having a Dispensation from Heaven which the Pope keeps the Keys of and fearing no Power on Earth for she hath the Beast the Secular Power under her she sits upon him and rides him and is not only distinct from the Secular Power but above it so as what of the Secular Power is still left at Rome is under the Conduct and Management of the Church there being no Civil Administration of Justice or Exercise of Laws but what is authorized and allowed by his Unholiness the Head and the Cardinals the Shoulders Breasts and Arms of the Church or State Ecclesiastical To make this fully evident the Pope doth not only exercise a Power of appointing Seculars in Rome and near to it but he claims the like Supremacy abroad in the Islands far off If the Secular Princes fall off from him or if they will not be reconciled to him as Head of Holy Church he will excommunicate and depose them and dispose of their Crowns Thrones and Scepters from them That the Pope is a Temporal Prince as well as an Ecclesiastical Bishop i. e. makes Laws exacts Tribute raises Souldiers and acts as a Monarch which fairly affords him the Title of Beast that his Royal Robes Chair he sits in to his very Hose and Shooes with the Vestments of Cardinals is Scarlet no Man can reasonably doubt That what the Civil Power claims and the Ecclesiastical Power exercises are not incorporated or entirely mix'd that the Princely Pope is in the Masculine and his Spouse the Church in the Feminine is owned by all Parties That the Church-State doth sit upon ride and govern the Secular at Rome Italy and all its Territories that the Church of Rome owns that she is no Widow but hath a Head called his Holiness or Supreme Ruler of the Church is so evident that we cannot find them upon any File or Record of Controversy There remains therefore no more to be done at this time but to frame our Argument upon the Premises and leave the Reader to prove the Weight thereof in the Ballance Argument If there be no visible State in the Christian World that doth so apparently sit upon command and govern the Beast or a great Secular Power cloathed with Scarlet Vestments as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth Then is Rome Papal or Church of Rome the Whore of Babylon here treated of But there is no visible State in the Christian World that doth so apparently sit upon command and govern the Beast or Secular Power cloathed with Scarlet Vestments as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is the Whore of Babylon here treated of To reinforce this Argument we challenge any profest Papists Atheist or any else to shew where any other People or Parties are to whom these Characters agree and then we shall be content to let fall our Argument X. This Beast that Babylon sits upon commands and governs is not only cloathed with Scarlet but is full of the Names of Blasphemy c. Which may be taken in a threefold Sense 1. For reproaching the Name of God 2. For telling Lies in Divine Things 3. For ascribing that to Creatures which belongs to God And tho we will not excuse the Beast from the two former yet for brevity's sake we shall take the latter viz. the ascribing that to Creatures which belongs to Him that saith I am God and my Glory will I not give to another X. Rome Papal or Church of Rome sits upon commands and governs that Beast or Scarlet Power that is not only cloathed with Scarlet Vestments but is full of the Names of Blasphemy which appears by his receiving allowing and encouraging the ascribing that to Creatures which belongs to God and to his Son of which we give you but these Instances 1. When this human sinful and wicked Head is called our Lord God the Pope whether this is not Blasphemy against God 2. When he is called Universal Head of the Catholick Church which none is but Christ 3. When he is called the Lamb of God the Light of the World the Root of David the Lion of the Tribe of Judah whether this is not Blasphemy against the Son of God 4. Whether when the Orders of the Church Oral Tradition the Decrees of Councils are said to be of greater Authority than the Scriptures which they call a Nose of Wax the Hereticks Ink-Rule are perniciously mischievous to the People whether this be not Blasphemy against God that spake and the Word of God spoken 5. When Angels the Virgin Mary and other unknown Saints shall be invocated with Addresses only becoming the Divine Majesty as if these Creatures were infinite and could hear us at so great a distance as is Earth from Heaven which they could not do if perpendicularly over us much less from all parts of the World over which they cannot be whether this ascribing Infiniteness and Adoration to the Creature that is only due to the Creator who is over all God blessed for ever be not Blasphemy 6. To conclude Whether making a God of a piece of Bread and calling the prophane Priest the Maker of the Creature be not ascribing that to the Creature which only belongs to God Is not this the vilest Blasphemy in the World worse if possible than Atheism it self For as Philosophers observe 't is better having no Opinion of God than such an one as is unworthy of Him which we shall close with this Argument Arg. If no People in the Christian World are born up and supported by a Beast full of Names full of such Names or Inscriptions of Blasphemy as Rome Papal or Church of Rome is Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome must be this Babylon treated of But there is no People in the Christian World born up and supported by such a blasphemous Beast as Rome Papal or Church of Rome is Ergo c. To reinforce this Argument let it be considered that none can pretend to fix this Character or Mark upon any Protestant Dissenters from the Church of Rome called Hereticks who have no such Beast to support them nor ascribe such blasphemous Titles or Adoration to any Creature in Heaven or Earth For they acknowledg the one God the Object of Divine Worship one Mediator between God and Man the Lord Jesus and God's sacred Truth to be the only Rule disowning all Principles and Practices contradictory thereunto Ergo 'T is not the Protestant Dissenters from the Church of Rome that are here meant XI Babylon that sits upon a Scarlet-coloured and blasphemous Beast is adorned with great Pomp and outward Glory very well fitting that Spirit that delights in Grandure Rev. 17.4 And the Woman was arrayed in Purple and Scarlet and deck'd with Gold and precious Stones and Pearl having a Golden Cup in her hand full of Abomination and Filthiness of her Fornication Which must be such as none of her Neighbours can match her in else no Note of Distinction XI
longer than they appear to walk strictly and holily according to the Principles upon which they first received them and as for their Officers they are soon summed up being no more than Bishops or Elders and Deacons But the Roman Church may be called Babylon or the City of Confusion very reasonably because she so fitly answers literal Babylon of old that was her Type and from whence she derives her Name 1. In setting up another way for Men to go to Heaven by than what God hath ordained and appointed viz. a Tower of their own making 2. In having so many Languages amongst them which is like the Confusion of Babel 3. In bearing the Glory and Sway over the Kingdoms and Countries of the chiefest part of the World therefore called the Lady of Kingdoms which is no way applicable to the poor Dissenters 4. In plucking up or razing out the true Worship of God which was setled at Jerusalem and setting up Idolatry in the room of it 5. In Captivating God's People who were carried away into literal Babylon 6. In their Doctrines Principles and Modes of Worship which is such a jumble mixture and heap of Things that may go for Confusion it self 7. In their Orders Diversity and long Muster-Roll of Officers that are so numerous as well as unscriptural that if Mixture and Confusion may be thought to be any where 't is to be found in this Church where you have Popes Cardinals Arch-Bishops Abbots Provincials Heads of Fraternities Priests Monks Fryers Followers of Dominick St. Francis Jansenius Augustine Caphucins c. and what not All which is many times more like to be Babylon Mixture or Confusion than the Dissenters from the Romish Church Thirdly For Mystery which is in the Description it no where agrees to them whom they call Hereticks but agrees very well to the Church of Rome in four Things 1. In calling themselves the Church of God and yet are the Synagogue of Satan that 's a Mystery 2. In calling themselves the pure Spouse of Christ and yet an abominable Whore that 's a Mystery 3. In pretending to be the Mother of Peace Purity and Charity and yet the Breeder Bringer forth and Cherisher of Division Falshood most bloody Butcheries and barbarous Cruelties this is a Mystery 4. In being Queen Regent riding upon the Beast in State and yet being that good Woman that fled into the Wilderness and abides there in a suffering Condition all the time of the Beast's Reign this is a Mystery See our fourth Argument One Proof of their Church is visibility yet it is evident the true Church for the space of 260 Years was to be in the Wilderness or in an obscure Condition c. Fourthly Mother of Harlots and Abominations better agrees to the Church of Rome than to Protestants 'T is against the Principles of Protestants to allow Fornication or Adultery in Persons of any Rank whatsoever maintaining constantly that Marriage is honourable but Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judg whereas Rome gives publick toleration to notorious Whoredoms and the most shameless and unnatural Beastialities as the whole World knows Fifthly For Mother of Harlots in a Spiritual Sense she is owned by all her Children to be the Mother-Church And 1. Therefore Protestants are exhorted to return into the Bosom of their Mother 2. All polluted and National Churches in the European Kingdoms sprang from her as the Churches of France Spain Portugal c. 3. All Corruption in Doctrine and Discipline may call her Mother that is to say the false Titles and Errours following viz. Universal Supream Infallible Head Holy Father the Pope His Holiness in the Abstract Our Lord God the Pope unerring Church Priestly Absolution Selling of Pardons Indulgences Dispensations adoring the Crucifix worshipping of Images foolish Crossings Anointings and Sprinkling with Holy Water the adoration of the Mass and many such things which from the beginning was not so 4. For Personal Vices from whence come horrid Oaths and Blasphemies most astonishing Perjury and subtile Equivocations and Hypocrisies all manner of Uncleannesses Lying and Adulteries Covenant-breaking and Bloody-mindedness is this allowed and practised by the Protestants No No they are the Brats and Off-spring of this lewd and filthy Mother who indulgeth those abominable pernicious Practices for which she is rightly called Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth Which we conclude with this Argument Arg. If this Name Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth doth not so fully and fitly agree to the Protestants nor any other People as it doth to Rome Papal or Church of Rome Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome and not the Protestants c. is Mystery Babylon the Mother of Harlots But this Name Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth doth not so fully and fitly agree to the Protestants c. as it doth to Rome Papal or Church of Rome Ergo Rome Papal and not the Protestants is Mystery Babylon the Mother of Harlots XIII This Mystery Babylon Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth is very drunken Company for she not only makes others drunk with the Wine of her Fornication and commits Adultery her self but she is a Beastly drunken Whore that makes her self drunk after the worst manner of Drunkenness which is to be drunk with Blood the best Blood the Blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus Christ Rev. 17.6 And I saw a Woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints and the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and I wondred with great Admiration XIII Rome Papal or Church of Rome if she be guilty here it is enough to make not only good Men but even Angels wonder to see a Woman pretending to be nobly descended the Daughter to the great King of Heaven the Spouse of the Lamb the Mother of all Peace Purity Holiness Innocency Charity and Chastity I say to see a Woman by Profession such a drunken beastly Strumpet in Works and Actions and if Rome Papal or Church of Rome be guilty in this point she is the unhappiest Church in the World for she then gives cause to every good Man in the World to abhor her and indeed she hath very good luck if she scape this Charge for if she be Mystery Babylon the Mother of false Churches and Abominations of the Earth there is no avoiding but she must be this drunken Strumpet But because it is never safe judging a Cause before Trial and Examination of Witnesses we will 1. Consider what it is to be drunk 2. What things do necessarily contribute to it 3. The true and proper Signs of it 4. Whether such things can be fixed upon Rome Papal or Church of Rome And then conclude this Head 1. To be Drunk is an excessive taking in of such Things as disorder Nature in its Course and Operations This we take to be a general Definition of it including the
ΤΡΟΠΟΣΧΗΜΑΛΟΓΙ'Α Tropes and Figures OR A TREATISE OF The Metaphors Allegories and express Similitudes c. contained in the Bible of the Old and New Testament To which is prefixed Divers ARGUMENTS to prove the Divine Authority of the HOLY SCRIPTURES Wherein also 't is largely evinced That by the Great Whore MYSTERY BABYLON is meant the Papal Hierarchy or present State and Church of Rome Philologia Sacra The Second Part. Wherein the Schemes or Figures in Scripture are reduced under their proper Heads with a brief Explication of each Together with a TREATISE of Types Parables c. with an Improvement of them Parallel-wise By B. K Oratio Metaphorica est perspicua sensibus ad animum affectúsque movendos aptissima Burgersd Log. lib. 1. Hos 12.1 I have used Similitudes by the Ministry of the Prophets Gal. 4.24 Which Things are an Allegory c. Heb. 8.5 Who serve unto the Example and Shadow of heavenly Things LONDON Printed by John Darby for the Author MDCLXXXII THE EPISTLE TO THE READER THou hast here a Multitude of Scripture-Metaphors Types Similies and other borrowed Terms opened and practically improved which 't is hoped may tend to the Advantage of all who love to read the Holy Scriptures and long after Knowledg either Natural or Divine The wisest of Men tells us that the great Lesson his Father taught him was to get Wisdom and Understanding because 't is the principal Thing Where to find this invaluable Jewel we are informed by the Son of God Search the Scriptures c. Which John 5.39 as the great Apostle saith are able to make us wise unto Salvation through Faith in Jesus Christ How to obtain it we are elsewhere told We must ask it of God who giveth liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given to us James 1.5 In a word It is to be cried after sought as Silver Prov. 2.3 4. and searched for as hid Treasures He who sincerely giveth up himself to frequent Prayer and Meditation and resolves to be in the continual Pursuit of this chief of Blessings may assure himself of Success having the Promise of a faithful God who cannot lie for his Security The Means are plain and the Encouragement great beyond comparison It is therefore the Interest of every Christian to converse with the Word of God in order to obtain a Purchase so eminently dignified with the Title of Principal Thing No Age since the Infancy of Christianity had greater Advantage to arrive at Scripture-Knowledge than we enjoy nor does the Light of the Gospel shine with more eminent Lustre in any Nation than in England at this time which causes Satan and his Hellish Emissaries to strive to darken or eclipse its Glory by introducing Popery Superstition and Error amongst us England and particularly its famous Metropolis is the very Butt of Antichristian Spite and Fury because it is indeed thought to be the main Bulwark of the true Protestant Religion throughout the World We have the Scriptures translated in our Mother-Tongue which the sacrilegious Adversaries of Truth lock'd up in Languages unknown to the Vulgar We have the Comments and Expositions of the Learned instead of the pestilent and Heretical Glosses of Rome we have still notwithstanding all the Machinations of the Enemies of the Gospel a painful powerful preaching Ministry And if we improve not all these Mercies to the acquisition of this divine and sublime Knowledg how inexcusable shall we be and how just in God should he in one day deprive us of all It was said by the Learned Illyricus In sacris Literis amplissimus instructissimus Thesaurus paratus est ut nos inde omnia nobis necessaria ac salutoria Remedia hauriamus In the holy Scriptures a vast and most immense Treasure is provided from whence we may be furnished with whatsoever is necessary and wholesom Here is a large Field of spiritual Employment I adore saith Tertullian the Fulness of the Holy Scriptures What a vast Number of Commentaries Expositions and Elucidations are extant yea one single Verse affords a most learned and procopious Theme for a whole Volume yet there 's Work enough still left and the learned and profitable Labours of those eminent Worthies that have gone before us do not prohibit the Additions of subsequent Ages nor render them unnecessary All sorts of Knowledg are improvable and that which is divine calls for the most earnest and sollicitous pursuit because all other Sciences are vain and useless without it and is comprehensive in as much as it gives a full Discovery of Christ of what is necessary to Salvation 1 Cor. 2.2 Phil. 5.8 This renders it universally good and Good is communicative It is a Talent that calls for Improvement to the Profit of Communities It is called Light the Nature of which is perfectly diffusive of its Radiance and bright Illustrations and 't is not to be put under a Bushel but in a Candlestick to enlighten the whole House Every Christian is to improve and stir up the Gift that is in him And tho a Work be not done so well by one Man as it might by another who hath greater Accomplishments were it set upon his Heart to undertake it yet may the Profit to some Souls countervail the Labour and the Whole bless the World more than not to have it done at all Besides what Man in this nice and censorious Age can give Content to all These Considerations seemed so weighty as to incline me to employ some of that Time and Talent the Lord hath entrusted me with to compleat this Work 'T is obvious to every one's Observation that the Holy Scripture abounds with Metaphors Allegories and other Tropes and Figures of Speech Similitudes are borrowed from Visible Things to set forth and illustrate the excellent Nature of Invisible Things yea heavenly Things are often called by the very Names that material or earthly Things are called which is not to obscure or hide the meaning of them from us but to accommodate them to our Understanding God by a gracious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Condescension conveying the Knowledg of Himself and spiritual Things by preaching them by their respective earthly Similitudes c. If I have told you of earthly Things and ye believe not how shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly Things John 3.12 And tho the Stile of the Holy Scripture is not varnish'd with that Delicacy of superficial Ornament that jingling Cadency of Sounds and Fancy-pleasing Trifles as the pompous Oratory of Greece and Rome is beautified with yet it has Qualities far more excellent 'T is grave and masculine it hath a magnificent commanding Elegance peculiar to it self suitable to the lofty Things it treats of which no other Writing can imitate reaching the inner Rooms of the Soul and stirring up Affections in so spiritual and sublime a kind as the artificial Bravery of Cicero or Quintilian's Elocution could never do There are Mysteries which Nature as
first it seems to bear no such thing So Mat. 13. Christ expounds that Parable or Allegory for tho Rhetoricians make a difference between Metaphors Similes Parables and Allegories yet in Divinity there is none but that Allegories are more large and continued calling the Seed the Word and the Sower the Son of Man c. This way of expounding such dark Scriptures is both useful and necessary and was often used as edifying by our Lord Jesus to his Disciples Now 't is this we speak of which teacheth how to draw plain Doctrines out of Metaphors Allegories c. and not to draw Allegories out of plain Histories Secondly it may be asked When we are to account a Place of Scripture figurative or allegorick and seek some other meaning than what at first appears Answ 1. When the literal proper meaning looks absurd-like or is empty nothing to Edification as when 't is said Unless ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man c. This is my Body c. And so those Scriptures that command to pluck out the right Eye and cut off the right Hand take up our Cross c. All which if literally understood were absurd and ridiculous and therefore the mistaking such Scriptures hath occasioned many grievous Errors as that of the Anthropomorphites attributing Members viz. Head Hands Feet c to God and Passions yea Infirmities as Anger Repenting c. because the Scriptures in such places speaking after the manner of Men metaphorically attribute such things to him 2. Those Places of Scripture are to be accounted Metaphorical or Allegorick which reach not the Scope of Edification intended by them if literally understood as when Christ spoke of Sowing Mat. 13. the Disciples thought something more was intended than at first appeared for his Aim could not be to discourse of Husbandry to them 3. When a literal Sence would obtrude some Falsity on the Scripture then such Places are to be taken Allegorically as when Christ said Destroy this Temple and I will build it up again in three Days Which if understood of the Material Temple Christ's Words would not have had their Accomplishment But he spoke figuratively of his Body So when Christ said Except a Man eat my Flesh and drink my Blood he cannot live it cannot be understood literally because many who have obtained Life never did so eat his Flesh c. 4. Any Scripture is to be accounted Figurative or Allegorical when the literal Sence agrees not with other Scriptures and is repugnant to the Analogy of Faith or Rules of good Manners as when we are commanâ—ed to heap Coals of Fire upon the Head of our Enemy now we being required not to avenge our selves it followeth clearly this Scripture is not properly or literally understood 5. When a literal Sence answers not to the present Scope of the Speaker and the Speaker would be thought impertinent if his Words were properly taken then it ought to be expounded in a figurative Sence So Mat. 3.10 when John is pressing Repentance he saith Now is the Ax laid to the Root of the Tree c. And the Parable of Christ Luk. 13.7 If these Places were only properly to be understood they would not enforce Repentance And now Reader had we not had good Encouragement from divers worthy Ministers in this City this as well as the former had never seen the Sun but the readiness of divers Persons upon the coming out of the First to subscribe for this hath midwiv'd it into the World where we expect it will meet with different Entertainment but I hope by this time through the Grace of God I have learned not to be concerned either about the Praise of some on the one hand or Dispraise and Contempt of others on the other hand not doubting but that this or the succeeding Age may receive Advantage by it and many bless God for it And if it bring Glory to God and Profit to his Church I have my chief End and shall be content tho I pass under the Censures of captious Men c. I must confess it is not all of my own compiling I have made use of some help from others partly to expedite the Work and partly for want of some Literature And now Reader that I may not retain thee longer at the Door I shall commit Thee and the Work to the Blessing of the Lord heartily begging an Interest in thy Prayers engaging not to forget thee in this evil and perilous Hour subscribe my self Thy Servant for Jesus's sake BENj KEACH London August 9. 1682. A TABLE OF The Heads of those Metaphors Similes borrowed Terms Types Figures and other chief Things insisted upon in this Book THe Divine Authority of the Holy Scripture asserted and vindicated Page j to xvj The Fifth HEAD of Metaphors Similes c. GRace compared to Salt Page 1 Truth compared to a Girdle Page 3 Righteousness a Breast-plate Page 9 Faith a Shield Page 13 Faith more precious than Gold Page 15 Hope an Helmet Page 22 Hope an Anchor Page 25 Love compared to Death and the Grave and to Flames of Fire Page 30 31 Love compared to Wine Page 32 Baptism a Burial Page 35 The Lord's Supper Page 38 Christ our Passeover Page 45 The Sixth HEAD c. concerning Angels and the Soul of Man Angels Watchers Page 50 Angels Morning-Stars Page 52 Angels Sons of God Page 53 Angels God's Host Page 55 Angels compared to the Face of a Man a Lion an Ox and an Eagle Page 57 Angels compared to the Wind and Flames of Fire Page 61 Angels called Horses red white speckled c. Page 63 64 Soul of Man compared to a Ship Page 64 Spirit of Man a Candle Page 67 Conscience a Witness Page 69 The Seventh HEAD c. concerning God's Church CHurch a City Page 76 to 85 Church compared to the Moon Page 86 Church the Temple of God or the Anti-type of Solomon's Temple Page 87 Church the Anti-type of the Second Temple Page 89 Church called an Olive-Tree Page 91 Church compared to an Inn Page 92 Church a Vine Page 93 Church compared to a Dove Page 94 Church compared to the Body natural Page 97 Church a Vineyard Page 99 Church called a Virgin Page 102 Church a Wife Page 103 Church compared to a Bush on fire Page 106 Church compared to a Mother Page 109 Church a Garden Page 112 Church a Lilly among Thorns Page 115 Church compared to a Merchant-Ship Page 118 Church a Golden Candlestick Page 120 Church called a Flock of Sheep Page 121 Church compared to an House Page 123 Church a Family Page 128 The Eighth HEAD c. concerning 1. Men in general 2. Good Men 3. Wicked Men. MAn compared to Earth Page 133 Man compared to a Worm Page 135 Man compared to a Flower Page 138 Concerning the Saints or Good Men. Saints called Babes Page 140 Saints Children Page 142 Saints Heirs Page 145 Saints Eagles Page 146 Saints Souldiers Page 148 to 161 Saints Runners
Page 162 Saints the Salt of the Earth Page 166 Saints Merchants Page 168 Saints Pilgrims Page 170 Saints compared to Palm-Trees Page 175 Saints compared to Wheat Page 178 Saints compared to Light Page 180 Saints compared to Cedars Page 182 Saints compared to Myrtle-Trees Page 184 Saints compared to Willows Page 185 Saints why called Vessels Page 186 Saints why called Lions Page 188 Saints compared to Gold Page 190 Saints compared to Doves Page 192 Some Saints like Lambs in a large Place Page 193 The Heart of a Saint compared to an Heart of Flesh Page 194 Saints Stewards Page 195 Saints why called Jewels Page 196 Saints why called Kings Page 199 Saints called Priests Page 200 Concerning Wicked Men. Wicked Men Captives Page 201 Wicked Men why called Sluggards Page 209 Wicked Men Fools or Idiots Page 211 Some wicked Men like painted Sepulchres Page 215 Wicked Men compared to Swine Page 216 Wicked Men Debtors Page 219 Wicked Men why called the Red of God Page 221 Wicked Men compared to Tares Page 222 Wicked Men compared to Chaff Page 223 Wicked Men compared to Thorns Page 224 Wicked Men compared to Mountains Page 225 Wicked Men dead in Sin what meant thereby Page 227 228 Wicked Men mad or besides themselves Page 231 Wicked Men called Dogs Page 232 Wicked Men called Bulls Page 235 Wicked Men called Lions Page 237 Wicked Men compared to Foxes Page 241 Wicked Men compared to Goats Page 243 Wicked Men compared to Thieves Page 245 Wicked Men naked Page 247 Wicked Men Vipers Page 248 Wicked Men poor and miserable Page 250 The Heart of a Wicked Man like a Rock Page 251 Wicked Men why called Eagles Page 253 Wicked Men why called Devils Page 254 The Ninth HEAD c. concerning True Ministers False Ministers and False Churches TRue Ministers why called Angels Page 256 True Ministers Stars why so called Page 258 Christ's Ministers called Labourers Page 259 Christ's Ministers called Watchmen Page 265 Christ's Ministers why called Trumpeters ibid Ministers Christ's Spokesmen Page 267 Christ's Ministers why called Clouds Page 269 Christ's Ministers why called Fathers Page 271 Christ's Ministers called Planters Page 273 Christ's Ministers called Shepherds Page 281 Christ's Ministers Ambassadors Page 282 Christ's Ministers called Rulers Page 287 Concerning False Teachers False Teachers why compared to Wolves Page 291 False-Teachers called Foxes Page 293 False-Teachers called Wells without Water Page 293 False-Teachers why called Clouds without Rain Page 294 False-Teachers called Deceivers Page 294 False Churches Mystery Babylon or the Great Whore proved to be the present State and Church of Rome Page 297 to 330 The Tenth HEAD of Metaphors concerning Sin and the Devil SIn why called a Thief Page 331 Sin a Debt Page 335 Sin an heavy Burthen Page 343 Sin a Sting Page 344 Sin a Wound Page 345 Sin a Plague Page 349 Sin compared to deadly Poyson Page 350 Sin a Sickness Page 352 Sin compared to an abominable Vomit Page 354 Sin an Vncleanness or nothing so loathsom as Sin Page 355 Sin compared to Gray-Hairs Page 357 Concerning the Devil The Devil why called the God of this World Page 359 The Devil why called a Prince Page 360 The Devil a Hunter Page 361 The Devil a Fowler Page 362 The Devil why called a Lion Page 363 The Devil why called a Dragon Page 364 The Devil a Serpent Page 365 The Eleventh HEAD c. concerning the Means of Grace and Providence THe Day of Grace what Page 367 Means of Grace compared to Summer Page 369 Means of Grace compared to Harvest Page 369 Godliness called a Trade largely opened Page 371 376 Of Providence and Afflictions Afflictions compared to Clouds Page 377 Afflictions compared to Fire Page 378 Afflictions why called a Rod Page 379 Afflictions compared to a Furnace Page 381 Afflictions compared to Winter ibid Afflictions compared to Darkness Page 383 Afflictions compared to Tempests Page 385 Afflictions compared to a Flood Page 386 Afflictions compared to great Heat Page 387 Afflictions compared to Wormwood and Gall Page 388 Afflictions called God's Arrows God hath many sharp Arrows Page 389 The Twelfth and Last HEAD concerning the World the Life of Man and the four last Things THe World compared to a Wilderness Page 391 THe World a Field Page 392 The End of the World why called an Harvest ibid Of the Life of Man The Life of Man compared to a swift Post Page 393 The Life of Man compared to a swift Ship ibid The Life of Man compared to an Eagle hastening to her Prey Page 394 The Life of Man compared To a Weaver's Shuttle Page 394 395 396 To the Wind Page 394 395 396 To a Cloud Page 394 395 396 To a Flower Page 394 395 396 To a Shadow Page 394 395 396 Of Death The Body of Man in the Grave compared to Seed sown Page 398 Death compared to Sleep Page 398 399 Death a Departure Page 400 Death a Rest ibid Of the Resurrection The Resurrection compared to the Morning Page 401 The Resurrection compared to an awaking out of Sleep Page 402 The Resurrection-Day a Man's Reaping-Day Page 403 Resurrection-Day a Saint's Coronation-Day Page 405 Of the Judgment-Day The Day of Judgment called an Assize Page 406 407 Of Heaven Heaven called Paradise Page 407 Heaven the Crown of Life Page 409 Of Hell Hell a Furnace of Fire Page 410 Hell utter Darkness Page 411 Moses's Vail removed OR A Treatise of TYPES ADam wherein a Type of Christ Page 413 Noah how a Type of Christ ibid Melchis deck a Type of Christ Page 414 Abraham a Type of Christ Page 415 Isaac a Type of Christ ibid Jacob how a Type of Christ Page 416 Jacob's Ladder a Tyye of Christ ibid Joseph in what respect a Type of Christ Page 416 417 Moses in how many things a Type of Christ ibid Sampson a Type of Christ Page 418 David in ten things a Type of Christ Page 418 419 Solomon in how many things a Type of Christ Page 420 Elisha a Type of Christ ibid Jonah wherein a Type of Christ ibid Zerubbabel a Type of Christ ibid Aaron a Type of Christ Page 421 The High-Priest a Type of Christ Page 421 422 423 What the Tabernacle was a Type of Page 423 424 The Vail of the Holiest what it was a Type of Page 424 The Ark a Type of Christ Page 425 The Mercy-Seat a Type of Christ ibid The Table of Shewbread what a Type of ibid The Candlestick what a Type of Page 426 The Altar of Perfume a Type of Christ ibid The Altar of Burnt Offering a Type of Christ Page 427 The Brazen Laver what it was a Type of ibid The Sacrifice of Beasts a Type of Christ Page 428 The Burnt-Offering of Fowls a Type of Christ Page 429 The Daily Sacrifice a Type of Christ ibid The Sin-Offering a Type of Christ ibid The Meat-Offering what it was a Type of Page 430 The Peace-Offering and what it was a Type of Page 431 The solemn yearly
this saith Mr. Pool If a Man being sought after should hide himself in some Corner or Hole of the House and Pursuers should ask for him could any with a good Conscience say he is not here because he is invisible none sure but a Papist who is so well skilled in Equivocation would give such an Answer Our Saviour every where makes these two Opposites his being in the World and going to Heaven John 13.1 the Hour was come that he should depart out of this World unto the Father It seems they could have taught him the Art of going thither and remaining here at the same instant They have an excellent Faculty as he had who said Since he could not give content in going nor staying he would not go nor stay For they know how a Man may both go from a place and stay in it at the same time I know not what can be more plain if they did not wilfully shut their Eyes Christ saith expresly Me you have not always with you That is his bodily Presence for as touching his Divine Presence so he is always with his People unto the end of the World Mat. 28. ult Besides their Doctrine destroys the Truth of Christ's human Nature We read of Christ He was in all points like unto us Sin only excepted His Body was like ours and therefore impossible it should be in a thousand places at once which according to their Doctrine it is This turns Christ's Body into a Spirit nay indeed they make his Body more spiritual than a Spirit for a Spirit cannot be in several Places divided from it self The Soul of Man if it be entire both in the whole and in every part of the Body yet it is not divided from it self nor from its Body nor can it be in two Bodies at the same time as all confess muâ—h less can it be in Ten Thousand Bodies at once When ever any Angel comes to Earth he leaves Heaven So that this quite destroys the Truth of Christ's human Body Object Much of what we say here the Papists say was true of Christ's Body in the days of his Infirmity but when he was risen from the Dead then he received a spiritual Body as it is said ours shall be at the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15. Answ This is but a Fig-leaf for they ascribe these monstrous Properties to Christ's Body before its Resurrection for they say the Flesh and Blood of Christ were really in the Sacrament which the Disciples received whilst Christ lived Secondly Christ's Resurrection tho it heightned the Perfection yet it did not alter the Nature and Properties of his Body nor gave it the being of a Spirit for after he was risen he proves that he was no Spirit by this Argument Handle me and see for a Spirit hath not Flesh and Blood as you see me have Luke 24.39 By this it appears that their Doctrine destroyeth the Truth of Christ's human Body at least it destroys the main Evidence of it against those who affirmed that Christ had only a phantastical Body namely that he was seen and felt and heard for the Papists say that Sense is not to be believed Again this Doctrine of theirs destroyeth the Truth of Christ's Ascension into Heaven for he is not ascended if he hath not left this World but is here in the Sacrament Nothing can be more clear than that Christ did visibly and locally leave this World when he went up into Heaven Acts 1.9 10. That being once there the Heavens must receive or contain him until the Time of the Restitution of all things Acts 3.21 And that at the last Day he shall come visibly and locally from Heaven 2 Thess 1.7 But that he should come down a thousand times in a day at the command of every Mass-Priest or that he should have such power to make the Body of his Saviour is such a Dream as the Scripture speaketh not one syllable of nor can any rational Man believe it Besides their Doctrine destroyeth the very Essence of a Sacrament which consists of two parts an outward Element or Sign and the inward Grace signified by it These things being well considered it is evident these Words This is my Body are to be taken figuratively i. e. This is a Sign of my Body or this is the Sacrament of my Body so that from the manner of the Words spoken by Christ there is no necessity to take them as the Papists do seeing it is so frequent with the Holy-Ghost to use Metaphors in this kind I need not name them considering it is the Subject of our present Work The seven Kine are seven Years the seven Ears of Corn are seven Years the Stars are the Angels of the seven Churches the seven Heads are seven Mountains c. Christ is called a Rock a Lamb a Lion a Door together with many other things which we have spoken unto See the Second Head of Metaphors Similies c. The Saints are called Sheep Branches c. ' The meaning of all this is saith Dr. Preston They are like such and such things But yet it is the manner of the Scripture-Speech Dr. Preston of the Saints Qualifications p. 487 and therefore saith he it is not necessary that those Words should be taken in a proper Sence as they are by the Papists Object But saith the worthy Doctor you will object Yea but in matter of this moment as a Sacrament the Lord speaks distinctly and expresly there he useth no Metaphor tho in other Cases he doth Answ 'To this saith he I answer briefly It is so far from being true that he useth them not in the Sacrament that there are none of all the Sacraments but it is used viz. in the Sacrament of Circumcision This is the Covenant c. In the Sacrament of the Passeover which were the Sacraments of the Old Law the Lamb is called the Passeover In this very Sacrament to go no further for instance take but the second part of it This is the Cup of the New Testament in my Blood Here are not one but divers Figures The Cup is taken for the Liquor in it the Wine in the Cup is taken for Christ's Blood This is the new Testament c. that is the Seal of the New Testament Here is Figure upon Figure saith Mr. Pool and yet the Papists have the Impudence to reproach us for putting in but one Figure which they confess the Holy-Ghost frequently maketh use of Wonder O Heavens and judg O Earth whether these Men do not strain at Gnats and swallow Camels c. This openeth a Way for us to our next Work which is to run the Parallel concerning those figurative and metaphorical Expressions of the Lord Jesus Christ used at the Institution of the holy Eucharist Mat. 26.26 Jesus took Bread and blessed it and brake it and gave to his Disciples and said Take eat this is my Body Metaphor Parallel CHrist took Bread after he had supped c. THis in
more safe and secure to dwell in and some Cities have two or three Walls to make them more impregnable II. The Church of God hath strong Walls about it We have a strong City Isa 26.1 Salvation will God appoint for Walls and Bulwarks The Church hath a threefold Wall about it First The Wall of God's Providence Hast not thou made a Hedg or Wall about him As the Mountains are round about Jerusalem Job 1. Psal 125.2 so the Lord is round about them that fear him c. Secondly The Protection of the holy Angels Psal 34.7 The Angels of the Lord encamp round about them that fear him c. Thirdly God in an extraordinary manner is as a Wall of Fire round about her Zech. 2.5 every one of his Attributes is a gracious Defence to the Church III. Some Cities are bravely scituated they are built upon a Hill III. The Church of God is famous upon this account Beautiful for Scituation Psal 48.2 the Joy of the whole Earth is Mount Zion on the sides of the North the City of the great King Mat. 16.18 Ye are as a City set upon a Hill IV. A City is built of many Materials and in it are many Buildings or Houses set in rare Uniformity curiously joined and compacted together IV. The Church of God is built up of many living Stones consisting of divers particular Societies or spiritual Houses Now therefore ye are no more Strangers and Foreigners Eph. 2.19 20 21 22. but Fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God And are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone In whom all the Building fitly framed together groweth to an holy Temple in the Lord c. In whom ye also are builded together for an Habitation of God through the Spirit Jerusalem is builded as a City that is compact together Psal 122.3 V. A City hath its particular Laws Institutions and Customs by which it is governed V. The Church of God also hath special Laws Institutions and Customs belonging to it by which it is in all things governed which are contained in the holy Scripture the great Charter and Statute-Book of the Church VI. A City hath a supreme Governor in it who rectifies all Disorders and Confusions that otherwise would be therein considering the Multitude of its Inhabitants VI. The Church of God is not without a good Government and a Supreme Magistrate viz. the Lord Jâ—sus Christ who is the chief Judg and Law-giver or Head of this spiritual Corporation VII A City hath besides the chief Governor and principal Magistrate divers inferior Officers for Administration of Justice and well governing thereof VII So the Church of God hath inferior Officers under Jesus Christ which the Citizens by the appointment of Christ are required to substitute and ordain to govern and keep all things in good Order And he gave some Apostles Ephes 4.8 9 10 11 12. and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers c. VIII A City hath some special Trade belonging to it by which its Inhabitants are enriched VIII The Church or City of God hath a spiritual Trade belonging to it which all the Citizens do and ought always to follow by which they are also greatly enriched IX Many Cities have Merchants in them who trade into remote parts of the World and fetch their Merchandize from afar IX The Saints or Citizens of Zion are all Merchants who trade daily to Heaven they fetch their blessed Merchandize from thence Phil. 3.20 Prov. 41. Our Conversation is in Heaven Hence the Church is by Solomon compared to Merchants Ships See Merchants Ships Saints have like other Merchants their Correspondent Jesus Christ who makes glorious Returns of all they venture or send to Heaven For every Duty rightly performed he makes Returns of Mercy for Tears of godly Sorrow he returns them the Oil of Joy Thou wilt saith holy David put my Tears into thy Bottle By which means the spiritual Citizens grow rich in Faith Hope Experience c. See the Parable of the Merchant-man Now touching the Trade Traffick or Merchandize of this City upon which its Wealth and Prosperity doth wholly depend take what follows First Their Trade is heavenly Wherefore holy Brethren Heb. 3.1 2 Partakers of the heavenly Calling consider the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession Jesus Christ And as they are all Merchants and use one Trade so they all deal with one and the same Benefactor from whom they have quick Returns they fetch their Goods from afar Something touching the Excellency of the Trade of the City of God I shall hint in a few Particulâ—rs Secondly As touching her Commodities or the Merchandize which her Citizens deal in First Negatively 1. They are not prohibited Goods 2. They are not counterfeit Goods 3. They are not temporal and corruptible Goods Secondly Affirmatively and more directly they are 1. Soul enriching Commodities things that are of very great worth and value The Merchandize of Wisdom is better than the Merchandize of Silver Prov. 3.14 and the Gain thereof than fine Gold 2. They are needful things such things as we cannot be without Some things that Merchants of a City deal in and fetch from afar tho they are of great value yet we may very well subsist and live comfortably without them as Pearl and precious Stones c. But there is an absolute Necessity of all those things the Citizens of this City trade in and for 3. They are such Commodities as will make the Nations and Persons that buy them happy for ever and indeed there is no true Happiness without them Quest What is the Traffick of this City of God Answ The first thing that I shall mention is the Truth this she offers to Sale Buy the Truth and sell it not Prov. 23.23 The Church is called the Pillar and Ground of Truth 1 Tim. 3.15 Truth is only to be found in this City or in the Ware-Houses of the Citizens of Zion viz. the Word of God and the Hearts of Believers The second thing is a Soul-converting Gospel and blessed Ordinances The Law goeth forth of Zion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem Mic. 2.4 The third thing they deal in are the Gifts and Soul-enriching Graces of the Spirit Hope Love Humility c. things of very great worth The fourth is Justification every true Sinner makes it his Business to get this precious Treasure The fifth thing is the Peace of God which passeth all Understanding one of the rarest Commodities in the World The sixth thing is Union and Communion with God 1 Joh. 1.3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ The seventh thing is Peace of Conscience Herein do I exercise my self Acts 24.16
Pardon when God absolves a poor Sinner he not only forgives but also forgets their Sins and Iniquities he remembers no more 3. Because it is a Freedom from the Guilt of it 4. Because it is a Freedom from the Power and Dominion of it 5. It is a Freedom from the Punishment of it Rom. 6.14 Rom. 8.1 1 John 5.24 6. Because 't is a purchased Freedom it was obtained by a great Sum viz. the Sum of God's great Love and Grace with the Sum of Christ's Blood Remission is through Christ's Atonement 7. Because it is a sealed Freedom it is made over to the Soul by the King 's own Seal the Spirit of God Eph. 1.13 14. that great Seal of Heaven 8. Because it is a lasting Freedom the Sins of Believers are forgiven for ever they shall never be laid to their Charge The second Privilege of this City is Gospel-Fellowship free Access to the Lord's Table and Communion with the Saints Eph. 2.6 They are made to sit down together in heavenly Places in Christ Jesus The third Privilege is Right to the Ministry they may all lay claim to the Ministers and Ministry of the Word Whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas all are yours 1 Cor. 3.27 28. They and all their Gifts and gracious Endowments are the Saints The fourth Privilege is their undoubted Right to the City-Stock or the Churches Patrimony 1. The Stock of Prayers sincere Souls have a Right to all the Prayers of the Church 2. To that Store and spiritual Provision viz. the Bread of Life Psal 132 15. c. that is laid up in her God will bless the Provision of Zion and satisfy her Poor with Bread 3. The Stock of Promises God hath promised to bless comfort strengthen beautify build up and save Sion and consequently every Saint and Member thereof for all those and many more like Promises are directly made to every sincere Soul or Citizen of Sion The fifth Privilege is free Access to the Throne of Grace Eph. 2.18 Sixthly a Dwelling-place there This is a glorious Privilege they dwell near the King behold him in the Galleries every day they dwell in God's Courts nay in his House Blessed are they that dwell in thy House they will be still praising thee Psal 84.1 Psal 92.13 Selah They that are planted in the House of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of our God they shall bring forth Fruit in old Age c. 1. 'T is a strong and sure Dwelling-place He shall dwell on high Isa 32.18 Isa 33.16 his Place of Defence shall be the Munition of Rocks 2. 'T is a rich and glorious Dwelling-place 3. 'T is a pleasant Dwelling-place 4. 'T is an honourable Dwelling-place 5. 'T is and shall be a peaceable Habitation Look upon Zion Isa 33.20 the City of our Solemnities Thine Eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet Habitation a Tabernacle that shall not be taken down not one of the Stakes thereof shall ever be removed neither shall any of the Cords thereof be broken Seventhly They have a Right and Privilege to chuse their own Officers every free Citizen hath his Voice at every Election No Minister Bishop or Deacon may be imposed upon them without their own free Consent Eighthly They have Right to all the Blessings and privileges of the River the Streams whereof make glad all the Inhabitants the Nature of whose Water you have heard Ninthly They have a Right to the City-Guard which always attends them whithersoever they go or whatsoever they do when they are about their proper Work which are the good Angels Tenthly The last Privilege I shall mention is Sonship Joh. 1.12 Gal 4.6 But to as many as received him to them gave he Power or Privilege to become the Sons of God Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts crying Abba Father XIII Some Cities have a common Stock in them out of which the poor decayed Citizens are often supplied and helped in their Distress and thereby delivered from utter Beggery XIII The Church hath a common Stock or Storehouse belonging to it called the unsearchable Riches of Christ Eph. 3 8. out of which all poor decayed Christians have their Wants supplied That Grace that is treasured up in Christ is always ready to be given forth to his poor Children and by this means they are kept from Ruin and being utterly undone My God shall supply all your Needs according to his Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus Phil. 4.19 XIV A City hath also a strict Watch appointed to keep the Gates and to see that no Accident happen in it to the hurt and detriment thereof XIV The Church or City of God hath also a strong and faithful Militia or spiritual Watch which are the holy Angels These are called Watchers Dan. 4.23 or Watchmen and in other places the Lord's Host or the Armies of Heaven who are mighty in Power one of them being able to destroy all the Churches Enemies These keep the Saints day and night they encamp about them and see that no Evil comes unto them Besides them God is said to watch over his People continually who is called the Watchman of Israel and the Saviour thereof in the Day of Trouble Psal 127.1 2. Vnless the Lord keep the City the Watchman waketh but in vain Besides Psal 127.1 See 6th head of Metaphors there are the Ministers of the Gospel who are called Watchmen XV. A great and famous City hath Towers and Battlements belonging to it not only for Ornament but also for Strength and Security from Evil. XV. The City of God is famous in respect of its Towers and Places of Security Walk about Zion Psal 48.12 13 14. and go round about her mark well her Bulwarks consider her Palaces that ye may tell it to the Generation following For this God is our God for ever and ever and he will be our Guide until Death The Name of the Lord is a Strong-Tower c. Everyone of the blessed Attributes of God are as so many Towers of Safety to his Church See Strong-Tower in the First Head of Metaphors XVI In a City notwithstanding the many noble and honourable Personages or worthy Patrons that dwell therein yet there are some ill and unworthy Members that get a being there which tends much to its Blemish and Reproach XVI So the City of God notwithstanding all the holy and eminent Saints and Servants of God who dwell therein yet hath in it some wicked and ungodly Ones who by Craft and Hypocrisy get a being there tho when known they are turned out as the incestuous Person Hymeneus and Alexander was 1 Cor. 5. 1 Tim. 1.20 Jud. 4. For there are certain Men crept in unawares who were before of old ordained to this Condemnation ungodly Men turning the Grace of God into Lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ These
Truth Interest and People as they ought to do Inferences IS Christ's Church and so consequently every gracious Person compared to a Dove being meek humble harmless chast and single-hearted to the Lord Jesus Christ c. Then we may assure our selves that she that delights in Prey Rapine and Blood as doth the Romish Church is none of the Dove or Church of Jesus Christ 2. Are the Eyes of a Dove by the Rivers of Water do they delight in Springs Fountains and pure Rivers and in this are they an Emblem of the Godly who hate all filthy loathsom and detestable Traditions of Men and delight only in the pure unmixed and Chrystal Streams of God's holy Institutions Then all those who like Ravens and other foul and unclean Birds of Prey delight in Ditches and in long-standing stinking Pools of this false Church where they defile themselves in searching for the detestable Carrion of Idolatry are none of Christ's Dove-like People 3. And let those that are the People of God labour to be like the Dove who is neat and will not defile it self let them see they keep their Hearts chast to Christ and avoid all Pollution of Sin in their Conversation 2 Cor. 7.1 5. This also may inform the Godly that 't is no marvel if they are persecuted and molested by the Wicked 5. And in the midst of all their Afflictions Persecutions and Temptations this may comfort them God hath prepared for his poor Doves a strong Place of Defence and Shelter viz. the Rock Christ whither let us in all Times of Danger flie by Faith and Prayer The Church compared to a natural Body 1 Cor. 12.13 All baptized into one Body Eph. 2.16 Both unto God in one Body Eph. 4.12 For the edifying of the Body of Christ. Col. 1.18 He is the Head of the Body the Church c. Verse 24. For his Body sake which is the Church c. THe Body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Soma is frequently put for the Church or People of God the Explication of which Trope is concisely opened in the following Parallel Metaphor Parallel EVery natural Body hath a Head SO the Church of God hath a Head viz. the Lord Jesus Christ Eph. 1.22 He God the Father hath put all things under his Feet and gave him to be the Head over all things to the Church which is his Body the Fulness of him that filleth all in all And he is before all things and by him all things consist Col. 1.17 18. Verse 17. And he is the Head of the Body the Church c. II. The natural Body hath many Members 1 Cor. 12.14 20. and tho many Members yet all make but one and the same Body II. The Chureh of Christ consists of divers Saints called the Members of his Body Now ye are the Body of Christ 1 Cor. 12.27 and Members in particular and tho many yet all make but one and the same mystical Body III. In the natural Body are Members different in Strength Usefulness and Honour as Arms Legs Eyes Feet Hands Fingers c. But the weakest and those that seem least honourable are very useful and the Body cannot be without them III. So in the Church the mystical Body of Christ are different Members both with respect to Honour and Usefulness as Apostles Prophets Teachers Eph 4.11 1 Jâ—h 2.13 14. or as the Apostle John hath it Fathers young Men and Children All are not Apostles all are not Prophets all are not Teachers c. But yet the weakest and most feeble Saints or Members are useful to the Church As in the Body natural 1 Cor. 12.20 21 22 23. tho the Eye is of greater use than some other Members yet the Eyes or Ministers who are as useful as Eyes to the Body cannot say to the Hand or such to whom God hath given the Riches of this World to distribute unto others We have no need of thee nor can the Head say to the Feet I have no need of you Nay and those Members of the Body which seem to be more feeble are necessary IV. In the natural Body if one Member suffer all suffer with it IV. So in Christ's mystical Body when one Saint suffereth all do sympathize and suffer with him If one suffer 1 Cor 12.26 all suffer and if one Member be honoured all the Members of the Body rejoyce with him V. All the Members of the Body natural take care of and seek the Good of the whole Body and of each Member in particular V. So in the Church of God every particular Saint doth and ought always to seek the Welfare of the whole mystical Body of Christ 1 Cor. 12.25 That there should be no Schism in the Body but that the Members should have the same care one of another VI. All the Members of the natural Body have their Nourishment from the Head VI. So all the Members of the mystical Body receive Nourishment from Christ who is the only Head thereof and from hence the Apostle condemneth those false Professors and counterfeit Christians who pretended to much Piety and Religion but did not receive their Doctrine and Principles from Christ nor were they united unto him by Evangelical Faith Not holding the Head Col. 2.18 19. from which all the Body by Joints and Bonds having Nourishment ministred and knit together encreaseth with the Increase of God VII In the natural Body betwixt the Members and the Body there is a marvellous Nearness or blessed Union VII So there is a wonderful Nearness and blessed Union between Jesus Christ and every Member of his mystical Body For we are Members of his Body of his Flesh Eph. 5.30 and of his Bones VIII The Body natural encreases in Strength Bigness and Beauty according to the Age of the Body is the Perfection and Excellency of it VIII So the Church encreases in spiritual Strength Bigness and Glory The Church is but small and weak now in comparison of what she shall be when she is come to her full Growth and perfect State There will be a great Addition to the Church in the latter Day The Lord shall rise upon thee Isa 60.2 to 9. and his Glory shall be seen upon thee and the Gentiles shall come to thy Light and Kings to the Brightness of thy Rising Lift up thine Eyes round about and see all they gather themselves together they come unto thee thy Sons shall come from afar and thy Daughters shall be nursed at thy side c. to the end of the Chapter compared with chap. 66.8 9 10. where you may read of the Multitude that shall be added to her and of the Abundance of her Glory And as she shall grow in Bigness so likewise she shall encrease in spiritual Knowledg Faith and Godliness Hab. 2.14 For the Earth shall be filled with the Knowledg of the Glory of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea All the Officers and glorious Gifts
Thorns Thorns are things of little Worth low and base things in comparison of Lillies VII The Church of God grows in the Field of this World amongst base and vile Sinners Isa 27.4 who are compared to Thorns and Briars VIII The Lilly growing among Thorns is hurt thereby That being a tender Flower the Thorns coming up with it which are of a rough and pricking Nature the Lilly receives much Injury not only in its Growth but also they tend to spoil its Beauty VIII The Church like the Lilly growing amongst the ungodly and persecuting World are greatly wronged thereby The Inhabitants of Canaan Num. 3.53 that Israel drove not out were said to be Pricks in their Eyes and Thorns in their Sides by which they were sorely perplexed and vexed There is a Time coming when the Lilly the Church of God shall be injured by these cursed Thorns no more There shall be no more a pricking Bryar to the House of Israel nor any grieving Thorn Ezek. 28.24 Moreover the Church should be as Lillies among Thorns for Beauty and Purity they ought to out-do and excell the Ungodly as far as the Lilly doth the Thorn As beautiful as a Lilly among Thorns saith Mr. Ainsworth as innocent as Doves among ravenous Birds Simile Disparity A Lilly is a natural Plant and Flower of the Field THe Church is a heavenly or supernatural Flower a Plant of God's right-hand planting II. There is no care taken of the Lilly that groweth among Thorns any are suffered to pluck them up II. God takes great care of his People He has made a Fence about them nay He himself is as a Wall of Fire on every side and doth keep his Church Zech. 2.5 and water it every moment Isa 27.3 Mat. 10 30 He keepeth it night and day lest any should hurt it Not one Hair of your Heads shall perish III. A Lilly is a Flower that soon fades and withers away Mat. 6.30 and is at last cast into the Oven III. The Churches Beauty and Glory is encreasing Prov. 4.18 The Path of the Just is as the shining Light which shineth more and more unto the perfect Day Her Glory shall never fade but she shall be made an eternal Excellency Inferences THis may teach all true Christians to admire and exalt the free Grace of God in making so great a Difference between them and the Wicked amongst whom they live 2. It shews also what care he taketh of them in preserving them whilst they grow among Thorns who do not only prick them by Persecution but would utterly root them up 3. They are hereby called upon not to rest satisfied with the Name of Christians only but to be earnest with the Lord that whilst the Wicked do daily manifest themselves to be as Thorns they may be as Lillies holy and heavenly-born Souls growing up more and more in Grace and Holiness The Church compared to a Merchant-Ship Prov. 31.14 She is like unto Merchant-Ships Isa 54.11 O thou afflicted and tossed with Tempests and not comforted THe Church of God in these Scriptures as Expositors observe is compared to a Ship to a Merchant-Ship Simile Parallel A Merchant-Ship tradeth from one Place to another she fetcheth her Merchandize from afar THe Church of God trades to Heaven she fetcheth her spiritual Merchandize from thence Phil. 3.20 Our Conversation is in Heaven II. A Merchant-Ship hath a skilful Pilot to steer and guide her the right way that so she may not split upon Rocks or Sands or any other way miscarry in her Voyage II. The Church of God hath a most expert and skilful Pilot viz. Jesus Christ to steer her Course through the Seas of this World that so she may not be split upon the Rocks of human Inventions nor the Sands of false Doctrine Error and Heresy III. A Merchant-Ship is tossed oftentimes upon a troublesom and tempestuous Sea and yet keeps up and is preserved in a wonderful manner upon boisterous Waves III. So the Church of God is often tossed with Tempests or subject to and vexed with the Incursions of an envious and persecuting World the Ungodly being compared to the troubled Sea Isa 57.20 IV. A Ship is steered by the Compass from one Place to another IV. So the Church of God is guided in her Passage to Heaven by the Compass of God's Word in respect of Doctrine Discipline and Conversation Thy Word is a Light unto my Paths Psal 110.105 V. A Merchant-Ship takes in several Passengers of divers Kinds and Nations who sail in her to their desired Haven V. So the Church takes in many Christians and Professors and those of several Sorts and Degrees who all declare they are bound with the Spiritual Ship to the Land of Promise VI. Some Merchant-Ships have Nets belonging to them which are cast into the Sea to take up Fishes and bring them into the Ship VI. So the Church of God hath the Gospel-Net Mat. 13.47 Mark 1.17 which by the hands of the Mariners and skilful Fishers of Men is cast into the Sea or Multitude of People by which means many Men are converted and taken into this spiritual Ship VII A Ship sails sweetly along when she hath a prosperous Gale for unless the Wind blow she cannot sail VII So the Church under the powerful and sweet Influences of the Spirit which is compared to the Wind is carried gloriously along towards her desired Haven Joh. 3.6 7. but if this spiritual Wind blow not she is becalmed VIII What common Dangers a Merchant-Ship is exposed to all the Passengers who sail in her are liable to also viz. to the same Tempests the same Pirates c. Let Jonah and the Mariners be in the same Ship together and tho the Storm arose for Jonah's sake yet all the whole Ship 's Company were in danger So it was in Paul's Case with those other Prisoners Mariners and Souldiers that were in the Ship with him Let there be in the same Sip saith Mr. Vartue a Prince going to receive a Crown and a Malefactor going to receive Punishment according to the Nature of his Offence whilst they are in the Ship together they are subject to the same Storms and Tossings to be Sea-sick together to the same Pirates and alike ransacked and spoiled by them VIII So what common Dangers befall God's Church all the Members thereof are more or less exposed and liable to the same Let Enemies come let Persecution arise against it there are no sort of Men or Members whether sincere or not whilst they remain in the Church or hold fast their Profession let them promise themselves what Safety they will who can be secure or exempted from Violence Tho as in a Ship some speed oft-times better than the rest Jer. 45.5 as Baruch and Jeremiah who had their Lives given them for a Prey when Thousands were cut off yet went into Exile 2 Tim. 3.12 Whosoever saith the Apostle will live godly
to see every one behaving himself well living in sweet Concord Peace and Love together VII So it is a great Honour to the Church of God when it is well and wisely governed In this respect Solomon was a Type of Christ and his Family a Type of the Family of the Faithful or Church of God The Lord Jesus ought to be acknowledged as the Head and chief Governor and next to Him the Bishop or Pastor thereof must be obeyed and submitted to in all things in the Lord. Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the Over-sight of you and subject your selves for they watch for your Souls There is nothing that doth more beautify the Church of God than good Order What is any Society of Men without Rule and good Government Strict Discipline must be kept up in Christ's Family Every Member ought to know his Place and to strive to behave himself well To this very end Paul wrote to Timothy 1 Tim. 3.15 That thou mayest saith he know how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the House of God c. All the Saints should live in perfect Peace Unity and sweet Concord together as Children of the same Father and Heirs of the same Crown and Kingdom Hence the Apostle exhorteth the Saints Eph. 4.3 to endeavour to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace Nothing is at this Day more grievous to a sincere Soul than to see the great Divisions and Want of Love that is amongst us nor doth any thing more encourage our Popish Adversaries Jovianus the Emperor was much troubled at the Divisions that were amongst Christians in his Time and shewed his Dislike at their Contentions in these Words I tell you truly I cannot bear with Contention but such as are for Concord and Unity I willingly honour and embrace and certain I am that such as strive for Truth and Peace Christ will embrace Discord amongst Brethren being one of those things he chiefly hates Prov. 6.16 VIII There is and ought to be some special Order and Discipline kept up in a Family that every one may know his Place Work and Business VIII So in the Church or spiritual Family there is a special Order and Discipline to be learned and kept up and every one is to know his Place Work and Business some of which we shall briefly hint in this place The first thing that I shall mind is the Choice of Officers viz. Elders and Deacons They should be chosen according to the Rules and Directions God hath left in his Word viz. Men fitly qualified A Bishop must not be soon angry 1 Tim. 3.2 to 8. T it 1 5 6 7. not given to Wine no Striker not self-willed not a Brawler not Covetous not a Novice He must be blameless one that rules well his own House apt to teach a Lover of good Men sober just temperate able by sound Doctrine to convince Gainsayers There are Directions also given about their Wives 2. Every Member hath his peculiar Vote in chusing of their Officers after Election they are to be ordained by Prayer and laying on of Hands Acts 6.6 13.3 3. The Pastor or Bishop is to feed the Flock to be faithful and laborious in preaching the Word of Life exhorting reproving comforting 1 Tim. 4.12 16. according as he finds occasion 4. It behoveth him together with the Church to be careful whom they receive into the Family viz. none but such as are converted true penitent and believing Persons as near as they can 5. They ought to know the State of the Flock Prov. 27.23 Heb. 13.17 and to watch over every Member thereof 6. The Members of the Church ought to study their Duty 1. To their Pastor to provide for him a sufficient Maintenance 1 Cor. 9.9 to 14. that he may not be encumbered with worldly Affairs and thereby made unfit for his great Work and Business he is called to See Planters Labourers c. 2. To pray for him and shew him all due Respect Eph. 6.19 as the Steward and Embassador of Christ 3. As to their Duties one to another as Fellow-Members of God's Church it is needful for them to know how they should carry and behave themselves towards their offending Brethren And as touching this it is necessary to consider 1. The Rule touching private Offences 2. Touching publick and scandalous Offences and Offenders 1. Touching private Offences Christ hath left us Directions in Mat. 18.15 16. If thy Brother offend thee tell him his Fault between thee and him alone but if he will not hear thee take one or two more c. But if he still neglect to hear them tell it to the Church But if he will not hear the Church then he is fit for Church-dealing or Excommunication Let all take heed they do not make publick any Evil or Offence of their Brethren that is private for this is an utter Fault and a Violation to the Law of Christ and Order of his House 2. Touching publick and scandalous Sins and Offenders such as expose the Name of God to a Reproach as Fornication Covetousness Idolatry Drunkenness Rioting c. these without thorow and unfeigned Repentance ought forthwith to be delivered up to Satan or put out of the Church into the Kingdom of Satan 1 Cor. 5.5 from whence they came And truly it cannot be known quickly who hath true Repentance that fall into such great Sins until there be some Time of Trial. Reformation of Life is the chief part of Repentance therefore to clear the Name of God from Reproach and the better to bring the Offender to the Sence of his Sin the Ordinance of Excommunication ought in my Judgment immediatly upon Conviction to pass against him 3. In the Administration of Justice and Judgment in the Church special Care ought to be taken that with all Wisdom and Impartiality Persons may be dealt withal Let the Church and Pastor see to it that the Rich be no more spared than the Poor Levi was not to know his Father in Judgment IX In a religious Family Devotion is carefully and duely performed Prayer reading the Word c. 'T is a Reproach to a Family especially to the Master or Governor and Governess to have this neglected and a Sin very provoking to God Pour out thy Fury upon the Heathen that know thee not Jer. 20.25 and upon the Families that call not upon thy Name IX So the Church of God is the chief Place of Publick Devotion there the Word of God is and ought to be read And hence Paul saith to the Colossians When this Epistle is read amongst you Col. 4.16 17. cause it to be read also in the Church mark of the Laodiceans There the Word of God is truly and duely preached and the Sacraments administred Out of Zion the Perfection of Beauty Psal 50.2 Eph. 3.10 God hath shined To the intent that now unto Principalities and Powers in heavenly
Places might be known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God Hence God is said to love the Gates of Zion Psal 87.2 viz. the Place of his visible Worship more than all the Dwellings of Jacob. Can there be a greater Reproach to a Church or any thing more provoking to God than to have Prayer and other Branches of Publick Worship and Devotion wholly neglected among them X. All the Family yea every particular Person thereof ought to be called together and they diligently to obey that Call and come together at the Time of Devotion or when Prayer is solemnly performed therein X. So the whole Church I mean each Community of Christians yea every particular Member thereof ought to be called together and they diligently to obey that Call at all Times when Prayer or any other part of Church-Service Devotion and Worship is to be performed Heb 10.25 Not forsaking the assembling of your selves together as the manner of some is c. Acts 2.1 They were all with one accord in one Place XI Some Families are exceeding great consisting of many Persons especially if it be the Family of a Prince or noble Person XI The whole Family of Christ the great Prince of Heaven and Earth I mean the whole universal Church both Militant and Triumphant is exceeding great the one part of which is in Heaven and the other on Earth Eph. 3.15 16. For this Cause I bow my Knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named c. Ephes 3.15 16. XII It is exceeding commendable and honourable for all that belong unto a Family to be truly and cordially affectionate one to another to be ready and willing to do all Offices of Love and Kindness so far as the Law of such a Relation doth require of each in their respective Places and Callings XII So the Lord Jesus the Head and Governor of his Church hath strictly commanded and doth exceedingly commend the Grace of Love in and among all his Family The Church is never more desirable or comely in this World than when the Love of each Member doth abound one towards another when Ministers love the People and the People heartily love them and when every one in the Station wherein God hath set him is ready and willing to do any Office of Love How amiable upon this account is the Church of God! Inferences THis shews that the Church of God are a choice and peculiar People such who have given up themselves in the Order and Fellowship of the Gospel walking together in Love as a holy religious and united Family according to the Order and Discipline Christ hath left in his Word having sweet Acquaintance and Intimacy one with another And now to conclude with this Head from the Whole we may infer I. That God's Church is most dear and precious in his Sight or a People that he hath most choice Love and Affections to and takes great Care of II. That the Church of God under the Gospel-Dispensation is not National Parochial c. III. That the Church of God are a People separated from the World in respect of the Worship Traditions and sinful Customs thereof c. Non-conformity to the World in these respects is an indispensible Duty Be not conformed to this World Rom. 12.2 Come out from amongst them and be ye separated saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing c. 2 Cor. 6.17 IV. That the true Church of God is a Number of sincere and godly Christians who have solemnly covenanted and given up themselves to walk in the true Order and Fellowship of the Gospel according to the exact Rule of God's Word amongst whom the Word of God is truly preached and the Sacraments are duely and in a right manner administred V. That God's Church hath many Enemies and yet in despite of them all shall abide and the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against her And tho for a time she may be low and under great Sufferings yet she shall arise to a great Degree of Glory in the latter Day THE Eighth HEAD OF Metaphors Allegories and Similes WITH Other Borrowed TERMS That respect MEN. I. Of Men in general II. Of the Godly or good Men. III. Of Sinners or wicked Men. Men compared to Earth Jer. 22.9 Hear O Earth Earth Earth Psal 33.5 Let all the Earth fear the Lord. Let all the Earth keep Silence Rev. 12. But the Earth helped the Woman BY Earth in these Scriptures we are to understand Men dwelling upon the Earth Earth Parallel THe Earth is far from Heaven there is a vast Difference between them ALl Men whilst they remain unconverted or abide in a State of Nature are said to be far from God tho not in respect of Place yet in respect of Condition Men being by reason of Sin in a State of Enmity Eph. 2.13 Ye that sometimes were afar off are now made nigh by the Blood of Christ II. The Earth is a heavy lumpish and gross Body II. So Man naturally is Earth-like a heavy and lumpish Piece being taken out of the Earth and the Off-spring of red Earth As is the earthy 1 Cor. 15.48 such are they that are earthy III. The Earth hath its great Dependency upon the Heavens did not the Rain from above water it and the Sun shine upon it how hard and barren would it soon be II. So Man hath all his Dependency upon God neither the spiritual Man nor the natural Man can subsist unless the Heavens send down Blessings upon them All humane as well as divine Growth and Fruitfulness comes from above IV. Earth turns and cleaves to Earth as its proper Center Tho a Piece of it may by force be lifted up or thrown upward yet by an innate Propensity to descend it naturally falls down again IV. So Man naturally cleaves to and takes delight in earthly Things He that is after the Flesh Rom. 8.5 minds the Things of the Flesh He that is not born anew born of the Spirit but is wholly an earthly Man the Earth is his proper Center tho sometimes his Heart may in an artificial way as it were be lifted upwards yet down he falls again to his own Center V. What a dark Dungeon would the Earthly Globe be did not the Heavens shine upon it V. So what a dark Dungeon is Man's Heart and in what Egyptian Darkness would all Men and Women be involved were it not for the Light of the God of Heaven his Word and blessed Spirit VI. Those Things that are fed and nourished by the Earth are Earth and we see go or return to Earth again VI. So the Body of Man which is fed from the Earth which was taken out of the Earth we daily see goeth to the Earth again and therefore Man may be called Earth Earth Earth Jer. 22.29 that was his Original Earth he was and Earth he is and to Earth he
Saints and of all that were slain upon the Earth that is since the Destruction of Jerusalem 6. And lastly Not to multiply more upon this Head tho Jerusalem was fearfully destroyed as the History of Josephus shews yet shall she rise again be built upon her own Heap be replenished with her own Children which this City Babylon under Consideration shall never be after this Catastrophe which John saw visionally coming upon it And a mighty Angel took up a Stone like a great Mill-stone Rev. 18.21 and cast it into the Sea saying Thus with violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all II. It cannot be the Turks and Saracens for two Reasons offered by the Learned Mead lib. 3. p. 643. 1. Because tho they did arise to great Power in the World yet they had not their Seat in that great City which in St. John's Time reigned over the Kings of the Earth which this Babylon is expresly said to have Rev. 17.18 2. That they did not rise by Apostacy from the Christian Religion which this Babylon with her Head the Man of Sin did for as this worthy Author saith the Turk whatever he be could be no Apostate because he was of a Nation that never was Christian To which we shall add something for the clearing of this Head that we may discharge that Debt we owe to God to the Church and the World 3. It cannot be the Turks because they are not strangely and wonderfully mysterious which this Babylon is said to be And upon her Forehead was a Name written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS Rev. 17.5 AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH And the Angel said unto me Wherefore didst thou marvel I will tell thee the Mystery of the Woman Verse 7. and the Beast which carrieth her which hath the seven Heads and ten Horns What special Mystery hath shewed it self to the World from the Turks and Saracens more than from other common Empires or Kingdoms that is matter of Admiration to the wisest of Men Is it matter of Wonder that the Turks do own but one true and most high God Is it matter of Wonder that they do own Jesus Christ to be a Prophet and a good Man Is it matter of highest Wonder that they prefer Mahomet above Jesus Is it matter of Wonder that they appear true to their Contracts in Matters of Civil Commerce Is it matter of highest Wonder for them to endeavour to keep what Dominion they have and to enlarge it to make Slaves and Prizes of those profest Enemies they take Prisoners We say in none of these things is there any high Mystery or matter of greatest Wonder being Things common to all Places and Kingdoms invested with Power For 1. Did not the great King of Literal Babylon own the only true God yet still held the Church in Captivity 2. Did not Israel own the same and yet kept their Idols after their Revolt from Judah 3. Did not Judah prefer Moses above and before Christ and at that time when Christ was personally amongst them working most stupendous Miracles which did evince his Divine Mission Nay did they not prefer a common and notorious Villain before the blessed Lord of Glory when they desired a Murtherer to be freed and pressed hard to have the good and blessed Jesus the Saviour of the World killed And did not this wise Apostle know this to be true in Fact and to equal nay out-do any thing that the Turks or Saracens ever did or can be accused of And if St. John was transported with astonishing Wonder at Matters much less than he had seen before doth it not give good reason to suspect him of Weakness and Defect that he should suffer himself to be surprized with the greatest Wonder at far less Things than he had seen and known before Certainly therefore we must conclude there was something more of Mystery in John's Vision than what hath been shewed to the World by the Great Turk or any other Power and indeed undoubtedly the greatest Mystery that ever the World was acquainted with For the Characters of Babylon must either be singular that is such as none have besides or else they must be transcendent to go far beyond what others had in a lesser degree Otherwise John might have kept the Description of Babylon to himself there being no clear Distinctions to render the wisest and most discerning Men able to make a Judgment upon her The Mystery then that is written upon this Woman Babylon seems clearly to lie in these Particulars following First That she doth transact the most horrid Wickednesses that ever the World was or is like to be acquainted with Secondly That under this monstrous Guilt she is prodigiously confident and without all regret or show of Shame and most impudently boasts of the highest Sanctity and Holiness in the World viz. That she is totally pure infallibly certain and cannot err c. That this indeed is a Mystery to be wondred at let it be considered 1. That a Shepherd should be a Wolf and devour that Flock which he pretends to be an Overseer or Pastor of 2. That a professed Servant of Jesus Christ and the meanest of Saints should exalt himself above his Master and not above his Master only but above the God of his Master and all other deputed Gods that are Vicegerents to the King of Heaven by slighting and trampling upon the Holy Scriptures and Laws both of God and Princes dispensing with the Breach of them indulging the highest Violation thereof and setting up his own Inventions Traditions and Decrees above them insomuch that there is a thousand times less danger in their esteem in respect of Excommunications and Corporal Punishments in this World or of Damnation in the World to come in breaking and violating the Laws of God and Princes than there is in the Violation or Breach of the Inventions Traditions and Decrees of Mystery Babylon and her Head 3. That one sitting in the Temple of God pretending himself as a poor Apostle Vicar and Successor of Christ nay as the Successor of a poor Fisherman should wear the highest Ensigns of Imperial Dignity 4. That he should be so lordly and prodigiously insolent who was commanded to the greatest Humility and Abasement as to tread upon the Necks of Emperors kick off the Crowns of great Princes and make Kings his Foot-Pages 5. That he should pretend highly yea most highly to God Christ Religion and Holiness and yet espouse to himself as the Darlings of his Bosom not only the chiefest Sons of Belial but all that will decline Sanctity and Religion and embody themselves with those First-born Sons of Wickedness that are of the highest Magnitude and engage themselves in such monstrous and butcherly Practices that humane Nature as such could never act in the butchering of brute Beasts 6. That the Spouse of this prodigious Monster should in Profession own God Jesus
Destruction oâ— Jerusalem For as the Guilt of all the Blood shed from righteous Abel to the Death of Zacharias is by our Saviour fix'd upon Jerusalem and cannot be removed to another People so the Blood of all the Martyrs and Followers of Jesus is by this Revelation â—â—x'd upon the last Babylon Râ—v 17.6 And I saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Jesus Chap. 18. v. 24. And in her was found the Blood of the Prophets and of Saints and of ALL that were slain upon the Earth But Rome Heathen was not guilty of all the Christian Blood that was shed upon Earth by Murthers Massacres and Martyrdom since the Destruction of Jerusalem For to look back but for six hundred Years last past in which Time we shall find Hundreds of Thousands of profest Christians most butcherly and barbarously put to Death for their Zeal and Love to the Christian Religion in the respective Nations of Europe before which the Heathenish State of Rome was gone off about the space of six hundred Years So that if we will regard the full satisfying of this Prediction about Myâ—â—ery Babylon we must of necessity bring her down lower than the Heathenish State of Rome 6. Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylon under Consideration because the Discoveries of other Prophecies relating to the same State no way agrees to the Power of Rome Heathen 1. This State of Babylon is called the Mystery of Iniquity This no way agrees to Rome Heathen but fully agrees to Rome Papal Compare 2 Thess 2.7 with Rev. 17.7 viz. For the Mystery of Iniquity doth already work The Angel said unto me Wherefore didst thou marvel I will tell thee the Mystery of the Woman and of the Beast that carrieth her 2. The Head of this State of Mystery Babylon is called the Man of Sin by way of Eminency 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not only beyond the common Rank of Men but beyond the highest Sons of Wickedness that went before him And there is a great Truth in this for if we consider the Pope in respect of Pride Hypocrisy Idolatry and Blood he is the most unparallel'd Man of Sin 3. This State or Mystery of Iniquity began to work in the Apostle's Days which is no ways applicable to the Power of Rome Heathen for that did not then begin it being at that time in the very Meridian of its Greatness and universal Sovereignty Luke 2.1 And it came to pass in those Days that there came out a Decree from Caesar Augustus that all the World should be taxed 4. This Man of Sin Mystery of Iniquity or Head of this Babylonish State is saie to be let or hindred in his Designs He that now letteth will let until he be taken out of the Way 2 Thess 2.7 But now Rome Heathen had no Lett or Hindrance either from the Word of God for that declared it as it was a Civil Magistracy to be God's Ordinance nor from any opposite Power either Civil or Military they giving Laws to the greatest Part of the World and enjoying the Supreme Government of the best Kingdoms in the Universe none being able to cope with them at that Time 5. This Head of the Babylonish State is said to sit in the Temple of God which the Power of Rome Heathen did not do neither in the Temple of Jerusalem nor in the Church whâ—ch is more properly the Temple of God For the Jews kept the Possession of the Literal Temple till it was destroyed and for the Church of God the Heathen Emperors never loved it so well at to make their Residence in it But the Bishop of Rome before he shewed himself to be that wicked One viz. the Man of Sin dâ—d evidently sit in the Church or Temple of God and so fulfilled this Prophecy in the very Letter of it 6. He that is the Man of Sin or Head of this Babylonish State was to rise by Apostacy or falling away from the Christian Religion 2 Thess 2.3 There shall come a falling away first exactly agreeing with another Prophecy to the same purpose 1 Tim. 4.1 Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter Times some shall depart from the Faith c. But Rome Heathen did not rise by Apostacy from the Christian Religion or a departing from the Faith which they never profess'd as is evident to the whole World Ergo Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylonish State 7. This Man of Sin or Head of Mystery Babylon lay hid in the Apostle's Time and was not revealed 2 Thess 2.3 Rev. 17.9 but the Power of Rome Heathen did not then lie hid or wanted to be revealed for it stood visible and high upon a Hill even upon seven Hills according to the Roman Poet Ovid who lived about the very Time of Christ's being on Earth in Lib. de Tristibus Sed quae de septem totum circumspicit Orbem Montibus Imperii Roma Deûmque Locus That is But Rome which from her seven Hills the whole Earth views around the Place of Gods and Rule c. Ergo Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylonish State 8. This Mystery of Iniquity is said to oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped 2 Thess 2.4 But this the Power of Rome in its Heathen State did not do for they worshipped offered Sacrifices and bore a Reverence to their Gods which by Nature indeed were no Gods and 't is only the Head of Rome Pâ—pal that runs down all Gods but those of his own making Ergo Rome Papal and not Rome Heathen must of necessity be this Mystery of Iniquity 9. The Rise or Coming of this Mystery of Iniquity is after the working of Satan 2 Thess 2.9 But the Rise of the Romish Greatness and Power when Heathen was not after the working of Satan Dan 7.2 3 but was said by Daniel to be produced by the Providence of God or the four Winds of Heaven and by the Apostle to be Powers ordained of God Rom. 13.1 Therefore Rome Heathen cannot be the Mystery of Iniquity c. here meant 10. This Mystery of Iniquity is not only said to come after the working of Satan 2 Thess 2.9 but also with All Power c. But the Rise of Rome Heathen was not after that manner Ergo c. To illustrate the first Proposition note That the Term All Power marks out the Romish Pope so notoriously that whosoever runs may read it for if we do but impartially consider his impudent Usurpations upon Crowned Heads and his Pretences of Supremacy over the whole Christian World his proud imperious Decrees Bulls c. his Disposal of the Kingdoms of Princes and the Inheritances yea the very Lives of private Persons of any Rank that dare disobey him his Pretences to shut and open Heaven Hell and his feigned Purgatory his carrying a Symbol of that vast and God-like Power viz. a Brace of Keys hanging at his Girdle All these will appear
than Rome Heathen or Babylon ever was And then what a fine Church do the People make themselves 10. If the Place Seat and City of Rome was not utterly ruined so as to be no more for ever as a Place of Commerce Trade and Human Society when the Heathen Power ceased then Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylon because at the Ending and Downfall of this Babylon the Place Seat and City is utterly ruined so as to be no more a Place of Trade Rev. 17.16 Commerce or human Society And the ten Horns which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and shall eat her Flesh and burn her with Fire Verse 18. And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth for her Sins which God hath remembred Rev. 18.8 which have reached unto Heaven therefore shall her Plagues come in one Day Death and Mourning and Famine and she shall be utterly burnt with Fire For strong is the Lord God who judgeth her Ver. 11 12 13. All Sorts of Merchandize Traffick Trade and Commerce with humane Society shall cease so as to be no more in her at all and the good Things which she in Fulness enjoyed before even all Things that were dainty and goodly are now departed from her and she shall find them no more at all vers 14. for in one Hour is she made desolate And a mighty Angel took up a Stone like a great Mill-stone and cast it into the Sea saying Thus with Violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all Verse 21. And the Voice of Harpers and Musicians and of Pipers and Trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee and no Craftsman of whatsoever Craft he be shall be found any more in thee and the Sound of a Mill-stone shall be heard no more at all in thee Verse 22. And the Light of the Candle shall shine no more at all in thee and the Voice of the Bridegroom and of the Bride shall be heard no more at all in thee Verse 23. But the Place Seat and City of Rome was not so utterly ruined as to be no more for ever a Place of Trade Traffick Merchandize and humane Society when the Heathen Power of Rome ended Ergo Rome Heathen cannot be the Whore of Babylon under present Consideration whose Seat or City hath since had a powerful Government reigning in Pride and Pomp for some hundreds of Years 11. If Rome Papal be Mystery Babylon the City of Pride and Confusion that is set forth by St. Jobn in the Apocalypse then neither the City of Jerusalem the Seat of the Turks and Saracens nor Rome Heathen is or can be the same But Rome Papal is the Mystery Babylon set forth by St. John in the Apocalypse Ergo neither the City of Jerusalem the Seat of the Turks and Saracens nor Rome Heathen can be the same The last Proposition is thus proved If all the Marks and Characters left us upon Divine Record to prove Mystery Babylon by do more aptly and fitly agree to Rome Papal than to the City of Jerusalem the Seat of the Turks or Rome Heathen Then Rome Papal and not any one of them is Mystery Babylon But the Marks and Characters left upon Divine Record to distinguish and know Mystery Babylon by do more aptly and fitly agree to Rome Papal Ergo Rome Papal and not the other is Mystery Babylon For the clearing up of this Argument we shall distinctly state the Character of Mystery Babylon and run the Parallel betwixt her and Rome Papal in this Method following 1. Babylon is a Woman which imports either a single Person rank'd in the Feminine Gender or a Body of People related to some Head Husband or publick Person to whom she is joined in Wedlock by Covenant or Matrimonial Contract as Eve was related to Adam and therefore called Woman or as Judah and Israel who were joined in Covenant with God and therefore called a Woman or as the true Church now is married or joined to Christ and therefore called a Woman A single Person as Eve was she cannot be because the Character given of her in respect of her State and Actions doth no way comport with it She must therefore be a Body of People related to some Head Husband or publick Person as Judah and Israel of old was who are often called by the Title of Woman and in like manner Babylon before her Degeneracy were a People joined in Matrimonial Contract by a Gospel-Covenant and Profession to the Son of God Metaphor Parallel BAbylon imports a Body of People that was once united to the Son of God and hence Metaphorically called a Woman And I saw a Woman sit c. And the Woman was arrayed c. And I saw the Woman Drunk c. Rev. 17.3 4 6. ROme Papal or the Church of Rome is a Body a great Body a famous Body of People and which were before their Apostacy a true Church by Gospel-Covenant and Profession united to the Son of God as her publiâ—k Head and Husband Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ To all that be in Rome Rom. 1.6 7. beloved of God called to be Saints Grace be to you and Peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ II. Babylon is a City a very great City so called in a threefold respect Rev. 17.18 18.10 16 18 19 21. 1. In respect of Power 2. In respect of People 3 In respect of Place and Residence where this Power and People is seated Psal 121. Isa 14.31 Acts 19.28 City being indefinitely taken for either of these or comprehending all as in these Instances II. Rome Papal or Church of Rome is a City a very great City so called in a threefold respect 1. In respect of Power which is twofold 1. Civil 2. Ecclesiastical Reâ— 13.1 signified by two Horns like a Lamb. 2. In respect of People which are great in Number 3. In respect of Place and Residence where this Power and great People is seated and indeed it is as worthily called by way of Eminency a City as any Power People or Place in the Christian World because there is nothing so much spoken of or gives sadder occasion to be so much spoken of as Rome in respect of Power People and Place which shall be further cleared by Argument c. The Fame of this People as a Church was great before the Power and chief Dominion of the Place was joined with it as appears Rom. 1.8 First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all that your Faith is spoken of throughout the whole World III. Babylon is not only a Woman and a City but a bad Woman and a City of Confusion for so the Word Babel Gen. 11.1 to 10. or Babylon signifies viz. Evil or Confusion III. Rome Papal or Church of Rome is not
learned Works makes out took their rise with Rome Papal upon the division or ruine of the Roman Empire in its Civil State the body of which Kingdoms may well be called many Waters viz. Peoples and Multitudes and Nations and Tongues or People of several Languages which were as well known to have been under the Usurpation and Jurisdiction of Rome Papal as their being so which doth fully answer to the very Letter of the Text The Waters which thou sawest whereon the Whore sitteth are Peoples Multitudes Nations Tongues 2. Her making all the European Merchants Rich that traffick by Sea Rev. 18.11 by the great expence of all Commodities which are swallowed up within her Territories and Dominions Which could never be effected unless she had Nations and Multitudes to contribute to her great Pride and Luxury 3. A third Instance is the numberless number of good Christians which she hath drawn in and murdered for no other cause than their fearing God and obeying his Laws by loving Jesus Christ and following his Example of which we have a large account in Fox's Acts and Monuments and other Histories Upon which we form this Argument Arg. If there be no Body of People professed Church or State in the Christian World under any single Denomination that sits upon commands or bears rule over Peoples Multitudes Nations and Tongues as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth Then Rome Papal or the Church of Rome is this Babylon treated of But there is no Body of People professed Church or State under any single Denomination that sits upon commands or bears rule over Peoples Multitudes Nations and Tongues as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth Ergo c. To the establishing this Argument let it be considered that the whole State of the Christian World consists of but these two parts as we shewed before viz. the Church of Rome considered as Head and Body and those that dissent from her and those are so inconsiderable whether the Waldenses Albigenses Hugonots or other parties of Protestants that no one party of them nay if we put them all together can be said to fit upon command or bear rule over Peoples Multitudes Nations and Tongues to answer the Text the Waldenses and Hugonots have been and still are a persecuted People the Lutherans never got up so high as to command many States or Kingdoms or places of many Languages Great Britain tho a Protestant State or Kingdom comes not near to fulfil the Text much less the seven Provinces that of late revolted from Spain So that if Rome Papal hath done so and no other People that dissent from her could ever yet do the like then this proves Rome Papal the Whore that sits upon many Waters c. VII Mystery Babylon or the great Whore is such a Woman such a City such a Whore that the Kings and great Men of the Earth have committed Fornication with See the Text Rev. 17.2 With whom the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication i. e. Spiritual Fornication or Fornication in a Mystery after a mysterious manner 2 Chron. 21.11 Isa 16.26 29. Rev. 18.9 and 19.2 such as Jerusalem of old was charged with which was a following the same Idolatry that this Woman Babylon had set up and was devoted unto and so great was her Fornication Isa 19.2 that 't is said she did corrupt the Earth with it VII Rome Papal or Church of Rome is such a Woman such a City of Confusion such a Whore that the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication with and that hath corrupted the Earth with her Fornications Fornications after a mysterious manner by following abominable Superstition and Idolatry 1. Hath she adored the Pope as her Lord God Universal Head and Bishop infallible acknowledged above all Laws so have the Kings and their misled People done 2. Hath she worshipped the Virgin Mary divers Angels and many departed Saints so have the Kings and their misguided People done 3. Hath she adored Images the Crucifix and Pictures of pretended Saints so have the Kings and their misguided People 4. Hath she foolishly debased her self with the Adoration of the Relicts of known and unknown Saints so have the Kings and their misguided People 5. Hath she grosly and superstitiously worshipped the true God in a false manner by crowding in an innumerous Train of Fopperies into his Worship and Service which he never ordained as Candlesticks Altars Vestments Spits Oyl Holy Water Beads and a World of such like Trumpery so have the Kings and their misguided People not only the Emperour of Germany Kings of France Spain Poland Portugal that are still under her Influence but the Kings of England and Scotland too before the Reformation got Ground Upon which we form this Argument Arg. If there be no Body of People in the Christian World pretending a Church-State that hath set up Idolatry to that Degree and with whom the Kings of the Earth have complied as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath done Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome is the Mysterious Whore of Babylon treated of But there is no Body of People in the Christian World pretending to a Church-State that hath set up Idolatry to that Degree and with whom the Kings of the Earth have complyed as Rome Papal c. hath done Ergo c. To reinforce this Argument let any Man that will become an Advocate for the Church of Rome shew that any People called the Reformed who dissent from the Church of Rome are guilty of like Idolatry and that the Kings of the Earth have complyed with them in it as afore-mentioned and we will acquit this Argument but if this Character doth more fitly ageee to Rome than to the Reformed c. our Argument is good VIII Babylon is such a Woman City and Whore that hath not only had Kings committing Fornication with her but hath intoxicated the Minds of Multitudes and corrupted a great part of the World or common sort of People by wicked and false Doctrine And the Inhabitants of the Earth have been made drunk with the Wine of her Fornication Rev. 17.2 VIII Rome Papal or Church of Rome is such a Woman City and Whore that hath not only had the Kings of the Earth to commit Fornication with her in dancing after her Pipes in all her mysterious Allurements but hath intoxicated the Minds of the Multitude and corrupted a great part of the World or common sort of People by wicked and false Doctrine As first that a wicked Man should be appointed of God to be the Vicar of Christ as if God had no more regard to his own Name and the Good of his Church and Honour of his Son than to institute a Child of the Devil as every wicked Man is to be Vice-gerent to the most holy Jesus in the highest Transactions that relate to Heaven and the Souls of Men. Surely if God shut Judas out from his Bishoprick because of his
Proper and Metaphorical Notations thereof 2. Such things as necessarily contribute to it are 1. Great and vehement Thirst 2. Plenty of the thing thirsted after 3. The greedy taking their fill of it 3. The Signs of Drunkenness are 1. When the Faculties are so disordered that they will not submit to the best Reason that can be given them 2. When they will abuse those whom they are most obliged to love and respect 3. When they have cast off all consideration of their own and others Good and forbear no Mischief but what they are restrained from by force 4. That these things are evident in the Church of Rome and cannot be so fairly fixed upon her Opposites or supposed Hereticks appears 1. Because she hath shed a Mass a very great Mass of Blood upon the account of Religion all which was unlawfully shed of this the whole Christian World is a Witness 2. To clear her supposed Hereticks from this red and bloody Crime 1. It is against their Principle to kill Men for Religion and this they do avowedly profess pleading for Liberty of Conscience in Matters purely Religious in all places 2. They have wanted Power to do it in case they had been for it in Principle all Power being in the Hands of Papists before the Reformation 3. Where there hath since been a Protestant Seate or Kingdom governed by Laws different from that of the Popish Countries yet they have not made use of their Power and Laws to take away the Lives of Papists meerly for Religion and if it hath happened at any time that some Ecclesiastical Persons have been put to Death by Protestants it has been but very rare and seldom and the Cause not for their Religion but for Sedition Rebellion and Treason otherwise they have lived peaceably under Protestant Governours enjoying their Civil Right in Common with other Men. And for the confirming of this we make a Challenge to all Christendom to come forth and make it appear Where England Scotland and Ireland the Vnited Provinces c. since the Reformation have by Massacres Murders or Martyrdom put one thousand nay one hundred to Death of Men Women and Children only because they professed the Romish Religion or any Religion different from theirs so far have they been from making themselves Drunk with the Blood of Saints and Religious Men. And if this cannot be done then having brought our Character within the Confines of the Christian World we must necessarily charge this Drunkenness by Blood upon the Church of Rome This Head we will conclude with the following Argument If no Sect of People in the Christian World be guilty of so much Blood drunk with Blood innocent Blood Blood of Saints as the Church of Rome is Then the Church of Rome is this Woman that St. John saw to his great astonishment Drunk with the Blood of the Saints and the Martyrs of Jesus But there is no Sect of People c. guilty of so much Blood or Drunk with the Blood of Saints c. Ergo The Church of Rome is this Woman c. XIV Babylon is a Church or Body of People that sits upon a Beast that had seven Heads or seven sorts of Soveraign Governments 1. Kings of whom Romulus was the first Rev. 17.9 10 11. 2. Consuls See Mede Peter du Moulin c. 3. Military Tribunes 4. Decemvirs 5. Dictators 6. Heathen Emperors 7. Christian Emperors Rev. 17.9 10 11. And here is the Mind that hath Wisdom the seven Heads are seven Mountains on which the Woman sitteth And there are sâ—ven Kings five are fallen one is and the other is not yet come but when he cometh he must continue a short space And the Beast that was and is not even he is the eighth and of the seven and goeth into Perdition XIV Besides all that hath been said we hope to very good Purpose if we find not Rome here we will let her go for ever For 1. This is the place which hath had seven Soveraign Governments five of which were gone off the Stage and the sixth viz. the Heathen Empire was in Being in St. John's time 2. The seventh was to appear and to continue but a short space viz. the Christian Empire for it cannot be the Papal Power because that was not up in St. John's time so not the sixth Head and as the Papal Power for that Reason could not be the sixth Head so for a very good Reason it could not be the seventh Head because that whensoever that did appear it was to continue but a short space which respects not the Papal Power but answers the Christian Empire for the Papal Power has continued longer than any of the other Soveraignties that went before and if the Papal Power be neither the Sixth nor seventh Head then it must needs be the eighth which is of the seventh and goes into Perdition or else it must be no Head or Power at all But a Head and a Power it is a great Head and Power it hath been therefore it is the eighth Head which carries the Whore according to the express Leâ—ter of the Text and shall go into Perdition And that by the Woman City or Whore that sitteth upon the seven Mountains is meant Rome we have no cause to doubt because the great Sons of Rome themselves as Baronius Bellarmine and many others do confess it but would defend their Mother from being a Whore by putting it off to the Power of Rome in its Heathen State to which we have fully answered already And do say that Rome Papal is neither the sixth Head nor the seventh but the very last Beast or eighth Head in which there is a Secular and an Ecclesiastical Power joined together which makes up a Beast a most Blasphemous Beast and a Whore a most Devilish Drunken and Bloody Whore which hath her Seat upon seven Mountains on which this City of Rome was built as before This Paragraph we shall shut up with this Argument Arg. If Rome Papal or Church of Rome be born up by a Secular Power which had seven sovereign Governments seated upon seven Hills Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome is the very Mystery Babylon that the Apostle John saw in his Apocalyptical Vision But Rome Papal or Church of Rome is born up by a Secular Power which had seven Soveraign Governments and seated upon seven Hills Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is the very Mystical Babylon c. This Argument shines so clear that unless our Adversaries can assign any Protestant State by them called Heretical that these Characters do better and more fully agree to it must pass for current Coin and which we shall be ready to receive from them So we proceed XV. Mystery Babylon is not only a Beastly Woman that has made her self Drunk with the Blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus that sits upon a Beast that had seven Heads or seven sorts of Soveraign Governments and was seated upon
seven Mountains that professeth her self the Mother of all Spiritual Power and Jurisdiction but such a Woman and such a City that in the Eye of the Vision had did or was to Reign over the Kings of the Earth Rev. 17.18 And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth XV. Rome Papal or Church of Rome is not only a Beastly Woman that has made her self Drunk with the Blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus that sits upon a Beast or the Remains of that Power which had seven sorts of Soveraign Governments and is seated upon seven Mountains that professes her self the Mother of all Spiritual Power and Jurisdiction but is such a Woman and such a City that since the Vision and Prophecy of St. John hath for several hundreds of Years reigned over the Kings of the Earth she hath governed a great part of Italy if we will believe her self ever since Constantine who gave it as a Patrimony to St. Peter she hath had her Kingdom over Germany so long upon France Spain Portugal Poland England Scotland and Ireland so that their Kings have been governed by her whom she would they killed whom she willed they worshâ—pped and so became guilty of drinking the Wine of her Fornication whom she willed they set up whom she willed they plucked down What she required they paid themselves and made their People pay also When she willed they raised Arms and when she willed they laid them down again What shall we say the Church of Rome hath had such a Power over the Kingdoms of Europe that the Power and Wills of Princes have bâ—en controuled and over-ruled when in any considerable Case they have gone contrary to the Sense and Interest of the Church and that to such a Degree as they have sometimes made them do Penance resign up thâ—ir Crowns and then receive them again as an Act of Kindness from the Chair of St. Peter Which affords us ground for such an Argument as this Arg. If there be no great and considerable Body of People in the Christian World that hath so evidently and apparently reigned over the Kings of the Earth as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath done Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome is this Babylon City or People that St. John sets forth But there is no such great and considerable Body c. Ergo Rome Papal c. must be this Babylon c. The Major is undeniable The Minor is so notoriously known to the whole World that the Papists can never avoid the Force of it unless they can produce some Protestant Kingdom or State that domineer'd over the Kings of the Earth in a more eminent way and manner than Rome is here charged with But that is impossible The Conclusion is therefore true And now having thus in fifteen Particulars run the Metaphor by way of Parallel betwixt Mystery Babylon and Rome Papal as the same is set forth in the Apocalypse other Histories and known Experiences we shall before we quit this Task briefly consider how the Acts and Progress of the Church of Rome do most fully comport with other Types and Prophecies of Holy Scripture namely with Literal Babylon that was hâ—r Type and from whence she derives her Name from the Prophecy of Daniel concerning the little Horn vile Person or Man of Sin which is her Head the Prophecy of the Apostle Paul in two remarkable Epistles the First to Timothy and the Second to the Thessalonians and conclude The Sum we shall cast into one general Argument and so proceed to the various Branches of it The concluding Argument is this Argument That People whose Acts and Progress do most fitly and fully comport with Literal Babylon which was a Type with the Prophecy of Daniel about the little Horn and Revelations of the New Testament about the last Scene of Things is undoubtedly the wicked and bloody Whore of Babylon But Rome Papal or Church of Rome is that People whose Acts and Progress do most fitly and fully comport with Literal Babylon the Prophecy of Daniel and Revelation of the New-Testament about the last Scene of Things Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is undoubtedly the wicked and bloody Whore of Babylon The Truth of this Argument we will endeavour to illustrate by this Induction of Particulars following Metaphor Parallel AS Literal Babylon was the Head-City of the First or Caldean Kingdom called the Glory of the Caldean Kingdom Isa 13.19 and great Babylon c. SO Rome Papal is the Head-City of the last Kingdom called Great Babylon or the great and Mother-City Rev. 17.18 II. Literal Babylon had a great Head or King over her called Lucifer or Son of the Morning II. So Rome Papal hath a great Head or King over her called the Angel of the Bottomless-Pit Son of the Evening Darkness or Perdition III. Literal Babylon had Dominion over many Countries or Provinces III. Rome or Mystery Babylon hath Dominion over many Countries or Kingdoms no less than the Territories or Jurisdictions of ten considerable Kings called ten Horns IV. Caldea or Literal Babylon fell under a fourfold Circumstance in respect of her Supreme Lord or chief Head As 1. That He was when in great Pride he did insultingly say Is not this great Babylon that I have built by the Might of my Power for the Honour of my Majesty 2. He was not when by the Watchers and the holy Ones he was toss'd from his Throne and made to eat Grass with Oxen till seven Times or Years past over him 3. Yet was when his Reason and the Hearts of his Nobles return'd to him and gave him a Re-advancement 4. Went off finally when God brought the Medes and Persians against his Successor into whose Hands the Kingdom was translated IV. Rome or Mystery Babylon is foretold by the Angel to fall under a fourfold Circumstance in respect to her Supreme Lord or chief Head the last Beast by her called Our Lord God the Pope 1. When he carries the Whore in State makes War with the Saints and overcomes them when his Adherents say Who is like unto the Beast who is able to make War with him Then He was 2. He is not when the Horns shall hate the Whore make her desolate eat her Flesh and burn her with Fire And good Men join issue with them to take away the little Horn's Dominion and lead him into Captivity whose Life shall be prolonged for a Season and Time even unto the time of the End 3. He yet is when by virtue of a false Prophet and all the Helps Satan the Dragon can afford him he shall make a Rally of the careless Nations to bring up against the Jews after the Restauration to compleat the Battel of Armageddon foretold by divers Prophecies 4. He shall go off the Stage for ever as the Man of Sin great Opposer of Christ and Son of Perdition when God shall send his Son from Heaven
only gives Direction how we should pray and that we should in Prayer only design the Glory of God 10. After the clearing of the Lamps of the Candlestick Evening and Morning then the Incense was burnt shewing that all our Prayers and Duties must be according to the Directions of God's Word and Spirit 11. The Incense was made of divers Spices Psal 51. So must the Prayers of the Godly be seasoned with divers Graces viz. true Repentance lively Faith and unfeigned Love 12. The Incense was offered up in the Holy Place without the Veil of the Holiest near to the Testimony before the Mercy-Seat So we must always have an Eye to Christ in our Prayers who is the true Mercy-Seat we must come to God by him c. 13. Once a Year the Altar was sprinkled with the Blood of the Expiatory Sacrifice signifying how Christ is by shedding of his Blood consecrated our blessed Mediator and that no Prayer is acceptable to God but through Faith in the Blood of Christ The Altar of Burnt-Offering Exod. 27.1 to 9. a Type of Christ Parallels ALtar in Hebrew Mizbeach in Greek Thusiasterion Ainsworth so named of Sacrifices offered thereon it was anointed dedicated sanctfied to be most holy that it might sanctify the Gifts offered thereon This Altar and Sacrifice signified Jesus Christ sanctifying himself for his Church and People that so he might sanctify them II. This Altar was but one and in one place and the Sacrifice only to be offered upon it signifying thereby that we have but one Altar of Redemption and Salvation viz. Jesus Christ alone who only once and in one place offered up a sufficient and unreiterable Sacrifice for the Sins of Mankind III. This Altar had four Horns also See Altar of Incense IV. It had a brazen Grate in the midst of it which let the Ashes and like things fall through c. whereon the Fire was put which might signify two things 1. The Humanity of our Saviour who bore the Fire of God's Wrath for our Sins thus Guild 2. Isa 53.12 It signifieth saith Ainsworth the place wherein the Holy Fire always burneth that is the Heart which sustaineth also the Sacrifice 2 Tim. 1.3 Rom. 1.1 2. Heb. 7.14 and where all Ashes and Excrements of Corruption are inwardly conveyed away as they are discovered by the Word and Spirit of God as also our Sanctification by Affliction V. In that the Altar was to be made of Shittim Wood and overlaid with Brass that it might endure the Fire it might figure out the Human Nature of Christ supported or sustained by the Diety to endure God's Wrath for our Sins VI. They that served at the Altar lived of the Altar So they who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel Disparity THE Altar was one thing and the Sacrifice another But Christ is both the Altar Sacrifice and Sacrificer too he offered up his Body by the Eternal Spirit as a Sacrifice acceptable to God the Father The Brazen Laver Exod. 30.18 to 25. what it was a Type of THE Brazen Laver served for the Priest-hood to wash their Hands and Feet in before they ministred before the Lord typifying that inward washing by Christ's Blood wherewith all the Holy Priesthood of Christ must be sanctified in Heart and Life before their Services can be accepted in the sight of God and that none ought to minister the Word of Life but Godly Persons who are washed in the Laver of Regeneration Psal 50. Vnto the wicked God saith what hast thou to do to take my Words into thy Mouth c. II. After the Priests had washed themselves clean and arrayed themselves they entred into the holy Place So after the Godly are inwardly washed by the Blood of Christ and have received by Faith his Righteousness to adorn them they become fit Members of the true Gospel-Church III. They shall wash themselves saith the Lord lest they die to shew that all Persons must be purged by Faith in Christ's Blood Mark 16.16 or die eternally IV. He that toucheth or washeth in the Laver it being anointed with the holy Oil as all other Things in the holy and most holy Place were shall be holy saith the Lord signifying that all they who by Faith touch the Lord Jesus who is anointed with the Oil of Gladness above his Fellows shall be spiritually sanctified accepted and accounted holy before the Lord likewise The Sacrifice of Beasts a Type of Christ THe Beasts that were appointed for Sacrifice were to have Horns signifying the Kingly and Priestly Office of Christ Horns as we have elsewhere shewn being a Symbol of Power c. II. They were to be of a tame sort not wild and savage Beasts who by force are brought to the Slaughter signifying the Meekness and Mildness of Jesus Christ who was patient like a Lamb led to the Slaughter Isa 53. III. They must be of the Male Sort which generally are the strongest signifying the Excellency and Strength of Jesus Christ IV. They ought to be without blemish and the best of the Flock or Herd and presented of voluntary Will noting two Things 1. That Christ should be perfectly holy and that he should willingly lay down his Life 2 That we should dedicate to God the best of our Days Time and Strength and not offer unto the Lord a corrupt Thing and also perform all our Services to him with a free and willing Mind V. They were to be presented at the Door of the Tabernacle to be slain signifying that Christ s Blood makes our entry into the Church of God here and into Heaven it self hereafter VI. They must lay their hands upon the Head of the Beast who brought him noting thereby our Sins being laid upon Jesus Christ and that we must lay the hand of Faith upon him if we would have Benefit by his Death VII Then the Burnt-Offering was slain signifying that so it behoved Christ the great Anti-type to be slain or crucified for our Sins Mark 16.15 Mâ—t. 28.18 19. VIII The Blood thereof then was sprinkled about the Altar noting the All-sufficiency of Christ's Death and Plenty of his Bloodshed with the large spreading or preaching thereof universally throughout the whole World IX The Skin thereof was plucked off and the Flesh cut in pieces thereby shewing the Grievousness of Christ's Sufferings X. The Body the Head and the Fat and all was laid on the Fire signifying how Christ should suffer for us both in Body and Soul Isa 53.12 My Soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto Death XI This Burnt-Offering was called a sweet Savour unto the Lord which in Christ's Death is solely and only accomplished for 't is thereby God's Wrath is appeased and his Justice satisfied XII The Ashes were to be carried without the Host and put into a clean Place shadowing thereby how Christ should be buried without the Gates of Jerusalem in a Tomb wherein never Man lay and that his Body should not
true Christians have of it VIII The Blood of the Lamb must be sprinkled upon the Lintel and Sides of the Doors of the Israelites which held forth that the Blood of Christ must be applied by Faith for our Justification stands not only in the shedding of Christ's Blood but also in the sprinkling of it upon our Consciences IX It must be sprinkled upon the Posts and Doors so as the Israelits could neither go out of Doors nor come in but they must see on all sides the Blood of the Lamb signifying that they and we should both at home and abroad going forth and coming in and on all occasions have the Passion of Jesus Christ before our Eyes in holy Meditation and Contemplation X. It was not enough for the Jews to have the Lamb slain and the Blood shed within the House but the Blood must be sprinkled without Doors signifying as some observe If Christ's Blood i. e. the Merits of it be received into our Hearts for Justification the sprinkling of it will appear and be seen outwardly in a holy Life and real Sanctification Verse 22. XI The Blood of the Lamb was to be sprinkled with a Bunch of Hyssop dipp'd in it which might signify that such who would be sprinkled with Christ's Blood must obtain true Faith for Hyssop bears a Resemblance to Faith in threee things 1. It is a ground low and weak Herb Faith in it self and as it is in Believers is weak and teacheth Humility 2. It will grow on a Rock or Wall So Faith roots it self in Christ that true spiritual Rock 3. Hyssop hath a cleansing and healing quality So Faith purifies the Heart and Life of a Sinner and heals all the Sores of a wounded Conscience XII They were to eat the Flesh of the Lamb to signify that we must spiritually feed upon Jesus Christ viz. believe on him which is called an eating of his Flesh and drinking of his Blood XIII Every particular Lamb was to be eaten in one House signifying the Unity of the Church of God or the spiritual Conjunction and Agreement of all the Faithful in one Bread and one Body 1 Cor. 10.17 XIV Only Israelites and not Strangers were to eat of it to shew that none but the true Seed viz. Believers have Right to Christ and the blessed Rites of his House XV. They were to eat it with bitter Herbs to signify that Repentance and godly Sorrow for Sin ought to be in those who come to receive and partake of Jesus Christ and that they should remember with Grief of Soul what their Sins brought upon their Saviour and what the filthy and bitter Nature of Sin is XVI They were to eat it with unleavened Bread to signify that those who come to the true Passeover should keep that Feast with the unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth hating false Doctrine Hypocrisy and every evil Work XVII They must eat it in remembrance of their Deliverance out of Egypt So those who come to the true Passeover ought to remember how God hath by Christ's Blood delivered them from Wrath and Hell XVIII They were to eat it with their Loins girt and their Staves in their hands and their Shoes on their Feet to shew that we who feed upon our Passeover should have the Girdle of Truth and our Feet shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace and that we are but Strangers and Pilgrims here XIX They were not to eat the Paschal Lamb until they had purged all Leaven out of their Houses which shews what Care every Christian should take to purge out the Leaven of Malice and Wickedness out of their Hearts The Jews were to search for Leaven and not suffer a Crum or small Morsel to remain in their Houses So careful should all those be to purge out every Sin and let no Iniquity remain in them who come to the Lord's Table WHEREIN the Brazen Serpent was a Type of Christ as also the Manna and divers others Types we have shewed in the First Volume And the Parallels of the First and Second Temple we have insisted upon under the Head of Metaphors concerning the Church of God to which we refer you And finding to what a Bigness this Second Volume is swollen I must be forced to break off and leave these my poor Labours to the Blessing of God praying they may prove to the Advantage of his despised and afflicted Church desiring what Profit any Christians may receive here-from they would not forget to give the Honour to God who only deserves it to whom be Glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all Ages World without End Amen FINIS Philologia Sacra The Second Part WHEREIN The SCHEMES or FIGURES in Scripture are reduced under their proper HEADS with a Brief Explication of Each Together with A TREATISE OF The TYPES PARABLES ALLEGORIES c. in the Old and New Testament CHAP I. Of the Figures of a Word THE Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Schema principally and properly signifies the Garb Habit or Ornament of the Body and by a Metaphor is translated to signify the Beauty or Ornament of Speech as * Lib. 3. Rhet. cap. 8. Aristotle and * In Bruto Orat. perf Cicero say The Latines render it Figure as some say because Stage-Players by the variation or shifting of their Habit represented divers Figures of Men These Figures are called Rhetorical Lights and Ornaments and do not change the sense of Words as Tropes do but give an Imbellishment or Beauty to Speech There are Figures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of a Word and Figures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of a Sentence the first belong to the Matter or as it were the Body of an Oration the latter to the Form or as it were the Soul of a Sentence The former are when a Speech is figured in Words repeated in a certain order or that mutually agree in sound for Emphasis or Ornament's sake The latter are such whose Emphaticalness consists not in Words singly but in the things themselves giving weight and gravity to the Speech * Lib. 5. Instit Orat. c. 1. Vossius says That a Scheme properly signifies two things viz. The exterior Garb and the Gesture of the Body as Dancers who caper at the noise of musical Instruments For Schemes of Words may in this be resembled to Habit or Garb because without them the Speech is naked as a Man without his Cloaths and Schemes of Sentences may be compared to Artificial Gestures because without these it will be like a Man who moves or walks in his natural Place or Posture of the first we will produce some Examples 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Conjungo to joyn together 1. Epizeuxis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Subjunctio is when the same word or sound is continued or repeated in the same Sentence as Exod. 34.6 The Lord the Lord a God merciful and gracious c. Deut. 23.43 The Stranger that is in thy
have a Typical Description of the Temple and City The Antitype of which is not the City and Temple rebuilt by Zerubbabel and Nehemiah after the Captivity as the Hebrew Rabbies and others have dreamed but the Mystical Temple of God his true Church and the heavenly and spiritual City as the Learned Doctor Haffenrefferus most learnedly expounds it Lastly the Revelations of John in which the future State of the Church by divers Visions both symbolical and typical is represented the Explication or fulfilling of which the Event must shew is properly reduced under this Head So much for Prophetical Types Article V. Of an Historical Type and its first Division AN Historical Type is the mystical Sense of Scripture whereby things acted or done in the Old Testament especially what respected the Priesthood and Worship of the Jews prefigured and adumbrated things acted in the New Testament-times with respect especially to Christ the Antitype who is as it were the Kernel inclosed in all those Shells of Old-Testament-Ceremonies Types or Actions c. This may be thus distinguished 1. that like an Allegory it is either innate or natural or inferr'd The Innate is that which is expresly delivered in the Scriptures or when the Scripture it self shews or intimates that some Ceremony or thing transacted does adumbrate the things related or done in the New-Testament especially Christ in a mystical sense This is done either expresly and implicitely or tacitely and implicitely or which is all one the Scripture either shews it expresly or tacitely insinuates the thing transacted to be a Type of Christ Of the first kind we have many Examples Examples of Types The Prophet Jonas was swallowed into the Whales Belly and vomited out after three days as Jonah 1.17 and 2.10 this is a Type of Christ who lay three days in the Grave and of his glorious Resurrection as Christ himself expresly says Matth. 12.40 16.4 Luke 11.29 30. The Brazen Serpent which Moses by Divine Command lifted up in the Desart against the bitings of Serpents as Numb 21.8 9. is expresly said to be a Type of Christ who was lifted up upon the Cross and healing Believers of the biting of the Infernal Serpent John 3.14 15. The Constiution and Sacrifice-Offerings of the Levitical Priesthood in the Old Testament did typically prefigure Christ the High-Priest as Heb. 5. and the following More Examples may be found upon a diligent search and Meditation of the Scripture Examples of the latter sort are these The Mercy-Seat Mercy-Seat or the Covering of the Ark of the Covenant Exod. 25.17 which typified Christ Rom. 3.25 so you may compare Josh 1 c. with Heb. 4.8 that the Manna Manna was a Type of Christ is told us John 6.32.33 c. The Paschal Lamb Pascal Lamb. Exod. 12.3 c. was a Type of Christ as 1 Cor. 5.7 John 19.36 The Scape-Goat Lev. 16.10 21. was a Type of Christ as John 1.29 1 Pet. 2.24 So was Isaac Gen. 22.2 12. with Rom. 8.32 and Heb. 11.19 So Sampson Judg. 13 c. compared with Matth. 2.23 where that which is spoken of Sampson Judg. 13.5 is accommodated to Christ the Antitype Yet the Phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he shall be called a Nazarene not used as some say respecting the words concerning Sampson but to other Sayings of the Prophets Isa 60.21 c. * Isa 11.1 Zech. 6.12 in which the Messias is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Netzer Surculus a Branch whence Narareth is derived hence the Syriack has it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Natzerath or Notrath †See Piscator upon the place and Junius in Parallellis Solomon First-born Son Matth. 2.23 and the Reason they give is that it is said it was written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Prophets in the plural Number c. That King Solomon the Son of David was a Type of Christ appears Heb. 1.5 Acts 2.30 13.12 where the Promise made to David spoken in a literal sense of Solomon 2 Sam. 7.12 1 Chron. 17.11 is referred to Christ The first-born Son of the Lord as the People of Israel are called Exod. 4.23 when they were to go out of Egypt is a Type of Christ the only begotten Son of God Mat. 3.17 who is said to be called from his Exile in that Nation Mat. 2.15 where that which is literally said of the Israelites Hos 11.1 is accommodated to Christ the Antitype c. An illated or inferr'd Type is that which is conseqentially gathered to be such by Interpreters this is either by fair Probabilities agreeable to the Analogy of Faith or extorted and without any Foundation in or shadow of Sense from the literal Sense of the Text. Judg. 13.14 15 16 Chapters Of the first sort the Homily-writers and Expositors produce a great many As the doings of Sampson in marrying a strange Wife and destroying his Enemies by his Death altho no where in Scripture applied to Christ yet it is expounded as a Type of Christ who was spiritually as it were married to the Gentiles and conquered his Enemies by Dying More Examples are Gen. 37 c. respecting Joseph Numb 16.47 respecting Aaron See Isa 59.2 Gen. 2.22 23. Dan. 6.22 Judg. 16.2 3. 1 Sam. 17.49 1 Sam. 22.2 with Luke 15 1 c. Of the latter sort are the wild fantastical Conceits of Papists and some others who make Types where there are none For Instance * Lib. 1. summae cap. 90. Turrecremata makes the Son of David yea Christ himself a Type of the Pope of Rome For he expounds the words 2 Kings 7.13 thus I will establish the Throne of his Kingdom for ever that is says he I will cause the Supremacy or Kingdom of the Pope always to endure with several other things of the same ridiculous Tenor which we omit as useless to our undertaking Article VI. Other Divisions of an Historical Type ANother Division of an Historical Type is this some immediately respect Christ and some the Things that belong to Christ Of the first Sort are such Things as prefigure and lively set forth his most holy Life his most bitter Death his most glorious Resurrection and Exaltation as in the Examples before recited Of the latter Sort are the universal Flood in which by the peculiar Blessing of God Noah Noah and his Family were saved which is called a Figure or Type of Baptism 1 Pet. 3.21 to which Psal 29.10 may be applied which by the Power and Efficacy of the most precious Blood of Christ saves Men and is to them the Laver of Regeneration and Renovation of the Holy Spirit The Parallel of this Type with the Antitype may be read in the learned Gerhard Tom. 4. loc de Bapt. Sect. 8. The Bodily Circumcision Circumcision is a Type of Heart Circumcision the former is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Circumcision made without Hands the latter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Circumcision of Christ Col. 2.11 So