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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47362	Antichrist stormed, or, Mystery Babylon the great whore, and great city, proved to be the present Church of Rome wherein all objections are fully answered : to which is added, the time of the end, or a clear explanation of Scripture prophecies, with the judgment of divers learned men concerning the final ruine of the Romish Church, that it will be in this present age : together with an account of the two witnesses, who they are, with their killing, resurrection & ascention : also an examination and confutation of what Mr. Jurieu hath lately written concerning the effusion of the vials ... : likewise a brief review of D. Tho. Goodwins exposition of the 11th chapter of the Revelations, concerning the witnesses, and of that street in which they should lie slain, proving it to be meant of Great Brittain : and a brief collection of divers strange prophecies, some very antient / by Benj. Keach ... ; to which is annext, a short treatise in two parts : 1. The calculation of Scripture numbers by Scripture only, without the help of humane history, 2. Upon the witnesses, giving light to the whole book.	Keach, Benjamin, 1640-1704.	1689 (1689)	Wing K44; ESTC R19009	133,186	254

not of him afterward For Ezra who came up the seventh of Artaxerxes and Nebemiah who came the twentieth of his Reign both Governed and set things in Order themselves according to the Commissions they had And what Ezra writes of Zerubbabel is but Historical of things past and done But if this be not right they that go by History must be much more out who make the time between Cyrus his decree and the sixth of Darius his Reign in which it was finished to be at least a hundred twenty four or six which is almost double seventy Obj. 3. is about the one and twenty days Dan. 10. 13. Some reckon it in the time of Cambyses Reign and so part of the time of the interruption upon the work after the Foundation was laid but this could not be For Daniel lived but to the first of Cyrus absolute Government Dan. 1. v. last He prospered all the Reign of Darius Dan. 6. 28. and in the Reign of Cyrus that is to the first of his absolute Government and then dies For he came not out of Captivity which doubtless he had done if he had lived being a man whose heart was set upon the work of God and the good of his Church Others take it to be the one and twenty natural days of Daniels fasting as v. 2. But this cannot be because the holy Spirit that we might not be misled reckons them twice by weeks of daies as v. 2. 3. That we might not take them for the time after v. 13. Of one and twenty days as usual in Scripture a day for a year And in what sense can we suppose that the Prince of the Kingdom of Persia could withstand an answer from God of Daniels prayer when the Angel tells him that from the first day he set his heart to understand c. he was heard v. 12. Therefore to conclude what Persons Histories say did Reign which the Scripture knows nothing of or the time they say they did Reign is nothing to me For I cannot think that God in his Word would have been so distinct and particular in the persons Reigning and their time had it not been for a guide to us to calculate by Therefore let others go by what Rule they please I desire to abide by that word which I know is a sure word of Prophesy and cannot deceive any that have the mind of God in it An Essay towards the understanding the Time set in the Scriptures respecting the Witnesses left in the Word for the Use and Benefit of the Church AND First why two Witnesses First Either because the Scriptures tell us That in the Mouth of two or three Witnesses every thing shall be established Two are sufficient and less cannot holding forth this truth to us That let God's faithful Servants be never so much reduced as to their number yet he hath not left himself without sufficient Witness in this World. Or Secondly To signifie unto us the greatness of that Apostacy that should be from the truth of which the false Church should be composed the whole Earth wondring after the Beast and that but few comparatively should be found faithful in the time of the Holy Cities being trodden under footby the Gentiles Or Thirdly Signifying to us That as the Church at the time of Christ's coming was but one National Church therefore represented by one Candlestick Zech. 4. 2. Now under the Gospel the true Church of God the Mystical Body of Christ her Head consists of several visible Churches and therefore is represented by two Candlesticks Rev. 11. 4. Secondly Who those Witnesses are Ans. Leaving them to their own thoughts who take them to be either the two Testaments or Magistracy and Ministry or two particular Persons I conceive them to be the faithful people of God that have obtained Grace to hold the truth of Christ in all Ages in a faithful adherence to him under all the Apostacies that have been made from them and Oppositions that have been made by them that have Apostatized from them that have not loved their Lives unto the death for the Love they have had to Christ and his Gospel Thirdly The time of their Prophesie is set down Rev. 11. 3. and is 1260 days that is so many years which time is contemporary with the Gentiles treading under foot the Holy City for forty two Months Now although in forty two full Months there are more days by about eighteen than 1260 yet the Text seems to give us to understand that these times shall begin and end together though thus differently reckoned the one by the Sun the other by the Moon as may more fully appear in the next consideration of their work Fourthly Their work is implied in the name given them they are called Witnesses To make a Person a true Witness he must have a full knowledge of what he says or testifies 1 John 1. 1 2 3. Therefore they are Gods Children here intended that have experienced the things they testifie unto so the matter of their Testimony is that Act. 1. 8. to testifie to Christ his Person and Offices the alone Mediator as revealed opened and held forth in the Gospel which is that upon which the true Church of God is Built Eph. 2. 19 20 c. And which is the Temple not given to the Gentiles whilst the Court and Holy City is given to them to tread under foot forty two Months all which time the Witnesses here intended are to Prophesie and Testifie to those truths that others under a name and profession of Christ Apostatized from and intruded their false Doctrines and Corruptions instead of the truths and true worship of God Acts 20. 28 29 30. 2 Thes. 2. 1 2 3 12. c. 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. c. 2 Tim. 3. 1 2 3 4 5. 1 Pet. 3. the whole chapter 2 Pet. 2. the whole chapter the Epistle of Jude all are Prophetical of great Apostacies that would be from the Truths and Purity of the Gospel Now I say the work of the Witnesses is to stand up for the defence of the Gospel and they shall do so for 1260 years together and then they are slain and lye dead for three days and a half that is three years and a half then the Spirit of life from God shall come upon them Fifthly Their finishing their Testimony this must either respect their Testimony it self or the time allotted to them that is the 1260 years I conceive the first is intended for after or when they are upon the finishing it there is a fresh War made upon them in which they that make the War upon them prevail so as to overcome them and kill them and then they lye dead for three years and ½ now how long time this shall take up is not said And if the holy Spirit who had been so exact in setting down the time of 1260 years of their Prophesy and the three days and ½ of their lying dead had omitted

Great in respect of place or chief residence where this power and great people are seated and by way of eminency as a Mystical City it may indeed well bear the Bell away For what people have given further occasion to be spoken of in respect of power people and place of chief residence throughout the whole world as Rome has as will hereafter be made more evident III. Mystery Babylon is not only a mystica● City and Woman but a bad Woman and City a City of Confusion For so the word Babel or Babylon signifies viz. Evil or Confusion Parallel Rome Papal or Church of Rome is not only a mystical Woman City but a very evil Woman a City indeed of confusion there is the name of the lamb much spoken of but his doctrine contemn'd slighted and under valued and his Laws and Ordinances trample● upon and notoriously violated his institution not regarded nor his example imitated either by the Bishop himself his Cardinals or inferior Orders they having his humility and self-denial only in their mouths but none of it i● their hearts like those the apostle speaketh of who in words profess they know God but in work● deny him For under this verbal and pretended humility lies covered the greatest pride in the world and under this verbal meekness and self-denial the greatest oppression cruelty superstition covetousness vain glory and love of the world that ever was manifest as appears by their pompous and glistering garbs their cruel persecutions and the vast sums of money brought in from all parts of their dominions by sleights cunning and deceitful Cheats Besides a meer hodg-podg of principles one Order or Fraternity professing that which another writes against and cries down which is the more strange to come from a Church infallible and that cannot err Besides the strange mixtures in their visible worship of traditions and humane inventions of lying and diabolical tricks of blessing by a Cross Pardons and Indulgences for money consecrating holy water and cleansing by it which are too numerous and tedious to relate and less needful to mention because so well known to all men And let any people in the Christian world pretending to religion be compared to them for supernumeraries trifling ●nsignificant ceremonies crouded into their pretended worship Nay let all the people in the Christian world be laid in the ballance against the Church of Rome in this respect and they will be found inconceivably wanting for which we have this Reason to ●udge her to be Babylon or the City of confusion If there is more confusion in contrariety of principles practices contradicting pretensions supernumeraries foolish and unscriptur● inventions crouded into their visible worship in the Church of Rome than is to be found amongst any sort of people pretending to Religion in all the world besides then is Rome Papal or the Church of Rome the great Babylon or City of confusion But there is more confusion in the forementioned respects to be found in the Church of Rome than in any other Church or people in the world pretending to Religion Ergo Rome Papal is Mystery Babylon IV. Mystery Babylon is not only set forth 〈◊〉 a Woman and City of Confusion but is also called A WHORE a word which carries in it one of the highest Impeachments yet no other that was given to Israel Judah Jerusalem in the days of old upon the very same reason Isa. 57 3. and 16. 17. and Hos. 4. 8. 5. 3. For they being joyned in covenant with God as a woman is to an husband to be the Lords to serve him in Obedience and Subjection did like to an adulterous Woman break Wedlock and set up other Lovers or Idols in his stead and continued so a long time till a Bill of Divorce w● given and God proclaimed them Adulteresses and that he was not their husband nor they his wife but a whore and divorced Yet it is observable that they tho they worshipped Idols cryed The Temple the Temple of the Lord are we and would by all means be accounted the Church of God. Paral. Even so in like manner Rome Papal or the Church of Rome is not only called a Woman But according to Scripture History and notorious matter of Fact she is a whore having utterly adulterated from what she was once and so may justly bear that brand or black name for in the Apostles time she joined her self to the Lord to be his by firm tyes of a Gospel covenant and profession and as a renowned Spouse of Jesus Christ owned and professed him in the time of heathenish Rome and received the Apostles and Servants of God amongst them and withstood the fury of the Emperors suffering Persecution and had their faith spoken of throughout the whole World but yet after all this like Israel of old She left God Jesus Christ and almost all his Holy Laws and Ordinances and made Idols to her self of Saints Angels Reliques and Images upon which she doted and forsook the Son of God upon the working and appearance of the vile person or man of Sin who exalted himself into the place of Christ and became her head by which means she is so far degenerated from what she once was that she retains nothing of what really appertains to true godliness but the bare names of God Christ and Christian Religion having corrupted the true worship of the Son of God her first Husband and notoriously abandoned obedience and subjection to him taking this vile person the Pope to be her head and chief guide and setting him up in the place of and in dignity above Christ her first head and only guide of her youth and yet like Israel of old still cryes The true Church the Holy Catholick Church and Mother Church are we having on her forehead a strange mystery written i. e. God Christ Truth Verity Unity Universality Infallibility And yet with that on her forehead and in her heart too is written Devil Pope Lying Blasphemy Idolatry Deceit Perjury Blood and Horrible Cruelty towards the best of men professing Christ and Religion in uprightness and truth for which her abominable Idolatry and change of her first Head and Husband and setting up this vile Person with which she commits most horrid lewdness or Spiritual Whoredom together with the Kings of the Earth she is ranked by the Holy Ghost amongst the worst of Women and stil'd the great Whore and as her type and predecessor of old a well favoured Harlot but since her Spiritual Adultery and Whoredom hath been so apparently proved upon her by many worthy and eminent authors or Protestant Writers we shall conclude this black character with this following Argument and proceed to the next mark If there be no body of professing People in the Christian World that have so apparently declined or adulterated from what they once were deserting the holy headship doctrine example and right government of Jesus Christ having set up another visible publick and universal head

of the Church in room and stead of him whose Power Laws and Edicts are preferred above and before the authority laws and precepts of the Lord Jesus Christ as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath done then the Church of Rome is mystery Babylon or the great Whore spoken of But there is no body of professing people in the Christian World nor throughout the Earth who have so apparently declined adulterated and deserted the Holy Headship Doctrine Example and right Government of Jesus Christ ut supra as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath done Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is mystery Babylon the great Whore. If any should think this argument not weighty let them shew if they can that some other people different from the Church of Rome have made as great or like change in point of Religion and Headship and matter● thereto pertaining so as this black character of Whore great Whore may more fitly and fully be made to meet upon them and we must confess our argument not weighty but till then we conclude it carries conviction in the Bowels of it V. Mystery Babylon is not only set forth by a Woman City of Confusion and Whore but also a great City and great Whore and the great City was divided c. Rev. 16. 19 And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City Rev. 17. 18. I will shew thee the Judgment of the great Whore Rev. 17. 1. I think it necessary to reassume this character again the Spirit of God noting this as a most eminent mark of her Paral Now that the Church of Rome is not only a Whore and Mystical City but a very great City and Whore will yet appear more evident 1. She hath a great name no name so great in the Christian World as the name of Rome she is called a Queen and being joined by Contract to her universal Head viz. the Pope or Man of Sin she would seem to be far greater than Emperors and temporal Princes and pretends a power to give them their Crowns and set them upon their Heads and kick them off again at pleasure 2. Great in Power She gives Rules and Laws to Kingdoms advances her Ecclesiastical Edicts above Temporal she sets the Pope and the chiefest of her Sons above secular Jurisdiction makes them unacountable and pretends a power to Absolve to Bless and Curse at her pleasure and without controversy the lesser is blessed of the greater 3. Great in multitude There are no People besides that are in a spiritual united Body and visible community professing Christianity comparable to her for multitude or the vast numbers of her Children 4. Great in actions vile actions such as deposing and poysoning Princes fomenting jealousies raising Wars setting Nations together by the Ears invading rights and properties of Nations and Kingdoms by subtile insnarements and cunning stratagems making tumults and uproars contriving Masscres burning Cities and carrying on dreadful devastations where she is gain-said and that which adds to her greatness is that invincible confidence she hath that all persons and things are made for her and given to her so that all things she doth are allowed as Legal and Just in Heaven tho the actions are most vile and as unhumane as any can be in the Judgment of any undeceived mortal from whence we shall frame this argument Arg. If there be no united Body of People or visible Community in the Christian World that is so great in name power multitudes and actions vile actions as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath been and still is then the Church of Rome is mystery Babylon But there is no united Body of People or Community in the Christian World that is so great in name power multitude and actions vile actions as Rome Papal or Church of Rome Ergo Rome Papal is this great City Whore or Mystery Babylon VI. Mystery Babylon is said to sit upon many Waters which is expounded to be People Multitudes Nations and Tongues Rev. 17. 1 17. And he said unto me the Waters which thou sawest where the Whore sitteth are people and multitudes and nations and tongues c. which according to the learned Mede Peter Du Moulin and other famous Protestant writers is more than a third part of the ten considerable parts which the Roman Monarchy fell into not long before the Pope that man of Sin and Head of mystery Babylon assumed the imperial Seat and Throne which afterwards became ten Kingdoms with Crowned Heads assisting the Beast against the Lamb and Persecuting of the Saints distinguished into ten Kingdoms of the Empires I. of Germany II. France III. England IV. Scotland V. Denmark VI. Polonia VII The Kingdom of Spain VIII The Kingdom of Navarre IX The Kingdom of Hungary X. The Kingdom of Naples and Sicily All which Rome Papal had in possession as our French author saith in the days of Pope Leo the tenth Paral. So then it appears evidently that the Church of Rome has directly this mark of Mystery Babylon also she sitting upon many Waters viz. people multitudes nations and languages that she sate upon or ruled over more than one third part of the ten which was formerly under the Roman Empire in its civil state is evident which● more than one third part hath since fallen into ten Kingdoms under the Government of ten Crowned Heads and have all agreed to give their Power to this last Beast as they received power as Kings one hour with him according to what was foretold which makes good what St. John ●n the Apocalypse hath made known as also Daniel concerning the little horn which had ● mouth speaking great things whose looks were more stout than his fellows Dan. 7. by whom three of the first horns of the Roman power in its civil state were pluck't up by the roots and in their place succeeded ten Kings or Crowned Heads who have their Crowns given to them by this last Beast and as they had their Crowns given by and hold their Kingly power under the Pope little Horn last Beast or man of Sin in requital of his fatherly care in giving his Sons so great a Patrimony so they give their power to him and ingaged against the Lamb in making War with and persecuting the Saints of the most High and will do so till the VVord of God or Prophecy of Daniel and Revelations of St. John c. is fulfilled which ten Crowned Heads answer to the ten Toes in Nebuchadnezzars Image and to the ten Horns in this 17th of the Apocalypse which are so concerned in the Beasts Kingdom and who will at last by the gracious providence of God that is some of them be overcome by the Lamb and turn to hate the Whore and make her desolate whom before they for a long time join'd with and supported and for whose pleasure they did persecute the Saints which ten States or Kingdoms are by our French author Peter du Moulin in his book called the accomplishment

of the Prophecy page 345. distinguished as we before shewed all which Kingdoms as King James the First in his learned works makes out took their rise with Rome Papal upon the division or ruine of the Roman Empire in its civil state the body of which Kingdoms may well be called many waters viz. people multitudes nations and tongues or people of several languages which were as well known to have been under the Usurpation and Jurisdiction of Papal Rome as 't is known there have been and still are Papists in the World which doth fully answer to the very letter of the text viz. The Waters which thou sawest whereon the Whore sitteth are people and multitudes and nations and tongues Rev. 17. 18. 2. This is very evident yet further by her making all the European Kingdoms and Merchants thereof Rich that traffick by Sea by the great expence of all commodities which are swallowed up by reason of her pride and bravery which could never be effected unless she had nations and multitudes under her jurisdiction to contribute to her great pride and luxury 3. A third Instance to confirm it is the numberless number of good Christians she has prey'd upon and murdered in most of these Kingdoms for no other cause but for witnessing against her Idolatry and Usurpation which shews what power she had over these nations and tongues c. 4. And lastly The vast sums of Money she has extorted and squeezed from these Kingdoms and Nations to uphold her pretended right preheminency and usurpation over them which you have an account of by several worthy Writers who fully witness to the truth of what we say upon this respect And from the whole we shall draw this argument and proceed Arg. If there be no Body of people professed Church or State in the World under any single denomination that sits upon i. e. commands or bears rule over people multitudes nations and tongues as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth then Rome Papal or the Church of Rome is Mystery Babylon But there is no Body of people professed Church or State under any single denomination that sits upon i. e. commands or bears rule over people multitudes nations and tongues as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is Mystery Babylon To the establishing this argument let it be considered that the whole state of the Christian World consists but of these two parts viz. the Church of Rome considered as Head and Body and those who dissent from her who are so inconsiderable whether the Waldenses Albingenses Hugonots or other parties of Protestants that no one party of nay if we put them altogether can be said to sit upon i. e. command or bear Rule over people multitudes nations and tongues to answer to this Character of Mystery Babylon the Waldenses and Hugonots have been and still are a Persecuted People the Lutherans never got up so high as to command many States or Kingdoms or people of many languages Great Britain tho a Protestant State or Kingdom comes not up to answer this character much less the seven united Provinces that of late times revolted from the Crown of Spain so that if Rome Papal hath done so and no other people that dissent from her have ever yet nor could do the like then this proves Rome Papal that great Whore viz Mystery Babylon that sits upon many Waters c. VII The seventh mark or character of Mystery Babylon is this viz. She is such a Whore that Kings and great men of the Earth are said to commit Fornication with her see the text Rev. 17. 2. With whom the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication i. e Spiritual Fornication or Fornication in a mystery or after a mysterious manner such as Jerusalem of old was charged with 2 Chron. 22. 1. Isa. 16. 26. Which was a following like Idolatry that this Woman Babylon hath done viz. corrupting the true worship of God and adoring Idols or making of Images and Representations of the true God by which they pretended to worship him and so great was her Fornication that 't is said she did corrupt the Earth with it Paral. Now that Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath this black mark and character upon her is most evident viz. such a Whore that the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication with her she having corrupted the Earth with her filthy Fornications they following her abominable Superstition and Idolatry 1. For First Hath she adored the Pope as her Lord God universal Head and infallible Bishop setting him up above all Laws The Kings of the Earth have been so intoxicated with the cup of her Fornication that they likewise have done the same 2. Hath and doth she worship the Virgin Mary Angels and many departed Saints Even so have and do many of the Kings of the Earth likewise 3. Hath she adored Images the Crucifix the Host and Pictures of pretended Saints Even so she has caused the Kings of the Earth to do likewise 4. Hath she foolishly and Idolatroully de based her self with the adoration of the Relick● of known and unknown Saints So the very same has she caused the Kings and great men to do also 5. Hath she grosly and superstitiously worshiped the true God in a false manner By crouding in an innumerous train of detestable and foolish fopperies into his worship and pretended service which he never ordained as Candles Candlesticks Altars Vestments Spittle Salt Oyl Holy Water Beads and a world of such like trumpery So have the Kings and Noble ones of the Earth done and still do as the Emperour of Germany Kings of France Spain Portugal and England formerly and of late also from whence we will draw this argument Arg. If there be no Body of people in the Christian World pretending to a Church State that have set up Idolatry to such a degree and with whom the Kings of the Earth have jointly agreed and complied as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath done then Rome Papal or Church of Rome is this mystery Babylon spoken of But there is no Body of people in the Christian World pretending to a Church State that hath set up Idolatry to such a degree and with whom the Kings of the Earth have complied as Rome Papal c. hath done Ergo the Church of Rome is Mystery Babylon To reinforce this argument let any man that will become an advocate for the Church of Rome shew that any people differing and dissenting from the Church of Rome are guilty of like Idolatry with whom the Kings of the Earth have complied as aforementioned and we will reject this argument but if this Character doth more fitly nay directly meet in Papal Rome our argument is good and unanswerable VIII Another Scripture Mark and Character of Mystery Babylon is this i. e. she doth not only cause the Kings of the Earth to commit Fornication with her but she hath intoxicated the minds

is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth Revel 18. 8 For her sins which God hath remembred which have reached unto heaven therefore shall he● Plagues come in one Day Death and Mourning and Famine and she shall be utterly burn● with Fire For strong is the Lord God w●● Judgeth her v. 11 12 13. All sorts of Merchandize Traffick Trade and Commer● with Humane Society shall cease so as to be no more in her at all and the good thing● which she in fulness enjoyed before even al● things that were Dainty and Goodly are no● Departed from her and shall find them 〈◊〉 more at all ver 14. For in an hour is s●● made desolate And a mighty Angel took up a Stone like a great Milstone and cast it into the Sea saying Thus with violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all ver 21. And the Voice of Harpers and Musicians and of Pipers and Trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee And no Craftsmen of whatsoever Craft he be shall be found any more in thee and the sound of a Milstone shall be heard no more at all in thee ver 22. And the light of the Candle shall shine no more at all in thee and the Voice of the Bridegroom and of the Bride shall be heard no more at all in thee verse 23. But the Place Seat and City of Rome was not so utterly ruined as to be no more for ever a place of Trade Traffick Merchandize and humane society when the Heathen Power of Rome ended Ergo Rome Heathen cannot be the Whore of Babylon under present consideration whose Seat or City hath since had a Powerful Government Reigning in Pride and Pomp for some hundreds of years VII As touching that notion of the Papists i. e. that by this great Whore mystery Babylon is meant Rome after she shall Apostatize from the Pope to Paganism again at the latter end of the World it is such an opinion that has no foundation in Scripture nor in the Judgment of the Antients besides some of the Papists themselves reject it as improbable and detestable as our Annotators observe for then Sr. John in the Revelations passes by in utter silence all the transactings that have been in the World under Papal Rome even ever since the seven head or Christian Emperors Government went off of the Stage which is near 1260 years which is ridiculous to suppose Besides it cannot be understood of Rome in either of the other notions as hath been proved 1. Because Antichrist is to sit in the Temple of God 2 Thes. 2. 4. as God therefore not in a Pagan City The mystery of Iniquiry was working in the Apostles time but v. 7. the Roman Empire hindred the appearance of Antichrist till the Popes had wrung Rome out of their hands and were the sole rulers there then Antichrist shewed himself 2. Because there is nothing said of this great Whore or this Babylon but admirably agreeth to Rome in its present state We shall conclude with the whole If by mystery Babylon is not meant the whole World of wicked men nor old Chaldean Babylon nor Jerusalem the Turks nor Saracens nor Rome in its Heathenish State nor Rome after she shall desert the Pope and turn again to Paganism then it must be Papal Rome or the Romish Church But she is none of the former six we have proved Ergo she is Papal Rome Now to make way for the second Chapter we shall state this argument following If all the marks and characters left us upon divine records to know mystery Babylon by do most aptly and directly agree to Rome Papal then Rome Papal is mystery Babylon But all the marks and characters left upon divine record do most aptly and directly agree to Rome Papal or the present State and Church of Rome Ergo Rome Papal is mystery Babylon CHAP. II. Wherein is clearly proved that all the marks of mystery Babylon doth fully meet in and agree to Rome Papal or the Church of Rome FIrst of all let it be considered Babylon is set forth by a Woman which Imports either a single Person ranked in the feminine Gender or a body of People related to some Head Husband or publick person to whom she is joyned in Wedlock by Covenant or Matrimonial Contract as Eve was related to Adam therefore called woman or as Judah Israel who were Joyned in Covenant with God and therefore called a woman or as the true Church now Marryed or Joyned to Christ and therefore called a Woman A single Person as Eve was she cannot be because the Character given of her in respect of her State and Actions doth no way Comport with it she must therefore be a body of People related to some Head Husband or Publick Person as Judah and Israel of old was who are often called by the Title of a Woman and in like manner Babylon before the Degeneracy where a People Joyned in Matrimonial Contract by Gospel Covenant and Profession to the Son of God. 1. Mystery Babylon it appears from hence Imports a body of people that were once united in a solemn Gospel Covenant to the Son of God and hence Metaphorically called a woman and I saw a woman set c. And the woman was arayed in Purple and Scarlet c. Parallel Rome Papal or Church of Rome is a body a great body of People which before their apostacy were a true Church by Gospel Covenant and profession united to the Son of God as her publick head and husband Rom. 1. 6. Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ. To all that be in Rome beloved of God called to be Saints 2. Mystery Babylon is a City a very great Mystical City in a threefold respect 1. In respect of power Rev 17. 2. In respect of people Rev. 18. 10. 16. 18 19 21. 3. In respect of place or Residence where this power and people is seated City being indefinitely taken for either of these or comprehending all as in these Instances Psal. 121. Isa. 14. 31. Acts 19. 28. Parallel So likewise the Church of Rome is a City a very great mystical City and may be so called in a threefold consideration 1. In respect of power which is twosold 1. Civil 2. Ecclesiastical signified by two horns like a Lamb. 2. In respect of people which are great the fame of which people as a mystical City or Church was great before the power and chief dominion of the place was joyned with it as a Church which came in by the Apostasy Rom. 1. 8. First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole World. And since they adulterated from their primitive Purity and become Antichristian they have been and still are a great people no united body calling themselves a Church of Christ in respect of number and for fame coming near them 3.

and hearts of multitudes and corrupted great part of the World with the Wine of her Fornication even the common sort of people see Rev. 17. 2. And the inhabitants of the Earth have been made drunk with the Wine of her Fornication c. Paral. That Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath not only caused Kings of the Earth and great men to commit fornication with her by dancing after her Pipes in all her mysterious allurements and detestable errors but hath also intoxicated the Minds and Hearts of multitudes and miserably corrupted and bewi●ched great part of the World or common sort of people by her erroneous and wicked doctrine O what a world of poor people hath she a long time deceived and made to commit Spiritual Fornication with her in Italy Germany Poland France Spain Portugal Ireland and lastly in England and Scotland too besides many other Countreys 1. As first Is it not a strange intoxication that such a multitude of the Inhabitants of the Earth should believe that a wicked man should be appointed of God to be the Vicar of Christ as if God had no more regard to the Honour of his own Name and the good of his Church and Dignity of his Son than to substitute a Child of the Devil as all wicked men are to be Vice-gerent to the most holy Jesus in the highest transactions that relate to Heaven and the Souls of Men Surely if God shut Judas out of his Bishoprick for his wickedness tho an Apostle it can't stand consistent with his truth and holiness to set up or allow of a wicked and imperious Pope got up to the highest pinacle of pride and make him the Immediate Deputy and successor of Christ and to impose a Wolf as Shepherd upon the universal Church 2. One who saith that he is an infallible Judge to determine Articles of Faith and indued with power to Impose them upon great Penalties so that as a Lord he hath Dominion over Mens Faith Consciences and Souls too which the Apostles disclaimed 3. Is it not a strange intoxication that such a multitude of poor People should believe that the Church cannot err tho God and Thousands of good Men see and fully know there are not such abominable Errors in Principles nor such villanous Enormities cursed Actions cruel and immoral Practices in the World Nay such that Turks and Infidels do abhor Yet this doctrine that the Church is infallible and cannot err the poor deluded multitude believes and hate nay kill others that oppose it and venture Body and Soul upon it 4. Is it not a strange intoxication that such a multitude of the Inhabitants of the Earth should believe that the Pope tho never so wicked nay a priest tho he be a treacherous villain a contriver of Murther and an abominable Adulterer hath power to absolve his equals and fellow Sinners from all their Sins tho directly committed against God If he come to confession tho the pretended penitent keeps his old evil habit of wickedness still contrary to what God and Jesus Christ in his blessed Word saith where 't is recorded that 't is God alone that forgiveth Sins and blo●●eth out our iniquities and that a man must be born again i. e. the evil habits must be changed and all wicked practices must be forsaken or no forgiveness nor entring into the Kingdom of heaven John 3. 3. 5. Is it not a strange piece of Witchcraft and Intoxication that such a multitude of the inhabitants of the Earth should believe that there is a Purgatory which is no part of Heaven nor Hell and that men may be redeemed out of it with Money tho God saith The redemption of the Soul is precious and ceaseth for ever Psal. 49. i. e. After the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all and that 't is only the Blood of Christ which purges and cleanses from all sin 1 Jo. 1. 9. and that we are not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold but with the precious Blood of Christ as a Lamb without Blemish and without Spot 6. Is it not a strange Intoxication and a clear demonstration that the Inhabitants of the Earth have drunk of the Wine of this Whores Fornication that such a multitude of poor Souls should believe that a filthy and wicked Priest by speaking a few Words can not only make Bread and Wine sacred but also turn and change the Bread into the real Body and Blood of the Son of God and make whole Christ of a pittyful Wafer-cake by a charm of five Latin words viz. Hoc est enim corpus meum and this transubstantiated Idol they fall down before adore as their Maker anathematizing and cursing all that shall deny this Idol of indignation to be adored with the highest degree of Divine Worship which is proper to God only for she saith 't is her God as she singeth in her Roman Missal Plagas sicut Thomas non intueor Deum tamen meum te confiteor Wounds as Thomas did I not see Yet do I confess thee my God to be In this as one observes they out-do the vanity of the Heathens who thought none was so witless as to believe that that which is eaten is a God yet this God of theirs these Canibals devour even Flesh Blood and Bones in their conceit the poor deluded multitude believieng contrary to their own natural Reason and all their sences that they eat real Flesh when they eat that Wafer-cake the substance nor quality being changed the Form Colour and Taste of Bread remaining after the Words of Consecration 7. Is it not a strange Intoxication that such a multitude of people should believe that evil and idle doctrine of hers viz. that no person how good and pious so ever he be can be saved out of the Pale of their polluted ungodly and devilish Church notwithstanding 't is a great doubt and question whether any member of such a false Church can be saved sith the Holy Scripture saith that no Idolater hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of God and again that If any man worship the Beast and his Image and receive his mark in his Forehead or in his Hand the same shall drink of the Wine of the wrath of God c. Rev. 14. 9 10. And he shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone in the presence of the Holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb c. Besides considering the Scripture directly holdeth forth that all who are born again or truly regenerate shall be saved let them be of what Church they will provided they are sound in the essentials of the Christian Faith and not guilty of Idolatry for certainly the new birth comprehends a change of all such erroneous principles as well as of other evil and corrupt habits and wicked practices 8. Is it not a strange kind of Spiritual Intoxication that such a number of the Inhabitants of the Earth should believe that 't is no Sin

worthy Mr. Ainsworth observeth in her Divine service she has Babels very language an unknown Tongue so is it an Idol wholly made as the Scripture speaketh according to her own understanding and is all the works of the crafts-men the Prelates and Popes the lovers of this great Whore who have patched together in their several ages the limbs of this deformed monster the Mass and Canon thereof a sacrifice for the sins of the quick and the dead with the Litany and Collects An●hems and Responds and in this Liturgy God and his Angels Apostles and Martyrs and Confessors with he Saints and she Saints and some that had Satans sanctity are wrapt up together with a Stage-play like worship with musical instruments to make them merry as Nebuchadnezzar with melody celebrated the dedication of his Golden Image which Portal and Missal these Artizans have framed exceeding all superstitions abominations and confession that ever were in the World the meer device and forgery of their own Brains by the help of the Devil provoking God to Jealousie and Wrath which suddenly she must pertake of without mixture 4. Mother of Harlots Hath not Papal Rome this very character upon her forehead It meets in none as in her all Protestants of what denomination soever utterly disallow of Fornication Whoredom and Adultery in persons of any Ranks whatsoever maintaining constantly that Marriage is honourable in all whereas the Church of Rome 't is noto●iously known gives publick toleration to ●bominable Whoredoms and the most shame●ess and unatural Bestialities as ever were in the World but this Epithet Mother of Harlots ●ay more properly refer to Spiritual Adultery ●nd that the Church of Rome is a Mystical Mo●her is very plain and evident for do not all her Children own her to be the Mother Church ●nd therefore 1. Protestants are exhorted to return into the bosom of their mother 2. All polluted and national Churches in the European Kingdoms sprang from her as the Churches of France Spain Portugal c. and do call her Mother 3. All corruption in Doctrine and Discipline were bred and brought forth by her she is certainly the Mother of all these cursed titles and errors following viz. Universal Supream Infallible Head Holy Father the Pope his Holiness in the abstract our Lord God the Pope unerring Church Priestly Absolution selling Pardons Indulgences Dispensations adoring the Crucifix worshiping of Images Anointing and sprinkling of Holy-Water the adoration of the Mass nay and the adoring the Devils own Engine i. e. the Cross or Gibbet whereon the Devils Emissaries killed or crucified the Lord of Life and Glory for the curse of the Law was to be done away by ● cursed Death upon a tree o● which whosoever was hanged the curse of God was upon him this death the innocent Lamb Jesus Christ suffered f●● our sakes at the hands of wicked Sinne● Pilate and the Jews the Children of the D●vil who used all exquisite torments to mak● his death miserable Crowning him wi●● Thorns piercing his Hands Feet and Sides with Nails and a Spear hanging him on the Tree until he died And this pretended Tree or Cross Thorns and Nails with other counterfeits of them this Mother of Harlots teaches her Children to adore and honour with as good Ground and Devotion as one observes as the Ophites or Serpentories are said to honour the Serpent the Devils instrument for to bring man to the knowledge of good and evil And that all the World might take notice that Rome is the City where our Lord was crucified this Mother of Harlots doth proclaim that the Cross was that Altar whereon the great Sacrifice Christ was offered whereas the Scripture teacheth that the bodies of those Beasts whose blood was brought to make reconciliation in the holy place were burnt without the Host or Camp of Israel and not on the Altar which stood before the door of the Tabernacle according to which figure Jesus also that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood suffered without the Gate of Jerusalem which was a reproach yet will these God-eaters and crucifiers of our blessed Saviour make the cursed Cross to be the Altar most holy and so greater than Christ the sacrifice as being that which sanctified him for the Al●ar sanctified the offering And hereupon they call the Cross blessed and ascribe unto it worthiness to bear the Talent of the World they account it among the most precious Reliques and not only the whole but every piece thereof they adore it salute it pray unto it and trust therein for Salvation crying Hail O Cross our only hope increase thou to the godly Righteousness and unto sinners give pardon save thou the company gathered together in thy praises yea the very sign of this Idol made in the Air upon the forehead or over any thing is Sacred and Ven●rable and hath force to drive away Devils and do many like feats wherefore this abomination hath prevailed above other and is like Beel●ebub Prince of the Devils the Badg of the Beast and Character of Mystery Babylon Imprinted in Churches Chappels Altars Houses and High ways in Books Writings in Prayers Sacraments in Garments Bodies and Souls of Men both Quick and Dead nay nothing is well hallowed without it no Sacrament perfect without it And this great honour hath the Cross because the Devil and his Instruments Killed or Crucified our Saviour upon it so that a marvel it is how Judas lips scaped honour seeing he also was Satans instrument to betray Christ with a kiss wherefore this Spiritual Egypt Pseudo Catholick Church deserveth more to be branded by some Satyrist for worshiping monsters than the first Egypt whose less impiety a Heathen Poet did deride 4. As she is the Mother of Harlots and Mother of all corrupt Doctrine and Detestable Errors c. So also is she Mother of all personal vices and fleshly abominations as horrid Oaths and Blasphemies most astonishing perjury and subtil equivocation hypocrisies uncleannesses lying subornations secret poysonings stabing throat-cutings adulteries covenant-breaking and what not are these things allowed amongst Protestants No certainly yet they are not only allowed by this Whore but esteemed merito●ious if it be done for the good and promo●ion of Holy Church and for these things may she not rightly be called Mystery Babylon the great the mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth Which I shall conclude with this Argument Argu. If this name Mystery Babylon the great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth in all these respects we have noted doth not so fully and fitly agree to any People as they do to Rome Papal or Church of Rome then Rome Papal c. is Mystery Babylon but this name Mystery Babylon the great Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth in all these respects noted does not agree so fitly and fully to any people in the World as to the Church of Rome Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is Mystery

arguments that are brough● by others to prove that France Germany or any other countrey under the Papal power should ● there intended with those that may justly be alledged to prove England is the spot where that prediction was to be accomplished And now saith he if the witnesses are upon th●● feet as I am strongly inclined to believe they are and am more and more confirmed in my notion in that respect and that so as they shall never more be flung upon their backs then I may confidently affirm that it will not be long ere they shall hear a great voice from Heaven saying unto them Come up hither And accordingly they shall ascend up into Heaven in a Cloud their Enemies beholding them in which ascent of theirs they must be conformable to the resurrection and ascention of Christ himself But whereas it is objected that if the witnesses are risen indeed so as to be on their feet in pursuance of that sacred prediction Rev. 11. there must needs have been some more than ordinary appearance of the presence of God in the midst of his people or at the least in a greater degree thereof than as yet we see Ans. I say no it doth not therefore follow that it must be so nor indeed it cann't rationally be expected till the time comes of their ascention for this is an established rule with me that there must and will be a signal proportion or resemblance betwixt the Death Resurrection and Ascention of Christs witnesses and that of Christ himself Now as to what concerneth the resurrection of our Saviour himself in his own person thus we are told that he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs being seen of his Disciples forty days and speaking to them of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God yet for ought as appears to us he appeared unto them in all that time but as he did before there was no discovery of any signal Majesty or visible glory upon him more than they had seen upon him before his Death and Suffering neither indeed was the Spirit come down upon them And the reason is expresly rendred because that Jesus was not yet glorified neither could the glorification of Christ be expected till his ●…cention and consequently they could not look 〈…〉 the effusion of the Spirit till then Wherefore tho' it is true there is as yet no appearance of any signal glory upon Gods people nor any considerable measure of the Holy Spirit th●● there was before yet for as much as it is highly rational to conceive that there must be and will be as clear resemblance or proportion as I said before betwixt what passed at the Resurrection of Christ and his Ascention and that of the Witnesses from hence it plainly sollows that we have 〈◊〉 just ground to expect that abundant effusion of the Spirit which God hath promised and we have been a waiting for till we see the Witnesses upon th●● Ascention-work For as it is evident that th●● will be a time of great confusion and desolation upon the Enemies of God so it is as evident and we may no less groundedly expect but that it will be a time of great glory and refreshment unto God● people by the abundant pouring out of the Spir●● upon them whereby Conversion work will swiftly go on and prosper and the Gospel run and 〈◊〉 glorified to which let me add why may we no● then expect such great light to break forth or th● Spirit in such a manner to be given as to convict 〈◊〉 Gods Children who they are that are in the true● order of the Gospel so that all the Saints and Protestant Churches may be United into one Body an● Communion according to that holy Primitive an● Apostolical pattern and purity Then saith he 〈◊〉 may justly conclude that as it was promised of 〈◊〉 in the Type it shall be much more in the Antityp● viz. That the glory of the latter House should exceed the glory of the former which in the Ty●● was fulfilled by Christ's Personal presence ther● according to that promise The desire of all N●ti●● 〈…〉 and I will fill this House with glory saith 〈…〉 of Hosts Hag. 2. 7. Now if the Personal 〈…〉 of Christ in that day and state of his Humi●… filled that latter House or material Temple 〈◊〉 glory so that it exceeded the glory of the forther we may after the same rule as justly conclude that tho' the Spiritual or Gospel Temple in the first Edition of it in the Apostle's days was glorious through the abundant effusion of the Holy Spirit that the same Spiritual House in the second Edition thereof in the latter days to be sure will not come short but rather exceed in glory c. To which let us add the glorious Deliverance promised from outward Oppression and Persecution which never quite ceased in the Primitive days together with that glorious Union they shall have that pure Language and shall serve the Lord with one consent together with the great increase of the Church bringing in both Jews and Gentiles into one Sheep-fold but till the Ascention of the Witnesses comes to pass these things cannot groundedly be expected He also gives some hints concerning the time of the slaying of the Witnesses as also of their Resurrection which things he doth not presume positively to determine but rather conjecturally expresseth himself the exact time he mentions I shall not relate but you may conclude he fixes the slaying of them between the year 1680 and 1688. For since the ●ime that the pretended Protestant Plot was talk'd ●f and as they said discovered and several worthy Christians Executed as the ever Renowned William Lord Russel Sheriff Cornish the Noble Earl 〈◊〉 Essex Col. Sidney and that godly Woman and Martyr Mrs. Ga●nt c. What a Flood of contempt reproach and what not hath been as he ●●serves cast upon the whole of the true interest 〈◊〉 Christ in this Kingdom with the barbarous slaughter of those worthy Christians and Witness●● in the West together with that Storm of Persec●tion which we have no ground to doubt was ●●●ried on by the Popish Enemy and Emissaries of R●●● together with the turning out of places of tru●● many good Protestants and the taking away of Charters of Cities and Corporations silencing worthy Ministers c. nay striking at the root and whole constitution of the English Government ●●thing being designed but the utter subversion of the Protestant Religion things growing every day worse and worse nothing appearing but the blackness of darkness and that which was worst of all many of Gods witnesses seemed to be strangely despirited whilest others truckl'd to the Enemi●● yoak suffering Chapels to be erected for Popery and Cursed Mass Priests and Jesuites and that to● in many of the chief of our Cities nay in famo●● London it self and that in the very Heart of it O●● state seeming desperate and hopeless in the view 〈◊〉 all at home

Ecclesiastical for of either or of both it is used thus under the sixth seal the great alteration wrought in the Roman Empire when it turned from Heathenism to Christianity brought abo●● by the power of Constantine with the depo●●●● those Heathenish Emperors Captains and altering the face of the Empires Religion is called 〈◊〉 Earth-quake Chap. 6. so that the like mighty commotion with an alteration of the face of things either civil or ecclesiastick shall fall out in a tenth part of the City and shall accompany or usher 〈◊〉 this rising of the witnesses 3. Now by and through this Earth quakes falling thus out in a tenth part of the City this tenth part of it is so shaken that it falls that is ceased to be a part of the City or to belong unto its Jurisdiction any longer or which is all one falls of as we say from being of the number of those th●● give their power to the Beast which if it prove 〈◊〉 be any of the Protestant States that should yet again as was said embrace the Beasts power and come under his Jurisdiction or in order to 〈◊〉 bringing in again of the Popes power should 〈◊〉 these witnesses and so thereby become a part 〈◊〉 that City and be reckoned pertaining unto its Jurisdiction yet now revolting from under the power of this City and recoiling again through this Earth-quake it may truly be said to fall namely quâ Urbis pars est as it is a part of the City which it before was but now ceaseth to be it now utterly renouncing either to belong to its Jurisdiction or to be of its party any longer and as Earthquakes are from inward motions in the bowels of the Earth so this here may seem to rise from within that Kingdom it self whether thro' the supream Magistrates beginning to hate the Whore as the promise is Chap. 17. or the peoples abominating the cruelty and contempt put upon the Witnesses and their cause their Consciences having been enlightned in the truth while themselves were troden under as the outward Court by these Gentiles and so they come to shake off that Yoke and the Witnesses having a Spirit of life now come into them these take heart and join with them and their cause whether I say through the working of either or both of these I cannot determine but I think through both for the ruin of the City unto which this is at least the preparation is to be effected through Gods changing one of the ten Kings Hearts so to hate the Whore as to eat her flesh and burn her with fire Chap. 17. And this voice speaking unto the witnesses out of Heaven Mr. Mede conjectures to be that supream authority with which the people also shall joyn for an Earth-quake certainly notes out a commotion in the people and nations Thus far the Doctor Now that which is said to be previous to the slaying of the Witnesses is the War which the Beast would make against them when they were about finishing their Testimony in Sackcloath or in the end of the 1260. days or years which plainly implys two things First That about that time as the Doctor intimates the Beast that rose out of the Bottomless Pi● viz. the Papal power would recover strength again in this Nation or that tenth part of the City called also a Street where the Witnesses should be ●●ain and lie dead Secondly Make War against them with all imaginable power craft and policy that Hell could afford endeavouring utterly to root out Gods faithful Witnesses or Protestant Interest now have not we seen these things which the Dr. hath upon this account writ is it not evident that things in England have for many years last past been carryed on by the Papal Power not only in the late Kings reign but also before have not we seen a strange Spiritual War managed by Popish councils Priests and Jesuits and had they not very far prevailed Yea so far as to the killing of Gods Witnesses according to what the Dr. saith is meant thereby how much different hath the late times of trouble been to former days What a base compliance with the Antichristian party have we seen What a strange dispiriting of godly people nay and Ministers too Never sure such a civil death in every respect hath been seen nor known before this hour Now as to the witnesses standing on their Fee● saith the Dr. p. 170. First As men erect and taking Heart their cause being just tho' before condemned Secondly As ready to defend it and as men able and resolved now to confront their Enemies which strikes a mighty dread into their guilty Consciences great fear fell upon them that saw them their Hearts begin to sink and die at the Witnesses first beginning to live and have not we seen somewhat much like this what a strange Spirit do we see now in all sorts of Protestants against the Whore or Antichristian party both here and in Scotland also More especially as touching the Ascention of the Witnesses they shall hear a voice Come up hither it certainly signifies some more glorious Church State and restoration of the Primitive Purity that shall attend the Saints and Church of God and when that comes to pass may be such a measure of the spirit may be given as to unite all Faithful and Godly Protestants into one Body and Communion and then the Spouse or Church of God will come forth out of the Wilderness as terrible as an Army with banners Cant. 6. 4. CHAP. VII Shewing the Judgment of divers Learned Me● upon the pouring out of the seven Vials particularly Monsieur Jurieu a late French Writer as also Dr. Goodwin Mr. Canne c. Proving that none of the seven Vials are yet poured out and Monsieur Jurieu's Arguments answered c. Together with an answer to what he says of the slaying of the Witnesses and that by the Street is not meant the Kingdom of France THus I have given you a brief account of the Judgment and Opinion of divers Worthy and Learned Men concerning the ri●e and ruin of Antichrist and Mystery Babylon together with the Death Resurrection and Ascention of the two Witnesses which is left to you to receive or reject according to your own conceptions and understandings according to the Light and Knowledge God hath given you of these great Mysteries There is one thing more I shall speak to and a little further open which is a matter of great Importance to understand in order to the finding out the final overthrow of the Papal Power and ruin of Antichrist which is that of the seven Vials and last Plagues spoken of Rev. 16. It seems not a little strange to me to see how exceedingly the learned and most renowned Expositors differ about the time of the pouring out of the Vials some concluding they are all already poured forth others that there are only the first three poured out and some others affirm there is not one