their God and the Chaldee paraphrast as ancient as the Apostles age expoundeth the house of their idols they contradict not one another seing the same thing may be Gods in shew and the divils in deed and trueth for even Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of light 2 Cor. 11. 14. Obj. When the Apostle describeth the mysterie of Antichrists iniquitie would he teach the church that the place of his sitting is the Temple of God if he meant that it were in deed the synagogue of Satan and the temple of Antichrist For that Antichrist should sit in the temple of Antichrist and synagogue of Satan what mysterie is there in it All the world would easily perceive that these agreed very well and most fitly togither But for Antichrist to sit in Gods temple and Christs church this is in deed a mysterie Answ. The mysterie of iniquitie began in the true church but continued not therein alwayes for when it was discerned the church eyther cast it out or soon degenerated into a synagogue of Satan if it accepted Antichrist for God as the Church of Rome doth at this day Which I further manifest thus 1. The Apostle sayth As ye have heard that Antichrist shal come even now are there many Antichrists c. They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us Who is a lyer but he that denyeth that Jesus is the Christ he is Antichrist that denyeth the Father and the Son Whosoever denyeth the Son the same hath not the Father 1. Joh. 2. 18. 19. 22. 23. This scripture teacheth us first that all hereticks departing from the faith of Christ are generally Antichrists though they reteyn the name of Christians still as did the hereticks in th'Apostles time 2. That such are gone out from the church and are in deed none of it though they pretend to be the true church as all hereticks have doen. 3. That both teachers and people departed from the faith and church of Christ are comprehended under the name of Antichrists and not the Bishops onely 4. That whosoever is Antichrist especially the great Antichrist he denyeth the Son Christ and consequently God the Father Now let us apply these things to the Bishop and hierarchie of Rome whome mine opposite granteth to be the great Antichrist If the Pope and his hierarchie be Antichrist then are they none of the Apostolik church but gone out of the same but they are Antichrist by my opposites owne confession Therfore they are none of th'Apostolik church The Pope and his hierarchie are both in and of the church of Rome the heads teachers and principall members of it of the same faith religion and worship but they are not in or of the Apostolik christian church as before is proved therfore the church of Rome is not an apostolik Christian church If the church of Rome denyeth both the Father and the Son then is it Antichrist as the Apostle sayth and so no true Christian church But the church of Rome denyeth both the Father and the Son therfore it is no true Christian church If the Pope his hierarchie deny both the Father and the Son then the church of Rome also denyeth them for they beleeve as the Pope and hierarchie beleeveth have one and the same religion with their preists But the Pope and his hierarchie deny both the Father and the Son otherweise they are not the Antichrist as mine opposite sayth they are therefore the Church of Rome also denyeth both the Father and the Son Now seing it is thus how is it possible that it should cōtinue the true Church of Christ otherweise then by lying pretext and ostentation And this is the mysterie of inquitie if men could comprehend it that the Bishops and people of Rome being at first Christs true church departed by degrees from the faith worship of God til they came joyntly to beleeve lyes and to worship creatures idols and divils Rev. ◠30. and became a Beast or Antichristian kingdome yet with two hornes like the Lamb Christ Rev. 13. blaspheming Gods Tabernacle them that dwel in heaven that is the true church they pretend themselves to be the onely true church of Christ and that all other are hereticks they pretend succession even from th Apostles dayes without change of religion and so they sit in the temple of God or for the Temple as if they none but they were the Temple and church of God the Pope being the head of this sinfull corporation of this Beast or kingdome and exalting himself above God Christ whiles yet he calleth himself Christs vicar and the Servant of the servants of God and by strong delusion keepeth his people in beleef of lyes that togither with him they all might be damned who beleeve not the trueth but have pleasure in unrighteousnes as the Apostle sayth 2. Thes. 2. 12. Now where he objecteth what mysterie is there in it that Antichrist should sit in the temple of Antichrist I answer it is a great mysterie in that it is doen by him and his under the name and shew of Christianitie and as the Apostle sayth after the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders and with all deceivablenes of unrighteousnes 2. Thes. 9. 10. And where he further sayth but for Antichrist to sit in Christs church this is in deed a mysterie I answer it is in deed a contrarietie and impossibilitie not a mysterie for no man can serve two masters Mat. 6. 24. of whom a man is overcome of the same is he brought in bondage 2. Pet. 2. 19. to whom men yeild themselves servants to obey his servants they are to whom they obey Rom. 6. 16. Now the church of Rome yeilding unto and obeying Antichrist cannot be the servants of Christ if th' Apostles doctrine be true And after mine opposites manner of reasoning an other man might say seing Christianitie is the mystirie of godlines 1. Tim. 3. 16. as Antichristianitie is the mysterie of iniquitie 2. Thes. 2. 7. Christ must sit in the Temple of Satan as Antichrist sitteth in the temple of God for for Christ to sit in the Temple church of Christ what mysterie is there in it but for Christ to sit in Satans temple and Antichrists church this is in deed a mysterie Were not this think we good reasoning to put darknes for light and light for darknes Christ into Antichrists place and Antichrist into Christs for to finde out a mysterie But they that have their eyes opened to read the mysterie that is not onely in the Pope but on the forehead of the whore of Babylon his church will soon espie this fraud though others are bewitched with her painted face For as Satan can transforme himself into an Angel of light and his ministers
syn there also spoken of mine opposer in the second proposition of his argument fore-set downe sayth But the Pope of Rome with his hierarchie is by their own graunt the man of syn of whom the Apostle here speaketh Other proof of this position he giveth none but sayth I grant it which in his understanding I have not granted For he so divideth the Pope and hierarchie which are Bishops Priests and Deacons from the church of Rome as he maketh the one Antichrist and Man of syn the other Christians and men of grace which how it can be when both parties are of one and the same faith worship religion it passeth my slender capacitie For if the Bishops priests and deacons have one faith religion with the people as it is knowen they have and the people have the true Christian faith and religion though corrupted yet so as they are still under the covenant of grace and sealed of God therin by baptisme how should not the same faith give life to the priests or hierarchie as it doeth to the people And then though the hierarchie be Antichrist the Man of syn the son of perdition who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped 2 Thes. 2. 3. yet they shall also be true Christians men of God and children of salvation Now to prove it to be my graunt he sendeth his reader to 30. pages of my book at once that if he myss it in one he may suppose it is in an other for not one man of many wil read over so many leaves for such a purpose onely Well howsoever I wil not make nice to call the Pope and his hierarchie the Man of syn yea or the Pope alone the man of syn because he is the head of that sinfull corporation and the highest exalted for almightynes holynes yet doe I not exclude the people from this body and give it to the Pope and hierarchie onely as mine opposite would intimate Nay the reader shall finde there the contrary most expressly for in pag. 76. I wrote thus The Antichristian synagogue is by the holy Ghost called a Beast Rev. 13. 11. which signifieth a kingdome Dan. 7. 23. it is named also a great citie Rev. 11. 8. which noteth the largenes of that politie and kingdom Jt cometh up out of the earth Rev. 13. 11. as being of this world which Christs kingdom that cometh down from heaven Rev. 21. 2. is not and therfore it is called a Man of syn 2 Thes. 2. 3. and a great whore Rev. 17. 1. whose head is Abaddon or a Apollyon Rev. 9. 11. the destroyer of others and himself the son of perdition 2 Thes. 2. 3. and they that folow him are the children of damnation 2 Thes. 2. 12. Againe in pag. 83. I doe not onely shew mine but mine opposers owne judgment heretofore saying She speaking of the church of Rome being in this forlorne estate she is but a lump of syn a man of syn 2 Thes 2. 3. a child of perdition The Beast is not one person but a kingdom Rev. 13. 11. Dan. 7. 23. and Mr. Iohnson himself hath acknowledged more then once that the man of syn is the false church and religion of Antichrist compared to the body of a man and consisting of all the partes togither Treat of the Minist against Mr. Hilders p. 7. Apolog. p. 109. How faithfully now myne opposite hath dealt with me to make it seem my graunt that the Pope and hierarchie apart from the church of Rome is the Man of syn all may see As for his own former confession he passeth it over without approving or disproving what himself hath written This point is of weight to give light to our controversie for if the whole church Pope priests and people be altogither a man of syn son of perdition then can not any of sound judgment think they are a true Christian church or under the covenant of Gods grace To shew this therfore first the scriptures sundry times speaketh of a whole state or company both governours and people as of one person man woman or child as in Hos 1. 4. 6. 9. the three children Iezreel Lo-ruhamah and Lo-ammi signified the three estates of the congregation of Israel then shortly to follow So in Rev. 12. 1. a woman signifieth the church of Christ in Rev. 17. an other woman signifieth the church of Antichrist even as in Prov. 9. 1. 13. the same churches are set forth like two women Wisdom and the Foolish woman In Rev. 12. 5. the Man child which the woman brought forth meaneth a company of valiant Christians as further appeareth by comparing Esai 66. 7. 8. where the Woman that travelleth is called Sion and the man child in vers 7. are called Sions children in vers 8. Secondly as Christ and Antichrist have their several churches so these ech of them are called a man as in Ephes. 2. 15. Christ is there sayd to make in himself of twaine that is of two peoples Iewes and Gentiles one new man where the whole church togither with Christ their head is called a new man Accordingly Antichrist the Pope togither with his whole church is called the man of syn And as in the new man the true Christian church Christ the head hath in all things the preheminence so in the man of syn the Antichristian church the Pope Christs pretended vicar hath in all things the preeminence exalted for power pretended holynes As the new man the Christian church is to be esteemed in the state of salvation though some secret hypocrites and reprobates closely creep in among them here on earth so the man of syn the Antichristian church is to be estemed in the state of damnation though some of Gods elect and hidden ones are in the same Rev. 18. 4. And this man of syn the Pope and his church sitteth in the Temple of God the profession of Christ whom the Temple chiefly figured and of Christian religion and worship even as this beast or kingdome hath two hornes like the Lamb Christ Rev. 13. 11. that so under the shew of Christianitie after the effectual working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders 2 Thes. 2. 9. Rev. 13. 13. 14. he may deceive them that dwell on the earth and draw them into the lake of fyre Thus much of the Man of syn sitting in the Temple of God 2 Thes. 2. Other scriptures he alleageth to confirme his cause as Manasses defiling Gods house 2 King 21. the Chaldeans defiling the Temple Psalm 79. the king of Babylons sitting on the mount of the congregation Esai 14. The prophets visions of the Temple polluted Ezek 8. And the prophesie of Antiochus Dan. 11. In all which places I acknowledge the true Temple of God to be understood But his error in applying this to his purpose I have before manifested For that Temple was not the people but an outward ordinance of God
example more fitly if a Iew had been forced by Antiochus violently to kyss or bow the knee to Iupiters image when he resisted and testified against it none could justly call him an idolater or one of Iupiters people But if an other Iew had revolted to Antiochus religion and beleeved in his Iupiter and honoured him with hart profession and action he now might justly be called the servant of Iupiter or one of his people as the Moabites are called the people of Chemosh Numb 21. 29. So the church of Rome now fallen from true Christianity and beleeving worshiping obeying Antichrist the Popes holynes are and may justly be called his church or else Antichrist hath no temple church or people in the world Object Observe here and throughout his treatise how still he calleth that the Temple church and bodie of Antichrist which Paul expressly and purposely calleth the Temple of God And so therin note stil his shâ—fâ—s and his errours c. Answ. Loe still an urging of the bare letter as doe the Papists This is my body to prove their transubstantiation that there is no bread left but Christs very body really and properly I have I trust without shifting or errour proved the present church of Rome to be Antichrists temple church and bodie if the Pope be Antichrist And seing his mysterie of iniquitie is contrary to Christs mysterie of godlynes and Christ hath a mystical temple which is his church and bodie Eph. 2. 21. 5. 23. I would gladly know what temple church and body Antichrist hath if the church of Rome be not the same Againe he speaketh too largely that J stil so call it throughout my treatise for I have other weise written though it liked him not thus Gods true temple and tabernacle is in mount Sion in heaven Rev. 14. 1. 17. where God sitteth on a throne Rev. 16. 17. 7. 15. and dwelleth among his people where is the Ark of his covenant Rev. 11. 19. and from thence lightnings voices thondrings earthquake and hâ—yle come forth against thâ— Antichristians his enemies and vials of his wrath powred out upon the throne of the beast Rev. 16. 1. 2. 10. and on men that have his mark On the contrary the Beast which is the kingdome of Antichrist ascendeth from beneath out of the bottomless pit Rev. 17. 8. and blasphemeth this heavenly tabernacle Rev. 13. 6. and sitteth in Babylon Rev. 16. 19. upon the Dragons throne Rev. 13. 2. and fighteth against the Lamb and against the saincts Rev. 19. 19. treading under foot the holy citie Rev. 11. 2. and casting downe the place of Christs sanctuarie Dan. 8. 11. When th' Apostle therfore telleth us that Antichrist sitteth as God in the Temple of God it is to be understood of their invading and destroying of Gods church and people as the heathens of old dealâ— with Jerusalem and dwellers therin Psal. 79. Dan. 8 11. 13. 11. 36. Ier. 22. 12. 13. Law 2. 7. 9. Secondly of their own vaine ostentation whiles they wil have it called the Christian catholik church and the Pope the head of the same Ezek. 28. 2. 6. Esa. 14. 13. 14. 2 Thes. 2. 9 10 Rev. 13. 11. 14. 17. 4. 2 Cor. 11. 13. 14. 15. Thus I grant that the Temple which Antichrist invadeth destroyeth is Gods true Temple but that wherin the Beast sitteth as God which he trimmeth upholdeth and boasteth of as he doeth the church of Rome at this day is the synagogue of Satan But he procedeth Object As for the ancient Doctor whom here he citeth let us hear himself speak His words are these That which is the Temple of any idolor Divil the Apostle would not call the Temple of God Wherupon some will have in this place not the Prince himself but after a manner his whole bodie thâ—â— is the multitude of men perteyning unto him togither with himself under the Prince understood to be Antichrist And more rightly also they think it to be sayd in Latine 〈◊〉 in the Greek that he sitteth not in the Temple of God but for the Temple of God which is the church As we say he sitteth for a friend that is as a friend Augustine de Civic Dâ—â— l. 20. c. 19. Where note how farr differing Augustine is from this man that citeth him c. Answ. There is not so great difference as mine opposite would pretend First I cited not Augustine for his own judgment but for others whom he speaketh of touching the translation of the Text in the Temple of God or for the Temple Secondly he setteth down Augustines words maymed both at head and foot For Augustine beginneth thus But in what temple of God he shal sit as God is uncertaine whether in that ruine of the Temple which was built by King Solomon or in the church For that which is the temple of any idol or divil the Apostle would not call the temple of God c. Now the ruine of Solomons temple cannot at this day be called Gods temple otherweise then because it was the Temple of God of old hath now no more holynes in deed trueth theÌ„ any other place in the world And thus I have granted that the church of Rome may be called the church of God in respect that there was a church there in Pauls time wheras now it hath no more true holynes then the synagogue of Satan So we see how for advantage mine opposite baulked Augustines first words In the end he breaketh off in the midst of a period for Augustine sayth sitteth for a friend that is as a friend or if any other thing is wont to be understood by this kind of speech So he defineth not certainly of this place but leaves it doubtfull and presently after confesseth his ignorance For what is this sayth Augustine For the mysterie of iniquitie doth already work onely he who now holdeth let him hold till he be taken out of the way J confess my self to be utterly ignorant what he meaneth Thus we need not strive about Augustines words here and I grant that the Apostle would not have called it the Temple of God unless eyther it were so in deed and trueth or had been so in times past or did pretend to be so still And I think all wil likewise grant that the holy Ghost would not have called the witches spirit at endor Samuel unless eyther it had been Samuel in deed as the Papists doe contend or some thing in pretence and shew like Samuel Neyther would the prophet have sayd to the King of Tyrus Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God a proselyte in the church of Israel unless eyther himself or some of his predecessors had been there in times past Neyther would Amos have called the Israelites idol temple the house of their God unless eyther it were so in deed or in pretense which phrase when the Greek translateth according to the letter the house of
can be transformed as the ministers of righteousnes 2 Cor. 11. 14. 15. is it such a marvel that he should transforme his temple and church into the Temple of God and church of Christ and yet as he is a Divil stil notwithstanding his transformation so his Temple coÌ„tinueth stil the Temple of the Divil and church of Antichrist how ever they are disguised with other names and habits And to help a litle to the discerning of both these opposite mysteries of pietie and impietie wee are to know that Christs Kingdome beginneth in the kingdome of Satan and is perfected in the Kingdome of God and Antichrists kingdome beginneth in the kingdome of God and is perfected in the kingdome of Satan For the god of this world having blinded the eyes of infidels who are dead in synns and walk according to the prince of the power of the aier Christ by his Ministers sent into the world and by his word of trueth the gospel causeth light to arise unto them openeth their eyes and turneth them from darknes to light and from the power of Satan vnto God that they may receive forgivenes of synns and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in him and thus God delivereth them from the power of darknes and translateth them into the kingdome of his beloved son Then cometh Satan by Antichrists which are his ministers privily crept into the church and by the word of lying which is Antichrists gospel he darkneth the mindes of them that have not received the love of the trueth and turneth them back againe from God and by damnable heresies privily brought in draweth them even to deny the Lord that bought them and so bring upon themselves swift destruction Then doe they goe out from the church blaspheme the way of trueth and togither with the Beast doe warr against Christ whom yet in name and pretense they would seem to honour and serve so accomplishing the mysterie of their iniquitie unto assured damnation if they turne not againe unto God This thing not being observed how Christ beginneth in the world and draweth men out of it into his church and Antichrist beginneth in the church draweth men out of it into the world againe as the Dragons taile draweth the starrs of heaven â—â—fteth them to the earth Rev. 12. 4. mine opposite thought it absurditie and contradiction in me for writing thus When th Apostle therfore telleth us that Antichrist sitteth as God in the Temple of God it is to be vnderstood first of their invading and destroying of Gods church and people as the heathens of old dealt with Jerusalem and dwellers therin secondly of their owne vayne ostentation whiles they will have it called the Christian catholik church and th Pope the head of the same Vpon this he thus inveigheth What have we here Doth himself now by the Temple of God vnderstand Gods church and people yea such as was answerable to Ierusalem and the dwellers therin of old why then hath he so eagerly oppugned us hereabout c. Answ. I oppugne the present church of Rome which Antichrist destroyeth not but buildeth and adorneth as an alluring harlot the Christian church which was in Rome of old that hath he invaded and destroyed long since for they then were Saints such as he hateth these now are worshipers of him and of idols Divils and are an habitation of Divils So there is as much difference between the church of Rome now and the church then as between the Bishop of Rome now the Bishops then they were Christs ministers this now is Antichrist as mine opposite himself confesseth And what cause hath he to insult as if he had got the victorie Let wise men judge But he proceedeth Obj. Where can he shew in the scriptures that sitting is put for invading or destroying c. Otherwhere stil he teatheth that by sitting is meant abiding continuing dwelling c. What if I cannot prove that sitting is put for invading or destroying if I prove my assertion by other words of the text shall it not suffice The words Eiston Naon into the Temple may imply by a figure his invading and the person that invadeth being an enemy a theef a wolf implyeth his destroying for our Saviour sayth The theef cometh not but for to steale and to kill and to destroy 1 Joh. 10. 10. The scripture often wanteth words easy to be understood so here Paul sayth of Antichrist that he having entred into the Temple of God sitteth as God And if they regard not my exposition they shall have his on whom they so much rely Mr. Iunius I mean who so explaineth it saying The testimonie of signe is this that Invading the temple of God he shal sit as God Jun. Animad vers in Bellarm. Controv. 3. l. 3. c. 14. not 18. But what if I confirme it by the word sitting which he thought so unlikely In Esai 14. 13. the Prophet upbraideth the king of Babylon thus Thou hast sayd in thine hart J wil ascend into heaven c. J wil sit also in the mount of the congregation in the sides of the North meaning mount Sion where Gods temple was But this is meant of Nebuchadnezars invading of Ierusalem to spoile the same as the historie sheweth 2 King 25. and in him Antichrists tyrannie against the church was lively figured As for sitting to mean continuing though it doth so often times yet not alwayes Christ sate upon the mount of Olives Mat. 24. 3. the disciples sate in the house Act. 2. 2. yet dwelt they not or continued long there And when the Babylonian invaded mount Sion to sit there he continued not there but having spoiled the citie burned the Temple and captived the people he returned into Babylon 2 King 25. so Antichrist spoiling Christian churches returneth to his whore of Babylon his proper habitation which he wickedly boasteth to be the Sion Temple and church of God Wheras mine opposite expounded the Temple of God to be the church and shewed not whether he meant a church particular or general and catholik I sayd for a particular church it wil not agree with the prophesies of Antichrist whose citie or church is so great as peoples kinreds tongues nations doe dwell in the streets therof Rev. 11. 8. 9. He gainsayeth me thus First Still he calls that Antichrists church which th' Apostle calleth the Temple of God Answ. It is his own interpretation that the Temple meaneth the church and that he that sitteth in it is Antichrist and sitting he wil have to be continuing and why may not I call that church wherin Antichrist sitteth continually as God Antichrists church yea though it were indeed Gods church as he supposeth Seing the citie wherin Christ did but dwell was called his owne citie Mat. 9. 1. And that which God sayth in my house and in my kingdom 1 Chron.
17. 14. an other Prophet relateth it thine house and thy kingdome speaking to David the governour 2 Sam. 7. 16. Or to shew a fitter similitude as the holy Ghost calleth the Moabites the people of Chemosh Numb â—1 29. because they worshiped Chemosh for their God so the church of Rome which worshipeth Antichrist is fitly called Antichrists church Object How will he prove that the Beasts citie Rev 11. 8. is the temple of God 2 Thes. 24. Ans. It is himself that expoundeth the Templ to be the church and in special the Lateran church in Rome where the Pope is parish priest I shew by Rev. 11. 8. that the Popes parish is a larger citie or church then eyther that Lateran parish or Rome it self even over many nations and so can not be a particular church such as Christ instituted but a new catholik church which the Pope hath devised and would have it accounted the Temple and church of God Here mine opposite laboureth to finde a difference between the Beasts citie and his church but all in vaine For thus he reasoneth 1. This citie in Rev. 11. 8. is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified But the church is here called the Temple of God or the Court without the Temple or the holy Citie Answ. First then he granteth that the same church may be called both a temple a citie so the diverse name helpeth him nothing Secondly it is true that Antichrists church is called Sodom and Egypt which was an whole countrie let men now judge how fitly mine opposite hath confined Antichrists church within the Laterane parish a corner in Rome Shall we rather beleeve him or the Holy Ghost Thirdly that is called the Holy citie Rev. 11. 2. which the Gentiles the church of Antichrist tread under foot as destroyed and wast wheras the church of Antichrist is a great citie called Babylon sumptuously builded garnished and by him mainteyned Rev. 17. and that is the church of Rome at this day as all know and of the present church of Rome is now our controversie Obj. 2. This great citie is that where our Lord was crucified Rev. 11. 8. Now all know that he was crucified in and vnder the jurisdiction of the citie not of the church of Rome For he was condemned by Pontius Pilate c. Answ. The thing he aimeth at is that the citie mentioned in Rev 11. 8. is a civil politie as when Rome killed Christ and not an ecclesiastical politie or church But he laboureth in the winde for the citie is such as is the Beast or kingdome the Beast is a spiritual politie most synful for it commeth out of the bottomles pit Rev. 11. 7. that is from the Divil wheras all Civil polities are from God though they be heathens Rom. 13. 1. 2. Secondly he should have knowen that the same Citie which was a civil politie in Christs time killed him is now subordinate to an ecclesiastical politie church or Papacie and stil crucifieth Christ in his members Obj. 3. This citie is that which was the Dragons throne and by him given to the Beast Revel 13. 2. But this was the citie not the church of Rome Neyther J think wil these men themselves say that the church was the Dragons throne or was by the Dragon given to the beast Answ. The citie or politie which the Dragon gave to the Beast was civil but is now subjected to or become ecclesiastical for the citie of Rome is now by profession Christen which of old was heathen and by professed Christians namely the Pope his church are those witnesses of God killed Rev. 11. 7. 8. so their corpses lye unburied in the streets of the beasts citie that is of Antichrists church or politie which reacheth over many nations Obj. 4. This citie also is the throne of the Beast and Babylon the great citie spoken of Rev. 16. 10. 19. 17. 18. chapt which is to be understood of the citie of Rome and dominion therof Answ. It is granted that this citie is Babylon and Rome and the dominion therof but it is a spiritual politie or church for who hath dominion now of Rome but the Pope or Bishop there the pretended vicar of Christ and who but he hath killed those Martyrs within his Diocese or Bishoprick which reacheth over many kingdoms Obj. 5. This citie is the woman that sitteth on seven-mountains Reve. 17. 9. 18. And the citie not the church of Rome is built on 7. mountaines Answ. Yes the same heathen citie which was first set on seven hills is now a pretended Christian citie sitting still on her 7 hills and being a Christian in name hath killed Christ in his members by her Popes power ecclesiastical who hath his seat in her but his Dragons pawes reach into farr countries This citie the woman on 7. hills is shee that hath made the inhabiters of the earth drunk with the wine of her â—ornication Rev. 17. 1. 2. c. and who but the church of Rome hath doen this Obj. 6. This citie hath 7. kings or kindes of government c. by Kings Consuls Dictators Decemvirs Tribunes ceased before Johns time Emperours when Iohn lived and Popes not then come But how should this be found in the church of Rome which was not before Johns tyme and therfore could not have 5. Kings or kindes of government then fallen Answ. Ill doe they thrive that kick against the pricks Here himself confesseth the Popes goverment to be one of the seven now the Popes goverment or papacie is an ecclesiastical monarchie by it were the witnesses of Christ slayn as before I shewed As for seven goverments to be found in the church of Rome that is in the papacie is absurd for it is to seek 7. kindes of goverment in one But six are gone and the seventh remayneth by the Pope That citie or politie which once was heathen now Christian in name Antichristian in deed which the Pope menageth is the malignant church that killeth Gods witnesses amongst peoples kinreds tongues and nations Rev. 11. 8. 9. Therfore it can not be restreyned to one particular congregation Obj. 7. This citie is that which reigned over the kings of the earth in Johns time Rev. 17. 8. And that not the church but the citie of Rome so reigned when John wrote all doe acknowledge Answ. But that the citie the church of Rome now reigneth by the Pope the head of that church all doe acknowledge And the killing of those witnesses Rev. 11. was not in Iohns time but after when the citie or politie of Rome was become Christian in name and title To say it was not so in Iohns time therfore it is not so now is dallying rather then sound reasoning Obj. 8. Finally the Lord himself putteth difference between this citie Babylon and his people therin Rev. 18. 4. as of old in Babylon of Chaldeâ— Ier. 50. c. Answ. This is true but what can he inferr
thereupon It was not Gods people in Babylon that killed those witnesses Rev. 11. but it was Babylon that killed those witnesses Gods people therin Because Gods people killed not those witnesses but the Beast in his catholik citie or church therfore thinks he that citie of the beast is not his church a fayre conclusion Obj. Note here that by the great citie is meant not onely the citie it self but the whole jurisdiction authority and dominion therof how farr soever extended Answ. It is a good note and worth the marking for the great citie being the church of Rome as before is proved it followeth that the extents of that church reach further then the materiall walls of Rome even to all nations that are of the Popes religion and therfore to bound it within the Lateran parish of Rome is to restreyn that which God sheweth to be more large It were a happy day if the Popes unruly power were limited within the Lateran parish and his jurisdiction reached no further But he must have a larger scope to range in yet a while and weak warriers are they against him that plead for his whorish church of Rome that it is the true church of Christ and under his covenant of grace It is the thing that the Pope would most gladly have proved and I am well assured Babylon wil not fall til it be otherweise battered Obj. Where yet observe further that the church of Rome being fallen into deep apostasie and having the man of syn sitting ther in as God who hath that citie for his throne the things that are spoken of this citie are also applied to the apostate estate of that church of Rome and the other churches that are under the jurisdiction of the prelacie of that Sea whersoever and of whatsoever people kinred tongue or nation they be c. But shall wee therfore conclude that by the Temple of God 2 Thes. 2. 4. may not be understood the church of God Answ. How glorious is the trueth that forceth those to yeild that fight against it His former reasons that by the Citie in Rev. â—1 8. the church was not meant he now frustrateth himself But still he cleaveth to his first plea The temple of God 1 Thes. 2. is the church of God I may answer hereto as God by Ieremy did to the Iewes Trust not in lying words saying The temple of the Lord the temple of the Lord the temple of the Lord are these Ier. 7. 4. Our dispute is in what sense Paul calleth it the Temple of God whether as the true temple builded by Solomon or as the false temple builded in Samaria by the Apostate Israelites which the Prophet calleth the house of their God Amos 2. 8. as the Apostle calleth this the Temple of God Now faine he would have this Romish temple of apostate Papists to be the true temple of God and that they notwithstanding their deep apostasie are Gods true church under his covenant which I deny and have before disproved and Paul in the very same place counteth them among those that perish for beleeving lyes which shal be damned for not beleeving the trueth 2 Thes. 2. 10. 11. 12. and Christ teacheth that being worshipers of the beast their names are not written in the book of lâ—fe Rev. 13. 8. 17. 8. but they shal be tormented in fyre and brimstone for ever Revel 14. 9. 10. 11. and that the whorish church Babylon the great the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth which is drunken with the blood of the Saincts and of the martyrs of Jesus shal be destroyed for ever Rev. 17. 5. 6. 18. 21. And who now that have not their right eye blinded wil not rather say it is the Samaritans Temple then Solomons though in pretence and colour the Temple of God And seing every true church now is a particular congregation in one place but the church of Rome is a new found catholik church spred over many nations under one head Bishop the Pope it can not possibly be Christs true church having neyther the constitution faith worship ministerie order or ordinances of Christ but of his enemie Antichrist Wheras I formerly wrote Neyther is that if they meane a particular church answerable to the Temple in Israel which was not for one synagogue but for the whole nation of the Iewes and for the Gentiles that came to the faith through the world To this he sayth How greatly forgets he himself and how presently seing but a line before he sayd the Temple figured not onely the catholik or universal church Ephe 2. 21. but also every particular church by proportion 1 Corint 3. 16. 17. And may we not then apply it to that wherof it was a figure c. Answ. No for mine opposite granteth that the Temple was primarily a figure Christ but so to apply it in this place 2 Thes. 2. himself thinketh not fit I deny not but some where it may and ought to be so applyed but considering that the Temple of God wherin Antichrist now sitteth is a catholik church spred over many nations as was prophesied Rev. 11. 8. 9. I think the applying of Pauls words in 2 Thes. 2. to a particular church is neyther fitting to the type nor to the prophesie nor to the accomplishment of it which we see at this day The priests in Israel figured Christ chiefly secondarily Christians Rev. 1. 6. But to apply those things which Paul speaketh of the Priests in Heb. 10. 11. 12. to us Christians were not onely unfitting but heretical Obj. The Candlesticks and Lamps were set in the Temple of God and the church of Rome was a golden Candlestick as well as the rest of the primitive churches and this man himself sayth definitely the true churches were many of them apostate when John wrote whom yet notwithstanding Christ acknowledgeth to be golden candlesticks In any of which of Antichrist had sit as in the church of Rome I suppose this man would not deny but his sitting then should have been in the Temple of God whether it were considered as a particular candlestick it self or a branch of the great general candlestick c. Answ. 1. If the Candlesticks were churches in the Temple the church then the Temple in such respect is the catholick church for one particular church is not in an other 2. I grant that the church of Rome was a golden candlestick in th'Apostles time and I think mine opposite would not deny but then also the Bishop of Rome was a starr in Christs right hand But now the Bishop is a starr fallen from heaven and acknowledged to be Antichrist why then may not the church be fallen with him as Paul forewarned Rom. 11. 22. and the candlestick removed from it as wel as from Ephesus Rev. 2. 5. except Rome have a privilege above all other cities because it crucified Christ. 3. I grant also that
set among his people wheras in his understanding the Temple of God wherin Antichrist sitteth is the people 2. That Temple was not infected with syn but the syn rested in the persons that worshiped in it or came into it as I shewed before from Levit. 16. 16. Wheras the church of Rome is so infected with Antichrists syn as mine opposite confesseth it to be in most synfull and deep apostasie and so to be a notorious harlot and idolatress which all the people of God ought to forsake 3. That temple merely suffred that misusage at the hands of synners Iewes and Gentiles even as Christ the true Temple in his humanitie true Christians his members have suffred at the hands of the Romans of old heathens and now Antichristians But to make that temple a type of this malignant church which togither with her head the Pope persecuteth Christ and his saincts and worshipeth creatures idols and Divils is altogither amyss For so we might conclude thus As the Temple of God though it were defiled with the apostasie idolatrie of the Iewes and of the Gentiles with how great abomination soever yet continued Gods holy Temple still and could not by any impietie become the Temple of Antichrist or of Satan so the church of Rome though it should be defiled with apostasie idolatrie prophanenesse atheisme eyther of Antichrist or of Iewes Turks or Pagans if it should beleeve and receive the religion of Maomet or of Iulian the Apostata yet should it continue the true church and people of God and under his covenant of grace Behold what favour the church of Rome hath found above all churches under heaven that if she receive Iudaisme or Paganisme if she worship the Beast the Dragon or Divil himself by open profession yet the abideth the church of God for if Antiochus who set up Iupiter Olympius image in the Temple had set up also the professed worship of the Divil yet the Temple should have been Gods holy temple notwithstanding and so by proportion the church of Rome must be if this comparison of mine opposites be true By such doctrine the whole gospel of Christ is overthrowne For faith and sanctimonie of life are the summe of all the gospell and both of them are destroyed For though Rome be apostate and departed from the faith as Paul foretold 1 Tim. 4. 1. though she beleeve in a wafer cake and worship it for her God and maker though she beleeve to have forgivenes of synns by the abominable massing sacrifice of her priests by the pardons and indulgences of her popes and to merit salvation in heaven by wicked works which she doeth being taught by the Man of syn though she have many thousands of new Gods and new Christs even so many as there be Angels and saincts in heaven and moe too though she be as filthy in life as Sodom as idolatrous malignant against Gods people as were Egypt and Babylon unto which the holy Ghost hath compared her Rev 11. 8. 14. 8. yet so long as she wil say to Christ but as the Divil sayd Thou art Christ the son of God Luke 4. 41. that is so long as she reteyneth the profession of Christianitie she is the Temple of God the church of Christ and under the covenant of salvation But he that justifieth the wicked is an abomination to the Lord Prov. 16. 15. and woe unto them that say concerning evil it is good Esa. 5. 20. Can not men put difference between Gods ordinances given unto a people the people themselves that injoy use or abuse those ordinances The Temple was an ordinance given unto Israel as were the altars and sacrifices therin so God gave unto all the world by Noe commandements for altars and sacrifices Gen. 8. 20. unto Abraham he commanded circumcision unto Christians baptisme the Supper of Christ c. All Gods ordinances continue in themselves holy till God doe abrogate them though men that abuse them fall to be most unholy and without God in the world So the sacrifices of sheep and Oxen were in themselves Gods holy ordinances howsoever abused by the Iewes in Ierusalem by the Israelites in Samaria and by the heathens in their severall lands so circumcision though profaned by the Sichemites Gen. 34. so baptisme and the Lords supper though turned by Antichrist into abominable idols remayned and doe remaine in themselves Gods holy ordinances though men have abused them to their damnation so the Sun moon and starrs continued Gods good creatures though men made idols of them to themselves To reason therfore from the creatures and ordinances unto men which abuse them and to gather because the creature or ordinance abideth good in it self therfore the person that abuseth it abideth good also or to wrest a type as mine opposite doeth from a creature or ordinance of old to a most synfull people now and make them alike holy is an high abuse of Gods ordinances and a taking of his name in vaine Of the Temple in Rev. 11. MIne opposite proceedeth to speak of the Temple and court in Rev. 11. 1. 2. and to apply it to his present cause That which he first speaketh of the word Temple diversly used and meaning not onely the house but the Court yard or Courts I graunt unto him How to apply it he sheweth himself uncertaine whether more generally to the Christian church or more specially to the church of Rome Yet every way sayth he it wil folow that the state of the sayd church of Rome and Christians is to be esteemed according to the estate of the Temple at Ierusalem and particularly with reference to the court and holy citie given to the gentiles and therfore is to be accounted the church and citie of God as the other were his court and citie though polluted c. This I deny the church or people of Rome at this day is not answerable to the Temple or court or city of Ierusalem in holynes but to the gentiles in profanenes And I have before manifested his great abuse of that proportion from the Temple polluted yet continuing the Lords and holy in it self to the people apostate and fallen from the Lord from his faith and worship to the faith and worship of Antichrist In sted of proofs he offreth things to be considered The first wherof I leave as not perteyning to our controversie though it may seem not agreable that the most holy place should be omitted as figuring heaven seeing in the 19. verse when the Temple was opened the Ark of Gods testament was seen in it and the Ark was set in the most holy place 2 Chron. 5. 7. It is true that that place figured heaven Heb. 9. 24. but it might also figure other things on earth as the Temple it self figured both Christ and the Church as we have formerly heard His second consideration is whether by the temple of God here may not be understood the holy place and figuratively
King and captaines 2. King 25. And he should so have applyed these Gentiles that tread down Gods holy ordinances touching his church and worship to the papists the Popes marked soldjers that have the number of his name and not to the Bishops and Preists onely For in the beasts armie there are not onely Kings and captaines which fight against Christ and Christians but all sorts of men both free and bond both smal and great which shal be slayn with the sword of Christ which proceedeth out of his mouth and all the fowles shal be fylled with their fleshes Rev. 19. 17. 18. 21. So not the popish hierarchie alone but all other of their idolatrous religion are the Gentiles in Rev. 11. whom the holy Ghost measureth not amongst his people but casteth out as profane treaders down of his holy things though mine opposite measureth them as Gods true church and in his covenant yet counteth their pastors which are as faithfull and holy as they to be wicked Gentiles So the Beast which killeth Gods witnesses Rev. 11. 7. he expoundeth the Antichristian hierarchie Locusts which are but the heads hornes and cheif members of the Beast For as in Dan. 7. the Lion is the kingdom of Babel both princes and subjects and the Beare the kingdom of the Persians and so all the rest as is there expounded in v. 23. the fourth Beast shal be the fourth kingdom upon earth and the ten hornes out of that Beast or kingdom are sayd to be ten kings v. 24. so the Beast in Rev. 13. is meant of a whole kingdom and not of governours onely And the scripture plainly ynough clâ—areth this saying And they of the people and kinreds and tongues nations shal see their dead bodies c and shal not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves and they that dwel upon the earth shal rejoyce over them and make merry c. Rev. 11. 9. 10. So not the hierarchie onely but popish multitudes also doe belong to this beast and kingdome that murdereth the witnesses of Christ. And here note how mine Opposite himself is driven to confesse that the Church of God and the Beast doe in deed differ much the one from the other but the Church of Rome both hierarchie and people are the Beast as before is prooved therfore the Church of God and the church of Rome doe in deed differ much the one from other and mine adversarie granteth that which overthroweth his own plea. This wil yet further appeare by this that foloweth Whiles the holy citie lieth ruinous troden under foot by the Antichristian Gentiles which keep it from being reedified and measured so long a time 1260. yeres there is an other great citie which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified Rev. 11. 8. even Babylon the great the mother of fornications and abominations of the earth Rev. 17. 5. which lyeth not ruinous but is stately built dekt and garnished glorifying her self and living diliciously which saith in her hâ—rt I sit 〈◊〉 Queene and aâ—no widow and shal see no sorow and this is the great Citie Rome which in th'Apostle Iohns time reigned over the kings of the earth Rev. 17. 18. but after that became a Christian citie or politie but soon forsook Christ and were Christians in name being in deed Gentiles and a Catholik church sitting and reigning over peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues Rev. 17. 1â— Which albeit myne opposite before laboured to make it differ from the Church of Rome yet I also before took away his reasons And here himself yeildeth so much as wil overthrow him For Note here sayth he that by the great Citie is meant not onely the citie it self c. for as one wel writeth the citie is not onely the Town or peece of ground conteyned within the compâ—sse of the walls therof togither with the Citizens and inhabitants having order and goverment c. but also the whole jurisdiction and goverment of the cite in all places perteyning therto So the streets of this citie reach farr even to all places under the jurisdiction therof and comprehend sundry peoples and kinreds and tongues and nations as here is sayd Wherupon it is fitly compared to the great citie Babylon c. Where yet observe further that the church of Rome being fallen into deep Apostasie and having the man of syn sitting therin as God who hath the citie for his throne the things that are spoken of this citie are also applied to the apostatle estate of that church of Rome and the other churches that are under the jurisdiction of the prelacie of that Sea whersoever and of whatsoever people kinred tongue on nation they be Which application therof J doe also acknowledge as it is observed by and according to the word of God Rev. 11. 8. with Esai 1. 10. Ier. 23. 14. Ezek. 16. 2 -46 Rev. 14. 8. and 17. and 18. c. with Esai 21. 9. and 48. 20. Jer. 50. and 51. 1 -45 Ezek. 16. 2 -35 and c. 23. Ziaoh 2. 6. 7. Thus farr he yeildeth Wherupon it is evident to all that will see how this great citie the glorious church of Rome that killeth Gods witnesses in it is a farr different thing from the holy Citie which that church treadeth down and keepeth from being reedified as the Babylonians having ruinated Ierusalem kept it from being built againe during their reigne So then his comparing of Rev. 11. 8. with Esai 1. 10. and Ier. 23. 14. seemeth to be an unequal match by which he would make the church of Rome as truly Gods as Ierusalem and the Temple were Gods in Esaias time and Ieremies when wicked Iewes likened to Sodomites and Gomorrheans worshiped in them For 1. Ierusalem then was standing here it is tuined and lyeth unbuilt unmeasured cast out from all measuring by the reed of Gods word 2. Sodom and Babylon are never in scripture called the holy citie as Ierusalem is yet here he would have that which God nameth Sodom Egypt Babylon to be in deed Ierusalem 3. Neither Esaie nor Ieremy doe call the holy Citie Sodom or Gomorrha but the wicked people in that holy citie Which may fall out in the truest church on earth that there may as slagitious persons be in it as any in Sodom So in the church of Christ and his Apostles there was Iudas a Divil But Antichrists citie hath no other name then Sodom Egypt Babylon and Rome by whose power and politie Christ was crucified and this name is given it spiritually that is in spirit and trueth as being no way inferiour but beyond them rather in all impietie cloked with hypocrisie In deed Bellarmine pleading for the Pope contendeth against Hierom that Jerusalem might be called Sodom and citeth this very text Esai 1. 10. ye Princes of Sodom but Mr Iunius on whom mine opposite so much relyeth as wee shall see anone answereth
even in this his last book where he dealeth against the Anabaptists For in his Chr. plea p. 27. 28. he sayth Circumcision once received in the apostasie of Israel was not repeated againe at their returning to the Lord and leaving of their idolatrous wayes c and quoteth among other scriptures 2 Chron. 30 ch and Ezr. 6. 19. 20. 21. Of which the one speaketh of them that returned in Ezekiahs dayes whiles the Israelites were in the land the other of them that had been dispersed among the heathens and returned So I where I treat of Baptisme handle those estates indistinctly which is made a great matter against me by him that doeth the same thing himself against others But now I wil speak of them a part The Israelites that rent themselves from Iudah I take to be a false church and so continued whiles they dwelt in the land After they were dispersed and were no church The first I shew thus The twelve tribes by Gods institution were all one church both in Moses time when they had the Tabernacle among them and encamped all round about it in the order set of God Num. 2. and after in the land of Canaan whiles the Tabernacle stood when the Temple was built by Solomon both which were signes of Gods presence and dwelling with his church And to keep them in this unitie he commanded all the men of Israel to come joyntly togither from all parts of the land three times every yere to worship him and keep their solemne feasts in that one place which he should choose and at all other times to offer their sacrifices there and in no other place and thither onely to bring their first fruits their commanded and their voluntarie oblations Exod. 23. 14. 17. 19. Deut. 12. 5. 6. 7. Who so did otherweise blood was imputed unto that man and he should be cut off from among his people to keep the people from offring their sacrifices unto Divils Levit. 17. 3. 4. 7. Now when the ten tribes revolted and made Ieroboam king then Israel forgat his maker and builded Temples Hos. 8. 14. For Ieroboam took counsel and made two calves of gold and sayd unto them Jt is too much for you to goe up to Jerusalem Behold thy gods ô Jsrael which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt and he set the one in Bethel and the other he put in Dan and this thing became a syn And he made an house of hye places and made priests of the lowest of the people which were not of the sonns of Levi. And he offred on the Altar which he had made in Bethel 1 King 12. 28. 33. And having cast off the Lords Priests Levites Ieroboam ordeyned him priests for the hie places and for the Divils and for the calves which he had made but such of all the tribes of Israel as set their harts to seek the Lord God of Jsrael went to Jerusalem to sacrifice unto the Lord God of their fathers 2 Chron. 11. 14. 15. 16. Thus of one daughter of Sion one â—hurch there became two women or daughters the one to weet Jerusalem the tribe of Iudah the Lord named Aholibah that is My Tabernacle in her the other Samaria the ten tribes he named Aholah that is her own tabernacle So Israel was without the true God and without a teaching Preist and without Law 2 Chron. 15. 3. and the Lord was not with Jsrael 2 Chron. 25. 7. but at their first falling away he threatned by his Prophets that because Ieroboam had made himself other gods and molten images and cast the Lord behind his back Ieroboams house should be cut off and taken away aâ— dung and the Lord would smite Israel and root them up out of that good land which he gave to their fathers and would sâ—arter them beyond the river 1 King 14. 9. 15. Yet for to shew his patience towards his people whom he had chosen for his above all peoples of the earth and for to save his elect among them and to make the rest the more inexcusable he forbare them many yeres and by all the Prophets and all the Seers sayd unto them Turne ye from your evil wayes and keep my commandements my statutes yet they would not heare but hardned their necks and beleeved not in the Lord their God but rejected his statutes and his Covenant that he made with their fathers and folowed vanitie and became vaine and went after the heathen that were round about them and left all the commandements of the Lord their God therfore the Lord was very angrie with Jsrael and removed them out of his sight 2 King 17. 13. 18. From these and other the like testimonies against this people I gather that from the time they departed from the Lord from his Temple altars and holy signes of his presence with his people in Christ from his Priests and the lawfull sacrifices at Ierusalem which were figures of Christ and from the communion of their brethren the Iewes which remayned the church of Christ and made a new Temple altar priesthood and church of humane and synfull institution that this their church Temple preisthood and worship were false For that is trueth which agreeth with the will and word of God all humane devices in religion are lyes and vanities If it be â—ayd the Lord himself rent the kingdom from Solomons son and gave it to Ieroboam 1 King 11. 29. 31. and therfore this second church was also of divine institution I answer though God divided the kingdom yet he divided not the church there might have been twelve kings over the twelve tribes as there were of old twelve princes Numb 1. 5. 16. and yet they should have been one Church The kingdom or Civil state is an ordinance immediately under God Rom. 13. the church or ecclesiastical state is an ordinance immediately under Christ the mediator and he is the head of the bodie the church Colos. 1. 18. The civil state is above the ecclesiastical as God is the head of Christ therfore the Church is to be subject to the Magistrate the higher power the minister of God though he be an heathen Rom. 13. 1. c. 1 Pet. 2. 13. 14. for the civil state is not taken away by difference of religion error heresie or any apostasie from Christ but the ecclesiastical state is by such things dissolved the Candlestick the church may be removed and of a Church of Christ become a Synagogue of Satan 1 Joh. 2. 18. 19. Rev. 2. 5. 9. In their civil state the Israelites were to be subject unto Nebuchadnezar an heathen when he conquered them Ier. 27. 6. 8. 12. but for their ecclesiastical estate they might never submitt to Nebuchadnezars church or priests nor offer to God upon any of his altars So to Ieroboam as king they might be subject without dissolving their communion in the mysteries of Christ set in the Temple altars priests
c at Ierusalem Thus this new church and ministerie arising from Ieroboams syn was not of God and therfore could not possibly be a true church which alwayes is a divine ordinance in Christ the head of the same Touching their second estate after that God had called them back unto him by all his Prophets but they would not heare and chastised them seven times and seven that is many times for their sinns hee brought the land into desolation and scattred them among the heathen so the land did spue them out as it spued out the heathens that were before them the Lord did put her away and gave her a bill of divorce Jer 3. 8. and they were Lo-ammi not Gods people neither was he their God Hos. 1. 9. they were not his wife neither was he their husband Hos. 2. 2. In which estate they abiding without King Prince sacrifice image ephod or Teraphim were as scattred sheepe devoured by the King of Assyria and therefore no Church nor Common wealth but so broken that they were not a people Esai 7. 8. The next errour he chargeth me with is that I say If they cannot prove Babylon in Chaldea to be Gods Church when the Iewes were there captived they shall never prove the Temple of God spoken of in 2. Thes. 2. 4. to be Gods true Church c. Answ. He hath falsified my words and not answered my reason Thus I wrote Their applying of these things to our times is not in all poynts aright For though in this Antichrists synagogue and Israels doe agree that neither be Gods true Church yet the perfect type of Rome as God describeth it is Babylon Rev 17. 18. and we should not be wiser then God And if they cannot prove Babylon then to be Gods true Church which was not more deep in sin then now Antichrist is and which citie had promise and performance of mercie in Christ at the end they shal never prove this synagogue of Satan to be Gods true Church which hath no promise of recovery or mercie but prophesies and threatnings of assured destruction Numb 24. 24. Rev. 14. 9. 10. 18. 8 21. 19 20. 21. 2. Thess. 2. 8. 12. Thus men may see what manner of replies he hath made unto me and when he hath no other thing to say he flyeth to his wonted refuge The Temple of God and sayth our question and reasoning was about it as if it were not about the Church of Rome but about a phrase that we contended But hereof I have spoken at large For the word Church taken sometime largely sometime strictly he taxeth me for omitting this Answ. Why should I not omit that whereabout is no controversie That which Keckerman whom he citeth sayth of the Church largely taken to comprehend both the elect and hypocrites and strictly taken to comprehend the elect onely I acknowledge for truth But it is nothing to our controversie For his double regard of apostate Churches and so of Israel I yeilded to him that which was truth and shewed wherein he missed wherto as he replieth not but referreth it to the readers judgment so do I. I shewed how the Iewes at this day professing the God of Israel and praying to him and reading his Law in their synagogues may be called Gods people in comparison of Pagans that know not God or his scriptures at all but worship the Sun and Moon and some the Divil by open profession yet the Iewes now are not actually in the covenant of grace And the the Turks that professe one immutable living true most wise and high God and Christ to be sent of God with his Gospel and that he is the Breath or Spirit of God may in comparison of Julian the Apostata and Atheists be called the people of God and Christians though indeed they be farr from being either So the church of Rome in comparison with Turkes and Paynims may be called Christians but are indeed false Christians c. To that of the Jewes he answereth nothing For the Turks he maketh it nothing to the purpose seeing they professe not Christ to be the Son of God made Man that died for our synns as the Church of Rome professeth c. Answ. It is to the purpose that in divers respects and in comparison with Atheists and people that professe not God or Christ at all they that are not indeed Gods people or true Christians may be called Gods people and Christians so his double respectâ— help him nothing And for the Church of Rome I shewed them to be in comparison with Turks neerer Christ and so the doctrine there neerer to salvation then the Mahometans and I doubt not but God by it saveth some chosen therein which yet justifieth not their estate to be a true Christian Church as the reprobates in the true Church condemne not the estate thereof I shewed by many instances the Church of Rome to be in some things more grosse idolaters then either Iewes or Turkes or heathens This he being not able to deny opposeth how Jerusalem justified Samaria and Sodom Ezek. 16. Jer. 3. That Tyre Sidon and Sodom shal have easier judgement then Chorazin Bethsaida and Capernaum Mat. 11. yet these cities were the Churches and people of God Answ. For Ierusalem the Prophets speak of it sometime as generally wicked when yet there were many godly that partaked not with her synns Ezek. 9. 4. Such as were more openly wicked then Samaria and Sodom I deny them to be actually then in the covenant of grace to mans judgement for the Lord appointed them to destruction Ezek. 9. The cities of Israel in Christs time were a part of the true Church of the Iewes yet for refusing Christ they should have heavier judgement then the heathens so shall hypocrites in every true Church have greater punishment then many heathens But comparison should be made of Church with Church not of some in the true Church with the estate of a false church And that the generall state of the Church of Rome is Antichristian and so denieth indeed both the Father and the Son is before proved And they generally these many years haue been more grosse idolaters then either Iewes or Turks therefore their profession of Christ in name will not prove them to be in the covenant of grace God testifieth to the Churches of Galatia Christ is become of no effect unto you whosoever of you are justified by the Law ye are fallen from grace Gal. 5. 4. If they that would be justified by the Law of God and works of the same fell from grace much more they that will be justified by the law of Antichrist and wicked workes are fallen from grace and have no benefit by Christ. But such is the generall faith of the Church of Rome beleeving to be justified by the idolatrous workes which they walk in as they are taught by the Man of Syn that
and people so doth the Antichristian of Antichrist his ministers and people This Beast hath seven heads and ten hornes Rev. 17. 3. the ten hornes are sayd to be ten Kings v. â—2 as in Dan. 7. 24. the ten hornes out of that kingdom are ten kings these kings are none of the hierarchy wherefore the whole body of this beast conteineth more then the Pope and his hierarchy The Lamb against whom the Beast with his hornes fighteth Rev. 17. 14. Mr. Iunius expoundeth to be Christ and his Church why may not we by like reason expound the Beast to bee Antichrist and his Church Finally the Beast sayth Mr. Iunius * himselfe is the Romane Empire made long agoe of civill Ecclesiastical the chief head whereof hee maketh the Pope to beâ— And the Beast of Rome sayth he of a civil Empire is made an ecclesiastical Hierarchie The Whore he expoundeth to be the spiritual Babylon which is Rome so then by mine opposites plea neither did Mr. Iunius say neither ever entred into his thought that the ecclesiastical Roman Empire since the Pope was head of it or the hierarchy was ever married unto Christ. As for the Whore the Church which rideth this Beast he calleth it the False-Christian Church over which Antichrist ruleth and Antichrists Church which title mine opposite will not beare at my hand and that Antichristian Church which the Angel biddeth cast out and measure it not in Rev. 11. 12. Mr. Iunius explaineth thus As if he should say it belongeth nothing to thee to judge those which are without 1. Cor. 5. 12. which be innumerable look unto those of the houshold onely or unto the house of the living God Notwithstanding all this Mr. Iohnson would needs measure it for the true Church House and Temple of God so well doe Mr. Iunius and he accord together To a testimony which I alleaged out of D. Fulk concerning the miserable blindnesse of people in Popery of which mine opposite sayth he might have been better aduised hee to requiâ—e me as he thinketh alleageth a speech of Mr. Broughtons who sayth Millions of millions of Romes clients are saved Brought on Rev. 13. 18. p. 203. Answ. Would he be content that Mr. Broughton should decide our controversie touching the Church of Rome Thus then sayth that author in the same book The Popes clients are the taile of the great Dragon Thence from Rome was the Rebellion to arise Man of syn Apollyon c. to set up or depose states and to have a people of his own frame and to burne the true Temple of God The Popes power driveth the Church not to be seen for certaine hundreds of yeares The Pope wresteth al that is spoken of the true Church into protection for his synagogue of Satan Rome passeth al the enemies of the Church in cruelty and idolatry Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezar were never so hardened The prophane Caesars did not so strictly hinder all use of Religion Rome hath farr passed the old Babel in idolatry The Pope followeth al heathen superstition in name staffe apparel of Caesars and Temples setting but a face of Christianity upon them All their doctrine is such that their Temples Masse and dayly profession in al things is from the unclean spirit and their whole policie is a lye The Beast which is ascended out of Abyssos that is al his eorporations millions of millions alpapists goe from their Abyssos of black ignorance unto Abyssos Luk. 8. whither the Divils shal come in their time to be tormented for ever ever These sundry the like coÌ„mendations doth the author alleaged give of the church of Rome which mine opposite pleadeth for and taking hold of a phrase wresteth it for his purpose from the mans meaning who seemeth not to speak of the popish church but of the ancient Christian for these are there Mr. Broughtons words And for Julius the captaine who was so careful for S. Paul that for his sake the liâ—e of the prisoners were spared Act. 27. God would not record this but to save millions of millions of Romes clients for S. Paul but for the unthankeful to S. Paul and forgers that Peter was at Rome who never came neere it he stil reserved Pilats holiness that Popes selfe-murder should be the reward Was not here a testimony well alleaged So in other places of his book he quoteth Mr. Brightman and others whose writings directly cross that which he pleadeth for in many things as they that read the authors may see and anone I will set downe their sayings No marvell then if hee wrest my words as where next he sayth that that which the Apostle speaketh of the Man of sin and of them that perish because they receive not the love of the truth c. 2. Thess. 2. 9. J apply for exclusion from pardon and certain condemnation to the whole Church of Rome and so to all the members thereof and that for all ages that either have been are or shal be ever since the Man of syn was seated there Answ. I sayd no more but thus God if it were granted that he is the husband of this whore hath promised her no pardon but delivered her to Satan to be seduced deluded damned 2. Thes. 2. 9. 11. 12. I speak not here of those in Rome that have withstood her whoordoms which have been many nor of those to whom at last God hath given repentance unto life which I hope are moe nor of other his elect but of the whore in generall whose damnation is shewed in Rev. 17. and 18. yea th'Apostle speaketh more particularly That they all might be damned who beleeve not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness Behold how hee sayth they all which some evill minded man might urge against the Apostle as mine opposite doth against me But wise men know that the promises of life to the true Church pertain not to the reprobates that are in it so the threatnings of death to the false Church take not hold on Gods elect which are therein Object Jf this harlot the Church of Rome was never Christs spouse otherwise then all the world was by our first parents Adam and Noe how then hath she broken the covenant of wedlock if she never were in it how can she be called a whore in respect of Christ any more then the heathens that never knew God in Christ How can she be sayd to be in Apostasie c. Answ. Of the state of the Gentiles I have spoken before and proved them to have been all in the covenant of grace in Christ from Gen. 9. 9. c. But they generally fell from God to idolatry which is whoredom and apostasie and were in time rejected of God who renewed his covenant with one small nation of the Iewes and yet saved his elect among the Gentiles also So the Christian Churches planted by the Apostles soon fell from
God and in time were rejected of God some given over to Mohometisme some to poperie Yet God hath preserved his litle Church fled into the wildernesse Rev. 12. and saved his elect also in false Churches I compare these not with the Gentiles at this day but with the Gentiles before Christs comming whiles sacrificing was lawfull as I am taught of God Rev. 11. and 17. and 18. with the old Babylonians Aegyptians In those times Tyrus was an harlot Esa. 23. 16. Niniveh was an harlot Nahum 3. 4. and so other nations then by like equitie were harlots and Rome likewise at this day Who knoweth not that a woman which is divorced from her husband as Israel was from God for whordome and followeth that trade still may still be called a harlot I deny not but in a large kind of speech Rome at this day may be sayd to have been once maried to Christ in respect of the Christian church that once was there but so all the Gentiles were in respect of the covenant with Noe. Neither doubt I to say that the Iewes even now do goe a whoring from their God for Moses and the prophets so speake of them yet actually there is now no covenant between God and them The out-cries which he maketh unto the Anabaptists to hearken and to the Reformed Churches to hang downe their heads c. I omit as the gall of bitternes which ran too fast out of his pen. To prove them the same Church which was in Pauls time hee citeth Moses prophesies of Israel Deut. 32. which were the same people their seed wheras he should rather have looked on 2. King 17. 24. 34. and compared these with the men of Babylon Cuthah c. that came and possessed the Lords land and received some part of Israels religion with their owne old idolatrie for so I shewed the present estate of this Popish church And the example of other churches that were in Corinth Ephesus looked upon at this day will confirme it About my answer for the godly fathers of the Iewes and wicked fathers of these Antichristians which the holy Ghost maketh to be Gentiles Sodomites Egyptians c. Rev. 11. 2. 8. 18. he sayth If J mean this of the citie of Rome J speak not to the point if of the church of Rome then he objecteth Ezek. 16. 3. thy father was an Amorite c. Answ. His distinction between the citie and church of Rome serveth him in no sted It was true in Pauls time when the citie was heathen and a Christian church in it But now the city is Christian Rome the Empire is an ecclesiastical empire as I shewed before from Mr. Iunius own grant The Amorites were not those fathers for whose sake the Iewes are loved but Abraham Isaak and lakob out of whose loynes the Iewes naturally came But this church of Rome now is not the child of that primitive church eyther in nature or in grace In place she succedeth them and so the Mahometists in place succeed other Christian churches planted by th Apostles And in pretence she is the same Christian church but as Satan in pretence is an Angel of light But the strangers sayth he that came to Jsrael in times of sinceritie or of apostasie were of the church of Jsrael as well as the Iewes though not of the same natural posteritie 2 Chron. 15. 9. 30. 25. 5. 6. 7. Lev. 16. 29. Num. 9. 14. Answ. But the strangers that wasted Israel and dwelt by force in their land though they were taught how they should fear the Lord by a Priest yet were not that church of whom Moses wrote 2 King 17. 24. 27. 28. So the Gothes Vandals Saracens c which overcame Italie Spaine c and dwelt there though the priest of Rome taught them his religion are not the ancient church of whom Paul wrote Besides he hath streyned things too farr for diverse Christians are at this day apostate and become Iewes can we say of them as Paul doth of the natural Iewes As touching the election they are beloved for the Fathers Rom. 11. 28. I understand that speech of the Iewish nation in generall not of particulars which perish through unbeleef as also of the natural Iewes who refused the gospel for the time and stil doe and not to concerne their proselytes which they beget to their apostasie For there is a special regard to the Iewes because they were natural branches though now broken off as th'Apostle sheweth Rom. 11. 21 24. Obj. The many changes of the Romane state and troubles by the Gothes Uandals c these specially concerne the Romane state touching the citie Empire c wheras our question is onely of the church of Rome Answ. As the state of the Empire is changed yet in some respect is the same for the Beast was and is not and yet is Rev. 17. 18. so is the church and ministerie therof it was and is not and yet is A man may speak to the Bishop of Rome now as Ezekiel did to the heathen king of Tyre Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God c. Ezek. 28. 13. to weet in his predecessor Huram which had been a proselyte in the church of Israel 2 Chron. 2. as the Hebrewes R. D. Kimchi Sol. Iarchi upon Ezek. 28. and some Christian writers doe expound it So I may say to the Pope Thou hast been a Christian Bishop a starr in Christs right hand because such was the Bishop of Rome in Paules time But mine opposite himself holdeth the Pope and his hierarchie now to be the Man of syn the son of perdition and thought it most strange in me that I should ask when ever Christ was maried to that Beast Now it is as strange that hee pleadeth for the whore of Babylon the Antichristian church He would exclude the hierarchie or ministerie because of their apostasie I also for the same doe exclude the church for the preists and people of Rome are of one faith and religion if the one be cut off from Christ so is the other It can not be denyed but they all have the mark of the Beast upon them for to take Mr. Iunius own exposition The marke of the beast sayth he is their Chrisme by which in their sacrament of Confirmation they â—oke servile unto themselves the persons and doings of men c. and as for the signe left by Christ of which Chap. 7. 3. and the holy sacrament of Baptisme they make void c. Obj. He cannot shew that ever the church of Rome ceased to be since it was first planted but it hath continued stil eyther in sinceritie or apostasie even to this day Nor can he shew that the Lord hath yet put them out of his covenant or given thm a bill of divorse or that they have lest off to baptise in his name Answ. Neyther can he shew that the Ministerie ever ceased in that church but hath
is Christs true Church because it is the Temple of God 2. Thess. 2. D. Whitakers giveth sundry answers the two first are these 1. Jt may be called the church wherein Antichrist sitteth because it was the true church of Christ before not because now it is c. So Esaias sayth the faithful citie was become an harlot Esa. 1. 21. where he calleth Jerusalem the faithful citie because it had been faithful before so we say the Temple of God is the seat of Antichrist that is that which of old was the Temple of God 2. The Church of Rome taketh to it selfe the name title of the true Church and in the opinion of our adversartes it is the true Church 〈◊〉 was a monstrous thing of old 〈◊〉 deny this neither was it denyed but of a very few who straight way when they were knowen were killed notwithstanding it was not the true Church but the whore of Babylon c. These answeres when I gave mine opposite could by no meanes endure at my hand The same author sayth a litle before Now let us see whether the Bishop of Rome hath departed from Christ and from the faith so that the church of Rome now reteyneth not the form of the Apostles doctrine Surely that is evident by all the heads of doctrine which are in controversie between us and them That Church succeedeth the Apostles in deed but so as a den of theeves doe the house of God and as an harlot doth the faithful citie c. And after But the Pope sayth Billarmine honoreth one true God the Father Son and holy Ghost J answer hee honoureth him not but blasphemeth him He doth I confess as Atheists are wont to do which wil not openly deny God but in hart and workes they deny him so the Pope figneth and preclaimeth that he honoureth the trinity but in deed he carâ—h not for him For he that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father of the holy Ghost but the Pope honoureth not the Son for he corrupteth his doctrine c. Againe touching that particular before handled whether by Babylon in Rev. 17. be meant the Citie or the Church of Rome Mr. Whitakers sayth Whereas the adversary affirmeth that it is not the Church of Rome whloâ—â— is called Babylon but the citie such as it was under the Emperours it is false For it is certain that Rome is by Iohn in the Revelation called Babylon because of that Church which should be at Rome For mention is made there of the false Prophet as also of the Whore which by her allurements should bewitch the whole world These things cannot be understood but of the Church and are necessarily to be referred unto Antichrist Mr. Brightman in his book of the Revelation expoundeth the Gentiles in Rev. 11. 2. to be the christiaÌ„s that are so in name only On Rev. 13. 8. he saith The holy Ghost doth cry openly that all they do wholly â—eopard and cast away their salvation that are subject to the Pope of Rome if so bee that they depart out of this life without repentance And again This Beast is worshipped of all Reprobates with whom while thou conspirest in thy worship who shal separate thee froÌ„ the state of reprobates He doth not therfore break off unity who departeth from the synagogue of Rome but he purchaseth unavoydable destruction to himselfe who cleaveth unto it without repentance These and the like things sayth Mr. Brightman one whose name mine opposite useth to grace his erroneous cause by Mr. Brovghtons testimony we have heard before Mr. Dudly Fenner in his Theologie writeth thus Antichrist is the head of the universal apostasie that should come 1. Ioh. 2. 18. Ioh. 4. 2. 2. Thess. 2. 4. 5. 6. Wherupon his church is by a Synechdoche called Antichrist 1. Ioh. 4. 3. 2. 18. as the true Church is called Christ 1. Cor. 12. 12. The Antichristian church compared to a Beast is the apostatical church but counterfeyting the vizar of the true which representeth the lively image of the Roman monarchie formerly doen away and of the goverment power amplitude seat therof amongst all peoples 2 Thes. 2. 4. 5. 6. 8. Revel 11. 7. 8. 13. 3. 11. 12. 18. Antichrist or the False prophet is the head of the Antichristian church the mediatour between it and the Dragon Rev. 16. 13. 13. 4. 11. 12. This Antichrist is an Opposer for to defend the foresayd departing away froÌ„ the truth of Christ 2 Thes. 2. 4. compared as touching the phrase with Dan. 8. 11. and an Exalter of himself first that he may lift up himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped that is against all powers and majesties both earthly heavenly 2. Thes. 2. 9. Dan. 8. 11. 36. Secondly that placing his seat in the church in name called Gods he may shew himself as God that is arrogate to himself the divine power and absolute dominion of Christ Esai 31. 1. 2. 2 Thes. 2. 4. Dan. 8. 25. Napier the Noble of Scotland expounding the Revelation sayth But as for the outward and visible face of the pretended church it must be rejected from God and no care measure nor account had by him therof because it must be given over to Antichristian and idolatrous people who shal subdue his holy church and spiritual Jerusalem and tread it under foot 1260. yeres Gods true church and spouse was chased away and remayned invisible and soliturie among certaine private persons predestinate elect of God But the rest of the people that lay dead in Antichristian errors arose not therfrom to imbrace the word of life ill c. But the rest J mean the whole outward visible church lay wholly as dead and corrupt with papistocal errours Of the Baptisme in the Church of Rome ALthough the former things against the Church of Rome be ynough to disprove her baptisme which is ordained of God onely for his Church and those in his covenant out of which Rome is gone yet because mine opposite urgeth some speciall reasons against mee for the same I will also briefly answer them About this poynt he hath nine reasons in his Christian plea pag. 27 ... 30. 1. The first which is against the repeating of Baptisme againe I grant him neither doe I hold it needfull or lawfull to repeate again the baptisme received in false churches 2. The second being for the same purpose I likewise grant As also that there is one baptisme as there was one circumcision which plea of his I would have noted because of his contrary reasoning afterward Likewise his example from Israel whose circumcision was not repeated I hold very fit But let the Reader observe how the Scriptures by him brought to prove it are 2. Chron. 30. chap. Ezr. 6. 19. 20. 21. of which the first was before the captivity the other after 3. The third that the covenant of grace is everlasting