society and refuseth none but the godly therefore fitly was he thus prefigured Secondly by the quallity and disposition of the Leopard was signified that this Generation should be subtile and crafty in getting their prey They boast themselves to be the Church and Spouse of Christ but if it be so whence then had they that infinite store and abundance of worldly wealth and riches wherewith they exceed in deliciousnesse of living This was not the condition of Christ and his Disciples the Lord himselfe had not whereon to lay his head but in that respect was more destitute then Foxes which have holes and then Birds which have nests his Disciples wanted gold and silver and had no certaine dwelling place whence therefore had this Generation their Lands Livings and Lordships Their Castles Mannors Houses and Princely Palaces It will be said of the donation and gift of Emperours Kings and other great States and of the charitable devotion of all sorte of people But how were people brought to be so full handed to this generation To bring this about much slight craft and nimblenesse of with was used first people were made to believe that what they gave to the Church was to the maintenance of the Ministery of the Gospell and for the comfort and reliefe of the poore and therefore should be a sacrifice so well pleasing to God and meritorious as that it should receive great reward at his hands herewith the mindes of religious and devout people was so much moved that they thought nothing too much to give to the Church by means whereof Churches began to grow rich Secondly people were made to believe that the worshiping of Images and Relicks of Saints and building of Churches Chappels Oratories c. and endowing them with Lands Tenements Parsonage and Vicarage houses c. was an effectuall way to have favour with the Saints and to procure their praiers and intercession for them By these and such like means this wylie and crafty generation deluded the people and made themselves rich and robbed Christ of his honour who onely is our Advocate to God And furthermore they gathered in heaps of wealth by Masses Pilgrimages Pursse-penance Offerings and such like Merchandises wherein their subtilty and craft was prefigured by a Leopard a Beast subtile by nature whose property is to lie in waite for her prey and slilie to catch it as the Cat doth the Mousâ— and in that respect doth well resemble the Antichristian Clergie that subtill generation But further it is added that the feete of this Beast were as the feete of a Beare The Leopard is more nimble to catch then the Beare but the Beare is more strong and eager to hold fast that which he hath seased vpon then is the Leopard both these properties this generation hath nimble to catch and greedy to hold they catch by slight But hold by force and therefore in catching resemble the Leopard but in fast holding the feete of a Beare To this it is added that the mouth of this Beast was as the mouth of a Lion And by this another propertie of the Antichristian Clergie was foreshewed for as the Lion when he hath taken his prey roareth vpon it at whose roaring the Beasts tremble So this generation being thus exalted and made rich and have gotten their prey they terrifie the small Beasts of the Forrests roaring with curses and excommunications against be he Prince or Pesant that shall presume to part stakes with them or meddle with their prey or diminish their portion but an Egge or an Onion That these be the properties of this Generation needs no proof it is manifest by daily experience Here therefore we may learne what to esteem and judge of the Antichristian Cleargie together with those Multitudes People Nations and Tongues out of which they have sprung and over which they are set and supported namely that they are a monstrous and beastly Generation excelling in craft covetousnesse pride cruelty and all iniquity and therefore not to be esteemed as they boast themselves to be a holy Catholike Church and Spouse of Christ which cannot erre c. And by this we may see how lamentably the Nations have been deluded and led into errour and ungodlinesse by their guides and leaders Now it followeth that unto this Monster the Dragon gave his power and his Throne and great authority Here is declared of whom the Prelates and Clergie have received their spirituall Lordships power authority and jurisdiction to devise and make spirituall Laws and Canons to erect spirituall Courts and create Officers to beare rule and exercise dominion over the Nations even from the Divell they have not any lawfull authority from God but an usurped authority from the Divell whose instruments they are to advance his kingdom and to persecute the Saints which obey God rather then men And here we may observe that they are rightly called spirtuall Lords because originally they proceed from that prince that ruleth in the aire the spirit that worketh in the children of unbeliefe but withall in stead of spirituall Lords Laws Courts and Officers call them spirituall wickednesses and so we give them their right titles and being such if we will fight the good fight of faith we must by witnessing what they be wrastle against them and not submit unto them but stand fast in that liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and not be intangled with any yoke of bondage and that we may wrastle and prevaile we must take unto us the whole Armour of God Ephes 6. Further Iohn saith that he saw one of the heads of the Beast as it were wounded to death and his deadly wound was healed and all the world wondred after the Beast By this Head which was as it were wounded to death was signified the reviving of Priesthood the mysterie whereof in few words is this The workers of iniquity in this Antichristian kingdom having ordained this order of ministery called Priesthood whether it were in imitation of the Iews or Heathen it is doubtfull but certain it is that because it wanted externall sacrifices it came short both of the Iewish Priesthood and also of the Heathen so that it was a lame and wounded Priesthood and was not respected In time it came to passe that they found out a sacrifice as is to bee seene in their Masse-book which was the transubstantiating of Bread into Wine into the very Body and Blood of Christ really and substantially as they use to speak and teach and being so transubstantiated to offer it up unto God a sacrifice propitiatory both for quick and dead Thus the wounded head of Priesthood was cured and revived and so became the worlds wonder as now it followeth to be declared according as Iohn here witnesseth And all the world wondred after the Beast That is the people of the Nations having this Priesthood set over them and commended unto them to be of such power and dignity as that they could make them
suffered in any Kingdom or Common-wealth and so they blaspheme the Tabernacle of God in a high degree as if Gods people were a company of ungodly rebels and wicked conspiratours but the righteous Lord will in due time visit his people and rebuke his enemies And on the other side for Gods people now to deny the kingdom of the Beast that is as they call it the holy Catholike Church Militant to be the true Church of Christ To refuse to partake and communicate with them in their abominations delusions and unlawful works of darknes is adjudged disobedience schisme and contempt of the power and authorty of the Church To speak against their proceedings sedition disturbance of the peace of the Church heresie impiety and what not Thus they adorne the Harlot which corrupteth the earth with her fornications with the title of the Church and Spouse of Christ and Tabernacle of God and so blaspheme the Tabernecle of God as if it were not a communion of Saints by calling and profession but an habitation of Divels an hold of foule Spirits and a Cage of every unclean and hatefull Bird. Further it is said of the Beast that it did blaspheme those that dwelt in heaven that is the Saints departed this life Those that dwell in heaven are then blasphemed when it is said of them that they take it as an honour done unto them when we make them our Patrons build them Temples set up their Images offer and pray unto them and make them Mediatours between Christ and us for by this they are made not onely Idols but also favourers and chief maintainers of Idolatry They are also blasphemed when the doctrine which they taught and practised is condemned for heresie or when erronious doctrines vaine traditions superstitious rites ceremonies and customes are fathered upon them as received from them by Tradition as unwritten verities but the world hath been brought to believe that Saints in heaven might by these means be as it were bought and sould between Priest and people wherein they have been highly blasphemed Moreover it is said that it was given to the Beast to make warre with the Saints and to overcome them and power was given him over all Kindreds and Tongues and Nations Warre is made with the Saints when they are accused to Rulers and Governors to be Heretikes Schismaticks wicked and ungodly persons and they may then be said to be overcome whem their accusers are justified and they condemned according to this this Scripture hath been fulfilled and verified Great and of long continuance have been the warres which the Beast hath made with the Saints and many have been the victories of this kinde which the Beast hath had against them as the Histories and other records of the Nations do plentifully witnes It was given to the Beast to make warre with the Saints when Rulers and Governours gave way to the Beast to devise and make laws at their own pleasure concerning Religion and the worship of God and then to condemne for Delinquents and evill doers all that would not observe those Laws How free and forward Rulers and Governours have been to give such power unto the Beast they themselves have felt by long and wofull experience for much woe hath the Beast wrought not to the poore and meaner sort of the Saints onely but even to Emperours and Kings and all degrees of people and therefore it is said in the words following that power was given unto this Beast over every Kindred Tongue and Nation So that the exaltation thereof was such as to be a Father above all fathers to every Kindred a Lord above all Lords to every Tongue a King above all Kings to every Nation Thus was this Beast exalted and sate as a Queen triumphing over them having all of all degrees brought in bondage unto her Dominion which was a just recompence upon their heads that gave such power unto this Beast yet see how the world was herein deluded they were not captives against their wills but in blind devotion had this Beast in most high reverence as being a devine power ordained and given by God and not from the Dragon Thus did the Lord give them over to be deluded by this Beast as a just reward of their vngodlynes in that they receaued not the loue of the truth but tooke pleasure in vnrighteousnesse Further it is declared in the words following That all that dwell vpon the earth must worship him that is the Beast whose names are not written in the booke of the life of the Lamb slayne from the foundation of the World by those that dwell on the earth is ment those that have set their habitation there and choose rather to enioy the prosperitie of the world and plesures of sinne together with the Beast then to sufffer affliction for the truth and for witnessing against the Beast these are they that worship him that is receaue their precepts and rules for their doctrine and wholesome instuction and observe their ordinances and Lawes as perfect rules of eqitie and righteousnesse casting the word of God declared in the holy scriptures be hind their backes and treading his Ordinances vnder their feete making farre more conscience not to eate an Egge on Friday then to steale or to commit adulterie But of such it is said that their names are not written in the Booke of life of the Lamb which was slaine from the beginning of the world That is they are not of the number of Gods Elect and Choosen in Christ and given vnto him for his portion and heritage whose condition is to be hated despised persecuted and afflicted in the world for righteousnes sake in whom the Lamb Christ Jesus as in his members hath been slaine since the beginning of the world which condition those which cannot brook and endure but count it a pleasure to live deliciously for a season and take delight to enjoy the pleasures of sin may thereby be discribed not to have their names written in the Book of life Concerning these things it is added If any man have an eare let him heare As if it should be said few there be which have an eare to heare these things For who can indure to heare that Catholike Church which they account to be spirituall holy and heavenly to bee compared to a Beast ugly in forme and horrible and monstrous in nature Who can endure to heare that Power that Throne and that authority which they believe to be of God to be said and affirmed to be of the Dragon that old Serpent the Divell and Satan Who will believe that a righteous God would give way to his enemies the workers of iniquity so farre to prevaile and so long time as for many hundred years together to delude the Nations to bring them into bondage and to keepe them in slavery And that a few poore despised people of no reckoning in the world here one and there another should see more and be wiser then
the Dragon said of the Kingdomes of the world Luk. 4.6 All these are in my power I give them to whom I will So likewise saith this Beast his Vicar the Prelate of Rome The Empire and Kingdoms of the earth are in my power and at my disposition and to me it belongeth to depose and set up Emperours and Kings at my pleasure as shall be behovefull for the peace of the Church And thus may the Beast in this be known by his voice likewise in divers other particular blasphemous speeches and divelish doctrines Further it is said of this Beast That he exerciseth all the power of the first Beast before him and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first Beast whose deadly wound was healed In that this beast is said to exercise All the power of the first Beast before him therby was signified That what the first beast could do by her motherly authority and power under the usurped title and name of the holy Church the same could this beast do by the authority and power of his fatherhood under the title pretence of Christs Vicar Peters successor universal Bishop c. But that this Beast may yet further be discerned it is said of him That he caused the earth and those which dwell therein to worship the first Beast c. By causing the earth to worship the first Beast was foreshewed that the Pope would exact of the earth the tenth part of the fruits thereof for the maintenance of the holy Church and this is indeed to worship For as the paying of Tithes in the time of the Law was a part of the true outward worship of God so this is the worship of the Beast And further by causing the Inhabitants of the earth also to worship the first Beast was shewed that he would carefully see due homage service and obedience to be yeelded and performed to the holy Church so that though the Prelate of Rome as a son of Perdition did exalt himselfe above measure yet still doth he maintaine the power and dignity of the Catholike Church the estimation of her Motherhood must still be maintained her voice must still be heard and obeyed not to come when she calls is contumacy and contempt not to be indured they that dare so far to despise her authority as not to obey her Paritors Processe are by her doom to be accounted cursed children and worthy of no lesse censure and punishment then to be struck with that terrible Thunderbolt of her Excommunication the violence whereof is such as who can indure it Who will not rather ride run dance attendance crouch kneele pay pray or do any thing else which Master Officiall or his Register will enjoyne them then undergo so heavie a burthen as the censure of Excommunication Thus will the Pope have the magnificence of this Diana to be maintained The earth and those which dwell in it must yeeld unto her the Tithe of all their increase as also Mortuaries Offerings and many other Church duties which she requireth of them for she is a Goddesse and must be worshiped And this diminisheth the Popes glory never a jot the two estates of the Whore and false Prophet can well agree and stand together as Father and Mother in one Family and therefore the second Beast as Father of all will have the first Beast worshipped that is obeyed and maintained in glory as Mother of all And further observe in that the Pope hath executed all authority of the Catholike Church thereby is confirmed the truth of the exposition that the first Beast was the Catholike Church and the second Beast the Pope as hath been before observed And he doth great wonders so that he maketh fire to come down from Heaven on earth in the sight of men First by the wonders which he did was foreshewed what wonderfull things the Prelate of Rome that false Prophet should bring to passe as namely under the title of the servant of the servants of God which indeed all Ministers of the Word and other Church Officers ought to be to creep up and exalt himselfe above Emperours and Kings and all other estates in the earth which being considered is indeed a thing wonderfull for first the Prelacy and Cleargie in respect of the pretended holinesse of their Orders were exempted and freed from being subject to any secular jurisdiction and power Vide Consiliū Matis Can. 9.10 the meanest of them might not bee produced before any secular Judge for any crime or offence how hainous soever yet unto this Beast they must be obedient in all things as servants to their Lord upon him they must depend with all observation as children upon their fathers And as for Emperours and Kings and other worldly States it is plaine to be seen that though they stand highly upon their titles and dignities not to have them impaired or in any thing diminished which is a thing which they will withstand to the shedding of abundance of blood yet to be made such vassals to this Beast as to hold his stirrop to lead his Horse by the bridle to kisse his feet they thought it no abasement but an honour And notwithstanding that very many of that beastly ranke have been notorious wicked men and abominable livers yet have they the craft so to delude and besot all people of all degrees in the world as to bring them to believe that the truth is so infallibly annexed to that seat of the Beast that it is not possible for him to erre in judgement yea he made the world to believe it as an Article of faith that his determination and judgement of any controversie or point of doctrine is a more indifficient and infallible rule of faith then is the holy Scriptures That these and the like grosse doctrines is beleeved and received are great wonders Further He maketh fire to come down from Heaven on the earth in the sight of men c. By fire in this place was foreshewed the punishment which should be inflicted on the Saints which was burning with fire And in that the fire was said to come from Heaven Psal 82.6 wherby was foreshewed that the Iudges of the earth Who are called gods and their seats as the Throne of God in Heaven should be so corrupted by the Pope as that they should believe the Saints and Servants pf God which refused to obey the Pope and his Laws to be therefore Heretikes Schismatikes refractary rebellious and disobedient persons and therefore should condemne them to be burnt to death This they have done thinking they did God there in good service and that it was the just judgement of God upon them Thus he made fire to come down from heauen For true it is that the judgements rightly pronounced by the lawfull Magistrates are the Iudgements of God and their punishments Gods punishments and therefore it is that Magistrates are called Gods but seeing Magistrates have been thus
corrupted by the Pope and made to pronounce unrighteous and unjust judgements we are to esteem them as the judgements of the Dragon and yet neverthelesse their authority and power lawfull and ordained of God Thus the Beast deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by means of those Miracles falfly so called which he had power to do in the sight of the Beast as is shewed in the verse following Vers 14. And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the meanes of those Miracles which he had power to doe in the sight of the Beast Those which the Beast deceiveth are said to dwell on the earth that is have their affections set upon earthly things and not upon heavenly so that they will not for love of the truth forsake their earthly possessions and pleasures these are they which are deceived by these lying wonders of this Beast but those that are strangers and Pilgrims in this world whose affections are set upon heavenly things and not upon earthly these are not deceived nor deluded by him these making tryall of him by Gods Word have found him to be a lyer and a deceiver and believe him not but taking their lives in their hands witnesse against him to the death that his power and working is of Satan and that his wonders are lyes And Whereas it is said that he had power to do these Miracles in the sight of the Beast thereby is confirmed and made manifest that which before is shewed to wit that this son of Perdition the chiefe Darling of his holy Catholike Mother is present with her and in her bosome and for her sake and in her behalfe exerciseth his power she retaineth still her former authority without any diminishing thereof as is euident unto all that are acquainted with the acts of that Church Thus much for the second part of this Chapter THE THIRD PART OF the XIII Chapter of the REVELATION Wherein is foreshewed a third Beast which was set up by the commandement of this second Beast the Pope who said to them that dwelt on the earth that they should make an Image to the Beast which had the wound with a sword and did live HEre we may see that the Pope by his commaunding power was the cause of setting up this Image and for the better and more cleare vnderstanding what this Image is Let us a litle consider the patterne whose Image and liknes it beareth namely the first Beast The first Beast as hath beene shewed was the representative body of the Catholick Church Militant consisting of the select Prelacy and Preisthood of sundry Nations gathered together into one counsell or Synode with authoritie to make Lawes and canons for the vniversall Church to be observed uniformely of all Nations under pretence of the insufficiency of the Scripture for the goverment of the Church and the worship of God in like manner the Pope in his wisdome seeing it necessary for the good goverment maintenance and upholding of his kingdome and the rooting out of Heretickes and seditious persons as they call them which daily increased in every countrie did ordeyne and command Vide concilium Lateran secundum Can 6. that in every province there should yerely be held and kept a provinciall counsell or Synode consisting of the Prelats and many other selected persons which should look to those matters to which Synode he also gave power to make Lawes atd ordinances to which the people should be conformable and obedient This is the Image which he caused the dwellers on the earth to make of the Beast which had the wound with a sword and did live Further it is said Vers 15. Verse 15. And power was given him to give life unto the Image of this Beast that the Image of the Beast should both speake and cause that as many as would not worship the Image of the Beast should be killed In this Verse we may observe first that a gift was given to the Pope to bestow upon this Image Secondly what this gift was viz. to give life or breath to the Image thirdly the end and effects of the gift which was that the Beast should speak and cause that as many as would not worship the Beast should be killed As there was given by the Dragon to the first Beast great power and authority and also a mouth to speak blasphemies and to make war with the Saints in like manner by the same Dragon was this gift given to the Pope to give life or breath to this Image By life is here meant authority which is the life of a Synod without which it is of no force and so this Image should have been no more then a very Image or picture and set up to no purpose but the Pope having received it gave authority to the Image that he should speak that is make and set forth Canons and Laws for to speak is so understood as for example A King is said to speak to his subjects when he setteth forth his Laws and Proclamations so this Beast having made Canons and Decrees speaketh to her vassals and subjects by them Moreover the Image caused that as many as would not worship him should be killed Here the pride and cruelty of this Image is set forth to be answerable to the first Beast and therefore rightly is he called her Image for as the first Beast made war with the Saints and overcame them all that dwelled on the earth worshiped him c. so whosoever would not worship this Image that is heare his voice and keep his commandements there was no way for him but death All the worship that the Lord requireth of his servants Deut. 10.12 13. is That they feare him walk in all his waies love him and serve him with all their hearts with all their soules to keep the Commandements of the Lord and his Ordinances And this is indeed the true worship of God In like maner this Image will be worshiped his Laws must be observed and his Canons obeyed without examining and trying of them be they never so unholy and unjust They that do not observe and obey them be they never so upright and holy men they shall be thereby indited arraigned judged and condemned to death as being in their estimation Heretikes Schismatikes disobedient and rebellious persons contemners of God and of the Church yea as the filth and of-scowring of the world and unworthy of the society of men And he causeth all both small and great rich and poore free and bond to receive a Marke in their right hand and in their foreheads This Image challenging worship to be performed unto him of all people of all sorts and degrees according to the authority given him by the Pope was by some contradicted and despised wherefore the Image in policy for the better triall of those that were his trusty subjects and slaves ordained that all his Ministers should receive a Marke at the receiving whereof they should vow
we are fallen and being enemies and opposers of Christ and his Kingdom it doth behoove us to know them to the end that wee may eschew them and their evill wayes and seek after the truth making strait steps unto the Kingdom of God Now that we our selves may make particular use hereof it is necessary for us to examine the Nationall Synod or Convocation consisting of the Prelacy and Clergie of the Land who whilst they remained under the yoke and bondage of the Church of Rome and whilst they exercised their power which was first given them by the Pope for and in the behalfe of that Church and Dominion they were the very Image of the first Beast before mentioned But being now separated from the Pope and Church of Rome they think as it should seem that their spirituall Pontificall power and authority which they exercise is lawfull and warrantable and to be submitted unto They being gathered together boast themselves to be the representative body of the Church of England and the true Church of Christ and that they have power to make Laws and Canons for Government thereof and for the worship of God which all men ought to yeeld obedience unto as appeareth by divers of their Bookes of Canons But we are not to take this upon their word but to make triall thereof by the Word of God whether it be true or false If the Word of God did give them such power and authority then indeed we were bound in conscience to yeeld already obedience to their Lawes and Canons But the most wise God and Disposer of all things who knoweth the vanity of mens mindes would not have his people to hold their faith in respect of mens persons and at their pleasure to alter and change the same and therefore did not give to any of his Ministers power to make Laws in matters of Religion and for the worship of God but gave them power onely to teach the Nations to observe the things which he had commanded them as in the 28. of Mathew the 19. and 20. verses And the Apostle Paul biddeth the Corinthians 1 Cor. 11.1 to be followers of him as he followed Christ And in the same Chapter he also saith That which he had received of the Lord he delivered unto them Acts 15. Also the Assembly of the apostles and Elders of the Church of Ierusalem they would not impose any yoke of bondage upon the Churches of Christ but held it to be a tempting of God so to do as before hath been shewed And this agreeth with that in Deut. 12.32 Whatsoever I command you take heed you do it Thou shalt put nothing thereto nor take ought therefrom By which Scriptures it is plain that the chiefest Ministers of the Gospell had no such power as these Prelates presume to have as we shall finde by examining their particular Canons and Constitutions of which for examples I will onely note some few of their late and best reformed Book made Anno 1603. in the first year of the Kings Majesties reign by which it will be apparant that they passe the bounds of the Subjects of Christ and that they have no power from him to make such Laws but by so doing they usurp the place of God to reign in mens consciences for unto him onely it doth belong to make Laws in matters of Religion and for the worship of God to which men are onely bound to yeeld obedience without adding or detracting and that for this their presumption they are liable to the curse of God being indeed the Image of the Beast here spoken of that is originally sprung from the Dragon and hath received power of Law-making from him Concerning the first and second Canons wherein they pretend their zeal for the abolishing of all forraign power repugnant to the jurisdiction of the Kings Majestie over the Ecclesiasticall estate he being the highest power under God to whom all men owe most loyall obedience and that his Majestie hath the like authority in Causes Ecclesiasticall as the godly Kings had amongst the Iews To these I do most willingly assent and agree And further do desire that as the Pope so the Prelacy with all their Antichristian Adherents which usurp spirituall power and superiority above the Majestie of Christ Iesus being a strange and forraigne generation brought in and established in this Land by the Pope of Rome may also be abolished and cast out after him for by them the Pope lives in hope hereafter to be served as he hath been heretofore to the great vexation of the Kings and Princes of this Land yea to the losse of their Crown and lives But to be short I will proceed to mention some few of their Canons whereby iniquity is established for a Law and their beastlinesse discovered In the third Canon it is enacted that whosoever shall affirme the Church of England by Law established not to be a true and Apostolicall Church teaching and maintaining the doctrine of the Apostles that person shall bee excommunicated ipso facto That there are some yea many doctrines of the Apostles maintained in the Church of England I do not deny so there are in the Church of Rome But that the Ecclesiasticall state or spirituall body politike which is called the Church of England which consisteth of Arch-bishops Diocesan Lord-bishops Suffragans Deanes Arch-deacons Prebends Canons Chancellours Commissaries with the rest of the Clergie as heads and guides of that body to go before and the whole multitude of the Layitie as they call it which is as the Tayle to follow those Heads that this politicall Body is the Spouse and Church of Christ as they affirme in their seventh eighth and ninth Canons that I do deny For first if it were true that they are the Ministers of Christ which is his Church we should finde warrant for them in his Testament wherein is set down the Ministers which he hath set in the Church namely Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers and also their office and administration But in all the New Testament no Arch-bishops nor Lord-bishops no Deanes nor Arch-deacons Prebends Priests nor Canons no Chancellours nor Commissaries and other their Court-officers nor any such administration as they challenge and execute can there be found they are a strange generation that is risen up out of the earth for earthly-minded and vaine men have invented them and therefore the body which consisteth of them cannot of right bee acknowledged to bee the Body of Christ whose Ministers in respect that they are called according to the Commandement of Christ are from Heaven But it is indeed the Image of the first Beast whose mouth was as the mouth of a Lyon his body like a Leopard and his feet as the feet of a Beare an ugly compounded and deformed monster And as their names are strange and different from the Ministers of Christ so is their practise contrary they are not servants to the Flock and Church of Christ
A DISCOVERIE OF THE BEASTS Being AN EXPOSITION OF THE XIII Chapter of the Revelation of JESUS CHRIST Wherein All true Christians yet in Babylon are admonished to come out And the Anti-christians fore-told what their plagues will be By I. W. Revel 16. 15. Behold I come as a thiefe blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments lest he walke naked and they see his shame Printed in the year M. DC XLI CHRISTIAN READER AMong the many excellent helps which the Lord at this present time hath given unto his Elect for to discover the Mystery of Iniquity and to direct them in the way which Ieadeth to eternall life this little Treatise is a choice and chiefe one Thou art therefore desired to peruse the same with an understanding and impartiall heart and so doing I doubt not through Gods blessing on they labor but thou shalt reap much comfort and good thereby I have set it forth for the publike good and do desire the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ that it may prove so every where even a means to raze down the false Churches and to help forward the buildlng up of Gods House And so prayes he who is thine if thou be Christs I C. AN INTERPRETATION OF THE XIII CHAPTER OF THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST THe Eternall whose power is over all from the beginning hath put enmitie between the Serpent and the Woman Gent. 3 15. and between the seed of the Woman and the seed of the Serpent whereupon it hath come to passe in all ages that the seed of the woman hath laboured to break the Serpents head that is to destroy his works tread him under foot and triumph in victory over him He on the contrarie hath laboured as earnestly to resist God to deceive the Nations and to bring all into condemnation and destruction with with himself And amongst the manifold waies and means which Satan hath devised and practised to manifest his malice against God and his Saints none hath been more dangerous nor more availeable to further iniquity and cause destruction then the Antichristian generation which under the title of the Church and Spouse of Christ and Ministers of the Gospell have corrupted the earth and brought the Nations into miserable bondage and slaverie In this 13 Chapter is declared the state policy and proceeding of the Antichristian Dominion and Kingdom as the same was signified and foreshewed to Iohn the servant of Jesus Christ in a threefold forme First by a Beast rising up out of the Sea having 7 heads and 10 hors ver 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Secondly by a Beast comming up out of the earth having two hoâ—â—es like the Lamb but spake like the Dragon vers 11 12 13 14 Thirdly by an image of the first beast which the second beast caused them that dwelt on the earth to make as in vers 14 15 16 17 18. As the Dominion of the Medes Persians and Grecians which persecuted and destroyed the holy people of God the Iews were signified and foreshewed to Daniel in a vision under the formes of severall beasts according to the qualities of those Dominions so here the Antichristian dominion which persecuted the Churches and people of Christ was foreshewed to Iohn under the formes of such Beasts as are here described whereby we may learne that as reason and judgement is not to be expected in a beast so equitie and right is not to be expected in this dominion but the contrarie Concerning the first of these beasts John sayth That as I stood upon the sea sand I saw a beast rise up out of the sea hauing seven heads and 10 hornes and upon his hornes 10. Crownes and upon his heads the names of blasphemy And the beast which I saw was like unto a Leopard and his feet as the feet of a Beare and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion and the dragon gaue him his power and his seat and great authoritie That by this first beast was signified and represented some state of people and body politique I presume no reasonable man exercised in the Scriptures will deny because as it hath been sayd it is there to be seene that such states and dominions as God hath used as rods and scourges to chastise and correct his Church and people withall have been represented by beasts States and dominions they are of two sorts either Ecclesiastical or Civil but of which sort the State here meant is there hath been and is great opposition Many understand it to be the Romane Empire to which I cannot consent because the Romane Empire is ordeyned of God and is therefore a lawfull Dominion But the Dominion here represented is sayd to be from the dragon that old serpent the Deuill who is sayd to giue his power and his throne and great authoritie unto it and therefore unlawfull neither can I conceave it to be any other ciuil dominion for the same reason But to be short I vnderstand it to be an Ecclesiasticall State or Dominion and in perticular that Dominion which is called the Catholike Church representatiue consisting of the Prelacy and Preisthood of many Nations as Patriarches Cardinalls Archbishops Bishops with divers other elected persons who being called and gathered into Counsells or Synods usually called generall Counsells did usurpe and take on them the office of Iesus Christ in making lawes and Canons erecting Courts instituting offices and officers in matters of Religion as for the government of the Church and for the worship of God to be of all men observed and obeyed These generall Counsels or as the Catholicks call it the Catholicke Church representatiue haue challenged and exercised spirituall authoritie and dominion According to the text ouer all kindreds tongus and nations By their laws and canons they guided and governed them as one uniuersall or Catholicke Church made them also to observe their decrees and commaundements for doctrine this thay haue done both before and also since the Pope was exalted to his dignitie as all histories of the Church do testify So that it hath been and is a great question among the Catholicks whither the authoritie of the Pope or the Catholick Church in cases of Religion be the greater And whereas it is said in the 12. verse that the second beast exercised all the power of the first Beast before him thereby is confirmed the trueth of this exposition For the second Beast being the Pope as hereafter is shewed hath exercised the whole power of the Catholick Church or generall counsels and not of any other state or Dominion Further that this is the first beast here presented that which followeth through Gods helpe shall make manifest and apparant But before I doe proceed I desire the reader to observe that I do not condemne all vse of counsells and Synods but doe hold that divers churches may lawfully be assembled together to consult and advise of matters concerning Religion and the worship of God for their
and Ministers to make Lawes for the Church Nothing verily but blind devotion for they being ignorant of God and of his Word thought it the best way to keep peace and vnity in the Church Whereas indeed it was the cause of strife and dissention and at length by that meanes iniquity was established for a Law and Gods Word wholy reiected and cast aside as vnmeet for Lay men to vse Now as in all lawfull proceedings Princes are Gods ministers in Gods stead vnto their subiects and people so in giuing this power to this Beast they are the Dragons ministers and instruments Whereas it is said that power was given unto the Beast to make but it is not noted what should be made it argueth that the things made are of that nature and qualitie that they are not worthy of any name the makers themselves use to call their Acts Canons Constitutions and Lawes but falfly for if they were such indeed then men might have some good vse of them but that no man can have therefore it is but falshood and deceit so to name them It is like the caling of one carved Image S. Peter another S Paul another S. Iohn c. that is to name things that they be not and that is to lie In that it is said that power was given unto the beast to make 12. Moneths It sheweth that the Beasts time is limited and seeing that the time is limited we must finde that the time of making of the Catholike Church agreeth with this stint before we can be sure that it is the Beast here represented wherefore consider that the ecclesiastical state began to make about the yeare of our Lord 304. the Ancyran counsell being the first whose constitutions tooke the effect and force of Law And made not an end of making vntill the year 1564. the Counsell of Trent being the last wherein the Beast acted the last act of this making and fulfilled the measure of that iniquitie and therefore is now to receaue judgment condemnation from the Lord as is hereafter in this prophesie declared So that if we account a yeare for a day and thirtie dayes for a month it will amount to 1260 dayes which is the just sum of 42. moneths that this Beast was a making which is a strong argument that by this Beast was signified the ecclesiasticall estate or Catholicke Church as is shewed before page 2. Further it is said of the Beast that he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven In that this Beast by the ministery of false Prophets and Teachers as by her mouth hath seduced the Nations and made them believe That God by the ministery of his holy Apostles and Prophets hath not left us a sure rule sufficient rule of faith in the holy Scriptures but that the want thereof must be supplied with unwritten verities the writings of Ancient Fathers determinations of Counsels and the Popes Decretals otherwise all people would run into confusion it may truly be said that she hath opened her mouth untoblasphemy against God First the eternall who hath created all things and for whose wills sake all things are and were created To be but a rude and grosse beginner of a worke which he hath left and given up for vaine man to finish and make perfect Secondly if there be particular laws left out of the Scriptures for want of which all people would run into confusion then God hath not shewed himselfe to be a God of order Thirdly the World of God is not sufficient to make the man of God perfect in every good work as the Apostles saith But thus to think is a horrible errour Thus to speak is wicked blasphemy and thus to teach is hellish iniquity For how will it stand with the glory of God and of our Lord Iesus Christ not to give unto his people a perfect Law and sure Testimony whereunto they might trust and wherein they might rest and live by faith but must depend upon other men to see as it were with their eyes not with their own and so hold their faith in respect of other mens persons to belieue as they believe c. as though Gods people their Leaders excepted were not reasonable creatures but as beasts without understanding But blessed be our God we have a sure Word of the Prophets which is as a light shining in a darke place whereunto we shall do well if we take heed Gods people have no need of unwritten verities mens precepts and traditions They have surer Lights to walk by then the writings of the School-men and other Writers of ancient times They have surer Rules and righter Testimonies wherby to decide and end controversies and doubts then the determination of Counsels and Popes decrees and they which speak to the contrary open their mouth to balspheme against God Concerning blaspheming the Name of God amongst other attributes or titles whereby he is set forth unto us he is called the Holy one of Israel and the High Priest in Israel did beare this inscription upon his forehead graven in gold Holinesse to the Lord. First therefore we may truly and boldly say of the Lord that Holy is his Name Secondly we may likewise truly and boldly affirme that to give the title of Holinesse unto any unholy prophane and abominable thing is to blaspheme the name of God But thus the Beast hath done many and sundry waies They ascribe Holinesse unto their Antichristian orders and Priesthood to their Idolatrous Masse to their exorcised or conjured Bread Water Oyle Tapers Ashes Vestures Vessels and many other implements in and by al which they blaspheme the name of God And as they blaspheme the Name of God So likewise the blaspheme his Tabernacle That is to say the true visible Church of Christ under the Gospel which is the place of Gods presence which he hath chosen to put his Name there where two or three or more are gathered together in the Name of Christ there is Christ present and where Christ is present there hath God put his Name there he is to be sought and there he may be found and there is his Tabernacle To come together in the Name of Christ is when Gods people joyne themselves together in a spirituall body politike separated from the common multitudes of known unbeleevers to the end to meet together for the mutuall edification and comfort one of another by doctrine breaking of bread and prayer and to practise all other Ordinances of Christ set down in his Testament as they shall haue occasion and to Companies of Beleevers having such fellowship and communion one with another the title of the Churches of Christ doth in our use of speech properly and of right belong but for beleevers to do this apart by themselves is adjudged contempt of authority factious novelty making of Conventicles and unlawfull Assemblies dangerous to the State and not to be
and sweare to be of his Dominion and under his Banner to fight against Christ and his Saints What this Marke is and what is the maner of giving and receiving of it is now to be declared For proofe of this look no further then in the 36 Canon of the Church of England An. 1603 The Prelacy and Clergie being as hath been before shewed assembled with authority to make laws did ordain that every Bishop in his Diocesse should carefully observe that none should preach or execut the functioÌ„ of a parish Parson Vicar or Curate in any Parish but he that would swear to observe their Lawes and Canons and thereupon should receaue the letters of orders of the Bishop of the Diocesse which letters of orders signed and sealed by the Bishop is the Marke of the Beast here mentioned and doth testifie in the behalfe of the bearer thereof that he is their sworne servant under holy orders either a Priest a Deacon or a half priest c. and that he is a man found capable meete for the cure and charge of soules and therefore to what parish soever these tried lads are sent to doe service upon sight of this marke they must be receaued without ony oposition upon penaltie of the law upon those that shall refuse them Here may be obiected that this marke is only receaued by the Clergie and not by the people of all sorts rich and poore bond and free according to the text I answer that all persons which receaue the false Preists doe likewise receiue and submit to that authoritie which sent them and also the marke by which they are sent as is-evident when a Priest cometh to take possession of a parish to which he is apointed by the Bishop he is not receaued upon his word nor because he tolleth the bell and and putteh on the Surplice and useth other Cerimonies enioyned him by the Prelate But shewing the foresaid Marke of the Beast they receaue both him and it and communicate with him thus all both smal and great rich and poore bond and free that submit unto their apointed Preist receaue a marke in their foreheads by receaving and submitting to him For as our sauiour Christ faith of his Apostles and Ministors He that receaueth you receaueth mee and he that Heareth you heareth me Luke 16. Iohn 20. So those that receaue heare and ioyne in fellowship with these false Ministers doe heare receiue and joyne to the false power which sent them and the marke by which they are sent whereas it is said that they receaved the marke in their foreheads or right hand thereby was shewed that this marke should be an aparent testimony that they were servants of the beast and that they were of that band which had ioyned hands made a league to walke in the wayes of destruction Further it is said Vers 17. And that no man might buy or sell save he that had the marke of the Beast or the naâ—e of the Beast or the number of his name Here is propounded three conditions and whosoever had not one of them thereby to be known to be of that Kingdom might not buy or sell or have any thing to do amongst them For the better understanding hereof let us minde that although these three Beasts in respect of their severall power and jurisdiction did differ one from another the Catholike Church being the chief and the Pope inferiour to her and the Image of the Beast as it were a servant or handmaid inferiour to them both yet notwithstanding they were one body being joyned and knit together by the power of the Dragon and have so farre prevailed over the Nations as that they have brought all both small and great rich and poore bond and free to bee in subjection to their Kingdome which beareth the name of the holy Catholike Church or Sea of ROME 〈…〉 14.8 â—1 but the Holy Ghost calleth it BABILON THE GREAT CITIE for as the materiall Babylon was a City which dwelled upon many waters which caused her to abound in riches and treasure so this mysticall Babylon this great Citie of Rome I meane the Ecclesiasticall State is said also to sit upon many waters which the Holy Ghost expoundeth to the People and Nations as in the seventeenth Chapter and 15 verse The Waters on which the Whore sitteth are Peoples and Multitudes and Nations and Tongues And these Waters have been the means of the flowing and increasing of the wealth and riches of this Citie so that their Merchants that is the Prelates have grown rich and become the great men of the earth by trafficking in them also the Ship-masters which are the Parish Priests and all Ship-men and mariners which are the inferiour guides and Ecclesiasticall Officers have gathered crums and waxed rich thereby and therefore at the destruction of this great Citie shall stand a farre off and shall howle to see the desolation thereof and their owne gaine taken away for from thence-forth no man will buy their commodities any more Here note that these foresaid spirituall persons are the sellers and the Lay-people are the buyers and the wares which are bought sold in this kingdom called spirituall as pardons for sin and indulgences of divers sorts which is a speciall commodity and bringeth in abundance of treasure also their Pistling Gospelling Chanting Homeling Massing which must be maintained with the Tithes or Tenth of all things which they usually call the maintenance of the Ministery Also the Sacrifices unacceptable to God and well-pleasing to the Divell which are daily offered at their Altars and at divers Images of Saints also the body of their Maker and Saviour besides Marrying Baptizing of Children Churching of Women Houseling the sick burying the dead these and many such like are the spirituall Wares sold in this Kingdom which have particular prizes set on them Now so it is that these wares are priviledged that none may either buy or sell them save he that hath the Marke of the Beast or the name of the Beast or the number of his name What the Marke of the Beast is hath been before shewed Secondly the name of the Beast is to be considered For the manifestation whereof let us consider and minde that those which did preach and professe Christ and his doctrine are said to have and to â—eare his Name The Lord Christ Iesus said unto Ananias in a Vision concerning Paul That he was a chosen Vessell to beare his Name before the Gentiles and Kings Acts 9.15 and the Children of Israel By the Name of the Lord here was meant that Paul should preach the doctrine of Christ and those that beleeved by his Preaching were said to believe in the Name of Christ and were therefore baptized into his Name and called Christians Acts 11.26 The Disciples were first called Christians in Antioch Also the Disciples and followers of Christ are said to have the Lambs Fathers Name written in their foreheads According