of Ministry and the Powers of Heaven shall be shaken signifying the removing of the Church-Governments and Authority then established When the Lord of the evill servant ver 48. to the end that beat his fellow-servants and eate and dranke with the drunken should be cut asunder which is that the Lord should deprive Antichrist of his ministry that evill servant when the wise servant which gave meat to the Lords houshold in due season should be blessed restored and comforted Now the Holy Ghost relates to the then time especially shewing in what estate the Church should be in respect of the ministry thereof set downe under the name of Virgins that is men exempted from all worldly imployments to Jesus Christ 2 Their Imployment or Ministry is set out in their Lamps 3 Their Ordination in their taking their Lamps by which lawfully they may minister in the Church to Jesus Christ 4 They are first summed up together ten Virgins to shew that in respect of office calling Ministry they did seeme to be one and agreed 5 They went forth to meet the Bridegroome a metaphor taken from marriages partly in use amongst us so far as sufficiently to set out the minde of God in this text In that we see usually at weddings young men youth or Virgins accompany the Bride to the place of marriage and present her to the Bridegroome which thing is most clearly held out and proved by that saying of the Apostle 2 Cor. 11.2 I have espoused you French Approprier to one husband that I may present you as a chaste Virgin to Christ Hence the Apostles are called the Children of the Bride-chamber Markâ— 2.10 1 You see what was done in Church-constituting 2 That it was the Ministers office here called the Virgins to present the Bride or Church to Jesus Christ proved from the practise of the Apostles and of the five wise Virgins here mentioned ver 2. 1 These ten Virgins are divided into five and five 2 They are distinguished by their qualifications the one five are said to be wise the other to be foolish the wise are the true ministry the foolish the false Antichristian ministry 3 In that they are divided into five and five it shews that there should be a representation in the false Antichristian ministry of the true Gospel-ministry of Christ some way though not aright as the Corinths begin with false Apostles so these 2 Cor. 11.13 The five Virgins that are said to be wise or the true Gospel ministers are 1 Apostles 2 Prophets 3 Evangelists 4 Pastours 5 Teachers Now these ordinâ—rily are ordained to present the Church as young men Virgins the Bride to the Bridegroome Now as the wise so the foolish are also five in number Antichrist having that falsely in his false Christ hath in his true Church in truth 1 To the 12 Apostles the Pope set up in Rome 12 Cardinals Anselme Revel 13. Antichristus habiturus est pseudos Apostolâ—s suos Vâ—de Pâ—tteâ— Number of the Beast cap. 14. As there is a cleare and eminent Antithesis between Jerusalem and Rome so is there also betweene Christs Apostles and the Popes Cardinals there being no persons in the whole world of what rank order or dignity soever styling themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vicem gerentes Apostolorum as they doe Idem ibid. As the Apostles truly were and are the root and foundation of the Christian Church and all Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction so the Cardinals falsly pretend themselves to be and so they truely are and doe in expresse words declare themselves to be the very basis and foundation of the Romish Hierarchy read that that followeth hereof So that hence you see he proves that what the Apostles were in the true the Cardinals in the false Hence the Pope sends a Saphire to the new made Cardinals as foundation stones It is also a cleare Note that the five foolish Virgins are signified in these because the Cardinalls as the Apostles of Christs ministry consists of Arch-bishop Cardinals Bishop-Cardinals Presbyters and Deacon Cardinals that as the Apostles executed the place of Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers in the true so these Cardinals falsly in the false Now as the Cardinals arose from Presbyters First so in the fall of Presbytery and that falls with them is the full fall of Papacy and Babylon and from these five and not the five wounds of Christ as Mr. Potter and so by five times five multiply them to 25 to make their Monks Fryers and Masse-priests to be the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to them 1 Chron. Chap. 25. for what relation is there betweene Christs five wounds and 25 ministers Potter Chap. 24. and the 25. 2 To the Prophet the Pope constituted in his Church an Anti-prophet or Arch bishop which God remarkably as it were to compleat this Scripture called the Arch-bishop of this Kingdome by that name Rev. 16.13 where some Ecclesiasticall person under the sixth violl in which time wee live is called by the name of a prophet or Anti-prophet hee being to be in that place in the false Church the true Prophet is in the true Object Why doe you allude this to the Arch-bishop of this Kingdome more then to others of other Kingdomes Reply 1 The first Arch-bishops of the world were set up in this K ngdome others tooke their patterne from hence and ye know what honour Anselme had in being called Papa orbis in a whole Councell of Bishops at Barsnense 1098. and againe ye know that the Arch-bishop of this Kingdome called the Image of the Beast ruled independently from the Pope as supream himselfe c. Which was to be slain Rev. 19.20 3 The Bishop was understood in all ancient writings which ordinary Evangelists in Scripture the first 200 yeares as in my book called the Resurrection of Churches appeares 4 The presbyter answeâ—s to the pastor in the true Church hence the presbyter usually useth the name Pastor not Deacon as made first and inferiour to pastors 5 The Deacon in the false Church was the Anti-teacher to the Teacher in the true who was the first minister of Antichrists Church who had not as full authority in Church affairs as the Pastor to administer Sacramentrs nor the Pastor as the Bishop to oâ—daine Ministers but the Bishop with the presbyters as the Evangelist with the pastor and Teacher were to do nor had the Bishops that authority as the Cardinals had in the false church as the Evangelists had not that authority as the Apostles in the true Church Object In the Hierarchy of Rome are 90 Orders and more mentioned by Fox in his Book of Acts and Monuments and then what do you tell us of those five Reply There are so but none of these preached the word as is here signified by the Lamps but either as Bishops or Pastors Priests or Deacons be their Order what they will and so still the teaching ministry of theirs are to be redâ—ced to one of these five Object What
say you of the Patriarchs Reply They opposed the Pope most of them or rather his predecessors and after the fall of the true Church they fained four extraordinary Evangelists Matthew Marke Luke and John Now that the hiding of the Church may be accelerated hereby they set up four patriarchs in the World at the first the patriarchs of Rome Antioch Alexandria Hierusalem sayth one of the patriarchs Hi quatuor principio fuere Romanus Antiochenus Alexandrinus Hierosolimitanus postea translata Bizantium Imperii sede additus est Constantinopolitanus These indeed made way to set him up but when once up Antichrist took care to take them down they being impediments to him as it were eclipsing the Papal glory The generall Note of this second verse is that the wise are here set before the foolish not for that they are preferred before them only but prophetically shewing that the wise and part of that is said concerning them were in time before the foolish and that the Antichristian ministry did succeed them and most of the things in o der set down of them Ver. 3. The foolish tâ—ok their Lamps and took no oyle with them 1 Here is the â—â—lly of the foolish Virgâ—ns notified that they took their Lamps their call to the ministry without spirituall knowledg or wisdom to exercise their ministry by unto the world as appears in some Cardinals that have been Princes others children so some Arch-bishops as Aâ—bert Arch-bishop of Mentz who being at the Dyet at Ausbourge An. 1530. who finding a Bible on the table and reading some leavs thereof where by chance he opened it said truly I know not what Book this is but this I see it makes all against us Luther in Erphord Abbey happening on the history of Hanna in the first Book of Samuel not knowing what Book it was wished that he were owner of such a Book as that this appears in the Letter of the Pope for Frederick of Lovania a châ—ld to be Canon in the Church of Lincoln which occasionâ—d that excâ—llent Return of Grosted to Pope Innocent the fourth cited by Fox by which as by a Thunder-bolt the Pope and his Cardinals were smitten who say after all the Bedlam fury of the Pope uttered against him for it It is but very truth that he affirmeth nor can we condemne him therefore he is a holy man more holy and religious then we our sâ—lves of excellent wit and excellent life so as it is thought among all the Prelates he hath not his better nor yet his like and thus having spake wounderfully in commendations of him advise him with this Councell a way not out of use in these times that he should dissemble and wink at these things as one not seeing or regarding them least otherwise perhaps some tumult may arise and spring thereof especially seeing this is known and manifest to all that once must needs come a disertion and parting from the Church of Rome Fox Acts Mon. in the life of Henry the third 2 It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Lamps to shew the call of ministers in the false Church was differing from that in the true the Lamps the foolish Virgins had were properly theirs they had not the Lamps of the wise nor had the wise the Lamps of the foolish 1 It implyeth their care was to have the ministry for the means sake not the service of the Gospell nor the glory of God this was not the least part of their folly 2 They took their Lamps never regarding whether the call they had were Christian or Antichristian they took it without any more adoe and glad they had it I do not write these things without self-conviction Vers 4. But the wise took oile in their vessels with their lamps Here the particle â— differenceth the estate of the wise from the foolish and the lamps or call to ministry from the others 1 Signifying they were wise and belonged to the true Church estate 2 The call they had was Evangelicall 3 They in their vessels had oile being gifted with understanding in the minde with spirituall life in the soule with experience and knowledge of God and his way being taught of God in the heart 3 They had these and then took their lamps shewing these were not to be divided and that none were to be made Ministers but such as were thus qualified 4 In that they took their lamps shews they did not Minister in in the Church without a call 5 They took it being given them of the Church of Christ as the lamps were given the foolish in the Church I cannot say of the Churches of Antichrist 6 The wise Virgins are here put last shewing that the true Ministry shall come again into the Church after the foolish as they were before vers 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the Bridegroom tarying they all slumbred and slâ—pt These words clearly hold out that the Lord had respect to the Churches restauration after the fall of Antichrist and the Estate of the Church before also and that in the time of Antichrists Reign Christ absented himselfe from the Church as it were 1 The slumber of the wise was first as they are mentioned first vers 2. In which Prophetically was signified by Christ that the time would come in which the true Ministers and Ministry would be remisse in the Government of their Church and carelesse of their duties 2 That this their spiritual slumber would proceed or rather indeed make way for their sleep or extirpation by Antichrist 3 Most sweetly intimating Prophetically in their sleep that for a time 1260. yeares neer their would be an utter cessation of the true Gospel ministry in the World 4 In that they are said to sleep onley it is also intimated that God would againe awaken them restore them and have their ministry againe exercised in the Church 5 This we see verified in that the true Church ministry slumbred all before and slept since Antichrist as in my book of the Churches Resurrection is set forth how by degrees this was accomplished Now as the wise slumbred and slept the foolish they also before Christ marriage shall and must also have their slumber all of them and their sleep for the text saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all and every one of them wise in their time and the foolish in their appointed time likewise slumbred and slept It is true indeed it would cost not a little panis to a man to finde how when and in whom the wise Virgins slept because it is long since done monuments of Antiquity are lost especially the chief those are left are little worth I cannot pass by that of Augustine de moribus Ecclesiae cap. 30. Tu puerilliter pueros fortiter juvenesque senes prout cujusque non corporis tantum sed animi aetas est exerces doces this was but too little purpose pressed in the time of the administration of a single Ministry and the Churches almost
be a suddain ending of our troubles which we going against God leads us into the wildernesse about and about I could instance in many things in Parliament and Army but I forbear praying God to direct Parliament Army and People to set them in a right way to do Gods will willingly by which means our losses what ever to us Ministers would be repaired Kings and the Nations would willingly give their Kingdoms to Christ people willingly take the course to be in communion with Christ knowing in all Christ seeks us not ours and repaires all losse with wonderfull advantage giving a 1000 fold in this world and in the world to come eternall life with himself for ever I have thought good to conclude with these considerations 1 That the three Woes spoken of Rev. 11.14 had respect to the Wrath of God causing by degrees the fall of the false Church which fell utterly in the last Woe though I know usually men apply it to the last Judgement of the wicked which cannot be Now in the first Woe fell of the false Church ministry Cardinals and with them Votaryes Fryers Abbots Abbyes with their maintenance and with them as false apostles the Apochryphall Scripture they had set up with the golden Legend the Book of false miracles Buls Indulgencies c. ceased with them here 2 Under the second Woe fell the Archbishops and Bishops and with them Chancellors Commissaries Deanes Deanes and Châ—pters c. their Lands c. and with them fell the Common-Prayer Booke in which was the allowed Ministry of the Land with the Homily-Booke 3 Vnder the third Woe which is that I formerly spoke of mentioned in the Epistle I dedicated to his Excellency the Lord Fairfax Generall which is yet to come in which is the fall of Presbyters and Deacons as the Root of Antichrist in whom fals the now preaching maintenance by Tythes Gleabs Church constitutions c. It any more be in the false when people come to see they are in a Bable that is in a Confusion indeed and there is then way made for the Calling Ministry and Church constitution of Christ when the World hath nothing of the now or past Ministry left then is that and not before fulfilled That Babel is fallen Illustration this is understood as I suppose by that Rev. 16.12 The sixth Angel poured out his viol on the River Euphrates and the waters thereof were dryed up that the way of the Kings of the East may be prepared 1 Many things in one part of the Rev. said to be done under the sixth in another are said to be done under the seventh because in one part of the world that is done under one in another is done under another Part of this vision begining under the 6 is ended under the 7th 2 Here by waters I understand the Ministry of Antichrist belonging to Babel as Euphrates did which was that in the false as the River of God spoken of in the true Revel 2.12 Psal 46.5 There is a River the streams whereof shall make glad the City of God 3 The great River that had that multitude of Priests Friers Bishops c. is to be dryed up and taken clean away 4 By which only the way of the Governours of the Sun rising is prepared intimating that as men East of Babel could not come to Jerusalem for that water so the Gospel ministry of the new Jerusalem cannot come to it for the water of Babel remains Object How can you prove the Apostles of the true slept in the time of administration of the false Church especially under Presbytery Reply 1 The Presbytery and the rest before them say the Apostles are extraordinary Officers and are ceased as in the Propositions of the Assembly 2 They apprehend not that in excomunications c. Of Church Administrations they were to do it with the Apostles and Apostles with them as that 1 Cor. 5.4 Intimates we should doe in doing it and so cease not So that Antichrist end seems to me thus to be brought about in the Lords taking down Ministery means and Ordinances these being not long to be ministred by any Authority from or of Rome when the Lord wil decide that great controversie of the calling of the Ministery that now is where it be of God or not when there wil be no visible form of Church Government left no more then was in that time in this Kingdom which was before the birth of Christ into which miserable estate of confusion or desolate condition Babell fals and ends who in her glorious estate was Babell that is Confusion but in this as being that Jericho or City of the Curse devoted with all within her to be destroyed not the gold or garments of Babell being to be left at all for the Lord Jesus now falling on her grinds her to powder when if this prove true what will they say that so bitterly speak of the false and reputed Schismaticall teachers saying God will pluck off the vizard of these persons and notwithstanding their pretences discover with what lying spirit they are led so that their madnesse shall in their destruction be manifested to all to the comfort of the people of God and everlasting shame and confusion of their own faces O man remember thy end Babell fals Revel 18.10 In one houre shall her judgment come the Almighty God hastens her to her end and she cannot find rest but in the judgment aforesaid in which God as in her everlasting grave entombes her for ever at which the Saints in Heaven above and on earth beneath shall sing songs of praise and glory to God for ever Amen Now that the glory of this truth may shine as the Sun in the threefold fall of her triple Crown See Revel 16.19 The great City was divided into three parts so that as there were three woes fell on the Hierarchie of Rome so it shews why but three because the great City the mysticall Rome was divided into three parts the first part subject to Cardinals and the second part subject to Episcopacy and the third part subject to Presbytery these are divided in Judgment and Government preaching one against an other and are three and yet but one City and do belong thereunto and the City never fals untill all these parts are faln upon which fals the Cities of the Nations O London fall to Christ or thou wilt fall for opposing Christ in this very time comes either thy greatest happiness or unhappiness thou ever hadst upon thee The Lord make thee wise in this thy day to know the things of thy peace that thou mayst finde mercy and not in judgment have them hid from thee Luke 19.42 Revel 11. vers 3. Mentions that Ministry which was ordained of God to supply the place of the true and falne Ministry of the Church set out under the name of two witnesses who are ordained of God to prophesie and thereby to feed the Elect of God during the time of
the Churches hid estate which is computed to be by the Spirit of God 1260 days prophetically yeares Revel 12.6 which is the full time of Antichrists reign of whom I commend these things to be considered of 1 That the two witnesses comprehend not the whole Ministry of any age but only such who in each age of the predicted time did oppose Antichrist maintaining the Gospel truth against his errours in doctrine discipline or Church Constitution in the several times and ages they lived in so that ones witnesse may differ from another according to the measure of knowledge God had communicated unto them in their day one witnessing against his corrupt doctrine of iustification c. Others against his Idolatry c. Against whom God had still some to oppose and direct the Church to this day this being a part of that time 2. Their witnesse is but for a limited time even the time of the Churches hiding and then ends Revel 11.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There Testimony is not long before it be fulfilled if not already after which they shall teach no more as they have done before 3 Consider but Him that is to put an end to their Ministry and then the time is known when this and by whom it shal be effected Rev. 17.3 I saw a woman that is the Papacy sitting on a Scarlet coloured beast that is the Roman Empire now here Revel 11.7 The beast that is some part of the Civill State of the Roman Monarchy set down Vers 13. By a tenth part of the City which England is being one of the 10 Kingdomes of the Roman Monarchy and a tenth part of the City gets up out of the bottomlesse pit or Antichrists prison the Key whereof the fallen Star keepeth Revel 9.1 which proves her authority thereof 4 The beast thus having broken the prison makes war with the witnesses by questioning their ministry the witnesses could not war with any other weapons then the word and then overcomes them and kils them not slaying their persons but nullifying their ministry 5 Into their carcasses that is into their now dead ministry comes the spirit of life from God that is God comes to restore in their stead the true ministry into the Church againe now that this is meant of their successors not themselves I desire you to observe 1 Their ministry is fulfiled that is that they were to doe by their ministry they have done and are to do no more in the Church 2 Their time being set is now accomplished and are no longer to continue and if they then sure the other antichristian Ministry that is not of God is much more to end 6 The spirit of life entring into their carcasses is the right call and abundance of gifts God shall blesse the succeeding ministry with 7 That the successors of these vers 12. Are called into heaven that is they are acknowledged by the Church to be the true Gospel ministry 8 On this the 10 part of the City falls vers In which a full and perfect deliverance is given to one of the ten Kingdoms from the Antichristian estat and not before Aplic England see where and in what time thou art in and what is to be done in thee for thy cure and how neer thy comfort and Salvation is 2 How contrary the actings of men are to Gods minde the sole cause of all our troubles 3 I cannot passe this by that the witnesses Prophesied in sackcloath Revel 11.3 And so did weare none of the Popes Scarlet or the Bishops silks or had they the rule of States with the Presbytery but were during their whole time of ministry in a sad and suffering condition lamenting their own and the Saints calamities being alwâ—ys under antichristian persecution for the truth and never having publicke Government in their hands as Presbytery hath had at all 4 These witnesses rise again in the restauration of the true Gospel ministry foretold of God Revel 20. ver 4.5 You shall see in this how God makes good the judgment written of her when shall be fulfilled on her that she did on the messengers of the Gospel that she may say as I have done the Lord hath requited me Revel 18.6 Return to her even as she hath returned to you Now the word is verbum factivum that which God saith here Do shall be done when the time is come people be to whom these words are written For as the Apostle 1 Pet. 1.12 not to themselves but us they did minister these things so these things are ministred to those men that live in that tâ—me God will have these things done when the Word shall fill their spirits with might to do the will of the Lord. 1 Who is to be returned unto that is her the false Church of Rome 2 How she is to be rewarded and that is as she hath rewarded the true Church of Christ 3 He shews the Rule God wil have observed in returning to her which is That as she hath done she shall be done unto 1 Now consider by policy she first destroyed the Gospel Ministry God will take down hers by the purity and power of his Word again and set up the Gospel Government in her stead 2 By cruelty and disgrace shee destroyed these Witnesses which taught the Gospel of Truth in the time of her Reigne now to this the holy Spirit alludes as being the way of Gods judgment in â—hâ—ch the Saints are to be executionâ—rs and to do to her that is Antichrist as she hath done 3 The thing God aimed at herein is to shew Antichrists tyranny used against those God raised up to preach the Gospel by degrading them as in the History of John Huss at Constance and of John Sawtrey the first English Martyr the History in brief being thus The Bishops cause him to be apparelled in Priestly Vestments and to be brought to appear before them when the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Arundel 1399 saith I denounce thee William Sawtrey in the Habit of a Priest as an Heretick I do condemne thee in the name of all my fellow brethren the Bishops c. and of the whole Clergy I do degrade and deprive thee of thy Priestly Order in signe whereof we take from thee the Patent and Chalice and do deprive thee of authority of saying Mass we pull from thy back the Casul and take from thee thy Vestment and deprive thee of all manner of Priestly honour And then having proceeded in manner of pronouncing sentence against him as before he proceeds Wee put thee from the order of a Deacon in token we take from thee the book of the New Testament and the Stole and do deprive thee of reading the Gospel and all dignity of a Deacon As a Subâ—eacon they depriveâ—â—â— of the Albe and Maniple As a Acolite they take away the Candlestick and Taper As a Exorcist the book of Conjuration As a Reader they took away the book of the Church Legend As Sexton they