ARROWES AGAINST BABYLON OR Certaine Quaeries serving to a cleere Discovery of the Mystery of Iniquity Whereunto are added Endeavours for Reformation in Saints apparrell With some Quaeries for the people called Quakers By JOHN PENDARVES a well wisher to Sion Put your selves in array against Babylon round about shoote at her spare no arrowes c. Jerem. 50.14 v. Flee out of the midst of Babylon and deliver every man his soule be not cut off in her iniquity for this is the time of the Lords vengeance hee will render unto her recompence Jere. 51.6 v. And I heard another voyce from heaven saying Come out of her my people that yet pertake not of her sins and that yee receive not of her plagues Rev. 18.41 v. O Daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us Psal 137.8 v. LONDON Printed by M. S. for Livewell Chapman at the Crowne in Popes-head-Alley 1656. The Epistle Dedicatory To the precious Sonnes of Sion who minde the work of their generation and to all the faithfull and beloved Servants of God small and great THe fall of Babylon being decreed in Heaven and declared on Earth and the time said to be neare at hand a This is one of the things of which John saith They must shortly come to passe Rev 1.1.8 so many hundred yeares agoe as have past since the revelation was given to John b Much neerer now Why should it be thought beside the work of this day to seek her down-fall and to cry aloud unto Gods people to come out of her Hath not God and man of late yeares appeared against her oppressing powers spirituall and civill in these Nations Her maine Pillars the Archbishops Bishops c. with their grand supporter where are they Did not the sure word of Prophecy against Babylon take hold of them since those Pillars have been removed hath not that unhappy building been as a falling house out of which many thousands of Gods people have hasted forth the Lord going before them by many wonderfull signall providences opening a wide doore unto them If the remnant of old who preferr'd Jerusalem above their cheife joy which holds forth a true Character of Sions lovers were so bold in her behalfe to tell the daughter of Babylon to her face Thou art to be destroyed calling them happy who should be the Instruments to reward her cruelties to Gods people Psal 137. If they speak thus whilst yet remaining captives let it not seeme strange if we who are in so great a measure delivered doe in the same spirit of faith declare openly the approaching fall of the daughter of mysticall Babylon which that wee may not shoote at rovers I have in the ensuing Quaeries laboured to discover the mother and her daughter the mark at which those arrows are shott The mother being more notorious for her bloody persecutions and filthy abominations may soone be discovered her daughter having putt on a new dresse appeares fresh coloured and well-liking and hath her lovers amongst great if not good men They who drinke of her wine and eate of her dainties praise her beauty as shee is now reformed Shee hath it seemes painted her face with more art and better successe then Jezebell or else some have had lesse zeale then Jehu who having no great power on his side yet commanded that painted Jezebel to be thrown downe With this Jezebel the daughter of Babylon men formerly of great note for zeale and piety preferring peace before purity c The wisdome that is from above preferres purity before peace Jam 3.17 Its first pure then peaceable the wisdome from beneath is quite contrary opposing truth under a pretence of peace in that true wisdome they who have acted of old and of late are accounted troublers of Israel become confederate to oppose a thorow reformation who seeme well content with the old garment some new peices put to it which as our Saviour saith makes the rent worse they cannot beare to have the axe laid at the roote How doe many in our dayes like Herod heare good men gladly till their lusts and wills be crost their hearts cleave to some worldly interest which being as the right eye they will not part with Such can take Law and Covenant in their mouth pray and preach well with much excellency of speech but their spirits may be discerned by this one thing They like not to reform or to be reformed with a thorow reformation which is the onely right reformation according to the word of God to which our solemn Covenant binds us as also with subordination thereunto to the example of the best reformed Churches which are such undoubtedly as stand at greatest distance from Antichristian pollutions Is the Religion of this Nation so reformed if not why doe they not presse forward Nay doe not many sit downe and take up their rest as if they had attained and as if the worke were perfected Hath mysticall Babylon been rased to the foundation thereof If not ought not that remnant of Gods people who retaine their first zeale against Babylon to proceed to pray against her as the remnant of the faithfull of old against the Children of Edom d Is it not the duty of Gods elect to cry day and night for vengeance upon Babylon see Luk. 18.1.7 and 8 verses Psal 137.7 Remember O Lord the Children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem who said rase it rase it even to the foundation thereof Let us take heede of concluding such prayers though put up by godly men of like passions with us to be the fruite of their passions and peevishnesse If here were need of further Apology for this work and for the Saints zealous praying and declaring against Babylon in a right spirit sufficient might be offered not onely to justifie the practise but also to invite thereunto from this one consideration that the glory of God and the comfort of his people are so highly concerned in her fall as the Scriptures largely shew Oh what joyfull Hallelujahs shall be sung by the Saints when they shall see the judgements of God on the great Whore which corrupted the Earth Rev. 19.1 2. c. If men of great light see not how this matter concernes the glory of God Is it not because they study to promote their owne interest more then his have they no better insight into the things that make for their owne glory It is the joy of my heart in the midst of many causes of griefe that God will forme yea he is forming a people for himselfe which shall shew forth his praise e And the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord Psal 102.18 Esay 43.21 The naked single designe of the people of this new Creation shall be that the Lord the Lord alone may be exalted which if the Author know his heart is the one thing aymed at in spending those Arrowes upon
things and nothing aileth us I shall not here meddle with that question What times to come may allow of onely let mee allude to the words of Haggai the Prophet Hag. 3. Is this a time for you O yee to dwell in your ceiled houses so is this a time for Saints to be decking themselves with costly ornaments whilst so many of their brethren abroad are wounded and lye as it were bleeding even to death (a) Mark how Moses reproves the children of Gad and of Reuben when they would sit downe before their brethren were put into their possession Shall your brethren goe to warre and shall yee sit here Numb 32.6 Might it not rather become a true hearted Israelite with a tender eye to these things to say with Vriah 2 Sam 11.11 The Ark and Israel and Judah remaine in tents and the servants of the Lord are encamped in the open field c. shall I then goe into mine house to eate and drinke c. May not this his saying shame many professors now who abate nothing of their superfluities upon the account of all the wants sorrowes and sufferings of the people of God (b) As those who are not grieved for the afflictions of Joseph give thēselves great liberty to drinke wine in bowles c. Amos 3. So on the contrary they who are grieved for Josephs affliction are led to deny themselves to such things and all that reproach which is cast upon the glorious name and cause of God Thirdly Hath God blest his people in this Nation with the first-fruits of those promises should they first serve and adorne themselves and not rather honour the Lord and adorne his Gospel by relieving the poore Saints and others with the first-fruits of all their encrease (c) God required of his people of old that they should offer to him without delay the first fruits of all their encrease Exod. 22.29 With which compare that word in Ezek. 20.41 Which relates to latter or last dayes As for the late warre wherein the cause of Christ and his Saints was pleaded with such great resolution and wonderfull successe was it not at first promoted by the free offerings of the godly and well-affected people who brought in their money plate and jewells and kept not backe their lives when they were cal'd for (d) Did not the people as in the dayes of old offer themselves and their's willingly to the worke of the Lord asserting with their lives in their hands that the cause was the Lords The people went out as they were called thereunto to helpe the Lord against the mighty Let it be considered whether the rich spoyles gotten by such a warre should not have been brought into a publique treasury to be faithfully disposed of for the benefit of the cause and people of God (e) Joshua 6.18 19. the gold and silver taken from the enemy converted to private ends and use became a curse and a trouble to the Campe. the instruments imployed taking to themselves food and raiment convenient for them not laying up for themselves nor laying out for their lusts How well would such a course agree with that remarkeable word Isai 23.18 The merchandise of Tyre which in respect of her fornication with the Nations doth fitly resemble mysticall Babylon and her hire shall be holinesse to the Lord it shall neither be treasured nor laid up but it shall be for them that dwell before the Lord to eate sufficiently and for durable Cloathing (f) Doe not some to maintaine gay cloating binde heavy burdens on the backs of Saints And if these things ought to have been done and are not but that which is contrary to them may wee not conclude that the costly apparrell and the great treasures of many who are inriched by the late warres considering the state of affaires civill and spirituall in these nations (g) Fasting and prayer are commendable things but the breaking off hard yoakes is that which is more acceptable to God Isa 58.5 6. and the condition of thousands of Saints at this day in the world are more like Achans golden wedge Babylonish garment (h) Are there not some Achans to be discovered and punisht before the Lord will give his presence in the Campe Doe not his late dispensations speake with a voice like that Josh 7.13 There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee O Israel thou canst not stand before thine enemies untill c. Reade the 6 of Josh 18 19. and the 7th Chapter throughout and compare diligently the things that have been with the things that are and take heed of being taken with goodly Babylolonish garments gotten by the spoyles of the enemies Josh 7.21 then like the great riches Saints shall possesse and the golden ornaments as is supposed they shall put on in the day of Jerusalems perfect prosperity 5 Object Others say we feare least by forbearing to put on such ornaments wee should give occasion to the world to charge us with covetousnesse Answ By the exercise of your liberality in relieving the poore Saints by entertaining strangers and such like workes such censures may easily be prevented (i) Whether they who commit the keeping of their soules to God in well-doing ought in like manner to commit the keeping of their good names to him If any forbeare the wearing of costly aray in designe to reserve the gaine thereby for their covetousnesse they are justly serv'd if that reproach fall upon them Yet all this makes nothing against a conscientious reformation in apparrell which is a speciall helpe against covetousnesse an evill practised by most men to uphold their pride Wherefore let them both fall together and this objection will be gone 6 Object What say some wee feare least by leaving off our superfluous ornaments wee should bring our selves into danger of being numbred with the Quakers seeing they are observed to speake much against pride in apparrell Answ I answer First May wee not as well on the same ground cease to declare against false worship and to speake of the Spirit because they who are called Quakers doe such things and others who shall so doe are like to be so accounted Secondly Some men doe good things on evill grounds to promote bad designes wee may not therefore refuse to doe the same things on good and righteous grounds Thirdly (i) How few doe shew Gospel-faith by their obedience to that Command of Christ which bids them to rejoyce and leape for joy when men shall reproach them for his sake Luk. 6.22 23. If this thing be of God as hath been before shewed at large we ought not to be discouraged therein on any such account see Isa 51.7 But herein rather to rejoyce k if we be counted worthy to suffer that or any other shame for righteousnesse sake for Christ hath pronounced such sufferers greatly blessed Mat. 5.10 11 12. Luke 6.22 23. Fourthly Consider whether this peoples standing up to plead
If so then 4. Whether is it not the duty of all Gods people in this Nationall Church and in the Parochiall pretended Churches to seperate from that false Church-state and their professed Church worship in all the exercises thereof together with their Church-Ministry as they stand and act on the account of office in that false Church And whether the Commands of God to his people to come out of Babylon Rev 18. To flee out of the midst of her Jer. 51. To depart thence and touch no uncleane thing Isa 52.11 Let such as 〈◊〉 at the Word read and weigh those Scriptures quoted in this Quaery be not a sufficient Scripture-warrant for their so doing And whether Gods people neglecting to come out of Babylon doe not thereby doe great disservice to the cause of Christ against Antichrist and expose themselves by their disobedience in this thing to the danger of receiving of her plagues by pertaking of her sins Rev 18.4 v. This Quaery with the two following may afford some help to discerne the times and to resolve the 〈◊〉 Question what is the work of the day 5. Whether the strange and wonderfull providences of God in the late Warrs in England Ireland and Scotland have they not in their courses not in one single act onely agreed with his word to cleere the call and open the way to his Saints to come out of Babylon Hath not the Lord eminently appeared against King Bishop and Scotch-Presbyter who refused to let Gods Israel goe free from the hard bondage of a forced Conformity to the Nationall Church-worship And did not God who put it into the heart of Cyrus to give liberty to the Jewes to goe up to Jerusalem to build Gods house Ezra 1.1 put it also into the hearts of our Rulers after great and signall successes given their Armies to grant liberty to his people to walke according to their light without restraint and confinement to the Parish-Churches And was not the hand of God strong upon them to vouchsafe that release from our bondage notwithstanding the uncessant provocations of some to compell us to their way If wee aske our Fathers can they shew us our Elders can they tell us of such a deliverance wrought out with so high a hand for Gods people in this Island 6. Whether if wee look at inward impressions on the hearts of Gods praying people which when they agree with the word and providences of God are speciall helps whereby to judge of our dutie and the season thereunto belonging may we not observe how the hearts of Saints have during the late warres Let such as have lost their first zeale against Babylon remember from whence they are fallen and repent The people had a minde to the work as in the dayes of Nehemiah Neh 4.6 Such are more like the Children of Hagar the bond woman then Sarah the free mother Some are so filled with prejudice against Seperation that they will not heare a word of it Doe not such speak and thinke evill of the things they know not Is it because they have no need of this Ordinance or because they have not living enough to bury their dead Are not many theeves murderers adulterers such as are publickly convicted of such offences harboured in the parochiall Churches without any Church censure upon them And if this be so there is little cause why they should blame those who leave such a company of corrupt men O horrible hypocrisie Do not some Parish-Ministers act as if they were willing to slide out of their old way not fai ely taking their leave taking to themselves the shame of their abominations Let such as speake against Babylon take heed that they doe it in a right spirit Rev. 18.6 Jer. 15.14 Shall not the steps of the poore 〈◊〉 downe the lofty City Isa 36.6 Even the steps of those who walke by the footsteps of the flock been stirred up to a great zeale against the whore of Babylon Hath not God cast that false Church state and worship roote and branch out of the hearts and affections of very many of his people who being dead to mens traditions minde a pure way of worship cleerely discovering to them the confusions and corruptions of that way causing them to protest against it and forsake it though to the hazard of their credit and profit suffering great opposition on that account from their neere relations Have not few yeares brought out of that way many thousands in this Land who have turned their back to Babylon with their faces towards Syon enquiring the way thitherward And of those who remaine behind are not many held back by worldly interests and slavish feare of man The more ingenious of them blush to affirme being driven to it in defence of their staying there that their Congregations are true Churches either in respect of matter or forme yet some there are who are so affrighted with feare of errour that they are not free to enquire after the truth in this thing 7. Whether the zealous and tedious labours of the Parliament and Synod for reforming of the Nationall Church-Discipline hath not proved like the washing of a Blackmore and answer not to that saying Wee would have healed Babylon but shee is not healed What followes as the Saints duty then but to forsake her Are not the people in their Parish-Congregations so incorrigible that their Physitians despaire of the cure In stead of cutting off the corrupt part have they not even rejected for some yeares that Ordinance of Excommunication which serves to keepe a true Church pure If one wicked person must be cast out with his wickednesse least a little Leaven might leaven the whole lumpe may wee not thinke their lump is long since leavened who have in their Congregations so long retained as members without rejection so great swarmes of prophane ones Is not their Nationall Church if wee denominate them ought with respect to the greater number rather a Cage of uncleane birds and a hold of every soule spirit then a true visible Church of God a spirituall house consisting of lively Stones Some indeed exclude the rude rabble from partaking in the Supper which is but one act of Church-worship but Doe not many professing to be Ministers of their Churches make large shew of zeale for Ordinances as if they strained at a gnat and yet in this thing easily swallow downe a Camell taking no notice in any way of practise of so great an Ordinance which being duely practised by a true Church tends to the destruction of the flesh and the saving of the soule in the day of the Lord 1 Cor 5.8 If men take not to themselves the shame of these their abominations in the matter of worship what grounds have they or their followers to beleive that God will shew them the patterne of his house the goings out and commings in thereof c. Ezek. 43.11 And if these things be so 8. Whether then the Saints
4.3 the substance of the Legall shaddowes is come in the flesh See Quae the third And whether the pretended reformed Church of England retaining the old Romish Church-state and confused mixtures maintaining the same things in substance with them be not to be esteemed as a painted Jezebel 16. Whether the Mystery of iniquity which wrought in Pauls time were not the same which now workes in the Church of Rome and her Daughter-Churches Did it not then worke mainely to bring the Saints back under the bondage of Moses his killing doctrine and his rudiments and shaddowes And whether the Apostle as a faithfull Witnesse and Watchman did not bend his doctrines and discourses in his Epistles especially to the Romans Corinthians and Galatians against this way of confounding the grace of God with mans works in justification and confounding Moses his old Lawes with Christs New Testament Ordinances The same mystery being at worke now not onely in Rome but in this Nationall Church Is it not the duty of Gods faithfull Ministers and Watchmen to warre against it by preaching and discourse with the sharp sword of Christs Word warning Gods people to beware of being seduced with this iniquity which being discovered in many things more grosse putts on a new dresse and works most mysteriously so that the workmen say who seeth us Isa 29.15 The mystery of 〈◊〉 is now 〈◊〉 with a 〈…〉 17. Whether the Mystery of iniquity that now workes be not founded upon the will of man confederate with Satan And is it not promoted and upheld by humane and Serpentine wisdome with worldly power and pollicy opposing and counter-working the Gospel-graces of God and Spirit of Christ exalting the creature above the Creator And whether the Abettors and promoters of this Mystery may not be discovered and discerned in our dayes by their prizing men much more for their naturall and acquired parts and abilities then for the anointing looking more at a mans learning and prudence then at the teachings of the Spirit minding excellency of speech more then the power of godlinesse seeking more after their owne honour from men then to bring honour and glory to God 18. If so then May wee not well expect that God who hath laid by so many instruments whose designe is to exalt his owne grace his Son and Spirit will choose and use most unlikely instruments in mens account as the weake and foolish in respect of worldly wisdome even the younger brethren even as David amongst the sons of Jesse spiriting them through faith and prayer to bring to passe those things which by humane power and pollicy could not be effected Whether then are not many and some good men like to be deceived who looke as did Samuel on Eliah on some wise expert prudent men to be the onely prime instruments for Gods great and strange worke 1 Cor. 1.26 27 28. which will not be done by power or might but by the Spirit of God Zach 4.6 19. Whether the faith and prayers of Gods people were not once as the Chariot-wheeles to the great worke of God in this Nation but now of late since our enemies have been subdued have not many good men slacked their hands to those duties and by looking and leaning to mans wisdome power and pollicy turned aside to crooked wayes and so have lost the footsteps of the Lord in his worke And whether can they come to a cleere sight of them againe except they humble themselves and returne to a diligent exercise of faith and prayer And if they will not be otherwise provoked thereunto may it not be just for God to reduce them unto sore straites that so they may learne to seeke him early Hos 5.15 20. Whether the continuance of divers godly men in Babylon and pertaking with her be not one great occasion of stumbling many weake Christians with some other enquirers after truth And ought not such then in the feare of God to consider and examine their standing and to lay to heart how great service they doe to Antichrist and disservice to Christ and his cause And doth not the deceiver suck no small advantage from godly men serving his designe which puts a faire face thereon though they doe it ignorantly or inconsiderately May we not observe that since godlinesse is in some request Satan puts on such a dresse as may most take with the godly to seduce them And if these should flee out of Babylon would shee not soone appeare to all good men to be what shee is and the judgements of God would they not come suddainly upon her as did the fire and brimstone upon Sodome the day that Lot came out Whether that which hinders many from comming out be not a slavish feare of man and the flattery and friendship of this world Whether such onely will not be found fit to follow the Lambe even whither soever he goeth who first sit downe and count the cost and so build the Tower of their profession upon Gods grace alone as held out in his Covenant trusting him with all their concernments If they onely are said to overcome who loved not their lives unto the death as Revel 12. What becomes of all the other professors Remember the hand of God against the rebellious Scots at Dunbar the fearefull and unbeleeving c If Gods servants shall abide there notwithstanding all the warnings they have had and all Gods patience towards them may he not justly slay them with the wicked though he save their soules at the last 21. Whether the Antichristian Ministry in the Nations which derive their Church-state from Rome are not found committing fornication with the Kings of the earth No Bishop No King And whether this fornication be not by interweaving their interests for the upholding one another thus by flatteries and by force bringing the people and keeping them in bondage to their wills enslaving their bodyes and insnaring their soules 22. Whether seeing the greatest judgements belong to Babylon may not God in justice to aggravate their sins who receive not the love of truth lend them so much light as that many of them shall be found willfull Apostates after all their other persecutions at length persecuting the Spirit of Christ so bringing upon themselves swift destruction Are not many found persecuting that light which they once profest Is not that word made good in them They shall goe and fall backward and be broken and snared and taken and if it be so is it not high time to bid them take heede lest they sin willfully after they have received the knowledge of the truth 23. Whether by that sure rule of justice that all the blood from Abel should come upon the persecuting generation in Christs time Math. 23.34 35. And that in the Revel 18.24 that in Babylon was found the blood of all the Saints shed from the foundation of the earth Doth there not lye a heavy load of blood-guilt upon the Antichristian faction