of Ministry and the Powers of Heaven shall be shaken signifying the removing of the Church-Governments and Authority then established When the Lord of the evill servant ver 48. to the end that beat his fellow-servants and eate and dranke with the drunken should be cut asunder which is that the Lord should deprive Antichrist of his ministry that evill servant when the wise servant which gave meat to the Lords houshold in due season should be blessed restored and comforted Now the Holy Ghost relates to the then time especially shewing in what estate the Church should be in respect of the ministry thereof set downe under the name of Virgins that is men exempted from all worldly imployments to Jesus Christ 2 Their Imployment or Ministry is set out in their Lamps 3 Their Ordination in their taking their Lamps by which lawfully they may minister in the Church to Jesus Christ 4 They are first summed up together ten Virgins to shew that in respect of office calling Ministry they did seeme to be one and agreed 5 They went forth to meet the Bridegroome a metaphor taken from marriages partly in use amongst us so far as sufficiently to set out the minde of God in this text In that we see usually at weddings young men youth or Virgins accompany the Bride to the place of marriage and present her to the Bridegroome which thing is most clearly held out and proved by that saying of the Apostle 2 Cor. 11.2 I have espoused you French Approprier to one husband that I may present you as a chaste Virgin to Christ Hence the Apostles are called the Children of the Bride-chamber Markâ— 2.10 1 You see what was done in Church-constituting 2 That it was the Ministers office here called the Virgins to present the Bride or Church to Jesus Christ proved from the practise of the Apostles and of the five wise Virgins here mentioned ver 2. 1 These ten Virgins are divided into five and five 2 They are distinguished by their qualifications the one five are said to be wise the other to be foolish the wise are the true ministry the foolish the false Antichristian ministry 3 In that they are divided into five and five it shews that there should be a representation in the false Antichristian ministry of the true Gospel-ministry of Christ some way though not aright as the Corinths begin with false Apostles so these 2 Cor. 11.13 The five Virgins that are said to be wise or the true Gospel ministers are 1 Apostles 2 Prophets 3 Evangelists 4 Pastours 5 Teachers Now these ordinâ—rily are ordained to present the Church as young men Virgins the Bride to the Bridegroome Now as the wise so the foolish are also five in number Antichrist having that falsely in his false Christ hath in his true Church in truth 1 To the 12 Apostles the Pope set up in Rome 12 Cardinals Anselme Revel 13. Antichristus habiturus est pseudos Apostolâ—s suos Vâ—de Pâ—tteâ— Number of the Beast cap. 14. As there is a cleare and eminent Antithesis between Jerusalem and Rome so is there also betweene Christs Apostles and the Popes Cardinals there being no persons in the whole world of what rank order or dignity soever styling themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vicem gerentes Apostolorum as they doe Idem ibid. As the Apostles truly were and are the root and foundation of the Christian Church and all Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction so the Cardinals falsly pretend themselves to be and so they truely are and doe in expresse words declare themselves to be the very basis and foundation of the Romish Hierarchy read that that followeth hereof So that hence you see he proves that what the Apostles were in the true the Cardinals in the false Hence the Pope sends a Saphire to the new made Cardinals as foundation stones It is also a cleare Note that the five foolish Virgins are signified in these because the Cardinalls as the Apostles of Christs ministry consists of Arch-bishop Cardinals Bishop-Cardinals Presbyters and Deacon Cardinals that as the Apostles executed the place of Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers in the true so these Cardinals falsly in the false Now as the Cardinals arose from Presbyters First so in the fall of Presbytery and that falls with them is the full fall of Papacy and Babylon and from these five and not the five wounds of Christ as Mr. Potter and so by five times five multiply them to 25 to make their Monks Fryers and Masse-priests to be the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to them 1 Chron. Chap. 25. for what relation is there betweene Christs five wounds and 25 ministers Potter Chap. 24. and the 25. 2 To the Prophet the Pope constituted in his Church an Anti-prophet or Arch bishop which God remarkably as it were to compleat this Scripture called the Arch-bishop of this Kingdome by that name Rev. 16.13 where some Ecclesiasticall person under the sixth violl in which time wee live is called by the name of a prophet or Anti-prophet hee being to be in that place in the false Church the true Prophet is in the true Object Why doe you allude this to the Arch-bishop of this Kingdome more then to others of other Kingdomes Reply 1 The first Arch-bishops of the world were set up in this K ngdome others tooke their patterne from hence and ye know what honour Anselme had in being called Papa orbis in a whole Councell of Bishops at Barsnense 1098. and againe ye know that the Arch-bishop of this Kingdome called the Image of the Beast ruled independently from the Pope as supream himselfe c. Which was to be slain Rev. 19.20 3 The Bishop was understood in all ancient writings which ordinary Evangelists in Scripture the first 200 yeares as in my book called the Resurrection of Churches appeares 4 The presbyter answeâ—s to the pastor in the true Church hence the presbyter usually useth the name Pastor not Deacon as made first and inferiour to pastors 5 The Deacon in the false Church was the Anti-teacher to the Teacher in the true who was the first minister of Antichrists Church who had not as full authority in Church affairs as the Pastor to administer Sacramentrs nor the Pastor as the Bishop to oâ—daine Ministers but the Bishop with the presbyters as the Evangelist with the pastor and Teacher were to do nor had the Bishops that authority as the Cardinals had in the false church as the Evangelists had not that authority as the Apostles in the true Church Object In the Hierarchy of Rome are 90 Orders and more mentioned by Fox in his Book of Acts and Monuments and then what do you tell us of those five Reply There are so but none of these preached the word as is here signified by the Lamps but either as Bishops or Pastors Priests or Deacons be their Order what they will and so still the teaching ministry of theirs are to be redâ—ced to one of these five Object What
none shall hinder them it being Gods will it must be done and let me say to all concern'd herein as Gamaliel in the Acts 5.39 If this be of God ye cannot overthrow it lest happily ye be found fighters against God 4 Should you say to the Parliament as Elisha to Hazael 2 Kings 8.12 You will do this evill take away all the maintenance and Ministry almost of the Kingdom into three or foure and then wil ye not bring this brave flourishing knowing Kingdom into deep darknesse Atheisme worse then Popish like that of America c. I believe the answer would be Do you think we are Dogs that we should ever do such things as these But where I may apply that of the Prophet that God hath shewed to me that these things shall be done I leave to the issue of things tâ— prove 5 Applic. Was there ever such trouble at the removing of these severall Ministers of the false Church as in Cardinall Wolseys Praemunire for Poole was but as titular and acted little as if dead and in removall of Archbishops and Bishops and their Praemunire can we think though the Deacons fal quietly that the Presbyters fall will not cost much bloud especially in Scotland Do not we see what doings now there are in France and how they are carried against the first of the foolish Virgins the Cardinall Mazarine who have all their work to do but before any peace be in that Kingdom wil do all together Applic. To the Kingdom untill you see these things you can never see peace you can never come out of Babell you can never see the Marriage of the Lambe nor behold the good days of God foretold in the Scripture these things forespoken of make way for these to come amongst us therefore know as contrary to thee as they seem to be yet they are according to God And it is most true if we should consult with flesh and bloud about these things we were utterly lost herein Applic. To Ministers ye see what sad things are coming on us I desire you not to accompt me your enemy because I tell you the truth Gal. 4.16 Many may be happy by it that have hearts to make use of it if this be not Truth let me then be accompted the Ministers publike Enemy whom surely in heart I have not the least desire to offend of my self at all but it seems to me providence foretels you you shall stir up the hatred of the Magistrate against you and then you will occasion him to eat the remaining flesh and to consume the remaining feces of Antichrists Polity amongst us To the Magistrate Rev. 20.4 Thrones were set and judgement was given to them and the souls of them beheaded c. and cap. ver 5. This is the first Resurrection I suppose these things in a judiciall way will be brought to passe in the world Dan. 7.13 14. are at that time to be accomplâ—shed Scriptures I beleeve when accomplished will plainly appear to have been very strangely misunderstood and mis-applyed which I leave to time to evidence and the troubles that do succeed upon removing the Presbytery and that appertains â—hereunto is that last Woe I mentioned in the Epistle dedicated to his Excellency the Lord Fairfax Generall before the Forme of Gospel-Government I caused to be printed about January the 14th 1648. Object You have spoken of Antichrists Ministry as of a single Ministry and now come to compare the Ministry of Christ which are five in the true Church to Antichrist as having five also distinct in her false Church 1 Bellarmine acknowledgeth 2 Tom. de Cler. Cap. 16. That a Cardinall is but as a parish priest in his own Title 2 They were Presbyter-Cardinals and so no more but chiefe Presbyters they having in their Churches but a Single Ministry for as in their Churches a Bishop ministred not to them nor any Archbishop or Presbyter unlesse as Curate or Substitute only Vide Potter Numb 666. Cap. 19. The five Gospell Ministers being in every true Gospell constituted Church the five false in the Romane Catholick Church or Nationall Forbs Irenicu Cap. 11. de Episcop Propos 10 Quando Presbyter fit Episcopus non desinit esse presbyter c. Peculiarem habens Ecclesiam Parochialem quae ipsi sit Cathedralis id est ad quam constantèr resideat c. Now for Presbyters and Deacons they were practised amongst us singly which is proofe sufficient Which clears to us That while Antichrist had his five false Anti-ministers he had them in a false way and not as the true Church each one doing in the Church singly as concerning the Ministry and alone which all the true Church ordinary Ministry were to do together there being no division of Members under the Cardinals the Archbishops or Bishops Ministry more then in the lowest Presbyters in that Hierarchy nor did he any thing differ in his administrations from them as the Apostles did from Prophets they from Evangelists they from Pastors or Teachers in the true Church these in the false Church differed indeed in some things in respect of their whole Antichristian Babylonish Hierarchy but not in particulâ—r Titles or Parish Churches Applic. To Scotland In her is the Root of Presbytery as Episcopacy was in England though that Geneva gave as it were first being unto it under Calvin for in Scotland Nationally it was received and confirmed by one of the ten Kings of the Romane Monarchy c. 1 They shall by the Presbytery be stirred up to warre and be overcome by the Saints they warre against called Hereticks and Schismaticks the old Romane way of proceeding against beleevers they themselves are called so at Rome 2 They will come in the end to hate the Presbytery God will make them naked have their riding the Beast that is the Temporall Authority of that Kingdome opened to them and their standing be made appear not to be Evangelicall by which means the Kingdome of Scotland shall come to hate them and take away all Authority and Jurisdiction from them and take away their Ecclesiasticall preferments and tithes c. yea make their Presbytery so desolate as not to leave a Presbyter of them to be a Minister This friends it seems to me God is about to do in Scotland it selfe and what will become of it in England and what shall we say if ever we see God do these things 3 Though the Warre begin here possibly if it do this Army will then I beleeve enter Scotland and do for Presbytery there as they did for Episcopacy here but with much more integrity for as Episcopacy was to have its fall in England England being the Root of it so Presbytery is to have its fall in Scotland the Root of it being there this estate being the Philadelphian estate in which the love of Sister-Churches will appear O that the mind of God were enquired after at the Word and that men would endeavour the fulfilling thereof so would there
falne estate But for the slumber of the false Church which is of later times there is no such obscurity in that 1 The slumber of Cardinals was when they came from 12 abâ—ut 423. in Coelestines time to be after 25 as Potter Numb of the Beast cap 19. where he sheweth that Cardinals Bishops and Deacons were not originally in the Colledge of Cardinals when their first number were decreed but are rather redundant extuberances of the Papacy built upon and dangerously over-hanging that ancient foundation of the Presbyter Cardinals this slumber hee makes to begin to be the Number 25 but I rather conceive at the Number 12 when Alexander the third in the yeer 1163 made Conradus Suenus Archbishop of Mentz one of the Colledge of the Cardinals 2 The sleep of the Cardinals in this Kingdom was in the death of Cardinall Poole who died the next day after Queen Mary of some Italian physick as some suspect being the 18th of November 1558. The slumber of the false prophet and Anti-Evangelist was in the time of Henry the Eighth when they were made to acknowledge the Kings Supremacy and not the Popes in the yeer 1531. whose sleep was brought on the false prophet and Anti-Evangelist in the yeer 1644 in the making of that Ordinance appointed the taking the Covenant the second branch wherof was that without respect of persons we should endevour the extirpation of Popery and Prelacy that is Church Government by Archbishops Bishops c. which ended in William Laud Jan 10. 1644. The slumber of the Anti-teacher was in that slumber â—â—il on the reâ—t 1531 and is falne asleep and no man knoweth how it being now apparent to all that Deacons were not teachers in the Church as Deacons but ministred almes to the poore only so that now there is none acknowledged and so none awake but the Presbyter that is the Antipastor Let me ask the Question are they awake or do they slumber sure heavens thunder cannot keepe them long from sleeping me thinks the Questioning ministers calling the not suffering the Presbyterian Government to be Jure divino and the daily shaking of her foundations are very dangerous signes she is in a deadly slumber she would else awake and speak for her self Object Here it is questionlesse ô but in Scotland it is awake Here friends I speak not of envy to any but to glorify God in speaking the truth Presbytery must sleep in Scotland as well as Episcopacy in England Episcopacy had as great friends and command here in England as presbytery ever had in Scotland or can have and had it's glory of longer continuance and it is no lesse ordained 〈◊〉 God that presbytery shall sleep then Episcopacy Friends do you not consider you that made that clause in the 2d. branch of the Covenant where we are to endeavour the extirpation not only of Arch-bishops Chancellors Commissaries c. but all other Ecclesiasticall Officers depending on that Hierarchy do not presbyters depend on that Hierarchy I do beleeve in time this will be made use of against presbytery if not on what Hierarchy doth it depend Note it all ye to whom this Writing shall come that as certainly as ye have seen the sleep of Cardinals Arch-bi hops Bishops and Deacons which are four of the foolish Virgins so certainly shall ye see the sleep of presbyters in this Land the whole Earth shall not hinder it she being the fift 2 The time cannot belong it precedes the marriage of the Lamb as near as it is this is the last ô expect thy sleep Object Why if this should be what shall we do for Ministers Reply God will furnish the Land with Teachers for if he give the Word great will be the company of Preachers and truly friend I cannot write this nor think of it but with admiration of that work most certainly God will do in this Kingdome when the scoffers of the times will be ashamed Vers 6. At midnight a cry was made behold the Bridegroome cometh go ye out to meet him What the severall Expositions here are of the day of Judgment and the like I shall passe by as impertinent and shew you 1 That marriages in those parts were oft times celebrated in the night when the younger sort of people attending with the Bride went to meet the Bridegroom and accompany him into the Brides chaÌ„ber but in that it is said to be at midnight it may be imputed to the word delay before v. 5. which time of delay was the time of Antichrist untill his time of tyranny and his Government were ended as expressed of the ill servant in the time of his Lords delay beating his fellow-servants and eating and drinking with the drunken Cap. 24. ver 48 49. When the Lord came he cut him in two c. and the word delay shews marriages were not usually made so late at night 2 It may be he alludes to the first publick notice of Christs coming to his Church in Jerom of Prage or Luthers time which was but a little better then the darkest time of Popery 3 A cry in the teaching of the Gospell now is made of Christ's coming he being other ways held out in the doctrine taught now then in that before Luther 4 They are called on to go out to meet the Lord that is to performe their ministeriall duty in bringing Christ to the Church and in presenting the Church to Christ this begins I suppose with Luther in some kind because Cardinals were sleeping and Arch-bishops and Bishops slumbring but indeed the true time or full time of the cry will be when all are asleep and it may well be called midnight when the ministry is all as it were true and false abolished the true by Antichrist and Christ by his coming abolisheth Antichrists ministry again When God shall do this what rayling will there be against Authority as if they overthrew it Ver. 7. Then all those Virgins arose and trimmed their Lamps 1 At this time when the foolish Virgins and the Presbyter the last of them slumbers God brings again and awakens the five wise Virgins the true Gospel ministry 2 Then there is much trimming of Lamps that is proving of calling ministry and Government by Archbishops and Bishops as Doctor Field by presbytery Calvin Rutherford by the Gospell ministry by him whose name is not meet to be mentioned in the day Christ's ministry shall be spoken for 3 Indeed I suppose there may be yet a time after the presbyters sleep in which liberty will be granted to men for Episcopacy and Presbytery to plead their call freely and publickly it may be before the supream Magistrate sitting in judgment as it were to determine that the controversie intâ—nated in Daniel 7. ver 13 14. 4 In that it is said they arose it sheweth as men awâ—kâ—d out of sleep they will come to this debate of all sides rowsed up from the losse they before had or are like after to sustaine Now the raising of
be a suddain ending of our troubles which we going against God leads us into the wildernesse about and about I could instance in many things in Parliament and Army but I forbear praying God to direct Parliament Army and People to set them in a right way to do Gods will willingly by which means our losses what ever to us Ministers would be repaired Kings and the Nations would willingly give their Kingdoms to Christ people willingly take the course to be in communion with Christ knowing in all Christ seeks us not ours and repaires all losse with wonderfull advantage giving a 1000 fold in this world and in the world to come eternall life with himself for ever I have thought good to conclude with these considerations 1 That the three Woes spoken of Rev. 11.14 had respect to the Wrath of God causing by degrees the fall of the false Church which fell utterly in the last Woe though I know usually men apply it to the last Judgement of the wicked which cannot be Now in the first Woe fell of the false Church ministry Cardinals and with them Votaryes Fryers Abbots Abbyes with their maintenance and with them as false apostles the Apochryphall Scripture they had set up with the golden Legend the Book of false miracles Buls Indulgencies c. ceased with them here 2 Under the second Woe fell the Archbishops and Bishops and with them Chancellors Commissaries Deanes Deanes and Châ—pters c. their Lands c. and with them fell the Common-Prayer Booke in which was the allowed Ministry of the Land with the Homily-Booke 3 Vnder the third Woe which is that I formerly spoke of mentioned in the Epistle I dedicated to his Excellency the Lord Fairfax Generall which is yet to come in which is the fall of Presbyters and Deacons as the Root of Antichrist in whom fals the now preaching maintenance by Tythes Gleabs Church constitutions c. It any more be in the false when people come to see they are in a Bable that is in a Confusion indeed and there is then way made for the Calling Ministry and Church constitution of Christ when the World hath nothing of the now or past Ministry left then is that and not before fulfilled That Babel is fallen Illustration this is understood as I suppose by that Rev. 16.12 The sixth Angel poured out his viol on the River Euphrates and the waters thereof were dryed up that the way of the Kings of the East may be prepared 1 Many things in one part of the Rev. said to be done under the sixth in another are said to be done under the seventh because in one part of the world that is done under one in another is done under another Part of this vision begining under the 6 is ended under the 7th 2 Here by waters I understand the Ministry of Antichrist belonging to Babel as Euphrates did which was that in the false as the River of God spoken of in the true Revel 2.12 Psal 46.5 There is a River the streams whereof shall make glad the City of God 3 The great River that had that multitude of Priests Friers Bishops c. is to be dryed up and taken clean away 4 By which only the way of the Governours of the Sun rising is prepared intimating that as men East of Babel could not come to Jerusalem for that water so the Gospel ministry of the new Jerusalem cannot come to it for the water of Babel remains Object How can you prove the Apostles of the true slept in the time of administration of the false Church especially under Presbytery Reply 1 The Presbytery and the rest before them say the Apostles are extraordinary Officers and are ceased as in the Propositions of the Assembly 2 They apprehend not that in excomunications c. Of Church Administrations they were to do it with the Apostles and Apostles with them as that 1 Cor. 5.4 Intimates we should doe in doing it and so cease not So that Antichrist end seems to me thus to be brought about in the Lords taking down Ministery means and Ordinances these being not long to be ministred by any Authority from or of Rome when the Lord wil decide that great controversie of the calling of the Ministery that now is where it be of God or not when there wil be no visible form of Church Government left no more then was in that time in this Kingdom which was before the birth of Christ into which miserable estate of confusion or desolate condition Babell fals and ends who in her glorious estate was Babell that is Confusion but in this as being that Jericho or City of the Curse devoted with all within her to be destroyed not the gold or garments of Babell being to be left at all for the Lord Jesus now falling on her grinds her to powder when if this prove true what will they say that so bitterly speak of the false and reputed Schismaticall teachers saying God will pluck off the vizard of these persons and notwithstanding their pretences discover with what lying spirit they are led so that their madnesse shall in their destruction be manifested to all to the comfort of the people of God and everlasting shame and confusion of their own faces O man remember thy end Babell fals Revel 18.10 In one houre shall her judgment come the Almighty God hastens her to her end and she cannot find rest but in the judgment aforesaid in which God as in her everlasting grave entombes her for ever at which the Saints in Heaven above and on earth beneath shall sing songs of praise and glory to God for ever Amen Now that the glory of this truth may shine as the Sun in the threefold fall of her triple Crown See Revel 16.19 The great City was divided into three parts so that as there were three woes fell on the Hierarchie of Rome so it shews why but three because the great City the mysticall Rome was divided into three parts the first part subject to Cardinals and the second part subject to Episcopacy and the third part subject to Presbytery these are divided in Judgment and Government preaching one against an other and are three and yet but one City and do belong thereunto and the City never fals untill all these parts are faln upon which fals the Cities of the Nations O London fall to Christ or thou wilt fall for opposing Christ in this very time comes either thy greatest happiness or unhappiness thou ever hadst upon thee The Lord make thee wise in this thy day to know the things of thy peace that thou mayst finde mercy and not in judgment have them hid from thee Luke 19.42 Revel 11. vers 3. Mentions that Ministry which was ordained of God to supply the place of the true and falne Ministry of the Church set out under the name of two witnesses who are ordained of God to prophesie and thereby to feed the Elect of God during the time of
took away the Keys of the Church doore and the Surplice And then raze his Crown and put a Cap of a Lay person on his head and deliver him to the Secular power and say pray be favourable to him who after burns him being called on by the Bishops in the City of London Now you are to observe if a Cardinall Archbishop or Bishop had proved thus Heretical other things had been done to him in his Pale Crosier Mitre and other fooleries as in part was done on those Bishops suffered in Queen Maryes dayes O! Friends see is not the Surplise taken away the Legend the Booke of Conjurations the Candlesticks the Taper the Alb the Maniple the New Testament and stole from the Deacon I mean to exercise it ministerially the Paten and Chalice the Casul the Masse the Mitre Crosier and Cardinals Cap are not all in a little while with many more gone out of the Kingdome and swept clean away as with the beesome of God 4 Things are here done more to be observed 1 Depriving of Priestly honour 2 Razing the Crown 3 Puting on a Laymans Cap which we should be loath to have done on us 4 The saying to the Temporall power we beseech you to receive William Sawtrey favourably into your power if ever God should doe this the Civil power need to be favourable to us for never men needed more favour of them then we shall the Lord grant some way may be found out to supply our families which are not the least in the Kingdom and let not us Ministers if these things are to be not occasion the Magistrate to be straightned to us Lord what a day is coming on us Ministers sure another day of judgment which we cannot flye from That Parable of the unjust Steward Luke 16.1 to the end of vers 11. will be after more cleerly understood then yet it is But this is for comfort certainly that after the true Church is constituted the abundance of blessings will be such I think no man will lack I shall end this part with certain Predictions agreeable hereunto Walter Brute about 1393. but if in time to come after this those that be Temporall Lords shall take from Ecclesiastical persons their Temporalties let him that desireth to understand this read Ezek. chap. of the Sheepherds of Israel and read the Apocalyps of the fall of Babel let him read the Popes Decretals against Heretiks in these he shall find the Temporalties shal be taken from the Clergy for the multitudes of their sins Acts and Mon. A Prediction of Merlinus Calcedenius a Scot. After a long tribulation of Christians and effusion of innocent bloud the prosperity and peace of God shall come to a desolate Nation I mean the Christians for an excellent Pastor shall come and rectifie all things and all things shall be according to the form of the Primitive Church Joannes Wolfius cites a Prediction Europae genitus terra vir justus aequus Pastor erit coeli claves non regna gubernans Pax erit toto surget concordia mundo Una fides unus regnabit in omnia princeps Saint Bridget saith of the Pope that a sword of God should pierce his body and run him throrough from head to heart never to be pulled out and after his armes his Vicars and Ministers their souls should be debarred the glory of God and their dignity and goods should be devolved unto others Joachim an Italian Abbot in his Concord of the two Testaments hath written many predictions which accord with these Joannes de rupe Scissa once Bishop of Paris hath foretold that the Popeâ— Archbishops Bishops and the whole Clergy of Rome shaâ—l be brought back again to the Primitive form of Christ and his Apostles with most sharp scourges and that all temporall principalities shall be taken from the Clergy Savanorala that the Apostolicall See should be removed from Rome to Jerusalem if hereby be understood the New Jerusalem it is true And its possible these Predictions were for the most part taken from Scripture as Expositions only as in the predicted place of Walter Brute according to which I have done mine which none can quarrell at unlesse he quarrell against the Word if it agree with the mind of the holy Spirit if not reprove it print against it After part of the wrath of God contained under the sixth Seal in which is a fall of the ministry Revel 6.13 and demolishing of Church Government in rolling away of the Heavens vers 14. chap. 7.1 there is an endevour by 4 Angels that is ministers to stop the Winâ—s or Gospel through discontent that their ministry and government was abolished it being given to them by the Magistrate It is liked not of God because they are by the other Angel that differed from them forbade to do it it is like they will endevour to peace if their call to the ministry be false there is none true and so ought to be no teaching at all but the other Angel that ascends from the Sun rising that is he that was of those Christ the Son of righteousnesse at first sent forth with the Gospel hee opposeth them who hath the Seal that is the authority of the living God to constitute Churches and gather members into Gospel fellowship with Jesus Christ by the word setting men apart to God thereby from the World Reader one word of this Scripture is not fulfilled but follows the things in hand time will shortly manifest them in another way then yet they are In the Ministry of Edmundsbury in the Celleners great Chamber window in one half of the glasse was pictured the Apostle Paul having in one hand a sword and with the other points to a picture and the other side of the window with a triple Crown in a glorious Seat holding the Globe of the World in his hand environed with Priests Monks Preachers and Fryers and having out of his mouth an unclean spirit flying or fluttering about the same his Crown was compassed is it were with Sun-beams and in three severall places written about it in short Antichristus and about the Apostles head was written Veniet discessio primum And underneath the Apostle Paul is pictured Malachy the Prophet and written above his head Ecce ego mittam vobis Eliam Prophetam Behold I will send you Eliah the Prophet and he shall turne the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers least I smite the earth with a Curse and with the finger pointed at Eliah pictured on the other hand over against him underneath the picture of Antichrist as if hee were preaching to the Prelates Priests Monks and Friers amongst whom some are represented as stopping their cares and nose thereat Some as if they seemed sleeping otâ—er some at listning and assenting to that Elias saith Vide Maxwels History of admirable prophecies I do not cite these as if the Scripture were not sufficient to admonish us or that I use them as of any authority in a manner but thus that when all knowledge was taken away from the people God stirred up the dumbe to speak and made the blinde see the destruction of Antichrist to wonder and admiration so that Popes Cardinals c. cannot say but they have been admonished of God from Heaven as it were of that destruction most certainly followeth Now if these how much more should we from the word warn men and be warned in which they may see truth themselves spoken of God that cannot lie and blessed is that soule is not offended at it but made wise and in it happy for ever which is it I only seek God is witness and not of my self the wrong or fall of any enviously but the admonition of all that are concern'd here in love and in peace in God and in Christ our Lord according to the everlasting Gospel of our blessed God and Saviour and who is he that came or shal be offended at it and not offend God yea try if it be the truth if so if thou believe not yea if thou submit not to it the enmity of this heart appears against which pray the Lord earnestly to give thee grace and mercy that thou be not left thereto for ever whereto the Lord help all his daily evermore FINIS Errata Page 1. r. parabolas p. 4. l. 34. r. are in p. 5. l. 2. r. Presbyter p. 5. l. 17. r. false prophet p. 5. l. 23. r. alterius orbis p. 5. 28 29. r. for the Evangelists p. 10 l. 16. dele that l. 35. r. who are p. 13. l. ult r. association p. 19. at end of 20 l. 1 Cor. 3.15 p. 19. l. 4. r. as at