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B25425 Troposchēmalogia: Tropes and figures; or, A treatise of the metaphors, allegories, and express similitudes, &c. contained in the Bible of the Old and New Testament To which is prefixed, divers arguments to prove the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures wherein also 'tis largely evinced, that by the great whore, mystery Babylon is meant the Papal hierarchy, or present state and church of Rome. Philologia sacra, the second part. Wherein the schemes, or figures in Scripture, are reduced under their proper heads, with a brief explication of each. Together with a treatise of types, parables, &c. with an improvement of them parallel-wise. By B. K; Tropologia. Book 4. Keach, Benjamin, 1640-1704.; De Laune, Thomas, d. 1685. Tropologia. aut 1682 (1682) Wing K101A; ESTC R7039 690,855 608

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proceed from one and the same Ground viz. a wicked Pretence that the Scriptures tho divine Truths and the Word of God yet do not contain all God's Will but that there are these other unwritten Verities handed down one says from Moses and the other says from St Peter c. by Word of Mouth Since therefore the Bible hath thus wonderfully surmounted all Difficulties and Oppositions for so many Generations and in so many Dangers and against so many Endeavours to root it out of the World we may according to that Maxim in Philosophy Eadem est Causa procreans conservans The procreating and conserving Cause of Things is one and the same conclude That the same God is the Author of it who hath thus by his special Providence preserved it and faithfully promised and cannot Lie that Heaven and Earth shall pass away but one Iota or Tittle of his Word shall not pass away X. The Scriptures did not only Survive but have Triumph'd over 10. The Success of the Scriptures in converting the World all the Oppositions of the Devil and the World That Success wherewith the Gospel was attended even in its Infancy the mighty and marvellous prevailings of it where-ever it came notwithstanding the many and great Disadvantages it was to encounter are a strong and irresistible Argument that it was from Heaven That a Doctrine directly opposite to the whole corrupt Interest of Human Nature and to the Wisdom and VVill of Man (p) 1 Cor. 1.21 Rom. 8.7 carried on and published by but a few and those to outward appearance weak ignorant and simple Persons Illiterate Fishermen Tent-makers c. without any Force of Arms or Temporal Support but on the contrary against both VVind and Tide the Cruelties of raging Powers and Affronts of vaunting Wisdom A Doctrine against which the whole World Jews and Gentiles perfectly concurr'd those hating it as a Stumbling-block and these counting it Foolishness that such an improbable and unpleasing such a friendless unwelcome slighted opposed Doctrine by such Instruments and under such Circumstances should make its way in the World and subject so many Nations to the Obedience of the Cross and make those who to Day persecuted it to Morrow ready to lay down their Lives in Defence and Justification of it evidently shews it to be owned by Omnipotency and not to be of Human Extract XI But besides these outward and more visible Trophies of the Sacred Scriptures 11. Their inward Efficacy how marvellous is their Empire Efficacy and Power within upon the Hearts and Consciences of Men 't is this that Converts the Soul Enlightens the Eye (q) Psal 19.7 Discovers Sin (r) Rom. 7.7 Convinces Gainsayers (ſ) 2 Tim 3.16 Killeth and Terrifieth (t) 2 Cor. 3.6 Rejoiceth the Heart (u) Psal 19.8 Psal 119.103 Quickneth (x) Psal 119.50 Comforteth (y) Rom 15.4 Manifesteth the Thoughts (z) 1 Cot. 14.52 Overthrows false Religions Casteth down Strong-holds and subverts the whole Kingdom of Satan What Consolations at some Times What Terrors at others do proceed from this Sacred Book How are the poor Souls of Men by it mightily refresh'd Their weak Hearts wonderfully strengthned Their dead Spirits raised and made to live again Those that sate in Darkness and the Shadow of Death are Enlightned Many that were in Chains and Fetters of Fears and Terrors of Soul are delivered and set at Liberty Is it reasonable to conceive that a Tree that bears such wonderful Fruit was planted by any other Hand than that of God Who can speak Words that shall restrain and repel all the Powers of Darkness when falling in to make Havock and Desolation in the Souls of Men That shall be able to give Laws to the Terrors of Death nay Eternal Death when they have taken hold of the Consciences of Sinners Are not all these Wonders perform'd by the holy Scriptures And do they not often on the other side breath Thunder and Lightnings throw down the Mighty from their Seats and destroy the Thrones of the Proud and Confident Do they not turn the Security of many into Trembling and Horrour and make their Consciences to burn as if the Fire of Hell had already taken hold of them These Things are evident from the Experience of Thousands that have felt and undergone such powerful Effects of the Word Nay I verily believe there are few that have read the Scriptures with attention and seriousness but can more or less witness the same And whence should such Mighty Operations proceed but because the Almighty Author has endued them with such Vertue through the Spirit whereby they become the Power of God unto Salvation 12. The Testimony of the Church and Martyrs XII Add to all these Arguments the Testimony of the Church and her Holy Martyrs who have sealed this Truth with their Blood By the Church we do not mean the Pope whom the Papists call the Church Virtual nor his Cardinals Bishops c. met in General Council whom they call the Church Representative But the whole Company of Believers in all Ages who have professed the true Faith The Pen-Men of the Scriptures good pious honest holy Men delivered it out as the Word of the Lord and ever since there have been Thousands and Hundreds of Thousands that have believed and testi●ied the same down from Age to Age in a continual uninterrupted Succession The Church of the Jews to whom were committed the Oracles of God (a) Rom. 8.3 professed the Doctrine and received the Books of the Old Testament and testified of them that they were Divine and in great Misery they have constantly confessed the same when as by the only denying thereof they might have been partakers both of Liberty and Rule And remarkable it is both that notwithstanding the High Priests and others of that Nation persecuted the Prophets while they lived yet received their Writings as Prophetical and Divine as also that since the Spirit of Blindness and Obstinacy is come upon Israel and notwithstanding their great hatred to the Chri●tian Religion the Holy Scripture of the Old Testament is kept pure and uncorrupt among●t them even in those places which do evidently confirm the Truth of the Christian Religion as Isa 53.3 And as for the Christian Church it hath with great Constancy and sweet Consent received and acknowledged the Books of the Old and New Testament for the Universal Church which from the beginning thereof until these times professed the Christian Religion to be Divine did and doth also profess that these Books are of God And the several Primitive Churches which first received the Books of the Old Testament and the Gospels the Epistles written from the Apostles to them their Pastors or some they knew did receive them as the Oracles of God and delivered them afterwards under the same Title to their Successors and other Churches And all the Pastors and Doctors who being furnished with Skill both in
and the Agreeableness of what they delivered to the establish'd Worship of God For two ways God himself had provided for discovering all Pretences to Revelation First If any such Pretender went about to seduce the People to Idolatry he was to be rejected The Prophet that shall speak in the Name of other Gods shall die (f) Deut. 19.20 Secondly If the Matter came not to pass as we have it in the next Verse save one When a Prophet speaketh in the Name of the Lord if the Thing follow not nor come to pass that is the Thing which the Lord hath not spoken but the Prophet hath spoken it presumptuously And a final Decision what was to be received for the Old Testament God was pleased to make after the Babylonish Captivity in the Days of Ezra and that famous Synagogue several of the last Prophets being personally present where by a divine Direction all the Parts of the Old Testament were collected and a Separation made not only between the Works of true Prophets and false and such Writings as came by divine Inspiration from those that were of divine Extraction and such as were to be a perpetual Rule to the Church from such as relating only to particular Cases were not so And in this Settlement the Jewish Church did acquiesce and from that time to this have had no further Disputes but received those very Books and none others for those called Apocrypha which the Papists would obtrude upon us were never received as Canonical by the Jews Then as for the Books of the New Testament they were all written either by Apostles or Apostolical Men known by their being called to that Office and the Gift of Tongues and Power of working Miracles to be guided by the Holy-Ghost And as the Writing of the Old Testament ended with the Prophets for after Malachi to the Time of John the Baptist which was near four hundred Years there arose not a Prophet in Israel so the New Testament begins with the Accomplishment of Malachi's Prophecy by the Birth of the said John predicted under the Type of Elias and ends with the Apostles for John who wrote the Revelation outliv'd all the rest of the Apostles for he died not till the Time of Trajan in the 99th Year of our Lord and almost thirty Years after the Destruction of Jerusalem and he closes the Canon of the New Testament with a Denunciation of a Curse to any that should add thereunto (g) Rev. 22.18 Object 2. But how are we sure that we have now at this Day all the Books that were anciently esteemed Canonical It seems not for there is mention made of Solomon's three thousand Parables or Proverbs and Songs an hundred and five (h) 1 King 4.32 of Nathan the Prophet and of Gad the Seer (i) 2 Chron. 29.29 the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite and the Visions of Iddo the Seer (k) 2 Chron. 9. And in the New Testament of the Epistle to the Laodiceans (l) Col. 4.16 now where are any of these extant Answ Those Books mentioned in the Old Testament were either Books of a common Nature and not divinely inspired or else they are yet extant under another Name For how do we know but the Books called Samuel might be written partly by himself whilst he lived and partly by Gad and Nathan after his Death And for the other Writings of Nathan Ahijah and Iddo they may very probably be the same that we call the Books of the Kings And for that Epistle to the Laodiceans the Original is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from not to as some Translations would have it Laodicea And 't is probable it was some Letter written from the Laodiceans to Paul wherein there might be something that concerned the Colossians and therefore the Apostle advised them to read it Object 3. But the Papists say That the very Fountains the Hebrew and Greek Originals themselves are corrupted depraved and troubled and if so how shall we be at any certainty Answ 'T is true they do say so but most falsly and wickedly only to the dishonour of the Word of God to make way for their own Traditions and the Authority of their Church tho by this Suggestion they blaspheme the Providence of God and also lay an insufferable Scandal on the Church For if the Scriptures were committed to her Charge and she hath suffered any part of them to be either lost or corrupted has she not grosly abused her Trust But they are not able to give one Instance where any such Corruption has happen'd As for the Old Testament 't is well enough known how strictly careful the Jews were and are to this day to preserve it insomuch that they took an account how oft every Letter in the Alphabet was used in every Book thereof And Philo the Jew an ancient learned and approved Author of that Nation affirms That from the giving of the Law to his Time which was above two thousand Years there was not so much as one Word changed or varied yea that there was not any Jew but would rather die a thousand times over than suffer their Law to be changed in the least And Arias Montanus a Person extremely skill'd in the Hebrew in his Preface to the Interlineary Bible assures us That as in these Hebrew Bibles which are without Vowels we find a certain constant Agreement of all the Manuscripts and Prints and a like Writing in each so in all those too that have the Points added we have not observed the least variation or difference of pointing Nor is there any Man can affirm That he ever in any place saw different Exemplars of the Hebrew Text. And indeed had the Jews ever corrupted any part of it no doubt they would have done it in those Texts that plainly refer to our Saviour and had any Christians done it the Jews would soon have discovered the Forgery But neither of these things have happened therefore to say the same is any way corrupted is false And for the New Testament 't is true there have in ancient Manuscripts some various Readings been observ'd but not such as to cause any Dispute touching the Sum or Substance of the Doctrine therein delivered or considerably to alter the Sence of the Text. Object 4. But suppose the Originals be pure how shall the Unlearned who are the far greater part of Mankind be sure that the Translations they have and can only make use of are well and honestly done and do contain the Word of God Answ The Word of God is the D●ctrine and Revelation of God's ●ill the Sence and meaning not barely or s●rictly the Words Letters and Syllables This is contained e●actly and most purely in the Originals and in all Translations so far as they agree therewith Now tho some Translations may exceed others in propriety and signif●cant rendring the Originals yet they generally even the most imperfect that we know of express and hold f●rth so much
Wickedness tho an Apostle he is not so far changed since to be fond of a wicked Pope as to make him immediate Deputy to Christ and to impose a Wolf as Shepherd upon the Universal Church 2. Who saith That he is an infallible Judg to determine Articles of Faith and impose them upon great Penalties so that as a Lord he hath Dominion over Mens Faith and Souls too which the Apostles disclaimed 3. Who saith The Church cannot err tho God and the World knows there are not such great Errors in Principles nor such villanous Enormities cursed Actions cruel and immoral Practices in the World besides which the poor Multitude believes and kill others that oppose it and venture Body and Soul upon it 4. That says that a Priest tho he be a treacherous Villain a Contriver of Murther an abominable Adulterer hath Power to absolve his equal and Fellow-Sinner from all his Offences if he come to Confession tho the pretended Penitent keep his old Habit of Wickedness still contrary to what God and Jesus Christ say That the Dauber with untempered Mortar and the Daubed the Layer of the Pillow under sinful Elbows and the Leaner thereon the blind Leader as well as the blind Follower shall all fall together 5. That saith There is a Purgatory that is no part of Heaven or Hell and that Men may be redeemed thence for Money Tho God saith The Redemption of Mens Souls is precious and ceaseth for ever after the Offering of the Body of Jesus once for all that Redemption is not with corruptible Things as Silver and Gold but with the precious Blood of Christ as a Lamb slain without spot 6. That saith That the Hands and Mouth of a filthy unclean Priest can make not only the Bread and Wine sacred but turn both into the real Body and Blood of the Son of God make whole Christ of a pitiful Wafer-Cake that after it is eaten turns to Corruption and before it is earen is a fit Feast for Rats and Mice not only contrary to Reason but the full Verdict of all our Senses 7. That saith That no Person how good and pious soever he be can be saved out of the Pale of their polluted ungodly and devilish Church tho the Scripture plainly affirms That in every Nation he that fears God and worketh Righteousness is accepted with him 8. That says 'T is no Sin to lie swear and forswear to kill slay and murther such as they call Hereticks tho never so good if it be for the Cause of the Church with a thousand Things of the like Import which the People do verily believe And as they dare not gainsay upon their Salvation so will they embrace and use all Opportunities to fight and make Wars overcome Cities and lay waste Countries and Kingdoms to kill and slay by Massacre and all manner of murthering ways all Ranks and Degrees of Men that oppose the horrid Principles and Practices of those cursed Children Nay they will go boldly to their own Death when convict and condemned for Villanies and deny that to day that they were convicted of but yesterday and tho never so notoriously guilty yet will take it upon their Death and Salvation that they are as innocent as the Child unborn What can this be tho they drink it down for most sweet and pleasant Wine but an Infusion of the rankest and most deadly Poyson that the lowest Celler of the Bottomless Pit can afford the very Wine of Fornications and the most dangerous Drunkenness and Intoxication in the World Which is attended with this Aggravation that the best prepared Medicines of the wisest Physician will not recover them for Babylon having made the Multitude drunk with this sort of poysoned Wine how rare is it to have any come to themselves to their right Mind again And to shut up this Head take this Argument Argument If no People in the Christian World hath made the Multitude or common Sort of People drunk corrupted and intoxicated their Minds by wicked Lies and false Doctrine such as before-mentioned as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath done Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome is this Babylon treated of But no People in the Christian World hath made the Multitude or common Sort of People drunk corrupted and intoxicated their Minds by wicked Lies and false Doctrine such as before-mentioned as Rome hath done Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is this Babylon treated of IX Mystery Babylon is such ill Company as to let Kings be dishonestly familiar with her and make the lower and ruder Sort of her Associates drunk She is said to sit drunk upon a Scarlet-colour'd Beast and this Beast is full of the Names of Blasphemy Rev. 17.3 And I saw a Woman sit upon a Scarlet-coloured Beast full of the Names of Blasphemy c. So that the Woman and the Beast are distinct the Woman the Church the Beast the Secular Power or Civil State This appears evident from divers Considerations arising 1. From other Prophecies relating to the same Thing 2. From the Letter of the Text. 3. From Arguments in Reason 4. From the Confession of the Woman Babylon or the Whore her self Dan. 2. 1. From many Prophecies the latter part of the Image is partly Iron and partly Clay two States really distinct that could never so incorporate as to become one 2. From the Letter of the Text I saw a Woman sit upon a Scarlet-coloured Beast Rev. 17.3 full of the Names of Blasphemy The Colours of the Royal and Imperial Vestments the Angel in the next Words declares distinct and the Apostle in the Vision beheld them distinct 3. They appear to be distinct from Arguments in Reason For 1. The Beast is in the Masculine the Whore in the Feminine Gender Ver. 11 2 4 6 16. compared 2. The Whore else did sit and ride upon her self an high Absurdity 3. The Horns being of the Beast shall hate the Whore if not distinct the Whore must hate her self even to Ruine and Desolation which is nonsensical 4. The Beast shall abide tho in Captivity after the Whore is thrown down or destroyed 4. From the plain Confession of the Woman or Whore her self who saith I sit a Queen I am no Widow Ergo she hath a Head or Husband which is the Beast little Horn or Man of Sin that Paul declared should rise after the removal of the then present Power which did lett which the Primitive Fathers as Tertullian Cyprian Jerome and others understood to be the Imperial Power in its pure civil iron or unmixed State IX Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath not only been ill Company to the Kings and great Men of the Earth in drawing them into her Idol●try Abuse of God his blessed Son the Christian Religion and blessed Books of the Old and New Testament but she hath made the lower and ruder Sort of People drunk too And 't is no Wonder she thinks she may do any thing
more safe and secure to dwell in and some Cities have two or three Walls to make them more impregnable II. The Church of God hath strong Walls about it We have a strong City Isa 26.1 Salvation will God appoint for Walls and Bulwarks The Church hath a threefold Wall about it First The Wall of God's Providence Hast not thou made a Hedg or Wall about him As the Mountains are round about Jerusalem Job 1. Psal 125.2 so the Lord is round about them that fear him c. Secondly The Protection of the holy Angels Psal 34.7 The Angels of the Lord encamp round about them that fear him c. Thirdly God in an extraordinary manner is as a Wall of Fire round about her Zech. 2.5 every one of his Attributes is a gracious Defence to the Church III. Some Cities are bravely scituated they are built upon a Hill III. The Church of God is famous upon this account Beautiful for Scituation Psal 48.2 the Joy of the whole Earth is Mount Zion on the sides of the North the City of the great King Mat. 16.18 Ye are as a City set upon a Hill IV. A City is built of many Materials and in it are many Buildings or Houses set in rare Uniformity curiously joined and compacted together IV. The Church of God is built up of many living Stones consisting of divers particular Societies or spiritual Houses Now therefore ye are no more Strangers and Foreigners Eph. 2.19 20 21 22. but Fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God And are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone In whom all the Building fitly framed together groweth to an holy Temple in the Lord c. In whom ye also are builded together for an Habitation of God through the Spirit Jerusalem is builded as a City that is compact together Psal 122.3 V. A City hath its particular Laws Institutions and Customs by which it is governed V. The Church of God also hath special Laws Institutions and Customs belonging to it by which it is in all things governed which are contained in the holy Scripture the great Charter and statute-Statute-Book of the Church VI. A City hath a supreme Governor in it who rectifies all Disorders and Confusions that otherwise would be therein considering the Multitude of its Inhabitants VI. The Church of God is not without a good Government and a Supreme Magistrate viz. the Lord J●sus Christ who is the chief Judg and Law-giver or Head of this spiritual Corporation VII A City hath besides the chief Governor and principal Magistrate divers inferior Officers for Administration of Justice and well governing thereof VII So the Church of God hath inferior Officers under Jesus Christ which the Citizens by the appointment of Christ are required to substitute and ordain to govern and keep all things in good Order And he gave some Apostles Ephes 4.8 9 10 11 12. and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers c. VIII A City hath some special Trade belonging to it by which its Inhabitants are enriched VIII The Church or City of God hath a spiritual Trade belonging to it which all the Citizens do and ought always to follow by which they are also greatly enriched IX Many Cities have Merchants in them who trade into remote parts of the World and fetch their Merchandize from afar IX The Saints or Citizens of Zion are all Merchants who trade daily to Heaven they fetch their blessed Merchandize from thence Phil. 3.20 Prov. 41. Our Conversation is in Heaven Hence the Church is by Solomon compared to Merchants Ships See Merchants Ships Saints have like other Merchants their Correspondent Jesus Christ who makes glorious Returns of all they venture or send to Heaven For every Duty rightly performed he makes Returns of Mercy for Tears of godly Sorrow he returns them the Oil of Joy Thou wilt saith holy David put my Tears into thy Bottle By which means the spiritual Citizens grow rich in Faith Hope Experience c. See the Parable of the Merchant-man Now touching the Trade Traffick or Merchandize of this City upon which its Wealth and Prosperity doth wholly depend take what follows First Their Trade is heavenly Wherefore holy Brethren Heb. 3.1 2 Partakers of the heavenly Calling consider the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession Jesus Christ And as they are all Merchants and use one Trade so they all deal with one and the same Benefactor from whom they have quick Returns they fetch their Goods from afar Something touching the Excellency of the Trade of the City of God I shall hint in a few Particul●rs Secondly As touching her Commodities or the Merchandize which her Citizens deal in First Negatively 1. They are not prohibited Goods 2. They are not counterfeit Goods 3. They are not temporal and corruptible Goods Secondly Affirmatively and more directly they are 1. Soul enriching Commodities things that are of very great worth and value The Merchandize of Wisdom is better than the Merchandize of Silver Prov. 3.14 and the Gain thereof than fine Gold 2. They are needful things such things as we cannot be without Some things that Merchants of a City deal in and fetch from afar tho they are of great value yet we may very well subsist and live comfortably without them as Pearl and precious Stones c. But there is an absolute Necessity of all those things the Citizens of this City trade in and for 3. They are such Commodities as will make the Nations and Persons that buy them happy for ever and indeed there is no true Happiness without them Quest What is the Traffick of this City of God Answ The first thing that I shall mention is the Truth this she offers to Sale Buy the Truth and sell it not Prov. 23.23 The Church is called the Pillar and Ground of Truth 1 Tim. 3.15 Truth is only to be found in this City or in the Ware-Houses of the Citizens of Zion viz. the Word of God and the Hearts of Believers The second thing is a Soul-converting Gospel and blessed Ordinances The Law goeth forth of Zion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem Mic. 2.4 The third thing they deal in are the Gifts and Soul-enriching Graces of the Spirit Hope Love Humility c. things of very great worth The fourth is Justification every true Sinner makes it his Business to get this precious Treasure The fifth thing is the Peace of God which passeth all Understanding one of the rarest Commodities in the World The sixth thing is Union and Communion with God 1 Joh. 1.3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ The seventh thing is Peace of Conscience Herein do I exercise my self Acts 24.16
the Foundation c. Heb. 6.1 2 let us go on to Perfection and so grow up unto him in all things who is the Head Gospel-Builders are for the perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ Eph. 4 5. till we all come into the Vnity of the Faith and Knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect Man c. Metaphor Disparity EArthly Builders build with ordinary Wood Stones Brick c. lifeless and dead Materials Also they build Houses for Men or mortal Creatures only which may be soon destroyed by an Enemy BUt the spiritual Builders build the House of God with precious Stones not earthly but heavenly not dead but living Ye also as lively Stones are built up a spiritual House and not for Man but an House or Habitation for God through the Spirit a House that the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against Divers Disparities are also here omitted and left to be enlarged by the studious Reader Inferences THis may inform all that look upon themselves to be spiritual Builders to take heed they do not refuse the chief Corner-Stone as the Jewish Builders did Remember the Foundation is laid which is the Lord Jesus Christ II. It may caution them to take heed they build with fit Materials not with Wood Hay and Stubble but Gold Silver and precious Stones III. It may caution them to take heed they build according to the Rule Let them not mistake the Rule the Pope or Church of Rome is not the Rule as we have shewn in the First Volume Book 3. pag. 1 2 3. General Councils are not the Rule the Light within is not the Rule the Word of God is the only Rule by which these Builders of God's House must do all their Work IV. It may caution them to take heed they do not make any other Doors into the Church than what Jesus Christ hath made The Door that let into the natural Church of the Jews is shut up by him that hath the Keys of David Birth-Privileges will not give a Right to Church-Membership under the Gospel Think not to say within your selves We have Abraham to our Father c. V. It may caution them to take heed they do not leave out of the Building any principal Pillar lest their Building prove defective and stand not long 'T is a fearful thing to alter add to or diminish from the Word of God Rev. 2.2 Ministers compared to Pillars Gal. 2.9 And when James Cephas and John who seemed Pillars c. MInisters are like Pillars in the House of God Simile Parallel A Pillar helps to support and bear up the Building SO Ministers help to support and bear up the Church and House of God II. Pillars are a great Ornament to a Building they serve not only for Use but for Beauty The two Brazen Pillars in Solomon's Temple were curiously adorned with Nets of Chequer-Work Lilly-Work and Rows of Pomegranats c. II. So godly Ministers are a great Ornament to the Church being gloriously adorned many of them with the Gifts and Graces of the blessed Spirit which some think was figured forth by the Pillars of the Temple in respect of the Chequer and Lilly-Work and by the Pomegranats the Fruitfulness of their Conversation c. III. These Pillars stood in the Porch of the Temple III. So the Apostles those chief Pillars of the Gospel-Church lived in the beginning of the Church saith Mr. Lee Mr. Sam. Lee fol. 228. or entrance of the Gospel-Ministration Ministers compared to Shepherds Ezek. 34.9 O ye Shepherds hear the Word of the Lord. MInisters in divers places of the holy Scriptures of the New Testament are compared to Shepherds Metaphor Parallel A Shepherd is chosen and appointed to take care of the Flock being a Man skilful in that Work SO a Minister is chosen and appointed to take care of the Flock and Church of God and of the Souls of Men committed to his Charge II. A Shepherd feeds his Flock leading them into good green Pastures III. So Ministers feed the Flock of Christ Simon Son of Jonas lovest thou me Feed my Sheep Feed my Lambs c. Feed them with good Doctrine feed them with a good Example III. A Shepherd endeavours to keep the Flock together lest any should stray from the Fold III. So a faithful Minister strives to keep all the Members of the Church under his Care together and will not if he can help it suffer any of them to go astray IV. A Shepherd watches over his Flock in the Night lest any Danger by Dogs Wolves or Foxes should befall them Luke 2.8 And there were in the same Country Shepherds abiding in the Field keeping Watch over their Flocks by Night c. IV. So Ministers must abide with their Flock they must not be at a distance from them lest Evil should befall them from the Enemy there being many Dogs Wolves and cunning Foxes abroad seeking to destroy and spoil the Sheep and Lambs of Jesus Christ I mean subtil Deceivers and Persecutors V. Shepherds are very tender of their Flocks and drive them as they can go shewing much Compassion to the Weak and Feeble and endeavouring to heal and strengthen the Diseased V. So Ministers should be very tender of the Saints or spiritual Flock and not impose upon them such things as they are not convinced of to be their Duty they must not drive them out of their Pace and the Weak and Feeble among them they ought to take compassion upon and strive to heal the Diseased The Shepherds of Israel failing herein greatly provoked the Owner of the Sheep against them The Diseased saith he ye have not strengthned neither have ye healed that which was sick c. Strengthen ye the weak Hands Ezek. 34.4 and confirm the feeble Knees VI. Shepherds sometimes keep Sheep that are none of their own VI. So Ministers keep Christ's Sheep Feed My Sheep They are Christ's by Choice by Gift by Purchase by Conquest c. VII Shepherds ought to feed of the Milk of that Flock they feed VII So Ministers ought to be fed by the Flock or Church they feed 1 Cor. 9.7 Who feedeth a Flock and eateth not of the Milk of the Flock c. VIII 'T is a Shame to a Shepherd to regard the Fleece more than the Flock it may be said of some Shepherds if they are fed and have the Fleece let what will befall the Sheep they matter not VIII 'T is a Shame and great Reproach to a Minister and a Sign he is none of Christ's Servant who chiefly regards his own base and carnal Ends if he has but the Fleece and be well fed let what will become of the Church or Souls of those under his Charge he seeks not them but theirs Inferences HEnce Ministers may be greatly encouraged to a faithful and careful Dis●harge of their Trust for that they serve the Lord Jesus whose the Sheep
another Angel saying Babylon is fallen is fallen that Great City because she made all Nations drink of the Wine of the Wrath of her Fornication REV. 16.19 And great Babylon came in remembrance before God to give unto her the Cup of the Wine of the Fierceness of his Wrath. REV. 17.5 And upon her Forehead was a Name written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS or Fornications AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH REV. 18.1 2. And after these things I saw another Angel come down from Heaven And he cry'd mightily with a strong Voice saying Babylon the Great is fallen is fallen and is become the Habitation of Devils and the Hold of every unclean Spirit and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird c. IN the handling of this great Subject it seems needful to give an Account of the various Opinions that have more or less pr●sented themselves to the World about it which may be reduced to these four following Heads I. That it is Jerusalem and that for two Reasons 1. Because the Man of Sin or last Beast that is to head this Babylon is set forth by St. Paul to sit in the Temple of God shewing himself to be a God 2 Thess 2.4 Rev. 11.8 2. Because this City where the Beast reigns and shall slay the Witnesses is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt where our Lord was crucified II. That it is the Turkish Empire or Power of the Saracens which Mr. Mede somewhat touches and in a brief way most learnedly argues against in his third Book pag. 644 645. III. That it is indeed Rome the Seat of the fourth or last Empire but Rome in its Heathen State under the idolatrous and persecuting Emperors So the Rhemists would have it if there be a Necessity to fix upon Rome to be this Apocalyptical or Mystery Babylon For this Opinion the present Romanists have no better Advocate than Dr. Hammond who hath done very worthily at other Turns See his Annotations upon the 17th Chapter of the Apocalypse IV. That it is the present Power and Church of Rome who under pretence of the most high and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction doth influence and govern the Secular Power and State of Kingdoms Of this last Opinion were the ancient Waldenses who felt the bloody Power of Rome venting it self in most horrid and barbarous Cruelties against them and that for a long Series of Time as appears by our most Authentick Ancient and Modern Writers who give a very ample Account of the great Persecution of Christians for many hundred Years last past in all Parts of the Christian World where they have had Power To which Opinion of the Waldenses most of our modern Protestant Divines agree of which we shall mention only Cartwright Fulk the worthily admired and Learned Mede not forgetting famous Du Moulin of France as may be seen in their Works at large But because we will not take Things upon Trust nor refer the Reader to many Quotations which he may want Books and Time to satisfy himself about it appears needful that we remove the Objections with as much Brevity as possible before we state the Metaphor and run the Parallel Now that Babylon in all these new-New-Testament Texts cannot be fairly applied to Jerusalem the Turks and Saracens nor terminate in the Heathenish State of Rome we offer these following Considerations or Arguments I. It cannot be meant the City Jerusalem 1. Because Jerusalem did not reign over the Kings of the Earth in St. John's time when he saw this Vision and wrote the Revelation which this City Babylon is expresly said to do Rev. 17.18 And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth Jerusalem having been not only under Captivity divers times before but were then entirely under the Power of the Roman Yoke as the whole History of the Gospel doth confirm and themselves did most plainly confess We have no King but Caesar John 19.15 2. Jerusalem was never in so high esteem with the Beast as to be capable to ride as Queen-Regent upon him as this Woman Whore or City is said to do And the Angel said unto me Wherefore didst thou marvel I will tell thee the Mystery of the Woman and the Beast that carrieth her which hath the seven Heads and ten Horns Rev. 17.7 Rev. 17.7 compared with Vers 3. So he carried me away in the Spirit into the Wilderness and I saw a Woman sit upon a Scarlet-coloured Beast full of Names of Blasphemy having seven Heads and ten Horns For by the Woman sitting and Beast carrying is undoubtedly signified Influence Power and Dominion which Jerusalem was far remote from not only under the Roman Monarchy but also under the three Kingdoms that went before it viz. the Babylonian Grecian and Persian as might be largely illustrated both out of Sacred and Humane History 3. Jerusalem did not sit upon many Waters which is interpreted to be People Nations and Tongues that is had not Command or Dominion over them as this Woman Rev. 17.15 Whore or City is said to have And he saith The Waters which thou sawest where the Whore sitteth are Peoples and Multitudes and Nations and Tongues The whole Land of Judea being under Tribute to the Roman Government at that time And it came to pass in those Days Luke 2.1 that there went out a Decree from Caesar Augustus that all the World should be taxed Verse 4. and particularly Galilee Nazareth Judea and the City of David called Bethlehem 4. Jerusalem was not capable to enchant and bewitch all the Nations round about her either by her Religion and Doctrine or by great Gifts and Rewards 1. Because the Roman Power kept her under and much in awe on the one hand not owning nor subscribing to her Religion 2. The Christian Doctrine and Religion block'd up her Way on the other hand that she could not extend her Influence to either neighbouring or remote Nations as this Woman Whore or City is said to do For thy Merchants were the great Men of the Earth for by thy Sorceries were all Nations deceived Rev. 18.23 5. Jerusalem tho she were guilty of much Blood from the beginning of her Excellency and Glory in Solomon's Time killing Prophets even all that were sent unto her murthered John Baptist and our Lord and Saviour as also the blessed Martyr St. Stephen yet in her could not be found that great Mass of Blood that was shed and Myriads of Christian Saints that have been barbarously murthered by Massacre and publick Martyrdom since they were ruined and destroyed by Titus Vespasian which we find positively charged upon this City Babylon Rev. 17.6 And I saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of Saints and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and I wondered with great Admiration as indeed well he might as shall be shewn Rev. 19 24. And in her was found the Blood of Prophets and of
Dispensation and so it belongs to the fift Signification according to the Signification of the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Banah aedificavit he hath built II. Synonimous Terms 1. The word Typos used by the Seventy answers to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exod. 25.40 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Amos 5.26 but neither of these concern us in this place yet we may refer to this that general Appellation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mashal which denotes a Similitude or the Comparison of one thing to another Also a Parable Proverb Axiome dark or figurative Speech See Ezek. 24.3 In the Arabick Tongue we meet with the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Schibh which denotes a Similitude Type or Parable from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he was like c. 2. From Greek Writers as well Canonical as Ecclesiastical we may mention some Synonimous Appellations as from the New-Testament we find that the Types of things to come are called 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a shadow of things to come Heb. 8.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shadow of heavenly things and Heb. 10.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the shadow of good things to come because Christ with his Blessings and Works performed for the Salvation of Mankind was proposed to the Godly in an obscure Way or a shadowy Description of his Lineaments in the Old-Testament Hence some think that Rom. 13.12 the Old-Testament is represented by Night or Darkness and the New-Testament by Day or face to face 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Example or Pattern the Priests of the Old-Testament are called * Heb. 8. ● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to serve to those things that is to be exercised in those parts of Divine Worship which were Types and Figures of things to be expected in the New here there may be an Ellipsis of the Preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so the sense is that their Priesthood or Ministry expir'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Exemplar or Shadow of heavenly things because by their Priesthood the Celestial and Spiritual Priesthood of Christ was prefigured as in Types the like Appellation we have Heb. 9.23 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Sign Mat. 12.39 where Christ applies the three days stay of Jonas in the Whales Belly as a Type of himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sign of the Prophet Jonas Here Christ accommodates his Speech to the words of the Scribes and Pharisees who asked a Sign of him otherwise a Sign and a Type differ in Signification the one being of a larger the other of a narrower Signification Every Type is a Sign but every Sign is not a Type Every Sign may represent the thing signified altho unlike but the condition of a Type is that it must bear a Parity Proportion or Likeness to the thing typified 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Parable Heb. 9.9 which Term in the Hebrew Books of the old-Old-Testament frequently answers the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but is put in this place for such typical or prefigurative Things and Actions as are related in the Old-Testament So Heb. 11.19 the Phrase of Abraham's receiving his Son in a Figure which Son was by him adjudged as good as dead 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a Parable or Similitude is well expounded that he was a Type or Similitude of Christ In Ecclesiastical Writers we meet with the same Appellations or such as are very near only we are to take notice 1. That they confound the Allegory with the Type frequently So Augustine Tom. 1. oper lib. de vera Relig. cap. 56. says an Allegory under which Term undoubtedly he comprehended Types is fourfold viz. respecting History Fact Preaching and Sacraments 2. Gregory Nazianzen puts the Antitype for the Type Orat. 42. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pag. 692. his words are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Yet really the Brazen Serpent was not hanged up to prevent the biting of Serpents nor yet as a Type of Christ who suffered for us but as an Antitype 3. In the Latine Tongue the words Exemplar Figura Praefiguratio are much used that is a Pattern Figure or representing a thing to come But the word Type was most usual to denote Priviledges to come by the donation of Patents to such as were Denizens of the City of Rome when it was Imperial The Correlative or that which answers a Type is the Antitype Anti●ype that is the thing represented by the Type or that which answers to it as 1 Pet. 3. where when the History of eight Souls saved by Water in the Deluge Gen. 6.7 8. is mentioned the Apostle subjoyns ver 21. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 3.21 i. e. to which the Antitype Baptism doth now also save us so the Greek by which the Apostle denotes that Baptism which is a Medium or means of Salvation in the Gospel-Dispensation is the Antitype or Answers to the Type of that great Preservation of those few faithful Persons that were saved in that Universal Deluge commonly called Noah's Flood This Antitype or thing prefigured has other Appellations in the New-Testament as first Col. 2.17 where it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Body which is opposed to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Shadow and signifies only the very thing or genuine Essence whose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Obumbration or Shadow or Picture was prefigured in the time of the Old-Testament hence 't is said ver 9. of the same Chapter that in him viz. Christ dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bodily In the time of the Old Testament God dwelt in the Temple of Jerusalem and upon the Ark of the Covenant in the Mercy-Seat but it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 typically But when the Fulness of Time was come the whole Fulness of the Deity dwelt bodily truly and in a most eminent manner personally in Christ's Humane Nature 2. Consult Heb. 10.1 where you will find a Metaphor taken from Painters who first with a Charcoal are wont to draw a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a rude Adumbration or Delineation of the thing they intend to paint and afterwards perfect it with true and lively Colours till they make a fair Picture By the Frist of these the Apostle in this place means the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Shadows of the Old Testament by the latter the Truth and Complement of the Old Testament Types which the Apostle calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Images Heb. 9.23 Heb. 9.23 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things in the Heavens or as the Explication subjoyned has it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 heavenly things are called such things as are understood to typify the heavenly Priesthood of Christ and other things mentioned in the Old Testament So ver 24. they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 true by which is hinted that the Images Prefigurations or Adumbrations of those good things were but exhibited only in the Old Testament See John 1.17 where 't