as clear Demonstrations that the Head of Rome Papal is the Head of Babylon and the Grand Impostor or the Capital Manager of this Mystery of Iniquity he having most sacrilegiously assumed to himself all Heavenly Power of damning or saving and all Earthly Power both Temporal or Civil and Ecclesiastical or Sacred 11. This wicked Babylonish State comes forth with a great Pretence of Miracles which are but false Signs and lying Wonders to deceive and cheat the People and by this means they conquer Nations and carry away their Kings to their wicked Interest This Rome Heathen did not do For tho the Heathenish Power of Rome did conquer Nations and Countries with their Kings yet it was by State-Policy and Force of Arms not by pretended Miracles false Signs and lying Wonders Therefore Rome Heathen cannot be this Mystery of Iniquity or Babylonish State 12. This wicked State under consideration is declared not only to depart from the Faith by a palpable Apostacy but to forbid Marriage and command a long Lent and many other Fast-Days whereon some Sorts of Meats are prohibited to be eaten which doth so fully agree to the Papal State of Rome that nothing can be more plain unless the Spirit had expresly told us This will be fulfilled by Rome Papal For these two things we have their Canons upon Record the which if none can shew the like of the Heathen State of Rome then Rome Papal shall carry the Title of this Mystery of Iniquity and Babylonish State 7. If the Babylon under consideration be only confined to the Power of Heathen Rome then there is a more evident and apparent Mystery upon the State or Power of Rome Heathen than upon any Power or State that went before it or should come after it for so the Text imports Rev. 17.5 And upon her Forehead was a Name written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT c. But there did no such Mystery appear upon the Power or State of Rome Heathen therefore this Babylon cannot terminate there What great Mystery appeared upon the Power and State of Rome Heathen more than appeared upon the Power and State of the three foregoing Monarchies 8. This Babylon cannot be confined to the Power of Rome only in its Heathen State because Babylon is to continue till the good People shall with the Horns that did support her which is the last Part of the wicked and persecuting Power answerable to the ten Toes in Daniel's great Image reward and destroy her for the Injury that she did unto them according to these three Texts of Scripture Rev. 18.4 Dan. 7.22 26 27. Rev. 17.16 And I heard another Voice from Heaven saying Come out of her my People that ye be not Partakâ—rs of her Sins c. Verse 6. Reward her even as she hath rewarded you and deal unto her double according to her Works In the Cup that she hath filled fill to her double How much she hath glorified her self and lived deliciously so much Torment and Sorrow give her And the ten Horns which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her Flesh and burn her with Fire Which the Power of Rome in its Heathen State felt not but ended its Course without being destroyed by good People and the ten Horns which is the last Part of the Image-Government And in the Days of these Kings Dan. 2.44 viz. ten Toes ten Horns ten Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed And the Kingdom shall not be left to another People but it shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever Which could not be fulfilled in what Constantine did in the Time of Maxentius as Dr. Hammond would have us believe for these three Reasons 1. Because the ten Horns that afterwards the Roman Power fell into were not come up and so could not destroy the Power of Rome in its Heathen State 2. Because Babylon's Persecution Misery and Confusion did not utterly cease which it must have done so as to rise no more for ever if the Power of Rome Heathen destroyed by Constantine had been this Mystery Babylon 3. Because tho there might be a Body of good People with Constantine when he overthrew Maxentius yet the Power of the Kingdom was not so established in the hand of good People as not afterward to be left to others as the Text affirms And the Kingdom shall not be left to another People For as we shall anon shew the Kingdom or Power that ceased to be in the hands of Heathens and by a mighty and divine Providence came to be in the hands of a worthy and renowned Christian Emperor came afterwards into the hands of very Devils incarnate who acted all the Violence of the Heathen Power over again and indeed out-did them 9. Those that are for confining this Babylon to the Power of Rome in its Heathen State are not well aware what they do for if they do demand it their Opposites who hold it to be Rome Papal may grant it for Argument's sake But then the Remedy is worse than the Disease for they slip into such a Precipice as neither Baronius Bellarmine Dr. Hammond or the Rhemists can save or deliver them from The true State of the Case is this Rome Heathen is Mystery Babylon this say the Papists And the more willing they are to say so because it is a good Argument to prove that Peter was at Rome he subscribing his first Epistle from Babylon 1 Pet. 5.13 The Church that is at Babylon elected together with you saluteth you c. But this being allowed the worst is to come This Babylon is destroyed when the Power of Rome Heathen is taken away so as to be no more for ever but then what Condition doth the State of Babylon fall into Doth it become the Throne of the Lamb the City of the Living God the Habitation of Holiness and Dwelling-place of Zion the true Church the Place of the holy Ones and Saints of the Most High O no! What then Hearken and an Angel from Heaven shall tell you Rev. 18.1 2. And after these Things of the Horns hating the Whore making of her naked and burning her Flesh with Fire I saw another Angel come down from Heaven having great Power and the Earth was lightned with his Glory and he cried mightily with a strong Voice saying Babylon the Great is fallen is fallen and is become the Habitation of Devils and the Hold of every foul Spirit and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird. Now you Papists if you will needs have Babylon to be Rome Heathen take it and much Good do you with it but then make Rome Papal better than an Habitation of Devils if you can If it be not Rome Heathen then adieu to Dr. Hammond and the Rhemists we have what we desire If it be then Rome Papal is a far worse Place
pure Psal 119. therefore thy Servant loveth it 5. He hath a good Conscience whose Conviction and Trouble for Sin is universal when it is deep when the Spirit searcheth into the bottom Come saith the Woman of Samaria Joh. 4 29 39. see a Man that hath told me all that ever I did And they were pricked in their Hearts 6. He hath an evangelical good Conscience who is troubled for Sin not simply because of Shame or because of inward Guilt or fear of Punishment but because God is and hath been offended his Spirit grieved and his Soul defiled and made unlike God his Trouble riseth from the sence of the hainous Nature of Sin 7. When Conscience findeth that no Conviction either of Sin or Duty is slighted by the Soul Psal 119.80 but tenderly nourished 8. When a Man will suffer any Punishment or Loss before he will offer violence to his Conscience and sin against God 9. When Conscience cannot find any Sin hid spared born with or connived at in the Soul no sweet Morsel under the Tongue 10. When Conscience finds a Man the same in private that he is in publick and that he is not of a Pharisaical Spirit doth nothing to be seen of Men or for vain Glory's sake 11. When Conscience cannot find any Duty or Ordinance which the Soul is convinced of to be neglected tho he is exposed to Reproach thereby To obey God in Baptism is called the Answer of a good Conscience Conscience calls for obedience to this and to all other Ordinances of the Gospel when convinced of them 12. And lastly When Conscience beareth Testimony to a Soul that it loveth God and Jesus Christ above all things in this World c. He that hateth not Father and Mother c. cannot be my Disciple That is if he hath not a lesser Love to them for the lesser Love in Scripture is called a Hatred which our Saviour openeth in another place He that loveth Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me and he that loveth Son or Daughter more than me is not worthy of me Phil. 3 9 10. c. Yea doubtless I account all things but Loss c. Quest How shall a Man get and keep a good Conscience Answ 1. He must get his Heart sprinkled with the Blood of Christ Heb. 10.22 Let us draw near with a true Heart in full assurance of Faith having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience c. See that you experience that the Blood of Christ hath as effectually purged your Consciences from dead Works Heb. 9.14 as the Blood of Bulls and Goats sanctified to the purifying of the Flesh 2. He must take heed of all such things as offend his Conscience Conscience is a very tender thing the smallest thing will make it bleed 3. He must take heed of evil aad corrupt Principles an erring Conscience is not a good Conscience 4. Labour to fit under a Soul-searching Ministry 5. Take heed of vain Glory and all secret Evil Conscience prieth into thy most inward Thoughts beware of speculative Sin 6. Labour to keep thy Tongue Whoso keepeth his Mouth and his Tongue keepeth his Soul from Trouble 7. Labour to bring thy Heart into every Duty beware of Hypocrisy 8. Do not grieve or offend thy Conscience in any thing tho the Matter may be in it self lawful yet thou must not do it if thou hast a doubt in thy Spirit about it Rom. 14.23 He that doubteth is damned that is condemned in his own Conscience But much more take heed of doing that which is by all owned to be utterly unlawful 9. Labour in all Acts to be sincere Conscience hath power to give in Testimony concerning thy Integrity if thy Heart be unsound and not upright Conscience will soon discover it and reproach thee for it and thou wilt not be able to hold out to the end and sad will it be to have thy own Conscience witness against thee when thou comest to lie on a sick Bed an evil Conscience will be a bad Death-Bed Companion O how doth this reprove those that sin and regard not the Checks and Rebukes of their own Hearts Conscience in the great Day will be more than ten thousand Witnesses against them THE Seventh HEAD OF Metaphors Allegories and Similes WITH Other Borrowed TERMS Relating to the Church of GOD. The Church called the City of God Psal 87.3 Glorious things are spoken of thee O City of God Selah Psal 46.4 There is a River the Streams whereof shall make glad the City of God the holy Place of the Tabernacle of the Most High Isa 26.1 We have a strong City c. Isa 33.20 Look upon Zion the City of our Solemnity c. Isa 62.12 And they shall call them the holy People c. And thou shalt be called a City sought out not forsaken Mat. 5.14 Ye are a City set on a Hill that cannot be hid IN these places of the Holy Scripture Sion or the Church of God is called a City Sion was a Fort or Mount in Jerusalem and the Temple was built upon it hence the Church of the Jews was called as some conceive by this Name Zion because there they assembled but after it was a Name or Title given to the Church whether Jews or Gentiles Heb. 12.12 Ye are come to Mount Sion to the City of the Living God the heavenly Jerusalem God's People may be called by the Name of Sion or Jerusalem 1. Because we were naturally like Jerusalem the Forts of the Jebusites viz. Sinners and Enemies to God 2. Because by Grace we are overcome and conquered like as Jerusalem was by the true David 3. Because the Church is fortified by the Almighty for his own use and chief Place and Residence in this nether Creation 4. In respect of her Renown and Glory As Jerusalem was renowned above all Cities so God's Church is now above all People and Societies in the World 5. Because it is viewed and gazed upon by all Strangers she may well be compared to a Looking-glass as Zion signifies 6. In respect of her Laws for as the Law and publick Worship were at Jerusalem so Christ's Laws and publick Worship are maintained in the Church Hence God is said to love the Gates of Zion more than all the Dwelling-Places of Jacob. Psal 87.2 Observ The Saints or Church of God is the City of God or may fitly be compared to a City In opening of this Metaphor we shall shew the Nature Trade Government Privileges and Glory of the City of God Metaphor Parallel A City is a Place built by Men for a People to inhabit or dwell in THe Church is built by Christ for a Habitation for God Mat. 16.18 Vpon this Rock will I build my Church c. In whom ye are builded together for an Habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 2.22 II. A City is usually compassed about with Walls that it may thereby become
more safe and secure to dwell in and some Cities have two or three Walls to make them more impregnable II. The Church of God hath strong Walls about it We have a strong City Isa 26.1 Salvation will God appoint for Walls and Bulwarks The Church hath a threefold Wall about it First The Wall of God's Providence Hast not thou made a Hedg or Wall about him As the Mountains are round about Jerusalem Job 1. Psal 125.2 so the Lord is round about them that fear him c. Secondly The Protection of the holy Angels Psal 34.7 The Angels of the Lord encamp round about them that fear him c. Thirdly God in an extraordinary manner is as a Wall of Fire round about her Zech. 2.5 every one of his Attributes is a gracious Defence to the Church III. Some Cities are bravely scituated they are built upon a Hill III. The Church of God is famous upon this account Beautiful for Scituation Psal 48.2 the Joy of the whole Earth is Mount Zion on the sides of the North the City of the great King Mat. 16.18 Ye are as a City set upon a Hill IV. A City is built of many Materials and in it are many Buildings or Houses set in rare Uniformity curiously joined and compacted together IV. The Church of God is built up of many living Stones consisting of divers particular Societies or spiritual Houses Now therefore ye are no more Strangers and Foreigners Eph. 2.19 20 21 22. but Fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God And are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone In whom all the Building fitly framed together groweth to an holy Temple in the Lord c. In whom ye also are builded together for an Habitation of God through the Spirit Jerusalem is builded as a City that is compact together Psal 122.3 V. A City hath its particular Laws Institutions and Customs by which it is governed V. The Church of God also hath special Laws Institutions and Customs belonging to it by which it is in all things governed which are contained in the holy Scripture the great Charter and Statute-Book of the Church VI. A City hath a supreme Governor in it who rectifies all Disorders and Confusions that otherwise would be therein considering the Multitude of its Inhabitants VI. The Church of God is not without a good Government and a Supreme Magistrate viz. the Lord Jâ—sus Christ who is the chief Judg and Law-giver or Head of this spiritual Corporation VII A City hath besides the chief Governor and principal Magistrate divers inferior Officers for Administration of Justice and well governing thereof VII So the Church of God hath inferior Officers under Jesus Christ which the Citizens by the appointment of Christ are required to substitute and ordain to govern and keep all things in good Order And he gave some Apostles Ephes 4.8 9 10 11 12. and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers c. VIII A City hath some special Trade belonging to it by which its Inhabitants are enriched VIII The Church or City of God hath a spiritual Trade belonging to it which all the Citizens do and ought always to follow by which they are also greatly enriched IX Many Cities have Merchants in them who trade into remote parts of the World and fetch their Merchandize from afar IX The Saints or Citizens of Zion are all Merchants who trade daily to Heaven they fetch their blessed Merchandize from thence Phil. 3.20 Prov. 41. Our Conversation is in Heaven Hence the Church is by Solomon compared to Merchants Ships See Merchants Ships Saints have like other Merchants their Correspondent Jesus Christ who makes glorious Returns of all they venture or send to Heaven For every Duty rightly performed he makes Returns of Mercy for Tears of godly Sorrow he returns them the Oil of Joy Thou wilt saith holy David put my Tears into thy Bottle By which means the spiritual Citizens grow rich in Faith Hope Experience c. See the Parable of the Merchant-man Now touching the Trade Traffick or Merchandize of this City upon which its Wealth and Prosperity doth wholly depend take what follows First Their Trade is heavenly Wherefore holy Brethren Heb. 3.1 2 Partakers of the heavenly Calling consider the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession Jesus Christ And as they are all Merchants and use one Trade so they all deal with one and the same Benefactor from whom they have quick Returns they fetch their Goods from afar Something touching the Excellency of the Trade of the City of God I shall hint in a few Particulâ—rs Secondly As touching her Commodities or the Merchandize which her Citizens deal in First Negatively 1. They are not prohibited Goods 2. They are not counterfeit Goods 3. They are not temporal and corruptible Goods Secondly Affirmatively and more directly they are 1. Soul enriching Commodities things that are of very great worth and value The Merchandize of Wisdom is better than the Merchandize of Silver Prov. 3.14 and the Gain thereof than fine Gold 2. They are needful things such things as we cannot be without Some things that Merchants of a City deal in and fetch from afar tho they are of great value yet we may very well subsist and live comfortably without them as Pearl and precious Stones c. But there is an absolute Necessity of all those things the Citizens of this City trade in and for 3. They are such Commodities as will make the Nations and Persons that buy them happy for ever and indeed there is no true Happiness without them Quest What is the Traffick of this City of God Answ The first thing that I shall mention is the Truth this she offers to Sale Buy the Truth and sell it not Prov. 23.23 The Church is called the Pillar and Ground of Truth 1 Tim. 3.15 Truth is only to be found in this City or in the Ware-Houses of the Citizens of Zion viz. the Word of God and the Hearts of Believers The second thing is a Soul-converting Gospel and blessed Ordinances The Law goeth forth of Zion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem Mic. 2.4 The third thing they deal in are the Gifts and Soul-enriching Graces of the Spirit Hope Love Humility c. things of very great worth The fourth is Justification every true Sinner makes it his Business to get this precious Treasure The fifth thing is the Peace of God which passeth all Understanding one of the rarest Commodities in the World The sixth thing is Union and Communion with God 1 Joh. 1.3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ The seventh thing is Peace of Conscience Herein do I exercise my self Acts 24.16
first it seems to bear no such thing So Mat. 13. Christ expounds that Parable or Allegory for tho Rhetoricians make a difference between Metaphors Similes Parables and Allegories yet in Divinity there is none but that Allegories are more large and continued calling the Seed the Word and the Sower the Son of Man c. This way of expounding such dark Scriptures is both useful and necessary and was often used as edifying by our Lord Jesus to his Disciples Now 't is this we speak of which teacheth how to draw plain Doctrines out of Metaphors Allegories c. and not to draw Allegories out of plain Histories Secondly it may be asked When we are to account a Place of Scripture figurative or allegorick and seek some other meaning than what at first appears Answ 1. When the literal proper meaning looks absurd-like or is empty nothing to Edification as when 't is said Unless ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man c. This is my Body c. And so those Scriptures that command to pluck out the right Eye and cut off the right Hand take up our Cross c. All which if literally understood were absurd and ridiculous and therefore the mistaking such Scriptures hath occasioned many grievous Errors as that of the Anthropomorphites attributing Members viz. Head Hands Feet c to God and Passions yea Infirmities as Anger Repenting c. because the Scriptures in such places speaking after the manner of Men metaphorically attribute such things to him 2. Those Places of Scripture are to be accounted Metaphorical or Allegorick which reach not the Scope of Edification intended by them if literally understood as when Christ spoke of Sowing Mat. 13. the Disciples thought something more was intended than at first appeared for his Aim could not be to discourse of Husbandry to them 3. When a literal Sence would obtrude some Falsity on the Scripture then such Places are to be taken Allegorically as when Christ said Destroy this Temple and I will build it up again in three Days Which if understood of the Material Temple Christ's Words would not have had their Accomplishment But he spoke figuratively of his Body So when Christ said Except a Man eat my Flesh and drink my Blood he cannot live it cannot be understood literally because many who have obtained Life never did so eat his Flesh c. 4. Any Scripture is to be accounted Figurative or Allegorical when the literal Sence agrees not with other Scriptures and is repugnant to the Analogy of Faith or Rules of good Manners as when we are commanâ—ed to heap Coals of Fire upon the Head of our Enemy now we being required not to avenge our selves it followeth clearly this Scripture is not properly or literally understood 5. When a literal Sence answers not to the present Scope of the Speaker and the Speaker would be thought impertinent if his Words were properly taken then it ought to be expounded in a figurative Sence So Mat. 3.10 when John is pressing Repentance he saith Now is the Ax laid to the Root of the Tree c. And the Parable of Christ Luk. 13.7 If these Places were only properly to be understood they would not enforce Repentance And now Reader had we not had good Encouragement from divers worthy Ministers in this City this as well as the former had never seen the Sun but the readiness of divers Persons upon the coming out of the First to subscribe for this hath midwiv'd it into the World where we expect it will meet with different Entertainment but I hope by this time through the Grace of God I have learned not to be concerned either about the Praise of some on the one hand or Dispraise and Contempt of others on the other hand not doubting but that this or the succeeding Age may receive Advantage by it and many bless God for it And if it bring Glory to God and Profit to his Church I have my chief End and shall be content tho I pass under the Censures of captious Men c. I must confess it is not all of my own compiling I have made use of some help from others partly to expedite the Work and partly for want of some Literature And now Reader that I may not retain thee longer at the Door I shall commit Thee and the Work to the Blessing of the Lord heartily begging an Interest in thy Prayers engaging not to forget thee in this evil and perilous Hour subscribe my self Thy Servant for Jesus's sake BENj KEACH London August 9. 1682. A TABLE OF The Heads of those Metaphors Similes borrowed Terms Types Figures and other chief Things insisted upon in this Book THe Divine Authority of the Holy Scripture asserted and vindicated Page j to xvj The Fifth HEAD of Metaphors Similes c. GRace compared to Salt Page 1 Truth compared to a Girdle Page 3 Righteousness a Breast-plate Page 9 Faith a Shield Page 13 Faith more precious than Gold Page 15 Hope an Helmet Page 22 Hope an Anchor Page 25 Love compared to Death and the Grave and to Flames of Fire Page 30 31 Love compared to Wine Page 32 Baptism a Burial Page 35 The Lord's Supper Page 38 Christ our Passeover Page 45 The Sixth HEAD c. concerning Angels and the Soul of Man Angels Watchers Page 50 Angels Morning-Stars Page 52 Angels Sons of God Page 53 Angels God's Host Page 55 Angels compared to the Face of a Man a Lion an Ox and an Eagle Page 57 Angels compared to the Wind and Flames of Fire Page 61 Angels called Horses red white speckled c. Page 63 64 Soul of Man compared to a Ship Page 64 Spirit of Man a Candle Page 67 Conscience a Witness Page 69 The Seventh HEAD c. concerning God's Church CHurch a City Page 76 to 85 Church compared to the Moon Page 86 Church the Temple of God or the Anti-type of Solomon's Temple Page 87 Church the Anti-type of the Second Temple Page 89 Church called an Olive-Tree Page 91 Church compared to an Inn Page 92 Church a Vine Page 93 Church compared to a Dove Page 94 Church compared to the Body natural Page 97 Church a Vineyard Page 99 Church called a Virgin Page 102 Church a Wife Page 103 Church compared to a Bush on fire Page 106 Church compared to a Mother Page 109 Church a Garden Page 112 Church a Lilly among Thorns Page 115 Church compared to a Merchant-Ship Page 118 Church a Golden Candlestick Page 120 Church called a Flock of Sheep Page 121 Church compared to an House Page 123 Church a Family Page 128 The Eighth HEAD c. concerning 1. Men in general 2. Good Men 3. Wicked Men. MAn compared to Earth Page 133 Man compared to a Worm Page 135 Man compared to a Flower Page 138 Concerning the Saints or Good Men. Saints called Babes Page 140 Saints Children Page 142 Saints Heirs Page 145 Saints Eagles Page 146 Saints Souldiers Page 148 to 161 Saints Runners
teach the Saints Dan. 8.16 9 22. And I heard a Man's Voice between the Banks of Ulai which called and said Gabriel make this Man understand the Vision c. And he said I will make thee know what shall be in the last Day c. They open and reveal hidden Mysteries to the Saints 9. They rejoyce with the Godly at the Conversion of Sinners Luke 15.10 Likewise I say unto you There is Joy in the Presence of the Angels of God in Heaven over one Sinner that repenteth 10. They have a Charge to convey the Souls of the Godly when they die through the Territories of the Prince of Darkness viz. the Air and carry them safe to Heaven And it came to pass that the Beggar died Luke 16.22 and was carried by the Angels into Abraham's Bosom 11. To gather all the Elect together at the last Day 12. To separate the Evil from the Good the Chaff from the Wheat Mat. 13.49 So shall it be at the end of the World the Angels shall come and sever the Wicked from the Just Thirdly They have a Charge committed to them in reference to wicked Men. 1. To blind and infatuate them that they cannot see how to effect that Mischief they would otherwise do 2. To stop them in their Carreer that they cannot pursue their wicked Purposes and Designs as appears in Balaam's Case Numb 22.26 3. To destroy and cut off the Ungodly when they combine against the Church One Angel smote in the Camp of the Assyrians a Multitude of Men. 2 King 19.35 III. Watchers give warning of approaching Dangers III. So the Angels gave warning to Abraham and Lot Gen. â—9 of the approaching Judgment that fell upon Sodom and Gomorrah and the Cities about them IV. Watchers are very useful and oftentimes made a great Blessing to Towns and Cities many eminent Dangers by their means have been prevented IV. Angels are a great Blessing to the Church and City of God and every particular Member thereof How secure was the Prophet whilst he had those fiery Chariots and Horsemen round about him Quest But some may say Why doth God in the preservation of his People make use of the Ministration of Angels Answ Not for any Necessity He is all-sufficient of himself to do all things for them But to declare his abundant Love to and Care of his Children in making more excellent Creatures than themselves to be their Keepers Object But God's People often fall into Danger and many Inconveniences how then are they attended and kept by Angels Answ They are delivered by them from many Evils and Dangers that they know not of For as we have many Devils about us continually to do us Mischief so we have a Multitude of blessed Angels continually about us to keep and protect us Psal 91.11 2. If at any time God's Children fall into Danger it is because they are out of their way or rather God's way and then the good Angels have no Charge over them 3. If they suffer in the Custody of the Angels it is that they may be exercised tried and made better thereby For the Angels keep them from Evil or keep them in Evil and at last deliver them out of Evil so that they are made Gainers by all according to that Promise Rom. 8.28 V. Watchers or Watchmen go up and down to see what the State and Condition of Things is they take strict Observation of Persons and Things V. Angels go about or rather flie up and down in the Earth to see what the State and Condition of God's People more especially is Hence they are said to have Wings which denote their Swiftness in their Work Zech. 1.11 We have walked to and fro the Earth and behold all the Earth sitteth still and is at rest Inferences WHat infinite Grace and Favour doth God manifest to his poor People in giving his Angels such a strict Charge over them and to cause such glorious Creatures to watch and keep them day and night 2. What Honour also hath God conferred on his Children hereby Every Believer hath greater Attendance yea a more glorious Retinue than the mightiest Prince or Monarch in the World The Holy Angels compared to the Morning-Stars Job 38.7 When the Morning-Stars sang together c. STars are taken two ways First Properly Secondly Metaphorically Some understand by Stars in this place Caryl upon Job chap. 38. p. 81. the Stars which God hath set in the Firmament of Heaven or Stars in a proper Sence Others as Mr. Caryl observes the holy Angels which saith he may well be called Stars or Morning-Stars by a Metaphor c. Metaphor Parallel MOrning-Stars are full of Beauty bright and glorious ANgels are very beautiful Creatures their Glory is wonderful Hence Stephen's Face was said to be as it had been the Face of an Angel Acts 6. ult and very beautiful Persons are said to resemble or seem like Angels Tho they have not a visible bodily Beauty yet they have a better Beauty than any Body II. Morning-Stars give Light they are not only beautiful but shining The chief Morning-Star called Lucifer signifies a Light-bringer II. Angels are not only very beautiful Creatures but also full of Light We read of an Angel in the Revelations that the whole Earth was lighted with his Glory This shews that Angels are very glorious and shining Tho I understand that is not spoken of a proper Angel yet it shews that Angels are full of Light and therefore called Angels of Light III. Stars are Guides to Mariners by which they know how to steer a right Course III. Angels are and have been as Guides to the Saints and spiritual Mariners They guided or gave direction unto Lot to escape the Flames of Sodom and led Peter out of Prison and thereby saved him from imminent Danger Abraham told his Servant God would send his Angel to guide or prosper his Way Gen. 24.40 The Holy Angels called the Sons of God Job 1.6 There was a Day when the Sons of God came and presented themselves before God Job 38.7 And all the Sons of God shouted for Joy THe Chaldee Paraphrase is express that the Sons of God here are the Angels The Armies of Angels shouted for Joy And the Septuagint as Caryl observes are as clear for it saying When all my Angels sung for Joy To this do most Expositors agree Object But some object that Passage of the Apostle To which of the Angels said he at any time Thou art my Son Answ 1. Angels are not the Sons of God as the Apostle there expresseth i. e. as Christ is the Son of God viz. by eternal Generation For so To which of the Angels said he at any time Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Jesus Christ is the Son of God from Eternity 2. Angels are not the Sons of God by Regeneration nor by Adoption as Believers are The holy Angels need not Regeneration they
to have always a Conscience void of Offence towards God and towards Men. The eighth thing is Sanctification or a holy Life they who trade not in this Commodity are none of the true Sons and Citizens of Zion Ninthly the Pearl of great price worth more than ten thousand Worlds Tenthly The last thing that I shall mention is Eternal Life 1 Pet. 1.4 a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away X. A City whose Commerce lies principally in a Foreign Trade or Merchandizing hath usually a navigable River belonging to it by which Means their Commodities or those Goods they deal in are brought home to their very Doors as we see by experience What infinite Profit doth the River Thames yield this famous City and what would its Trade be worth were it not for it X. The City of God whose Trade lies in spiritual Merchandize fetch'd from afar hath a most glorious River belonging to it which may indeed be said to run through every Street thereof viz. the holy Spirit and Word of God The Spirit in several places of Scripture is called a River and by means of these blessed Streams are all divine and sacred Commodities which the Godly deal in brought home to their very Doors viz. Gifts Graces Pardon Peace and Joy in the Holy-Ghost c. whâ—â—h are very excellent Merchandize And were it not for this River what would become of this City we should soon be impoverished and undone It is the holy Spirit that enriches and chears the Hearts of all gracious Souls There is a River the Streams whereof make glad the City of God Psal 46.4 the holy Place of the Tabernacle of the Most High It may not be amiss here to consider 1. From whence this River comes See River under the 3d head of Metaphors c. 2. The Nature of the Water 3. The divers Streams thereof First The River comes 1. From a Rock Numb 28.8 11. This Rock was first smitten and then the Water came out abundantly 2. It comes from an infinite inexhaustible Fountain Rev. 22.1 't is said to proceed from the Throne of God and the Lamb. Secondly Touching the Nature of this River tho we have spoken of it under the Third Head of Metaphors in the first Volume yet we will touch a little upon it here It hath besides other Properties of spiritual Water these divers Qualities 1. It will heal all the Diseases of the inward Man it will soften and make very tender and pliable and break in pieces a hard Heart 2. It will cure the Soul of spiritual Blindness nay it will open the Eyes of him that was born blind 3. It will infallibly cure all spiritual Consumptions that spiritual Waste or Decay of Faith Love Zeal Hope c. which seizeth sometimes upon many Christians 4. It will bring down the Tympany of Pride and make a Man very humble and little in his own Eyes the more of the Spirit the more humble 5. It will cure all manner of spiritual Deadness or Deafness making a Man very lively and diligent to hear good Counsel and Instruction as Lydia experienced Acts 16 14 6. It is good against the Tremblings of the Heart and will make a Man bold and couragious in the Cause of Christ in evil Times We cannot but speak the things which we have both seen and heard Acts 4.20 7. It is an excellent Remedy to purge out all noxious and evil Humors of the Soul from whence many Distempers flow making a Man sound at Heart and holy in Life 8. It will effectually restore a lost Appetite and make a Man relish well the Food of God's Word causing it to be sweeter to him than Honey Psal 119.103 or the Honey-Comb 9. It will preserve from the Plague of Sin of what sort soever it be tho a Christian be amongst infected Persons every day 10. It will revive a fainting and drooping Spirit 11. It will set and make whole all broken Bones Psal 27.13 as David and thousands others have found by experience 12. It will cure the Leprosy and all old running Ulcers and also all fresh Wounds of the Soul tho never so deep stinking and loathsom 13. It is good against Weakness of the Hands and Feebleness of the Knees 1 Thess 5.14 2 Pet. 1.9 14. It is sovereign good against spiritual Barrenness making the Godly to bring forth much Fruit. 15. It will clear the Sight and make a Man to see afar of 16. It infallibly cures the sleepy Disease or the spiritual Lethargy of the Soul 1 Thess 5.6 so that they shall not sleep as others do 17. It cures all Diseases of the Tongue and Mouth and an unsavoury Breath Jam. 3.5 6. that common Sign of a foul Stomach 18. It cures all spiritual Lameness it causeth a lame Man to leap as an Hart Isa 35.6 and never halt any more between two Opinions 19. It perfectly cures all Distempers of the Head occasioned by Error and erroneous Principles that corrupt the Understanding 20. It is Water of Life he that drinks of it shall never die Joh. 4 14. Thirdly This River hath three special Streams 1. The Stream of Ordinances 2. The Stream of heavenly Graces 3. The Stream of Divine Promises Sinners come to these Waters O come before the Stream be turned another way See River and Water of Life XI In a glorious City usually is the King's Palace or his chief Place of Residence which tends much to its Honour and Renown XI The Church is the Habitation of God The Lord dwelleth in Zion Psal 9.11 Isa 8.18 Psal 76.1 2 3. Psal 132.13 14. Isa 57.15 in Judah is God known his Name is great in Israel in Salem also is his Tabernacle and his Dwelling-place in Zion This is for the everlasting Honour and Renown of the Church The Lord dwelleth in Zion Sing praises for the Lord hath chosen Zion he hath desired it for his Habitation This is my Rest for ever tho he be the high and lofty One that inhabiteth Eternity yet he dwelleth with them that are of an humble and contrite Spirit The special and most gracious Presence of God is with his People XII A City hath some certain Privileges Freedoms and Immunities belonging to it which Strangers have nothing to do with Foreigners may not dwell within the Walls of some Cities XII So the Church of God hath many glorious Privileges and Immunities belonging to it which unconverted Sinners have no Right to The first Privilege or part of that Freedom that belongs to the City of God is Pardon of Sin Isa 33.24 The Inhabitants shall not say I am sick the People that dwell therein shall be forgiven their Iniquity 1. This is a glorious Privilege and Freedom if we consider the abominable and hainous Nature of Sin which is opened in the first Volume under the third Head of Metaphors 2. Because of that which is couched and comprehended under the Blessing of
Pardon when God absolves a poor Sinner he not only forgives but also forgets their Sins and Iniquities he remembers no more 3. Because it is a Freedom from the Guilt of it 4. Because it is a Freedom from the Power and Dominion of it 5. It is a Freedom from the Punishment of it Rom. 6.14 Rom. 8.1 1 John 5.24 6. Because 't is a purchased Freedom it was obtained by a great Sum viz. the Sum of God's great Love and Grace with the Sum of Christ's Blood Remission is through Christ's Atonement 7. Because it is a sealed Freedom it is made over to the Soul by the King 's own Seal the Spirit of God Eph. 1.13 14. that great Seal of Heaven 8. Because it is a lasting Freedom the Sins of Believers are forgiven for ever they shall never be laid to their Charge The second Privilege of this City is Gospel-Fellowship free Access to the Lord's Table and Communion with the Saints Eph. 2.6 They are made to sit down together in heavenly Places in Christ Jesus The third Privilege is Right to the Ministry they may all lay claim to the Ministers and Ministry of the Word Whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas all are yours 1 Cor. 3.27 28. They and all their Gifts and gracious Endowments are the Saints The fourth Privilege is their undoubted Right to the City-Stock or the Churches Patrimony 1. The Stock of Prayers sincere Souls have a Right to all the Prayers of the Church 2. To that Store and spiritual Provision viz. the Bread of Life Psal 132 15. c. that is laid up in her God will bless the Provision of Zion and satisfy her Poor with Bread 3. The Stock of Promises God hath promised to bless comfort strengthen beautify build up and save Sion and consequently every Saint and Member thereof for all those and many more like Promises are directly made to every sincere Soul or Citizen of Sion The fifth Privilege is free Access to the Throne of Grace Eph. 2.18 Sixthly a Dwelling-place there This is a glorious Privilege they dwell near the King behold him in the Galleries every day they dwell in God's Courts nay in his House Blessed are they that dwell in thy House they will be still praising thee Psal 84.1 Psal 92.13 Selah They that are planted in the House of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of our God they shall bring forth Fruit in old Age c. 1. 'T is a strong and sure Dwelling-place He shall dwell on high Isa 32.18 Isa 33.16 his Place of Defence shall be the Munition of Rocks 2. 'T is a rich and glorious Dwelling-place 3. 'T is a pleasant Dwelling-place 4. 'T is an honourable Dwelling-place 5. 'T is and shall be a peaceable Habitation Look upon Zion Isa 33.20 the City of our Solemnities Thine Eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet Habitation a Tabernacle that shall not be taken down not one of the Stakes thereof shall ever be removed neither shall any of the Cords thereof be broken Seventhly They have a Right and Privilege to chuse their own Officers every free Citizen hath his Voice at every Election No Minister Bishop or Deacon may be imposed upon them without their own free Consent Eighthly They have Right to all the Blessings and privileges of the River the Streams whereof make glad all the Inhabitants the Nature of whose Water you have heard Ninthly They have a Right to the City-Guard which always attends them whithersoever they go or whatsoever they do when they are about their proper Work which are the good Angels Tenthly The last Privilege I shall mention is Sonship Joh. 1.12 Gal 4.6 But to as many as received him to them gave he Power or Privilege to become the Sons of God Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts crying Abba Father XIII Some Cities have a common Stock in them out of which the poor decayed Citizens are often supplied and helped in their Distress and thereby delivered from utter Beggery XIII The Church hath a common Stock or Storehouse belonging to it called the unsearchable Riches of Christ Eph. 3 8. out of which all poor decayed Christians have their Wants supplied That Grace that is treasured up in Christ is always ready to be given forth to his poor Children and by this means they are kept from Ruin and being utterly undone My God shall supply all your Needs according to his Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus Phil. 4.19 XIV A City hath also a strict Watch appointed to keep the Gates and to see that no Accident happen in it to the hurt and detriment thereof XIV The Church or City of God hath also a strong and faithful Militia or spiritual Watch which are the holy Angels These are called Watchers Dan. 4.23 or Watchmen and in other places the Lord's Host or the Armies of Heaven who are mighty in Power one of them being able to destroy all the Churches Enemies These keep the Saints day and night they encamp about them and see that no Evil comes unto them Besides them God is said to watch over his People continually who is called the Watchman of Israel and the Saviour thereof in the Day of Trouble Psal 127.1 2. Vnless the Lord keep the City the Watchman waketh but in vain Besides Psal 127.1 See 6th head of Metaphors there are the Ministers of the Gospel who are called Watchmen XV. A great and famous City hath Towers and Battlements belonging to it not only for Ornament but also for Strength and Security from Evil. XV. The City of God is famous in respect of its Towers and Places of Security Walk about Zion Psal 48.12 13 14. and go round about her mark well her Bulwarks consider her Palaces that ye may tell it to the Generation following For this God is our God for ever and ever and he will be our Guide until Death The Name of the Lord is a Strong-Tower c. Everyone of the blessed Attributes of God are as so many Towers of Safety to his Church See Strong-Tower in the First Head of Metaphors XVI In a City notwithstanding the many noble and honourable Personages or worthy Patrons that dwell therein yet there are some ill and unworthy Members that get a being there which tends much to its Blemish and Reproach XVI So the City of God notwithstanding all the holy and eminent Saints and Servants of God who dwell therein yet hath in it some wicked and ungodly Ones who by Craft and Hypocrisy get a being there tho when known they are turned out as the incestuous Person Hymeneus and Alexander was 1 Cor. 5. 1 Tim. 1.20 Jud. 4. For there are certain Men crept in unawares who were before of old ordained to this Condemnation ungodly Men turning the Grace of God into Lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ These
ill and loose Professors bring a great Reproach upon the Church of God but there is a Day coming when the Church shall be freed of them Zech. 14.21 There shall be no Canaanite in the House or City of God XVII The Citizens of a great and glorious City are much affected with and highly esteem and love the City where they dwell XVII So the Citizens of Zion have an honourable respect and high esteem for God's Church as appears particularly in David If I forget thee O Jerusalem Psal 137.56 let my right-hand forget her Cunning if I do not remember thee let my Tongue cleave to the Roof of my Mouth if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chiefest Joy Many Reasons may be given why the Godly are so much taken with Zion 1. Because it is the place of their Birth they were born or rather born again in her And of Zion it shall be said This and that Man was born in her Psal 87.5 6. and the Highest himself shall establish her Vers 6. The Lord shall count when he writeth up his People that this and that Man was born there 2. Because 't is the City of their Father and so their blessed Inheritance all the glorious Immunities thereof are theirs 3. It is a City redeemed or purchased by Christ's most precious Blood Acts 20 27. 1 Cor. 6. Psal 87.2 he gave himself for it Ye are bought with a Price 4. 'T is built by God and for God it is the Place that he hath chosen he esteems highly of it He is said to rejoyce in Zion he loves the very Gates thereof more than all the Dwelling places of Jacob. 5. It is a splendid and most glorious City her Foundation is laid with precious Stones yea the choicest Saphires her Streets are paved with that which is more rare than the purest Gold XVIII Some Citizens who are industrious grow very rich and attain to great Honour among their Neighbours and those are quickly known and taken notice of they may be discovered in divers respects XVIII So some of the Citizens of Sion who are diligent and industrious in the Improvement of Grace and the Means of Godliness grow very rich in Faith and good Works rich in spiritual and divine Knowledg rich in heavenly Experience Prov. 10.22 The diligent Hand maketh rich with the Blessing of God And these rich Saints are also soon discovered and taken notice of 1. Rich Men wealthy Merchants can trust or stay a great while for their own when poor Men must have all presently paid down The clearest Promise or firmest Covenant will not serve their Turn without some considerable part presently paid 1. So those who are spiritually rich Jam. 2 5. rich in Faith rich Merchants of Mount Zion the City of God can trust they cand stay patiently in expectation of the Good of the Promise as Abraham Rom. 4 20 who was strong or rich in Faith when others cannot rely upon a bare Promise or take God's single Word for the accomplishment of this or that 2. Rich Citizens have a great Stock lying by them 2. So those who are rich Citizens of Sion rich in Grace have a Stock of blessed Experience as David had They have a Stock of Faith much Faith when others have but a little a Stock of good Works having done much for God and for his Church c. 3. Rich Citizens have abundance of precious Things rare Merchandizes to delight in as Gold Silver and many other rich Commodities 3. So rich Citizens of Sion have abundance of rare and precious things in their Ware houses viz. their Hearts as Love Peace and Joy in the Holy-Ghost Gal. 5 22. 4. Rich Men do not live upon their Labour as poor Men do Some rich Men work and take as much pains as the poorest Man in the City but their Work is pleasant and more delightful to them than the Labour of one that is very poor 4. So rich Citizens of Sion tho they work hard for God 1 Coâ— 15.10 I laboured more abundantly than they all Yet their Work is sweet and pleasant to them because they work not for Life or for a Livelihood Gal. 2.20 they rest not upon doing but live by Faith but poor Saints live more upon doing than believing they have but little of that or any other Grace 5. Rich Men go finer or are generally more richly adorned than the Poor you may know a rich Citizen by his costly Ornaments by his rich Robes and Chains of Gold about his Neck 5. So rich Saints are more adorned with the Garment of Humility 1 Pet. 3.1 2.3 with the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which is in the sight of God of great Price They can deny themselves are patient under Sufferings endure all things contentedly for Christ's sake they have much Wisdom Prov. 1 9. as an O nament of Grace upon their Head and Chains of Gold about their Neck 6. Rich Citizens do usually bring up their Children more nobly and give them more Learning and better Education than the Poor generally do or can 6. So rich Saints such as have much Grace who are great Dealers and have got much by Trading in spiritual Things bring up their Children more vertuously Gen. 18.19 Eph. 6.4 and give them better Education they give them better Counsel better Examples than others they train them up in the Fear and Admonition of the Lord taking God for a Patern herein Psal 94.11 12. who maketh the Word and Rod a Blessing to his Children 7. Rich Citizens live high keep a good Table in comparison of what the Poor do or are able 7. So those who are spiritually rich have many precious Morsels yea blessed Variety of choice things they are often feasted by Christ and are with him in the House of Wine Cant. 2.4 and delight themselves in Fatness their good Conscience is to them a continual Feast Prov. 15.15 8. Rich Citizens can bear Burthens Taxations and Losses better than the Poor 8. So those who are spiritually rich can best bear up under cross Providences Persecution and Losses for Christ's sake 9. Rich Men can do for others poor Men can do but little for their poor Friends or Neighbours when the Rich can do much 9. So those that are rich in spiritual Experience in Faith and good Works can do much for weak Christians by Prayer by Advice and good Counsel Exod. 17.11 Jam 5.16 Moses did mighty Things by Prayer for Israel The fervent Prayer of a righteous Man availeth much 10. Rich Men can best strive with Difficulties and live in Years of Scarcity when others who have but just from hand to mouth are in such times in danger of starving or to be reduced to great Extremities 10. So those who are strong and very rich in Faith and all other Graces are help'd to bear up and pass through a Difficulty in Time of Want and
Scarcity better than weak or poor Christians will only God hath for their Comfort and Encouragement promised to supply their Wants Phil. 4.19 and will if sincere also relieve them Psal 84.11 that they shall not faint or perish in the Years of Famine XIX Some Cities tho rich yet are in a comparative sence but small but little Cities XIX The City of God in comparison of great Babylon is but a small City notwithstanding all her Glory Grandure Luke 12.32 Eccles 9.14 Rev. 17.18 and Greatness as you have heard she is but little There was a little City and few Men in it This City is the Church of God c. Babylon is a great City In comparison of the Wicked Christ's Flock is but a handful of People as it were XX. A City tho very strong yet is sometimes besieged and hath many Enemies XX. The City of God this little City is besieged Isa 1.8 The Daughter of Zion is left as a Cottage in a Vineyard as a Lodge in a Garden of Cucumers as a besieged City And marvellous it is so small a City should hold out so bravely unto this Day especially considering what mighty Enemies have and do besiege her Object But here it may be objected Hath it not been overcome is it not said The Holy City was trodden under foot Rev. 11.2 Answ It is only the outward Court God hath had his Church in all Ages tho forced for a time to flie into the Wilderness from the Face of the Dragon Rev. 12 6. Quest By whom is this City besieged Answ 1. By the Devil called a great King and the King of the Bottomless Pit Eccles 9.14 Rev. 12. 2. By Antichrist the First-born of Satan He hath for above twelve hundred Years laid Siege against it using all manner of Engines Craft and Cruelty to batter her down and finally to destroy her 3. She is besieged by the World by wicked Men Men of earthly and carnal Principles who abhor Zion and say Let her be defiled raze her Psal 137.7 even to the Foundation thereof 4. She is besieged by Sin and the Flesh a secret Enemy who fain in a clandestine way would betray her this Enemy doth her the most Mischief 5. She is besieged by a Multitude of false Teachers 2 Pet. 2.1 2. these likewise have done great Hurt and Dammage to the Church of God who labour by evil Doctrine to poyson all her Inhabitants 6. And besides all this there have been sad Divisions within her also she has been as a City divided and yet she stands 7. There have been sad Breaches made in her Walls so that many have been let in that way who should have been kept out 8. Many that seemed to be for her have deserted her and joined with the Enemy and yet still she holds out 9. And which is worst of all few of those who have been in the City have bravely acquitted themselves by Zeal and Holiness to defend her and yet she holds out still Quest From whence is it that she is helped to bear up against all these sore and grievous Assaults Batteries and Calamities Answ 1. This City as you have heard is built upon a Rock it has a sure Foundation which cannot be removed Mat. 16.18 2. The Lord of Hosts hath fought for her 't is he that hath been on her side he hath defended Mount Zion and the Hill thereof he hath took part with her Psal 125.2 Isa 31.4 5 and doth at this day 3. She holds out because God hath decreed her Standing Zech. 12.8 9. and that her Enemies shall not prevail 4. She is defended because she is the Place which the Lord loveth Psal 74 2. and hath purchased with the Blood of his own dear Son 5. Because it is the Place where God's Honour dwells Psal 26.8 I have loved the Habitation of thy House the Place where thy Honour dwells 6. Again she still remains because she is tho a little City yet a strong City We have a strong City She hath strong Fortifications strong Walls and Bulwarks Isa 26.1 Psal 31.21 135.21 Zech. 2.5 7. 'T is because God's own Habitation as you have heard is in her God is a Wall of Fire round about her and the Glory in the midst of her 8. She is defended by reason of the Strong-Tower she hath in her so long as her Tower stands how can she be battered down And her Tower is impregnable The Enemy may sooner pull the Sun out of the Firmament than undermine or batter down deface or demolish the Tower of Zion which is the Name of the Lord. Prov. 18.10 See Strong-Tower 9. She is defended because in her are the Laws Statutes Ordinances Isa 2.3 and holy Institutions of her King the Lord Jesus where he is worshipped and adored in Spirit and Truth Inferences HEnce all that dwell in Zion may be provoked to a diligent Improvement of their great Privileges to the end they may be enriched with all those spiritual Riches and dignified with that Honour that appertaineth to a true Denizen thereof 2. Take Comfort and Encouragement also whatever the Attempts of the Enemies are yet about all her Glory shall be a Defence All those whose Feet stand within her Gates may read Honour Safety Isa 4.5 and Salvation as it were written upon her Walls 3. Let it be your Delight to prefer her above your chiefest Joy as she is called the holy City so be ye also holy Psal 137.6 that you may declare your selves unto what City it is you do belong 4. How may this call home all those that are gone astray and invite all that profess good Will unto Sion to let their Feet stand within her Gates for the Lord hath desired it for his Habitation Holy David made this his one thing desirable Psal 27.4 viz. to dwell in God's House to be a Denizen of this City and why should not you 5. Let it be a Warning to all Sion's Enemies to take heed how they lift up their hands against her or reproach God and them that dwell in Heaven let them lay down their Arms and fight against her no more The Lord shall roar also out of Zion Joel 3.16 and utter his Voice from Jerusalem and the Heavens and Earth shall shake But the Lord will be the Hope of his People and the Strength of the Children of Israel So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion my holy Mountain c. The Church compared to the Moon Cant. 6.10 She is fair as the Moon THe Moon is called in Hebrew Lebanah of her Whiteness and bright Shining The State of the Church all Expositors agree is signified hereby The Church may in many respects be compared to the Moon Simile Parallel NAturalists affirm the Moon receiveth her Light from the Sun THe Church hath all her Light from Christ the Sun of Righteousness
Flock to rest at Noon c. Luke 12.32 Fear not little Flock it is your Father's good Pleasure to give you the Kingdom THe Church or Saints of God are compared unto a Flock of Sheep Metaphor Parallel SHeep are clean Beasts tame and gentle not wild as Tigers Lions Foxes or Wolves nor unclean as Dogs Swine c. SO the Saints of God are a People tamed as it were by God's Spirit from that natural Wildness and Perverseness made gentle willing to come into Christ's Fold cleansed from Impurity of Heart and Life II. Sheep are simple a harmless Sort of Creatures not crafty ravenous and devouring as those Sort of Beasts above-mentioned II. So the Saints of God are holy they are taught to be simple concerning Evil Mat. 10.16 Be ye saith Christ as innocent as Doves They seek the Hurt of no Man not like Romish Wolves who delight in nothing more than in Blood and Rapine shedding the Blood of those who do not wrong or injure them but desire to live peaceably in the Land III. Sheep are meek and patient under Sufferings Hence our Saviour is said to be led as a Lamb to the Slaughter Isa 53.7 and as a Sheep is dumb before the Shearer so opened he not his Mouth See Lamb. III. So the Saints and People of God are meek and patient under God's hand both when they suffer for their Sins or for the Trial of their Graces as appeareth in Job David Stephen c. Psal 39 9. I held my Peace I opened not my Mouth because Lord thou diddest it IV. Sheep as they are patient so they are profitable both in their Lives and by their Death There is scarcely any Creature that brings its Owner greater Incomes than Sheep they are good both for Food and Cloathing IV. The Saints are very profitable many ways the Benefit the World receives by them or for their Sakes is very great they are called the Light of the World and the Salt of the Earth now the Profit the World receives in both these respects is not little Had there been ten of those Sheep in Sodom God had not destroyed it besides the Angel told Lot he could do nothing till he was out of the City What a Blessing was Joseph to his Master whilst he abode in his House and Jacob to Laban They yield the World much Profit by the Doctrine they preach by the fervent Prayers they daily put up to Almighty God and their holy and good Examples Mat. 5.16 Let your Light so shine before Men that they may see your good Works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven V. Sheep are obedient and ready to follow their Shepherd whithersoever he goeth It is the Custom in some Countries for the Shepherd to go before the Sheep c To which our Saviour alludes John 10.27 V. So Believers and the Church of Christ are obedient to him Joh. 10.4 5. My Sheep saith he hear my Voice and they follow me and the Voice of a Stranger they will not follow Psal 73.24 Thou shalt guide me by thy Counsel saith the Psalmist Christ's Precepts are the Saints Directory and his Practice their Pattern for Imitation Hence Paul exhorteth the Corinthians to follow him as he followed Christ 1 Cor. 11.1 VI. Sheep are incident to many Diseases many of them are weak and feeble which a good Shepherd taketh pity of and endeavours to heal and strengthen them VI. So the Saints of God are subject to manifold Weaknesses Temptations and Afflictions which moved the Almighty to great Compassion and sorely to rebuke the Shepherds of Israel for their Cruelty and great Remisness towards his Flock The Diseased have ye not strengthned neither have ye healed that which was sick c. And therefore saith He would himself take the Work into his own hands I will bind up that which was broken and will strengthen that which was sick c VII A Flock of Sheep must not be over-driven lest they tire Jacob who was a skilful Shepherd knew this and therefore told Esau his Brother Gen. 33.13 that if the Flock were over-driven they would die VII So the Saints or Flock of Christ must not be over-driven they must be led gently along and God taketh care to lay no more upon them than they can bear No Temptation hath taken you 1 Cor. 10.13 but such as is common to Men but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able and will with the Temptation also make way to escape that ye may be able to bear it He will not lay upon us more than is right VIII Sheep are subject to go astray and to be lost in a Wilderness and upon that account need the Shepherd's Care to seek them and fetch them home to the Fold VIII So the Saints are subject to go astray from God and to wander from his Precepts viz. decline in their Zeal Faith and Affection to him and his Ways and to get wandering Thoughts after the World and sometimes they wander through the Neglect and Carelesness of the Under-Shepherds My Sheep Ezek. 34.6 Psal 119.176 saith the Lord wandered through all the Mountains and none did search or seek after them I have gone astray like a lost Sheep seek thy Servant c. IX Sheep must be led forth into green Pastures to be fed and a good Shepherd will take heed he puts them not into Fields or Meadows that are not proper for them for some Grounds will soon rot and spoil them IX So Christ's Flock must be fed in good Pastures viz. with sound and wholesom Truth good Doctrine Food that is fit and proper for them they must not have Chaff of Mens Traditions nor the corrupt Glosses of cloudy Doctors that lived in the dark Time of the Church It behoves Christ's Ministers to take heed they suffer not the Sheep under their Charge to suck in the Poyson of Error and Heresy for nothing rots and spoils Christians more than that The Spouse from hence enquireth of Christ Cant. 1.7 Where he feedeth his Flock that is Where his blessed Gospel was truly and constantly preached and his holy Ordinances duly administred lest she should turn aside by the Flocks of his Companions that is such as call themselves so Christ directs her to go forth by the Footsteps of the Flock and feed their Kids besides the Shepherds Tents That is to follow the Doctrine and Footsteps of the Primitive Church for that alone is our Rule in all God's holy Worship The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want Psal 23.1 2 He maketh me to lie down in green Pastures he leadeth me besides the still Waters X. Sheep have a shadowy Place to rest in when the Sun shines hot at Noon which is a great Refreshment to them where they chew their Cud and being saved from the Vehemency of the scorching Sun they with the greater Alacrity return to
another Angel saying Babylon is fallen is fallen that Great City because she made all Nations drink of the Wine of the Wrath of her Fornication REV. 16.19 And great Babylon came in remembrance before God to give unto her the Cup of the Wine of the Fierceness of his Wrath. REV. 17.5 And upon her Forehead was a Name written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS or Fornications AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH REV. 18.1 2. And after these things I saw another Angel come down from Heaven And he cry'd mightily with a strong Voice saying Babylon the Great is fallen is fallen and is become the Habitation of Devils and the Hold of every unclean Spirit and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird c. IN the handling of this great Subject it seems needful to give an Account of the various Opinions that have more or less prâ—sented themselves to the World about it which may be reduced to these four following Heads I. That it is Jerusalem and that for two Reasons 1. Because the Man of Sin or last Beast that is to head this Babylon is set forth by St. Paul to sit in the Temple of God shewing himself to be a God 2 Thess 2.4 Rev. 11.8 2. Because this City where the Beast reigns and shall slay the Witnesses is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt where our Lord was crucified II. That it is the Turkish Empire or Power of the Saracens which Mr. Mede somewhat touches and in a brief way most learnedly argues against in his third Book pag. 644 645. III. That it is indeed Rome the Seat of the fourth or last Empire but Rome in its Heathen State under the idolatrous and persecuting Emperors So the Rhemists would have it if there be a Necessity to fix upon Rome to be this Apocalyptical or Mystery Babylon For this Opinion the present Romanists have no better Advocate than Dr. Hammond who hath done very worthily at other Turns See his Annotations upon the 17th Chapter of the Apocalypse IV. That it is the present Power and Church of Rome who under pretence of the most high and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction doth influence and govern the Secular Power and State of Kingdoms Of this last Opinion were the ancient Waldenses who felt the bloody Power of Rome venting it self in most horrid and barbarous Cruelties against them and that for a long Series of Time as appears by our most Authentick Ancient and Modern Writers who give a very ample Account of the great Persecution of Christians for many hundred Years last past in all Parts of the Christian World where they have had Power To which Opinion of the Waldenses most of our modern Protestant Divines agree of which we shall mention only Cartwright Fulk the worthily admired and Learned Mede not forgetting famous Du Moulin of France as may be seen in their Works at large But because we will not take Things upon Trust nor refer the Reader to many Quotations which he may want Books and Time to satisfy himself about it appears needful that we remove the Objections with as much Brevity as possible before we state the Metaphor and run the Parallel Now that Babylon in all these New-Testament Texts cannot be fairly applied to Jerusalem the Turks and Saracens nor terminate in the Heathenish State of Rome we offer these following Considerations or Arguments I. It cannot be meant the City Jerusalem 1. Because Jerusalem did not reign over the Kings of the Earth in St. John's time when he saw this Vision and wrote the Revelation which this City Babylon is expresly said to do Rev. 17.18 And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth Jerusalem having been not only under Captivity divers times before but were then entirely under the Power of the Roman Yoke as the whole History of the Gospel doth confirm and themselves did most plainly confess We have no King but Caesar John 19.15 2. Jerusalem was never in so high esteem with the Beast as to be capable to ride as Queen-Regent upon him as this Woman Whore or City is said to do And the Angel said unto me Wherefore didst thou marvel I will tell thee the Mystery of the Woman and the Beast that carrieth her which hath the seven Heads and ten Horns Rev. 17.7 Rev. 17.7 compared with Vers 3. So he carried me away in the Spirit into the Wilderness and I saw a Woman sit upon a Scarlet-coloured Beast full of Names of Blasphemy having seven Heads and ten Horns For by the Woman sitting and Beast carrying is undoubtedly signified Influence Power and Dominion which Jerusalem was far remote from not only under the Roman Monarchy but also under the three Kingdoms that went before it viz. the Babylonian Grecian and Persian as might be largely illustrated both out of Sacred and Humane History 3. Jerusalem did not sit upon many Waters which is interpreted to be People Nations and Tongues that is had not Command or Dominion over them as this Woman Rev. 17.15 Whore or City is said to have And he saith The Waters which thou sawest where the Whore sitteth are Peoples and Multitudes and Nations and Tongues The whole Land of Judea being under Tribute to the Roman Government at that time And it came to pass in those Days Luke 2.1 that there went out a Decree from Caesar Augustus that all the World should be taxed Verse 4. and particularly Galilee Nazareth Judea and the City of David called Bethlehem 4. Jerusalem was not capable to enchant and bewitch all the Nations round about her either by her Religion and Doctrine or by great Gifts and Rewards 1. Because the Roman Power kept her under and much in awe on the one hand not owning nor subscribing to her Religion 2. The Christian Doctrine and Religion block'd up her Way on the other hand that she could not extend her Influence to either neighbouring or remote Nations as this Woman Whore or City is said to do For thy Merchants were the great Men of the Earth for by thy Sorceries were all Nations deceived Rev. 18.23 5. Jerusalem tho she were guilty of much Blood from the beginning of her Excellency and Glory in Solomon's Time killing Prophets even all that were sent unto her murthered John Baptist and our Lord and Saviour as also the blessed Martyr St. Stephen yet in her could not be found that great Mass of Blood that was shed and Myriads of Christian Saints that have been barbarously murthered by Massacre and publick Martyrdom since they were ruined and destroyed by Titus Vespasian which we find positively charged upon this City Babylon Rev. 17.6 And I saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of Saints and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and I wondered with great Admiration as indeed well he might as shall be shewn Rev. 19 24. And in her was found the Blood of Prophets and of
Saints and of all that were slain upon the Earth that is since the Destruction of Jerusalem 6. And lastly Not to multiply more upon this Head tho Jerusalem was fearfully destroyed as the History of Josephus shews yet shall she rise again be built upon her own Heap be replenished with her own Children which this City Babylon under Consideration shall never be after this Catastrophe which John saw visionally coming upon it And a mighty Angel took up a Stone like a great Mill-stone Rev. 18.21 and cast it into the Sea saying Thus with violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all II. It cannot be the Turks and Saracens for two Reasons offered by the Learned Mead lib. 3. p. 643. 1. Because tho they did arise to great Power in the World yet they had not their Seat in that great City which in St. John's Time reigned over the Kings of the Earth which this Babylon is expresly said to have Rev. 17.18 2. That they did not rise by Apostacy from the Christian Religion which this Babylon with her Head the Man of Sin did for as this worthy Author saith the Turk whatever he be could be no Apostate because he was of a Nation that never was Christian To which we shall add something for the clearing of this Head that we may discharge that Debt we owe to God to the Church and the World 3. It cannot be the Turks because they are not strangely and wonderfully mysterious which this Babylon is said to be And upon her Forehead was a Name written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS Rev. 17.5 AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH And the Angel said unto me Wherefore didst thou marvel I will tell thee the Mystery of the Woman Verse 7. and the Beast which carrieth her which hath the seven Heads and ten Horns What special Mystery hath shewed it self to the World from the Turks and Saracens more than from other common Empires or Kingdoms that is matter of Admiration to the wisest of Men Is it matter of Wonder that the Turks do own but one true and most high God Is it matter of Wonder that they do own Jesus Christ to be a Prophet and a good Man Is it matter of highest Wonder that they prefer Mahomet above Jesus Is it matter of Wonder that they appear true to their Contracts in Matters of Civil Commerce Is it matter of highest Wonder for them to endeavour to keep what Dominion they have and to enlarge it to make Slaves and Prizes of those profest Enemies they take Prisoners We say in none of these things is there any high Mystery or matter of greatest Wonder being Things common to all Places and Kingdoms invested with Power For 1. Did not the great King of Literal Babylon own the only true God yet still held the Church in Captivity 2. Did not Israel own the same and yet kept their Idols after their Revolt from Judah 3. Did not Judah prefer Moses above and before Christ and at that time when Christ was personally amongst them working most stupendous Miracles which did evince his Divine Mission Nay did they not prefer a common and notorious Villain before the blessed Lord of Glory when they desired a Murtherer to be freed and pressed hard to have the good and blessed Jesus the Saviour of the World killed And did not this wise Apostle know this to be true in Fact and to equal nay out-do any thing that the Turks or Saracens ever did or can be accused of And if St. John was transported with astonishing Wonder at Matters much less than he had seen before doth it not give good reason to suspect him of Weakness and Defect that he should suffer himself to be surprized with the greatest Wonder at far less Things than he had seen and known before Certainly therefore we must conclude there was something more of Mystery in John's Vision than what hath been shewed to the World by the Great Turk or any other Power and indeed undoubtedly the greatest Mystery that ever the World was acquainted with For the Characters of Babylon must either be singular that is such as none have besides or else they must be transcendent to go far beyond what others had in a lesser degree Otherwise John might have kept the Description of Babylon to himself there being no clear Distinctions to render the wisest and most discerning Men able to make a Judgment upon her The Mystery then that is written upon this Woman Babylon seems clearly to lie in these Particulars following First That she doth transact the most horrid Wickednesses that ever the World was or is like to be acquainted with Secondly That under this monstrous Guilt she is prodigiously confident and without all regret or show of Shame and most impudently boasts of the highest Sanctity and Holiness in the World viz. That she is totally pure infallibly certain and cannot err c. That this indeed is a Mystery to be wondred at let it be considered 1. That a Shepherd should be a Wolf and devour that Flock which he pretends to be an Overseer or Pastor of 2. That a professed Servant of Jesus Christ and the meanest of Saints should exalt himself above his Master and not above his Master only but above the God of his Master and all other deputed Gods that are Vicegerents to the King of Heaven by slighting and trampling upon the Holy Scriptures and Laws both of God and Princes dispensing with the Breach of them indulging the highest Violation thereof and setting up his own Inventions Traditions and Decrees above them insomuch that there is a thousand times less danger in their esteem in respect of Excommunications and Corporal Punishments in this World or of Damnation in the World to come in breaking and violating the Laws of God and Princes than there is in the Violation or Breach of the Inventions Traditions and Decrees of Mystery Babylon and her Head 3. That one sitting in the Temple of God pretending himself as a poor Apostle Vicar and Successor of Christ nay as the Successor of a poor Fisherman should wear the highest Ensigns of Imperial Dignity 4. That he should be so lordly and prodigiously insolent who was commanded to the greatest Humility and Abasement as to tread upon the Necks of Emperors kick off the Crowns of great Princes and make Kings his Foot-Pages 5. That he should pretend highly yea most highly to God Christ Religion and Holiness and yet espouse to himself as the Darlings of his Bosom not only the chiefest Sons of Belial but all that will decline Sanctity and Religion and embody themselves with those First-born Sons of Wickedness that are of the highest Magnitude and engage themselves in such monstrous and butcherly Practices that humane Nature as such could never act in the butchering of brute Beasts 6. That the Spouse of this prodigious Monster should in Profession own God Jesus
than Rome Heathen or Babylon ever was And then what a fine Church do the People make themselves 10. If the Place Seat and City of Rome was not utterly ruined so as to be no more for ever as a Place of Commerce Trade and Human Society when the Heathen Power ceased then Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylon because at the Ending and Downfall of this Babylon the Place Seat and City is utterly ruined so as to be no more a Place of Trade Rev. 17.16 Commerce or human Society And the ten Horns which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and shall eat her Flesh and burn her with Fire Verse 18. And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth for her Sins which God hath remembred Rev. 18.8 which have reached unto Heaven therefore shall her Plagues come in one Day Death and Mourning and Famine and she shall be utterly burnt with Fire For strong is the Lord God who judgeth her Ver. 11 12 13. All Sorts of Merchandize Traffick Trade and Commerce with humane Society shall cease so as to be no more in her at all and the good Things which she in Fulness enjoyed before even all Things that were dainty and goodly are now departed from her and she shall find them no more at all vers 14. for in one Hour is she made desolate And a mighty Angel took up a Stone like a great Mill-stone and cast it into the Sea saying Thus with Violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all Verse 21. And the Voice of Harpers and Musicians and of Pipers and Trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee and no Craftsman of whatsoever Craft he be shall be found any more in thee and the Sound of a Mill-stone shall be heard no more at all in thee Verse 22. And the Light of the Candle shall shine no more at all in thee and the Voice of the Bridegroom and of the Bride shall be heard no more at all in thee Verse 23. But the Place Seat and City of Rome was not so utterly ruined as to be no more for ever a Place of Trade Traffick Merchandize and humane Society when the Heathen Power of Rome ended Ergo Rome Heathen cannot be the Whore of Babylon under present Consideration whose Seat or City hath since had a powerful Government reigning in Pride and Pomp for some hundreds of Years 11. If Rome Papal be Mystery Babylon the City of Pride and Confusion that is set forth by St. Jobn in the Apocalypse then neither the City of Jerusalem the Seat of the Turks and Saracens nor Rome Heathen is or can be the same But Rome Papal is the Mystery Babylon set forth by St. John in the Apocalypse Ergo neither the City of Jerusalem the Seat of the Turks and Saracens nor Rome Heathen can be the same The last Proposition is thus proved If all the Marks and Characters left us upon Divine Record to prove Mystery Babylon by do more aptly and fitly agree to Rome Papal than to the City of Jerusalem the Seat of the Turks or Rome Heathen Then Rome Papal and not any one of them is Mystery Babylon But the Marks and Characters left upon Divine Record to distinguish and know Mystery Babylon by do more aptly and fitly agree to Rome Papal Ergo Rome Papal and not the other is Mystery Babylon For the clearing up of this Argument we shall distinctly state the Character of Mystery Babylon and run the Parallel betwixt her and Rome Papal in this Method following 1. Babylon is a Woman which imports either a single Person rank'd in the Feminine Gender or a Body of People related to some Head Husband or publick Person to whom she is joined in Wedlock by Covenant or Matrimonial Contract as Eve was related to Adam and therefore called Woman or as Judah and Israel who were joined in Covenant with God and therefore called a Woman or as the true Church now is married or joined to Christ and therefore called a Woman A single Person as Eve was she cannot be because the Character given of her in respect of her State and Actions doth no way comport with it She must therefore be a Body of People related to some Head Husband or publick Person as Judah and Israel of old was who are often called by the Title of Woman and in like manner Babylon before her Degeneracy were a People joined in Matrimonial Contract by a Gospel-Covenant and Profession to the Son of God Metaphor Parallel BAbylon imports a Body of People that was once united to the Son of God and hence Metaphorically called a Woman And I saw a Woman sit c. And the Woman was arrayed c. And I saw the Woman Drunk c. Rev. 17.3 4 6. ROme Papal or the Church of Rome is a Body a great Body a famous Body of People and which were before their Apostacy a true Church by Gospel-Covenant and Profession united to the Son of God as her publiâ—k Head and Husband Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ To all that be in Rome Rom. 1.6 7. beloved of God called to be Saints Grace be to you and Peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ II. Babylon is a City a very great City so called in a threefold respect Rev. 17.18 18.10 16 18 19 21. 1. In respect of Power 2. In respect of People 3 In respect of Place and Residence where this Power and People is seated Psal 121. Isa 14.31 Acts 19.28 City being indefinitely taken for either of these or comprehending all as in these Instances II. Rome Papal or Church of Rome is a City a very great City so called in a threefold respect 1. In respect of Power which is twofold 1. Civil 2. Ecclesiastical Reâ— 13.1 signified by two Horns like a Lamb. 2. In respect of People which are great in Number 3. In respect of Place and Residence where this Power and great People is seated and indeed it is as worthily called by way of Eminency a City as any Power People or Place in the Christian World because there is nothing so much spoken of or gives sadder occasion to be so much spoken of as Rome in respect of Power People and Place which shall be further cleared by Argument c. The Fame of this People as a Church was great before the Power and chief Dominion of the Place was joined with it as appears Rom. 1.8 First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all that your Faith is spoken of throughout the whole World III. Babylon is not only a Woman and a City but a bad Woman and a City of Confusion for so the Word Babel Gen. 11.1 to 10. or Babylon signifies viz. Evil or Confusion III. Rome Papal or Church of Rome is not
only a Woman and a City but a very evil Woman and a City of Confusion There is the Name of the Lamb much spoken of but his Doctrine undervalued and slighted his Laws trampled upon and violated his Example not regarded for Imitation either by the Bishop himself his Cardinals or inferior Orders having his Humility and Self-denial only in Words like those the Apostle speaketh of that in Words profess God but in Works deny him For under this verbal Humility here is the greatest Pride in the World under this verbal Meekness and Self-denial the greatest Oppression and Cruelty Covetousness and Love of the World as appears by their pompous Garbs their cruel Punishments and the vast Sums of Money brought in from all parts of their Dominion by Sleights and cunning and deceitful Cheats Besides a meer Hodg-podg of Principles one Order or Fraternity professing that which another writes against and cries down which is the more strange to come from a Church infallible Besides the strange Mixtures in their visible Worship of Traditions and human Inventions of lying and diabolical Tricks of blessing by a Cross consecrating holy Water and cleansing by it which are too numerous and tedious to relate and the less needful because every Man that hath seen their Ways hath an imperfect Book of it in his own Mind and can read the Truth of what we say within himself And let any People in the Christian World pretending to Religion be compared to them for supernumerary trifling and insignificant Ceremonies crouded into their pretended Worship nay let all the People in the Christian World be laid in the Ballance against the Church of Rome in this respect and they will be found inconceivably wanting for which we have this Reason to judg her to be Babylon and the City of Confusion If there is more Confusion in Contrariety of Principles Practices contradicting Pretensions crouding in Supernumeraries and Mysteries of Unscriptural Inventions into visible Worship in Rome Papal or the Church of Rome than is to be found amongst any or all People pretending Religion in the Christian World besides Then is Rome Papal or the Church of Rome the great Babylon or City of Confusion But there is more Confusion in the forementioned Respects to be found in Rome Papal or the Church of Rome than in any or all People pretending Religion in the Christian World besides Ergo c. IV. Babylon is not only a Woman and a City a City of Confusion but she is a Whore which is a strange Word to be applied to a great and famous People a Word that carries in it one of the highest Impeachments but no other than was given to Israel Isa 57.3 16.17 Hos 4. 5.3 Judah and Jerusalem in the Days of old upon a very good Reason for they being joined in Covenant with God to serve him in Obedience and Subjection did like to an adulterous Woman break Wedlock and set up other Lovers or Idols in his stead Ezek. 16.38 Hos 1.9 2.2 5. and continued so a long time till a Bill of Divorce was given and God proclaimed them not married to him as his Wife but a Whore and divorced yet it is observable that they used his Name tho they worshipped Idols and cried The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord are we IV. Rome Papal or Church of Rome is not only a Woman and a City a City of Confusion but according to Scripture-History and notorious Matter of Fact she is a Whore also and may be justly so called for in the Apostles Time she joined her self to the Lord by firm Ties of a Gospel-Govenant and Profession and was the renowned Spouse of the Son of God owned and profess'd him in the Time of Heathenism received the Apostles and Servants of God amongst them withstood the Fury of the Emperors suffered Persecution had their Faith spoken of throughout the whole World and yet after all this like Israel of old she left God and his holy Laws made Idols to her self of Saints Angels Reliques and Images upon which she doted and forsook the Son of God upon the working and appearance of the Man of Sin who exalted himself into the place of Christ and became her Head by which means she is so far degenerated from what she once was that she retains nothing holds fast nothing of what really appertains to true Godliness but the bare Names of God and Jesus Christ having corrupted the true Worship of the Son of God her first Husband and notoriously abandoned Obedience to him taking this vile Person to be her Head and chief Guide and setting him in the Place of and Dignity above her first Head and true Guide of her Youth and yet like Israel of old still cries The true Church the Catholick Church the Mother-Church are we having on her Forehead a strange Mystery written i. e. God Christ Truth Verity Infallibility and next to this there lies nearest her Heart Devil Pope Lying Deceit Perjury Idolatry and horrible Cruelty towards the best of Men professing Christ and Religion in Uprightness and Truth For which Change of her first Head Husband and Guide of her Youth for this vile Person with which she commits most abominable Lewdness together with the Kings of the Earth she is ranked by the Angel amongst the worst of Women and stiled as her Type and Predecessor of olâ— a well-favoured Harlot or of the Angel a Woman a City and notorious Whore which ill and black Characters we conclude with this Argument If there be no Body of professing People in the Christian World that hath so apparently deâ—lined or adulterated from what they once were deserted the holy Doctrine Example and right Government of Jesus Christ and set up another visible and publick Head of the Church in room and stead of him whose Power and Laws are preferred above and before the Authority and Laws of the Lord Jesus as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath done Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome is this Whore spoken of But there is no Body of professing People in the Christian World that hath so apparently declined or adulterated or deserted the holy Doctrine Example or right Government of Christ ut suprà Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is this Whore spoken of To reinforce this Argument let it be shewed by any Man that any People different from the Church of Rome hath made such a Change in point of Religion and Headship and Matters thereto pertaining so as that this black Character of Whore can more fitly and fully be made to meet upon them and we must confess our Argument not weighty but till then we conclude it carries Conviction in the Bowels of it V. Babylon this Woman this City of Confusion this Whore is a very great Woman City and Whore And the great City was divided Rev. 16.19 Chap. 17.18 chap. 18.10 Verse 16. And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City
c. The Merchants stood afar off saying Alas alas that great City Babylon that mighty City Again they wept saying Alas Verse 18. alas that great City which was cloathed c. What City is like unto this great City And cried weeping and wailing Verse 17. saying Alas alas that great City wherein were made rich c. And a mighty Angel took up a Stone Verse 21. like a great Mill-stone and cast it into the Sea saying Thus with violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down I will shew thee the Judgment of the great Whore Chap. 17.1 c. He hath judged the great Whore Chap. 19.2 c. Great in four Respects 1. Great in Name 2. Great in Power 3. Great in Multitude 4. Great in Action vile Actions V. Rome Papal or Church of Rome is not only a Woman a City a Whore but a very great Woman City and Whore great in many respects but chiefly in these four 1. She hath a great Name no Name so great in the Christian World as the Name of Rome She is called a Queen because joined by Contract to a great Man the Man of Sin a Man greater than Emperors and Temporal Princes who pretends a Power to give them their Crowns to set them upon their Heads and kick them off at pleasure 2. Great in Power She gives Rules to Kingdoms advances her Ecclesiastical Laws above Temporal sets her Head and the chiefest of her Sons above Secular Jurisdiction makes them unaccountable and pretends a Power to absolve and bless them and without Controversy the lesser is blessed of the greater 3. Great in Multitude There are no People besides that are in a spiritual united Body and visible Community professing Christianity comparable to her for Multitude and the vast Numbers of her Sons and Daughters 4. Great in Action vile Actions such as deposing and poysoning Princes fomenting Jealousies raising Wars setting Nations together by the Ears invading Rights making Uproars burning Cities and carrying on dreadful Devastations where she is gainsay'd And that which adds to her Greatness is the invincible Confidence she hath that all Persons and Things are made for her and given to her so that all Things she doth are allowed as legal and just in Heaven From whence we frame this Argument Arg. If there be no United Body of People or visible Community in the Christiâ—n World that is so great in Name Power Multitude and Action vile Actions as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath been and still is Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome is this great very great Woman City and Whore spoken of But there is no united Body of People or visible Community in the Christian World that is so great in Name Power Multitude and Action vile Actions as Rome Papal or the Church of Rome is Ergo Rome Papal c. is this great very great Woman City and Whore spoken of To reinforce this Argument let it be considered that the Christian World is distinguished or divided into two Parts viz. Papists and Protestants the Protestants cannot be this Whore 1. Because they own Jesus Christ to be Head of the Church and only him 2. They have never revolted or changed him so as to set up another in his room under any Title whatsoever but profess him to be their Lord and are in Obedience and Subjection to his Laws in all matters purely Religious 3. Neither is their Name Power Multitude or Actions so great by far as the Papists are they being but small inconsiderable and low in all Papist Countries And when the Protestant Religion hath gotten up to be the profest Religion of any Nation Kingdom or City what is that Nation Kingdom or City in comparison of those Nations Kingdoms and Cities where the Papists reign and Popery is profest This every intelligent Man hath so full a Prospect of that it appears needless to give proof by Instances VI. Babylon This Woman City of Confusion and Whore which is very great sitteth upon many Waters Rev. 17.1 which is expounded to be Peoples and Multitudes and Nations and Tongues And he the Angel said unto me Verse 15. the Waters which thou sawest where the Whore sitteth are Peoples and Multitudes and Nations and Tongues c. Which according to the learned Mede and a famous French Author is more than a third part of the ten considerable parts which the Roman Monarchy fell into not long before the Pope Man of Sin or Head of Mystery Babylon assumed the Imperial Seat and Crowns which afterward became ten Kingdoms with crowned Heads assisting the Beast against the Lamb and persecuting of the Saints distinguished into ten Kingdoms or Empires 1. Of Germany 2. France 3. England 4. Scotland 5. Denmark 6. Polonia 7. The Kingdom of Spain 8. The Kingdom of Navarre 9. The Kingdom of Hungary 10. The Kingdom of Naples and Sicily All which Rome Papal had in Possession as our French Author saith in the days of Pope Leo the tenth which was less than 200 Years VI. Rome Papal or Church of Rome is not only a great Woman City of Confusion and Whore that hath set up the Man of Sin great Belial or highest Son of Wickedness but she likewise sits upon many Waters viz. People and Multitudes Nations and Tongues which may be illustrated by undeniable Instances 1. She sat upon or ruled over more than one third part of ten which was formerly under the Roman Empire in its Civil State which more than one third part hath since fallen into ten States or Kingdoms under the Government of ten crowned Heads and have all agreed to give their Power to this last Beast according to what was foretold by Daniel Dan. 7. concerning the little Horn which had a Mouth speaking great things whose Looks were more stout than his Fellows by whom three of the first Horns of the Roman Power in its Civil State was pluck'd up by the Roots and in their place succeeded ten Kings or Crowned Heads who have their Crowns given them by this last Beast and as they have their Crowns given by and hold their Kingship under the Pope little Horn last Beast or Man of Sin in requital of his Fatherly Care to give his Sons so great a Patrimony they gave their Power unto him and engage against the Lamb making War with and persecuting the Saints till the Word of God or Prophecy of Daniel is fulfilled which ten Crowned Heads answer to the ten Toes in Nebuchadnezzar's Image to the ten Horns in this 17th of the Apocalypse that are so concerned in the Beasts Kingdom as to be overcome by the Lamb and turn to hate the Whore that before they supported and for whose Pleasure they did persecute the Saints which ten States or Kingdoms are by our French Author in his Book called the accomplishment of the Prophecy p. 345. distinguished to be as in the other Column set forth All which Kingdoms as King James in his
to fight against and slaughter his deceived Nations of whom it is said The Lord shall go forth and fight against those Nations Zech. 14. as when he fought in the Day of Battel Which will be so dreadful a Fight or Battel as never yet was fought for Slaughter and Blood and so destroy this vile Person with the Brightness of his Appearance to fulfill 2 Thess 2. and cast him as the Son of Perdition into the burning Flames to fulfill Rev. 19.20 And the Fowls of Heaven shall be filled with their Flesh And here is the Mind that hath Wisdom The Beast that was and is not and yet is is of the seventh Head and is the eighth and goeth into Perdition V. The first Beast or Head of the Caldean Kingdom or Literal Babylon did invade Judea besiege Jerusalem take the City and trample it under foot till raised again by an Edict from the next great King of Persia V. The last Beast or Head of the Roman Kingdom call'd Mystery Babylon doth invade Sion the Gospel-Church hath closely besieged her and block'd up her Privileges and trampled under fâ—ot the holy City for a long space of Time Rev. 11.2 VI. The first Beast or Power of the Caldean Kingdom call'd Literal Babylon did take away the two Olive-Trees that stood before the God of the whole Earth VI. The last Beast or Power of the Roman Kingdom hath taken away or endeavoured to slay the two Witnesses that bore up the Light and Testimony of God to the World VII Caldea or Literal Babylon did set up Image-Worship commanding upon pain of Burning the Worshippers of the true God to fall down Jer. 5.38 Dan. 3.6 It is the Place of graven Images and they are mad upon their Idols And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same Hour be cast into the midst of the burning fiery Furnace VII Rome or Mystery Babylon requires Worship to be given to the Crucifix the Image of the Virgin Mary and other Saints but especially to the Idol of the Mass so that whosoever will not own that most ridiculous Idolatry of a piece of consecrated Bread coming out of the Priest's unhallowed Hands to be their God and Saviour shall be burned at a Stake as many blessed Men and Women young and old were in the Marian Days See Fox 's Acts and Monuments VIII Caldea or Literal Babylon was the Place of Captivity and Spoil for she carried the Servants of God away captive and made a Spoil of their Treasures and rejoiced in so doing Jer. 52.28 29 30. Ezek. 1. Dan. 1. Here we shall find Ezekiel and Daniel and Thousands more in Captivity here we shall find the Spoils of Jerusalem and the Enemy rejoicing in the Spoil Because ye were glad because ye rejoyced at the Destruction ye are grown fat as the Heifers at Grass and bellow as Bulls c. VIII Rome or Mystery Babylon is become the place of Captivity and Spoil for 't is by her Orders Dictates and Influence that the Servants of God have been carried away captive and their Goods and Possessions made a Spoil of in all parts of the Christian World In her Dominions it was where we find John Hus Jerome of Prague the Noble Lord Cobham and thousands more captivated and destroyed 'T is in their Jails we find good Men imprisoned in Popish Countries we find the Inquisition and other cruel Usages For who is it in all the Christian World besides that imprisons spoils and destroys Men for their Religion that persecutes the People of God but the Vassals of this sinful City of Rome Her wicked Sons did not only kill and spoil in Bohemia Piedmont and other Countries but they rejoyced in their horrid Wickedness as appears in the Histories of the Saints Sufferings written by Mr. Fox Mr. Clark Sir Sam. Moreland and others c. IX Caldea or literal Babylon notwithstanding her great Wickedness yet was the most lofty and proud of all Countries besides called the Lady of Kingdoms and the Glory and Beauty of Excellency for which God doth severely threaten her Isa 13.19 Behold I am against thee O thou most Proud saith the Lord God of Hosts Jer. 50.31 For thy Day is come the time that I will visit thee IX Rome or Mystery Babylon notwithstanding her great Crimes and most horrid Wickedness yet hath been the most Proud of any City or People in the Christian World who saith in her Heart I sit a Queen am no Widow shall see no Sorrow for which Haughtiness and Pride of hers the Lord will remember her with Judgment and Severity when he comes to make Inquisition for Blood and avenge upon her the Injury done to Sion Rev. 18.7 How much she hath glorified her self and lived deliciously so much Torment and Sorrow give her c. X. Chaldea or literal Babylon was not only a People of great Pomp Pride and Covetousness but of great Riches and Treasures Thou that dwellest upon many Waters Jer. 50.37 51.13 abundant in Treasures thine end is come the end of thy Covetousness X. Rome or Mystery Babylon is not only a People of great Pomp and Pride arrayed with Purple Scarlet Gold Pearl and precious Stones but she sits upon many Waters is Covetous as well as Proud and full of Treasures and indeed it must needs be so for besides the Gifts that were first given in the time of Constantine as is pretended she hath made a Prey upon Nations a Spoil upon Saints had the Gifts of Kings had vast Revenues setled upon her Orders and Clergy she has peeled the People by selling Pardons and Indulgences raising Peter-Pence and the like so horribly covetous is she that she is not willing any should go to Heaven without the Gift of Money to holy Church by which slight she is grown so exceeding Rich and full of Treasure that she can afford a golden Cup to present her intoxicating Wine in to be clothed with Scarlet deck'd with Gold Pearl and precious Stones she makes the Merchants of the Earth rich that do trade with her she hath indeed as a full answer to her Type Lam. 1.10 stretch'd forth her hand upon all the pleasant things of those Countries and Kingdoms where she hath sate as a Queen XI Caldea or literal Babylon did spoil the meetings of God's People made the Ways of Sion to mourn because Men could not come to the solemn Assemblies Lam. 1.4 The Ways of Sion do mourn because none can come to her solemn Feasts or Assemblies All her Gates are desolate her Priests or Ministers do sigh her Virgins are afflicted and she is in Bitterness c. XI Rome or Mystery Babylon hath spoiled the Meetings of God's People the true Professors of the Religion of the Holy Jesus by driving the Gospel Sion or Church into the Wilderness and oftentimes burning and plucking down their Meeting-Places and persecuting her Ministers driving them into Corners frighting and dispersing their Auditors by Fines Imprisonments
Banishments and cruel Usages so that her Ministers have been made to sigh her Gates become desolate none being suffered to enter without Danger and their Virgins the best sort of Professors have been afflicted the faithful Pastors grieving because they might not preach to their Flocks and the People mourning because they could not hear the pleasant Voice of their Pastors by reason of Violence c. XII Caldea or Literal Babylon made the worst of Men Chief among the Nations and Provinces over which she ruled suffering none to come to Preferment but such as were Enemies to Sion and the ways of Worship by her observed Lam. 1.5 Her Adversaries prosper and are the Chief c. XII Rome or Mystery Babylon hath made the worst of Men Rulers or Chief among the Nations not suffering Men to bear Office in Kingdoms Cities or Corporations nor indeed comfortably to buy and sell unless they would relinquish Goodness and Religion and receive the Mark of the Beast in their Forehead or right Hands viz. publickly profess or privately subscribe to such Injunctions as were against their Consciences and inconsistent with their Religion Who can be Cardinals unless they do own the Pope Who can be Kings without being deposed or poysoned that subscribe not to the See of Rome Who can sit safe as Governours over any Cities where she sits as Queen without truckling under that Yoke of Servitude that she puts upon the Necks of all her Vassals Rev. 13.16 17. XIII Caldea or literal Babylon was guilty of starving or famishing the Children of Sion in the days of her Power and Reign which made the Prophet cry out Lam. 1.19 4.7 8 9 10. 5.10 My Priests and mine Elders perish'd in the City while they sought their Meat to refresh their Soul those that were purer than Snow whiter than Milk more ruddy than precious Stones curiously polish'd became as black as a Coal withered and wrinkled their Skin cleaves to their Bones for want of Food XIII Rome or Mystery Babylon hath been guilty of this most horrid Cruelty by forcing tender and heavenly-born Souls both Ministers and People from their Dwellings and that in a most bitter season driving them up into Corners where they have been kept till starved to Death by much hunger of which we have a lamentable and Heart-breaking Relation in the History of the Irish Massacre c. XIV Caldea or literal Babylon delighted so in burning-work as that they set on Fire and burnt down the very Houses and Dwellings of the People of Sion as well as the places of publick Worship Jer. 52.12 13. In the nineteenth year of the King of Babylon came his chief Steward and burnt the House of the Lord and the King's House and all the Houses of Jerusalem and all the great Houses burnt he with Fire c. XIV Rome or Mystery Babylon hath so much delighted in the cursed Trade of Burning that she hath not been contented with burning the Bodies of Men and Women to Ashes but she hath burnt down their Meeting-Places wherein they worshipped God and not only so but the very Habitations and dwelling-Places of the faithful Servants of Christ leaving them and their Wives and Children Harbourless as she did not only to the blessed Witnesses of Christ in the Valleys of Piedmont but to famous and renowned London it self c. remember 1666. XV. Caldea or literal Babylon was so villanous as to ravish the Women in Sion and the Maids in the Cities of Judea declaring their Sin like Sodom Lam. 5.11 They defiled the Women and ravish'd the Maids in their Cities c. XV. Rome or Mystery Babylon hath been so beastly villanous that it is almost beyond Belief taking Women before their Husbands Faces and Maidens before their Parents Faces first ravishing them openly in the sight of the Sun and then imbruing their barbarous Hands in their Blood as divers Histories do declare XVI Caldea or literal Babylon delighted in Hanging as well as Burning serving God's People as Men serve Dogs that they do not think fit to live as well as used them like dry Bones and rotten Wood by burning them to Ashes and Powder they hang'd them up as well as burnt them and hang'd them up in a miserable manner too even the best among the People Lam. 5.12 Princes are hanged up by their Hands the Face of Elders were not honoured which is the worst way of hanging for continuance of Shame and Pain XVI Rome or Mystery Babylon hath not less answered her Type in this than in many other things for she hath served the best of Men like Dogs that have been counted not fit to live for besides making them like rotten Wood and burning their Bones into Lime Dust or Powder she hath driven a very cursed Trade in hanging and because she would see which was the worâ—t way of hanging she has hang'd some by the Neck till dead and others by the middle and burnt them by degrees to lengthen out their Pain and Misery others by their tenderest Parts O monstrous Barbarity A Shame to have it told in Gath or publish'd in the Streets of Askelon What was done to the noble Lord Cobham and many others in these parts of the World is so plain and notorious as if she had been under a constraint to accomplish the Iniquity of her Type Here we shall for the further clearing up of this Mystery run a brief Parallel between the little Horn and the Popes or Bishops of Rome and so conclude I. The little Horn rose at the latter end of the Fourth Kingdom or when the Roman Empire stood upon its last Legs or fell into a Division of ten Parts Dan. 7.7 8. And the Roman or fourth Beast had ten Horns and behold there came up amongst them another little Horn. I. The Popes of Rome were kept under by the Emperors who kept a strict Eye over them curb'd their Insolencies and Exorbitances and at the first appearance nipping their aspiring Projects in the very Bud sometimes deposing and banishing some proud Prelates when they shew'd at what they levell'd their Designs But after the Power of Rome which before was entire in one Emperor fell into ten Parts and Divisions which happened in the Year of our Lord 456 as * Accomplishment of Prophecies Du-Moulin and the Learned †Lib. 3. p. 779. Mede shew at large out of the Roman Histories Upon this Division and weakning of the Empire the Bishop of Rome took his advantage to make his Advance and rose up to Regal Power enacting Laws raising Taxes and levying Souldiers by which means he struck in with Parties and encroached upon Italy and the Parts adjacent II. This Power arising upon the Weakning and Division of the old State of the Fourth Monarchy or Kingdom is call'd a little Horn because truly so at its first beginning Dan. 7.8 And behold there came up amongst them another little Horn c. II. The Papal Power or Bishop of Rome
deny some things And sometimes in this manner the Question and Answer are joyned both which are equipollent to a connexive Enunciation whose Antecedent is taken from the Question and the Consequent from the Answer as Psal 25.12 What Man is he that feareth the Lord him shall he teach in the way that he shall chuse Ver. 13. His Soul shall lodge in Goodness and his Seed shall inherit the Earth that is these things shall be conferred on him that fears the Lord So Psal 34.12 13. Psal 107.43 Jer. 9.12 Hos 14.10 See also Prov. 22.29 with 29.20 5. In a matter of Doubt Doubt Gen. 18.12 Therefore Sarah laughed within her self saying After I am waxed old shall I have Pleasure these words denote diffidence and doubt and the unlikelihood in her Judgment of what was promised as the following words of the Lord manifest Rom. 10.6 But the Righteousness which is of Faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thy Heart who shall ascend into Heaven Ver. 7. Who shall descend into the Deep or Abiss These Interrogations of Doubt are brought to denote the uncertainty of self-Righteousness which Righteousness by Faith wholly takes away consult the next Chapter 6. Exaltation Exaltation and Extenuation Rab. Kimhi in his Comment on Jer. 22.23 says that the Interrogative Particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quid vel quam what or how is used in a double Signification viz. to exalt a thing as Psal 31.19 O how great is thy Goodness Psal 139.17 How precious also are thy Thoughts unto me O God Or to extenuate a thing as Psal 8.4 What is Man that thou art mindful of him that is how inconsiderable and unworthy is he of thy Grace and Favour So Psal 144.3 See also Isa 2.11 to 22. with Psal 146.3 4. 1 Sam. 9.21 2 Sam. 7.18 Gen. 23.15 Exod. 3.11 1 Kings 9.13 c. 7. Expostulation Expostulation Accusation or chiding Gen. 12.18 Pharaoh chid Abram What is this that thou hast done unto me why didst thou not tell me that she was thy Wife Ver. 19. Why saidst thou She is my Sister So Gen. 31.26 27 30. 44.4 15. Other Examples are Psal 11.1 Psal 50.16 Isa 5.4 58.3 Ezek. 12.22 Dan. 3.14 c. 8. Indignation Indignation as Psal 2.1 Why do the Heathen rage and the People meditate vain things That these are words of Indignation appears Ver. 5. Mat. 17.17 O faithless and perverse Generation how long shall I be with you how long shall I suffer you this was an Apostrophe to the Apostles by way of Indignation as appears from Ver. 10. 9. By way of Insultation Insultation and Irony as Psal 42.3 While they continually say unto me Where is thy God So Psal 79.10 c. More Examples see Jer. 22.23 23.33 with Ver. 36. Joh. 18.38 10. By way of Lamentation Lamentation as Psal 3.1 Lord how are they increased that trouble me or Lord how numerous are my Enemies Psal 22.1 Lam. 2.20 Psal 77.7 8 9. Hab. 1.17 Miseration 11. By way of Commiseration or Pity as Lam. 1.1 How doth the City sit solitary that was full of People c. Lam. 2.1 How hath the Lord covered the Daughter of Sion with a Cloud in his Anger c. so frequently in the Lamenations 12. By way of Negation Negation concerning which we refer you where we have spoke a little before of the Emphasis of an Interrogation Optative or wishing 13. By way of Wishing as 2 Sam. 23.15 Who will make me drink of the Water of the Well of Bethlehem That is O that some body would make drink See Rom. 7.24 14. By way of Prohibition Prohibition or Disswasion from a thing of which you may see the fourth and fifth Paragraphs before going 15. By way of Rejection or Refusing as Numb 23.8 How shall I curse him whom God hath not cursed and how shall I defy or detest him whom the Lord hath not defied or detested As if he had said I neither can nor dare do this thing see Judg. 11.12 2 Sam. 16.10 1 Kings 17.18 2 Kings 3.13 Hosea 14.9 Joel 3.9 Matth. 8.29 Mark 5.7 Luke 8.28 Joh. 2.4 CHAP. VI. Of the Figures of a Sentence in Dialogism FIgures in a Dialogism of which we have given a Description before are five in Number which we will briefly expound and illustrate with Examples as Aporia ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 animi pendeo c. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Doubting or Deliberation is a Figure when we deliberate or reason with our selves what we ought to say or do as Psal 139.7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I fly from thy Face or Presence c. See the four following Verses Other Examples are Lam. 2.13 Luke 16.3 4. 1 Cor. 11.22 Phil. 1.22 23 24. Rom. 7.24 25 c. Anâ—oenosis ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to communicate 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Anacoenosis which signifies Communication or an imparting of a thing to another is a Figure when we deliberate or consult with those things with whom we argue for or against as Isa 5.3 4. Now therefore O Inhabitants of Jerusalem and Men of Israel judg I pray you betwixt me and my Vineyard c. so Luk. 11.19 Acts 4.19 1 Cor. 4.21 10.15 16. 11.13 14. Gal. 3.1 2 5. 4.21 c. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Occupation is when that which may be objected is anticipated and avoided this is done either covertly or tacitely or open and plainly Of the first sort we reckon when the Objection is not mentioned but only the Answer Rom. 9.6 It cannot be that the Word of God should take no Effect for they are not all Israelites that are of Israel so the Greek This obviates an Objection viz. If Israel be rejected the Word of God will be ineffectual I will be thy God and the God of thy Seed c. An open or plain Prolepsis Prolepsis is when the Objection is stated and answered this is often joyned with a Prosopopoeia the parts of this are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hypophora and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Anthupophora The first is the Adversaries Reason or Objection the latter the Solution or Confutation of it Examples are Isa 49.14 But Sion said The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me The Answer of this Objection follows Ver. 15. Can a Woman forget her sucking Child c. See also Mat. 3.9 Rom. 3.1 2 3 4 27 29 31. 4.1 2 3. 6.1 2. 7.7 9.14 19 20. 10.18 19. 11.1 11 19 20. 1 Cor. 15.35 36 c. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Permission is when we seriously or ironically permit or grant a thing and yet object the Inconveniency or Unreasonableness of it Examples of a serious Epitrope Epitrope are Rom. 2.17 Behold thou art called a Jew and restest
like this or that Thing we are not to understand that it is so in all its Parts or in every Respect but only in such Things as are declared in the Similitude So Christ is compared to a Thief only in this respect because he comes in a Time when unlook'd for or when unexpected Luk. 12.39 9. All Parables do not conclude in the same but in a different Manner Some from Likeness a simili as the seven Parables Mat. 13. Some from Things unlike as that of the unjust Judge Him that desired three Loaves and the unjust Steward c. FINIS AN Alphabetical Table OF THE FOURTH BOOK A. Afflictions AFflictions compared to Fire in five respects Page 378 When Afflictions may be said to be very grievous Page 388 389 The Nature Kind and Cause of Afflictions largely opened Page 377 to 390 Ambassadors Ministers of Christ are his Ambassadors Page 282 Angels Angels why so called Page 49 They are compared to Watchers the Reason why shewed in five Things Page 50 Their Work and Office Page 50 51 52 Why they are called God's Host opened Page 53 54 Why they are compared to the Face of a Man c. opened Page 57 Why to a Flame of Fire opened Page 62 Why compared to Horses white red c. Page 63 64 Anchor Hope a sure Anchor shewed at large in eleven Particulars Page 26 27 28 Arrows Afflictions God's Arrows Page 389 What more particularly are God's Arrows Page 390 B. Babylon THe Church of Rome proved to be Mystery Babylon Page 297 First Negatively 1. By Whore of Babylon is not meant Jerusalem 2. Not the Turkish Empire 3. Not Rome Heathen 4. Not Protestants of any Denomination Page 300 to 303 Secondly In the Affirmative That by the Whore or Mystery Babylon is meant the present State and Church of Rome clearly evinced Page 322 to 326 Baptism Baptism how taken Page 36 37 Called a Burial Page 35 Babes Saints called Babes wherefore shewed in eighteen Particulars Page 140 141 Blind Wicked Men blind shewed in five Partic. Page 230 Bitter How a Saint may be sustained under bitter Afflictions Page 389 Breast-plate Why Righteousness is so called Page 10 11 Builders Why Ministers of the Gospel are called Builders opened in ten Particulars Page 277 278 Bulls Wicked Men why called Bulls Page 235 236 Burthen Sin a Burthen shewed in three things What a Burthen Sin is opened Page 344 The least Sin a Burthen to a tender Heart Page 344 Bush The Church compared to a Bush on Fire shewed in six things Page 106 107 108 C. Captives Wicked Men Captives with the Nature of their Captive-State opened Page 201 to 204 Clouds Christ 's Ministers why compared to Clouds Page 269 False Teachers compared to Clouds without Rain Page 294 Captain What kind of Captain Christ is shewed Page 158 Cedars Saints compared to Cedars opened in five Particulars Page 181 182 Children Saints called Children of God opened Page 142 143 Conscience What Conscience is opened Page 69 Conscience a Witness shewed in ten Particulars Page 70 71 72 The Excellency of a good Conscience Page 73 How a good Conscience may be known Page 74 City of God The Church called the City of God shewed in twenty Particulars Page 76 to 83 What a City Sion is Page 84 Church Church the Anti-type of Solomon's Temple Page 87 Church the Anti-type of the second Temple Page 89 Courage Saints like a Lion for Courage wherein their Courage ought to be shewed opened in eight Particulars Page 188 D. Day of Grace WHy so called Page 367 How to know when the Day of Grace draws towards an end shewed in five things Page 368 Darkness Divers Metaphorical Notations of Darkness Page 383 Hell a Place of utter Darkness Page 411 Affliction called Darkness Page 383 Death Death a Sleep why so called opened in three things Page 399 Dead Wicked Men dead in Sin what meant thereby opened in seven Particulars Page 227 228 Debt Debtors Sin a Debt why so called opened Page 332 334 How our Debts are satisfied for and yet freely forgiven largely opened Page 236 to 238 Wicked Men why called Debtors Page 200 Devil Wicked Men compared to the Devil Page 254 Devil why called a Lion and a Serpent Page 363 Dignity The great Dignity of Ministers Page 286 Dogs Wicked Men compared to Dogs in sixteen Particulars Page 232 c. Doves The Property of Doves and why the Saints are compared to them opened in 13 things Page 192 Deceivers Their many Ways to deceive laid open Page 295 Door What the Door is into the true Church Page 278 279 E. Eagles SAints compared to Eagles in ten things Page 141 Why wicked Men are compared to Eagles Page 253 F. Faith FAith why called a Shield Page 16 How you may know true Faith Page 15 16 17 The Necessity of Faith Page 19 20 The Difference between a weak and strong Faith Page 20 21 The Excellency of Faith Page 15 16 Family The Church called a Family Page 128 129 The Nature and Excellency of the Government thereof Page 128 129 Foxes Wicked Men why compared to Foxes Page 241 242 Forgiveness of Sin What it is we ask of God in that Petition Forgive us our Debts Page 340 341 No Forgiveness without Christ's Blood or Reconciliation made by him Page 342 Fowler Satan why called a Fowler and what a subtil Fowler he is opened in 5 Things Page 362 363 Floods Afflictions compared to Floods in 9 Things Page 386 In what respect God may be said to sit upon the Floods ibid Field This World why called a Field Page 392 Furnace Afflictions why compared to a Furnace Page 381 Fools Wicked Men Fools or Idiots opened Page 111 112 G. Garden THe Church why called a Garden opened in many Particulars Page 112 113 Girdle Truth why called a Girdle opened in 10 Partic. Page 4 to 8 Government The Nature of Church Order and Government opened in 12 Partic. Page 129 The Excellency of a Family or Church consists in its good and orderly Government Page 130 Gold The Nature of Gold and why Faith is compared to it opened in seven Partie Page 15 16 17 The Excellency of tryed Faith above Gold Page 18 The Godly why compared to Gold Page 190 191 Goats Why wicked Men as Hypocrites c. are compared to Goats Page 243 244 Why the Devil is call'd the God of this World Page 359 Godliness Godliness a great Mystery proved by nine Arguments Page 371 372 Gray-Hairs Sin and Judgments upon a People why called Gray-Hairs in six Things Page 357 England at this time gray-headed Page 359 H. Hardness CHrist's Souldiers must endure Hardness opened in seven Particulars Page 154 155 Harvest Day of Grace why called Harvest in 8 Things Page 370 Heirs Saints why called Heirs Heirs of God in six Things Page 145 Heart Heart of Flesh why so called and how such a Heart may be known in four things Page 194 Heaven Heaven why called Paradise Page 407 Heaven called