gracious principle in the whole word of God What a doing tugging and patching of counsels there was for the upholding of Idolatry and Image worship in the church of Rome for many ages All were Anathematiz'd by her that would not joyn in that false worship and it is to this day maintained by them in the face of the Sun which is the great scandal and stumbling block to the Jews and Turks to keep them off from the faith unto this day O most sad that professed christians should be the greatest and most obstinate Idolaters amongst the Nations round about them And this is not all they have their adulteries too and fornications professedly owned avowed and allowed else what meaneth the publique Revenues that cometh into the Pope's Coffers from the Stews at Rome and elsewhere under his Jurisdiction which were authorized and erected by Sixtus the fourth at Rome And Pope Nicholas the first that prohibited the Clergy Marriage deprived a Priest of his benefice at Placentia for having a wife and children but the said Priest afterward proving the said woman to be the wife of another man and only his concubine he was again restored O abominable and doctrine of devils honorable Marriage forbidden and Adultery and Fornication allowed and countenanced And this is not a private opinion or of some persons in that harlot church but it exceeds that of Pergamus for they had but some amongst them that held the doctrine of Balaam but it is here more general as catholick as their church is so catholick are those their errors wicked practises for as far as the church of Rome's Jurisdiction reach esso far the worship of Images her Idolatries adulteries reach also But let us turn our eye from this great Scarlet Whore and look a little and reflect upon our own reformed churches at home and see whether there is any thing there maintained and upheld as the Doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans amongst us It is no evil to enquire an enemy discovered is half vanquished I hope we have but few of the late generation of Baal's Priests left among us of that prelatical party that endeavour'd with might and main to bring in the doctrines of Balaam and of their abovesaid mother Jezabel amongst us 'T is true they endeavour'd to lay a stumbling block before the true Israelites of God in their travelling towards their celestial Canaan they enticed and invited the faithful ones of this Nation to the Sacrifices of Baal Peor and to commit Fornication with the Midianitish women and many precious ones did stumble and fall thereby but God gave them a day of sorrow and repentance for it Now their Idolatries and Adulteries consisted in their Altar worships pompous gorgious Services cringes and congies at the cross Musical church-services c. all which are but part of the garment of the Scarlet whore but also they commited Fornication with the daughters of Moab that is they mixed Interest and relation with Antichristians and joyned counsels with Jesuites c. and took up professedly Romish principles and practises As the doctrine of free-will liberty of plays on the Lord's day and conformity to all outward ceremonial rites and services on purpose to ensnare the conscientious and godly and to make them fall And yet this was not all but like true Balaamites they taught Balack to lay a stumbling block before the children of Israel that is they incited and stirred up their Prince and Soveraign to do the very same and to enact heavy and penal Laws against all Non-conformists to their forms and false worships and received from Balack their foe the wages or hyre of unrighteousness It is not he that preaches the Gospel and lives by the Gospel that receives the wages of Balaam as some Fanatiques of these days would have it but very sutably it maybe applied to such Prophets that will teach their Prince and Soveraign to set up and command a worship which hath none of Christ's stamp upon it and to enforce it on the consciences of the truly godly on great penalties thereby to insnare them and make them stumble if they may These are true Balaamites indeed and for this their Antichristian service they expect great revenues encouragements and honors as wages due unto them and this is the wages of unrighteousness 2 Pet 2.15 which Balaam loved There is another sort amongst us that hold professedly the doctrine of the Nicholaitans and Balaam that hold no difference betwoeen good and evil and that good and evil consists only in opinion not in reality and these are high flown Anti-Scripturists and Antinomestical Atheists and are not so much as to be conversed with as christians but to be looked on as aliens and strangers to God his Laws and the Commonweale of Israel The Lord open their eyes to see their madness and folly if it be his blessed will Observ 2. The true worship of God and false can never stand together Dagon and the Ark cannot be competitors under one Roof Christ will not endure the doctrines of Balaam Idolatries and Adulteries to be practised in his churches if his church will entertain such doctrines and teachers he will hate them for it and he will no longer be their teacher but will become their enemy and come against them with the sword of his mouth We cannot serve two Masters Christ and Mammon at once either we must love the one and hate the other For there is no fellowship between light and darkness the one alwaies expels the other Observ 3. That false Teachers as Balaam may carry a high and fair hand of profession and yet still Balaamites in their hearts Balaam was a Prophet and prophesied very clearly of Christ Numb 24. and carried a very fair hand in profession as to desire the death of the righteous and yet still loved the wages of unrighteousness So many false Prophets of our days may profess fairly and Prophesie many excellent things of Christ and his truth and yet still Balaamites in their hearts loving the wages of unrighteousness willingly they would curse the godly blast them it they could but God providentially by his wisdom hath overpowred them yet though they know that there is no enchantment against Jacob nor divination against Israel they will teach Balack as sly Machiavilians to lay snares to entrap the true Israelites of God and make them fall advising as cunning Politicians their Soveraign Authority to enact strict Laws for conformity unto their false and wil-worships on purpose to make the conscientious godly to stumble against the just authority of the Magistrate and so to sin and perish And hereby that honorable and just maintainance which Gospel Ministers may rightly receive and demand of their flocks is become unto such the wages of unrighteousness The Papists at this day carry a high hand of profession and who higher then they Who more costly in their services and worships Who more desiring the death of the righteous as
earth shall wail because of him Even so Amen He cometh with Clouds This is a Graecism that is In the Clouds This verse hath an Index or an Asterisme before it Behold to show that it is very remarkable what is here expressed being as the general proposition unto the whole Revelation Christs coming in the clouds in power and glory to set up his Kingdom here on earth before the ultimate judgement This hath relation to Zachary 12.10 and promised in Matth. 26.64 and 24.30 and Acts 1.9 c. Several Interpretations offer here to the consideration Some would have it here meant that at the time of Christ's passion this Scripture was fulfilled in these first fruits of the Jews conversion in Acts 2. that were the crucifyers of Christ being pricked to the hearts because of him and of the evil by them done unto him and so mourned over him Though indeed it is granted that that prophesie in Zach. 12. is partly fulfilled in that of the first fruits of the Jews conversion who truly mourned for him whom they had pierced Iohn 19.37 yet Iohn here in this prophesie and in this verse long after Christ's ascension re-inforces and takes up the same relation to be fulfilled at Christ's second coming in the clouds therefore that of Zach. 12. was never compleatly accomplished to this day Secondly These small numbers of the first effusion of the Spirit after Christ's passion cannot with any sound reason answer that general and universal mourning promised of in Zach. 12. where the several families of David of Nathan of Levi of Simeon c. and all the families that remain shall all mourn apart or joyntly as they did at Hadimmon in the valley of Megiddon Thirdly That prophesie of Zachary 12. could not wholly relate to the time of Christ's passion or little after because in the day of the fulfilling of that prophesie he would make the Governour of Judy like an hearth of fire in the wood and like a torch of fire in the sheaf and they shall devour all the people round about and the Lord shall save the Tents of Judah c. ver 6 7. and that in ver 8 and 9. God would in that day make the feeble of the house of Judah as David for strength and of the house of David as the Angel of God and that God would in that day seek to destroy all that came against Jerusalem But in how contrary low and weak condition Ierusalem and Iudah was in at the time about Christ's passion being then under the Roman yoke and ever since have been under a miserable afflicted estate as all histories testifie And how unsutable such a condition is with the fulfilling of the aforesaid prophesie let the wise consider Therefore sure this coming of Christ must be intended of his second coming future to his Ascension for he was ascended long before this Revelation was given This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven Acts 1.11 Others again apply the time of this mourning and looking upon Christ whom they had pierced wholly to be the time of the last and ultimate judgement of the wicked when as they say all they that crucified him and all his enemies shall mourn and wayl for anguish and tremble before him But this cannot be the whole or main sense of the Spirit herein nor altogether according to the time thereof for these reasons First Because this time or day of mourning is not of mourning to desperation as that ultimate mourning of the wicked is but it is a godly sorrow or mourning that leadeth unto repentance compare it to Zach. 12.10 11. It is as one mourning for his only son or as that mourning was for good Josiah slain at Megiddo out of bowels of love and compassion not of horrour and desperation as the former is 2. Another reason is because in this day of mourning there is promised that God would pour out the Spirit of Grace and Supplications upon the Inhabitants of Judah and Ierusalem Zach. 12.10 unto which this verse does relate but in that day of God's executing his last wrath on the wicked is no time of pouring out of grace nor the spirit of supplications therefore to me it clearly follows that seeing the Prophet Zach. 12.10 and John in this seventh verse both prophesie of one and the same personal appearance and coming of Christ in the clouds especially intends the conversion of the Iews of them that pierced him and that before the ultimate judgement of all for then there is no time of repentance or conversion 3. The third reason is from the words And all the kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him Even so Amen If it were to be understood here only that all the kindreds of the earth should see Christ's coming and wail for dread or horrour as the wicked at the ultimate judgement day then John would never set such a heavie Amen to it So it shall be seeing himself and all the Saints departed likewise do expect and rest in hope for the sight of this his second coming unto their joy and comfort Therefore the conclusion or observation that arises hence and as a right Interpretation of this verse is Observ That Christ will appear again in the clouds to be seen of all to the conversion of his ancient people the Iews the destruction of all his enemies and the restauration of all things before the end of all And this conclusion and interpretation flows from these grounds or reasons First from the very genuine sense of the words themselves in this verse Every eye shall see him gloriously coming in the clouds As ye have seen him going so shall ye see him come Acts 1.9 We see him now by the eye of Faith in heaven but then by the eye of the body Faith and sight are two distinct things 2 Cor. 5.7 all do not now see him by faith but then all and every eye shall see him coming in the clouds to perform a double work the one in a wonderful manner to cause the Iews that pierced him to look on him and mourn even to a holy repentance whose conversion will be so wonderful that it wil be as a Nation born in one day Isa 66.8 And this is no more then was done formerly towards Paul Christ miraculously appearing to his conversion and which he intimates must likewise follow afterwards to Israel in that that God shewed him this grace first Secondly That all his obstinate enemies may look upon him and mourn and wail even to desperation for that their ruine and the day of God's great wrath is coming on them for it is the work of Cnrist's appearance not only to destroy all his anti-anti-christian adversaries 2 Thes 2.8 9. but also to the joy comfort and exaltation of his Church 2 Pet. 5.4 Now this cannot be the work of the end of all and ultimate judgement
Disciples should be offended because of him and that they should be cast out imprisoned reviled and suffer many persecutions for his names sake And the ground or reason of all this is from that promise in Gen. 3. That God would set enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent and this enmity hath abided ever since and will ever abide between those two mystical seeds until the seed of the woman Christ and his members shall become absolute conquerors in the binding up the old serpent who is the father of all enmities and mischiefs This informeth God's people that it should not seem strange unto them when the world and their enemies do rage against them Here a question may come in Whether christians when they are called unto it are bound in duty to suffer for the profession of all the Truths of God To clear this question I shall premise briefly That Truths are either about fundamentals or circumstantials Fundamentals are such as without the knowledge thereof we cannot ordinarily be saved and they are conversant either about the very being of a Saint and Christian or secondly about the well-being in preserving and building up this Christian in his holy faith and these are called principles or rudiments of Religion Heb. 6.1 You know no one can proceed to be an Artist in any Art or Science or come to any perfection therein without some certain rules and principles to proceed by so none can become a true Christian or Artist in that heavenly Science of Christianity without some first laid principles And amongst those Fundamentalls which are necessary to the Being of a christian I believe as some have been too large in the description of their Fundamentals so some have been too narrow and therefore seeing they are not precisely determined by any universal assembly of christians but are left to be gathered up here and there in the Word of God by parcels I shall not be so presumptuous to define their certain number only I say thus much That that Creed which is called the Apostolical setting a qualified sense on that article of Christ's descent into hell to be the exactest square and rule of principles that relates unto the very Being of a Christian that is this day extant and he that is not ready to suffer for the profession thereof is not worthy the name of a Christian Now secondly other Fundamentals are about the well-being of a christian and such are all the Ordinances of the Gospel As Baptism Lord's Supper Prayer Thanks-givings all Church Orders and Fellowships Preaching Exhorting Reproving Overseeing and the like And if it be in our power we are rather to forbear the use of one of them then to defile our souls or consciences under corrupt administrations of them but if at any time we were called to suffer for the essential truth of them we are bound to suffer and to bear them a testimony as a part of the Truth and Word of God But for every opinion that arises about the right administrations of the latter or manner of understanding of the former principles which are but the circumstantials of Religion to set bonds upon the conscience therein it savours rather of a spirit of contention heat and passion then of found judgement and christian wisdom This is to make hard knots where there is none and Christ calls his yoke easie this were to make it burdensom and intollerable The substantial part of Christian Religion is plain and easie and the blinde may walk therein and a lamb may wade thorow This is life eternal that they may know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John 17.3 It is true there are mysteries high questions and deep things of God in the word these are for the exercise of our spirits and gifts not of our faith no further then as part of the revealed mind of God and therefore we believe them to be truth though we understand them not which are reserved until the day of the revelation of all things when we shall know as we are known and when all our ignorances and imperfections shall be done away This sets a check upon some hot spirits of these times that rather then lose or part with their wilde opinions or let them lie unvented would break all the bonds of peace charity and communion amongst Christians and so utterly deprive the churches of Christ of all the benefit which otherwise their gifts and parts might stand in stead for I doubt all sorts of christians of our times are too far baptized into this errour and Satan hath too great a stroke in it to divide the hearts of Christians about circumstantials when as they hold one and the same fundamentals joyntly together The Lord in mercy to his churches remedy this great evil and sin of our times Vers 10. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind me a great voice as of a Trumpet In the Greek copie it is no more but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I was in the Spirit which in Beza's translation is rendred correptus in Spiritu I was rapt in Spirit It was indeed a rapture of spirit an extasie wherein John received this Vision and so it hath been with all the Prophets of old they were acted by the Spirit in all their visions and prophesies they were lift up above themselves and out of themselves when they were to have cognizance of Divine things and this was by the Eternal Spirit of God working mightily in their spirits Observ That the Spirit of God does as it were set a violence on those persons he employs about the high mysteries and discoveries of his choicest Truths Paul that great light of the Gentiles he had his raptures into the third heaven whether in the body or out of the body he could not tell Exekiel when he was to receive those high Visions he oft reports of the Spirit entring into him and taking him up cap. 3.12 and 2.2 John for his better accomplishment to receive those divine Visions he is here said to be rapt in Spirit And the reasons of this is First That he might be the better enabled to take a clear and full view of those divine discoveries which were about to be shown unto him When we would show one things distinctly we use to place him up on high for the better sight Secondly That he might have satisfaction in his own spirit that those his visions were from God seeing he had so extraordinary taste of the Spirit in the first place he might well conclude he was now as it were to become the mouth of the Spirit unto the churches Lastly That his thoughts and heart might have been sequestred from things below and his contemplation raised higher on things divine as a true Prophet of God ought to have Another Note from hence is as a corrollary to the former That when Christ sets up any eminent Officer or Light in
his church for the service thereof God first fills them with his Spirit When John was but upon entring upon his prophetical office God ravishes him with his Spirit and fills him therewith to fit him for this office When men in the Apostles days were to be chosen but for the lowest services in the Church as for the over-sight of the poor and the like yet they must be men full of the holy Ghost and wisdom Acts 6.3 Much more then for the highest places as Prophets Pastors Teachers and Elders c. It is said Paul and Barnabas were filled with the holy Ghost and therefore to be separated unto the work Acts 11.24 and 13.2 The Offices of the churches of Christ are for those that have the Spirit of Christ in them in some fulness of it those places are not for such as are filled with the spirit of envie covetousness pride the world contention ignorance and antichristian lording such have not the spirit of Christ in them it may be well said of such that they run for profit here and the like but the Lord sent them not Jer. 14.14 and 23.21 They flatter themselves and think they are called and sent of God because God hath given them some common acquired gifts and parts yet want all the especial graces of the Spirit as meekness self-denial contempt of this world humility bowels of compassion ready to forgive sound knowledge in the truth and holiness and righteousness in their lives and conversations they that want those graces in the truth of them are neither fit for those high functions in the church nor can satisfyingly perswade themselves or others that they are called unto it Let this be as a memento to all such that climbe over the walls into those holy Functions and are well satisfied with a call from men when they were never called of God I say let all such fear and tremble lest God spew them all our together with their flocks that would have it so in his wrath for ever John was rapt in Spirit on the Lord's day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greek Whether this day be here called the Lord's day for the great discoveries of those visions made unto John upon this day or because it was the Lord's day for the assembling of the Saints to perform their services unto God it being the same day with that which the Apostles call the first day of the week and our christian Sabbath I shall not much contend but rather am enclined unto the latter for these two reasons First Because the great work of Christ's resurrection on that day wherein he was manifested Lord and Conquerour over hell and Satan purchased it that Title of the Lords day Secondly Because the observation of the Sabbath with all christian publique services were transferred to that day and so is called the Lord's day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or according to the Scottish dialect the Kirks day the Churches day because they held their assemblies and performed their publique services upon that day Hence note Observ That the Lord's day or the day of the great and publique assemblings of the Saints is the fittest time for God's highest discoveries of Grace and Truth John received here on this day his high irradiations of spirit and Prophesies This is God's great Market day wherein there is a constant and mutual Exchange or Bartering of heavenly and divine commodities the Saints come with the returns of their improvements of mercies in praises prayers and thanksgivings God gives out in return farther supplies of grace and greater measure of knowledge in his ways and truths Therefore sure most happy most knowing and most gracious are those Saints that are most found in this way O! this should make all of us that are not in this way to wail for it as David in his absence and exile from the church of God that being the special habitation of God's glory Psal 96.6 and to breath after it even as the Hart brayeth after the fountain streams for this is the day of the Saints assemblings wherein the Angel comes down the Angel of the New Covenant Christ in spirit to stir upon the waters of Bethesda upon the hearts and affections of all his people When John was in this rapture of spirit on the Lord's day then he heard behind him a mighty voice as it were of a Trumpet loud and terrible The Trumpet being a warlike Instrument whose sound is to prepare unto Battel and to the terror of the adversary God's publique admonitions are so unto his church it not only prepares his own unto repentance but is also of terrible signification unto all his impenitent enemies But here comes in a question fit to be discussed John had here his raptures of spirit extasies and heard a great voice as of a Trumpet The Quere will be How shall we know Divine raptures extasies or visions from diabolical For Satan is God's Ape and hath his raptures possessions strange apparitions sounds and voices also For answer first know that God's visions are given either in the sleep as unto Jacob when he saw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven and Angels ascending and descending in Gen. 28. but such are more properly called Divine Dreams Or secondly When the person is awake as here when Iohn was at Patmos on the Lord's day doubtless either in God's services or holy contemplations he received those visions and raptures of spirit and those extasies or raptures of spirit do cause a great alteration upon the person that receives them he is as it were taken out of himself that is in this posture and frame and therefore it is called a rapture or extasie quasi extra se raptus being in that posture not master of the faculties of his own soul which are wholly in the power and motions of the Spirit that acts them and this is common to both sorts of raptures whether from the good or evil spirit Now to discern what spirit moves in such raptures or visions observe first Whether the person passive or that is under such raptures of spirit were always or for the most part of their lives faithful witnesses unto the word of God and of Jesus Christ such have not only the promise of the holy Spirit to teach them all things 1 Iohn 2.27 but to be preserved against the evil one in their bodies souls and spirits Secondly Observe the matter of their visions in such raptures whether it be to denounce God's judgments against sinful practises or not for surely Satan will never be divided against himself if we will believe our Saviour for so his kingdom could not stand though I have read a story in some old Popish Mass-monger that the divel once in the shape of a Priest preached a very catholique sermon but being discovered by some Saint in presence it seems one of an excellent endowment in discerning spirits asked him how durst Satan to appear in that presence with so sound holy
one stroke whereas we generally grant that the Law which is moral natural is both divine spiritual our duty and perpetual there is no relaxation to the least Iota of it Secondly We grant the Judicial Law of Moses to be very useful in many particulars for the use and imitation of the church under the Gospel but for the ceremonial part of that Law it is quite dead unto us and is part of that hand-writing of Ordinances which is nailed unto Christ's cross and to give a restauration and resurrection unto it either in its self or in allusions drawn from it pressed home upon the conscience is to add Circumcision unto the Gospel and in effect to lay a yoke upon the necks of the disciples which we nor our fathers were ever able to bear and so by consequence to make Christ of none effect For if the Ceremonial Law and the Judaical Judicial Law as particularly relating to that Nation be void and non-obliging unto christians under the Gospel as all sound Protestants confess and is this day made good and avowed by their general practise for what sort of christians do strictly bind themselves up to the Judicials of Moses but do pick and chuse as they please For as I said but now many good things are in them both useful and imitable for Christian Commonweals to adhere to but to make them of absolute necessity as cogent upon the conscience I know no sound church or teachers does so undertake to become its Advocate and if any should be so heterodox I am resolved and should give it as advice to others to hold fast that liberty wherein Christ hath made us free And if the Judicial Law together with all its Ceremonials as all sound Divines grant and confess and practise accordingly be null and void and non-constringent unto christians then how unequal and unjust it is to make it a foundation or corner stone to build any Gospel ordinance thereon For the Basis being unsound and sandy the structure cannot hold but must needs fall to the ground together and all such conclusions as are extracted from such unsound premises are rather exotique then concentrique with the Word of truth For what have we to do with Legal Types and Shaddows which are long since putrified in their graves And we may say of them as Mary said to Christ concerning her brother Lazarus Lord by this it stinketh We have the Anti-type Christ himself the true substance of all Judaical Types and Shaddows who is the sole Lord of his house and Head of his church who of common elements of Water Bread and Wine by vertue of his Institution hath made them unto us Spiritual water of Regeneration and Spiritual symbols of his Flesh and Blood which are mystically and Sacramentally communicated to every worthy receiver and this Lord as a faithful Legislator hath declared his will about those Ordinances about the manner of the administrations together with the subjects thereof and though some assert that the truth hereabout lies deep and of difficult discerning and I believe it true as unto them and those by reason of the great dust they themselves raise about it as the Fox in the Fable that went to sweep the house with his tail who in stead of cleansing the house made it more filthy by the dust he raised about it but for my part I conceive these two great Gospel ordinances to be plain and clear to plain and simple hearted christians in all the necessary circumstantials thereof as about the manner of their administrations the qualification of the subjects c. for these Ordinances were not instituted alone for philosophical christians but were also subjected to the cognizance and for the edification of all sorts of christians that were not Academicks and therefore their significancy obvious unto all in all such particulars that makes but a reasonable enquiry thereunto and therefore I should judge such as Sophisters and vain Janglers as go about to darken the truth of those two great Gospel lights or Sacraments by analogical arguments levied from the Judicials or Ceremonials of Moses to support them withal or to evidence their truth either in themselves or in any circumstantials thereof whereas they are sufficiently supported and virtuated by a clear light in themselves to wit their own genuine Institutions And here rightly may be appplyed that of the Poet Ne te quesiveris extra And for him that is otherwise minded Cre dat Judeus Apella Non ego But to return to M. Morice from whose answer I have somwhat digressed I shall take leave to present him with few arguments out of that learned M. Baxter being my self very conscious to be Impar congressus Achilli In his book for Infant Baptism against M. Bedford p. 299. this argument of his offers it self If both in the Institution and every example of Baptism through all the Bible the first grace be prerequisite as a condition then the Ordinance was not instituted for the confirming of that first grace but in the Institution and every example of Baptism through all the Bible the first grace is prerequisite as a condition Therefore the Ordinance was not instituted to confer it By the first Grace it is his own words I still mean that Grace which consisteth in a real change of the soul whether habitual or actual or if you will call it seminal or radical you may By prerequisite as a condition I mean either in the party or another for him The force of the consequence is evident in that otherwise Baptism should be instituted to give men that which is pre-required in them and so which they have already as to all them that are capable of it The Antecedent is undeniable as might be manifested by a recital of the particular Texts could we stay so long upon it John required a profession of repentance in those he baptized Jesus first made them Disciples and then by his Apostles baptized them John 4.1 The solemn Institution of it as a standing Ordinance to the Church which tells us fully the end is in Matth. 28.19 20. Go and Disciple me all Nations Baptizing them c Now for the aged a Disciple and a Believer are all one Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Acts 2.38 Repent and be baptized every one c. 41. They that gladly received the Word were baptized Acts 8.12 13. The Samaritans believed and were baptized both men and women Simon himself believed and was baptized Acts 8.36 37. If thou believest with all thy heart thou mayest be baptized And he answered I believe c. Acts 9. Paul believed upon Ananias instruction and then was baptized Acts 10.47 48. and 16.15.33 and 18.8 and 19.4 5 c. Thus far M. Baxter in this place And to see his clearness herein is admirable and what advantage a learned man hath when he hath Truth on his side Which argument is able though by him managed there to another end
by interposing an intervening necessity and clear obstacle thereunto and therein God loves obedience better then sacrifice Secondly I answer That the first Ministerial Reformers never maintained a personal succession of Ministery and Officers from the Apostles lineally through the loyns of Antichrist but only a succession of doctrine which in all ages was by the invisible church maintained and asserted somtimes with more perspicuity and visibility then other for if we should grant a personal succession of officers and Ministery from the Apostles days we must needs also grant a perpetual and necessary visibility of a church and consequentially a truth of Ministery and Ordinances of Christ in the Antichristian state and how a true christian Ministery and Ordinances can be found in that Antichristian state in that man of sin that mistery of iniquity that whore of Babylon as I formerly said I know not or how the same state can be both meerly antichristian and christian a Whore of Babylon and a Spouse of Jesus Christ a Ministery of God and a mysterie of iniquity a Temple of God and oâ— Idols I leave it to the Judicious to consider In the next place in the affirmative I hold That a true and Justifiable call respecting the essence thereof may be received in any the churches of Christ holding the foundation aright of godliness towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ though otherwise differing among themselves in many circumstantial points yet de bene esse it may more comfortably be received from one church then another as formerly was evinced the more pure spiritual and sound the churches are the more sound spiritual and edifying their Ministerial functions are the more loose unsound and corrupted the churches are the more corrupt and loose their Ministerial call will be Therefore the godliest churches and soundest in the faith are in the first place for missions Ministerial calls and offices to be sought and repaired unto But if any one should ask me what I thought then of the present Ministery of England as now constituted who as Presbyters ordain one another to their Ministerial offices who were first ordained themselves by the late Bishops and so holding their ordination from them as from true Presbyters I answer and I think it not meet but contrary to the simplicity of the Gospel to cloud my judgement in any thing If the English Presbyterie as the Helvetian and Genevan hath done to their perpetual glory had declared to the world that the Romish church was the antichristian whore and so publiquely renounced all ministerial calls as derived from her then I grant such ministery and Presbyters to be true Ministers and Presbyters as unto the essence and being thereof though collating of offices meerly as officers or Presbyters without the just assent and assistance of their churches is not so justifiable as hereafter I may have occasion to evince but if they maintained their calls from the Bishops to be good as by succession of Presbyters they have utterly nullified and undone their case and their call too in my judgment and my reason is for what was not good and justifiable in the fountain and first origen cannot be made justifiable by succession in the streams and branches a polluted fountain cannot send forth sweet wholsome streams causa causae causa causati If that Episcopacy was antichristian as most of them grant though both name and office are warrantable in a Gospel regulated sense from whom they had their first mission and calls how then comes their calls more warrantable then that of their first Authors and Founders If Bishops in their ministery were orthodox and sound how came they to supplant them and pull them down Christ's ministery is not for the work of desolating and dethroning Brethren in the same holy function but rather for consolidating and confirming therefore surely there was somwhat amiss all was not right or else they might have stood to this day Witness the National Covenant against Antichristian Prelacy c. But the truth is Episcopacy as it was then constituted in England was of the off spring and brood of Babylon they always held their call good as ministerial Bishops having their personal calls from such successively as first received it from the church of Rome and so could never be made good or justifiable in the succession neither will it suffice as some say to salve it that Christ had always a church of invisible Saints under antichrist because they must prove themselves then to succeed that very church or those very invisible Saints and not only that but that those very Saints were ministerial officers or Presbyters or else all will be in vain according to their own concessions for men may be Saints but not ministerially Saints sent or Presbyters who according to them hath the alone power of ordination and therefore in want of such true ministerial Presbyters in the succession of the Ministery must either unavoidably acknowledge according to their own principles their ministerial offices void and null or otherwise plainly concede that they have it derivatively from the church of Rome and what a sorry call that is if at least so to be called I have formerly evinced And it is a maxime in Law that quod initio vitiosum est non porest tractu temporis convalescere See more hereon Du Plessis Treat Of the Church p. 3624. and Bishop Jewel Defen Apolog. part 2. page 131. who are witnesses without exception manifesting the vanity of such a claim But I proceed to the next verse Verse 3. And hast born and hast patience and for my names sake hast laboured and hast not fainted Observe from this Observ That false Teachers and false Apostles are great persecuters of the faithful ones of Christ The church of Ephesus had suffered much from such false Teachers for Christ's sake and his truth The false Prophets of old were alwaies against the true ones and caused them often to be smitten and afflicted as Micaiah was jeared by Zedekiah Which way went the Spirit from me to thee 1 Kings 22. 2 4. and that not all but was smitten disgracefully on the check also Shemaiah stirred up the authority against Jeremiah the Lord's Prophet and would have cast him in the prison Ier. 29.24 Yea saith Ezekiel 22.25 There is a conspiracy of her Prophets in the midst thereof not only like Foxes but even like Lions ravening the prey These false Teachers have been always very pernicious to Gods true church What great persecuters Arrius and his followers were to Athanasius and the Orthodox They were the Priests and false Prophets of old that shed the blood of Christ and his Apostles though not by their own hands yet by incensing the authority to do it How willingly would Pilate release Christ if it were not for the out-cry of the Priests and their followers false prophets still exclaim and fastigate the Magistrate and tells them that they shall do God good service in
inferiour measure The same oyl that was poured on Aarons head ran down to the skirts of his garments so the same unction of the Spirit that was poured on Christ is in some measure poured on all his inferiour members and therefore most dear and beloved to him Omne simile gaudet simili Thirdly By reason of Union Christ and his Members beiâ— one by a mystical and spiritual union they must needs be most dear and precious to him Fourthly and lastly the great reason that Christ's Saints and churches are most dear unto him is In that he hath laid down his own most precious life for them for greater love then this was never shown in that he died for us even whiles we were fighters against God and enemies by evil works Observ 2. Another Note is That though the world looks upon the faithful distressed churches of Christ as a broken poor and forsaken people both in outward estates and intellectuals also yet God sets another rate upon them and accounts them rich wise mighty comly beautiful and as the most accomplished people in the world Is not this a strange Paradox to the infatuated worldling But it is not so strange as true Christ here calls his poor afflicted Smyrna rich for she was rich indeed with spiritual graces that their persecuting adversaries were ignorant of she was rich in immortible Treasures laid up for her service in heaven above where moth could not corrupt or thiâ—â—â—reak thorow and steal which her blaspheming enemies never dream'd of what wise worldling does think a poor afflicted christian wise He looks upon him so far beneath himself that from his Machiavilian plots and counsels he tells the wise and prudent christian soul Procul hinc proculate prophani Yet God tells them plainly That the wise of the world are taken in their own snare whilst true wisdom is justified of her children And God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty c. 1 Cor. 1.27 28 29. The wise of the world think themselves a wise politique and highly contriving Statists when they have brought the Saints of God and the whole world under their feet and subjection but the Saints of God know no such wisdom but that wisdom which is of God the eternal Word and Christ who of God is made to us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that no flesh should glory in his presence The great Potentates of the world think with their Alexandrian Armies as a Torrent to carry all before them Alas they are deceived there are others more mighty then they the poor afflicted churches of Christ can do more with their prayers and using their interest with God then all the Armies in the world they can pray for legions of Angels and they are ready at their commands Witness the host of Sennacherib destroyed by an Angel at the prayers of Hezekiah and Isaiah the Son of Amos 2 Chron. 32.20 How many heathen Armies do we read of in Histories were defeated by the faithful prayers of the godly or at least their force diverted another way A poor despised chriâ— David with a sling and pebble can do more by the prayers of faith then Goliah with his spear Oh! how happy and fortunate were the Captains and Armies of this our Nation whiles the prayers of the faithful in the land continued fervent for them The Bowe and Sword of the mighty had then no power to destroy for the presence of our God was in the midst of them for a defence unto them in all their warlike undertakings Oh therefore ye soveraign Governours take heed how ye offend these little ones of Christ that they may not avert their prayers from you make good your interest with Christ and his Saints and be one with them in faith and prayers then never fear the boisterous storms or waves that are emitted from the Pillars of Hercules to our Albion shores which will prove but as the daylie surges that washes our rocks and clifts and so dash themselves into froth and vanish Next the gaudy Gallant of the times thinks himself the most fair and comly of all God's creatures and looks upon a sober and prudent christian as a despicable creature in respect of his gay Worship whiles God himself sets another character upon both The one is clothed with the white garments of Christ's righteousness and is all fair with the beauties of holiness whiles the other is only covered and â—â—â—hed with the excremental extravagancies and menstruosities of small earthy brutish and despicable creatures and at best do serve but in the room of Fig leaves to be somwhat more honourable badges of their sin and misery it is a shame to glory in that which are the ever-living Ensignes of their sin and shame and seeing the Lillies of the field do exceed even Solomon in his bravery little reason to glory in those rags of ours Next the Glutton that makes his belly his god and fareth deliciously every day conceives he hath a heaven on earth and that the poor afflicted christian comes far short of his happiness in that he hath not that fulness every day in the varieties of Viands and Festivals that he enjoys But alas this wretched Dives never considered that a poor christian hath other food to eat then he ever knew of he hath spiritual Manna bread from heaven and the wine of Paradice that he is quite ignorant of that he that eateth thereof shall never hunger or thirst more Lastly the wisdom of the world looks upon the distressed disciples of Christ as fools wittols and maâ— men and thinks them to be so indeed But on the contrary the judicious christian knows the wisdom of the world to be foolishness and madness to purpose for who but fools and mad-men would perversly run on in the ways of destruction as the wisdom of the world does prompt unto Whilst Christ's faithful ones though suppressed and broken by afflictions and tribulations yet do walk in the way of life and shine as Stars in the Firmament of their Churches and Graces Observ 3. That the sharpest persecution comes from such as are the highest pretenders to truth and godliness The Jews were such that boasted much of their divâ—â—â—cles and priviledges from Abraham Luke 3.8 yet â—ere the most inveterate and bitter adversaries to the Gospel of Christ and to the primitive Apostolical churches of any persons in the world Witness their reproachful blasphemies which consisted not only against Christ himself but against his members also They reproached him that he had a divel and that by Beelzobub he did his miracles and cast out divels yea their malice was not only to him living but reached him after his crucifiction and resurrection that if possibly they could destroy or weaken the faith of his disciples and withal hinder the promulgation of the truth and to that
called christians were truly and worthily abominable This artifice and method Satan keeps still afoot to this day to vilifie Christ's Truth 's and his followers by terming their doctrines Novel and new Lights though of above 1600 years standing and of Apostolical Institution and if they prove faithful Assertors of it are presently termed factious or Schismatical for it being as they say Disturbers of the National Peace perverters of Customs Laws and Governments and forthwith branded with Anti-magistratical and Anti-Ministerial Titles as if they were against Magistracy when they say in the first place Fear God in the next Honour the King Or if they were against all Ministers because they are against the formal lazie and belly-god Priests whose very forms as carnal ordinances are perished with using and in the room thereof desires a Ministery sound able godly efficacious spiritual and more edifying in the assemblies and churches of Christ In the next place if any defection happens in the churches of Christ as if some among them turn loose Nicolaitans or the like there will not be wanting the Nominal Jews formal christians to blaspheme them as if they were all of that feather The Papists as soon as they heard of some heresies broken forth among the Protestants presently cry out and blaspheme the whole name of Protestants as if they were all of that heresie Among the old Episcopal men of our Nation it was a common saying That a Geneva Presbytery made a fair gap and was a downright way to Brownism and Anabaptism as M. Hooker's Preface to his Ecclesiastical Policy manifests And if any Non-conformist turned Anabaptist or Brownist presently they would say the Presbyters were all such And again if any Independent or Baptist now a days became a Familistical Quaker or Antiscripturist presently the Presbyters lay the same harsh judgement and contumely upon the whole churches of the same profession to render them abominable in the eyes of all as if the eleven Apostles were all Judasses because one in twelve was a Judas This Satanical method should be quite laid by by such as have truly learned Christ This was the old Jewish trick and stratagem against the primitive precious Asiatique churches of Christ who were not all Nicholaitans because some Nicolaitans were crept in among them but precious in the eye of God both for their graces and sufferings for the testimony of Jesus But for such as will blaspheme the true doctrines of Christ and the Professors thereof by means of the evil among them and to cast a reproach tribulation and affliction thereby upon them all let them too withal not be discontented to read their judgement in this verse Whiles they say they are Jews and are not but are the Synagogue of Satan Observ 4. The last Note from these words shall be That a mis-led zeal is both dangerous and pernicious Little did the Jews think that they were fighting against the God of heaven when they were persecuting and blaspheming the Professors of Christ Nay they do it and think as Paul in his ignorance that they do God good service in it If our zeal be not commixt with sound knowledge instead of promoting the glory of God we may do the downright work of Satan These poor Jews had an indubitable aim and zeal to glorifie God for so Paul bears testimony of them Rom. 10.2 but it was exercised amiss in that it was not according unto knowledge if their judgement had been rightly informed or bore the least proportion with their zeal they would not persecute the disciples of Christ from city to city and from Town to Town much less put the Lord of life to death amongst them But the Scriptures must be fulfilled Use Christians now adays should look to it lest they go about to do the work of Satan when they blaspheme and persecute all others that are differently minded from them in some particulars They may call themselves christians but are not for it savours not of a christian spirit which is ready to cover and heal the infirmity of his christian brother not to revile or cast a rancour on it to Gangrene it which is the work of Satan Though I am not for the least toleration of evil or heresie in the church of Christ yet I would have all to take heed how they blaspheme persecute or speak evil of that way or practise which has the visible stamp of Christ upon it though at present by reason of some clouds of ignorance over them they cannot plainly discern the truth of it In this case the counsel of Gamaliel Acts 5. is very seasonable Refrain your selves from these men and let them alone for if their work be of men it will surely come to nought but if it be of God ye cannot destroy it lest ye be found even fighters against God Verse 10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer Behold the Divel shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tryed and ye shall have tribulation ten days Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life I know says Christ the tribulation and affliction that will overtake thee O church of Smyrna yet fear none of those things which shall come upon thee Neither art thou to suffer only the reproach and blasphemy of the tongue but also the divel shall so far prevail against you as by his instigation that the Tyrants of the world and your malicious enemies shall so far persecute you and cast some of you into prison but comfort ye it is not for your destruction but only for the tryal of your faith and constancy to your christian profession and your tribulation is not for a little space but to continue ten days that is ten years that answers ten prophetical days or rather I understand it ten days of tribulation shall pass over you to wit the ten great primitive persecutions the first whereof began against the christians under Nero and the tenth under Dioclesian yet however this long and tedious persecution reach thee yet leave not thy constancy but be thou faithful unto thy Lord and Saviour though their persecution be so high and fiery as to make thee to taste the tortures of death for thy faith yet be thou a faithful witness to me in that death and thou shalt be crowned as a reward of thy faithfulness with the glory of eternal life Observ 1. From the words is God never lets the divel loose to raise tribulation or persecution against his churches but he gives them first a cordial a preparative and strength from himself that they may not sink under ut though they may suffer by it Before the ten great days of persecution fell on the primitive Asian churches Christ tells them Fear not those things which ye shall suffer though imprisonments and death it self attend you for it is only for your tryal and that your faith may be more apparent by your constant Martyrdom in the face
made known by enjoyment that is here promised it is but a variation of the former promises of a crown of life ver 10.11 and to eat of the tree of life in the midst of the Paradise of God and ver 18. And I will give unto him the morning Star and write the name of my God upon him and put on him the white rayment c. all these are but various expressions of the future eternal blessedness that the conquering Saints shall enjoy after the resurrection And therefore this hidden Manna that is here promised to them to eat is the enjoyment of Christ in such a hidden manner in that day that it far passes our understanding for the excellency and the glory thereof whose eating and participating will be then in a far higher Key and on a more spiritual account then now we can possibly in the state of weakness enjoy and comprehend and therefore it is here called the hidden Manna and as another additional degree of blessedness to this hidden Manna there is annexed And will give him a white Stone and in the Stone a new Name written which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it Some take this Stone to be the Stone of free absolution and free justification by Christ as having allusion to that ancient practise among those Common-weals that were govern'd by a Democrasie as Athens Sparta c. who when any person was accused of a crime they that absolved and acquitted him cast into the pot a white Stone and they that condemned him cast in a black Stone and so according to the number of the Stones the person was either acquitted or convicted and that this was their judicious custome Ovid testifies in his 15. Book of Metamor Mos erat antiquis niveis atrisque lapillis His damnare reos illis absolvere culpâ So in allusion to this practise say they there is a free absolution and acquittance given to them that overcome by Christ and a white Stone given them wherein there is a new Name written that no man knoweth but he that receiveth it that is say they it is new and strange to the knowledg of those that have it not or are in the state of nature and no man hath any certain knowledge thereof but he that receives it But this is not all that is promised to the conquering christian for the white Stone of absolution and adoption he hath in the very first day that he undertakes his christian combate by faith for he can make no progress at all in this spritual conflict unless he hath first received the white Stone of justification absolution and adoption by faith And though indeed no man knoweth the name and nature of this Stone savingly but he that receiveth it and so indeed unto the unregenerate and unbelievers this Stone hath a new name and nature written thereon that they can have no certain knowledg of But unto a believer and the faithful christian combatant this white Stone of absolution and justification is no new thing unto them at all for this white Stone that is here promised is but an additional promise of other tearms and variableness of expressions of that blessedness that the overcoming christians shall enjoy in the world to come therefore as unto them it hath a new name also and this expression hath rather allusion to that practice of the Ancâ—ents who were accustomed to give a certain white Stone with some such Inscription in it as Detur Vincenti to those that got the victory in plays and games And this the Ancients accustomed as Aretus testifies and we as yet retain some practises answerable thereunto as when we set up a silver sword for the Master or conquering Fencer a golden Ring for the best Dancer a golden Cup for the best Racer or Shooter or a Golden Ball for the best Runner These are as several prizes set forth for him that overcometh in their respective games and pastimes amongst men To which the spirit here does allude and promiseth him that overcometh in his christian combate the white Stone wherein there is a new Name written as a prize of his victory and conquest and it is such a stone that there is a new Name written therein that is First There is such an excellent glory in this white Stone or prize of victory that is as yet most strange and secret and that never mortal eye yet saw and so unspeakable that the heart of man cannot conceive the glory thereof for the Name of God is written on it and of the City of God and of the new Ierusalem that comes down from Heaven cap. 3. 12. and no man can perfectly know or describe this glorious new State and Crown of life or this prize of inestimable glory this white Stone wherein this new name is written but those that shall receive it in the last day We know what manner of men we are at present but we know not what manner of men we shall be that day before it be revealed to us we know now but in part darkly as in a glass by medium figures and resemblances as a crown of life white rayment hidden manna white stone new name and the like but then we shall know it as we are known Secondly This white Stone or prize of glory is said here to have a new name written on it in respect of the strangeness of the dispensation thereof And this is Christ's own new name which the world is yet ignorant of cap. 3. 12. little do the world think to see the despicable and afflicted state of Christ and his Saints that he hath another new Name for himself and them that no man knew but he himself cap. 19. 12. and what is that new Name Peruse the subsequent verses and you shall find His eyes were as a flaming fire and on his head were many crowns and he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood and his name is called the word of God and out of his mouth goeth a sharp two edged sword that with it he should smite the Nations and he shall rule them with a rod of Iron and he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a Name written KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS And the same new Name is here written upon the conquering Saints and they are made co-partners with Christ in this his Kingdom see the 26. and 27. vers of this cap. and cap. 3. 12. Is it not a strange and new thing think you for the poor afflicted broken and despised christians to receive this white Stone or price of victory to sit down with Christ in his Throne and to rule the Nations with a rod of Iron This is indeed a new thing and a new Name both to themselves and others also and yet it is here promised as a prize crown and reward of their faithful perseverance and conquest which when they receive it they shall fully know and comprehend it but as yet it is a new
in the time of his coming in the maner of his coming in the disposition of his coming it is to destroy and spoil When Christ said unto the man that had not the Wedding Garment Friend how camest thou in hither without thy Wedding Garment Take him bind him hand and foot and cast him into utter darkness This was an act of a dreadful Judge in cap. 1. ver 14 15. Christ eyes and feet were like unto flames of fire he had fiery judgments in his hands against his churches which destroyed and dissolved them for their sins and transgressions It was Christ that sent the miserable desolating judgments on the Jews by Titus and continues it over them until this day It is Christ that sends the sword and blood unto the Nations round about for their iniquities It is Christ that goeth forth on his red Horse of judgments to War against Babylon the Beast and false Prophet and all their cursed complices and adherents Rev. 19 We may conceive and conceive amiss when we think that it is man that blows these coals of War and contentions in the world but it is Christ that doth it Luk. 12.49 I am come to send fire on the earth and Mat. 10.34 I come not to send peace but a sword for I am come to set a man at variance against his Father and the daughter against her mother and the daughter in Law against her mother in Law and a mans foes shall be they of his own houshold And this fire hath been kindled among us and other neighbour Nations and who is able to put it out unless it be Christ to whom power is given to compose all our differences and dissentions who hath the Key of David and opens and no man shuts and shuts and no man opens If Christ opens the sluce and door of his desolating judgments who can shut it up or keep them back But if he shuts the door of his wrathful judgments and sets a stop unto the current and progress of them who can open it For it is he alone that can treat War and all the miseries thereof and can again produce the happy fruits of tranquility and peace Object But if any one should unadvisedly Object This were an evil to affirm that Christ sends the sword and war into the world or think it harsh that he that is the Lamb of God should put on such a fiery posture abhorrent to his meek and peaceable nature or say it is not strange for the wicked to do this work or to see fire come forth from a bramble Judg. 9.15 this were but ordinary but to see fire come out from the Vine from Christ this is most strange and abhorrent to their understandings I answer As Christ is the Lamb slain so also he is the Judge of all the earth and a Judge you know must have his Sheriffs the Executioners of his Judgments and Sentences So Christ takes the Sword War Famine and Pestilence they are the Executioners of Christ's Judgments against the delinquent wicked ones of the world and so he uses them lawfully and justly And for such as will not kiss the Son obey him fear him and love him he can be angry with them though they be the Kings the great ones and Judges of the earth Psal 2.10 11 12. Christ can raise up Cyrus Nebuchadnezzar Heathen Kings and call them his Servants and make them his Instruments to do his works of Judgments against his rebellious Prophets and send them forth as Ottoman Mahomet Selimus c. to be just Executioners of Gods wrath upon dead formal and luke warm christians and therefore I say unto all such as have but the least spark of grace and true life in them hold fast be watchful and repent or else Christ will come upon thee suddenly as a thief both with his particular temporal Judgments and with his eternal also Vers 4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments and they shall walke with me in white for they are worthy It may be first demanded who the person is that hath these few names in Sardis Doubtless it is meant of the Angel Pastor or Minister of the church who principally receives this charge and to whom the whole is directed to be made known unto the church to and over which the Holy Ghost had made him Overseer Pastor or Angel Thou hast that is under thy charge a few Names even in Sardis Names are here put for Persons Act. 1.15 The number of the Names that is of men or persons that were in one place were about an hundred and twenty and Rev. 11.13 it is said that in the Earth quake were slain of men seven thousand in the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The names of men that were slain were seven thousand And I conceive this word Names is not used by the Spirit simply to denote the persons of men as thus Thou hast a few persons in Sardis which have not defiled c. but also to demonstrate the quality of the persons they were a few Names that is a few persons of Name and Quality they were Names of men or men of Name of excellent spirits tempers weight and quality for they had not defiled their garments they were not so much as outwardly tainted by the common wickedness and iniquities of Sardis And those poor souls shall walk with me in white To walk with Christ is to be sharer and partaker with him in his Heavenly enjoyments With whom we walk we communicate with him enjoy his discourse councel presence familiarity friendship and all other comforts whatsoever that is possibly to be enjoyed by him And they shall not only so walk with Christ but they shall walk with him in white A white raiment was usually set by antiquity on the acquited innocent absolved person but a black on the guilty and condemned This hath some allusion to the former white Stone which was given either to the conquering or to the innocent absolved Saint So to walk with Christ in white is no more then to partake with Christ either a free absolution at the last day o◠to be with him as white innocent conquering Saints at the resurection for they are worthy that is those pure undefiled souls are accepted by me as worthy of such happinesses Note hence from the person that had these few names in Sardis Observ 1. That Christians of the best Quality and Name are under the charge and oversight of their Pastors and Angels Thou hast a few names in Sardis Christ is the supream ruling teaching and influencing head over his church but the Pastor or Minister is the subordinate organical head to every particular church And so the hand or eye cannot say unto the head I have no need of thee a body without a head will be but a trunck unfit for lively motion So a church without a Pastor or Minister may be a body but very liveless and useless
the Sinagogue of Satan The words in the Greek copy are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beza's Version reads them Prebebo eos qui sunt ex Synaga Satana The Verb is in the Present tense I give and not in the Future and what is given Those that call themselves Jews I give or I yeild is put in the present tense either for the more certain denotation of the certainty of the good promised to come in the future for so the latter clause doth intimate I will make them that they shall come and worship c. Or else Secondly it denotes unto us that God did at that present time make some of the Iews to submit themselves unto his church as it were a taste and first fruits or as a pawn and earnest of their more full general and universal call and subjection to the Scepter of Iesus Christ which should ensue in future ages which the latter clause of this verse is full unto whereof more hereafter I formerly she wed on cap. 2. ver 9. how those Iews that are only so by lineage and descent do lye when they cal themselves Iews and are not To call ones self a Iew in those days when John wrote this Revelation was as much as to profess and to arrogate to themselves that they were the seed of Jacob and had Abraham to their Father and were the Israel of God the only people of God his peculiar Inheritage to whom the promises appertained the children of the Kingdom to whom the Oracles of God were committed and all others Aliens and Barbarians in respect of them who alone had the priviledges of the children a holy Nation the Lord's Portion who alone had the Temple Divine Ordinances Worship and clear Visions of God Now when those persons that boasted themselves of those priviledges yet persecuted reviled and blasphemed Christ and his churches as they did that of Smyrna cap. 2. 9. They cease to be true Iews and make a lye when they call or profess themselves Iews true Israelites of God when indeed they are children of the Divel and of the Sinagogue of Satan for his works and counsels they do really execute and performe they do synagere work together plot study and execute one and the same thing and therefore worthy to be denominated his Disciples of this infernal Colledg and Synagogue and not of Christ's church colledg or of the Society of Iesus Hence Note Observ That many are apt to call and boast themselves to be true Jews true Israelites of God true Christians that in truth are not for their evil works and blasphemies both towards Christ and true Christians doth evidently shew that they do lye in their Profession and Indeed are not true inward Jews and Christians but of the Synagogue of Satan You would have thought it strange to hear of a Sinagogue of Satan an University as it were for the Divel set up among the holy people of God his own Inheritance and yet it was most true John Baptist could have called them a generation of Vipers and Christ more plainly the children of the Divel for his works they did do and John here a Synagogue of Satan and that most deservedly for their contumelious reproaches and oppositions against the Gospel of Christ and true Believers We have a true counterpane of these carnal Jews among the christian churches in those days who call themselves christians and children of the Kingdome and yet only fit to be cast into utter darkness They crack of the Temple of God of Ministry of Ordinances of true Visions of God and the truth and yet who more enemies to the truth and to true godliness They are just like the Iews of old that boast of Abraham to be their Father and that they are Israelites as from Jacob and yet are ready with the Iews to crucifie the Lord of life in his Saints and followers They think it enough with their elder Brethren the Iews to have Abrahams and Iacobs to their Ancestors and Progenitors but for Abraham's faith or Jacob's spirit in wrestling with God let that alone for them that will They think it safe enough to be of Israel according to the flesh to be born in a christian Nation or church and to have some external badges and priviledges of children as Baptisme or the like then all is well whilst the weightiest things of the Law and the most substaintial parts of Religion they let ly by and contemn And what are all their arrogating Titles when truth is wanting but a kind of blasphemy and a lye I know the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews and are not cap. 2. 9. for indeed he is not a Iew which is one outwardly in circumcision of the flesh but he is a Iew which is one inwardly whose heart is circumcised and is one in the spirit Rom. 2.28 There were two sorts of people that did call themselves Iews and were not but did lye 1. The Samaritans 2. They of Iudea and Ierusalem and both by their perverse carriages to Christ and the truth did blaspheme and dishonour the honourable name of a Iew. So among christians there are two sorts that wound this honourable name of christians who call themselves christian churches and are not but do wrong and blaspheme the honourable name of church and christians I mean the Romish Popish Synagogue and many of the pretended reformed churches The first like the Iews of old cry out The Temple of the Lord The Temple of the Lord O The Church The holy Catholique Church The Chaire of Peter The infallible Chair of Peter We are the only Spouse of Christ no salvation without our jurisdiction and yet who greater blasphemers reproachers and persecutors of the true christian churches and Saints then they And seeing they will not part with the Title of the church let them keep it but is such a one as is here mentioned the church or Synagogue of Satan not of Christ and as long as their Idolatries continue she will ever be a Babel not a Bethel counterfeit Iews no real spiritual ones christians only in Title and shew not in truth notwithstanding all their high pretentions and claimes to the contrary 2. So many of the pretended reformed christians cry out We are of the reformation we are baptised we are of the Lutheranes confession we are of the Calvinists and yet no Papist more blind more ignorant more vile more profane or greater enemies to Christ in the power of godliness The names titles and honour of christians they love they esteem they expect and yet who vainer who more profane more ungodly or less deserve it then they They are only nominal christians outward Iews but to the inward spiritual Iew who more strangers to it then they Let them therefore look to it notwithstanding their high and honourable affected titles least the spirit of God shall declare the very truth and manifest to all true christians that they are only seeming Iews and do lye
when they call themselves so and that they are not of the true christian church but of the Synagogue of Satan See more hereon cap. 2. vers 9. Behold I will make them that they shall come and worship before thy feet and they shall know that I have loved thee These words contain a promise to the church of Philadelphia that Christ would make those enemies of hers the blaspheming Iews to come and worship before her feet that is would make them to submit to the Scepter of Iesus Christ and to worship him in the presence of Philadelphia which for her purity and soundness may pass for a type and figure of the true church of Christ before whom these carnal formal Iews shall fall low and worship Object But if it be demanded Whom shall they be made to worship I answer First God in Christ whom they have blasphemed and dishonoured the sole object of Divine worship which Philadelphia and the true church do honour and obey Secondly They shall civilly worship and reverence Philadelphia and the true church for the honour that Christ hath put upon her and so will think it an honour indeed to come under the same profession worship and discipline with the christian church And when I have done this saith Christ they shall know that I always loved thee and that thou wert most dear unto me Now this Prophesy and promise was never fulfilled unto Philadelphia in the full extent thereof only we read of some few of the malignant Iews given by Christ to the church of Philadelphia and others of that age but how this promise was fulfilled in the Latitude thereof it cannot enter into my understanding to comprehend For when ever did those perverse Iews that for their notorious malignity against Christ and the truth were justly called the Synagogue of Satan come and worship or bow down before the feet of Philadelphia Or when did they submit to the worship of the the churches of Christ only but in some first fruits and that before this was written to Philadelphia And when did the Iewish Sinagogue of Satan even to this day ever since become the true church of Christ more then some few scattering persons that were converted to the faith inconsiderable to the fulfilling of this promise Or when did ever God make it it eminently appear to them that the christian churches were the only beloved people and societys in the eye of God above all others in the world Seeing those things were never yet acomplished according to the fulness of this promise surely there is yet a time to come when there shall be a more universal call of the Iewish Synagogue into holy Philadelphia or the christian church then ever yet have been to this present day A Note hence will rise Observ That God will not only make the natural obstinate Iews but also their true counterpanes the nominal seeming Christians to come and bow before the true Spouse of Christ before the latter day This is confirmed from this verse wherein it is promised by Christ that the obstinate Iews should come in and worship before the feet of the church of Philadelphia but towards Philadelphia in the latter this was never as yet performed in the extensiveness of this Scripture as is above manifested therefore as yet to come to pass before the feet of the true Philadelphia the holy church of Christ And not only the natural Iews shal come in submit and joyn to the holy church of Christ but al formal birth christians shall also either come in and worship before this true church or else shall at least wise reverence this true holy church as the only beloved of Christ for the glory of the Lamb will be upon her and the Nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it and for her greater honour the Kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it Rev 21.23 And it is but just that God's true church and people should have a day too as well as their adversaries had theirs We know how that the great and lofty ones of the world have put all possible reproaches and afflictions on the Saints of God and churches of the purest judgment but yet the time is at hand that they shall be convinced and shall know the Saints to be the only beloved of God and the great interest and stay of Kingdomes and then the greatest Monarch will be glad to take hold on the skirt of a Jew to come under the protection of this holy church for their God is the Lord of Hosts Quest. And if any one ask when this shall be Answ When the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in and all Israel shall be saved Rom. 11. When Christ shall appear again for the restoring of his Kingdome then the Kingdome and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given unto the people of the Saints of the Most High Dan. 7.27 then shall all come and worship before Philadelphia the glorious new united christian church of Jews and Gentiles And this shall be the true Sion the dwelling place of God's glory whereunto all Nations shall flock and worship before it and become one with it or otherwise shall be made bow unto the Iron Scepter of Christ whereby he will make all the Nations of the earth to submit to his Soveraigne Authority and fall and worship before his feet Rev. 19.15 Vers 10. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the houre of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth That for which Philadelphia is commended for by Christ is for keeping the word of his patience This hath either respect to Christ or unto the church as if Christ had said because thou hast kept the word of my patience that is the word and doctrine which with a great deal of patience I have taught the world and with a like patience Preached it from time to time or else the effect being put for the cause Because thou hast kept the word of my patience that is the word of my Gospel which enjoineth and worketh patience Either or both of these senses may aptly be raised and entertained from these words without any prejudice unto the truth and intention of the Spirit in these words or 2. as respecting the Church of Philadelphia This word as it was the word of Christ's patience which he taught patiently the word is for many generations so it was received and kept by her with patience and constancy for which she had the reward of being kept from the hour of temptation Quest But whither was Philadelphia so saved and kept from the hour of temptation that fell upon all other her Sister churches that she was so freed that she was not touched by it Answ It is not probable that Philadelphia went free when the ten days of persecution under the Emperours
Christians is not only disaproved of by Christ but also dangerous and pernitious to their Souls welfare Christ could not give one good word of Laodicea for this very reason but in the next verse was ready to spew her out for this her remissness and mediocrity Some will neither be fast friends to Religion nor yet utterly opposite unto it a true hermaphroditical Laodicean temper But what makes them thus to hancker and halt betwen two extreames that they are neither hot nor cold In their very foreheads you may read the reason worldly intrest worldly profit worldly honours do so over-bias them that they will be partly religious and so far forth friends unto it as may get them repute and so be accounted prudent civil and honest men but for the better part of it to have the heart upright for God and the affections kindled and intense upon and for the glory of God in the day of tryals and persecutions they will not touch upon that they did not take Christ upon such account to follow him to his cross there they will leave him as long as he provides loaves for them they will follow him but when he is dragged to the Judgment Hall as our true summer-bird at the approach of winter they fly into their holes for security and will not appear more for Christ until he returns with a sun shine and spring of prosperity upon them These are our moderate politique state christians who are neither hot nor cold true Hermophrodites in Religion that will not move a foot farther in matters thereof then what the State dictates to them If the Prince as in the days of Q. Mary command Popery Popery shall up for them if a Q. Elizabeth succeed all presently reform and become Protestants if she will have Prelacy in the church maintained there will be found assertors enough of its jure divino if Presbitery shall take the Throne all of our State christians will presently fall in to the Geneva and Scottish garb if Independency shall get at top presently our Laodiceans run to New England for a model if that again come out of fashion they are ready to run to Amsterdam for a new pattern So indifferent are such Laodicean christians in matters of Religion that whatsoever form or intrest of all sorts shall be uppermost they will be sure to be of that side and this proceeds from their luke-warm temper and defect or want of heat or true zeal in the Religion they profess if they were zealous in any form though unsound yet they would more closely stick unto it Paul whiles he was a persecuting Saul was zealous though in a bad case So the Jews had a zeal unto God though not according to knowledg Rom 10.1 The Papists to this day continue zealous to their Superstitions and will Worship Only those that pretend highest and to be raised out of the graves of Antichrist and to come to a higher pitch of Reformation then any other christian Professors in the world are like true Laodiceans neither hot nor cold I believe that Master Brightman though not Prophetically yet prudentially enough likned and applied the state of our English church as a true counterpane of its pattern to Laodicea in the times when he wrote for we may observe still the same natural temper in her children at present as he observed in their fore-fathers in his time they are of that mediocrity that they care not what Religion they follow so their intrests honors and estates are secured and maintained I confess they are willing to admit of part of the truths of Christ in Doctrines but for the ministration of Discipline Governments and Ministerial Functions they are very well still contented to retain them that come from Egypt and Babylon and not from Christ and his holy church therefore they are to look to it least they are spewed out as their fore-fathers the Prelates for their Laodicean temper and half Reformation which hitherto they have but as yet attained to Object But here it may be said May not christians be too hot too zealous in their intentions towards things of their Religion were not a moderater carriage and temperature more commendable in them and more advantageous to the work of the Gospel then an over fiery zealous one To answer this Question first understand whereof zeal is compounded and that is first of an intention of the affections or an enlarged love on the thing beloved Secondly Of jealousie which is with great indignation and grief when an injury true or supposed is offered to the thing so fervently loved So this affection of zeal is not simply good or evil but is an indifferent passion found in men both good and evil for the Apostles were zealous and so were the Pharisees Christians were zealous so were the Jews so some of the reformed are zealous in their ways so many also of the Papists but that that denominates zeal either good or evil is first in respect of its object godly zeal must have the knowledg of a right object it must be truly God's glory God's worship God's truth God's will and doctrine either in part or in the whole and that indubitably that denominates a godly zeal A zeal to God out of Christ as the Iews had will not suffice to call it a truly godly zeal because it was not according to knowledg nor having an adequate and compleat object 't is true their zeal towards God was good and commendable in them but because it was not guided by sound knowledg it was blind and erroneous and therefore vitious for want of a compleat object Secondly It grieveth for the wrong truly done and not supposed as the Iews thought was done by the preaching of the Gospel unto the glory of God and his true worship True godly zeal must have right ends it ever affecteth and seeketh the honour of God and not self praise and vain glory Examples of this true godly zeal we have in Christ when he whipped the buyers and sellers out of the Temple Joh. 2.15 and in Phineas Numb 25.8 11. in Paul and Barnabas when they rent their cloathes Act. 14.19 and Moses when he broke the Tables Exod. 23. and in Paul for the Corinthians 1 Cor. 1.11 and for the Galatians Gal. 4.19 But many for want of right objects right ends and other due ingredients have missed of true zeal as Demetrius his zeal for Diana Act. 19. whom he ought not to have loved so Paul a Pharisee was zealous but he loved that that he should not have loved that is his own righteousness by the Law as the rest of the Pharisaical Iews did Jehu was zealous but failed in the manner 2 King 10.6 The Apostles out of zeal wishing fire upon the Inhabitants of Samaria Luk. 9.54 failed in the end of their zeal it being not out of pure affection to God's glory or out of charity unto their neighbours but out of revenge and impatience as from Bonarges Sons of
will give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance and the ends of the earth for thy possession Now this cannot with any reason be attributed to that Kingdom which Christ had as God with the Father by right of Creation in the first sense because it is to be given to the Son of Man coming in the clouds by the Ancient of days long after the time of Daniel's prophesie and Christ had long before the time of Daniel even from the beginning that natural Kingdom of his as one with the Father Neither secondly can it be applyed with any more shew of reason to the spiritual Kingdom of Christ now under the Gospel because how few of the Nations of the world and Languages do as much as own or profess the name of Christ It being as some Learned observe and that aright That not a tenth part of all the Nations and Tongues in the world do as much as own or acknowledge the Name of Christ and then again among those that profess Christ how great a part thereof are Apostate Antichristians and even violent persecutors of the Truth as it is in Jesus Yea again consider how few of those in the Reformed Nations where the Gospel of Christ is in more clearness and light discovered and preached are truly sincere servants of Christ submitting with cheerfulness unto the Scepter of his righteousness owning Christ and godliness in the power thereof Therefore surely this Kingdom and happy period is yet to come as Christ says John 18.36 My Kingdom is not of this world that is of this present world but that that is to come after the Resurrection and wherein dwelleth righteousness and is here promised as a reward to the overcoming Saints and for which we pray in the Lord's prayer Thy Kingdom come which will not be given by the Ancient of days unto the Son of man until he comes in the clouds Dan. 7.13 compared to Rev. 14.14 Lastly I shall add one humane testimony and I believe will not be the least with some and that is of our late Assembly of Divines in their Annotations only on two Scriptures to prove the matter and substance I contend for to wit a more glorious triumphant state of the church of Christ before the ultimate day of Judgement First They in their new Annotations on Rev. 5.10 And we shall reigne on earth confess That this may signifie the prosperous times of the church under christian Kings and Emperours Dan. 7.27 Psal 37.11 The meek shall inherit the earth And on Rev. 2.25 26. they say Hold fast till I come signifies Till Christ's second coming general or special Power over the Nations signifies To joyn with Christ in judging the Nations c. And that giving the Morning Star signifies Christ's giving the full fruition of himself Thus far they Which is not yet fulfilled in the full extent thereof and therefore yet to be accomplished in futurity But here by the way I shall take leave to show their great mistake that expect a triumphant state of the church or that Christ's Reigne or Monarchy shall be set up in his church before Christ's second appearance in the clouds to accomplish this work This opinion is not a little dangerous and pernicious both unto the peace and quiet of the Saints and unto all Magistracy that such opinionists live under for once entertain the judgement that Christ's Kingdom is now to be set up all other Opposites and Kingdoms must down before it for who would count it a hard saying or sinful to remove humane Powers and Magistrates be they ever so just that stands in the way of the setting up of the all-righteous Scepter of Christ Is it not on this very ground and principle that every party and faction that pretends highest to Christ hath endeavoured to set it self in the Throne How was Episcopacy dethroned but that Presbyterie thought it self of Divine Right and up the Kingdom of Christ must go with them Whether Prelacy or Presbytery be of the Diviner or better Size that is not the dispute but having once entertained the conceipt that the Kingdom of Christ did consist in their Geneva model and Presbyterie what Nation was at peace among the Reformed before it was exalted and had the Throne Again This principle being again entertained by some others pretending to more holiness and truth then they O! How they labour for an eruption like an inbred wind within the bowels of the earth never at rest till it sets up its interest or its pretended Kingdom of Christ up at top Was not this the very principle and fancy that carried on those irregular heads of Munster and John of Leyden c. that made them dream of a new State come down among them from God when they were as weak frail and sinful as any others Did not this excite them to contemn all Powers and Magistracy whatsoever and to tread all under foot that stood in the way of their new Camaera And is not this again attempted and acted by some in our days that have taken up the same principle And who knows where it will rest being once set on foot or working by a fiery irregular zeal Judicious M. Hooker in his preface to his Ecclesiastical Policy though an Episcopal man yet wisely foresaw the evil of this judgement and principle and gave forewarning of the danger of it It did destroy Episcopacy and it will destroy Presbyterie and all Government whatsoever if it be not moderated and wisely regulated by an over-mastering spirit of Grace and herein I hope I have done but my duty and discharged my conscience in showing the false ground of many mens miscarriages about the prosecution and attainment of this Kingdom of Christ which indeed will never be attained to in this infirm and corrupt generation which is partly spiritual and partly carnal and they that endeavour to set it up may justly perish in the attempt being not called to it neither by God nor Christ Neither let any say hence that I contemn full and sincere endeavours of reforming of the Doctrine and Discipline of our churches unto the primitive pattern this is all that is required at our hands when God opens a door unto us unto this work it is not to set up the church triumphant before Christ shall appear to be her Captain and Leader on which then will be with great power and might and none shall hinder we are now commanded to suffer and to overcome our temptations patiently not to reigne and triumph which is reserved as a reward of our patience unto another life He that thus overcometh shall sit down with Christ in his Throne and reigne with him whiles others may be shut out for their sin of rebellion and disobedience to the Powers they live under Having shewed the danger of this false principle to wit an expectancy to reigne with Christ at present let all wise christians shun it as a ruinous house that is ready to overwhelm all that
then monastical lives and Votaries of all sorts testifie then they Yet who hath laid more stumbling blocks in the waies of christians and the truth then they by their Balaamitish doctrines and practises It is most usual amongst us to commend the days of our forefathers as most imitable and religious yet how sad to consider when we find the very doctrines of Balaam left unto us from them for though at present I have not numbred the thirty seventh year of my age yet I well remember how rise the doctrines of Balaam were practised here amongst us and that too by imitation from our predecessors We had our Floralia our Feasts and Sacrifices to the Goddess of Maia which were carried on with a great and solemn vanity with much Paganish customs exercised thereabout mixed with a great deal of vanity sin shame and bestiality and this not only permitted but maintained and defended by ungodly Balaamites in opposition to the godly in their times Yet the practise thereof in these parts was so vile that the same persons the same day that they did eat of the body and blood of Christ in his Ordinance of the Supper the same day were drunken and filled with things offered unto Idols I mean in their heathenish sports and vanities but blessed be God that hath now taught us otherwise Yet though at present we make a fair profession yet still we have some remainders of this doctrine of Balaam all England over even in keeping our Wakes our Revels our Parochial Festivals a foot wherein there is a great smatch of Antichristian Idolatrizing and eating things offered to Idols and lusting after the Midianitish women and Flesh pots and Onyons of Egypt in the observation of these and other Roman Festivals If Feasts or Festivals be they never so piously instituted as the ' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or love-Feasts amongst the primitive christians were once come to be defiled and to lose their Primitive virgin institution and ends and to become Sacrifices to Bacchus or Venus or to any Idol whatsoever they are to be disanulled abrogated and laid aside as an unholy thing The Lord deliver his churches and people from the politique Balaamites of these times who will teach Balack to lay a stumbling block before the children of Israel and the Lord give a discerning heart unto our Soveraign Magistrate to discover all such that come unto him and move or teach him to lay stumbling blocks or snares in the ways of the true Israelites of God let such have the wages of Balaam who have forsaken the right way and are gone astray following the way of Balaam the son of Beor so let them receive the wages of unrighteousness for their hire Observ 4. That false Prophets and false Teachers are still ready to insinuate with and please the humors of the Princes of the people in all their wicked designes Balaam was very ready and intense to answer Balack's cursed desires against Israel if the Lord had not prevented him What elsemade Balaam after he had the denial of God that he should not go to Balack Numb 22.12 to make another application to God to get permission to go to Balack And when he knew his errand that it was to curse Israel how often did he tempt the Lord with Sacrifices if possibly he could to draw God to his designe And though God did manifest his displeasure to Balaam in his way in the business he went about by the Angel with the sword and made his Ass miraculously to reprove him yet neither miracle cross providence nor prohibition shall hinder Balaam to serve Balack against the Israelites if he may If once false Prophets perceive the humor of their Princes they will be sure to sew pillows under their arm-holes they will observe the humors of men and apply themselves to please answerably Yet this is not all they will as Balaam instruct Balack in wicked and cursed designes and practises though they have commands enough to the contrary and witnessed sufficiently from heaven against it yet they will justle such cursed and bloody plots into their Princes hearts that they never thought of yea that are abhorrent to some of their natures as it is witnessed in the History of Q. Mary That her own natural disposition was good and merciful and only instigated and taught to persecution against the Saints by the wicked Balaamites false Teachers as Bonner Fisher c. It is observed by some that our late King Charles of England had never split the Ship of the Commonweale against the Rock had he not hearkned too much to the advice of the Balaamites about him the Bishops their corrupt party who taught him to lay snares or stumbling-blocks in the way of the true Israelites of God in this Nation to wit by the promotion and countenance of Romish Idolatries and their Midianitish Fornications But behold the wisdom of God they were both taken in their own snares and laid in the dust together And so acording to that Numb 31.8 They slew the King of Midianitish 〈◊〉 Princes and Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword Beyond Seas it is a Proverb No cursed design afoot but a Priest has a finger in it I could pray it were not in England I could wish that they in our Israel had less of Achitophel or Machiavel in them and more of the simplicity of he Gospel of Christ in the room thereof Observ 5. False Prophets as Balaam lay their designs not only for the temporal destruction of the godly but for the eternal also if they may Balaams designe in his cursed counsel to Balak was that the Israelites should Idolatrize and adulterize that the judgements of God might both reach their bodies and souls together The divel and his agents desire that all may have no better portion then themselves they will not be contented with the destruction of Saints bodies but will night and day like roaring lyons go about to seek to destroy them and to cause them to lose and forfeit their eternal state of happiness if they could It was this that made these churches of Asia to lose their candlesticks and it will be always the Balaamitish doctrines and practises that will cause God to remove his presence of grace power and comfort from one people to another that is more sound and fruitful O therefore ye churches of Christ look to your doctrines and practises that they be right and straight to the rule of God's Word so God will delight to dwell among you and will make you the habitation of his glory otherwise will leave your place desolate and forsaken though you be his people in profession If you turn to idols false worships and wicked practises though Moses and Eliah be among you righteous souls they shall only save themselves but the wicked shall be cut off from the land of the living which is reserved as an inheritance for the pure and undefiled Observ 6. That