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
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
corrupted by the Pope and made to pronounce unrighteous and unjust judgements we are to esteem them as the judgements of the Dragon and yet neverthelesse their authority and power lawfull and ordained of God Thus the Beast deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by means of those Miracles falfly so called which he had power to do in the sight of the Beast as is shewed in the verse following Vers 14. And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the meanes of those Miracles which he had power to doe in the sight of the Beast Those which the Beast deceiveth are said to dwell on the earth that is have their affections set upon earthly things and not upon heavenly so that they will not for love of the truth forsake their earthly possessions and pleasures these are they which are deceived by these lying wonders of this Beast but those that are strangers and Pilgrims in this world whose affections are set upon heavenly things and not upon earthly these are not deceived nor deluded by him these making tryall of him by Gods Word have found him to be a lyer and a deceiver and believe him not but taking their lives in their hands witnesse against him to the death that his power and working is of Satan and that his wonders are lyes And Whereas it is said that he had power to do these Miracles in the sight of the Beast thereby is confirmed and made manifest that which before is shewed to wit that this son of Perdition the chiefe Darling of his holy Catholike Mother is present with her and in her bosome and for her sake and in her behalfe exerciseth his power she retaineth still her former authority without any diminishing thereof as is euident unto all that are acquainted with the acts of that Church Thus much for the second part of this Chapter THE THIRD PART OF the XIII Chapter of the REVELATION Wherein is foreshewed a third Beast which was set up by the commandement of this second Beast the Pope who said to them that dwelt on the earth that they should make an Image to the Beast which had the wound with a sword and did live HEre we may see that the Pope by his commaunding power was the cause of setting up this Image and for the better and more cleare vnderstanding what this Image is Let us a litle consider the patterne whose Image and liknes it beareth namely the first Beast The first Beast as hath beene shewed was the representative body of the Catholick Church Militant consisting of the select Prelacy and Preisthood of sundry Nations gathered together into one counsell or Synode with authoritie to make Lawes and canons for the vniversall Church to be observed uniformely of all Nations under pretence of the insufficiency of the Scripture for the goverment of the Church and the worship of God in like manner the Pope in his wisdome seeing it necessary for the good goverment maintenance and upholding of his kingdome and the rooting out of Heretickes and seditious persons as they call them which daily increased in every countrie did ordeyne and command Vide concilium Lateran secundum Can 6. that in every province there should yerely be held and kept a provinciall counsell or Synode consisting of the Prelats and many other selected persons which should look to those matters to which Synode he also gave power to make Lawes atd ordinances to which the people should be conformable and obedient This is the Image which he caused the dwellers on the earth to make of the Beast which had the wound with a sword and did live Further it is said Vers 15. Verse 15. And power was given him to give life unto the Image of this Beast that the Image of the Beast should both speake and cause that as many as would not worship the Image of the Beast should be killed In this Verse we may observe first that a gift was given to the Pope to bestow upon this Image Secondly what this gift was viz. to give life or breath to the Image thirdly the end and effects of the gift which was that the Beast should speak and cause that as many as would not worship the Beast should be killed As there was given by the Dragon to the first Beast great power and authority and also a mouth to speak blasphemies and to make war with the Saints in like manner by the same Dragon was this gift given to the Pope to give life or breath to this Image By life is here meant authority which is the life of a Synod without which it is of no force and so this Image should have been no more then a very Image or picture and set up to no purpose but the Pope having received it gave authority to the Image that he should speak that is make and set forth Canons and Laws for to speak is so understood as for example A King is said to speak to his subjects when he setteth forth his Laws and Proclamations so this Beast having made Canons and Decrees speaketh to her vassals and subjects by them Moreover the Image caused that as many as would not worship him should be killed Here the pride and cruelty of this Image is set forth to be answerable to the first Beast and therefore rightly is he called her Image for as the first Beast made war with the Saints and overcame them all that dwelled on the earth worshiped him c. so whosoever would not worship this Image that is heare his voice and keep his commandements there was no way for him but death All the worship that the Lord requireth of his servants Deut. 10.12 13. is That they feare him walk in all his waies love him and serve him with all their hearts with all their soules to keep the Commandements of the Lord and his Ordinances And this is indeed the true worship of God In like maner this Image will be worshiped his Laws must be observed and his Canons obeyed without examining and trying of them be they never so unholy and unjust They that do not observe and obey them be they never so upright and holy men they shall be thereby indited arraigned judged and condemned to death as being in their estimation Heretikes Schismatikes disobedient and rebellious persons contemners of God and of the Church yea as the filth and of-scowring of the world and unworthy of the society of men And he causeth all both small and great rich and poore free and bond to receive a Marke in their right hand and in their foreheads This Image challenging worship to be performed unto him of all people of all sorts and degrees according to the authority given him by the Pope was by some contradicted and despised wherefore the Image in policy for the better triall of those that were his trusty subjects and slaves ordained that all his Ministers should receive a Marke at the receiving whereof they should vow
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