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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86191	The key of Scripture-prophecies: or, A glass of some new discoveries. Being an answer to a book published by Mr John Elmestone. Wherein is resolved, 1. Whether a true constituted church, with true office and visible membership, together with the ordinances proper to such a Gospel-stating, continued true by a line of succession from the primitive time downward to our times: or whether it were not interrupted by the apostacie. 2. If they did there intermit, when they return again to their first glory, whether now, or hereafter; and what is the dispensation now approved by the Spirit. / By Simon Henden.	Henden, Simon.	1652 (1652)	Wing H1430; Thomason E668_11; ESTC R202520	120,810	124

as here they are in Babylon then such who have only an outward station must be wholly shut out they standing solely in the outward court of false constitutions And therefore here all the world of Israelites worshiped the beast except those whose names were written in the book of life of the Lamb slaine from the foundation of the world Chap. 13.8 and Chap. 17.8 none are excepted but those who were written in this book from the foundation of the world So that here all save the elect are excluded and that for one thousand two hundred and sixty yeers Chap. 14.1 which razeth your next argument from its sandy foundation Their sealing notes their confirmation of the truth of grace and that being in their foreheads argues some measure of visible profession We shall in the last place deliver Master Elmestons assertion touching the outward court which he affirmed in a verbal dispute which was after this manner That it typed out the state of a false Church and that it never had any measurement at all To which was then answered That it did prefigure the outward order or visibility of Church-constitution and three reasons were produced to prove it drawn from the text which you may finde written in the Cessation also that this was true till here rejected by the Lord Jesus and could not denote that which never had any approved measurement as was then likewise cleared by these following arguments 1. By way of allusion to the temple of old That as there was not only a Temple within whereinto the Priests and none but they might enter but also a Court without erected by Divine institution and sanctified by the Spirit into which the Priests and people had access in common both which made a full and compleat temple so in the primitive times there was the internality of true grace wherein properly the elect who only were a royal Priest-hood had interest and likewise an outward order built up and breathed into by divine inspiration into which Christians visibly professing some true and some seeming came and both these together concurred to make a full visible Church 2. From the words of the text the court without cast out which the original phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Nothing in propriety of speech can be said to be cast out that was not before within Ishmael was a member in the family of Abraham before he was excluded none can be excommunicated unless he be first a brother so this being now cast out argues it to be till then approved 3. From the reason rendered by the Spirit why it was excluded for it is given to the nations which implies that it had measurement till it was thus given and corrupted by Antichrist Some trifling objections were made by Master Elmestone against these which partly for brevity sake partly because I conceive them not to be materiall I shall now omit If he think them to be otherwise and be pleased to publish them I shall be ready with Gods assistance to give a reply Thus much of the fourth Section we shall now pass on to the fifth Section 5. The fifth and last Section is taken from Mat. 24. where the visible models Loe here and Loe there or as Luke hath it Chap. 17.23 See here or see there being thus rejected by Christ are false and deceivable the powers that bear and teach them up are false Christs or Antichrists and false Prophets the spheres wherein they rule are the wilderness and secret Chambers For the clearer apprehending of this Scripture it may be requisite first to explaine something on the Chapter and after to declare your mistakes thereon To begin with the unfolding of the Chapter we are to consider there were three questions demanded by Christs Disciples vers 3. The first When these things shall be to wit the destruction of Jerusalem and dissolution of the temple spoken of in vers 2. The second What shall be the signes of his coming that is of his bright ministerial coming and dispensing his spirit-like lightning The third The signes of the end of the world to wit of the great and last day of judgement and the general resurrection To which the Lord methodically and in order one after another answereth with the signes thereof from vers the 15. to vers the 32. To the first from vers 15. to vers 23. To the second from vers 23. to vers 30. To the third vers 30 31. To omit the first as that impertinent to this subject we shall begin with the second of his coming like lightning The signes of the second are double 1. The long foregoing delusion of Antichristianisme abiding till his bright coming from vers 23 to vers 27. 2. The short noted immediate signals as the darkning of the Sun Moon and Stars and the shaking of the powers of heaven vers 29. If you desire to understand what these figurative speeches mean you may know by these places Isa 34.4 Joel 3.15 Hag. 2.21 22. and by the subversion of outward Babylon set forth by the like metaphors Isa 13. 10. Also by the overthrow of the Jewish Church Joel 2.30 31. And that of the Roman Heathen Emperors Rev. 6.12 13 14. The signes preceding the third to wit the end of the world are also twofold 1. The appearing of the Son of man in heaven that is his bright coming like lightning 2. The mourning of all the tribes of the earth upon the sight of the same glorious dispensation Psal 97.4 Zech. 12.10 11 12 13 14. of the Jews for their long blindness in Judaisme of the false stated Churches amongst Christians for their defilements in Antichristiansme of Turks and Heathens for their Mahometisme and gross Idolatry Againe we are to mind that the long Babylonish delusion of the signe of the second contains two distinct seasons 1 The time of the tribulation of the godly by the overswaying power of the false Antichristian Churches which by comparing this with the Revelations continued 1260 years chap. 11.2 3. chap. 12.6 14. chap. 13.5 a remarkable time it being ingraven in five places of that prophecie for our more espiciall remembrance 2 The time of the Sun and Moons darkning the Stars falling c. to wit the season of the vials wrath wherein the Saints are passing from their former bondage and retaliate the reward upon their Enemies vers 29 where it is said Immediately after the tribulation to wit that wrought by the Beasts prevailing for 1260 years the word after notes our another distinct time of the Sun and Moons darkning c. and the Saints lifting up their heads who at this time are said to come out of great tribulation Rev. 7.14 and to get victorie over the Beast cha 15.2 and that this delusion continues the same season also is clear from Mark 13.24 where it is said In those daies to wit of the Antichristian deceit after the tribulation This orderly method of the text concurring with the Disciples three questions

if Episcopacy be to be plucked up root and branch which you pleaded then no reliques of your Classical government will be left remaining much less will it be granted that you sit in the seat of judicature to adjudge all besides your selves to be Heresies Sects c. or that you have any authority given from heaven by humane force to captivate them to your wills and canons The Independents are in many respects in their way neerer to the Kingdome of Heaven then the Classical men and if you would not willingly subjectly your consciences to the separation which power they defie to own why should there be such high indeavors to imbondage them In this you are declared to be far beneath a legall spirit which teacheth to doe to others as you would be dealt withall by them Are not their consciences as tender as yours Are they not as pious and dear to GOD as upright to their neighbour as serviceable and faithful to the State as cordial and real to our publike Cause And why should they not with others partake in that common priviledge purchased by the expence of many of their deare lives It was not long since your selves were under the Bishops rod and then such a liberty would have been sweet and gratefully accepted but now nothing will satisfie unless you may in their steads lord it over your fellow-brethren The precept is ordinary yet profitable Foelix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum Let the ruines of other tyrants teach you more wisdome and moderation In the next place you come unto me and our walk in particular in which to pass by other phopperies opprobrious dealings and false suppositions as not worth spending inke paper and time upon we shall only take notice of two passages The first is your calling it a Sect and in the title of your Book a Schisme Answ A Sect is a renting a Schism a cutting off or dividing from the truth now whether we or you be renters we leave to the tryal of the Word It hath been the usual policy of Satan to brand the new springings forth of truths by such opprobrious titles Thus dealt the Jews of old with the Gospel Acts 28.22 Chap. 24.5 14. and separation being now that which God calls his people to walk in we believe this charge of yours will be found to be as untrue and calumnious as was theirs and to come from the same spirit We should have expected no other language from the mouth of a Pope or Bishop but wonder to hear it from one who would rank himself amongst the godly However we regard not the censure of your papal chaire as being neither discovered to be what you stile us nor discouraged by such disgraceful Characters for we are not ashamed to bear the rebukes of Christ Your indeavors this way will prove but bare Essays whose births may be vanity and shame at conclusion Secondly You come to our company whom you call unstable souls and defame their assemblings by base scurrilous verses out of Ovid the very language of hell and unfit to be written by a chaste pen much more unmeet to be applyed to a godly or hopeful people For my own particular as I have freely received so I freely dispense the word and deny none to hear who are freely drawn as being sensible of the power of God who may chuse the mean and base things in the worlds esteem to confound the noble Notwithstanding were the same people with you many would be counted pretious Saints others very faire commers on though now from a root of bitterness they are so greatly vilified Such virulent invectives tend but to the fulfilling of the Prophecies which foretell that the meetings of these returners shall bear a reproach and burden Ezek. 34.16 Mica 4.76 7. Zeph. 3.18 albeit in short time they shall have a praise and a fame in every land where they have been put to shame their gathering or congregating being by the Lord Jesus ver 19. I cannot in charity think that these came simply from your self but from the instigation of some others whose spirits are compounded of gall and vinegar and have dipt your pen with the cruel venome of Asps We are sure such ribaudry becomes not the gravity of gray hairs much less of one esteemed an ancient professor It seems their throne being touched their kingdom waxing dark and people leaving them they begin to accomplish what is spoken Revel 16.10 11. The Lord open the eyes of their understandings that they many no longer be found fighters against God Before we pass from hence we shall mind you of a seasonable observation In the Primitive time there was an outward Jerusalem figured by Hagar the bond-woman whose zealous children under high pretences of holiness were the most desperate enemies to such who by their free Gospel-walk declared themselves to be the off-spring of Jerusalem from above So now there is an outward rejected court Rev. 11.2 and thereupon another inslaving motherhood and those who are over-rigid in those externalities and stand most upon them are like to prove the greatest enemies to such who by their practise of separation manifest themselves to be children of liberty and aim most at spirituality But leaving this we shall speak something of our first Letter after the receit whereof as you affirme it was noised that I had thereby blown up c. Answ If there were any such report the sound of it was not loud enough to come to my ears till I read it in your Epistle This I am sure of it was a private Letter never intended by the writer to come publikely abroad in the world and comprised but a light and hasty draught of my apprehensions touching the subject you requested whose principal scope was to proffer you a fuller discourse by word of mouth upon the particulars therein barely hinted But since you being pleased to divulge it in your book without my knowledge or approbation I shall only remark two passages The first is a mistake in printing in the second page and seventeenth line It is printed We are in our journey to Sion visibly separated whereas it ought io be To Sion visibly stated and so it was written in my Letter also Revel 8.34 for Revel 8.5 in the third page The second is as you assert that I quoted Isa 66.5 for Isa 56.5 which error you not finding out said nothing on that place Answ There were some such errors in yours insuing which when the words were written I rectified and replyed accordingly and it is possible that amongst many Scriptures I might faile in the quotation of one yet the words of the text being named your Concordance might soon have directed you to finde out the place ar else within the compass of eight or nine moneths for so long space it was ere your returned me answer you might have inquired of me we living so neer one to another You neither have nor I suppose ever can in your

set up a false Christ in regiment This was not so palpable in outward shew but came in Christ his name under very specious pretences of Order Unity repressing heresies holiness advancing Christ and his Kingdom and therefore did the more universally deceive If the natures persons and offices our Lord Jesus had been directly originally and fundamentally razed in the Romish Church then Gods people could never have remained for so many ages in such a visible stand Object 3. The Popes extravagant exercise of discipline in excommunicating suspending not onely simple persons but whole Nations and disposing of all Ecclesiastical dignities was founded on this false doctrine that the Pope is universall Bishop Christs Vicar c. Answ 1 The same barely considered as a Notion or thing taught was not the ground-work of the beast but as usurped and layed in discipline a stone in the quarrie is not the foundation of a house till it be hewen out thence and disposed in the bottom of the building 2 This false Tenent of universality and visible headship is not a doctrinal if doctrine be minded as opposed to discipline but a disciplinall principle as any rational man may apprehend Object 4 None can comply with the Beast in the foundation of his estate without the loss of his salvation as who doth rely on another besides Christ and acknowledgeth him to be supream head under him vicar of Christ and submit to his new Articles of faith but many godly Christian have complyed with him in discipline as Ridly Latimer c. Answer 1 The beast it is true layed another foundation which primarily and radically was in discipline and secondarily struck against doctrine as is shewed before his visible headship and vicarship are principles of discipline and thence flow his articles of faith Besides he was fundamentally both in matter and forme a Beast for 1260 yeares and some time after and so long the Church is Babylon as before is cleared and all that time the world worshipped him but his Articles of faith are not of so long standing most whereof were framed in the Council of Trent And then that cannot be his groundwork which in order of nature and time followed his being the Cause must be before the Effect 2 This was damnable as to all so only to those Christians not truely grounded upon the Rock Jusus Christ Rev. 13.8 who having a meer outside shallow and sandie bottome might be radically supplanted by such a totall and delusive externality but the Elect having a deeper root then that of the Beast could not in the inward work of grace be by him subverted though they were outwardly clothed with his Livery Thus Gregory and other Popes of Rome before him might be in the Election yet their Office was essentially a Beast they living within the aforenamed time of the tribulation the like may be said of Ridly Hooper with the rest by you nominated If this beast had been originally false in the essentials of doctrine it had been damnable to them as well as to the rest of the world for if the foundations be utterly destroyed how can the righteous stand Psal 11.3 We desire the Reader rightly to observe the difference betwixt Mr. Elmestone and us in this particular subject He pleads that the Church of Rome is fundamentally false in doctrine which you may finde by his Arguments above and yet that in her order or Church-constitution she is in her ground-work true for he avers that the Pope hath the true key of Christs discipline in Ordination Excommunication c. and that Friars Monks Priests Bishops c. were radically right in their membership and orders which they had in and from that Church as you may read in the 29 and 30 pages of his book The former he is driven to maintaine or else he must contradict in writing what he and his party have published for many years in open Pulpits before the Nation that Rome is a false Church and that woman Babylon described in Revel 17. that the Pope is Antichrist and the beast delineated chap. 13. the latter he is inforced to manage or else he must yeild their office to be false which lineally descended from the Romish Church But how the body of discipline can retaine life in its binding and loosing where the soul of doctrine is departed or how she can be a bottomless pit and a stranger to Sion who is bottomly true in her order and hath the keyes of the Kingdome of heaven to let into and shut out of such a visible Kingdome we conceive cannot be proved by Scripture nor agree with any reason On the contrary we affirme that Church to be in visible Order false in her membership Babylonish in her office bestial but yet as the Prophecies foretold and the event hath manifested that there should be a godly people in that false visibility so for their sakes the Lord reserved the root of the Covenant of doctrine faith profession issuing thence in prayer praises c. as also a gifted ministery coming not from the bottomless key of that Church but from the immediate gift of Jesus Christ which you may see evinced in the Cessation the former must be fundamentally false or else Rome could not be Babylon the latter must be radically true or else there had been no subsistence for the Saints And thus we shall end with this third Paragraph Paragraph IV. OUrs in brief was this that the call of God in our times is only for separation without stating or without constituting and modelling visible Churches and sitting down therein Rev. 18.4 You may finde it declared in the Cessation that there are two bright and manifest dayes of Jesus Christ in the clear administration of his glory 1. That of the primitive apostolical day which continued till the key of the bottomless pit was given and thereby the Sun and aire darkned which shut up that brightness with darkness of a succeeding night 2. The day of his coming like lightning when the marriage of the Lamb doth againe return after the final subversion of Antichrist Betwixt these two periods is the time of the Babylonish age wherein neither of those two dayes are to be seen in such an open dispensation of his power the kingdome then being inward This latter season containes two distinct special and very observable revolutions 1. The time of the Saints tribulation lasting 1260 yeers in which term the true Church is only a sealed number disrobed of the beauty of her exterior order and visibly seated in the desart of nations where her choicest witnesses were outwardly invested with defiled and mournful garments and prophesied in that earth before the God of the earth where the beast had power to prevaile and tread them under foot making their estate mournful This begun about the yeer three hundred and ninty when the Bishop of Rome obtained the primacy of seat and is expired in the yeer 1650 as is shewed in the Cessation and