of singing sate them downe and wept Nor haue we lesse cause to expresse all thankfulnâ—sse to God for our deliverance from Babylons captivity then Moses and Israel had for theirs from Aegypt ourâ—-being no lesse miraculous if we consider the weake meanes whereby it was wrought then that was For what was one poore Luther and â—hose few that seconded him to the whole world of Pontiâ—icians 〈◊〉 Papall power where with he was to incounter Others vnderstand by this glassy Sea mingled with fire the pure Christalline word of God which in the ministry therof is mingled with the fire and efficacie of the Holy Ghost by the means whereof the spirituall Babylonians are overthrown as the Aegyptians werâ— in the red Sea which was a type of Baptisme Let the Reader â—ake his choyce or rather both sith 〈◊〉 are agreeable to the analogy of the Prophecy And if we vnderstand it of the world we may note all so how though Gods servants be compassed about with flames of fire as it were standing vpon this glassy sea yet they do with all their chearfulnesse sound forth the praise of God in the Gospell the Lambes song while Popish fire and faggotts haue prevailed no more vpon Gods servants but to inflame them with greater zealâ— to sing the song of the Lambâ— It followeth ver 5. And after that I looked and behold the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony in heauen was opened And ver 6. the seuen Angels came out of the Temple hauing the seauen plagues cloathed in pure and white Linnen and hauing their breasts girt with golden girdles And ver 7. one of the foure Beasts gaue vnto the seaven Angels seven golden Vialls full of the wrath of God who liveth for ever and ever and ver 8. the Temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power and no man was able to enter into the Temple till the seaven plagues of the seaven Angells were fulfilled In these words the Holy Ghost descends more particularly to set forth the full equipage and addressemenâ— of the insuing Prophecy and that in a manner full of maiesty First the Place whence the seaven Angels come namely the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony in heaven which vpon their going forth is opened This ought to be well marked as pointing vs to the very particular time wherein these seaven Vials began to be powred out which is a matter of speciall moment Now for the meaningâ— we know that the Temple of Solomon and Tabernacle of Moses were both types of Christ and of his Church but the Tabernacle more properly of the Church Militant the Temple of the Triumphant here â—oyned together the Temple of the Tabernacle of Testimony to note the Church of Christ Militant whose part is triumphant in the eternall Temple in heaven or else to note the heavenly and triumphant-like estate of Christs Church on earth now vindicated from and made victorious over the Beast The opening of this Temple sheweth a more cleare manifestation of the Testimony of God now revealed in the powring out of these Vials in the Ministry of the Gospel as we shall see anon Well out of this Temple come the seuen Angels hauing the seven plagues being adorned and furnished with all requisite graces indowments fitting for so sacred a ministration They receiue their seven golden Vials at the hands of one of the foure Beasts This referres vs to the Fourth Chapter of this booke which place alludes to the first chapter of Ezechiels Prophecie to the foure Beasts there And it is commonly received of the Auncients that these foure Beasts were a type of the foure Evangelists According to this sense we are to vnderstand that these 7. Angels the Ministers of the Gospell powering out their Vials received their Vials to wit their authoritie and power from the Gospell of Christ whereon all our Ministry is grounded Some vnderstand by these foure liuing creatures or Beasts the ministers of the Gospell who in all ages deliver and propagate the word of their ministry from hand to hand to the succeeding ages Nor wanted there even before Luther euer appeared against the Pope sufficient witnesses in all ages that opposed the man of sin and stood vp for the truth And among many other famous was that Prophecy of Iohn Huss when he was burned at the Counsell of Constance for witnessing the truth against the Church of Rome enough by the way to stopp the clamorous mouthes of Papists who obiect where was your Religion before Luther who at the stake vttered these words That of the ashes of this Goose saith he shall rise a Swan which they should not burne as they wasted the poore Goose adding moreover Post 〈…〉 after a hundreth yeares you shall answer God and 〈◊〉 Now in the Bohemian tongue Huss signifieth a Goose and Luther a Swan And iust a hundred yeares after the end of that Counsell of Constance began Luther publikly to preach against the Popes Indulgences So that here we may note how Luther received his Viall as it were from the hand of Iohn Huss a witnes of the Gospell of Christâ— and that by a remarkable Prophecy And were not Iohn Wicklifes works also burned at the same Councell â— and two other worthy Bohemian Martyrs And did not Iohn Wicklife our Country man by whose meanes the Bohemians received the Gospell instruct his schollar Iohn Huss therein and Huss others as Zizca and so downewards And was not Luther himselfe made Doctor by Andreas Carolostadius at Wittenberge Thus we could goe vp by every Century and age all a long even from Luther to the Apostles times to proue the lineall and vninterrupted descent of that Gospell and truth which we professe The obstrepeâ—ous Iesuits knowe it well enough and might well spare vs that labour but only least they should be drawne so dry as to seeme to be able to say nothing for themselues or against vs. But we build not our doctrines vpon genealogies but vpon expresse and authenticall Records of Scriptures aboue all exception So that from this booke of Scriptures do these 7 Angels take their seaven Vials But what is ment by Vials They are vessells bigger then ordinary drinking cupps such as we call Goblets some take them to be as bigg as Kettles But I take it the Holy Ghost here alludeth to those incense-cups Exod. 23.29 translated Phialae in the vulgar latine which were made of pure gold as here And in chapter 5.8 is mention of Vials full of the odours of the Saints To which comparing the Vials full of plagues here we may note their two fold use one for the benefite of the Church another for the punishment of her enemies as we read of the Censers Chap. 8.3 4 5 out of which went first the odours of the Saints prayers and after that thence were powred forth of the hot coales of the Altar vpon the earth whereupon insued sundry plagues vpon the wicked In
THE SEVEN VIALS Or A briefe and plaine Exposition vpon the 15 and 16 Chapters of the Revelation very pertinent and profitable for the Church of God in these last times By H. B. Rector of Saint Matthews Friday-street Reve 19.19 20. And I saw the Beast and the Kings of the Earth â—nd their armies gathered 〈◊〉 to make warre against him that sate on the Horâ—◠〈◊〉 against his army And the Beast was takeâ— and with him the False Prophet that wrought miracles before him with which he deceived them that had the Marke of the Beast and them that worshipped his Image Thâ—se both 〈…〉 into a Lake of fire burning with 〈…〉 LONDON Printed by William Jones dwelling 〈◊〉 Red-crosse-street 1â—28 TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE CHARLES KING OF GREAT Britaine France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Dread Soveraine DIOGENES the more he was by Antisthenes the Philosopher threatned beaten from his schoole the more ardently he frequented it saying to his Master Do you but beat I will find you a head nor shall you find so hard a club as therewith to driue me away from your Philosophy What hee did suffered for Philosophy's sake the like or more am I ready to sustaine for the service and honour of Your Majesty No discouragements can beat me from this resolution no not death it selfe So prevalent iâ— my affection as my insufficiencies best knowne to my selfe cannot restraine it Yea though I was told Your Majesty was lately offended with me But I answered No J had no reason to belieue it For first J knew well the gentle disposition of your royall breast guided by such a dextrous iudgment is not easily incensed where there is no iust cawse And J am sure I daily inioy the influence of your favour though not the gratious aspect of your face for even the feet doe liue moue though remote by the Heads breathing You are the breath of our Nostrills And as J told my Lord of London at my first examination about Israels Fast All that I had done was for Gods glory the service of my King Country the Church of England whereof wee were members and for which I was ready if need were to lay downe my life And now gratious Soveraine J am bold to present Your Maiesty with such a peece as no Prince in Christendome but Your selfe can iustly challenge the dedication of it if the meannesse of the Presenter doe not extenuate the worth of the Present Jt containes a most divine Prophecy of the pouring out of the seven Vialls Revel 16 which according to that ability vouchsafed me of Christ the least and last of all his servants J haue indeavoured to open Jt pertaineth to Your Maiesty by a proper right The full accomplishment of this Prophecy is like to fall in Your gratious Raigne which God prolong to make it glorious to posterity And surely when J compare the fulfilling of this Prophecy with those many Princely indowments which Your God hath inriched Your Royall Person with J am so much the more confirmed in this my perswasion Such a zeale such loue of the truth such a peerelesse and Princely wisdome such a magnanimous spirit were not planted in Your noble breast for nothing So as I dare boldly conclude as was said to David Your Maiesty shal do great things and prosper Nor speake J by coniecture This Prophecy will clearly evidence the same Cleare it is though for the present it seeme cleane contrary that the destruction of Antichrist with his whole power and confederacy is now neere at hand And for proofe and perswasion thereof J wish it stood with Your Maiesties good pleasure and leisure to read over this Prophecy It is but the expense of a few howers but may exercise Your best meditations and noblest thoughts for many dayes many yeares after This whole booke of the Revelation is a Propheticall Chronologie tâ— the end of the world Of it Christ pronounceth Blessed is he that readeth and they that heare the words of this Prophecy and keep those things which are written therein for the time is at hand How much more is this verified of this last and most famous Prophecy in this booke towards the full consummation whereof these our present and last times draw on â—amaine Your Royall Father of blessed memory even in his youth wrote a most exquisite Paraphrase of this whole booke from whose bright torch all along I haue beene bold to borrow light for my dimme candle But me thinks I heare some suggest O Sir this booke is not licensed But whose fault is that The Authors Or the Licensers I could wish that such suggesters would confesse the true cawse why Orthodox bookes are so borne downe as they may not be licensed For Popish Arminian bookes are licensed but the contrary such as are writen in confutation of them are according to Gods word the doctrine of the Church of England may not be allowed So that I humbly submit it to your Maiesties vnpartiall iudgement to determine whether the Printer for printing such a booke as this without license or he that should license such Orthodox bookes will not according to authority in that behalf be more worthy of censure And certainly they that suppresse Orthodox bookes would they not also stop Preachers mouthes that they should not speake the truth Yes certainlyâ— For may it please your Majesty to vnderstand how even your Majesties honour suffers in this case For whereas vpon a Proclamation published in your Highnesse name Iune 14. in the second of your Raigne expressely forbidding any preaching or printing of such Doctrines as were repugnant to the Doctrine of the Church of England established we all hoped that all Arminian Popish Doctrines would be husht silenced wee by experience find it quite contrary for the Arminians shamelesly alledging that all their doctrines are according to the Church of England vnder this pretence they wold suppresse all truth as forbidden by your Royall Proclamation Which if it were true it should not be lawfull any more to preach the Gospell then to print books in defence of it So that some are neither affraid nor ashamed to say in plaine termes that they must license no bookes against Arminius Good God what pittifull times doe we liue in how different from former as I was bold to tell my Lord of London But I trust your Maiesty will vindicate your honour herein Gods truth exprest in Scripture is no changeling This is that which wee call the Doctrine of the Church of England and no other This hath beene sealed by the blood of so many Martyrs witnessed by so many Worthies of our Church for almost this fourescore yeares without intermission whose writings no time shall blot out ratified by so many Acts of Parliament as not all the Devills in hell nor all the Arminians on earth shall be able to disanull it The Gospell shall flourish maugre all
a word then these 7. Vials here powred forth doe signifie nothing else but the ministry of the Gospell whereby salvation the savour of life vnto life is brought to Gods people but contraly damnation the savour of death vnto death even the wrath of God is revealed vpon the Beast and his followers which withhold the truth in vnrighteousnesse This will appeare evidently in the proper place anon It followeth ver 8. And the Temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power and no man was able to enter into the Temple till the seaven plagues of the seaven Angels were fulfilled This verse propounds a matter very remarkable The smoke here from Gods glory and power filling the Temple alludes to the Tabernacle of Moses and Temple of Solomon which at their dedication were filled with a â—isible symbol of Gods presence and glory Exod 40.34 â—5 and 1 Kâ—ng 8.10 11. Here it imports thus much vnâ—o vs that vpon the powring forth of the Vials God â—halbe present with his Church in a more conspicuous â—anner and manifestation of his glory and power in â—he revelation of the mystery of his will then ordinary God being now about to magnifie his glory and power â—n his Church by the ministry of his word in such wise â—hat it shall be as smoke in the eyes of all the enemies of â—he truth so as they shall not be able to endure this gloâ—â— of God being so mightily guarded also with his poâ—er The like we read of in Esa 6. where when the â—ord was about to giue to Esay a commission together â—â—th gifts and graces for Propheticall ministration he 〈◊〉 vnto him a vision of his glorious presence his 〈◊〉 filling the Temple signifying the presence of 〈◊〉 glory and power doth then fill his Church when the word of God shines forth in prophecy and preaching And as it was then vpon the preaching of that Evangelicall Prophet or Propheticall Evangelist so is it here vpon the execution of these seven Angels ministration And to note the excellent condition of the Church vpon the first powring out of these Vials we are to obserue the allusion of this filling the Temple with the glory of Gods presence to the Dedication both of the Tabernacle of Moses and of the Temple of Solomon at which time both of them were thus filled This plainly sheweth that at the great restauration of the Church of Christ begun at the first Vials powring out the Church of Christ shal be as it were anew dedicated in a most solemne and magnificent state An excellent and pregnant Type whereof we haue in that Restauration of the Temple in Ierusalem vpon the Iewes returne from the Babylonian Captivity whereupon there was a solemnâ— Dedication of the Temple the anniversary Feast whereof was kept by that people of God vnto the very first comming of Christ the true Temple Iust so here The Church of Christ vpon the returne of Gods people from the spirituall Babylonian Captivity is restored repaired and anew dedicated the memoriall whereof shal be without interruption solemnly kept of Gods people vntill the second comming of Christ in his full glory And the Temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power and no man was able to enter into the Temple till the seaven plagues of the seaven Angels were fulfilled Againe it is said here that none might enter into the Temple till the seaven Plagues of the seaven Angel were fulfilled Hereby is signified not that no man caâ— all this while enter into the Church but that the preâ—sence of Gods glory and power shall fill his Church hiâ— Gospell and Truth shall prosper and prevaile 〈◊〉 all the malice and might of the enemies from the 〈◊〉 to the last of these seaven Vials that is the Gospell shall flourish in despite of all the maligners thereof open or secret vntill Antichrist and his kingdome be ruined which shal be at the powring out of the seaventh Vial. Here then is solid and sweet comfort to all the lovers of the truth that though they see never so many machinations and attempts either for strong invading or subtle vndermining of the truth yet Gods glory and power will not part from his Temple nor shall the owle eyed enemy be able to seize vpon it or to enter into it but this glory and power of God shall rest and reside in his Church to beautifie and protect it yea to fill and furnish it with all glorious graces vntill the wrath of God in these seaven last plagues be emptied vpon the Beast and his confederate brood to their vtter confusion CHAP. 16. ANd thus having from this Promontory of the 15. Chapter taken a generall survey of the 16. Let vs now descend to a more particular view and search of this seavenfold mystery And the Mysteries of this booke run much vpon seavens To omit others three â—here are very remarkable yea coherent and correspondent among themselves 1. of the seaven Seales 2. of the seaven Trumpâ—tts 3. of the seaven Vials in each whereof is laid down the different estates of the Church and her enemies in their severall ages the last of the â—eaven Seales bringing on and in the first of the seaven Trumpetts and the sixth Trumpet inducing the first â—f the seaven Vials Such a sweet harmony there is beâ—weene these sacred instruments of the Temple But we â—asten to ouâ— present purpose Yet before we enter vpâ—n the 16. Chapter let vs take these few instructions by 〈◊〉 way as generall directions to the clearer opening â—f it First that the whole Chapter in generall is myâ—â—ically and after a spirituall and Allegoricall maner to be vnderstood and interpreted all along Secondly thâ—â— if any desire the particular time when or where abouâ— every particular Viall is powred out let him obserue in what time they are or were most clearely and fully â—â—ccomplished and hee may safely conclude that then was the speciall time of their powring out Thirdly though each Viall haue an orderly and successiâ—e powring out yet in some degree they haue a certaine riâ—â— from the powring out of the first Fourthly each Viall once evidently in its owne proper place powred ouâ— it ceasseth not but runnes along in its strength vntill the seventh and last plague be powred out wherein they haue all their full confluence Fifthly whatsoever is written in every Viall is to be vnderstood as a speciall symptome proper to the time of that Viall Lastly that all these seven Plagues light vpon the Church of Rome and her followers mainly Ver. 1. And I heard a great voice out of the Temple saying to the seuen Angels Go your wayes and powre out your Vials of the wrath of God vpon the earth In this first verse is set downe the commission of thâ— seven Angels It is given by a great voyâ—â— out of the Temple This is Christs voice who governeth and appointeth all things in his Church And it is
I never read any more of that place called sacred Peter speakes indeed of the Holy Mount wherein the Lord was transfigured but the holinesse is referred to the Lords presence for whose sake it was said to be holy and not for any holinesse infused into it or affixed to it by any solemne Act of Consecration And who will say that Ierusalem once called the holy Citty because there was the true Church of God is still the true Church of God or that the place is still as sacred as ever it was notwithstanding of the Lord accursed But yee will say the case is otherwise now with Ierusalem then with Rome For it followeth If the Church of Rome were once the spowse of Christ and her adulteries are knowne yet the divorce is not sued one Answer Is not the Divorce sued out Perhaps not in a legall formality But what if this once spowse of Christ not only play the open whore but professeth her selfe to be the married wife of another man what shall we say in this case Is this woman still the spowse of her former husband notwithstanding she is become another mans both whore and wife though she hath not sued out a Legall Divorce Thus stands the case with the Church of Rome Once she was Christs spowseâ— but now she is Antichrists spowse and strumpet But Antichrist the Pope is only Christs Vicar-bridegroome to his spowse on earth What man going into a strange Countrey leaues a Deputy husband with his wife till his reâ—â—rne giving him â—â—ee power to performe vnto her all the offiâ—es of a husband As Thomas de Corsellis spake in the Councell of Basil about the Popes vsurped Vicarship over Christs spowse No body substitutes a Vicar in such â—â—nt as that he will submit his spowse vnto him But what â—f Christ the first husband come and challenge his â—powse again seeing though he find her play the whore â—nd married to another yet this second marriage was before ever a Divorce was sued out and so a Nullity â—ndeed the Lord is very mercifull even to receiue that â—powse who hath gone a whoring from him As Ierem. â— 1 They say if a man put away his wife and she become aâ—other mans shall he returne vnto her againe Shall not that Land be greatly polluted But thou hast plaid the Harloâ— with many lovers yet returne againe to mee saith the Lord. But if the Divorce be sued out then you will say shee ceasseth to bee a spowse to heâ— former husband Well And is not the divorce betweene the Church of Rome and Christ yet sued out Yes certainly and that on both parties First on the Church of Romes part Hath she not openly in the face of the Court of men and Angellâ— taken out a writ of Divorce from Christ and a licence to be married to another husband When say you In the Councell of Trent say we It is the duty and property of Christs spowse to hearken to her husbands voice only and to honour him For Psal. 45.11 He is thy Lord speaking to his spowse the Church and worship thou him And in the Transfiguration on the Mount which was a type of Christ in the state of glory in heaven this voice came This is my beloved Son heare him Luke 9.35 Christ then in heaven must onely be heard of his spowse here on earth But the Church of Rome once Christs spowse in the Councell of Trent hath taken out a bill of divorce and hath emancipated her selfe wholly to the Pope as her husband to heare him in all things from that time forwards And this Divorce is ratified by the Bull of Pope Pius 4. super forma iuramenti professionis Fidei in the end of the Councell The words of the Bull are First Apostolicaâ— et Ecclesiasticâ—â— Traditiones reliquasque Ecclesiae observationes et constitutìones firmissimè admitto et amplector Apostolick and Ecclesiastick Traditions and other observations and constitutions of the Church I do most firmely admit and imbrace That 's for Traditions Then it is added Item sacram Scripturam iâ—xta eum sensum quem tenuit et tenet sancta Mater Ecclesia cuius est iudicare de vero sensu et interpretatione sacrâ—rum Scripturarum admitto c. Item I admit of the sacrâ—â— Scripture according to that sense which the Holy Mother Church hath and doth hold to whom it perteineth to iudge 〈◊〉 the true sense and interpretation of the sacred Scriptures c But what Church is this that takes vpon her to be the Iudge and interpreter to allow what sense she pleaseth to the Scriptures A little before Credo vâ—â—m SanctaÌ„ Catholicam et Apostolicam Ecclesiam I belieue one Holy Catholick and Apostolick Church This is Mater Ecclesiae thâ— Church our Mother But which is she Look a little after Affirmo Sanctâ—m Catholicam et Apostolicam Romanam omnium Ecclesiarum Matrem et Magistram agnosco I affirme and acknowledge the Holy Catholick and Apostolick Roman Church to be the Mother and Mistresse of all Churches Well we haue found out who is the Mother and spowse namely the holy Catholicke Apostolicke Roman Church But where is the Father the Husband Not farre off in the very next words hee stands â—oupled and hand-fast with his wife Romanoque Pontifici â—eati Petri Apostolorum Principiâ— Successori ac Iesu Chriâ—ti Vicario verum obedientiam spondeo ac iuro And I 〈◊〉 and sweare true obedience to the Bishop of Rome the Successour of blessed Peter and Prince of the Apostles and Vicar of Iesus Christ. Here is then the second marriage made vp And is there any reservation of obedience or â—ubiection left for Christ the former husband No â—urelyâ— all is betrothed absolutely to his Vicar the seâ—ond Husband But yet we see not the Divorce quite â—ewed out no publicke expresse formall abrâ—nunciaâ—ion and abjuration of the former Husband But read a â—ittle further Caetera item omnia à sacris Canonibus Oeâ—umenicis Concilijs ac precipué à sacrosancta Tridentina Syâ—odo tradita definita et declarata indubitanter recipio atâ—ue profiteor simulque contraria omnia atque haereses quasâ—unque ab Ecclesia damnatas et reiectas et anathematizaâ—as ego pariter damno reiicio et anathematizo hanc â—eram Catholicam fidem extra quam nemo salvus esse â—otest quam in presenti sponte profiteor et veraciter teneâ— â—â—dem integram et inviolatam vsque ad extremum vitae spitum constantissimê Deo adiuvante retinere et confiteri â—â—que à meis subditis vel illis quorum cura ad me iâ— munere 〈◊〉 spectabit teneri deceri et praedicari quantum in me erit curaturum ego idem N. spendeo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 iuro sic me Deus adiuvet et haec sancta eius Evangelia Item all other things by the sacred Canons and generall Councels and chiefely by the sacro-sanct Councel of Trent deliuered defined and declared I doe vndoubtedly receiue and professe and together
Sea of Romes doctrines to be all become as the blood of a dead man which fell out vpon the Councell of Trent and not before The third shewes all their writers and brochers of Romes doctrines as Rivers flowing from that Sea to runne all with blood this was after the Councell of Trent and now comes the fourth Viall poured vpon the Sunne which falls pat vpon the blessed raigne of Queene Elizabeth when now the Sunne of the Gospell begins to be mounted towards his Summer Meridian his direct beames growing more and more potenâ— dispelling the clowds of Popish superstition growing withall so hot as they which beare the Beasts marke are no lesse impatient of it then beasts are of the Suns heat in the height of summer And when the Popes Bulls came bellowing against her his 〈◊〉 here in England as so many Inceâ—diaries labouring not onely to kindle an vnkindly division betweene the Head and Members the Prince and her subjects but often times to attempt her sacred Person the good Queene was forced by Act of Parliament to make strong and wholesome Lawes against such a bloody brood while they grew more and more mad at the bright sun-shine of the Gospell in her glorious and prosperous raigne In that time it was when King Iames of happy memory writing his noble Paraphrase wherein he shewes this Sunne in the fourth Viall to be meant of the flourishing state of the Gospell did as it were with his finger point to that glorious state of the Church wherein 〈◊〉 Princely paire of peerlesse Potentates did raigne And it is added And men were scortched with great heat blasphemed the name of God which hath power ouer these Plagues Now in what age or state of the Church hath the whole hierarchy of Rome beene so nettled and stung so inflamed and fired with envy and rage then in the blessed raigne of that Queene where in with exceeding heart-burning they saw the Gospeâ—l so gloriously to flourish and shine and withall both the Church and state interchangeably and equally partaking of those admirable blessings which began to be so multiplied vpon this land from that time forward Yea what clowd either of any discomfiture or of the least dishonour amidst such numerous and potent enemies of hers did once so much as shadow the glorious beauty of her royall Crowne or of Christs cause maintained by her Notwithstanding all opposition the Sunne holâ—s on his glorious shining to the amazement of the world to the impatient torment of the Sunnes enemies How did their impotent malice vent it selfe in sundry attempts both open and secret abroad and at home by sea and by land against her sacred person and state to have dimmed and darkened yea quite to haue extinguished the glory of all as if they would Giant-like haue pulled the Sunne from his sphere But through his power and protection that giues power to this Sunne to shine and hath power over these Plagues all their proud attempts proved but as arrowes shot against the Sunne and retorted back againe vpon their owne heads They also blaspheme the name of God who causeth his blessed Sun so powerfully to slâ—ine Did they not say vpon that miraculous discomfiture of the Spanish invincible Armado in 88 that God was now turned a Lutheran Was not this to blaspheme the name of God Yea besides what vile and ignominious aspersions did they cast vpon the sacred person and illustrious name of that Excellent Queene and her Religion calling her at the best an Hereticke and her religion heresie Was not thiâ— also a blaspheming oâ— the name of God of his truth of his Gospell of his annoynted Vicegerent and whatsoever thing sacred Gods name is stamped vpon It is added And they repented not to giue him glory even him whose miraculous power they could not but see and acknowledge not only in preserving but in prospering that renowned Queene throughout her whole happy Raigne in all her braue and princely designes for the maintenance of the Gospell and the professors of it at home and abroad for rooting out of Popery and Idolatry but especially of Seminaryes and Iesuits those ring-leaders and incendiaries as neither meet to roost in the sunshine but to be cast out to the 〈◊〉 and baâ—ts those birds of darknes as Esay prophecied of those Idols Esa 2.20 nor yet safe to be harboured in the pure Church of God to provoke the eyes of his glory whose iealosie is there most inflamed where Dagon dare perk vp by Gods Arke For the eyes of the Lord runne to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himselfe strong in the behalfe of them whose heart is perfect towards him How then could her religious raigne but become the obiect of envy to all hers and Gods enemyes How could it but prosper on every side while her maine care and study was with an vpright and vnhalting heart to maintaine the two maine pillars of every well settled Christian state to wit true Reâ—igion and the Lawes of the Kingdome being the strong sinewes which not only combine and fasten vs to Gods protection and favour but vnite the Head and Members Prince and people in one intire body whereby the whole becomes invincible This made her enemyes even madd withall when they saw ioyned with her zâ—ale and her semper eadem for religion her wisdome in a graue and wise Counsel like that of Salomons who for all his wisdome yet had his Kingdome governed by his sage and old Counsellers whose faithfull and mature advise if his sonne Rehoboam had followed he had not hastily lost the greatest part of his kingdome When they saw her equity in her learned and religious Iudges whom not their moneys in buying and selling of Iustice but their better merits advanced to those sacred seats of iudgment when they saw her masculine magnanimity in her captaines and martiall men both for Land and Sea-service being persons picked of purpose for their worth valor long experience religion and loyalty to God their Prince and Countrey When they saw that all their inchantments and Iesuiticall plotts delibeâ—ated vpon in their set and solemne Conclaues whereby they would haue all the world swayed and steered and which cannot work but by Serpentine insinuations into impotent and feminine passions could not once worke or impose vpon her masculine spirit but that it was constantly guided by the Pole-starre of right judgement and wisedome in all her affaires when they saw they could not by all their subtile wiles worke any vnkindly division or disaffection betweene her Majesty and her subjects but that they contended in a sweet emulation her Majesty in a truly majestick and motherly affection to her loyall children they in a sincere and pious obsequiousnesse as well to loue as to obey her when they saw they could not by any magicke spells so worke vpon the time of that virgin-raigne as to beget some sprightfull all-daring sparke who like some Phaeton
iniquity and profanesse is accounted the best Christian. These vncleane spirits would perswade the world that he is the best Minister that preacheth least that hath most preferments and cures of soules but liues at ease himselfe and playes the good-fellow that the Lords day is best observed but with one Sermon aâ— most and with one Play at least These be the vncleane spirits that revell most in the time of this Viallâ— wherein whose will not ruâ—â—e with the streame of all impurity and impiety thâ—â— blast them with the name of heresie as Pope Paul â— did those thâ—â— studied Academicall learning or as Traian put men to death only because they were Christians So that these vncleane spirits like froggs pollute the waters where they liue with the filthy froth of their frye so causing an vniversall surface of all iniquity in the time of this Viall more then ever The Royall Paraphrast saith of them They are likened to Froggs for that they are bred of an old filthy and corrupt false doctrine which for a long space hath blinded the world before their comming as froggs breed of rotten and slimy coruption or for that they preferrâ— themselues before all other Ecclesiasticall orders preceeding them as vnperfect and vnprofitable hopping and leaping aboue them Againe the frogg hath no othâ—r song but one Koax Koax and therein is very importunate so these vncleane spirits what is all their Croaking but one song The Church The Church the Catholick Church the holy Mother Church of Rome the Apostolicke Sea one supreme Pastor and Iudge of controversies who cannot erre and the like This is their three mans song wherein they goe as in a circle Thus by counterfeiting the froggs they doe as the Aegyptian Magitianâ— seeke thereby even by their very clamarousnesse and obstreperousnes to disgrace Moses and Aaron Gods Ministers in their office who preach the truth Fourthly froggs bring forth their young as the Beare vnformed having only a black head and taile such is the spirituall offspring of these Froggs whose faith is informis or vnformed implicit and even blacke with ignorance Hence the Proverbe Nihilò rana gyriâ—a prudentior no wiser then the young frye of a frogg Which may be applied to all seduced and blind Papists who are not able to render a reason of their faith Fifthly Froggs liue in abundance of waters and of idlenesse Whence the Proverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou pourest out wine vnto the froggs as we say To poure water into the Sea And in what abundance of voluptuousnesse and ease these froggâ— liue all the world knows Againe the Frogg is a nimble creature and when yoâ— thinke to take her vp in your hand she skips away and hides her in the mudd such are these actiue spirits In a word K. Iames of happy memory in his Premonition to all Christian Monarchs free Princes and States about these froglike spirits hath these words calling them a new sect of Spirits raised vp for the defence of that tottering throne called three in number by reason of their threâ— fold direction being raysed and inspired by the Dragon Satan authorized and maintained by the Beast the Antichrist and instructed by the false Prophet the Apostaticke Church that hath the hâ—rnes like the Lambe but speaketh like the Dragon These spirits indeed thus sent forth by this threefold authority for the defence of their triple-crowned Monarch are well likened to Froggs for they are amphibious and can liue in either element Earth or water for though they be Church men by profession yet can they vse the trade of Politike Statesmen going to the Kings of the earth together them to the battell of that great day of God Almighty What Massacres haue by their perswasion been wrought through many parts of Christendome and how evilly Kings haue sped that haue ben councelled by them all the vnpartiall histories of our time doe beare record And whatsoeuer King or State will not receiue them and follow their advice 〈◊〉 out must that King or State be even with Gunpowder ere it fayle And these froggs had reason indeed to labour to become learned thereby to dissipate that grosse mist of ignorance wherwith the raigne of Antichrist was plagued before their coming forth So farre the judicious King Thus we need goe no farther for a cleare interpretation of these words Hence also we may note the vnaminous spirit of these three the Dragon the Beast and the false Prophet out of whose mouth these three Froglike spirits proceeding may put vs in mind as of their tripple authoritie so of their triple malignity as the crafty cruelty of the Dragon the vsurped power of the Beast and the sophistry of the false Prophet They are called also the spirits of Divells to note their Politicke 〈…〉 going in the habit of illuminate 〈◊〉 Rabbies in the long robes of profound Craftsmasters and expert Statesmen who in the time of this Viall bring into the world new Maxims of state infused into them from those whence they come But they work◠〈◊〉 This may seeme to excuse Priests and Iesuites from being of the number of those spiritâ—â— for what miracles doe they Yes surely great miracles if ye may belâ—eue them Although what true miracles can false Propheâ—â— the spirits of Devils doe But it sufficeth that these Prophets be the only Miracle mongers And aâ— King Iames excellently They doe miracles of deceit for they doe wonderfully deceiue men And doe they not vndertake to do miracles every day while they would make the worshippers of the Beasts Image belieue that they doe a Miracle inâ—uâ—ning a thinne Wafer cake into the very body of Christ flesh blood and bone Only the Apostle tells vs that Antichrists miracles are lying wounders serving only to deceiue them that perish through strong delusion sent them from God that they should belieue a lye and so might be 〈◊〉 And is it not miraculous that they can by their inchanâ—ing spells make of wise men starke ideots offensible men senselesse of reasonable men brutish as to believe that to be a miracle which they see with their eyes to be nothing lesse It is the property of a miracle to put it selfe vpon the triall of a mans infallible sense specially of the eye But here is no such thing to be serue When Christ turned the water into wine it had now both the colour and savour and substance and true spirit of naturall wine Thus it was with a true Miracle the first that Christ wrought in Cana of Galilee It was not such still as the guests could not discerne from water either by their eye or tast or smell but were by the strength of their faith or conceit to imagine it to be wine But the miracle forsooth of Popish Transubstanâ—◠〈◊〉 cannot indure the couch of â—ensâ—â— triall the eye seeâ— nothing but a 〈…〉 Wafer the mouth tasts nothing but a thinne shiver of bâ—ead Where then is the Miracle That must be begged
of all our thoughts words and actions but also as the only ordinary meanes to bring all his people elect to an effectvall participation and fruition of grace and glory by Iesus Christ and seeing no man in particular though never so wicked and so farre gone in sin and sunke downe in rebellion is for ought he knoweth excluded from salvation if vpon the word of grace preached he belieue and repent which was the case of this people in Ezechiel and seeing faith repentance is requyred in every one that heares the word that he may be saved and not the elect themselues are exempted from this condition of believing therefore after what maner soever God doth accommodate and apply himselfe vnto vs in the dispensation of his word whither by ptomises or threatnings whither by word or oath he doth but as a fisherman that to diverse kinds of fish vseth divers hookes baites and lines some stronger some weaker as the Apostle saith I am become all things to all men that I might by all meanes saue some And who be those some Certainely in the end they proue to be no other but Gods elect Gods word being like to a dragneâ—â— which taketh all manner of fish at least by the externall calling many are called which drawne to shore in the Resurrection the good are gathered into vessells few are chosen and the bad are cast away Now forasmuch as Gods secret ones his elect before their effectuall calling to the state of grace are in all kindâ— and degrees naturally as wicked and corrupt as any of the serpents seed blind incredulous rebelious as those people of the Iewes were and seeing wheresoever the word comes to be preached there are ever some whom God will effectualâ—y saue by the ministry of it as might be proved if we had not exceeded the bounds of a digression or at least wise Gods word wherever preached returneth not in vaine but accomplisheth that which God will haue it and it shall prosper in the thing whereto he sends it Esa 55 11 cannot God then vse his owne meanes and wayes to call men to repentance and so fit his iâ—strâ—ments as whereby effectually to worke the grace of faith and repentance in their hearts but mâ—n must quarrell the wisdome of God herein and so pervert the externall dispensation of his will as either his written word must interfere vpon his secret 〈◊〉 or else downe must fall the whole eternall and immutable Counsell of God Which what is it else but to pull God out of heaven and as the heathen Oratour said More Gygantaâ— bellare cum Dijs Againe sith no man knowes who are of the elect who otherwise but that every one being alike by nature a sinner and so for ought we know may come to be saved by the word of faith preached cannot this word then be preached to all indifferently vnlesse all without exception be saved by it effectually Let vs hearken to this word and obey it The Elect who they be is one of Gods Secrets The Lord knowâ—th who are his and Let euery one that nameth the name of Christ depart frâ—m iniquity And as Moses saith The secret things belong vnto the Lord our God but those things which are revealed belong vnto vs and to our Children for ever that we may doe all the words of this Law Deut. 29.29 To conclude then it is not good to remoue the ancient baunds of Gods eternall truth least men pull the Curse vpon them it is a sound and safe rule first to let all positiue truthes in Scripture to stand vnmoveable in their full strength and if there be any other places either of â—xhortation or admonition or redargution or the like whereby God vsually worketh vpon mens affections these must not overthrow Gods fundamentall truthes laid downe positiuely and expresly in his word whereupon our judgements and faith must rest firme and fixed Neither let men too curiously pry into the Arke of Gods secrets as to know how many or who they are that shall be saved but as Christ answered to his inquisitiue Disciples moving a fruitlesse question Are there few that shall be saued Striue ye saith he â—o enter in at the strait gate Luk. 13.23 24. Meddle not we with others matters but labour we to be found in Christ and so to belieue and follow Gods word as we may come to find our selues in the number of Gods elect reioycing that our names are written in heaven as Christ checking Peter about Iohn said Follow thou me Ioh. 21.22 I haue beene the longer in noting the corrupt and rotten doctrines of these times now growne to such a height as they threaten to pull Christ out of his Chaire and to divest his true Disciples of the garment of faith and salvation to the end that the discovery of them though but briefe for the present may cause vs the more carefully to attend and put in practise Christs watch word and no lesse serious then seasonable admonition in this place And so much the more by how much the abounding of false doctrines in these our times even razing the foundation of Gods Grace may point vs as it were with the finger and induce vs to belieue that now already this sixth Viall is begun in a great measure to be poured out hastening on the next and so to stirre vp our dull sides to keepe the stricter watch And here also we are given to note by the way how the great battell is first begun to be fought after a spirituall manner by the armies and forces of false Prophets in this Viall never more plentifull powerfull and perillous then now and so much the more perillous by how much they cover their heresies with the guilefull pretences of the Reformed Religion as of the Church of England This spirituall warre of theirs is nothing els but a beating vp of the Drum and sounding the Alarme in the eares of the Kings of the earth to induce seduce them to a confederacy and part-taking with the Beast against the Lambe with Antichrist against Christ. But the Lambe shall certainly overcome them Magna est veritas et praevalet And againe because ever where false doctrines begin to venditate themselues specially such as strike at the very root of the Gospell Gods free grace and saving faith they draw after them a traine of all vices and daring sinnes at their heeleâ— as Simon Maguâ— did that huge troope of his Samaritan Disciples intoxicating the heart and affections with the Circean Cup of their selfe-seducings forgoing and forgetting all conscience and honesty to become great and high as if their ambition aimed at the very throne of the Beast himselfe therefore also Christ admonisheth his servants to keepe a diligent watch over their wayes and guird the garment of sobriety closse about them least it be torn from their back either with the malignant teeth and tongues of false Prophets and croking Froggs which with their Sardonian smiles would scoffe