Sacerdotum praeparatur exercitus Which is a sign that in Gregory's judgment Antichrist was not to be born of the Tribe of Dan but of the Tribe of Levi whom we will further suppose to lay about him for the obtaining of this Levitical Sovereignty and for the advancement of his Episcopal Chair successively in some such manner as follows 3. First he will pretend that it is unfit that the visible Catholick Church being One should not be united under One visible Head Which reasoning yet though it make a pretty show at first sight being closely lookt into will vanish into smoke For this is but a quaint concinnity urged in the behalf of an impossibility For the erecting such an Office for one man which no one man in the world is able to perform implies that to be possible which is indeed impossible Whence it is plain that the Head will be too little for the Body which therefore will be a piece of mischievous Asymmetry or Inconcinnity also No one Mortal can be a competent Head for that Church which has a right to be Catholick and to over-spread the face of the whole Earth There can be no such Head but Christ who is not mere Man but God invested in Humane nature and therefore is present with every part of his Church and every member thereof at what distances soever But to set some one Bishop over the whole Church were to suppose that great Bishop of our Souls absent from it who has promised he will be with her to the end of the World and you may be sure not an idle Spectatour but a carefull Feeder and Governour of their Souls who do really believe in him and unfeignedly obey him 4. Nor does the Church Catholick on Earth lose her Unity hereby for she is under One common Head of the whole Church as well Triumphant as Militant which to come nearer to the Objection is a Visible Head of his Church to those that can approach his Court in that glorious Metropolis in Heaven where undoubtedly he is to be seen sitting on his Sapphire Throne in great Majesty and Glory and where his true Subjects in a small space of time may either see him themselves or at least converse with them that have frequent recourse unto him and wait in his presence And no man I think will say that any large Empire has an Invisible Head because the Emperour himself has placed his Palace in the chiefest Province of his Empire and never comes within the view of some parts of his Dominion and multitudes of men never see him as never having the opportunity of visiting those parts where the Emperour's Court is Whereas Jesus Christ the Head of his Church was seen here on Earth for a good space as also visibly to travel hence into the higher Regions of his Kingdom and in due time will visibly return hither again to take account of the Administratours of his Affairs in these lower Provinces Wherefore Christ is a more visible Head in his large Empire then any Emperour in his So evident is it that there wants no One Visible Head of the Church besides Christ himself 5. But yet notwithstanding all this this ambitious Patriarch I describe will bear the world in hand that it is very fit there should be One visible Head of the Church Universal which should succeed Christ or rather some one whom he would pretend to be Prince of the Apostles and that his Seat is that Apostolical Seat and that there is a necessity for Unity in the Church and for slaking all controversies there should be some one such though the Plea to any indifferent man cannot but seem very weak and frivolous For â—…as I have already intimated the Church will be sufficiently One by being under that One Head Christ Jesus and under One Law which is the Word of God which has been already proved sufficiently plain in all things necessary to Life and Salvation But for other things whether Ceremonies or Conceits they do not at all break the Unity of Christ's Kingdom but it will be truly and conspicuously his so long as it professes the Faith of his Apostles let them otherwise use what difference of Rites they will or differ as much as they can in unnecessary Opinions provided always that none of these Rites or Opinions be really and plainly against the Apostolical Doctrines which are the universal and irreversible Law of Christ's Empire upon Earth For thus the Church-Catholick being in this sort variegated in Externals will yet be visibly the Spouse of Christ though 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though cloathed with a Vestment of various flower-work and colours 6. But for this high-flown Patriarch to pretend that his Seat is this Infallible and All-decisive Apostolical Seat is a Plea that can have nothing solid at the bottom For if there had been any such Prelation of some one of the Apostles over the rest it were of that great Moment if ending of Controversies in all succeeding Ages be of that Moment that it would have been recorded in the Scripture and would have ended or prevented all disceptations amongst the Apostles themselves or any others concerning them But quite contrary S. Paul declares that he is in nothing inferiour to the chiefest Apostles which plainly implies an Equality 2 Cor. 12. amongst them all Besides if it were so that some one Apostle had an Authority or Headship over the rest and had once his Residence in such a particular See it does not follow that he that succeeds him in that See should succeed him in that Headship or at all in his Apostleship but onely in his Bishoprick Nor is it credible that if this Prime and Oecumenical Apostle had designed his immediate Successour to the same latitude of Jurisdiction that the claim should not be made and acknowledged by the Universal Church in those more innocent and morigerous times Of so little weight are such pretences as these 7. But if such pretty Sophisms will not serve the turn since Ambition has inflamed the Patriarch's spirits he will leave no stone unmoved to accomplish his desire and what Sophistry cannot doe must be effected though by the coursest methods of either Worldly or Infernal policy That they may therefore obtain this absolute Ecclesiastick Sovereignty the Successours in this pretended prime Apostolical See we will suppose to stick at nothing But that they will forge or counterfeit Canons of Authentick Councils and make them speak for the Supremacy of their Patriarchate that they will countenance abet or allow Treasons and Murthers though upon Emperours and Emperesses Kings and Queens and their whole Posterity by some intrusted Instrument of State whose ambition instigated him thus bloudily to assassinate his Liege Sovereign that he might succeed him in his Kingdom or Empire Whereupon notwithstanding by parasitical fawning conniving or allowing nay by congratulating the success of so beastly an enterprize these eager Candidates for the Ecclesiastick Empire will not stick to
and foul Lust and bloudy Wrath and Zeal for those Idols of Fornication as it fares in enraged Gallants in the behalf of their Mistresses must rule and over-run all The crasseness I say of these Superstitions leaves the mind unmortified and unilluminated but raises a zeal for them both ignorant bloudy and barbarous Which methinks is a sad condition for any Soul to be found in 4. But that this bestial Rage accompanies the love of Idols to omit several Examples in Scripture is a Truth largely writ and testified by the bloud of those innumerable companies of the primitive Martyrs who with so much reproach and so many kinds of tortures were put to death for despising or opposing the ancient Pagan Idolatry as is confessed by all And Idolatry whether Pagan or Christian will naturally dispose them that are really devoted to it to the like cruel fury and madness And though the cruelty of Bear or Wolf seems more the mischief of them that suffer by them then the evil of those beasts themselves yet for that Circe that metamorphoses men into these salvage shapes few or none do doubt but that she injures their humane bodies What a mischievous Circe then is Idolatry that transforms the Mind into such beastly salvageness 5. And as for Uncleanness that it is so close an attendant upon the worship of Idols is also a Truth very often intimated in holy Scriptures as in the Epistle to the Romans where the Apostle expresly affirms that Ch. 1. 26 27. because the Heathen changed the truth of God into a lye and worshipped and served the Creature more then the Creatour or rather besides the Creatour for this cause God gave them up to vile affections the women changing the natural use into that which is against nature and the men likewise leaving the natural use of the women and burning in their lust one toward another men with men working that which is unseemly and receiving in themselves that recompence of their errour that was meet Also in the first Book of the Kings upon the mentioning of the building of Ch. 14. 24. high places and Images presently is subjoined That there were also Sodomites in the Land c. The places are so many and so obvious where even unnatural uncleannesses are link'd together with Idolatry that it would be needless as well as tedious to recite them And therefore it is a very suspicable thing that where Idolatry seizeth most on the Church of Christ all manner of uncleanness will there be most rife also 6. But methinks I am too favourable in my charge against Idolatry while I seem to restrain the Mischief of it only to Uncleanness and Cruelty For the Authour of the Book of Wisdom does not stint the effects thereof to these but enlarges them also to Dissimulation Theft Unfaithfulness Tumults Perjury and what not * Ch. 14. 16 27. For the worshipping of Idols saith he not to be named is the beginning cause and end of all evil And S. Paul in the above-named Epistle makes it the fountain of all manner of vices and wickednesses which he doth not rashly but very rationally conclude For even as they did not like to retain God in their Rom. 1. 28 29. knowledge so God saith he gave them over to a reprobate mind to doe those things that are not meet Being filled with all unrighteousness fornication wickedness covetousness maliciousness full of envy murther debate deceit malignity whisperers back-biters haters of God despightfull proud boasters men of evil machinations disobedient to parents devoid of judgement covenant-breakers without natural affection implacable unmerciful So great a deluge of wickedness breaks in upon men by their being addicted to Idolatry For Apostatizing from God by this hainous sin God also forsakes them as the Apostle intimates And besides The sottishness of Idolatrous worship that calls out the Affections to such gross and unfitting objects does naturally lay the sense of better things asleep and extinguish the true life of Religion which is the renewing the Mind into the Image or similitude of God and Christ which consists in an holy and peaceable love and in a pure chast and unpolluted spirit unspotted of the vain desires of this present world Whence the introduction of Idolatry into the Church of Christ must needs be the overflowing it with all manner of vice and wickedness But that consideration belongs rather to the next point The Mischief that redounds to the Church from Idolatry to which I shall immediately pass after I have but briefly intimated one Mischief more which falls upon the Idolater himself and of which I think he will be most sensible and it is only this That he shall have his portion in the Lake that burneth with Rev. 21 〈◊〉 fire and brimstone which is the second Death that is to say that eternal Death and destruction that will assuredly attend all such enemies of God 7. The Mischief that accrues to the Church from Idolatry I have partly hinted already namely that it is the most likely way to debauch her with all other manner of vices and does ipso facto transform her who should approve herself the pure Spouse of Christ into the abhorred condition of an Harlot To which you may adde those great agonies and aggrievances of spirit that the true members of Christ are cast into by beholding such abominable practices besides their personal unsafety and danger of barbarous persecutions and those hard trialls and disquieting solicitudes that naturally will attempt them as they are men consisting of mortal flesh and liable to all the evils it exposes them to and finally the actual injuries reproaches imprisonments and multifarious Deaths that would fall upon the sincerest part of the body of Christ for opposing or refusing to partake with others in their Idolatrous Abominations 8. And yet this is not all There is still a very grand Mischief behind and exceeding considerable done to the Church by this fearfull sin of Idolatry and that is The hinderance of her spreading and propagating herself in the world It is part of our Christian Faith as we make profession of it in the Nicene Creed That there is One Catholick and Apostolick Church Which implies that the Church has a right to be Catholick to be universally spred over the face of the Earth and that the true and proper Character of this Catholick Church is to be Apostolical That whatsoever Nation or People or part of any Nation or People profess that Doctrine and Discipline which was delivered by Christ and his Apostles become immediately thereby part of the Catholick Church and those that profess and enjoyn Doctrines and practices that are Anti-Apostolical run the hazzard of losing the true title of Catholick and of making themselves indeed no part of the Church of Christ. And certainly Idolatry is as Anti-Apostolical as contrary to the Apostolick Doctrine as any thing can be Wherefore the introduction thereof into the Church of
Christ is the rescinding so many Souls from the body of the Church as are persuaded to entertain it Whence it is manifest that Idolatry is as it were a Gangrene in the body of Christ and eats so much away from it as it seizes upon 9. But this is not the sole Mischief of this kind done to the Church by Idolatry viz. The streightning the extent thereof by the divulsion of those that were her true members but as considerable as this is The prevention or hinderance from making them members that otherwise might be persuaded thereto For it is very visible that letting in of Idolatry into the Church of Christ will for ever while it there continues exclude both Jew and Turk out of it who are deservedly so great abhorrers of Idolatry To say nothing of the Idolatrous Heathens themselves to whom it would be ridiculous to preach as the Apostles did to turn from dumb Idols to serve the living God whenas they might easily see aforehand that it would be but the turning from their wonted Idols to the serving of new ones It is a fearfull thing therefore to profess the Church Catholick and yet by introduction of Idolatry to streighten it at home and hinder the propagation of it abroad by such horrible Scandals 10. Which is not only a Mischief to the Church herself in curbing her growth and eclipsing her glory but a sad disaster to the whole World which is the the last evil issuing therefrom it being to them the most certain pledge of everlasting happiness to become members of the Catholick Church of Christ of which there is little hope in either Jew Turk or Heathen that are consciencious while this stumbling-block is in their way and that they cannot profess Christianity without the allowance and practice of Idolatry Which in my apprehension ought to be reputed a very sad calamity upon Earth Thus we have seen a competent Description of the First main Limb of Antichristianism namely Idolatry brought into the Church of Christ under pretence of honour to him and the Saints with a discovery of the Falseness and Unwarrantableness of that Doctrine and Practice and the gross Fraud and grand Mischiefs that accompany it CHAP. XVII 1. That a multitude of slight Observances may amount to an intolerable burthen 2. That no Religious observance can be slight while it has an obligation upon the Conscience 3. Though this general estimate of the burthen of Superstition from obligation of Conscience and multitude of Observances might suffice yet he will adde a more particular Draught of this Limb of Antichristianism 4. Of Anointings and of the Multiplicity of Sacerdotal Ornaments 5. The pretence and Self-endedness in these Ornaments and Anointings 6. The Mischief arising from these kind of Ceremonies to Priest and People 7. A more full description of their Publick Service 8. That respect to the Priest is better sought and more certainly found in the Power of Life and Doctrine then in any Histrionical Pomp 9. Which is so unsatisfactory to the serious that it may hazzard their departure 10. The Opinion of a miraculous power in religious Vestments 11. The Falseness and Fraud of this Opinion 12. The ill consequence thereof 1. THE next Limb of Antichristianism is The burthening and entangling mens minds with Scrupulosities in either unnecessary or hurtfull Observances and Opinions laying an equal or greater yoke on Believers by reason of the Multitude of these Rites and Superstitious conceits then Judaism it self did upon the people of the Jews and thereby frustrating that End of Christ's coming which was To put a period to such burthen some and unprofitable Ordinances and to conciliate to himself a Church that should worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth Which Burthensomness as I have already intimated may arise merely from the multitude of these Ceremonies though the things may seem slight considered singly and in themselves as Feathers that are singly light may by their number grow heavier then a masse of Lead And what a man may sometime doe out of Idleness or wantonness to wit stoop to take up a straw or to divide clay or dirt into Squares or Oblongs yet to be kept close to this task how little different is it from that vile Aegyptian bondage of being condemned to the perpetual making of bricks or gathering of stubble 2. Besides that every toy to which there is once a Religious obligation girds hard with those that are serious and consciencious And such followers Christ expects and therefore neither he nor his Apostles would burthen them with any thing but what was necessary But we are exhorted rather to stand fast in that liberty wherewith Christ has Gal. 5. 1. made us free and not to suffer our selves to be brought under the bondage of any servile and unprofitable burthens of Superstition And our Saviour Christ rebuking the Pharisees tells them plainly that they worshipped God in vain while they taught for Doctrines the commandments Mark 7. of men Forasmuch as laying aside the Commandments of God they held the Traditions of men as the washing of pots and cups and brazen vessels and the like Wherefore if our Saviour Christ was so tender in the behalf of his Disciples that he would not have them superstitiously ensnared no not in so commendable and easy an observance as the washing of the hands ever before they did eat certainly it is utterly against his mind to have his followers intangled and enthralled in an innumerable multitude of less usefull Ceremonies Which be their natures what they will yet if by their numerosity they equallize the burthen of the Judaical Rites this general estimate is sufficient to discover it to be no inconsiderable Limb of Antichristianism in what Church soever such an enormity shall appear 3. Which I speak not as if I found it beyond my skill to pourtray this Limb of Antichristianism more articulately with stronger sinews and more full and solid muscles Such a draught therefore of Ritual Ordinances and Dogmatical Observances I will now draw as I dare appeal to any indifferent judge whether it will not prove an eminent part of that Mystery that opposes and defeats the purposed Ends of the coming of Christ into the world which assuredly were to free his followers from Sin and Superstitious slavery 4. And truly observing how tender and carefull our Saviour is in keeping off the least taint of Superstition from his Disciples about washings and eatings of meat and how expresly he affirms to them in that excellent parable That nothing that enters into a man defiles the man it will be Mark 7. easy thence to infer that much less any thing that hangs upon him or is about him can Sanctifie or make him holy Whence in the first place though I do not lay the greatest stress on it If we should suppose the Christian Priests to heap to themselves several sorts of Consecrated Garments for greater Ornament and Sanctimonie insomuch that every Priest's
or justice and that is the so freely nick-naming them by the style of Hereticks and Schismaticks Which yet in their own judgment I suppose not to bear so little weight with it whenas their real estimate is discoverable by their proceedings they deeming an Heretick so odious or contemptible that he is not worthy of the common privileges of mankind and of that protection that the Laws of humane Society do afford men that he shall not have the security of a Promise though confirmed by Oath Faith not being to be kept with Hereticks Not to mention here that they have made the penalties of Heresie capital Which how justly though a man were an Heretick in the matters of Belief provided it were not out of Pride and conceitedness but out of invincible Ignorance I will not here discuss 2. It will be of greater use to consider what is real Heresie or Schism that the sincere and knowing Christian may not be reproached nor the less skilful affrighted with these Bug-bears Those that make so great a cry against the hainousness of these sins their Zeal and Rhetorick would be more usefully placed if they would be so faithful as to give us a right Notion of them otherwise while they pretend to be so industriously desirous of Peace and Unity in the Church they may but give greater occasion of Dissensions and Animosities For to make more things Heresies and Schisms then are is to create more quarrels then there need be I will acknowledge as soon as any that Heresie and Schism are very grievous crimes even of the deepest dye but then it must be truly Heresie or Schism not what-ever the peevishness or interest or prejudice of a domineering party will be pleased to call so under the pretence that they are that One Catholick Church from whose Doctrine be it never so false or corrupt for one to dissent must be Heresie and to separate from their communion be their practices never so Idolatrous Schism No certainly those high sins of Heresie and Schism are not against this or that particular Synagogue be they never so numerous but against that ancient and truly Catholick and Apostolick Church and he that sins against her Unity sins against his Creed which has taught us to say I believe one Catholick and Apostolick Church Which words because they may be abused to the making of the Church look less Catholick and One then it is I shall offer an easie resolution of the sense of them 3. I conceive therefore that the Object of our Belief in this Clause of the Creed are these three Propositions First That the Church of God wherein eternal Salvation is to be had is but One that is to say That a man cannot be saved in any Religion as some wantonly conceit but that there is one onely way of Salvation which is revealed to God's true Church under which all must come before they can be saved Secondly That this Church of God is now a Catholick Church not Topical or National as in the Commonwealth of the Jews but a Church that is by right to spread over the face of the whole Earth and is designed so to doe by Providence as is expressed in several passages of the Prophets From the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same my name shall be great amongst the Gentiles c. as * Chap. 1. Malachie has fore-told And David in the second Psalm Ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession Thirdly and lastly That this One Catholick Church is neither to be stretched so wide as to be acknowledged there where the Apostolical Doctrine the Faith and Practice delivered and commanded by Christ or his Apostles is oppugned and contradicted and quite contrary Doctrines and Practices brought in nor to be made so narrow as that such companies of men should not be allowed to be part of this Catholick Church amongst whom notwithstanding the Apostolical Doctrines do obtain and Primitive Practices of the Church set on foot by the Apostles or Christ himself are in use That is to say The adequate Character of this One Catholick Church is that it rejects nothing of the Apostolical Doctrines and imitable Usages which were commanded by Christ or by his Apostles to the Church nor teaches or institutes any thing that is point-blank opposite thereto or to the Word of God to which Christ and his Apostles give testimony That therefore is the true Catholick Church in the whole and in every particular company of it which has for its visible Laws and Usages whereby it self becomes also visible the Laws and Usages of Christ and his Apostles and nothing contradictorious thereunto This I hope will be acknowledged by all men the most easie and genuine sense of this Article of the Christian Creed that the words are capable of 4. And hence I think a man may easily discover what that Heresie is that is justly to be deemed so hainous a sin namely That it is A Dissent from the Catholick Church even in those things that are in it Apostolical For by them alone they being entire and uncontradicted in her does she discover her self to be that One and onely Catholick Church of Christ. And this would be an hainous sin indeed against that Authority she has to instruct and imbue the world with this saving truth I say to dissent from any part of this Apostolick Doctrine out of a spirit of contradiction and self-conceitedness would be Heresie in the most loathsom circumstances that can be imagined And the next degree to this would be the dissenting from the Catholick Church in such things as they generally agree in though they be not expressly any part of the Apostolick Doctrine but in the mean time not plainly dissonant to the Word of God nor to the immutable Notions of humane Understanding And the third and last degree is to dissent from the determinations of a mans own particular National Church in the like circumstances with the former These seem to have something an over-near affinity with what we have defined most properly primarily to be Heresie But considering that even Oecumenical Councils themselves may erre and that Scripture in things necessary to Salvation is sufficiently plain and the Affairs and the Genius of particular Nations exceeding different and changeable and General Councils very hardly and slowly to be congregated I must not be over-hasty to call a Dissent here no not from an Oecumenical Doctrine or Usage by so harsh a denomination as Heretical there being no entrenchment made thereby upon the Apostolical Laws and Doctrines But to dissent from or not to subscribe to the determinations of what Church soever that are plainly repugnant to the Doctrines Apostolical were not onely not Heretical but Heroical especially if the Dissent is likely to beattended with any personal inconveniences to the Dissenter 5. And now for Schism there is much-what
Universal Bishop and has for a long time laid claim to and exercised this power to say nothing of his high insultations over the Caesarean Majesty and his usurping as well his Rights as wearing the Imperial Ensigns I say this Idolatrous Hierarchy growing so big in time in these Western parts of the Empire and their power shrivelling up or melting away so much in the Eastern and not continuing in nor advancing to that gross measure of Antichristianism that is found in the other the Spirit of God has accordingly more strongly stamped the mark of discovery on the Western Hierarchy then on the Eastern and because that See lays claim to an Universal Jurisdiction has made Old Rome I mean the whole Hierarchy whose Head is seated there to be this Great Whore For he saith The Woman which thou sawest is that great City which now reigneth over the Kings of the Earth For it is the present Tense and spoken in S. John's time when there was no Seven-Hilled City that reigned over the Kings of the Earth but Old Rome And therefore of necessity it is she 2. But besides that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies in the present Tense and is all one as if one should say quae nunc regnat it is farther observable that if it were not determined to this sense it would rather be a Nugation if a man may speak it with reverence then an Interpretation and would be added to no purpose as being of an uncertain sound and not able to signify any thing but what was said before For in that she is said to whore with the Kings of the Earth and to ride the Beast and to sit upon Peoples and Multitudes and Nations and Tongues this already amounts to as much as the reigning over the Kings of the Earth Wherefore this Adjection must have this peculiar in it that in saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it implies that that City was meant that ruled the world in S. John's time and therefore is the Seven-Hilled Rome But why do I goe about so industriously to prove that which our very Adversaries do not deny as Ribera and Cornelius à Lapide who both acknowledge Old Rome here meant and Alcazar also and Bellarmine upon particular evincement from this verse The words of Bellarmine are Neque enim alia Civitas est quae Joannis tempore imperium habuerit super Reges terrae quà m Roma notissimum est supra septem montes Romam adificatam esse Which two things joyn'd together is a Demonstration that Rome in Italy here is meant and no other City 3. The sense therefore of the Verse may be clearly delivered in this short Paraphrase The Woman which thou sawest riding on the Beast that was and is not and yet is is that great City which now ruleth over the Kings of the Earth that is to say it is Rome whose Inhabitants though flowing successively are accounted one and the same City because included within the same walls or buildings as that is accounted one and the same River that flows betwixt the same banks though the same Water does not continue for a day together This Woman then which S. John saw riding the Empire under the last Head thereof upon the pretence of being the true Catholick and Apostolick Church though indeed become an Apostatized Harlot this Woman I say is that very City that great City that great Roman State or Polity that now rules over the Kings of the Earth saith the Angel to S. John But where or from whence could that be but from Rome the Imperial City Whence it is evident that the Roman Catholick Church as she calls her self which rules the world from the Seven Hills is to be understood as being look'd upon as one and the same Woman this new Roman Hierarchy succeeding and being seated as much in the same City that is as much within the Roman walls as that ancient Polity was Which is as easy to conceive as if one should prophesy of a certain River that it should run bloud three hundred years hence and then should adde that this River is that River that now discharges it self with seven mouths into the Mediterranean For it is evident that this must be understood of the waters of Nilus and yet not of those that flow now but those that shall flow three hundred years hence And as we would say that this very River Nilus that runs now into the Mediterranean is the River that will run tinctured with bloud three hundred years hence though the water is not the same now and then nor of the same Quality so might it be said in S. John's time that that very City meaning the Power or Polity there which then ruled the world would ride the Beast that was and is not and yet is so many Ages after though the Polity be no more the same then the water of Nilus now running is the same with the bloudy water which is foretold shall flow within his banks three hundred years hence So easy and natural is the Expression of the Angel in this last verse and so manifest the determination of the Woman's Seat to Old Rome accordingly as it has come to pass 4. And that the Vision of the Two-horned Beast may keep perfect pace with this of the Whore for the same reasons which I have already here alledged the Seat of the Two-horned Beast is likewise at last restrained to Rome as the onely See of the Universal Head of the Pseudo-prophetick Body Which restriction is discoverable as well by the Numeral Name of the Beast as by numbering that Number comprised in his Name The former Computation is observed by Bishop Dounham to be cavilled against by some as Cabbalistical But he proves it plainly enough out of Irenaeus that this kind of Computation is Traditionary even from S. John himself De Antichrist lib. 6. cap. 4. And though a many Pseudo-Cabbalists have brought the very name of Cabbala into a suspectedness yet I must confess that I think the fame thereof was not raised upon nothing but that there was such an hidden way of delivering the great Arcana of knowledge and that part thereof was the Symbol of Numbers which is frequent in this Book of the Apocalyps as well as continual in the first Chapter of Genesis Not to take notice that that very Expression of Alpha and Omega seems to be Cabbalistical there being frequent mention with them of Aleph lucidum and Aleph tenebrosum concerning which Robert Flud who pleased himself in diving into these depths so far as his bucket would reach Habetis saith he Aleph Meâ—…eorolog Cosmic lib. 4. cap. 3. Cabbalistarum tenebrosum in lucidum conversum omnia creans coelúmque terram informans consequenter habetis Alpha Omega Principium Finem This is answerable to that verse of Orpheus concerning God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which Plato calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and I doubt not but was the doctrine
and Lust. But these Intimations shall suffice concerning this second Opposition to the Divine Life in the branches thereof 9. The third and last is that which is so conspicuously opposite to that last and best of the three Christian Graces Divine Love or Charity and that is the bloudy Antichristian Cruelty against the sincere Servants of Christ. Which is noted in several of those Visions we have already explained and therefore we need onely produce them As first that concerning the King of Babylon who was a Type of the Pope The reason of his Ruine in that Vision is declared to be his barbarous and Antichristian Cruelty Esay 14. Because thou hast destroyed thy Land and slain thy People that is to say the people of Christendom the Land over which thou challengest an Ecclesiastick Sovereignty as being the Vicar of Christ and yet dost most bloudily murther and martyr his truest and most faithfull Servants Again Dan. 7. The little Horn there which is a Figure of the same Pontifician Power is said to make war with and to wear out the Saints of the most High that is to consume them and destroy them with perpetual persecutions 10. A third Presignification is Apocal. 11. concerning the Witnesses The Beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pâ—… shall make war against them and shall evercome them and kill them And their dead bodies 〈◊〉 lie in the street of the great City which is spiritually called Sodom and Aegypt where also our Lord was crucified Which is a description of perpetuall Opposition and Persecution taking away from the true Servants of God either their Honours Offices Goods or Lives So that the real and sincere Church of Christ which is his Body lieth during the treading under foot the Outward Court like a dead corps without Political life or power and also dreadfully wounded all over gore bloud by the cruel Murthers Martyrdoms and Massacres of the faithfull Members thereof Fourthly Apocal. 13. the Two-horned Beast is said to animate the Ten-horned when he had revived into the ancient Idolatrous form of Paganism to destroy as many as would not yield obedience to him even in his Idolatrous Commands And he had power to give life to the Image of the Beast that the Image of the Beast should both speak and cause that as many as would not worship the Image of the Beast should be killed And that no man might buy nor sell save he that had the Mark or the Name of the Beast or the Number of his Name that is As many as would not profess themselves Roman Catholicks and thereby Paganize in Christianity should be famished and starved and not suffered to live So great is the Charity of this Tyramical and Antichristian Power towards the true members of Christ. But blessed are the dead that die in the Lord as it is said in the following Chapter concerning the Martyrdom of those that are murthered by this Pontifician Power 11. Fifthly That also is a Record of the Antichristian Roman Cruelty for the Vials are poured upon the Beast the Aegyptian Plagues upon the Antichristian Aegypt Revel 16. where the Angel of the third Vial which turns the Rivers into bloud speaks thus Thou art righteous O Lord which art and wast and shalt be because thou hast judged thus For they have shed the bloud of Saints and Prophets and thou hast given them bloud to drink for they are worthy Sixthly As the Ruine of the King of Babylon in Esay so the Ruine of the Whore of Babylon in S. John is imputed to this salvage and barbarous Antichristian Cruelty the murthering of the Saints of God The voice of Harpers and Musicians is heard no more in her no Crafts-man of any Craft is found any more in hâ—… the light of a Candle shines no more in her but she is left to utter darkness and desolation because in her was found the bloud of Prophets and of Saints and of all that were slain upon the Earth Murtherers also are particularly noted in both those Catalogues of them that are without the Holy City 12. Seventhly and lastly In the description of the Whore of Babylon which I have above plainly shew'd to signify the Church the Roman especially apostatized into Idolatry there is express and significant mention made of this odious branch of Antichristianism this bloudy Persecution of the true members of Christ. And the woman was arâ—…ied in purple and scarlet and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls having a golden cap in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her Forâ—… And upon her forehead was a Name written Mystery Babylon the great the mother of Harlots and abominations of the Earth And I saw the 〈◊〉 drunâ—…n with the bloud of the Saints and with the bloud of the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and when I saw her I wondred with great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon the gorgeous Pomp of the Pope and his Ecclesiastick 〈◊〉 the Cardinals and other great men as also on the coâ—…ly and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of their 〈◊〉 Altars and Temples how this Where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with Ornaments Carpets and Laces of Aegypt how 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 perfumâ—…d her bed with Myrrh Aloes and Cinnamon with Incense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 odours if he have any skill in the Prophetick style he cannot say but this Prefiguration of the state of the Roman Church is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 and richness of it For thus is Idolatry begun to the world in this golden Cup and costly outside of things But this is not the only miscarrlage of this Church she is also drunk with the bloud of the 〈◊〉 and with the bloud of the Martyrs of Jesus Grotius his gloss upon this part of the Text is very expressive and significant 〈◊〉 â—…am 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 despum aâ—…te evomente sanguinem ut ebrii 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saw the 〈◊〉 or enraged Woman foming at mouth with stained froth and vomiting bloud as drunk drâ—…s do wine Which must needs be a wonder to all her Spectatours that a woman so richly and so gloriously 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be oâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…erine and salvage a nature Which admiration certainly â—…ust be â—…doubled upon them while they consider how this illustrious Queen professes herself to be the Catholick Church of Christ and Mother of Christendom and yet thus to froth at the mouth nay to foul her raiment by impotently easing of her stomack over-charged with the bloud of her own children But by being thus lavish of the life of her Infants she demonstrates herself not to be that Catholick Mother but a bloudy and treacherous Harlot accordingly as the Holy Ghost has inscribed upon her Forehead The Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth 13. Thus have we seen every member of Antichristianism comprised in our Idea as they are easily found in the Church of Rome so likewise expresly prefigured in the Writings of the holy Prophets as appertaining to her and that there is no eludng oâ—… evacuating so clear and perspicuous Testimonies by any
which theme having spoken sufficiently in my Description of the Second Limb of Antichristianism it was enough to mention it onely here CHAP. X. 1. The wicked Method of raising the Power of this Supreme Pastour to this height a demonstration of the excess of Ambition 2. His blasphemous usurpation or acceptation of the Divine Titles 3. His barbarous insultation over Excommunicated Kings and Emperours 4. The excess of Homage done to him by the greatest Personages 5. His exalting himself above God in point of Jurisdiction 6. His elation of himself above him in point of Honour or Precedency 7. Other Instances of that kind of Pride 8. His exaltation of himself above God even in the very House of God literally so called 1. WE have already wrought up this Image of Antichristianism in the power of One particular Priest or Patriarch so high as that by hook or by crook he has wriggled himself into the pretence if not possession of Absolute Sovereignty over all the Potentates of Christendom Which being acquired by such wicked means it must needs be that a more then Hellish Fire of Ambition lies at the bottom which will betray it self yet more fully in these visible flames namely Certain exorbitant Titles and Prerogatives this Son of Pride is adorned with His barbarous insultations over subdued Princes and Emperours and the extravagant Homages and Services done to his person in publick Solemnities 2. As for example What can be more blasphemously Antichristian then to suffer himself to be decked with the spoils of the Divine Attributes To be styled Our Lord God Optimum Maximum Supremum Numen in terris A God on Earth A visible Deity To have declared that his Tribunal and that of God is all one That his Power is absolute That what he does he does as God and not as Man and That all must submit to his Decree as being infallible That he is all and above all That he has the disposing of Kingdoms can pull down one and set up another That he can doe all that God can doe clave noâ—… errante That he can change the nature of things make something of nothing make Injustice Justice and Wrong Right That all Laws are in his breast That he can dispense with the Canons of the Apostles and with the New Testament it self That he is the Cause of Causes That it is Sacrilege to doubt of his Power That he has a Dominion over Angels Purgatory and Hell That he is the Monarch of the world and exceeds the Imperial Majesty as much as the Sun does the Moon and That he is to be adored by all the Potentates of the Earth This is one blazing Eruption out of this infernal Aetna of Luciferian Ambition 3. The second was his haughty Insultation over Excommunicated and subdued Princes As for example It were most salvagely Antichristian for this Triumphant Patriarch after Excommunication and submission to his power thereupon to make one Emperour to wait some days together bare-foot and clad in Canvass with his Empress for Absolution at his gate and that in the midst of winter to make him resign his Imperial Ornaments and after all this to depose him and give his Empire to another To make another prostrate himself publickly in the Church and in this prostration to set his foot on the Emperour's neck as if he were crushing an Adder or Snake To crown another not with his hands but with his feet and then with the same feet to kick the Crown from off the Emperour's head To make one Prince resign his Crown and live some days as a private person and then upon condition of becoming a Vassal to his High-priestship to permit him to receive it again at his Legat's hands lowly kneeling at his feet To make another by way of penance to go creeping along his Holy-Highnesse's Palace upon his hands and knees with a Collar about his neck like a Dog To whip another stark naked in an open Cathedral every Monk or Religious person bestowing some number of lashes on him Certainly such gross usage as this of Emperours Kings and Princes cannot but be the Indication of a Pride and Elation of mind plainly Diabolical 4. But what speak we of Penances when we may draw so odious a Draught out of ordinary expected Homages and Observances We will therefore suppose that according to the known Ceremonies of this Sacerdotal Court when his Holy-Highness Universal Head of the Church will be something still higher by getting on Horse-back that the Emperour or King that is present must of duty hold his Stirrup as he gets up or if his will is upon some occasion to be transported in a Chair of State that the Emperour and King are to submit their neck to the yoke and take up this stately Man in his Chair on their shoulders When this grand Prelate also goeth to dinner the Emperour or King there present must have the honour imposed upon them to serve him with Water and a Towel to wash his anointed hands For which service they shall be permitted to sit down at Table after attendance till the first Course be served The Emperour's place also in an Oecumenical Council shall be at this High-priest's feet like a good son of Gamaliel And finally wheresoever this Oecumenical Patriarch goes the people shall fall down on their knees or if they doe not that Worship willingly and glibly be knock'd down upon them by his rigid Guard those grim extorters of the Adoration of this Idol 5. This tenour of Ceremonies will plainly place this High-priest many degrees higher then the Princes of the Earth be they Kings or Emperours or what other Potentates soever But we will now draw a stroke or two of such an Elation or Haughtiness of spirit in point of Ceremonie and Precedency as may make him justly seem to affect a Sovereignty above that of God himself Of which Affectation we have given substantial Examples as touching Power in that he was supposed to cancel the Laws of God and to substitute in their place some gainful Decrees of his own Which is a perfect exalting himself above God in point of Authority and real Jurisdiction 6. And for point of good Manners and Ceremony If we should imagine that those things which himself and his adherents give the highest Religious Worship to were yet cast lower then this Supreme Prelate were it not to take precedency of the most High God As for example if the Cross which they judge Latria due to were cast so low as this High-priest's feet were not he then higher then what the highest kind of Divine honour is due to But this you will say perhaps will but make him equal with God But the Host or consecrated Bread is already supposed to be esteemed by this Pseudo-Christian Church the very Body of Christ or his corporeal Person that is to say that where this is Christ true God is truly and corporeally present in his own Person as truly and really as