for against the Beast the adorers thereof and the receiuers of the Beasts markes these Preachers typed by Angells were to sound forth their doctrines of reformation I say doctrines Preachers of Reformation of reformation for by inuincible arguments it may bee made manifest which for breuity I must omit that these Preachers are to bee reputed of the number of those of whoÌ„ it is said that they were to prophesy againe before many peoples Apoc. 10. 11. Nations and tongues and Kings Prophesy againe saith the spirit of God why againe but for the reformation of the glorious perfection of Christianity decayed and ruinated by the tirany of the Beast Fourthly I suppose that vpon the Preaching of such Pastors 4. Supposition typed vnto vs by Angels effects answerable to their doctrines were infallibly to ensue a generall reformation of Reformation infallsbly to follow vpon the appearing of these Preachers Math. 24. the world the fall of Babilon the Throane and Seate of the Beast also great zeale of Christians for their vtter detesting of the markes of the Beast for heauen and earth shall passe and be changed but the word of God shall not passe away vnaccomplished From out of these suppositions not to be gainsaid I deduce A conclusion most euident for the honor of the Reformed churches this conclusion that where and when wee first find a rank of godly Preachers sounding out in their due order the doctrines of these three Angells with answerable effects following thereupon that there then and by them wee must take this Prophesy of the Holy-Ghost to bee accomplished and fulfilled And so wee come to obserue what the Doctrines of these three Angells are what their order of deliuering of them is and withall to make most cleare application of the Prophesy to the Doctours and Pastours of the Reformed Churches The first Angell described verse 6. flyes through the middest of v. 6. heauen hauing an euerlasting Gospell that hee might preach the The Doctrine of the first Angell the groundworke from whence all Reformed Churches haue begun their reformation same to the inhabitants of the earth to euery nation tongue tribe and people saying with a lowd voyce feare God and giue him glory for the houre of his iudgement is come and worship him who made heauen and earth the sea and fountaines of waters And is not this the first principle for reformation feare God and giue him glory the euerlasting Gospell whereon the Doctours and Pastours of the reformed Churches haue begun their doctrine of reformation and haue laid open the Idolatrous enormities and superstitious mysteries of the Antichristians This they haue protested to Counsells so they haue professed to Kings and States their sound hath gone forth into the Rom. 10. 18. whole earth and their words haue and shall spread abroad into the ends of the earth The second Angell in the 8. verse sounds out the ruine v. 8. fall of Babilon She is fallen she is fallen Babilon that great City is fallen for shee hath made all Nations drinke of the Wine of her whoredoms And haue we not here the neuer intermitted cries voyces alleluiahs and exultations of the Doctours and Pastours The Doctrine of the second Angel deliuered and receiued in the Reformed churches of the Reformed Churches reioycing against Babilon the seat of Antichrist in regard of the great errours and defections thereof vpon their doctrines and preachings partly reioycing for so much as is already accomplished in Germany Bohemia Swethland Denmarke England France Burgundy and elsewhere partly fore-preaching her vtter ruine and desolation to bee at hand euen then when the fifth viole of Gods Apoc. 16. 10. wrath shall be cast into the Throane of the Beast the very Seate of the Antichristian state The third Angell followes denouncing according as my in the 9. 10. 11. verse The Doctrine of the third Angell with answerable effects in the Reformed churches text hath it Gods eternall wrath against all those who should worship the Beast and the image of the Beast and should receaue his character in their hands orforeheads And are not such the neuer intermitted forewarnings and doctrines of the reformed Churches earnestly and in Gods name perswading euery person to renounce all manner of communion with the Antichristian Synagogue of Rome the effects of which their doctrines and perswasions how glorious they haue bin what eye obserues not and what Christian heart ioyes not to haue obserued These things being thus manifest shall we not henceout Applicatió of the prophesy most euident in the Pastours of the Reformed Churches inferre most clearely that the Pastours of the Reformed Churches are the very men who were fore-typed by these three Angells sounding out the feare and worship of God alone denouncing forth the ruine of Babilon threatning aloud most heauie iudgements against all those who should worship the Beast and the image of the Beast and receaue the marke of the Beast in their hands or on their foreheads we say and truly say Isa 41. 23. for it is an argument of Gods owne making If any Prophet shall foretell things before they do happeÌ„ if the things foretold doe happen according as they are foretold that they should happen that the foretellers of such things are to bee reputed for true Prophets Why then shall we not answereably say that these things which happen agreeingly to a fore-prophesy of Gods owne Spirit accordingly as Gods Spirit hath foretold that they should happen that they are the very things which the Spirit of God did fore tell should so happen If then the Pastours and Doctours of the Reformed Churches doe the very things Preach the very Doctrines obserue the very order in their doings and preachings which the Spirit of God vnder the type of these three Angells hath foretold should be so done should be so preached should be so obserued against the Beast and Antichristian state of Rome for the reformation of decayed Christianity why then are not they the very men whom the holy-Ghost hath here by these three Angells fore-shewed vnto vs. The full accomplishing of any Prophesy is the opening yea is the Ireâ—â— lib. 4. 42. proofe of a Prophesy a kind of proofe often vsed by the Scriptures when they adde and attest That it might be fulfilled Matth. 1. 22. 2. 15. Iohn 15. 25. which was spoken by the Prophets c. This Prophesy is accomplished in the Reformed Preachers most punctually assuredly then the truth and intent of the Prophesy aymed at them and intended them dissolue me this riddle yee Pontificialls either you for your selues or in your behalfe some of your fauourites I meane newtralizing Interim-ists pretended Pacificatours but in truth Romes subdolous factours It cannot bee denied our Aduersaries will say but that the Preachers of the Reformed Churches haue pretended to An â—uasion of the Aduersary most idle beginne all their reformation from the
of mind from all the Inhabitants of the Earth Loe how that of the Prophet is accomplished That Apoc. 13 4. the whole earth admired after the Beast This reason I confirme with the words of Odoard Guilliand Bishop of Casâ—nâ—â— Odoard Guilliâ—dus de Ciuili moral Facult lib. 14 cap. 3. a Citie of Flaminia in Italy This man in a certaine booke of his dedicated to Clement the eighth doth excellently describe vnto vs the Diuinitie and Godhead of their Holy Fathers the Popes A Papa saith hee tanquam à Capite in vniuersum Ecclesiae corpus hoc est in omnem Christianan rempublicam spiritus influunt celestium gratiarum sensum fructumque praestantes efficacem motum ad sempiternam beatidinem merito igitur Sanctissimus Beatissimus appellatur ab omnibus religionem Christianam profitentibus quasi quidam Deus adoratur colitur From the Pope as from the head there doth flow into the whole body of the Church that is into the whole Christian common-wealth certaine spirits of heauenly graces which doe yeeld both sense and fruit and efficacious The Pope to be adored as a cerâ—aine God motion to euerlasting happinesse worthily therefore is hee called most Holy and most Blessed and of all those who professe Christian Religion hee is to bee adored and worshipped as a certaine God Thus hee and such is the blasphemous note and tune of diuers of them flat opposite to that confession of the Saints in the Reuelations Saluation commeth from our God that sitteth vpon the Throne and from the Lamb. And shall Apoc 7. 10. wee desire more to lay open the blasphemous presumption of that State or shall wee dare to affirme that such Admirers Reuel 13. 3. after the Beast that sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if hee were God are in the 2. Thess 2. 4. state of saluation if they bee wilfully obstinate and reluctant against the truth sufficiently proposed vnto them In the third place I reason thus The Antichristian Third Reason state is that very Gouernment against which in the very height of her pride and presumptions certaine zealous and Godly Preachers foresignified by the three Angels Reuel 14. 6 7 8 9 10 11. flying through the middest of Heauen and hauing the euerlasting The preaching of the three Angells accomplished against the Papall State Gospel were to oppose themselues by preaching the feare and worship of God alone and keeping of his commandements and consequently were to beat downe all manner of Idolatry and Wilworship reared vp against the same were againe in the second place to sound out the ruine and desolation of that State and consequently were to check the insolent confidence of her followers and Admirers glorying in her euer infallibility and indefectibilitie And lastly were in the third place to dehort from all manner of communion with that state and agreeingly were to teach all true Christians to detest the marks and characters of that State And is not this the very selfe-Gospel The Papall State persecuteth the Preachers typed by the three Angels of Reformation which the Pastours and Doctours of the Reformed Churches doe now sound out against the Papall State yea and according to the prediction of the Prophets to the begun ruine of the Papall State This reason Apoc. 14. 2. may bee confirmed if with all wee consider that euen as it is foretold in the Reuelation the same Chapter The Antichristian State would conceiue so great rage against the said Preachers typed by the three Angells for such their preaching and doctrines that thereupon it would raise Reue. 14. 12 13 or cause to bee raised against them most fearefull persecutions persecutions so great and so manifold that the Spirit of God though it meet to prearme his chosen against the same with these and such like comfortable instructions Here is the faith and patience of Saints here are those who keepe the commandements of God and the faith of Iesus Blessed are those who dye in the Lord who dye for the Lord From henceforth saith the Spirit they shall rest from their labors Reuel 2. 29. Thus there In which most comfortable instructions doth not the Spirit of God manifestly premonish and prearme vs of these times against the Pope Heare all yee that haue eares to heare what the Spirit of God saith to the Churches The Pastors of the Reformed churches suffered from the Pope according as by Gods Spirit it hath bin foretold For is not this the very thing which is now and hath formerly beene acted in the world Doe not the Pastors and Doctors of the Reformed Churches and other faithfull suffer for this very cause for that they sound out publikely the doctrines of the three Angells the Euerlasting Gospell of the feare of God alone of the ruine and fall of Babylon of the State of the Beast and against the taking of the markes and characters of the Beast in hand or on forehead and from whom or by whose meanes do they suffer for such things but from the Papall state What Inquiries are made after them What hideous Inquisitions are reared for them What Crosse-warres haue beene proclaimed against them Aske our Fathers of old in France Italy Germany Spaine England Denmarke Scotland Burgandy and where not Our Aduersaries the Pontificians cannot deny this it being the very desire of their Fathers and of their owne soules Let it then rest proued that the principle prophecie against the State of the Beast being accomplished in the Papall State that the Papall State is the very State of the Beast And so I adioyne a fourth reason thus That is the Antichristian State typed by the Beast and Fourth Reason the Image thereof or typed by the seuen and eight August 20. de Ciuit c. 19. Hier. ad Algas quest 11. in Dan ad GerontiaÌ„ de monogamia Tertul. de resurrect carnis Cir. catech 15. Chrys Ambros Theophil Oecume Primasi in 2. Thesâ— 2. The Papall State hath done out of the way tho Roman Empire See glos in Canon si Imperatori Radeuic de gestis Friderici Sidon l. 11. de regno Italiâ— heads thereof which was in the very gouernment of Rome it selfe to succeed the Roman temporall Empire So diuers of the Ancient Fathers Austen Hierom Lactantius Tertullian with others haue affirmed vnto which Antichristian State also ten Kings a number certaine for an vncertaine springing out of the ruines of the Roman Empire were for a time to giue their powers for the honouring and supporting of her and yet afterwards forsaking her would bend their forces against her God putting the same into their hearts to make her desolate and consume her with fire And is not this the very Papall State it selfe succeeding in the Gouernment and Empire ouer Rome the Roman Temporall Empire For in Rome who knowes not that it is reputed no lesse crime then le-so-Sanctitie
Doctrine of the first Angell feare God giue him glory and worship him alone neither can it be denied but that they are frequent in their inuectiues against Rome Popish as against Babilon and withall that they doe detest and diswade all manner of communion with the Pope and with the Church of Rome neither can it be denied that vpon such their preachings effects answâ—â—â—able to their pretences haue followed falls and defections of diuerse States Kingdomes from the Pope yet for that they mistake their marke in inueighing against our Holy Father the Pope Christs Vicar insteed of Antichrist barking against the Church of Rome which is the most chast Spouse of Christ as against the Beasts throane and seate here hence it is that we deseruedly account them as fore-runners of Antichrist but not any rank or order of Godly Preachers fore-signified by these three Angells so Bristow so Harding Answere so Saunders so Bellarmine so the whole army of Papall Rabbies O the vanity of this subterfuge who shall teach vs what is the beast and where is the throane and seate of the beast if not those very men who by the Spirit of God haue beene fore-signed for that function and in whom euery iot of the Prophesy is accomplished O the idlenesse of this euasion doth the spirit of God fore-expresse no other properties and tokens of those Preachers which were to inueigh against Antichrist and his seate then such as the very forerunners of Antichrist should to the full performe practise O the impiety of this pretence to affirme that the fore-runners of Antichrist shall builde their preachings vpon these foundations Feare God giue him glory and worship him alone Acts 4. 11. and vpon this there is no name giuen vs vnder heauen for saluation but the name of Iesus and of the Lambe If we had no other The calumnious and irreligious reasoning of our Aduersaries proofes to conuince the Pope to be an Antichrist yet this would abundantly suffice for that they account the Doctours and Pastours of the Reformed Churches to bee fore-runners of Antichrist in regard they contend to bound all true religious worship within that principle Feare God giue him glory and worship him alone and for that they summe Acts 4. 12. vp all happines of Faith within that Apostolicall decree there is no name giuen vs vnder heauen by which we must be saued but the name of Iesus Iesus that Lambe which solely and alonely taketh away the sinnes of the world Iohn 1. Thus haue wee by a breefe examination of the inscription our first generall part made a doore of entrance for the laying opeÌ„ of those great mysteries and difficulties which lie hid and couered in our second part the Hypothesis and supposition which the Spirit of God inabling wee shall now indeauour to lay open and declare If any one worship the Beast and his Image and receiue Second Generall part the Hypothesis or Supposition his marke in his hand or forehead the same c. HErein consists the greatest I may say all difficulty of our Text not in respect of the persons against whom the Supposition is made for the Hypothesis being vniuersall and indefinit If any it includes all excludes none All Emperours Kings Princes States Nobles Gentles Peoples Young or Old Rich or Poore all If any one worship the Beast and the Image of the Beast or receiue his marke in hand or on forehead they shall surely drinke of the wine of Gods wrath neither is their any difficulty to declare the sense of the word worship 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If any one shall worship or adore the Beast or the image of the Beast for who is so ignorant as not to obserue The worship here condemned is a diuine religious worship not a ciuill reuerence that the adoration and worship here spoken of condemned is not a ciuill worship or politicke adoration giuen to any ciuill Authority or Maiesty no no it is a religious and diuine both externe and interne worship giuen to the State and See of the Beast and this vpon the acknowledgement of a diuine and Godlike kinde of Dignity and Maiesty residing in the Beast or in the Supreame head of that State which is typed by the Beast as hereafter wee shall more fully Wherein consists the difficulty of this text declare wherein then consists all the difficulty surely in declaring what is meant by the Beast what by the image of the Beast what by the taking of the Beasts marke either in hand or Bellar de Rom. pont lib. 3. Cap. 11. 15. Viegaâ— et Ribera in Apocalip ChristophorsoÌ„ treat of Antichrist against Downam part 2. Chapt. 8. alij on forehead O thou Lyon of Iuda thou that openest and no hand shutteth reueale this mistery vnto vs. Here we first obserue by the way and I desire your attention the feuer-trepidation and ignorance of certaine prime Ignatian other Pontifician Rabbies who fearing the true mysticall sense of this place doe again stall antiquitie and their owne tenents hold themselues to the very letter of the prophecie affirming that the followers of Antichrist shall be compelled to adore and worship a true reall beast and a true reall Image of a Beast wee must interprete them of a Beast hauing so many heads and hornes with Diadems theron as is described by the Prophet and also that they shall be Ier. 13. enforced like Fâ—lons by reall inustion or like the Priests A most impertinent subterfuge of our Aduersaries of Baal by cruell incision to receiue a reall marke of the Beast in their hands or on their foreheads Which their subterfuge while I deliuer doe yee smile at their follies or frowne at their impudencies or bewaile their obstinacies Perhaps you will rather admire what may be the reason why they flie to so doting an interpretation which if they doe then bee pleased to take the reason thereof to be this Many Doctors and Pastors of the reformed Churches so also his Praemonit pag. 111. most Excellent Maiestie in his Premonition to Christian Princes doe verily obiect against the Pope and his that by the adoration of the Beast and the Image of the Beast and by the taking of the Beasts marke in the hand or on the forehead is most liuely in a true mysticall sense typed forth No man kissing the Popes feet omits him adoration both going and comming when he kisses he is well nigh prostrate to the ground The forme and Ground of all Papall faith the Papall Antichristian State with the answerable practises thereof of their adoring the Popes Person with Diuine and religious adoration of their Soule-subiection to him in the vorie tye and band of supernaturall faith and sacred obedience to his damnable lawes and forged traditions so that as in a true sense it may bee an Article of Faith yea the forme and ground of all their faith in that Church Wee beleeue our