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
suffered in any Kingdom or Common-wealth and so they blaspheme the Tabernacle of God in a high degree as if Gods people were a company of ungodly rebels and wicked conspiratours but the righteous Lord will in due time visit his people and rebuke his enemies And on the other side for Gods people now to deny the kingdom of the Beast that is as they call it the holy Catholike Church Militant to be the true Church of Christ To refuse to partake and communicate with them in their abominations delusions and unlawful works of darknes is adjudged disobedience schisme and contempt of the power and authorty of the Church To speak against their proceedings sedition disturbance of the peace of the Church heresie impiety and what not Thus they adorne the Harlot which corrupteth the earth with her fornications with the title of the Church and Spouse of Christ and Tabernacle of God and so blaspheme the Tabernecle of God as if it were not a communion of Saints by calling and profession but an habitation of Divels an hold of foule Spirits and a Cage of every unclean and hatefull Bird. Further it is said of the Beast that it did blaspheme those that dwelt in heaven that is the Saints departed this life Those that dwell in heaven are then blasphemed when it is said of them that they take it as an honour done unto them when we make them our Patrons build them Temples set up their Images offer and pray unto them and make them Mediatours between Christ and us for by this they are made not onely Idols but also favourers and chief maintainers of Idolatry They are also blasphemed when the doctrine which they taught and practised is condemned for heresie or when erronious doctrines vaine traditions superstitious rites ceremonies and customes are fathered upon them as received from them by Tradition as unwritten verities but the world hath been brought to believe that Saints in heaven might by these means be as it were bought and sould between Priest and people wherein they have been highly blasphemed Moreover it is said that it was given to the Beast to make warre with the Saints and to overcome them and power was given him over all Kindreds and Tongues and Nations Warre is made with the Saints when they are accused to Rulers and Governors to be Heretikes Schismaticks wicked and ungodly persons and they may then be said to be overcome whem their accusers are justified and they condemned according to this this Scripture hath been fulfilled and verified Great and of long continuance have been the warres which the Beast hath made with the Saints and many have been the victories of this kinde which the Beast hath had against them as the Histories and other records of the Nations do plentifully witnes It was given to the Beast to make warre with the Saints when Rulers and Governours gave way to the Beast to devise and make laws at their own pleasure concerning Religion and the worship of God and then to condemne for Delinquents and evill doers all that would not observe those Laws How free and forward Rulers and Governours have been to give such power unto the Beast they themselves have felt by long and wofull experience for much woe hath the Beast wrought not to the poore and meaner sort of the Saints onely but even to Emperours and Kings and all degrees of people and therefore it is said in the words following that power was given unto this Beast over every Kindred Tongue and Nation So that the exaltation thereof was such as to be a Father above all fathers to every Kindred a Lord above all Lords to every Tongue a King above all Kings to every Nation Thus was this Beast exalted and sate as a Queen triumphing over them having all of all degrees brought in bondage unto her Dominion which was a just recompence upon their heads that gave such power unto this Beast yet see how the world was herein deluded they were not captives against their wills but in blind devotion had this Beast in most high reverence as being a devine power ordained and given by God and not from the Dragon Thus did the Lord give them over to be deluded by this Beast as a just reward of their vngodlynes in that they receaued not the loue of the truth but tooke pleasure in vnrighteousnesse Further it is declared in the words following That all that dwell vpon the earth must worship him that is the Beast whose names are not written in the booke of the life of the Lamb slayne from the foundation of the World by those that dwell on the earth is ment those that have set their habitation there and choose rather to enioy the prosperitie of the world and plesures of sinne together with the Beast then to sufffer affliction for the truth and for witnessing against the Beast these are they that worship him that is receaue their precepts and rules for their doctrine and wholesome instuction and observe their ordinances and Lawes as perfect rules of eqitie and righteousnesse casting the word of God declared in the holy scriptures be hind their backes and treading his Ordinances vnder their feete making farre more conscience not to eate an Egge on Friday then to steale or to commit adulterie But of such it is said that their names are not written in the Booke of life of the Lamb which was slaine from the beginning of the world That is they are not of the number of Gods Elect and Choosen in Christ and given vnto him for his portion and heritage whose condition is to be hated despised persecuted and afflicted in the world for righteousnes sake in whom the Lamb Christ Jesus as in his members hath been slaine since the beginning of the world which condition those which cannot brook and endure but count it a pleasure to live deliciously for a season and take delight to enjoy the pleasures of sin may thereby be discribed not to have their names written in the Book of life Concerning these things it is added If any man have an eare let him heare As if it should be said few there be which have an eare to heare these things For who can indure to heare that Catholike Church which they account to be spirituall holy and heavenly to bee compared to a Beast ugly in forme and horrible and monstrous in nature Who can endure to heare that Power that Throne and that authority which they believe to be of God to be said and affirmed to be of the Dragon that old Serpent the Divell and Satan Who will believe that a righteous God would give way to his enemies the workers of iniquity so farre to prevaile and so long time as for many hundred years together to delude the Nations to bring them into bondage and to keepe them in slavery And that a few poore despised people of no reckoning in the world here one and there another should see more and be wiser then
and 50 Canons And for refusing to worship them in these things many are put back and those that formerly have been ordained for refusing so to do which they call revolting have had their penall Laws executed upon them which is Suspension Degradation and Excommunication and after these many other afflictions in body goods and name being accounted factious and seditious persons that have no right to buy or sell their Wares Concerning the people whereof the Church of England consisteth it is necessary that we finde them such as the Scriptures do require otherwise they canâ—â—â— be accounted the Church of Christ and to this end observe these few places following Ezeck 44.19 Thus saith the Lord no stranger uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh shall enter into any Sanctuary And the people of Israel for suffering such uncircumcised strangers to enter into the Sanctuary of the Lord hee calleth them a rebellious people that had poluted his Sanctuary and broken his Covenant And in the 23 verse The Lord teacheth his Ministers to put difference betweene the holy and prophane the cleane and uncleane And according to this was the practise of the Apostles in the Primitive Age who by preaching the Word gathered none but such as beleeved and voluntarily submitted themselves to walke according to the profession of the Gospell and if any did cunningly creep into the fellowship of the Saints and not walke accordingly they were to be cast out by the Church as in the 1 Cor. 5. Likewise the Apostle Paul he separated the Disciples of Ephesus from those that beleeved not so the Apostle taught the Corinthians 1 Cor. 6.14 15 c. Be not unequally yoked together with unbeleevers for what fellowship hath righteousnesse with unrighteousnesse And what communion hath light with darknesse And what concord hath Christ with Belial Or what part hath he that beleeveth with an Infidell And what agreement hath ehe Temple of God with Idols For ye are the Temple of the Living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walke in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people Wherefore come out from amongst them and be ye separate faith the Lord and touch not the uncleane thing and I will receive you Now if we compare the Church of England with these Scriptures we shall finde that the practise and proceedings thereof hath been and is contrary The people thereof for the most part are such as visibly and apparantly live in all kinde of licentiousnesse and in their workes deny God being abominable and disobedient For these Lordly Prelates being armed with the Sword of Civill authority and having the Law of their side they have not laboured by painefull preaching to draw men to the obedience of the faith and to the fellowship of the Gospell apart from the prophane and wicked that speak evill of the waies of the Lord but they have compelled and inforced all sorts of people both religious and prophane not onely such as feare God but also such as feare him not by bodily punishments to be conformable to the profession which is by their Canon Law established in this Church As if the Word of God that Sword of the Spirit were not mighty enough in operation for the gathering together of the Saints That this is their practise is plain by the 90. and 114. Canons where it is said that Ministers and Church-wardens must present all persons above the age of thriteen years that come not to the Church and receive the Sacraments after which presentation if they doe not conforme they shall bee excommunicated imprisoned and have their goods attached This is the means which hath been used for the gathering of this Church of England whereby they have confounded and mingled them together whom God hath commanded to be separated wherein what do they lesse then think themselves wiser and stronger then God The Word of God is the seed whereby the Church of God is begotten and those that are begotten by any other means are bastards and not Sonnes for as that Woman is an Harlot which hath Children by any but her lawfull Husband so that Church whose members are gathered by any other way or means then by the Word of Goâ— perswading and moving their hearts the same is not the Church of Christ But this hath been the manner of gathering the Church of England and therefore it is unworthy to be adorned with the title of the Church but ought to be accounted the Image of the first Beast before spoken of that is of Great Babylon which is an habitation of Divels an hold of foule Spirits and a Cage of every unclean and hatefull Bird. And for confirmation hereof by the testimony of their own mouthes let us but consider the estimation which the members of this Church have one of another Some there are amongst them who for making more conscience of their waies then the rest are in dirision called Puritans or Precisians these on the contrary seeing the ungodly conversation of the rest of their brethren esteeme them as wicked prophane carnall and unregenerate men such as for the most part are mockers contemners and evill speakers of the truth and in whom is no appearance of Religion and the feare of God and therefore they distinguish the better sort from these prophane persons by the name of Professours This is the estimation which they have one of another which is a manifest note that they are not come into the order of the Church of Christ I deny not but there are many amongst them that are the Saints and Servants of Christ that are godly and zealous people which so far as they know they labour to yeeld obedience to the Commandements of Christ and although by meanes of their Guides which make them to erre and go astray keeping them in ignorance of this doctrine yet it shall go well with them Such persons I say as fitt stones for the building of the Church of Christ but so long as they remaine in this confusion they can no more be said to be the true visible Church of Christ then a heap of stones fitted for a building can be said to be a House therefore they must be separated from the wicked and placed together according to the order prescribed by Christ Jesus and practised by his Apostles as in the New Testament before they can be so esteemed As these Prelates will have this Church of England to be accounted the true Church of Christ so they will have the true Church of Christ to be accounted false schismaticall and hereticall as in the 9. 10. and 11. Canons by which it doth appear that if any people separate from this corrupt Church state and joyne together apart from the wicked and prophane to walke in all the waies and ordinances of Christ prescribed in his Testament acknowledging Christ Iesus to be the onely King Lord and Law-giver in matters of Religion and the worship of God which