of reliques and with an excommunication of all hereticks in generall they dissolved the counsell By excommunication of all hereticks they meant all those that should withstand any of their cannons which they had decreed Here the Church of Rome and the Protestants parted and if it be seriously viewed on both sides by a clear and impartial eye 't is manifest that the Church if you 'l call a faction so of Rome left us Pope Adrian 6. acknowledged that the Church and chair of Rome was at that time in many things abominable The German English and French Churches desired that those abominations might be purged out for this end a generall councell was desired and under pretence of granting it a party of men were packed to oppose this end and carry on a contrary designe to the ruine of those who desired a reformation and in stead of removing those grievances established them Which now of these two parties is in the right They that kept their faces Zion ward in the reformation of a Church generally acknowledged to be corrupted or they that hardened their necks in a resolved obstinacie to persist in that corruption and added much more abominable corruption to it and established it by a law and made those that departed from their abominations to become a prey to them This is the true case betwixt us and Rome The faction of Rome pretended with us whose hearts were set upon a reformation to reform but in stead thereof established those very grievances the Church complained of hereby 't is manifest that they starting aside like a deceitfull bow left us in the high way of a reformation If we have left them 't is because they have left the truth whiles error was in a private faction in Rome though 't were damnable yet we left not that Church but when that private faction so prevail'd as to establish damnable heresie by a Law and excommunicated all that would not drink of the same poisonous Cup with them then 't was high time to leave their Communion notwithstanding they usurp the name of the Catholick Church The Church of England left not the Church of Rome because governed by Bishops but because those Bishops were become Starrs fallen from heaven to earth apostatized toto coelo from their primitive institution The See of Rome is become the beast of the Sea with seven heads and ten hornes and upon it's heads the names of blasphemy The inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of Romes fornication therefore we come out from Rome and herein we have obeyed the voice of our Lord Iesus Revel 18. 4. We never held Bishops quatenus Bishops Antichristian though many Schismaticks and ignorant zelots have builded high upon that stramenous foundation which since the Iesuites by their Gunpowder plots have neatly fired about their ears It is true indeed the German French and British reformers that left Rome or rather were left of Rome could never attain to that reformation was requisite and they desired and the reason thereof is generally known For Rome with her Allies was alwaies so potent against them that it is rather to be admired they have a being then to be complained of that they have attained to no better a being The Churches beyond the Seas both in Germany and France by reason of their innumerable number of potent enemies were constrained to do what they might not what they would happy they that they may eat the Manna of true Doctrine though under the tents of an incompleat and insollid government Those Churches are like the wounded man betwixt Jericho and Jerusalem they have met with a friend that hath powred oyl into their wounds and brought them to an Inn but that Inn of government is not I think their proper home however happy they they are got safe out of the bloudy hands of Romish theeves unto that Inne God send them from thence safe home Let 's be thankful for pure Doctrine that the Ark but le ts not rest till we have lodg'd it within the Temple of right Government I have oft thought that the white linnen of the Saints signifies the right Government of the Church which is the Churches upper garment if so then let them wait with patience for this white linnen they shall not wear untill the Witnesses are risen the Witnesses are yet in sack-cloth or actually slain when they are restored this white Vesture of Church-Government shall be restored to the Church in splendor Let us not censure but pity and pray for those Churches that have not on this white garment confident I am that it is not for want of will but power that all this while many reformed Churches have it not on I cannot forget Bergermannus's words in the Assembly of Dort as I have them from a good hand to the Bishop of Landaff who when he had declared to him how the cause of the German divisions was for want of right Discipline he makes this affectionate replie in the midst of that Assembly Domine nos non sumus adeo fâ—…lices The Churches that protested against the Babylonish abominations established by the Popish faction at the councel of Trent have ever since born the name and title of the Reformed churches not that all or any of them are perfectly reformed for many of them are corrupt in severall doctrinal points and the most of them deficient as to the pattern of primitive government or as the sacred Rule requires Amongst these reformed churches England hath alwayes been esteemed the purest as being most conformable to primitive purity and the word both in Doctrine and Discipline This appears even from the pens of the Heads of other Reformed churches such as Calvin Camerarius Melancton Bucer Beza Zanchie Molinens Causabon Fergevil Saravia and others who many of them confesse in plain words and all by consequence conclude That the church of England of any church in the world comes the nearest to the Apostolick rule Yet for all this what by reason of the Popish pollutions on one hand and schismatical Separatists on the other hand the church of England could never put on that white garment of pure Discipline she so much endeavoured for though the Temple of Doctrine was purged and the walls of Discipline raised to a comely height under which the church flourished in Queen Elizabeth's and King James his dayes yet the Romish foxes in sheeps clothing crept up the wall of Discipline in King Charles his time and laid the church open as it is this day to the bloudy cruelty of the Babylonians The popish Prelats or rather the Spanish Faction then and ever since prevailing informing them knew the way to popish Doctrine was first to bring in popish Discipline which produced a double effect tending to their end For hereby cities and counties non ignota loquor were filled with superstition and profanenesse having liberty from the Prelates to profane the Lords day and we all know how great
enemies superstition and profanenesse have in all ages been to a powerfull and orthodox Ministry Which Ministry was hereby not onely exposed to the scorn and hatred of the people but also made liable to the Prelates persecution for did they but withstand their popish Innovations or but a little swerve from their rigorous injunctions immediately followed bitter persecutions thereby many eminently learned and godly Ministers as you may read in Mr. Clarks Lives an impartial Writer were silenced suspended vexed discouraged sequestred imprisoned and some inforced to leave the Kingdome Mean while superstitious scandalous popish and profane persons were admitted into Orders countenanced encouraged and preferred Thus did the prevailing Faction of popish Prelates for all were not so prove like those Angels Revel 7. 1. holding the winde of the Gospel from blowing on the Church of England Nor was this all but needs must these Popish Reformers go to Scotland an ancient Reformed Church that was no enemy to the ancient primitive Government of Bishops and kept the Doctrine of Christ pure though God for her security and profaneness had many things against her of which this rod was a special warning The Church of Scotland rejecting the usurpation of the English Prelates who did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in going about to exercise an unknown Iurisdiction over them these revengefull Prelates putting off all humanity and Christianity to satisfie their hellish lusts thought it more fit that their Soveraign the Lords Annointed should hazzard his own life and the lives of his Nobles together with the losse of the bloud of innocent Protestants the Kings faithfull Subjects on both sides in an unnatural War to the reproach of Religion the endangering of both Kingdoms and the infinite expence of treasure then they be crossed in carrying on their designes against the innocent Church of Scotland This War begun by them was the beginning of the Brittish Wars which Wars have ruined the Brittish Royall Family the Brittish Nobles with many of their Families the ancient Brittish Laws and the Brittish reformed Church and all begun by a brutish Clergie in that Church Cursed be their wrath for it is cruell These fire-brands of State made the Bishops odious to the Gentry and Commonalty of both the Nations insomuch that when a Parliament was called which they were accidentally the cause of a certain party of the Commons of the Parliament animated by the preposterous Petitions of the over-zealous people and 't is more then probable incouraged by some of the covetous Nobility who thereby intended to make purchase of their Lands resolved to be satisfied with nothing but the utter extirpation of Episcopacy Here a fallacy was put upon the honest hearted Protestants in the Kingdome for the subtil Lawyers of the House of Commons whose Speeches were alwayes most prevalent in that House envying the wealth and dignity of the Clergie vehemently pressed that in stead of questioning the guilty they would accuse all the Bishops and in stead of questioning their persons they would pul down their Order purposely to take away the Iurisdiction This was carried on by a private faction of Polititians in the House who drew in many honester then themselves into the Designe which although not then yet since hath been discovered The Prelates it mainly concerning them at that time clearly discovered the Designe and thereupon were most firmly united Whereas had it been for a personall reformation amongst them which the grave and moderate Members desired or removing Innovations brought in by the Popish Faction amongst them they would many of them have hung more loose if not altogether sided with the Parliament against the upholders of any Doctrines or Discipline against the true Reformed Religion especially since the King declared himself at this time for a reformation of abuses crept into the Church and having respect unto tender consciences But here lieth such a mystery of iniquity that the wisest and most scrutiâ—…ous in States mysteries cannot discover On whom to charge the overthrow of Episcopacy and the Church Government of a long time continued in their hands in the general wee know but on whom to charge the designes against the Protestant Religion in their overthrow we know not or at least wise nunc non est narrandi locus It is true the Primate of England with the insolent faction at Court became odious to the Nobility and Gentry about the Court and those of his faction elsewhere stepping up into civill Offices in the State made them odious to the Lawyers of the Kingdome whose Offices they usurped The schismaticall Separatists made it one of the chief principles of their Religion to oppose them concluding that man to have true illumination to salvation that had his eyes opened to see Episcopacy to be Antichristian The generality of the sincere Professors of the Gospel were much grieved at the barbarous rigour of their Discipline in suspending silencing and molesting learned godly orthodox Ministers because they would not wear a Surplice signe with the Crosse stand at the Creed kneel at the Sacrament observe a superstitious holi-day but most of all they were grieved that such persecution should befall them for refusing to read the book of Sports to their people a most abominable book giving liberty to people to profane the Lords day The people also generally disliked their rigour in citing them to their Courts for working on Holi-dayes or marrying without a Licence or upon a groundlesse suspicion of inchastitie Many such poor pretences meerly to drain the peoples purses did their Officers make Thus had the Prelatick party drawn the odium of the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty upon them and now a Parliament being called and in that Parliament severall Members of both Houses professed enemies to their Degree and not onely to their degree in the Church as Bishops but to their Office as since they professe as Ministers upon what designe may easily be conjectured These members also being popular took the opportunity of lifting these Protestant Churches off their hinges whiles the eyes of all men were on them for a Reformation Here I say was the fallacy that whiles they pretended to root out Popish pollution they struck at the very root of Primitive purity whiles they pretended to reform Episcopacy they struck at the very Office of the Ministry as now that wound being searched to the bottom discovers to us The King and his party saw to the bottom of this wound many yeers since Those Remonstrances now seem full of Prophecies which we have seen fulfilled But lest we should seem to throw dirt upon the Parliament and the Purliaments cause we must distinguish of a threefold party which sate in the house in plain truth the Parliaments covenant distinguisheth them There was a Popish party a Protestant party and a Schismaticall party the Protestant party made this covenant against the other two parties This Protestant party maintained the Protestant cause against all other parties No Protestant can be
their opinions tending that way 4. Those that practice such abominations are gone out from us whereby they have manifested to the world they were not of us Now for the Papists hence to insult and say where is your English Church whâ—…ts become of the Protestant Religion 't is a false Religion and a false Church We Answer that the Church of England stands â—…pon its old foundations viz upon the Apostles and Prophets from which the Church of Rome is miserably fallen both in doctrine and discipline That there are apostates from the Protestant Religion in this nation is manifestly true but this makes not the Church of England the lesse a true Church We cannot say that a figtree because it hath much rotâ—…en fruit fallen from it is therefore a thorn The Spirit speaketh expresly that in the later times some shall depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Divels speaking lies in hypocrisie having their consciences seared with an hot iron Observe here that where the true Church is there shall be Apostates Seducers Blasphemers Lyers Murderers Hypocrites Therefore 'T is a signe where these are the true Church is as by the Eagles gathering together you may finde the carcasse and by the swarms of wasps and flyes the honey not because they make it but devour it The Church indeed is by these locusts much dâ—…faced and debased but not nullified for these herds of swine being violently rushed into the Temple do onely pollute it not destroy it To argue that the Church of England is no true Church because there are many seducers apostates and blasphemers amongst them is so absurd that the contrary Conclusion is most solid and true for if it were not a true Church the Divel would not thus furiously war against it there would not be such traps and snares devised to catch mens souls in as there are No man much lesse the Divel that spiritual Fouler that great spider of hell will lay snares to catch tame birds that he hath in a cage already As Christ by his spiritual fishermen catcheth souls in the Divels ponds and feeds them in his own so the Divel alwayes goes about with his unlawful nets and poisonous baits to catch men in Christs pond the Church and carry them into the black sea of eternal misery Where the spiritual seed is sown there the birds of hell will be picking and plucking of it up The notablest Cheaters usually frequent the greatest Fairs we speak in reference to that Refermation begun in England to which the Romish Cheaters did resort The purest Church is most commonly pestered with the vilest Hereticks as the fairest fountain with the foulest toads Since these Philistims the Papists are thus upon us 't is very necessary that we play the part of Christian men that whether we live or dye we may have the hellish blot of Antichristianism wiped off from our names which we can no better do then by freeing our Religion from that aspersion which the Papists cast upon it Iâ—… Queen Maryes dayes the Martyrs dyed under the aspersion of Hreticks in these dayes they are like to suffer by the Spanish Popish Faction as Antichristian men and womon it 's therefore not impertinent to the thing in hand to tell in a word how we came to separate from the Church of Rome The Church of Rome you must know was once a pure Church and it continued so the longest of any Church for when the Eastern Asian and Affrican Churches most fouly fell into many desperate Errors especially that of the Arian Heresie she kept her garments clean and became a shelter to Orthodox Fugitives all this while there was not the least ground for any Orthodox national Church to separate from her as on all sides 't is granted we mean for near four hundred yeers after Christ for until after the year of Christ 350. we find not any of the Roman Bishops any other then such as became the Angels of the Church and faithful Overseers of Gods flock The first that we find polluted with the Arian Heresie was Liberius who soon recollecteth himself shakes off the Heresie and dies a Confessor As for the Foppâ—…ries fathered upon these Primitive Bishops of Rome by Ciaconius and Lambertus Geuterus Isodorus Mercator and several other of the Popish Writers they are in no wise to be credited such acts being scarce possible much less probable to be acted by the Bishops of Rome in such times of persecution under the Pagan Empire After Constantine had cast down the Pagan Emperors and made Romes Imperial Scepter to bow to Christs Cross the Clergy became the greatest Court-Favourites hereupon they grew in a short time great in power and wealth being totally freed from the iron rod of the Heathen Emperors Wealth and ease not simply but by accident begat security and security the foundation of all Church mischief begat Pride Luxury and Heresie which by little and little excluded that Primitive Purity once to be found in the Church of Rome Now bebegan Monks quatenus Monks to be in great esteem and then Tapers were brought into the Church and then that trisagium pretended to be taught by Angels Sancte Deus Sancte fortis Sancte immortalis then they brought in adoringâ—… of Churches and the opinion of Purgatery with a fained pretence that the Bishop of Rome had power to chastise stubborn souls there Then began the Bishops of Rome or Patriarchs to shoulder with the Emperors and exâ—…mmunicate them for not giving the supâ—…riority to Bishops and to â—…mmunicate Bishops of other Diocâ—…sses where they had nothing to do then was the Chanâ—…l divided from the Church and extreme unction to be ministred to dying men and soon after Pelagius began to claim a Supremacy from Christ himself Thus did the Angel of the Church of Rome become a Sâ—…ar fallen from heaven to earth Revel 9. 1 2. who set open the bottomless pit whose smoak soon darkned the Sun and the air After Gregory the great and Sabinianus succeeded Boniface the third about the year of Christ 605. he obtained of Phocas the usurping Emperor who got to the Throne by the murder of his Master that usurped title of Supremacy that the Church of Rome should be called the supreme head of all other Churches Here the Star fallen from heaven became the Beast of the Sea as learned Prideaux observes with seven heads and ten horns at leastwise began to appear so Revel 13 1. Soon after this Churches became Sanctuaries for Thieves and Murderers by the Popes order Lay-Monks were made equal with Ordained Ministers in the execution of their Office Witnesses at the Font were forbid to marry each other Churches were superstitiously deck'd Holy-dayes appointed and superstitiously enjoined Priests strictly forbidden to marry and enjoined to shave their heads Latine Service introduced by Popish injunction into other Churches upon which the Popes daily inchroached by the usurpation of their Faction in
Ἡ απωστασία ὠἀντιχÏιστος OR A Scriptural Discourse of the Apostasie and the Antichrist by way of Comment upon the twelve first Verses of 2 Thess. 2. Under which are opened many of the dark Prophecies of the Old TESTAMENT which relate to the calling of the IEWS and the glorious things to be effected at the seventh Trumpet through the World Together With a discourse of slaying the Witnesses and the immediate effects thereof Written For the consolation of the Catholike Church especially the Churches of England Scotland and Ireland By E. H. REVEL 16. 15. Behold I come as a Thief Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments clean He which testifieth these things saith I come quickly Printed Anno Dom. 1653. TO THE RIGHT REVEREND AND Profound Prophetick Text men of ENGLAND Most Reverend Fathers THe Author of this short-leg'd Treatise doth humbly submit and submissively present these his mean endeavours to you whether his presumption in writing it or presenting it be the greater he knows nâ—…t upon second thoughts he blâ—…sheth at both and for both craves pardon of you His designes in it are honest and may plead his excuse hereby he would publickly acquit himselfe of the two great sins of this age Vaine glory and Heresie for though it may plausibly passe in the world amongst ordinary capacities yet you are able to discerne such failings in it as may for ever keepe him humble And Hereticks seldome or never submit their opinions to the learned his main designe is to provoke you to this honourable imployment for since he as a single spie walking along these goodly Prophesies hath made such a comfortable discovery his hopes are that you as so many Joshuah's will enter in and by removing those obscurities and false glosses which as so many Sons of Anack stand in our way give us peaceably to possesse the length and the breadth of those rich and fruitfull Prophesies For his owne part he professeth he hath been in the midst of these mellifluous Texts but as a little Bee fallen into an Ocean of Hony which after much delightfull dabling and much adoe to get out by that little be hath brought away discovers the Ocean hee hath left behind So far hath the Author been from pressing any Texts to serve him that they have pressed him in their service he thought to have gon but one mile with them and they made him goe with them twaine These Texts found him as David found the Amelekites servant faint and sick and hungry and ready to die but by their Spirituall revivings they put strength and life into him to make discovery of those accursed Amalekites who have totally devoured Ziglag the Kings and the Churches inheritance This weake Tract beggs of you most reverend Fathers as that fainting Aegyptian did of David that you will not kill it nor deliver it into the hands of these Amalekires It lies at your mercy and without your mercy at the merciless cruelty of brutish and unnaturall men it is as Lot without doors in the midst of Sodom unlesse you prove its gardian Angells and pluck it within the doâ—…res of your protection It is without you a fatherlesse friendlesse harbâ—…urlesse stranger in a strange Common wealth it was brought forth in the Dogg dayes of the Church whiles the Author laboured under the 〈◊〉 Feavor of the States displeasure in a Prison and now t is abroad far worse then the Foxes or the foâ—…ls of the times it hath not where to put its â—…ead It hath trod like constant Ruth in the wearie steps of its beloved Mother the Church though as a Widow she sit alone and have changed her name to Marah And as that vertuous Daughter it hath sought amongst the Learned for a benevolent Kinsman but unlike to her it hath return'd from their imbraces as Abishag from the royall bed untouch't The subject of the Treatise is unquestionably excellent it is of the Apostasie and the Antichrist and of the finishing and finall conclusion of both at the seventh Trumpet Oh the glorious things that are to be done at the sounding of the seventh Trumpet the meditations whereof revive the soul as another Sacrament Augustine wished in a misselanious mood 1. Videre Christum in carne conversantem 2. cernere Romam in flore ac pristino imperii splendore triumphantem 3. Audire Paulum in Cathedrâ fulminantem Might I have my wish in this world it should be auscultare septimam tubam clangentem Then shall the witnesses be established the twelve Tribes converted and restored to be a Monarchy againe great Babilon shall fall and the Nations of the world shall bow to Christs Scepter the Dragon the Beast and the false-Prophet shall be cast into the lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone These great things are foretold both by the Prophets of the Old and New Testament The Author as an humble and diligent hand-maid having laid himselfe down at the royall feet of these bigg-bellied Prophecies from thence ariseth and hasts to you the skilfull and expert Midwives to assure you that they groane and travell in pain together longing to be delivered of what the Churches expectation waits for viz. the glorious kinde of manifestation of the Son of God at the seventh Trumpet He humbly craves pardon for his hasty comming in an unready dresse into your presence his hast from them to you is that you may make the greater hast to them a high esteeme both of you and them hath put him on beyond his naturall boldnesse to what he hath done in all he hath done or whatsoever he shall do or suffer he desires to expresse himself An obedient Son and Servant to the Church and State of ENGLAND H. The Authors Preface to the Reader IT may justly be thought a high presumption for so low a person to undertake in such a learned age so lofty a task had the Author only weighed his own weaknes the fear alone of falling under the weight of so great an Argument would have taught his humble thoughts to have pitcht upon a lower subject In it self the Subject is most comfortable necessary and profitable and to speak in Gregory Nazianzens words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most sutable to the present season Though we owe an equal respect to truth in general yet some particular Truths at some times call for our more necessary defence therefore Peter adviseth us to be established 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the present truth 'T is the part of a true Souldier and of a true Christian too to repair to that guard against which the enemy makes his nearest approaches 'T is needless to tell the Church how these Prophetick Texts have their beautiful faces beaten black and blue by the polluted fists of presumptuous Iâ—…iots they lye openly woundâ—…d and bleeding and miserably stript of their proper Vâ—…stments whiles learned Cowards like the merciless Levite pass them by The Author not only by the Rabins Lawes by reason of his
years but by the Lawes of God and conscience might better by reason of his disabilities be excused from this high undertaking then any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For 't is not he that cannot do these things saith Nazianzen that shall be brought to judgment but he that can and will not shall bear the punishment Zeal rather then abilitie provoked the Author to this Work for how can any Christian endure to see and hear such ignominious things spoken and done against the City of our God without vexation If natural bowels caused Moses to pity that faulty Princesse his Sister when her face was leprous how much more ought the bowels of grace in us to cause us to mourn for our innocent mother the Church which is strip'd of all her wealth and children and with Job sits full of botches and boiles upon the dunghill of Anarchy without a comforter Vindication of a private innocent person upon a Civil account is honourable much more the vindication of a Church and State upon a Religious account This work properly belongs to the Sword and the Gown the Gown dirâ—…cts the Sword and the Sword protects the Gown and bâ—…th together protect the Church and State from injuries when bâ—…th by usurpation are exempted that Church and State lies open to all manner of Antichristian injuries and in such a case 't is the duty of a true born son of the Church to vindicate wherein he may the Church and State whereof he is a member There are foul aspersions cast upon the Church and State this day by the Papists and Apostates of this Age both which within these seven yeers were like the dogs in Egypt when Israel passed out dumb not daring to bark as now they do blasphemously against a Reformation then these Philistimes cryed as they in Samuel Wo unto us who shall deliver us out of the hands of these mighty Gods But since by the success of War they have taken the Ark they so much feared and broke the neck of Eli in the place of Iudgment I mean the Prince and the Priest for Eli was both they now subject the Ark of God to their cursed Dagon and where is he that fears the Lord and is not much affected with griefe herat Who cannot now read Ichabod upon the face of every thing Apostates those Vipers within the belly of the Church have gnawed their way out through the bowels of it and they proclaim it impudently that the Reformed Protestant Religion is Antichristianism which is as much as to say except you utterly renounce it you will undoubtedly be damned by it this our quondam brethren and fellow Professors of the same Religion with us say against us and our Religion from which they have Apostatized The Papists insult over us and our Religion to their great advantage and our shame for what say they Who would be of that Religion that leads men to Rebellion Murder Perjury Blasphemy Heresie and all manner of heathenish practices whereas we old Roman Catholiks are firm to the principles of our Religion we are where we were hundreds of years agoe Those and such like aspersions on the true Religion together with the innumerable swarmes of Romish Popish Seminaries dispersing their doctrines and books together into every corner of the nation have brought of late very many fishes to their nets which so encourageth them that they have dared to attempt the Seduction of many eminent and solid protestants Some persons of honor they have on our knowledg drawn lately from the Protestant Religion by their impetuous urging of the late monstrous actings of the English Protestants Thus do these two parties or rather one party in two shapes like a pair of sheers in the Divels hand cut the Protestant cause in pieces To the first of these our treatise answers describing the Antichrist and his followers from many texts especially from 1 John 2. 16 22. 1. They went out from us us i. e. The Ministry they forsook the Assembly of Saints 2. They are not of us i. e. they are false brethren that once in outward profession were of the Church but when they saw their time 〈◊〉 the Church by a separation from the Church Assemblies and the orâ—…ined Ministers of those Assemblies this is the disposition of the Antichrist and his followers And then there is the siâ—… which formally maketh Antichrist in v. 22. and that chiefly lieth in two things 1. In denying Iesus to be the Christ Now he that denieth the annointed offices of Iesus denieth Iesus to be the Christ. The annointed offices are the Kingly office and the Priestly office which whosoever resisteth rebelleth against or revolteth from is said to deny So Rom. 13. 2. He that resisteth thâ—… lawful Magistrate is said to resist the ordinance of God and so far as he resists Gods ordinance he resists God for man can make-no other visible resistance of God 2. The second thing which maketh Antichrist formally to be the Antichrist is he denieth the Father and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This canâ—… be interpreted but of the offices of Christ Fâ—…r if it 〈◊〉 a liâ—…ral meaning there are millions of Antichrists in the world and the generality of them out of the Church which is absurd and erroneous to affirm But that we may unlock this mysterie of Johns with his Masters Key let us turn to Luke 10. 16. and Matth. 10. 40. And we shal plainly see what 's meant by denying the Father and the Son in plain termes 't is the rejecting and despising of the Ministers the Ambassadors of Christ mark the words He that despiseth you despiseth me Saith Christ to his Apostles by whom were represented the Ministers of Christ in the succeeding ages and he that despiseth me i. e. the Son despiseth him that sent me i. e. the Father So that he that despiseth a Minister of the Gospel or any of the annointed offices of Iesus despiseth the Father and the Son what then dâ—…th he do that destroys these offices Thus you have a spiritual description of the Antichrist in vindication of the Church of England from Apostates in it and Tyrants and usurpers over it More you may find in the insuing discourse But to the last the Papist though nâ—…t the least enemy of the Protestant Church though lesse violent yet not lesse subtil nor malicious then the former Whereas they say our religion leads us to heresie murder rebellion blaspemy and Profaneness we that are protestants deny it by affirming 1. That there is not one principle in the Protestant Religion that tollerates heresie murder rebellion or blasphemie 2. That the general consent of the Protestant Churches are against heresie rebellion murder and blasphemie and have publickly protested against it 3. Those that have by their pens or publick acts pleaded for or practised murder rebellion heresie or blasphemie are such as have made an open Apostasie from their former professions and practices or such as have concealed from the publick view
other Nations Christian Burial was prohibited to those persons be they never so great that should deny the Popes Supremacy the Liturgy of the Church augmented and put into tune to be sung the Paxe injoyned to be kissed the usurped Title of the Vicar of Christ given to Popes and the Roman Emperors Authority contemned by them they making their leige Masters to kiss their feet Images were brought into the Church and Emperors not permitted to pull them down Rebellion against Emperors was taught upon this account so that the Emperors for withstanding Images lost the Roman Throne Sacrifices and Prayers were enjoined to be made for the dead Kings of forrain Kingdomes were by the Popes Usurpation dethroned Bishopricks as it were by a Conquest subjected daily to the Sea of Rome Bastards Bribers Rebels beastly Fellows Atheists and Magicians for the most part possessed the Episcopal Chair of Rome which makes Bellarmine call these times Saeculum insoelix The Sun and the Air were miserably darkned by these hellish locusts these times were full of ignorance and prophaneness whereby the Church was miserably eclipsed and deformed through the prevailing Factions of the scandalous Roman Clergy usurping the Roman Throne as well as the Pontifick Seat yet was not the Roman Church utterly defaced or unchurched hereby for notwithstanding the prevailing Faction in Rome gave themselves to such abominable wickednesse and persisted in it so that one in his Learned History of the Roman Bishops saith They proceeded from usurping Nimrods to luxurious Sodomites and from luxurious Sodomites to Egyptian Magicians and from Egyptian Magicians to devouring Abaddons and from devouring Abaddons to incurable Babylonians yet it is most probable that in Rome it self there were to be found Godly Ministers and people that were none of the time servers as it is manifest there were in other Churches where the Popes and their Faction usurped a Power This is most certain that in Rome it self until the Pope and his Faction became incurable Babylonians men might with freeness profess and practise the principles of true religion The Apostles Creed the ten Commandments and the Lords Prayer the sum of a Christians Faith Worship and Obedience were alwaies in profession maintained in the Roman Church though violently opposed by the wicked practices of the Pontifick Professors So that there was no absolute necessity for other Churches to renounce the Church of Rome but only the Vices and Corruptions and Heresies of a prevailing Faction in the Church of Rome which both the Kings and the Clergy of England since William the Norman Successor to the Saxons have in every Age manifestly done and not only England but other Churches also for when they as we said came to be incurable Babylonians the Churches in Germany and France and England cryed out aloud of them Guicciardine Mâ—…ntuan Sanavarola and Machiavel all of them laid out to publick view the villany of the Papacy Machiavel was a discoverer of the hellish policie used by the Pope and his creatures not an allower or practitioner of that black Art he discovered And in Leo the Tenths time Budeus Mirandula Erasmus Stapulensis and others both learned and grave publickly derided and reproved the Roman Apostasie and corruption So far did Erasmus leave the Roman Church and cleave to the reformation beginning in Germany that a witty Popeling thus plays upon his name Si sit eras verbum mus nomen quid sit Erasmus Participium Signifying that he took part with the Chuch of Rome and part with the Protestants so called a little afterwards as a Participle doth part of a Verb and part of a Nown The German Churches gave no lesse then Centum gravamina to the Legate of Adrian 6. desiring a speedy redresse of them and the secular Estates both of the higher and lower sort of the Empire did beseech his Holynesse to remove those grievances or else they themselves would This Pope ingenuously confesseth that the Chair of Rome was very filthy in hac sede sancta saith he aliquot jam annis multa abominanda fuisse This stirring of the German States revived Luther who stomacking the Dominican pardon-seller Tercelius had wâ—…it against that sinfull trade in Leos time and now in Adrians time finding more friends then he expected he designes the abolishing of the Masse and the framing of a new Liturgie The Pope and his faction fearing to what this of Luthers might come writ to the Emperour and the German Princes to suppresse Luthers doctrines Thereupon a general councel was desired as the means of reconciliation which was at last granted and called to sit at Trent They had three severall meetings at Trent In the third Session of the first meeting they i. e. the Popes packt party decreed that the old Latine translation should only be used and authentick in Schools and Churches In the fourth Session they decreed that original sin was so taken away in Baptism that the concupiscence which remains after Baptism is not to be accounted a sin untill we consent thereto and farther they decreed as truth that the Mother of Christ was not conceived in original sin In the fifth Session they decreed that since the fall there remains a freedom in mans will to good which being excited concurrs with Gods grace In the seventh Session seven Sacraments were decreed after this the Pope removes the Councel to Bononia which discontents the Emperour which puts an end to the Councell for that time At the second meeting of the Bishops in the councell of Trent the King of France declared as the Queen of England before had done that neither he nor his Subjects were bound to obey a Convention of Bishops whose design was meerly thereby to advantage the private interest of the Pope to the generall disprofit of the Church At the second Session the doctrine of Transubstantiation was established At the third Session that pennance and extreme unction were new Testament Sacraments At this Session the Protestants would but were not permitted to bring in their confession of faith the Popes Legat withstanding them The warrs then breaking out in Germany the councel was dismissed Nine years after they met again the third time At the fifth Session whereof they decreed that it was in the power of the Pope to dispose of the Sacramentary elements as he saw expedient for the good of the people provided that the substance were kept Thus denying the cup in the Communion to the people At the sixth Session 't was concluded that the whole Mass was a propitiatory sacrifice for quick and dead and whoever should say otherwise should be accursed At the eight Session they pronounce him accursed who shall deny that the Church hath power to dispense with Gods Law Lev. 18. in giving liberty to incestuous matches against the word and forbidding lawful matches according to the word At their last Session they confirmed the doctrine of Purgatory Invocation of Saints bowing to images giving of indulgences and preserving
pragmatick fellows made it a snare to tender consciences of the Kings party by pressing it upon them and oppressing those that refused it This was doubtlesse a grosse sinne but it cannot properly be laid to their charge as if they thereby intended to make a party for themselves against the King but to make all within their Garisons and Commands both Ministers and People true Subjects to the King to the Lawes and the Protestant Religion Whiles this was strictly observed in the Parliaments Quarters Iesuites and Popish Priests were not so frequent nor so bold as since they have beene amongst us 3. As to that of throwing down of Bishops a double scandal is taken if not given thereby 1. In their manner of proceeding without and against the King which in it self was absolute usurpation for though they did send to the King to passe it yet they resolved upon his denyal to proceed which was an absolute denyall of his Negative voyce in which implicitely they denyed him to be their Soveraign 2. In throwing down the ancient Government of the Church by Bishops which Government hath continued in the Church since the Apostles time unquestioned until within these hundred yeers and then the Orthodox onely questioned their Persons not their Office onely the Anabaptists cryed down the Office as Antichristian Now for the Parliament under pretence of Reformation of Religion to cast off that primitive Government universally received in the Churches without and against the consent of the King and solemnly ingage others in the same thing seems to be a most rash and incâ—…nsiderate act done out of blinde mislead zeale or an ungodly act done wilfully to bring to ruine the Protestant Church of England to rob the Church of its Maintenance and ruine the learned Clergie of the Nation Here we must answer leâ—…t both innocent persons and a good Cause suffer 1. The Parliament intended not by throwing down the English Hierarchie to throw down any Worship Discipline or Government according to the word of God for then their second Article would clash with the first in the Covenant so that their meaning is they will extirpate so much of Prelacy as shall be found contrary to the word of God and the Example of the best reformed Churches I suppose by Churches they meant the purest Primitive Churches for all these late Reformed Protestant Churches did before we thought of a Reformation yeild that we were better reformed then they We hold the Calvinists the best reformen Churches but saith learned Beza to the praise of the English Protestant Bishops Let the Church of England injoy this singular bounty of God which I wish may be hers for ever So far was he from thinking it a piece of Reformation to pull them down Calvin Bucer Luther Melancton Zâ—…nchy Chamier are all of them no enemies to Bishops though professed enemies to the Superstitious Idolatrous Practices of Bishops in that Age. Every solid Protestant is so far from thinking the Office of a Bishop to be Antichristian that he rather thinks it a high degree of Antichristianism to oppose that Office this is as we have shewed to deny the Father and the Son for he that denyeth an Apostle or the Successoâ—…s of an Apostle in the Office of the Ministry denyeth Christ and he that denyeth Christ denyeth God that sent him Charity therefore makes me hope that the sincere Protestants what ever other subtil Foxes designed intended no otherwise by that second Article in the Covenant then to reduce the Church of England to a Primitive Purity by removing Popish Prelates and all those humane Institutions depending on the English Hierarchy if through Error they were mis-led from the right means to this end the discovery of that Error may seasonably reduce them into a right way for wise men never think it a shame to repent It is most certain that the intent of the sincere Covenanters was to reâ—…ine not ruine the Ministry by pulling down the English Hierachy they struck not at the order of the Ministry but at the degree of Episcopacy they struck at the Discipline of the English Church therein more then at the Ministry for they pulled down Bishops as they were Superintendants over their brethren not as Ministers so that they took away their degree above their brethren but left them standing in their order as Ministers Bishops lost not their Order by the Covenant but their Degree for though they are in a distinct degree above the Presbyters which have ever been allowed them in the purest Churches since Christ time yet they never were a distinct order from the Presbyters neither the Scripture nor the Fathers make them so so that Aerius an ancient Writer in that saith truth a Bishop and a Presbyter are joined in the same Commission the Bishop imposeth hands so doth the Presbyter the Bishop administers the Sacraments and dispenseth the Ordinances so doth the Presbyter so that essentially there is no difference betwixt them what is is only gradual Now here lies the great question Whence they had this degree above their fellow Ministers in the Church If they had this from Apostolical Institution then without all doubt it was a grieveous sin in any Civil Power to pull it down and they that convenanted so to do did unadvisedly and foolishly But if this degree of Episcopacy be but an Ecclesiastical Institution though of great Antiquity the case is altered there cannot be an absolute necessity of its immutability Meer humane Institutions admit of alterations Hierom and Epiphanius say They were set up as a remedy against Schism and Heresie long after Presbytery But to come to the thing suppose this degree to be as probably it is an Apostolical Institution which continued unquestionable in the Church for many hundred years Yet here the question will still be Whether since the grand Apostasie that Paul prophesies of there hath not been an Apostasie from this Institution whether this Institution in the Apostasie did not contract much corruption This is granted by all the Protestant English Bishops especially by the late Lord Primate of England B. Laud in his Conference with Fisher Bishop Jewel and Bishop Downam hence these two latter conclude That the Hierarchy of Rome is so corrupted and apostatized from its Primitive Institution that it is become the Antichristian State nay more then that they call it the Antichrist That question then which concerns us is Whether the Hierarchy of England were so exactly conformable to the Primitive Institutution as that it needed no alteration These two things are granted 1. That the persons in that Hierarchy needed to be reformed for some of them were profâ—…ssed Papists and the most of them bitter enemies to a powerful and a painful Orthodox Ministry 2. That whatsoever is built upon an humane foundation may upon humane or divine considerations be taken down again if so then those Titles Offices and Dignities conferred meerly by men may be taken away but
blesse not their mother to a generation that are pure in their own eyes yet not washed from their filthinesse a generation ô how lofty are their eyes and their eye-lids are lifted up a generation whose teeth are swords and their jaw-teeth knives to devour the poor from off the earth and the needy from amongst men a generation of Lâ—…custs the wonder of Solomon who having no King go forth all of them by bands Would we but incline our cares to Gods counsels and turne our feet into his paths he would soon subdue our enemies and turnâ—… his hand against our adversaries the haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves but that we were disobedient to the Commanaments of the Lord. Why is the Diadem fallen from our head but because wo unto us we have sinned Why do flattering lippes proud tongues and double hearts prevail against us to the oppression of the poor and the making of the needy sigh Why do the wicked walke on every side when the vilest of the sonnes of men are exalted but because weare sinfull our Cities and our Countreys and our families of all rankes and degrees have sinned Go forth therefore ye sons and daughters of the Church weeping gird your selves in sack cloth and put ashes on your head take to you words of lamentation and bewail the sins of your Kings of your Princes of your Nobles of your Ministers before the Lord. Let the Trumpet be blown in Zion let a Fast be sanctified and a solemn Assembly called gather the people assemble the Elders let the Bridegroom go forth of his chamber and the Bride out of her closet let the Ministers of the Lord weep between the Porch and the altar and let them say Spare thy people ô Lord and give not thine heritage to reproach that Heathens should thus rule over us So soon as the people of God are thus framed God will be jealous for the land and pity his people The Churches teares usually go before the black Funerall of their enemies their tears ascend like exhalations insensibly but return in thundering and lightning stormes upon their enemies We shall finde the Churches mourning and the enemies ruine to be Zach. 12. 3 4 10. a Gospel-connexion and what himself hath joyned we cannot pull asunder Since therefore preces lachrymae are our best weapons against our enemies let us take to our selves this spirituall armour and let us thus go forth for the cause of God with much affection rejoycing as a Bridegroom commeth forth of his chamber and as a strong man rejoyceth to run a race let us rejoyce that we are counted worthy to be in arms for so great a King let us with a holy scorn disdain the enemies of our Lord the King let us defie that power and strength they bring against him Let the Counter-motions of crosse providences which make it evening by the Apostates clock put forward the hand of your faith to make it the morning of deliverance doth the Antichrist tread down all before him and oppresse the Church of God exceedingly be of good cheer for thus it is written that Antichrist must do and the Witnesses must suffer and also 't is written that then he is neer to his ruine and the Church neer to a glorious and exceeding great deliverance which is the subject of one main part of the ensuing Discourse Be not then ô ye Saints of the most High either afraid or ashamed of your afflictions Can you chuse a better Master Can you fight under a more royall Standard then Christs or can you finde a baser enemy or more accursed then the Antichrist gird on then your spirituall armour with the girdle of sincerity be stedfast in your resolutions why do the latchets of the shoes of patience hang so loose Why do you fâ—…et and startle at the news of suffering as if the fiery triall which is to try you were the fire of hell to damn you sincerity rejoyceth in the triall how will you be known from loose professeurs if your sincerity be not tried by afflictions afflictions indured with patience for Christ are the seales of sincerity this was one of Pauls seals which passed him for current among the Saints Paul a prisoner of Jesus Christ. Sufferings for Christ are an evident tâ—…ken of perdition to your enemies but to you of salvation and that of God Faith is the evidence of our salvation and sufferings are the evidence of our faith Rejoyce therefore inasmuch as yeare made partakers of the sufferings of Christ for when his glory shall be revealed ye shall be glad also with exceeding joy your reproaches for Christ render you happy inasmuch as thereby the Spirit of glory resteth on you though on your enemies part Christ is blasphemed yet on your part he is glorified We have indeavoured to clear the Church of England and to clear the reformation begâ—…n and at last fiâ—…ished by the King Lords and Commons as Christs Church and Christs cause notwithstanding all those reproaches cast upon it let us then all of us that own the Church of England for a true Church and the reformation of that Church for a good cause prepare for sufferings and let us count them as so many scars of honour got in the field where the Royall Standard of our Lord the King is pitched which we shall wear forever our bodies shall lie down in the grave in the honour of them and at the Resurrection rise in the mâ—…jesty of them Let love to Christ and love to the Church of Christ constrain us to constancy let 's stop our eares against all the charmes of the Devill the world or the flesh let 's look to our Redeemer who when he was tempted upon the salvation of the chief Priests and Elders and upon the vindication of the Godhead to come down from the Crosse this seems to me to be the deepest temptation of hels forging for to destroy the work of Redemption for had Christ come down before he had died our Redemption had not been finished and we must all have been damned yet he continued in his shameful and grievous torments under all these blasphemons roproaches until the work of our Redemption was finished look up then to this great Captain of our salvation and as you have seen him do so do ye you must if you be Christs be made conformable to Christ your head by sufferings The faithful Christians of the three Kingdoms have suffered much ô let them not come down from the cross until the work be finished 't is supposed that there are sharper sufferings yet to come yet let us not â—…aint for there are more with us then are against us we have as that great person said A good Cause and a gracious God and so we have all the Angels and Saints on our sine we have the Trinity to trust to who is a strong hâ—…ld in time of trouble and knoweth every soul that trusteth in him Let love to the
the end of the Chapter Rev. 14. 14. to the end of the Chapter Rev. 15 16 17. all for the most part a preparatory vision of the seventh Trumpet The 15. Chapter tells us who shall execute the wrath of the seventh Trumpet and whence they come The 16. Chapter sheweth the manner and matter of the seventh Trumpet The 17. Chapter sheweth the two grand Enemies of the Church on whom the wrath and woe of the seventh Trumpet falls These are the great Whore ver 1. and the Beast of the bottomless pit ver 8. that carries her ver 7. From hence t is clear that the Beast of the bottomless pit and the Pope are distinct persons for if by Whore of Babilon be meant the Pope as the most learned Protestants truly affirm then the Beast of the bottomless pit which beareth the Pope cannot be Pope himself My inference hence is this Ergo The Pope is not the Antichrist for he that slayes the Witnesses is the Antichrist but the Beast of the bottomless pit slayes the Witnesses Ergo the Pope is not the Antichrist being distinct from the Beast of the bottomless pit I do not disprove that the Pope is not an Antichrist but not the Antichrist whose reign over the slain Witnesses is to continue but three dayes and the half of three dayes at the utmost as there are many Witnesses and have been in all ages yet they are quite distinct from the two Witnesses so there have been and are many Antichrists which notwithstanding are distinct from that Antichrist the Fathers and the after Churches have from Iohn to Paul desciphered In the end of the Chapter we have a vision of the Instruments of inflicting the wrath of the seventh Trumpet which are called ten horns who v. 17. gave 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Kingdome t is not Kingdomes but Kingdome by which it appears that it is that Poliarchy or supream authority in those dominions under one supream head where Antichrist slew the Witnesses that shall destroy Rome that government or that policy which through their oversight put all their power into the Antichrists hands these when the Witnesses rise shall also arise indeed their rising from under the Antichrists Tyranny is a great part of the Witnesses rising though these are profound Texts I touch upon yet my doubts are not greater then my hopes of great things and glorious for the Church of England Ireland and Scotland's good from them and that speedily In Revelations 18. is the Vision of the effect of the seventh Trumpet upon the great Babilon that is Rome say many Papists and all the Protestants And ver 9. The great lamentation of the Kings of the Earth for her ruin these Kings which committed Fornication with her i. e. were of the same Popish Idolatrous Religion with Rome the Romish Catholique Princes Observe here not the Popish Kings of Europe eat the Whores flesh and burn her with fire for they weep and wail for her I am very prone to believe that the ten horns which destroy Antichrist are those Peers or Princes who in those dominions where the Witnesses are slain arise from under the Tyranny of Antichrist after the great Commotion Revelations 11. 12 13. and Revelations 17. 16. shall destroy Rome for I beseech thee Reader observe the ten horns that Antichrist gets on his head Revelations 17. 12. they are not ten Kingdomes nor no where so called but ten Kings i. e. a certain company assuming Kingly power would that were all but have no Kingdome but receive power as Kings one hour with the Beast who set them up in the slaying of the Witnesses These usurpers are overcome in a battell with the Lamb ver 14. and after that ver 16. that lawfull power which Antichrist threw down yet pretended to set up purify and establish therefore called the ten hones on the Beast shall arise and destroy the Whore 'T is clear that both the ten horns here mentioned are those that are within the power and dominon of the Antichrist he getting power from the ten horns ver 17. to invest those other ten horns ver 12. of his faction with power to make war with the Lamb sure I am this is a clearer exposition of these Texts then that which makes the ten horns ten Kings of Europe who being Papists shall turn they say from the Pope and destroy him I wish it may be so but I can find no ground for it in Scripture In the next Chapter the quite contrary is most true In chap. 19. and chap. 20. we have the white side of this Trumpet the rejoicing of the Church for Gods glorious deliverance of it and after the finall overthrow of the three grand enemies which is parallel with Rev. 14 4. 20. the Church hath a large respite of rest from all its both secret and open enemies from Gog and Magog and the Witnesses are firmly seated in the Throne and the 12. Tribes restored to their own land Thus have I as I could endeavoured to remove all Objections to clear those Doubts and Obscurities which I find obnoxious to the mind in finding out truth or embracing that which from the written Word is laid before it There are two other Questions arise from this Discourse the one is 1. Whether the Antichrist in person shall be at the great battell at Armagedon and whether Turks and Papists shall joyn together to resist the Jews Restoration and the true Christian Reformation the Antichrist being a chief leader in this battell against them 2. Whether Rev. 21. and 22. be meant of the state of the reformed Church under the seventh Trumpet or it be a resemblance of that state of bliss which the Saints are made partakers of in the life to come To this last much may be said against what is confidently by some asserted but I wave it lest I be accounted both bold and tedious both which I disaffect in others and hate in my self Whether this Reverend Person whose Paper hath drawn all this from me will take it well or ill I know not but with humble thanks I do acknowledge his favour as the first that ever I received of this kind in shewing and correcting of my Errours for which I shall ever subscribe my self his Disciple humbly submitting whatsoever I have writ to his and such like learned prophetick Text-mens Censures FINIS 2 Pet. 1. 12. 2 Sam. 4. 7 8. As the bead of the gâ—…and Apostasie arose out of the purest Church Rome so the Antichrist ariseth out of the purest Churches at that time when they goe about to shake off the Apostasie for it is at that time when the Witnesses have finished their testimonie 1. Tim. 4. 12 Greg. Mor. 4. cap. 40. Hormisd Excommunic of Anastasius the Emperor Aâ—…n 510. Herein the Antichrist the son resembles the Pope his Father 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3 In fascicul rerum expetendarum Fruâ—…tur sanè i stâ Dei singulari beneficentiâ quae utiuam illi