from the type to the thing typed that they are both in an equal estate appeareth further by his own grant in pag. 126. where he maketh Antiochus and his captaines c. a type of the Papacie Now it is confessed of all that Antiochus and his companie were Pagans in religion so by the like reason the Pope with his captaines and souldjers must be Pagans also 6. The 6 reason alleaged for them is that it should be syn for Papists and Apostate Christians to marie with Pagans to neglect baptisme not to sanctifie the Lords day as it was in Iudah and Israel to marie with the heathen to neglect circumcision to profane the Lords day c. Dan. 11. 32. with 1. Maccab. 1. 16. 45. 51. 55. and with Mal. 2. 11. Ezr. 9. 1. 2. 10. 10. Neh. 13. 3. 23. 27. Hos. 5. 7. 7. 8. 8. 12. Amos 8. 5. with 2 Cor. 6 14. c. which should not so be if they were not the church and people of God under his covenant and bound to the observation of his ordinances For Pagans and such as perteyn not to the Lords covenant being not his church and people are not in their estate bound to these and the like ordinances of the Lord which he hath given to his church and people Psal. 147. 19. 20. with Deut. 7. 1. 11. Answ. This reason is sundry wayes faultie 1. Of Pagans he sayth they are not in their estate bound c but Papists and apostate Israelites he would have them bound yet mentioneth not their estate wheras if he speak not of them also in their estate his argument is false and fraudulent 2. The scriptures alleaged Psal. 147. Deut. 7. are by him abused whiles he restreyneth them to these and the like ordinances namely mariage circumcision baptisme and the Sabbath understanding by the like ordinances as I suppose the Passover and other sacrifices the Lords supper c whereas the Psalmist speaketh generally of Gods Words Statutes or Ordinances and Judgments Psal. 147. 19. 20. which three doe comprehend the moral Law called the Ten Words the Ordinances of worship and service and the Iudicials for punishment of malefactors all these the Prophet sayth were shewed unto Jsrael and God dealt not so with any nation Now to conclude from these words therfore the nations were not bound to observe the ordinances because God had not shewed them unto them as he had doen unto Israel namely by his written Law given at Mount Sinai hath no more weight then this Therfore the nations were not bound to the moral Law or to the Iudicials and so synned not in committing idolatrie murder whordome or the like But this is impious to say and a false conclusion therfore his conclusion also touching the ordinances is false and can not rightly be gathered from this text The evil of it further appeareth in one of his instances the Sabbath day which is one of the ten coÌ„mandements and instituted from the beginning of the world Gen. 2. If then the nations were free from syn when they kept not the Sabbath because they had it not written in the book of the Law or Tables of stone as had Israel were they not also by the same reason free from syn in not keeping the other commanments So for the Lords day now he maketh the church of Christ onely and so the Papists and other like whom he accounteth true churches synners if they keep it not all others he freeth from syn as not bound to keep it Wherupon this paradox followeth that the further men fall away from Christ the more free they are from syn For the church of Rome being fallen to Antichrist the Pope they are synners in his account if they keep not the Lords day but the churches of Corinth Ephesus and other like which are fallen to Mahomet they are no synners in his account though they observe not the Lords day and why Onely because they are fallen so farr as they are no church of God nor in his covenant of grace Thus the further from Christ the freer from syn if this doctrine be true But I suppose the contrary to be true and that all peoples how farr soever fallen from Christ are now bound to keep the Lords day and other ordinances of Christ and it is their great syn that they doe not For Christ sent his Apostles to teach all nations to baptise them and to teach them to observe all things whatsoever he commanded his Apostles even to the worlds end Mat. 28. 19 20. And they went into all the world preaching and admonishing all men every where to repent and beleeve the Gospel to be baptised and observe all the ordinances of Christ and all that obeyed not or that have since fallen from their obedience are guiltie before God and shal be condemned because they beleeve not in Christ and keep not his commandements Mark 16. 15. 16. If it be sayd that a Turk or Pagan in that their estate of unbeleef may not lawfully be baptised or admitted to the Lords supper til they repent this is true yet can we not therfore say they are not bound to be baptised or are free from synin neglecting baptisme for they are bound to all the doctrines and ordinances of the gospel in order first to repent and beleeve then to be baptised then to receive the Lords supper and so all the rest If further it be sayd that the Papists in their estate of misbeleef and idolatrie may without repentance and without returning to the true faith be partakers of baptisme and the Lords supper c it is denyed For if the Iewes which were the true church though corrupted might not be received to baptisme without repentance as the scriptures shew Mat. 3. 6. 7. 10. Luk 7. 29. 30. Act. 2. 38. then the Antichristians the members of that church which by Mr. â—ohnsons owne acknowledgment is fallen into most synfull and deep defection and apostasie and is a notorious harlot and idolatresse may much less be baptised or admitted to the Lords supper unless they repent And wheras mine opposite pleadeth for their right in the sacraments other ordinances which they should syn to neglect it would be knowen where they are bound to receive them whether in their own church or in some Christian reformed church If in their owne then they are bound to heare Mass and syn if they be not partakers of it for that is their idolatrous supper then doe not the Magistrates well to forbidd them their Masses and other ecclesiastical exercises which they are bound by God to frequent and should syn if they used them not If they have right unto them in other reformed churches then is there to be a communion between true Christians and those Antichristians in one body at one Table for as the Apostle sayth wee being many are one bread and one bodie for we are all partakers of that one bread 1 Cor. 10. 17.
to refresh the wearie soules Her doctrines sweet and amiable lyes spoken in hypocrisie Prov. 5. 3. 1 Tim. 4. 2. but yet confirmed with signes and miracles as if they came from heaven 2 Thes. 2. 9. Rev. 13. 13. 14. her power efficacie great prevailing over the many and the mightie the Kings and Princes of the world deceiving all nations with her inchantments Prov. 7. 21. 26. Rev. 17. 2 18. 23. and if it were possible Gods very elect Math. 24. 24. Her continuance and outward prosperitie is long Rev. 13. 5. 18. 7. 20. 2. 4. her end miserable Rev. 18. 19. 21. 19. 20. 21. consumed with the spirit of the Lords mouth and abolished with the brightnes of his coming 2 Thes. 2. 8. And for her destruction the heavens shall rejoyce and sing praises to God Rev. 18. 20. 19. 1. 2. The accomplishment of these prophesies I there shewed to be in the Church of Rome at this day confirmed by her own canons and doctors that set forth her profession and practise These grounds remayne yet unanswered by mine opposite being such as I assure my self neither could he neither can any soundly refute Now let us see how farr he yeildeth and how he opposeth First he prayeth all to take knowledge that his minde and desire in himselfe is to plead against the present estate of that church and not for it acknowledging it to be fallen into most synful and deep defection and apostasie and so to be a notorious harlot and idolatress which all the people of God ought to forsake and to witnes the trueth there against even vnto death How well this his acknowledgement agreeth with his plea in the residue of his book shall appeare in the discussing of the reasons after folowing But what sayth he to the description of Antichrists church which I before shewed from the scriptures He sayth I speak of the church and Synagogue of Antichrist of the Beast of the great Citie of the man of Syn of the great whore of Abaddon or Apollyon the son of perdition c. wheras I should treat of the Temple of God wherof Paul speaketh 2 Thes. 2. Hereupon he chargeth me to keep what I could from the point of the question in hand and therefore also to confound things that differ I answer that the the question was by this mine opposites former graunt about the church of Rome whether it were the church of God or no. Now when at first I shew from the scriptures what maner of Church that Romane church is in Gods account how could he charge me to keep from the point of the question 2ly the place of th'Apostle being alleaged by mine opposite for a proof that the church wherein Antichrist sitteth is the Church of God I come immediately after to scan that scripture and yet he challengeth me for keeping from the point wheras all men of judgement may see it was needful to know what God foretold of that church throughout the scriptures that so we might understand in what sense Antichrist is sayd to sit in the Temple of God 2 Thes. 2. For seing the Temple of God is a figurative phrase taken from the shadowes of the Law it is not wisedome in us to expound a parabolical speech contrary to the plaine scriptures grounds of Christian religion but we must understand it according to them Wherefore there being no other answer made to the description aforesayd it standeth in force to prove that the church of Rome is not the true Church of Christ. So for the accomplishment of the prophesies wheras I shewed from the Papists own writings of their church how fitly it agreeth with Antichrists synagogue foretold of by God mine opposite answereth I tell them of a Church such as Bellarmine and others describe one part wherof lives on earth an other under the earth and a third part in heaven c. Wheras our question is of the Temple of God wherof Paul speaketh 2. Thes. 2. 4. and of the court and holy citie wherof Iohn speaketh Rev. 11. 2. Thus neyther the Prophesies of God nor the complement of them shewed by the men themselves whom the prophesies concerne may be brought to clear the controversie but mine opposite will insist upon dark and figurative speeches that men may be the more easily deluded For how shall we prove against Papists that the Pope is Antichrist if we may not alleage the Popes owne doctrines and practises which are contrary to Christ Yea how shall we judge of any church but by their owne Confessions published and comparing them with the scripures Wherefore the profession of Papists concerning their church is a strong argument wherby they may be discovered to be none of Christs even the Cretian lyars testimonie against themselves is true as the Apostle noteth Tit. 1. 12. 13. An Answer to the arguments brought for the church of Rome MIne opposite pleadeth thus 1. First J take an argument from the baptisme had in the churches aforesayd the Apostate churches of Christians thus The Baptisme had in the church of Rome is the Lords baptisme the signe and seale of his covenant the ordinance of God had in that church from the Apostles times before Antichrist there arose Rom. 6. 2. 3. and so is true baptisme which is from heaven and not of men that one baptisme which perteyneth to the bodie of Christ Eph. 4. 4. 5. which the Lord hath given to his church and not man c. Therfore the church of Rome is the church of God and under his covenant c. Answ. Here let it first be observed whether mine opposite pleadeth against the present estate of that church as before he pretended For if they be under Gods covenant have it sealed unto them from heaven by that one true baptisme then are they in the state of grace and of salvation which is the very thing that all Papists at this day doe plead for Concerning his Argument I deny that the baptisme had in all Apostate churches of Christians and particularly in the church of Rome is the Lords true baptisme or the signe and seale of his covenant of grace unto them Here mine opposite referreth me to an other place of his book for proof of the trueth of their Baptisme wherto I will make answer anone in their place And now that my denyal may not be so bare as is his assertion here I will insist upon the two scriptures which he citeth and disprove their baptisme In Rom. 6. 2. 3. 4. the Apostle sayth How shall we that are dead to syn live any longer therin Know ye not that so many of us as are baptised into Christ Iesus were baptised into his death Therfore we are buried with him by baptisme into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glorie of the Father even so we also should walk â—n nâ—wnes of life Here first the
But this were to build a new Babylon and to make a confused mixture of the members of Christ and of Antichrist contrary to all the scriptures 2 Cor. 6. 14. 15. 16. 17 Rev. 21. 27. The other scripture which he citeth Deut 7. 1 11. helpeth him no more then the former for there in the 11. verse the Commandements Statutes and Judgments which imply all Moses law are expressed if other nations were freed from all these then were they freed from all law and so from all syn for where there is no Law there is no transgression seing Syn is the transgression of the Law 1. Ioh. 3. 4. And where he instanceth mariage with Pagans which is there forbidden Deut. 7. 3. and applieth it to Papists now that they should syn to mary with such I grant it But his inference therupon that therfore they are the true church and in the covenant of grace I deny For the Iewes at this day which professe after their false manner the God of Israel and all things written in the Law and Prophets should syn if now they maried with such doing contrary to their express Law Mal. 2. 11 Yet are not the Iewes now in the covenant of grace or the church of God Againe in Deut. 7. 5. there is commandment to destroy images and like monuments of idolatrie if this was peculiar to Israel then other nations synned not in suffering idols among them undestroyed wheras the Apostle plainly sheweth their greivous syn in making and using such idols Rom. 1. 23. and consequently it must needs also be their syn that they did not forsake destroy and abolish them If any now aske whether the other nations were then bound to all the ordinances of Israel I answer no for some things were never before commanded nor unto other then the church of Israel as the strangers might eat some meates which the Israelites might not Deut. 14. 21. Such things having never been forbidden them of God they might eat without syn as we may at this day But this I say of the nations that all the Lawes Statutes and judgments which were once commanded them of God they were bound for ever to keep til God againe repealed them As for example all the ten commandements and such Statutes or cerimonies as were taught them of God as sacrificing Gen 4. 3. 4. 8. 20. not to eat flesh with the blood Gen. 9. 4. and all other the like And for judgments to kill murderers Gen. 9. 6. and so to punish other malefactors And no Apostasie could ever free them from syn in neglecting any of Gods lawes once given them So no Apostasie could free the Israelites from any law of Moses or the world now from the Law of Christ. The Iewes that under Antiochus turned to Paganisme 1 Maccab. 1. 43. were guiltie they and their seed for neglecting circumcision the Passover and all other ordinances of Moses and their apostasie wherby they went out from the covenant of God and his church freed them not from syn at all So the Christians in like manner that have Apostate to Mahometisme are nevertheless in their synns for neglect of Christs trueth ordinances though they be no Christian church as all of us graunt Onely there is this difference to be put that such as know the will of God as did the Iewes and many Papists now may by the scriptures and doe it not shal be beaten with many stripes wheras the ignorant peoples and Popish multitude shal be beaten with few Luke 12. 47. 48. But to excuse them from syn wholly is to plead for iniquitie And for this cause both David in Ps. 147. and Moses in Deut. 7. urgeth Israel to thankfullnes and obedience above other peoples in that the Lord had now written his lawes and ordinances unto them and made them an holy people when he left other peoples onely to that doctrine which by word of mouth was delivered them from Noe and his sonns which if they did forsake as they had in a great mesure they should perish for ever 7. His seventh last reason for the church of Rome is taken from 2. Thes. 2. 3. 4. Where it is prophesied that Antichrist should sit in the Temple of God This argument he handleth at large But first let it be observed how all his reasons hetherto are shewed to be insufficient and built upon weak grounds the first being taken from their baptisme which is adulterate as the church it self The second frō an inconvenience falsly presupposed that none in that church can else be saved The third from a question whether Christians Iewes Turks or Pagans be the church The 4. is againe from their baptisme The 5. is from the types of Iudah and Israel in apostasie The 6. is from a supposed freedome that such as are apostate from the covenant of God should have from syn if they neglect the ordinances of the gospel None of these arguments are taken from the essential things wherof the true church consisteth none from the matter to prove them saincts or forme to prove them united unto Christ and one to an other according to the order of his testament none from the faith to shew it to be true or from the worship and service of God or from the ministerie to manifest eyther of these to be according to Christ. And now the last of his reasons is from a figurative phrase the Temple of God which may be diversly understood and applied as himself cannot deny Let the prudent reader judge whether these his seven arguments be any thing like those seven pillars which Wisdome hewed out when she builded her house Prov. 9. 1. Now let us weigh his seventh reason The Apostle sayth he speaking of Antichrist in 2 Thes 2. 3. 4. describeth him thus There shall come an Apostasie defection or falling away and the man of syn shal be revealed the son of perdition who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped so that he as God suteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God c. Here the Apostle describing Antichrist speaketh of the Temple of God where he suteth c. Now that by the Temple of God in Jsrael was figured the church of God among Christians appeareth by these scriptures 1 Cor. 3. 16. 17. 2 Cor. 6. 16. Ephe. ◠21. Rev. 11. 1. 2. 19. 14. 15. 17. 15. 5. 6. 8. 16. 1. 17. compared with Zach. 6. 12. 13 and is acknowledged by the best writers of all ages c. So then from this scripture J reason as followeth Jf the Pope of Rome with his hierarchie be the man of syn here spoken of and the son of perdition who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped then is the church of Rome the Temple of God here spoken of wherein he suteth as God shewing himselfe that hee is God But the Pope of Rome with his hierarchie