for against the Beast the adorers thereof and the receiuers of the Beasts markes these Preachers typed by Angells were to sound forth their doctrines of reformation I say doctrines Preachers of Reformation of reformation for by inuincible arguments it may bee made manifest which for breuity I must omit that these Preachers are to bee reputed of the number of those of whoÌ„ it is said that they were to prophesy againe before many peoples Apoc. 10. 11. Nations and tongues and Kings Prophesy againe saith the spirit of God why againe but for the reformation of the glorious perfection of Christianity decayed and ruinated by the tirany of the Beast Fourthly I suppose that vpon the Preaching of such Pastors 4. Supposition typed vnto vs by Angels effects answerable to their doctrines were infallibly to ensue a generall reformation of Reformation infallsbly to follow vpon the appearing of these Preachers Math. 24. the world the fall of Babilon the Throane and Seate of the Beast also great zeale of Christians for their vtter detesting of the markes of the Beast for heauen and earth shall passe and be changed but the word of God shall not passe away vnaccomplished From out of these suppositions not to be gainsaid I deduce A conclusion most euident for the honor of the Reformed churches this conclusion that where and when wee first find a rank of godly Preachers sounding out in their due order the doctrines of these three Angells with answerable effects following thereupon that there then and by them wee must take this Prophesy of the Holy-Ghost to bee accomplished and fulfilled And so wee come to obserue what the Doctrines of these three Angells are what their order of deliuering of them is and withall to make most cleare application of the Prophesy to the Doctours and Pastours of the Reformed Churches The first Angell described verse 6. flyes through the middest of v. 6. heauen hauing an euerlasting Gospell that hee might preach the The Doctrine of the first Angell the groundworke from whence all Reformed Churches haue begun their reformation same to the inhabitants of the earth to euery nation tongue tribe and people saying with a lowd voyce feare God and giue him glory for the houre of his iudgement is come and worship him who made heauen and earth the sea and fountaines of waters And is not this the first principle for reformation feare God and giue him glory the euerlasting Gospell whereon the Doctours and Pastours of the reformed Churches haue begun their doctrine of reformation and haue laid open the Idolatrous enormities and superstitious mysteries of the Antichristians This they haue protested to Counsells so they haue professed to Kings and States their sound hath gone forth into the Rom. 10. 18. whole earth and their words haue and shall spread abroad into the ends of the earth The second Angell in the 8. verse sounds out the ruine v. 8. fall of Babilon She is fallen she is fallen Babilon that great City is fallen for shee hath made all Nations drinke of the Wine of her whoredoms And haue we not here the neuer intermitted cries voyces alleluiahs and exultations of the Doctours and Pastours The Doctrine of the second Angel deliuered and receiued in the Reformed churches of the Reformed Churches reioycing against Babilon the seat of Antichrist in regard of the great errours and defections thereof vpon their doctrines and preachings partly reioycing for so much as is already accomplished in Germany Bohemia Swethland Denmarke England France Burgundy and elsewhere partly fore-preaching her vtter ruine and desolation to bee at hand euen then when the fifth viole of Gods Apoc. 16. 10. wrath shall be cast into the Throane of the Beast the very Seate of the Antichristian state The third Angell followes denouncing according as my in the 9. 10. 11. verse The Doctrine of the third Angell with answerable effects in the Reformed churches text hath it Gods eternall wrath against all those who should worship the Beast and the image of the Beast and should receaue his character in their hands orforeheads And are not such the neuer intermitted forewarnings and doctrines of the reformed Churches earnestly and in Gods name perswading euery person to renounce all manner of communion with the Antichristian Synagogue of Rome the effects of which their doctrines and perswasions how glorious they haue bin what eye obserues not and what Christian heart ioyes not to haue obserued These things being thus manifest shall we not henceout Applicatió of the prophesy most euident in the Pastours of the Reformed Churches inferre most clearely that the Pastours of the Reformed Churches are the very men who were fore-typed by these three Angells sounding out the feare and worship of God alone denouncing forth the ruine of Babilon threatning aloud most heauie iudgements against all those who should worship the Beast and the image of the Beast and receaue the marke of the Beast in their hands or on their foreheads we say and truly say Isa 41. 23. for it is an argument of Gods owne making If any Prophet shall foretell things before they do happeÌ„ if the things foretold doe happen according as they are foretold that they should happen that the foretellers of such things are to bee reputed for true Prophets Why then shall we not answereably say that these things which happen agreeingly to a fore-prophesy of Gods owne Spirit accordingly as Gods Spirit hath foretold that they should happen that they are the very things which the Spirit of God did fore tell should so happen If then the Pastours and Doctours of the Reformed Churches doe the very things Preach the very Doctrines obserue the very order in their doings and preachings which the Spirit of God vnder the type of these three Angells hath foretold should be so done should be so preached should be so obserued against the Beast and Antichristian state of Rome for the reformation of decayed Christianity why then are not they the very men whom the holy-Ghost hath here by these three Angells fore-shewed vnto vs. The full accomplishing of any Prophesy is the opening yea is the Ireâ—â— lib. 4. 42. proofe of a Prophesy a kind of proofe often vsed by the Scriptures when they adde and attest That it might be fulfilled Matth. 1. 22. 2. 15. Iohn 15. 25. which was spoken by the Prophets c. This Prophesy is accomplished in the Reformed Preachers most punctually assuredly then the truth and intent of the Prophesy aymed at them and intended them dissolue me this riddle yee Pontificialls either you for your selues or in your behalfe some of your fauourites I meane newtralizing Interim-ists pretended Pacificatours but in truth Romes subdolous factours It cannot bee denied our Aduersaries will say but that the Preachers of the Reformed Churches haue pretended to An â—uasion of the Aduersary most idle beginne all their reformation from the
A SERMON PREACHED AT PAVLES CROSSE LAYING OPEN THE BEAST and his MARKS Vpon the 14. of the Reuelations vers 9. 10. 11. By RICHARD SHELDON a Conuert from out of BABYLON Doctor in Diuinitie His Maiesties Chaplaine IEREM 50. 14. Put your selues in array against Babylon round about it all yee that bend the Bow shoot at her spare no Arrowes for shee hath sinned against the Lord. AT LONDON Printed by William Iones dwelling in Red-Crosse Street 1625. TO THE TRVLY REVEREND AND RELIGIOVS Doctors and Pastors of the Reformed Churches of Great Britaine and namely to Iohn D. Boys Deane of Canterbury Iohn D. Young Deane of Winchester Francis D. White Deane of Carlile and to William D. Kingsley Archd. and M. Iohn Sanford Prebend of Canterbury c. R. REVEREND YOu cannot but haue obserued how when in time of ignorance errour and transgression a Riddle was proposed in the Court of King Darius what of all things was greatest and strongest there were who stood for Wine some for Kings a third sort for Women but Zorobabel inlightened by the God of Truth gaue his verdict for Truth That Truth was of all things greatest and strongest Which his opinion if it were then applauded by the people approued by the Senators of State honored and rewarded by King Darius himselfe we who beleeue the manifestation of the Word-Truth and the illightning of the World by the Word of Truth may not maruell to obserue that Truth now in this last houre iustified of her own children sits Ouant and Triumphant not onely ouer Wine Women and Kings as they are in the common vsance of mankind but also ouer and against Wine Women and Kings as they are abused by that vsurping King of Kings Who sits in the Temple of God out-shewing himself as if he were a God who though by sly contempt of Coniugall Chastitie in his seduced Votaries seemes to pretend Virginall purity yet how vaine such his pretences haue beene the pennes of his owne haue euidently discouered though hee and his would be thought not to ouer-delight in any delicacies or delicious Wines yet in this respect precisely taken they doe carke and care for the flesh posting from all quarters and coasts delicacies and delicious viands and Wines for their Holy Father and his Purpurats yea prouiding for English Seminarists in Rome not plaine Romanisco the common and vsuall briskish Wine of Italy but Vino deripa Wine of the Bank fit to beget Spanish Iinnets must bee their cotidian liquor Though inwords he pretend himselfe to be Seruant of the Seruants of God yet Truth euinces him to assume vnto himselfe either directly or indirectly that is the lest an ouertopping Soueraigntie ouer all that is sacred and venerable The preuailing of Truth against this Man of vntruth hath not in any thing more euidently appeared then in a gracious precedent illustration of Truth before the powerfull and illustrious comming of the God of Truth whereby he who formerly by the Inhabitants of the Earth was admired and adored as a Vice-God a Vice-Christ is now by the consent of renowned Peoples by the approuance of sagest Peeres of States by opinion of iudicious Kings and Princes by censure of learnedest Clerkes in Christendome found to be the Apocalistticall Beast himselfe and their Pontificious Omnipotency and Burghesian Eternity to be naught else then the very top-crowne of Antichristianisme For the laying open and professing of this kind of Truth the Spirit of God who in the thickest of Egyptian darknesse did here and there in times past excite some Worthies hath in this last houre the third fourth and fifth Angells euen yet powring forth their Vialls Like as in other Churches others so in this renowned one of Great Brittain raised vp you an Armie of Valiants arightly ordered who with tongue and penne do happily and dexteriously without ceasing performe the same To which seruice it hath pleased him who brought me from out the Babilonian Vr to call me an vnworthy one and one farre lesse then so great and gracious a miseration wherein how farre and graciously the Spirit of Truth hath enabled me in this and my other writings I doe with all lowly reuerent and indifferent respect referre and remit to you all all Louers of Truth and to the thrice Reuerend and venerable Sees and Chayres of your learning the renowned Vniuersities of this I le I said with indifferent respect for although I may not account 〈◊〉 them Twins in euery respect alike yet in regard of that Light for the discerning betwixt Truth and falshood which they haue happily receiued from the God of Light I dare write them Semblable and Symbolizing Oâ—bs illustrating this famous Church of Britaine yea emaning forth their illustrius Beames to the vtmost of the world And by how plentifull and liber all a hand he hath imbreathed of his Spirit into and hath powred of his dew of Hermon vpon the Head of the most Gracious Primat of England A thrice-worthy and best deseruing Patron of all Conuerts and vnder God the only Feeder of Me and Mine vnto the very skirts of the Garment it doth most linely appeare by many not wandring but fixed Starres seated and resplendant in this most illustrious Church of Great Britaine Amongst whom with speciall and deserued respect I haue presumed before this my Epistle to prefix the names of some by them speaking to you all From them from you all humbly desiring a fauourable and gracious countenancing both of Me and Mine in particalar of this my Argument of Truth and Ingenuity for following my Text closely I haue endeuoured such is your wont to open the genuine sense of the Holy Ghost therein contained in the prosecution whereof if some bitter and tart speeches against the Beast c. do occur from the Lord they are Secondly of duty for according to my bounden duty and seruice I haue herein endeauoured to blazon the deserued honor of my Soueraigne Lord and Master for his vndoubtable integrity in the thrice holy Religion he professeth which by some not peircing into the secrets of State may vnworthily haue bin questioned Thirdly of Sincerity for in regard of the sincerity of my conuersion from out of Babylon I dare boldly stile my selfe A Nathaniel in whom there is no guile Fourthly I said of Zeale for zeale against a certaine blaspheming Rabshaketh of the Beast hath brought forth this argument of zeale against the Beast and the obstinate Admirers and Adorers of the Beast It was my hap to receiue from the hands of a worthy Knight and his Lady a certaine blasphemous Pamphlet put into their hands by Seducers intitled A humble Appeale to his most Excellent Maiestie and written by one Iohn Hunt calling himselfe A Roman Catholike This blasphemous Rabshaketh I find in the sixt Chapter of his Pamphlet formally and vnauoydably I say formally and vndeniably blaspheming our most Glorious God God bee mercifull to mee in repeating the words These are his words That the God
contrary he shall inrich with wealth and treasury increase in glory and honor all those who shall fall downe adore and worship him and his State These most true suppositions which with an infinitie of testimonies and reasons might be confirmed being The Papall State the State of the Beast carefully preobserued I doe in the feare of God and out of the confidence of a good conscience constantly lay this imputation vpon the present state and gouernment of the Pope of Rome affirmimg his State and Gouernment to be that flagitious State which is here typed forth by the Beast and by the Image of the Beast And so hereby Articles agreed on by the Synod of Bishops and the Conuocation I demonstrate how true that is which wee haue and in the defence whereof I haue partly meditated this argument in our Articles of the Church of England That the Bishop of Rome hath no iurisdiction in the Realme of England Pag. 68. For if his State bee Antichristian and of the Beast as his Maiestie also most truely in his Premonions to Christian Princes then it will follow vnuoidably that all his challenge for iurisdiction within the Realme of England is arrogancie and presumption This my imputation I will not endeauour to proue by enumetating an infinitie of their blasphemous superstitions and lawes against the Maiestie of God the glory of his Sonne and the honour of his Tabernacle the true vniuersall Catholike Church of Christ but I will onely doe it Gods holy Spiiit enabling mee by certaine generall demonstrations drawne from the consideration of the very proper conditions of the Antichristian State it selfe partly laid downe in my former suppositions but most fully in the Booke of God whereunto for breuitie sake I will only point my religious Audience First then I argue thus The State of the Beast must Fâ—rst reason bee a State vpon earth pretending to bee for Christ a Matt. 24. 6. comming in the name of Christ and bearing pretensedly the verie b Apoc. 13. 11. 2. Thessal 2. A vanity in Bellarmine affirming that Antichrist shall deny Christ hornes of the Lamb though in truth it shall speake like the Dragon Againe this State must bee not a proclamed impudencie of Iniquitie but it must bee a mystery of Iniquity a pretensed semblance of Christian Sanctitie A State so full of subtiltie and pretending the name of Christ euen to the doing of miracles and such miracles Matth. 24. 2. Thess 2. Hiâ—â—r orat in Auxâ—nt Hiero. Epist â—1 q. ad algas Oecâ—men Theophil in 2. Thess 2 Chrisost ibid alij See Remes Annotat in 2. Thes 2. annotat 5. that the very Elect shall bee in danger to be seduced It must also be a State ruling and sitting in the Temple of God that is in the visible Churches of God so certaine of the Fathers pretending therein in Gods stead to haue power ouer the verie soules and consciences of the faithfull yea and therein to haue in Gods stead a power dispensatiue ouer all the Lawes of God ouer all powers ordained by God ouer all that is sacred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all Maiestie whatsoeuer And are not these and euery of these conditions most properly appliable to the present Papall Roman State onely and solely to the Papall State It alone pretends to wâ—are the Lambs hornes and to bee an absolute Vice-gerencie for Christ It alone requires that her Authoritie The Papall State pretinded to be Christs own state and power bee beleeued vnder necessitie of saluation with supernaturall faith Shee alone pretends to sit that is to rule in the temple of God that is the whole visible Châ—rch of God to rule I say the same with a rod of Iron and Direction Shee alone works in so powerfull and subtill a manner pretending Christs power miracles done in his name that thereby shee drawing to her band a whole multitude of Inhabitants of the earth hazards the soules of the very elect so that they are in danger to be seduced Thus our first proofe and yet here I must not omit to note that though the Papall State pretends the Lambs hornes that is to be Christs absolute and sole Vice-gerent yet notwithstanding it speakes like the Dragon How speakes like the Dragon For that it persecutes with Sword Fire and Fagot as the Dragon did all those who cleaue only to the Lambe for their saluation hoping only Reuel 13. 11. vpon the Lambes merites for their direction both in faith and manners resting onely on the Lambes Word The Roman Fathers like the old Emperours Instruments of the Dragon And are not these the very things for which the Dragon persecuted the first Christians in the Roman Emperours and doth hee not now persecute vs for the very same in the Roman Fathers Pope-Emperours It is the testimony of Iesus Iesus onely Iesus solely which the Dragon persecuted by the old Emperours and it is the same testimony of Iesus which the Dragon persecuteth in these Roman Fathers The Roman Emperours would not haue Iesus alone to be honoured against their Idoll-Gods And these Holy Fathers will not haue Iesus alone to bee acknowledged beleeued to saluation without their Godlings nor to bee onely heard for direction without their Traditions Because we will acknowledge nothing nor will beleeue no other necessary for saluation but Iesus onely Iesus This is that very testimony against which the Dragon now speaketh in the Roman Fathers and persecuteth in vs with the extremitie of Fire Sword and Faggot My second reason I frame thus The state Antichristian Second Reason wil require to be adored of all the Inhabitants of Earth not with ciuill and humane adoration onely but with a Apoc. 13. 15. 16 supernaturall adoration with a soule-Reuerence due to it as to an earthly God But this the Papall State most exactly Adoration giuen to the Papall State as to an Numen and Diuinity vpoÌ„ earth doth require and as yet no other State euer required the same neither can or shall any other with fire and faggot more rigorously require the same then the Papall State now doth require it It followeth then that the Papall State is that very State which is here typed by the Beast That the Papall State requireth such a soule-adoration and supernaturall obedience as due to an earthly Deitie it is more then most manifest For who hath not obserued that in a religious subiection to the Pope and in a Soule-vnion with the Pope consisteth the very life and Wherein consisteth the life of the Papacy essence of the Papall State Here hence it is that it is reputed a high point of the Maiesty of that State yea it is reputed as a partiall meanes to saluation that the Pope receiueth adorations and kissings of his feet from all the faithfull An act of Religion to kisse the Popes feet of the world and in their faith ought to receiue at lest in preparation