A DISCOVERIE OF THE BEASTS Being AN EXPOSITION OF THE XIII Chapter of the Revelation of JESUS CHRIST Wherein All true Christians yet in Babylon are admonished to come out And the Anti-christians fore-told what their plagues will be By I. W. Revel 16. 15. Behold I come as a thiefe blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments lest he walke naked and they see his shame Printed in the year M. DC XLI CHRISTIAN READER AMong the many excellent helps which the Lord at this present time hath given unto his Elect for to discover the Mystery of Iniquity and to direct them in the way which Ieadeth to eternall life this little Treatise is a choice and chiefe one Thou art therefore desired to peruse the same with an understanding and impartiall heart and so doing I doubt not through Gods blessing on they labor but thou shalt reap much comfort and good thereby I have set it forth for the publike good and do desire the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ that it may prove so every where even a means to raze down the false Churches and to help forward the buildlng up of Gods House And so prayes he who is thine if thou be Christs I C. AN INTERPRETATION OF THE XIII CHAPTER OF THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST THe Eternall whose power is over all from the beginning hath put enmitie between the Serpent and the Woman Gent. 3 15. and between the seed of the Woman and the seed of the Serpent whereupon it hath come to passe in all ages that the seed of the woman hath laboured to break the Serpents head that is to destroy his works tread him under foot and triumph in victory over him He on the contrarie hath laboured as earnestly to resist God to deceive the Nations and to bring all into condemnation and destruction with with himself And amongst the manifold waies and means which Satan hath devised and practised to manifest his malice against God and his Saints none hath been more dangerous nor more availeable to further iniquity and cause destruction then the Antichristian generation which under the title of the Church and Spouse of Christ and Ministers of the Gospell have corrupted the earth and brought the Nations into miserable bondage and slaverie In this 13 Chapter is declared the state policy and proceeding of the Antichristian Dominion and Kingdom as the same was signified and foreshewed to Iohn the servant of Jesus Christ in a threefold forme First by a Beast rising up out of the Sea having 7 heads and 10 hors ver 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Secondly by a Beast comming up out of the earth having two hoâ—â—es like the Lamb but spake like the Dragon vers 11 12 13 14 Thirdly by an image of the first beast which the second beast caused them that dwelt on the earth to make as in vers 14 15 16 17 18. As the Dominion of the Medes Persians and Grecians which persecuted and destroyed the holy people of God the Iews were signified and foreshewed to Daniel in a vision under the formes of severall beasts according to the qualities of those Dominions so here the Antichristian dominion which persecuted the Churches and people of Christ was foreshewed to Iohn under the formes of such Beasts as are here described whereby we may learne that as reason and judgement is not to be expected in a beast so equitie and right is not to be expected in this dominion but the contrarie Concerning the first of these beasts John sayth That as I stood upon the sea sand I saw a beast rise up out of the sea hauing seven heads and 10 hornes and upon his hornes 10. Crownes and upon his heads the names of blasphemy And the beast which I saw was like unto a Leopard and his feet as the feet of a Beare and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion and the dragon gaue him his power and his seat and great authoritie That by this first beast was signified and represented some state of people and body politique I presume no reasonable man exercised in the Scriptures will deny because as it hath been sayd it is there to be seene that such states and dominions as God hath used as rods and scourges to chastise and correct his Church and people withall have been represented by beasts States and dominions they are of two sorts either Ecclesiastical or Civil but of which sort the State here meant is there hath been and is great opposition Many understand it to be the Romane Empire to which I cannot consent because the Romane Empire is ordeyned of God and is therefore a lawfull Dominion But the Dominion here represented is sayd to be from the dragon that old serpent the Deuill who is sayd to giue his power and his throne and great authoritie unto it and therefore unlawfull neither can I conceave it to be any other ciuil dominion for the same reason But to be short I vnderstand it to be an Ecclesiasticall State or Dominion and in perticular that Dominion which is called the Catholike Church representatiue consisting of the Prelacy and Preisthood of many Nations as Patriarches Cardinalls Archbishops Bishops with divers other elected persons who being called and gathered into Counsells or Synods usually called generall Counsells did usurpe and take on them the office of Iesus Christ in making lawes and Canons erecting Courts instituting offices and officers in matters of Religion as for the government of the Church and for the worship of God to be of all men observed and obeyed These generall Counsels or as the Catholicks call it the Catholicke Church representatiue haue challenged and exercised spirituall authoritie and dominion According to the text ouer all kindreds tongus and nations By their laws and canons they guided and governed them as one uniuersall or Catholicke Church made them also to observe their decrees and commaundements for doctrine this thay haue done both before and also since the Pope was exalted to his dignitie as all histories of the Church do testify So that it hath been and is a great question among the Catholicks whither the authoritie of the Pope or the Catholick Church in cases of Religion be the greater And whereas it is said in the 12. verse that the second beast exercised all the power of the first Beast before him thereby is confirmed the trueth of this exposition For the second Beast being the Pope as hereafter is shewed hath exercised the whole power of the Catholick Church or generall counsels and not of any other state or Dominion Further that this is the first beast here presented that which followeth through Gods helpe shall make manifest and apparant But before I doe proceed I desire the reader to observe that I do not condemne all vse of counsells and Synods but doe hold that divers churches may lawfully be assembled together to consult and advise of matters concerning Religion and the worship of God for their
we are fallen and being enemies and opposers of Christ and his Kingdom it doth behoove us to know them to the end that wee may eschew them and their evill wayes and seek after the truth making strait steps unto the Kingdom of God Now that we our selves may make particular use hereof it is necessary for us to examine the Nationall Synod or Convocation consisting of the Prelacy and Clergie of the Land who whilst they remained under the yoke and bondage of the Church of Rome and whilst they exercised their power which was first given them by the Pope for and in the behalfe of that Church and Dominion they were the very Image of the first Beast before mentioned But being now separated from the Pope and Church of Rome they think as it should seem that their spirituall Pontificall power and authority which they exercise is lawfull and warrantable and to be submitted unto They being gathered together boast themselves to be the representative body of the Church of England and the true Church of Christ and that they have power to make Laws and Canons for Government thereof and for the worship of God which all men ought to yeeld obedience unto as appeareth by divers of their Bookes of Canons But we are not to take this upon their word but to make triall thereof by the Word of God whether it be true or false If the Word of God did give them such power and authority then indeed we were bound in conscience to yeeld already obedience to their Lawes and Canons But the most wise God and Disposer of all things who knoweth the vanity of mens mindes would not have his people to hold their faith in respect of mens persons and at their pleasure to alter and change the same and therefore did not give to any of his Ministers power to make Laws in matters of Religion and for the worship of God but gave them power onely to teach the Nations to observe the things which he had commanded them as in the 28. of Mathew the 19. and 20. verses And the Apostle Paul biddeth the Corinthians 1 Cor. 11.1 to be followers of him as he followed Christ And in the same Chapter he also saith That which he had received of the Lord he delivered unto them Acts 15. Also the Assembly of the apostles and Elders of the Church of Ierusalem they would not impose any yoke of bondage upon the Churches of Christ but held it to be a tempting of God so to do as before hath been shewed And this agreeth with that in Deut. 12.32 Whatsoever I command you take heed you do it Thou shalt put nothing thereto nor take ought therefrom By which Scriptures it is plain that the chiefest Ministers of the Gospell had no such power as these Prelates presume to have as we shall finde by examining their particular Canons and Constitutions of which for examples I will onely note some few of their late and best reformed Book made Anno 1603. in the first year of the Kings Majesties reign by which it will be apparant that they passe the bounds of the Subjects of Christ and that they have no power from him to make such Laws but by so doing they usurp the place of God to reign in mens consciences for unto him onely it doth belong to make Laws in matters of Religion and for the worship of God to which men are onely bound to yeeld obedience without adding or detracting and that for this their presumption they are liable to the curse of God being indeed the Image of the Beast here spoken of that is originally sprung from the Dragon and hath received power of Law-making from him Concerning the first and second Canons wherein they pretend their zeal for the abolishing of all forraign power repugnant to the jurisdiction of the Kings Majestie over the Ecclesiasticall estate he being the highest power under God to whom all men owe most loyall obedience and that his Majestie hath the like authority in Causes Ecclesiasticall as the godly Kings had amongst the Iews To these I do most willingly assent and agree And further do desire that as the Pope so the Prelacy with all their Antichristian Adherents which usurp spirituall power and superiority above the Majestie of Christ Iesus being a strange and forraigne generation brought in and established in this Land by the Pope of Rome may also be abolished and cast out after him for by them the Pope lives in hope hereafter to be served as he hath been heretofore to the great vexation of the Kings and Princes of this Land yea to the losse of their Crown and lives But to be short I will proceed to mention some few of their Canons whereby iniquity is established for a Law and their beastlinesse discovered In the third Canon it is enacted that whosoever shall affirme the Church of England by Law established not to be a true and Apostolicall Church teaching and maintaining the doctrine of the Apostles that person shall bee excommunicated ipso facto That there are some yea many doctrines of the Apostles maintained in the Church of England I do not deny so there are in the Church of Rome But that the Ecclesiasticall state or spirituall body politike which is called the Church of England which consisteth of Arch-bishops Diocesan lord-Lord-bishops Suffragans Deanes Arch-deacons Prebends Canons Chancellours Commissaries with the rest of the Clergie as heads and guides of that body to go before and the whole multitude of the Layitie as they call it which is as the Tayle to follow those Heads that this politicall Body is the Spouse and Church of Christ as they affirme in their seventh eighth and ninth Canons that I do deny For first if it were true that they are the Ministers of Christ which is his Church we should finde warrant for them in his Testament wherein is set down the Ministers which he hath set in the Church namely Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers and also their office and administration But in all the New Testament no Arch-bishops nor Lord-bishops no Deanes nor Arch-deacons Prebends Priests nor Canons no Chancellours nor Commissaries and other their Court-officers nor any such administration as they challenge and execute can there be found they are a strange generation that is risen up out of the earth for earthly-minded and vaine men have invented them and therefore the body which consisteth of them cannot of right bee acknowledged to bee the Body of Christ whose Ministers in respect that they are called according to the Commandement of Christ are from Heaven But it is indeed the Image of the first Beast whose mouth was as the mouth of a Lyon his body like a Leopard and his feet as the feet of a Beare an ugly compounded and deformed monster And as their names are strange and different from the Ministers of Christ so is their practise contrary they are not servants to the Flock and Church of Christ
instruction information of their Iudgements and so a good and holy vse may be thereof But that any counsells haue such power over the church of Christ as to impose vpon them their cômandements for doctrine and usurp the goverment of the Churches and to rule and reigne over them by their lawes and Canons and prescribe rules and formes how God will be worshipped as these generall counsells haue done that I doe deny as being contrarie to the perfecton of the holy Scriptures and the practise of the Apostles and Elders of the-Church of Ierusalem 2 Tim. 3.17 Deut. 4.2 Reve. 22 18 Act. 5 10 who being assembled together did professe it to be a tempting of God to lay such a yok on the disciples necks as the observing of the Iewish ceremonies which being vnlawfull to do it is uuch more vnlawfull to devise and impose any other And therefore the sayd assembly of the Apostles Elders concluded to lay no greater burden vpon the disciples then to abstaine from such necessary things as either were simply evil in them selues as fornication Act. 15 8 19 c. or else euill in respect of offence as meate offered to Idols blood and things strangled Now to proceed first it is said of this Beast That hee did rise up out of the sea By his rising vp was foreshewd that the Antichristian policie should arise from a poore and meane estate to great riches and honour in the world which we and former generations have seene to the uttermost fulfilled For dayes there were when the Churches of Christ both Ministers and people were hated despised and persecuted in the world spoiled of their goods made gazing stocks and wonders and afflicted with all kinde of cruelty as histories both sacred and humane do abundantly specifie and declare The Apostle Paul saith of himself and his fellow-bretheren the Ministers of the Gospell that they were as men appointed to death and in the account of the world as the filth refuse and of-scouring of all things But since this beastly generation hath succeeded the Church and under the titles of Ministers of the Gospell and the Bishops ouer Gods people have found meanes by little and little to rise up and to exalt themselves over the Nations and to bring the multitudes and peoples and Nations and Tongues under their Iurisdiction rule and Dominion Rev 18 3 2 Thes 2. 7. and they have so risen up that they are become the great men of the earth and are waxed rich through the abundance of their delicacies This mysterie of iniquity was working in the Apostles time for there were then crept into the Church those that desired worldly pompe and promotion and were not contented with the portion of the Lords Heritage but their ambitious desires could not then be satisfied there was a let in the way that hindered it which lets being removed their purposes soone after took effect fitly therefore is this generation said to rise up in respect of those whose successours they boast themselves to be The former hold no certaine dwelling places but were exposed to hunger thirst cold nakednesse buffetings c. But these latter have their Lordly Houses warlike Castles and Princelike Palaces they have their Rents Revenues and abundance of riches in great excesse they are pompously arrayed in stately Robes and rich apparell they rule like Lords over the people and have power to aflict all that will not beare the yoke of their Dominion thus is this generation risen vp and exalted as all may see that list to minde it The Place from whence this Beast is said to rise up is the sea The naturall sea wee know is the gathering together of many waters Gen. 1.9 10. A Like thing must that be out of which this beast was to rise But in the 17. Chapter Multitudes and nations peoples and Tongues are resembled by waters therefore the gathering together of such into one body politike may rightly be resembled by the Sea Thus then the truth standeth By the rising up of this Beast out of the Sea was foreshewed that those many waters that is the people and multitudes and Nations and Tongues not onely under the Romane Empire but most nations and people of the World being gathered into one Sea or Ecclesiasticall State should breed and bring forth this Monster For they being of two contrary sorts the seed of the Serpent and the seed of the Woman Children of the Kingdom and children of the wicked unto the one sort the Word of God in the administration thereof is the savour of life unto life unto the other sort it is the savour of death unto death The one sort feare God and will obey him rather then man The other feare and reverence the arme of flesh more then they do the living God These as light and darknesse being contrary one to another the one being of Christ the other of Belial how therefore should they in things concerning God and Christ Faith and Religion agree together Those which be of God cannot but witnesse against those that be of the world because their deeds are evill Those which are of the world are heady high-minded proud boasters wise in their own conceit and therefore scorne to be rebuked and hate to be reformed These being together in the world as Wheat and Tares in one field and as Sheep and Goats in one Flock the true end of the administration of the Word of God had been to call and separate the one from the other the precious from the vile beleevers from infidels But notwithstanding this generation thought it to be wisdom to take a contrary course namely to bring all people of all sorts to be one Church and likewise unto uniformity in Religion And because it could not be effected by the Word of God that sword of the Spirit they procured the help of worldly governours to bring it to passe by their power and command By which device and policie these many waters that is the Nations and people have been gathered into one Church and Ecclesiasticall body politike here represented by the Sea and have been brought to use all one order or worship service and government But this conformitie not being procured through love but constrained by feare was but an humane devise and worldly policy and no divine Institution and therefore could not be upholden maintained and continued by the Word of God and the administration of a serviceable Ministery but by the over-ruling power of a Lordly Prelacie whereupon it was thought meet that Synods or Counsels of the chiefest of the Prelates and Cleargie of divers Dominions should be gathered together to make Laws and Canons which all men should be constrained by penall Laws to observe and yeeld obedience unto and so peace and unitie might be preserved and kept amongst them And in short time it came to passe that whatsoever these Synods or Counsels did agree upon and set down how false soever was to be
to this is the meaning of the name of the Beast which the holy Ghost setteth down in a mysterie in the 17 Chapter and 5 verse Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots the abominations of the earth But the Papists call it not Babylon the Great but the great universall or Catholike Church not the Mother of Harlots but the Mother of all true Beleevers not the Mother of all abominations of the earth but the Pillar and ground of Truth that cannot erre This is the difference betwixt the name which God giveth them and which they take and attribute unto themselves But let them speak the best of themselves and let us consider and answer them in their own language they call themselves the Catholike Church and their professed vassals and subjects are therefore called Catholikes and whatsoever they be that do either preach or professe the Catholike faith that is beleeve as this Catholike Church beleeveth that it is Mother of all true Beleevers that it cannot erre c. they are Catholikes such persons wheresoever they live if they thus believe although they never received the marke of the Beast nor can receive it yet this profession is enough to intitle them in the right of buying or selling these foresaid wares such persons have the name of the Beast and therefore they may buy pardons of the forgivenesse of part or all their sins and use any of these things which they suppose necessary for their souls health but indeed destruction yea after their death they may for a summe of money given to the foresaid Merchants by their charitable Successours be released out of Purgatory thus by their own discription we have found out the name of the Beast and who they are that have received it The third condition is the number of his name as the Beast had one generall name which is the Catholike Church whereby he was known from all other States and Kingdoms in the world so it hath a number of names belonging to the particular parts and members thereof to distingnish one from another as in the 17. Chapter and third verse The Beast was full of names of blasphemy As the true Church which is that body whereof Christ Iesus onely is the Head is compleat and furnished when it is coupled and knit together by every joynt and member which Christ Iesus hath given for the furniture thereof namely Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastours and Teachers So this false Church being furnished with those parts and members which that great red Dragon hath invented and set up under the title of Ministers of Christ to work upon the children of disobedience namely the Pope Patriarches Cardinals Arch-bishops Bishops Deanes Arch-deacons Abots Priors Prebends Canons Chancellers Commissioners Registers Doctours with the rest of the selected Synod or Counsell so I say this Church or Beast being furnished with these members are the full number of his name that is they are the number of whom the Catholike Church consisteth and from them all inferiour power and offices of Ministry as Monks Friers Parsons Vicars Curats and Jesuits are derived This I understand to be the number of his name and this exposition agreeth with that in the verse following where it is said let him that hath understanding count the number of the Beast what can be understood but the Number of the particular parts whereof he consisteth And where it is said For it is the number of a man What can be understood but that it beareth the resemblance and likenesse of a man as followeth to be declared Thus we see who may buy and sell in this Kingdom and who may not Here is wisdom let him that hath understanding count the number of the Beast for it is the number of a man and his number is 666. Here is shewed first what is required in searching out this mystery and that is wisdom and understanding not such as is from beneath but from above which commeth down from the Father of lights from whom commeth every good and perfect gift he it is that giveth wisdome to the simple and the understanding of his secrets to those that feare him which should teach those that desire to know the Mysteries of his will to labour to be such as to whom he hath promised to reveale them then whatsoever we aske we shall receive of him for to such he giveth liberally and upbraideth not Secondly here is shewed a direction how to imploy a mans wisdom in finding out this Mysterie and that is by counting or reckoning the number of this Beast Thirdly a reason why the number of the Beast is to be counted Because it is the number of a man that is it agreeth with and is answerable to the parts of a man and so is the more easily to be found for as we know the true Church of Christ is compared in the Scriptures to the naturall body of a man as in 1 Cor. 12.12 For as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so also is Christ Jesus And in the 27. verse the Apostle speaking of the Church of Corinth he saith Yee are the body of Christ and members in particular c. So in the Ephes 1.22 23. Christ is given to be Head over all things to the Church which is his Body Thus as the true Church is called and compared to a body so the Catholikes affirme that they onely are that Church and that Body and that the particular parts and members of their Church are the full number thereof Now whereas they say they are the Church let us say they are the Beast And whereas they say their particular parts and members make up the number of the Church let us say their particular parts members make up the number of the Beast and so we finde the true interpretation of this Scripture Further here is set down the number of the Beast which is 666. By this number I do not understand any set number and that the parts and members of the Beast are no more nor lesse but thereby I understand is meant a full and compleat number as before was shewed As all the parts and members of a man joyned together make a whole perfect man so do the particular parts and members of the Beast make a perfect and entire Beast Thus briefly according to the ability which God hath given me I have gone over this Chapter wherein is briefly set forth the workers of iniquity which have done and yet still do prevaile over Gods people under the title of Ministers of the Gospell and Church of Christ as they were represented under the forme of three severall Beasts The first Beast representing the Generall Counsels or as the Papists call it the Catholike Church The second Beast representing the POPE And the third Beast the PROVINCIAL COUNCELS which were established by the Pope The which three Beasts bearing rule and Dominion in these times whereinto
and helpers of their joy but they are authours of their woe challendging and exercising Lordship and Dominion over their faith for in stead of a due administration of the Word of God they have mingled a cup of fornication for the people to drink that is devised a forme of Book-worship with Orders Rites and Ceremonies which they have imposed on the people under the title of Divine Service and which they must observe without adding thereto or taking any thing from it as in the 4 6 7 8 and 14. Canons Further they are not painefull Preachers but lazy Lords they are not followers of Christ and of his Word but are contemners thereof casting it behinde their backs and will not be reformed nor ruled by it they are Law-makers much like Nebuchadnezzar for as he would destroy all that would not worship his golden Image So whosoever doth refuse to yeeld obedience to their Lawes shall bee most severely punished as is plaine by divers penalties annexed to their Canons In consecrating and ordaining Priests they are like to Ieroboam for as he consecrated whom he would of the basest of the people to be the Priests of the high places which he had set up so do they ordaine for the most part ignorant fellows to be their Parish Priests and inferiour Ministers wherein though they do most absurdly yet will they not bee contradicted as we may see by the 57 Canon where it is said whosoever shall refuse to communicate with a dumb and unpreaching Minister Let him be excommunicated And although their owne Doctours complaine and cry out against it yet they will not amend amongst the rest it is worthy to be observed what their own great Champion profound Master Hooper faith viz. That both Arguments from light of nature Laws and Statutes of Scripture the Canons that are taken out of ancient Synods the decrees and constitutions of sincerest times the sentences of all antiquity and in a word every mans consent and conscience is against ignorance in them that have the cure and charge of soules If it be so how unreasonable and beastly is it for the Prelates to ordain allow and approve of such for the Ministers of Christ of which there are many hundreds in the Land whom the Prelates are not ashamed to forbid to expound the Scriptures as in the 49 Canon where it is said that some of their Parish Priests shall not take upon them to expound in their cure or else-where any Scripture or matter or doctrine but shall onely study to read c. It is greatly to be wondred at that so many grave heads as were gathered together and sate consulting about these matters should breed and bring forth such absurd and impious Canons If there were nothing else this allowance of dumb Ministers is sufficient to shew the vanity of their mindes and the darknesse of their foolish hearts So that wee may truely say of them that when they professed themselves to be most wise by exalting and making themselves equall with God in making Laws for the government of his House the Church even then they became most foolish and voide of judgement As for the best sort of their Parish Priests which are men of learning and gifts they must also be confined within their limits they must worship God according to the rules prescribed them by these their spirituall Fathers as in the 38 Canon If any Minister shall omit to use the forme of prayer or any of the Orders or Ceremonies prescribed in the Communion Book let him be suspended and if he do not conforme within the space of a moneth let him be deposed The absurdities and blasphemies contained in that Comon Prayer-book are many which having been discovered and laid open by divers Treatises already published in print I will omit onely this I will adde that in the imposing of that Service Booke or any other this great iniquity is committed by the imposers thereof That they do exalt themselves both against Christ who is ascended into Heaven and hath given gifts to his Ministers Ephes 4.1 11 12. for the gathering together of the Saints for the worke of the ministery and for the edification of the Church his Body and also they exalt themselves against the Holy Ghost who onely hath power to help our infirmities Rom 8.26 and to furnish men with gifts to worship God aright Further their Preachers may not teach against their corrupt Church state and Ministry though they know it to bee Antichristian nor against the forme of worship prescribed in the said Common-prayer Book nor against the ceremonies nor the Government of the Church of England by Arch-bishops Bishops Deanes Archdeacons and the rest that beare office in the same nor against the manner and form of making and consecrating Bishops Priests or Deacons nor against the Laws and Ordinances Ecclesiasticall established in the said Church whosoever transgresseth in these things shall be excommunicated ipso facto as is plaine in the 4 6 7 8 and 54. Canons Thus by excommunicating and cursing they labour to maintaine and defend their corruptions but not one jott of Scripture dare they shew and no marvaile seeing the whole Scriptures are against mens inventions and traditions of which nature these abuses are being left here by the Pope and retained and renewed by his Prelates As they may not teach against these things so on the contrary they may not teach the true and right way which Christ hath prescribed in his Testament how we must worship God nor how the true Church of Christ ought to be gathered and constituted the Ministers thereof ordained nor the manner how it ought to be governed as appeareth in the 9.10 11. and 12. Canons By which we may see in what bondage their Preachers are kept they must hide their Talent in the earth and put their candle under a Bushed lest men by the light thereof should come to the knowledge of the truth and believe it Also it is to be observed as a generall rule that none good or bad learned or unlearned can be suffered to receive their Orders of Priesthood or Deaconship or be admitted to preach or execute a Ministery in their Parish Churches unlesse they sweare to conforme to the worship and ceremonies prescribed by these Prelates and also submit to their Anti-christian rule and government which they challenge to themselves as being Lords over all Thus by swearing they make their inferiour Priests to sell themselves to worke wickednesse which trick they have cunningly devised to bring the Land in subjection to these Antichristian yoke And upon the taking of this Oath they receive the Prelates Marke which is called in this Chapter the Marke of the Beast which is understood to be the Letters of Orders under the Prelates hand and Seale to testifie that they are made Priests or Deacons according to the Order and Canons prescribed in that behalfe in this their Convocation as we may see in the 36 48
is the true and right rule whereby Gods people ought to walke and by so doing they become indeed the true Church of Christ to whom he hath promised his presence and blessing yet notwithstanding such persons are for this to be accounted Schismatikes and to be excommunicated ipso facto as holding wicked errours Thus they open their mouthes wide to speake evill of the waies of God whereby also they appeare to be the very Images of the Beast that blasphemed the Tabernacle of God as is shewed before upon the sixth verse Further whereas the Apostles did ordaine divers Elders in every Church to whom they gave charge to feed the Flock of Christ whereof the Holy Ghost had made them Overseers On the contrary these Prelates in stead of Elders to feed one Flock they do ordaine one idle priest to be fed of divers Flocks that is some to have two some three and some foure Benefices and this they are not ashamed to publish as appeareth in the 41 Canon by which it is allowed that Licences and Dispensation shall be granted to Masters of Arts and other Graduates to have plurality of Benefices so that they be within the compasse of 30. miles Concerning their Copes Surplices Crossing in Baptisme and other their foolish Ceremonies which they themselves acknowledge to be things indifferent yet those that refuse to use them through the tendernesse of their consciences are therefore greatly afflicted and persecuted so far are they unlike the Apostle who would not use necessary things that were offensive to his brethren as that they themselves will not onely use those things which are unnecessary but also in their use justly scandalous and offensive yea and compell their brethren also to use them which if they refuse they shall enjoy neither liberty nor worldly possessions How unworthy this their practise is for those that would be accounted Christians let the world judge certainly it is so contrary to Christian charity as that it is to be accounted Heathenish impiety and beastly cruelty and it is a Marke in their foreheads to testifie unto the world that they are those which our Saviour Christ speaketh of that should come in Sheeps clothing that is pretending themselves to be the Ministers of the Gospell and such as desire peace and unity but inwardly are ravening Wolves such as do sow strife and contention and by this meanes they grow rich filling themselves with the spoile of their Brethren whom they persecute as Lions Beares and Leopards fill themselves with their prey These and many other evils by their Canon Law established and to the dishonour of God and vexation of his people daily practised have been much opposed and the iniquity of them sufficiently manifested but as yet it remaineth like unto the Decrees of the Medes and Persians that may not be changed yea they boast and say like their old Mother that without their Laws the Church of Christ would run into confusion as if the Testament and Laws of Christ were not sufficient for the government of his Church and Kingdom Thus they open their mouthes and reproach the Almighty But he who sitteth in the Heavens laugheth them to scorne and will vexe them in his sore displeasure if they repent not By these few examples of their wicked practises I have briefly shewed that this Church of England still remaineth under the bondage of Antichrist and is ruled and governed by the Image of the Beast mentioned in this 13 Chapter which usurpeth that power which is onely proper to Christ Jesus And whereas it is objected in the behalf of the Church of England that it is fallen and separated from Babylon the universal Church of Rome and therefore it is the true Church of Christ and needs no other separation To this I answer that true it is that that great City is now divided into three parts as was foreshewed in the 16 Chapter of this prophesie and the Cities of the Nations that is the Nationall Churches whereof the Church of England is one are fallen from it but this is no argument that therefore they are the true Churches of Christ that are divided from Rome unlesse they be united and joyned to Christ and framed and built together according to the patterne prescribed in his Testament It is indeed an argument that this kingdom shall not long stand as our Saviour Christ teacheth Mat. 12. Every kingdom divided against it selfe is brought to desolation and every City or House divided against it selfe shall not stand And if Satan cast out Satan he is divided against himself how shall then his kingdom stand Thus by the division of this Great City Gods people may receive comfort and rejoyce in assured hope that the fall and destruction of Babylon is neare and that the Lord will shortly be avenged of their iniquities which should teach us to come out from amongst them that we partake not of their sins and so receive of their plagues and to have no fellowship with their unfruitfull workes of darknesse but rather reprove them and stedfastly resist and fight against them So shall we receive the Crown of righteousnesse which God the righteous Iudge shall give at his appearing To whom be glory and Dominion for ever and ever Amen REVEL 20.4 And I saw the soules of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of Iesus and for the Word of God and which had not worshiped the Beast neither his Image neither had received his Marke upon their foreheads or in their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years FINIS
a visible God not onely to behold with their eyes and look upon but also to eate and that their Maker and Redeemer to their everlasting salvation And being so effectually deluded as that they beleeved these lies hereupon they wondred and followed the Beast Well might they wonder to see bread and taste bread where was no bread and to see wine and taste wine where was no wine for so were they made to believe and to eate flesh and drink bloud and yet neither to see nor take flesh nor bloud this was a wonder to wonder at and who would not follow him for a guide that had power to worke such wonders But they did not onely follow the Beast as the Iews did Christ when they saw his miracles But they worshipped the Dragon which gave power unto the Beast and they worshipped the Beast saying who is like unto the Beast Who is able to make warre with him To worship is to heare and obey and by worshipping the Dragon was shewed that they wholly addicted themselves to be directed and ruled by the Beast whom the Dragon used as his instrument to work his will and to whom he had given authority and power to that end thus originally they worshiped the Divell Secondly they worshipped the Beast as being the instrument of the Divell and they became subjects in all things obedient unto the Beast as being of such holinesse and truth as that it could not erre nor deceive others and of such power as what they loosed on earth was loosed in heaven and what they bound in earth was bound in heaven and therefore such a power as had no match or peere so that they boasted and said of it Who is like unto the Beast As David considering the power and wonderfull workes of God saith Who is like unto the Lord So do the Nations boast of this Beast saying Who is like unto the Beast And further they said of him Who is able to make warre with him As if they should say This our holy Mother hath power to excommunicate and deliver to Satan all of what estate condition degree soever they be that will not heare her voice beare her yoke and be ruled by her Who therefore is able to make war with her that is make his party good against this our holy Mother Of such admiration was this Beast in the earth thus hath the world thought and spoken of her And moreover there was given unto this Beast a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and power was given him to make 42 moneths As the mouth is the means and instrument whereby men do declare their mindes so this Beast had a mouth to declare and utter her minde by which mouth was signified a ministery of false prophets and lying spirits namely Doctours School-men Monkes Fryers and all sorts of their Preachers who teach for doctrines the commandements of the Beast and declare and utter the minde and will of the Beast as being equall to Gods Word this their Canons Laws Books and Monuments do manifestly witnesse The effect of that which this mouth uttereth is noted to be great things and blasphemies They boast of this Beast that she is the holy Catholike Church Militant the Mother of all rrue beleevers the chaste Spouse of Christ the Pillar and ground of Truth that it cannot erre c. And that all which will have God to be their Father must have her to be their Mother Finally that out of her lap and communion there is no salvation These and many other such great things speaketh the mouth of this Beast which are indeed great things and being so spoken are great blasphemies For is it not great blasphemie to call that Holy which is most abominable To call her the Mother of all true Beleevers which is the mother of fornications and of all abominations To call that the Pillar and ground of Truth which hath corrupted the earth with her errours and fornications and caused all Nations to drink of the wine of the wrath thereof To say there is no salvation but in her fellowship whose end and judgement is to go to destruction Beware of false Prophets and teachers of lies for such are the mouth of this Beast And it is further to be minded that it is said of this Beast that the mouth which she had was given her for had this Beast no more to maintaine this mouth then she hath of her own by discent and heritage she could not have so many to speak for her as she hath But Emperous and Kings Princes and Nobles and other great sinners became benefactours to this Beast giving unto her Lands and Tenements Rents and Revenews to maintaine this mouth to utter great things and blasphemies and more then this Power was given him to act or make two and forty moneths For the better understanding of this point let this be considered In the Antichristian kingdom they have a rule how to proceed in every cause but not given them of God but of their own making which they commonly call the Canon Law concerning which Law here we may learne by whom it was made and how long it was in making These Makets usurp the name of the Church of Christ but the true Church is the Kingdom of Christ and being the Kingdom of Christ it hath him onely for Law-giver they therefore which under the title of the Church presume to make laws are fitly and worthily resembled by a beast for what is more vnreasonable then for those whose greatest dignity glory and happines consisteth in hearing obeying and administring of gods word to fall from this and Lucifer-like to exalt and oppose themselves against their Maker as though they were wiser and iuster then God and to adde unto his Testament Which is suficient to instruct us in all Wisdom and to make the man of God perfect in every good worke and to take from the same Testament at their pleasure which is not lawfull to do to any mans Testament without great offence and iniustice as the Apostle sheweth Ga. 3.15 yet thit is the way wherein those great doers the authors of the Canon Law haue walked It is said of those Actors that Power was given them c. Where first we may observ that of themselves they had not this power for then it could not haue beene said to be given them but given them it was it is therefore to be considered Who was the giver Not Christ he gave his disciples no power to make Laws but gave them charge to teath belivers to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them it is certain therefore that this power was given them not by God but by men namely by Kings and Princes for the states and degrees of men considered it is plaine that none can give power to make Lawes but such as be Soveraignes by such therefore this power to make Lawes was given unto this Beast But what should move Soveraignes to give power to Bishops
and Ministers to make Lawes for the Church Nothing verily but blind devotion for they being ignorant of God and of his Word thought it the best way to keep peace and vnity in the Church Whereas indeed it was the cause of strife and dissention and at length by that meanes iniquity was established for a Law and Gods Word wholy reiected and cast aside as vnmeet for Lay men to vse Now as in all lawfull proceedings Princes are Gods ministers in Gods stead vnto their subiects and people so in giuing this power to this Beast they are the Dragons ministers and instruments Whereas it is said that power was given unto the Beast to make but it is not noted what should be made it argueth that the things made are of that nature and qualitie that they are not worthy of any name the makers themselves use to call their Acts Canons Constitutions and Lawes but falfly for if they were such indeed then men might have some good vse of them but that no man can have therefore it is but falshood and deceit so to name them It is like the caling of one carved Image S. Peter another S Paul another S. Iohn c. that is to name things that they be not and that is to lie In that it is said that power was given unto the beast to make 12. Moneths It sheweth that the Beasts time is limited and seeing that the time is limited we must finde that the time of making of the Catholike Church agreeth with this stint before we can be sure that it is the Beast here represented wherefore consider that the ecclesiastical state began to make about the yeare of our Lord 304. the Ancyran counsell being the first whose constitutions tooke the effect and force of Law And made not an end of making vntill the year 1564. the Counsell of Trent being the last wherein the Beast acted the last act of this making and fulfilled the measure of that iniquitie and therefore is now to receaue judgment condemnation from the Lord as is hereafter in this prophesie declared So that if we account a yeare for a day and thirtie dayes for a month it will amount to 1260 dayes which is the just sum of 42. moneths that this Beast was a making which is a strong argument that by this Beast was signified the ecclesiasticall estate or Catholicke Church as is shewed before page 2. Further it is said of the Beast that he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven In that this Beast by the ministery of false Prophets and Teachers as by her mouth hath seduced the Nations and made them believe That God by the ministery of his holy Apostles and Prophets hath not left us a sure rule sufficient rule of faith in the holy Scriptures but that the want thereof must be supplied with unwritten verities the writings of Ancient Fathers determinations of Counsels and the Popes Decretals otherwise all people would run into confusion it may truly be said that she hath opened her mouth untoblasphemy against God First the eternall who hath created all things and for whose wills sake all things are and were created To be but a rude and grosse beginner of a worke which he hath left and given up for vaine man to finish and make perfect Secondly if there be particular laws left out of the Scriptures for want of which all people would run into confusion then God hath not shewed himselfe to be a God of order Thirdly the World of God is not sufficient to make the man of God perfect in every good work as the Apostles saith But thus to think is a horrible errour Thus to speak is wicked blasphemy and thus to teach is hellish iniquity For how will it stand with the glory of God and of our Lord Iesus Christ not to give unto his people a perfect Law and sure Testimony whereunto they might trust and wherein they might rest and live by faith but must depend upon other men to see as it were with their eyes not with their own and so hold their faith in respect of other mens persons to belieue as they believe c. as though Gods people their Leaders excepted were not reasonable creatures but as beasts without understanding But blessed be our God we have a sure Word of the Prophets which is as a light shining in a darke place whereunto we shall do well if we take heed Gods people have no need of unwritten verities mens precepts and traditions They have surer Lights to walk by then the writings of the School-men and other Writers of ancient times They have surer Rules and righter Testimonies wherby to decide and end controversies and doubts then the determination of Counsels and Popes decrees and they which speak to the contrary open their mouth to balspheme against God Concerning blaspheming the Name of God amongst other attributes or titles whereby he is set forth unto us he is called the Holy one of Israel and the High Priest in Israel did beare this inscription upon his forehead graven in gold Holinesse to the Lord. First therefore we may truly and boldly say of the Lord that Holy is his Name Secondly we may likewise truly and boldly affirme that to give the title of Holinesse unto any unholy prophane and abominable thing is to blaspheme the name of God But thus the Beast hath done many and sundry waies They ascribe Holinesse unto their Antichristian orders and Priesthood to their Idolatrous Masse to their exorcised or conjured Bread Water Oyle Tapers Ashes Vestures Vessels and many other implements in and by al which they blaspheme the name of God And as they blaspheme the Name of God So likewise the blaspheme his Tabernacle That is to say the true visible Church of Christ under the Gospel which is the place of Gods presence which he hath chosen to put his Name there where two or three or more are gathered together in the Name of Christ there is Christ present and where Christ is present there hath God put his Name there he is to be sought and there he may be found and there is his Tabernacle To come together in the Name of Christ is when Gods people joyne themselves together in a spirituall body politike separated from the common multitudes of known unbeleevers to the end to meet together for the mutuall edification and comfort one of another by doctrine breaking of bread and prayer and to practise all other Ordinances of Christ set down in his Testament as they shall haue occasion and to Companies of Beleevers having such fellowship and communion one with another the title of the Churches of Christ doth in our use of speech properly and of right belong but for beleevers to do this apart by themselves is adjudged contempt of authority factious novelty making of Conventicles and unlawfull Assemblies dangerous to the State and not to be