots Abroad their forces are every where prepared with death destruction in all their way at home their friends fight with lies slanders and such other weapons as beseeme their lying and slanderous religion were their religiō truth and from truth it would not need such weapons to support it But can they prevaile against the power of Christ no the breath of his lips shall slay both the Captaine and the troupes led by him whose names are not written in the Booke of life Re. 17. 14. They shall fight with the Lambe but the Lambe shall overcome and Will not God avenge his Elect who cry night and day and whose blood they have shed like water and there with watered all the earth as a flowing Sea 4. Enemies of Christ are such indifferent men as having power place and calling out of policy and selfe-seeking are content and silent to see Popery prevaile and doe not stand out in these times to helpe the Lord and his people against his enemies I meane especially those Ministers that doe not their uttermost to detect the frauds and impostures of Antichrist nor to confirme their people in the truth against the same For as he were no other then a Traitour to his King that shall see and suffer any other to thrust himself upon the Kingdome and claim all royall authority make Edicts to draw all the subjects to his faction so is hee to Jesus Christ who can patiently digest that the man of sinne should thrust himselfe upon the Church as the Head of it and take on him to pard on sinne to make lawes to binde conscience and make new Articles of faith and proclaime himself King of the Church by fraud force cōpell men to take his mark in their hands foreheads Surely as the power of Christ shall shortly overtake this sonne of perdition who exalts himselfe above all that is called God and takes on him in the Temple as if hee were God so shall it meet with all those that take part with him as they doe that discover him not nor discover themselves against him 5. They are enemies to Christ who are enemies and rebels against the power which hee hath committed to Civill Princes The Arch-rebell of the world against Christ and Christian Princes is Popery neither can those Papist which hold the Principles of Jesuited Priests at this day but bee rebels to Christ and to our Christian King For 1. They must hold our King a slave and Vassall to the Pope and under his power to bee King or not for the spiritual power may depose Princes and place other in their stead when necessity requires saith Bellarmine l. 5. c. 7. and Suarez Defens fid l. 3. c. 23. 2. They must hold that the Pope may command other Kings to punish him if hee please to call him Heretike or Schismatike and if they doe not hee may constraine them by excommunication Bell. ibid. 3. They must hold that subjects may depose their Princes if Hereticall or Tyrannicall and although Christians did not depose Nero Dioclesian Iulian c. it is because they wāted force for by right they might if they had power enough Bell. ibid. Neither did they use cunning when they wanted power as now our Catholikes and honest Powder-traytors because it was fit for the foundations of the Church to bee laid in patience and suffering Neither was it expedient in those times to doe all that law and right admitted Mariana de Rege l. 1. c. 6. But in all memory of men such as have undertaken the killing of Tyrants have beene in high estimation saith hee and commends the person and fact of Clement on Henry 3. 4. They must hold that although S. Paul saith Let every soule bee subject to the higher powers yet S. Paul never added That every one should bee subject to powers excommunicate or deposed by the Pope neither can the one hee inferred from the other being meere contraries for à deposed King is no longer an higher power Suarez Defens l. 6. c. 4. sect 5. And this is the reason that Bellarmine against Barclay c. 3. introduceth the Pope answering the people which would continue in the obedience of the deposed King thus I doe not free thee from the naturall or Divine commandement when I absolve thee from the tie of obedience for I doe not permit thee thou shouldest not obey thy King which were against the Divine law but I make him that was thy King to bee so no longer as a servant set at liberty is bound no longer to that Master 5. They must hold that Clerkes are no subjects and that the King hath no power over them either in spirituall or temporall things So saith the Cardinall It cannot bee proved that the Kings of this age are lawfull Superiors and Iudges of Clerkes if by the same meane it be not proved that Children are above their fathers sheepe above their Pastor temporall things above spirituall and Not onely in spirituall things
it selfe to submit it selfe onely to the will of God The affections are wrought by the word earnestly to embrace things which they most deadly hated Oh what a mighty power of Christ is in that word whereby thou now lovest Gods word and Ministers who most bend themselves against the swindge and streame of thy naturall desires and customes whereby thou art now wrought to heavenly-mindednesse who wast so wedded and hand-fasted to the world as thou didst thinke thou couldest never be divorced whereby thou canst now hate sinne and workes of the flesh which before were as meat and drinke and as delightfully drawn in as the fish draweth water and held fast as sweete morsels under thy tongue not to let them goe who can deny this to bee a prevailing power of Christ casting downe such Turrets and Bulwarkes of nature of corruption which would have yeelded to no other force or battery The blast of the rams-hornes seemes a weake and foolish thing but nothing else can cast downe the wals of Iericho but this 4. Hast thou found the power of the Word outwardly reforming thy life hath it beene of power to call thee from thy bad customes and companionships doth it order thy speeches with grace and wisedome doth it worke a redresse in thy wayes and make all thy steps right and cleane doth it change thy course into it selfe and make it gracefull to thy profession and fruitfull to thy brethren Here is the power of Christ attending his Word and the worke of his Spirit changing us into the image of it from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3. 18. But what power of Christ is in him that is a sot without understanding of the Word after so long hearing or that shuts his eyes lest hee should bee enlightned or in him that will not beleeve beyond that he seeth with his eyes or may touch with his fingers or in him who is not a whit altered from himselfe when hee was at the worst not quickned with the life of God Hath the Word beene too weake to stirre in thy conscience to change thy heart to reforme thy speeches but thou must rap out oathes at pleasure to conforme thy life to it but thon must drinke and game and doe as the company is accounting holy obedience but a needlesse strictnesse and precisenesse and exemptest thy selfe from obedience farther than thou listest To thee I say the regall power of Christ hath no place in thee who art as yet no subject but a rebell and resister of it II. Know the power of Christ in thee by the power of faith The worke of faith is a worke of mighty power a worke of such power as neither man nor Angel nor the bare Ministery can effect it is the Arme of God and the operation of him that raised Christ from the dead Coloss. 2. 12. Finde in thy selfe the power of faith and thou hast found the power of Chrst for faith makes Christ and all his power to become ours Quest. How may I finde in my selfe the power of faith Answ. 1. The power of faith bewrayes it selfe in powerfull and fervent prayer which is powerfull and prevailing with God himselfe who suffers himselfe to bee overcome by the wrestlings of faithfull prayer as we see in Iacob and the Canaanite 2. In chearfull obedience to the will of God Faith cannot but work by love to God and man and therefore the obedience must be both generall having respect to all Commandements and chearfull and ready in all even the most difficult and dangerous as holy Abraham was in leaving his Countrey circumcising his family offering his sonne all done by faith Heb. 11. 3. In patient induring and suffering Gods will and pleasure revealed for faith is powerfull to inable and undershore the beleever under a great burden it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a strong post or stud to stand under and beare up a man in grievous temptations it is our victory against the world it will wrestle with Iacob till he have never a limbe left It is a powerfull fence against Gods keenest weapons yea against death it selfe as Iob said If the Lord kill mee yet hee shall not kill my faith I will still trust in him Now what power of faith is there when a man cannot or cares not to pray or if hee doe his prayer is without life and motion dead and formall when he hath no respect out of conscience to any Commādement but occasionally can swear or lie or deceive or breake the Sabbath c When a man will suffer nothing for Christ no not the breath of vaine men nor part with a graine of his name or estate for Christ and in his sufferings and sorrows is impatient murmuring despairing III. This regall power of Christ is discerned by the power of godlinesse and this both in publike and in private The power of godlinesse is discerned 1. By the ground which is true love of God with all the heart which is the marrow of the first Table Christ loved his Father with all his heart and his neighbour as himselfe nay above himselfe and where his power comes God is loved for himselfe above all 2. By the subjection of the will to the obedience of the Law A mighty worke of Christs power was his perfect fulfilling of the Law if thou partakest of this power thy will is perswaded and bowed to Gods will thou aymest at the perfection of the Law and settest it before thee as the rule of thy life and if thou esteemest it not necessary to thy justification yet is it necessary in sanctification 3. By sincere affection and exercise of holy things when a man makes Gods Ordinances his Sabbaths the Ministery and worship of God his delight hee is a true worshipper in the House of God one day in GODS House is better to him than a thousand besides 4. He is a Jew within as wel as without in the spirit as wel as in the letter in his own house as wel as in Gods house he will walke wisely in the middest of his house and make that a little Church by upholding the worship of God there yea in the midst of his heart hee will walke with God as Enoch did But if a man place his affections below God if the lawes and discipline of the Word bee too strict hee must have more liberty than the rule of Christ allowes him if hee content himselfe with a forme of godlinesse and deny the power nay hate the power of religion in himselfe and others if Gods Ordinances bee a burden to him and hee as heavy to them as a Beare to a stake if hee come to Church to pray but pray not at home nor sets up religion in his family what is the power of Christ in such a one none at all IV. Christs power in us is discerned by powerfull prevailing against spirituall enemies in the Christian combate The principall enemies to be resisted are 1. Satan in his temptations 2.
as the fish doth naturally river-river-water we have so much the more need to bee called backe from so dangerous a sinne and indeed we want no bridles if wee be not too head strong for 1. God hath provided by his expresse law aswell for the good name of his servants as for their goods or lives Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour wherein the Lord upon paine of death bindeth every soule to truth and justice in all his speeches the uprightnesse whereof must demonstrate the uprightnesse and sincerity of the heart as a chaste daughter of a chaste mother And this Law of God wraps him in the curse as well that steales and wounds his good name as the theefe that steales his goods or the murderer that assaults his life And as farre as the good name is farre in estimation above gold and silver Prov. 22. 1. so much more hatefull and mischievous is the false accuser above a theefe or burglary 2. Nothing can bee more contrary to God nothing comes so neare the devill Hee is a creature most degenerate from God both in respect of his nature judgement and practise First God in his nature is truth essentiall and truth originall the Author of all truth and truth it selfe in all his decrees in all his workes in all his words which all agree with the truth of his essence But this man suits with Satan the father of lies who stood not in the truth Iohn 8. 44. God in his nature loveth truth the devill speaketh truth sometimes but never lovesit God is called a Justifier Satan here an accuser If wee see this image or superscription of false accusing on any say it is Satans coyne a man moulded in his mint and give unto Satan what is Satans Secondly nothing can bee more dissonant to the judgement of God than rash judgement and false accusation of good men God approves the wayes of his servants highly esteemeth of their graces accepteth and remunerateth weake indeavours Now what can bee more contrary than to accuse the wayes of God to bee hatefull purity and a straine beyond discretion and the graces of God for singularity hypocrisie dissembling know thou hast not now belied men but the Spirit of God Thirdly the Lord in his course pleadeth for his Saints acquiteth them answereth all accusations for them and pronounceth a righteous sentence upon them the fals accuser impudently impleadeth all this God calleth Nathaniel a true Israelite no saith the accuser hee is an Ismaelite a dissembler God pronounceth Paul an elect Vessell no saith the accuser hee is a murderer a theefe vengeance will not suffer him to live Act. 28. 4. God pronounceth of his owne Sonne This is my beloved Sonne no saith the accuser he is a deceiver an impostor a blasphemer in saying he is the Sonne of God Now what can be liker Satan who would have all men in his owne condemnation than these vile persons who would have all thought as vile as themselves Hence our Text maketh Satan and all accusers but one accuser 3. Whom doest thou accuse or revile Thou accusest the brethren First the brethren of Christ and in them Christ himselfe Matth. 25. In that ye have done it to one of these my brethren ye have done it to mee Wouldest thou in the day of the Lord be brought in a false witnesse against Christ And yet there is a nearer relation these brethren are members of Christ. Wouldest thou for a thousand worlds have that sin of the Jewes lying upon thy soule that thou hadst thrust a speare into the body of Christ but what was that sinne to this they knew not who he was nor what they did beside his body was dead first but thou thrustest the sharpe speare of false accusation and by it tearest and rentest the living body of Christ which is his Church and this wilfully and of set purpose 2 Thou sinnest against the sonnes not of God onely but of the Church whom thou professest thy Mother The Spirit of God amplifies the wickednesse of false accusation by this circumstance Psal. 50. 20. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother and slaunderest thy mothers sonne shewing the unnaturalnesse of these wicked men to their owne flesh and the bowels of their owne Mother Were there a dram of nature or grace in them they could not violate such neare bands Godly Sem will cover his fathers nakednesse though unnaturall Cham discover it Charity would cover a multitude of offences Prov. 10. 4. But wanting both they are rightly ranked with theeves and adulterers vers 18. 4 A false accuser is a most irreligious person and commonly such are the greatest enemies to true religion Observe and you shall finde them either Atheists or Papists or Libertines or worldlings given over to some foule sinne or other For according to the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh If the heart swell with malice envie and bitternesse how can the mouth but run over with cursed speaking A bitter fountaine can send no sweet water The shop is supplied with such wares as are in the storehouse Besides true religion which purifieth the heart would order the tongue I am 1. 26. If any seeme to be religious and ordereth not his tongue that mans religion is in vaine 5 Consider the fearefull evils awayting this sin so contrary to God First It casts a man out of the sanctuary of God Psal. 15. 3. unlesse the Church of God could consist of a generation of devills but it is the spouse of Christ the communion of Saints 2 It casts him into the judgement of God and damnation of hell for God hath appointed a day to give judgement of all cruell speakings which wicked sinners have spoken against him Iude 15. Then shall their measure be filled to the brim they shall have accusation enough God doth even here admonish of that day and sit in judgement on some even in this life What got Haman by false accusation but hanging on his owne gallowes What got Ahab and Iezabel by false accusing Naboth but a possession of wrath In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth must they licke Ahabs and Iezabel was eaten with dogs in the valley of Jezreel 1 King 22. A dart shot against a wall or an arrow shot upward rebound and fall upon the shooter Daniels accusers were devoured by the Lions to whom Daniel was cast What got Amaziah by accusing Amos chap. 7. 17. Thy wife shal be an whore c. Let men take heed of touching Prophets and slaundering godly Ministers Eusebius in his Church-history sheweth how Narcissus was falsly accused by three false witnesses one wished if it were not true he might be burnt the other that a foule disease might eate him the third that he might else be blind And accordingly they perished the first by a sparke of fire from heaven the second by a loathsome disease from top to toe the third seeing this repented but yet lost both his eyes
set many wits on worke to tel us what they be But they agree not nor can seeing the meanes of the Churches safety are infinite Some define them to be faith and patience which lift her from earth to heaven Some say they are the two Testaments the Old and the New in which the Churches defence lyeth Some say they are the two Tables containing love of God and of our neighbour Some that the one is the wing of prayer the other of charity Some that the one is the contempt of earth and the other the aspiring to heaven But we need not be so acute and if wee should settle upon any two things wee should perhaps misse the minde and ayme of the holy Spirit of God as most of these must needs do The likelyest if we would restraine the number and conceive it definite were the providence of God protecting and his oracles directing the woman in this speedie flight But the number is definite for indefinite and two in this place for the propriety of the subject and metaphore For for a bird to have more wings then two or fewer then two to fly withall were harsh and improper Not that wee are not to conceive more meanes of Gods providence and the Churches safety then two for these two wings are the same with the seven pipes serving to the lamps Zech. 4. 2. alluding to the pipes of the candlesticke which were seven of which he speaketh in that place and as the number of seaven aptly agreeth with that allusion so onely the number of two aptly agreeth with this But whence had the Woman these things They were given her The text implyeth two things First That the Church had no wings of her owne all her safety and defence is layd out of herselfe as a weake woman can make small shift for herselfe against such an army of dragons Secondly Though it be not sayd who gave her the wings yet it is implyed they were given of God for he is the father of lights from whom commeth every good gift and he that prepared her the place vers 6. prepared her wings to flye to it with him onely is counsell and strength he onely can afford meanes of escape and evasion he stretcheth out his strong and oculate providence as two wings the feathers of which are the truth and faith of his promise sealed and delivered by the hand of his Two Witnesses and thus he saveth her Lastly for the similitude wings of a great Eagle So many phrases in this booke so many mysteries Here is an allusion to Exod. 19. 4. you have seene how I have caryed you on Eagles wings and brought you unto me By those Eagles wings someunderstand Moses Aaron their leaders but they themselves also were carryed upon these wings By them is meant the powerful meanes of opening a way in the sea rayning Manna from heaven breaking a rocke for water covering them with a cloud by day and night c. In this text these wings of a great eagle note to us 4. things 1 As the eagle out of her love to her young ones fluttereth and steareth them out of the neast to a safer place when she feares danger so the Lord for the love of his Church in danger urgeth her out of her neast and rest and leads her into a safer place in the wildernesse Christ out of Iudea Israel out of Egypt 2 As the eagle having gotten her young ones forth when they begin to fly supports them with her wings lest they should fall Deut. 32. 11. so the Lord supports his Church in her flight from falling carefully seeing to her that she take no hurt 3 As an eagle especially a great eagle hath strong wings agill and able to carry her in a strong flight to flye farre from danger so the Lord in the needs of his Church provides some great and powerfull meanes and by them as by strong wings sets his Church beyond al the reach of hurt and danger Thus Nebucad-nezzar a great man is called a great eagle with great and long wings and full of feathers fit to accomplish GODS word against Zedekiah Ezeck 17. 2. 4 As the eagle flyeth high aloft in the aire and beyond all sight of men by the length and strength of her wing so the Lord drawes his Church neare unto him from out of the sight of men and neare Heaven and the nearer him the further from danger Observ. 1. God who could save the woman by his word without wings doth not ordinarily save her but by wings For Gods providence excludes not but includes meanes of safety Moses must be saved from the waters to be a Deliverer but he must be put into a basket pitcht and prepared for him They in the ship Act. 27. must be saved from drowning but they must abide in the ship and then some on plankes some on boards and pieces of the ship came safe to land Exod. 15. 25. God could have sweetned the bitter waters with a word but Moses must cast in a piece of wood to sweeten them He could have divided the sea and dryed the way by his strong word but doth it by a strong East winde Which teacheth us not to neglect the meanes appointed by God for our good for God who tyeth not himselfe to wings tyeth the woman to use them when he pleaseth to afford them Hezekiah must be healed by a lumpe of dry figs. Nature teacheth that he that would reape must sow he must eate that must live and he must fight that would have victory So grace teacheth that he that would reape one harvest in glory must sow the seed of grace in the seedtime and he that would live eternally must feed on Christ by hearing reading beleeving and obeying his word and he that would be crowned must strive lawfully Observ. 2. The Woman having no wings of her owne hath wings given her of God which teacheth that the Church and members of it shall have wings sufficient to avoyd all hurtfull danger in due season For 1 Our text saith God will afford two sufficient for escape and wings of an eagle to fly swiftly and make a speedy escape and wings of a great eagle to fly strongly and aloft and far from danger 2 Gods presence is not an idle presence with his people but he is present to save Ier. 30. 11. I am with thee to save thee 3 The Arke was a type of the Church and that was all and alwaies covered with wings of Cherubins signifying the divine protection alwaies watching and covering the Church and spreading his wings over the faithfull to repell any harme further then he will turne any evill to his owne glory and his Churches good For wee must know that all promises run with exception of the crosse and God in his wisdome doth not alwayes give to every member of the Church wings to fly from externall tyranny and persecution but dealeth as a good husband man
the world and therefore out of his implacable fury he turnes him to another device utterly to extirpate and root all the letters and characters of her honourable name and carry her quite away off the earth as with a mighty flood and current Where are three things 1. What are these floods of filthy waters which this huge Monster casteth after the woman 2. The spring whence they rise and slow out of his mouth 3. The issue and scope of them that she might be carryed away of the flood For the first By floods of water are meant in Scripture extreme perils and deepe dangers and trials whether inflicted by God or men or Satan Sometimes they are inflicted by God Psalm 42. 7. All thy floods and waves are gone over me Sometimes by men stirring up raging tumults against the Church when mighty enemies Princes and people rise in their power fury and unresistablenesse like a flood Esa. 59. 19. The enemy shall come like a flood Sometimes by the dragon himselfe as here the serpent casts out a flood after the woman Quest. Why are these great tryals compared to floods of waters Ans. 1. For the danger threatning destruction to the Church as the floods of water doe drowning 2. For abundance As many waters gather together into one to make a swift streame or flood so many enemies of all peoples and Countries even all the wicked of the world gather their forces and combine their wrath together against Christ and his Church to make a great and violeÌ„t flood and head to destroy her Rev. 17. 1. Antichrist is the great whore that sits on many waters and these waters are the multitudes nations and tongues all gathered under one head against Christ Verse 15. 3. For their depth these floods seeme as impassable as the deepe sea so as the godly are ready to sinke and can finde no footing Psal. 69. 2. I am come into the deepe waters The Israel of God is often even in the bottome of the sea Ionas was in the deepe waves and weedes And the Church hath often waters of affliction wrung out of a full cup that is a large portion of troubles Psal. 73. 10. 4. For the instance incessant restlesnesse of them for as the waves succeed one another and thrust on one another so doe grievous afflictions one deepe cals another Psalme 42. 7. and the end of one tryall is but the beginning of another 5. For the pride fiercenesse swelling and rushing of many waters for the fiercenesse and pride of enemies is compared to the swelling of waters Psalm 124. 5. then had the swelling waters gone over our soule For the second The spring or fountaine whence these floods flow is the dragons mouth The waters must needs bee filthy which issue from so foule a fountaine And shewes us more distinctly what the waters bee For there is a two fold flood of persecutions cast by the dragon after the woman The former was that bulke of persecutions with which the dragon had infinite wayes vexed the Church in her infancy cradle and even in her riper age such as warre exile fire sword and divers torments But all these darts and keene weapons hee threw out of his hands by which hee forced her into the wildernesse But now the woman is escaped his hands and is out of his reach Which some not well observing expound this flood of actuall persecution by sword and torments which stands not well with her hidden estate But the phrase more properly aimeth at a flood cast out of the serpents mouth and not out of his hands which the woman in the wildernesse hardly escapes Whereby I meane in generall whatsoever poysonfull thing is by Antichrist and his Champions who are the dragons mouth vented and spread abroad for the utter wasting of the true Church and Christian profession if it were possible More specially I take it the Spirit of God here aymeth at three things I. The flood of heresies and poysonfull errors the bitter waters of false doctrines against the foundation and all those troubled waters of Antichristian superstitions and traditions to drowne and oppresse the woman for ever For as the pure doctrine of the Gospell comming out of the mouth of Jesus Christ is that aqua Coelâ—stis or aqua vitae by which the woman is quickned and revived to eternall life So that heretical and poysoned doctrine comming out of the mouth of Antichrist is a bitter and cursed flood of water to drowne the woman if it were possible For as wee doe not exclude those most deadly heresies the vomit of the dragon after Constantine the Arrian heresie the Pelagian Nestorian Eutychian which vexed the Church almost three hundred yeares so doe we especially meane here those Monsters of opinions blasphemies and damnable doctrines against the whole Gospell vented and cast out of the mouth of Antichrist in all the ages of Antichrist till this day so directly bent to carry away the woman as none must buy and sell no nor breathe and live that will not receive and worship the Image and marke of the beast Rev. 13. 15 17. For example Against the Scriptures Antichrist casteth out of his mouth that they are a dead letter a Nose of waxe a breeder of herefies of no more authority than Esops fables without the Churches authority this was godly spoken by Hermanus saith Hosius A Popish Doctor reasoning with M. Tindal boldly said Wee might better want Gods law than the Popes It was objected by Doctor Benet Chancellor of the Bishop of London that the heretikes did read certaine Chapters of the Evangelists in English which containe in them divers erroneous and damnable opinions and conclusions of heresie The like blasphemies he vomits out against Christ as 1 That he is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God of himselfe Rhemist on Ioh. 10. 3. Who though he be the Son of the Father yet is he God of himselfe Ioh. 5. 26. as the Father hath life in himselfe so also hath the Sonne The word therfore is another person from the Father but not another thing 2 That Christ did penance by fasting solitarinesse and conversing with beasts Rhemist on Mark 1. sect 6. An horrible blasphemie making Christ a sinner for no sinner need no repentance 3 That Christs death is neither the efficient cause nor formall cause of our justification Bellarm. in sundry places but wee are formally made just by a justice inherent in our selves Conc. Trid sess 6. can 10. Rhem on Rom. 2. sect 4. A blasphemous heresie contrary to Phil. 3. 9. not having mine owne righteousnesse 4 That by grace we may truly make satisfaction in some sort ex proprijs of our owne et ad aequalitatem to a full equality et per hoc justè et ex oondigno satisfacere Bellarm. de paenit l. 4. c. 7. A most horrible blasphemie that a man by his own proper workes can satisfie God fully according
law endictes every wicked man hating the godly of murder 1 Ioh. 3. 15. not only because hatred is a degree of it but because his will and desire carries him to the highest degree and execution of it 2 Members must be conformed to the head in obedience both active and passive What floods the dragon raised and cast out of his mouth to carry Christ away is manifest in the story imputing to him sorcery blasphemy sedition treason and all that was hainous and poysonfull If they called the Master of the house Belzebâ—b what will they not call his servants 3. The more innocent thou art looke thy suffering to bee the more for malice is most against grace and innocency When good men are generally maligned and floods of water cast after them the generall conceit and speech of other is some fault there is were there not some fire there could not bee so much smoake some indiscretion some oversight some fault No no there is shining grace wisdome holinesse watchfulnesse the dragon will revile good men be they never so discreet and innocent yea for innocency as Christ himselfe Againe seeing it is inevitable that the godly should bee molested with these floods and rising of waters let them for their comfort and direction thinke of these Rules 1. Against the multitude of Antichristian enemies who increase and combine as a flood to overflow all bankes oppose the promise of God Esa. 17. 12 1â— They shall make a noise as the noise of many waters but God shall rebuke them hee hath passed sentence against them which is not farre from execution and Chap 59. 19. The enemy shall come like a flood but the Spirit of the Lord will chase him away and daily shall they be blasted by the breath of his mouth all his forces cannot prosper being gathered against the Lord Deut. 33. 27. 2 Against the floods of Antichristian heresies and false doctrines wee must stablish ourselves First with true humility to containe our selves within bounds of truth Pride and conceit makes heretikes Secondly with sound love to the truth this onely will make us hate all false inventions Psal. 119. 113. Thirdly with true obedience to the truth revealed Ioh. 7. 17. If any man will do my will he shall know the doctrine whether it bee of God By these meanes wee shall sticke fast to the Rocke and hold fast by truth and not be carryed away with this flood Fourthly when they trouble our waters with traditioÌ„s fables for they are called troubled waters oppose the sweet and cleare crystall fountaines of the Scriptures the waters out of the Rocke and out of the fountaines of Iacob Deut. 33. 28. this shall bee sufficient against the full sea of Antichristian brinish salt and damnable doctrines 3. Against the drowning waters of scandals reproaches threatnings wicked Edicts false accusations or violent executions oppose those sweet refreshing waters of comfort Esa. 55. 1. These promise First Christs presence who rebukes winde and sea and makes a calme Secondly strength and patience because they are the rebukes of Christ. Thirdly a clearing of thine owne innocency as the light Againe oppose thine innocency purity sound conscience honest conversation and then assure thy selfe no reproach can take away thine innocency no more than thy head Lastly waite on God as David in Shimeis rayling hee may doe thee good for their evill hee may blesse thee for their cursing and honor thee the more for their dishonour as Mordecai And many of his servants have experience that the more evill men seek to cast them downe and carry them away with floods of injuries the more God doth establish and uphold them and carry them up above the waves and billowes which threaten to drowne them Vers. 16. And the earth helped the woman and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the stood which the dragon cast out of his mouth AGainst new dangers the woman hath still new remedies for unwonted dangers unwonted helpes Against the former dangers shee had wings to flie from them here the earth sets in for her helpe the dragon casts the flood out of his mouth and the earth takes it into her mouth By the earth is not meant the earthly globe which Mathematicians call the center of the world in which wee walke neither may wee understand it properly of this vast Element but improperly and metaphorically as wee did the flood in the former words drunke up by it By earth therefore is meant 1. In generall all the meanes by which the former flood was drunke up and the phrase is an allusion to an ancient story in Numb 16. where the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up Corah and all his company who had cast floods of reproachfull waters against Moses Aaron even so here before the Lord will suffer his Church to be drowned and overwhelmed he will command the earth to open it selfe and swallow up all such as enterprise against it as formerly he had to swallow alive Corah Dathan Abiram and all their complices 2. More specially by the earth wee meane those speciall providences by which the former floods were dryed up as 1. The floods of herefies spewed out of the dragons mouth were swallowed up of the earth for First it was the earthly and wicked Synagogue that embraced all the dragoÌ„s plausible heresies such as whose names are writen in earth but not any whose names were written in the Booke of life the true Church drunke not a drop of that poyson spewed out of the dragons mouth Secondly because that the Synods and Councils gathered out of all the earth resolved and swallowed up those pernicious heresies against the grounds of Christian religion For as of old the Councell of Nice swallowed up the poysoned flood of Arrius the Constantinopolitan supped up the hereticall flood of Macedonius and Eunomius the Ephesine of Nestorius and the Chalcedon of Eutiches so we might name a number of Canons out of Councels gathered under Antichrist resisting many main Romish errors and hereticall doctrines as the sixt generall Councell about the yeare 700. decreed against the Church of Rome the marriage of Ministers and forbad to make the Holy Ghost in likenesse of a Dove The Councell of Portugall at Bracca appointed the Cup in the Communion Sundry other Councels as of Constantinople under Leo Isauricus and after under Constantius Copronimus and of Frankeford under Charles the Great all against Images and many of their owne contradicting their fellowes in matters of greatest difference as might be cleared at large but is done already by Doctor Hall in his booke intituled The peace of Rome 2. The floods of slaunders and false suggestions have beene dryed up even by the earth earthly men and enemies of the Church who have acquitted and discharged the Christians of those horrible scandalls which were out of the dragons mouth sent after them to drowne them as in the ancient Story the Christians
yeares No Antichrists rage and floods might cause her to hide her head for that time but could not drowne her Againe here is a direction for Beleevers in extreme dangers 1 Get to the rocke beleeve in Jesus Christ by faith become a member of his body Against this rocke the gates of hell cannot prevaile and therefore a Christian built on this rocke cannot miscarry Men on a rocke are safe in high floods when houses are driven downe and men and cattell drowned Get thee to this rocke and then though the floods of wickednesse may make thee afraid yet shal they not hurt thee Psal. 18. 4. and 46. 1. 3. 2 Leane upon the power of God who can make waters stand as dry land and not flow till his people be passed over Art thou ready to faint to sinke to despaire of ever swimming out of the floods behold this power it can make iron swim 2 King 6. 6. and if thou beest in thy selfe as heavie in the floods as iron say as in Psal. 93. 4. The waves of the sea are marvellous but the Lord is more mighty 3 Cleave to the word of God which applyeth this power and makes it thine owne God hath set his powerfull word on the sea and floods and set barres and dores unto them and sayd Hitherto shall ye come and ye shall lift up your proud waves no further Againe he hath set over and passed his word unto thee for thy security Christs word makes Peter walke safely on the waters Waite on his word which only can make a great calme If thou losest this security thou canst not but sinke in thy troubles as David had it not beene for thy Law I had perished in my trouble And further if this word were weake he hath sworne to thee Esa. 54. 9. that as the waters of Noah shall never go more over the earth to drowne it so he will nevet be so angry as to cast thee into the floods to drowne thee 4 Keepe Christ in the ship awaken him with thy prayers cry to him as the Disciples O Master save us wee perish He walkes on the waters and will make thee so to do also Hee may seeme to sleepe till thou beest dashed threatned and ready to sinke but he will awaken in time and rebuke the windes and seas and make a present or seasonable calme Next in that the earth holpe the woman learne that the Church hath often helpe where she least expects it The earth is the dragons owne bounds for he was cast into the earth yet this earth affords helpe and safety to the woman against the dragon Israel at the sea environed with monntaines enemies and floods was by the sea saved from the sea whence they expected to be swallowed up The same sea that threatneth to swallow Israel saves Israel Could Daniel expect safety by the Lions from the Lions Could Ionah expect helpe from the devouring sea by the devouring Whale Could the three children expect safety from the fire by the fire 1 The Lord being the Lord of hosts hath all creatures in heaven and earth to command for the helpe and safety of his Church and hath made a league betweene them and his people for peace and ayde for warre defensive and offensive against their enemies 2 Things which are impossible to men are possible to God and therefore he worketh above al the power of nature and beyond the reach of reason and nothing can hinder his counsell or hand Zech. 8. 6. It seemed as impossible for Israel to be brought backe to a glorious estate in Jerusalem from captivity as dead men to be brought out of their graves but though this be impossible in the eyes of the remnant of the people of those dayes should it be therefore impossible in my sight saith the Lord of hosts 3 The Lord most magnifieth his wisdome when he helpeth by most unknowne and unlikely meanes for now he sheweth he hath a reach beyond the creature and what we cannot see or oversee he foreseeth for us It was an unknowne meanes proper to Omnipotency to dry up the sea for Israels passage It was an unknowne meanes beyond the creatures reach to suspend the fire from burning persons and things combustible applyed to it It was an unknown and unexpected meanes to feed Israel in the wildernesse with a dayly harvest not from earth but from heaven The dragon and Antichrist have not so many devises and reaches to offend the Woman as the Lord hath wayes to overreach them and defend his Church 4 The Lord magnifies his mighty power when he sends helpe by contrary meanes which of al other are most unlikely as here by the earth for here he brings most helpe whence is indeed most danger As when earthly and carnall-minded men intending the cleane contrary procure helpe and peace to the Church Thus the Lord helped David out of Sauls hands by the Philistimes as deadly enemies to David as Saul was Thus he helped Moses out of the water by Pharaohs daughter no lesse enemie to Israel then Pharaoh himselfe Thus when Zedekiah was taken his eyes put out and himselfe bound prisoner into Babell Ieremy being in prison must be helped out and by whom but by Nebuchadnezzar King of Babel and Nebuzaradan his chiefe steward in al appearance as great enemies to Ieremy as to King Zedekiah Ier. 40 1. 2. And rather then Paul shal be killed and have no helpe God will save him by one in likelyhood fitter to kill him then they even the chiefe Captaine Act. 21. 32. And how often was he helped by Felix Festus Agrippa men open enemies to Christ And how often did the Lord stirre up earthly instruments such as Cyrus Ebed-melech Gamaliel whose power and policy he used for the drying up of the floods risen and swelling against the Church A notable instance we have in Dan. 1. 10. What great favour and tender love God gave Daniel and his fellows from Ashpenaz an heathen and enemie and how God overruled his speach to Daniel that while he thought no such thing he secretly implyed the true way whereby Daniel and his fellowes should attaine their desire If you looke worse I shall lose my head then said Daniel put this to the triall ten dayes and so obtained their wish Note hence the justice of God upon the earth and earthly enemies of the Church They minde by raysing floods to drowne the Church but themselves must drinke up those floods to the drowning of themselves The woman flyes out of Aegypt into the wildernesse Pharaoh meanes to drowne her in the red sea but the earth must helpe her for earthly Pharaoh himselfe and all his earthly company drinke up the flood for her and she escapes it Thus comes Hamanâ— devise upon his owne head his gallowes catch himselfe Thus the gunpowder blew up the plotters and layers but not one for whom it was layd Thus the enemies drink as