Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth not only sit upon a Scarlet-coloured and blasphemous Beast but she is beautified and adorned with great Pomp and outward Glory by which she commends her self to that part of the World that delights in her Gaudery being a Woman whose Worship is filled with detestable Doctrine which she holds forth to them with Pictures and Gallantry of all sorts 1. Look into the holy Patrimony of consecrated Saints there you find Riches and Honour tho not durable Riches and Righteousness 2. Look unto their Garbs and Vestments there you shall find Cardinals like splendid Princes Heads of Parties and Provinces in such Habiliments that for Riches might have become the highest Order of the Jewish Priesthood 3. Look into the Instruments and Mode of their Worship and there you shall find the Altar and Candlesticks the Vessels for Oil and Pots of Purification as if their Predecessors had been at Solomon's Temple and had brought a Pattern from thence and yet in this Gâ—lden Cup or framed Piece of Gallantry there is nothing to be found but foul and adulterated Wine most fitly to be called by the Angel Abomination and Filthiness and the Wine of Fornication Which we conclude with this Argument Arg. If no People in the Christian World hath such Riches and Splendor such Pomp and Gallantry in the Maintenance and Management of their Worship as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath Then Rome Papal must be this gawdy Harlot or Whore of Babylon But there is no People in the Christian World that hath such Riches and Splendor such Pomp and Gallantry in the Maintenance and Management of Religious Worship as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome must be this Whore or well-favoured Harlot treated of The Argument is full and clear and so well fortified that we think it needs no Rere-guard to enforce it and therefore tho it be short and low of Stature we shall leave it amongst our Infantry and draw up our right and left Wings yet further to assault Babylon XII This Woman or City that is thus adorned with outward Pomp and Glory hath upon her Forehead a Name written MYSTERY Rev. 17.5 BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH Which may be true both in a Literal and Mystical Sense the Breeder of Misses Concubines and Whores to gratify the Sensual Appetites of her Letcherous Sons but chiefly in a Mystical Sense she Breeds and brings forth Spiritual Harlots viz. Unclean Communities XII Rome Papal or Church of Rome if she be not concerned here we will acquit her of being Mystery Babylon 1. Here is a Name written in Capital Letters and written so as to be read publickly too 'T is not written upon any part of the Woman that may be hid or covered with a Garment but on that part which is kept bare and is easiest to be seen her Forehead her publick visible and known Parts 2. Here is Babylon or Confusion a mixt Body that is far from that good and pure Order which in Words she pretends 3. Here is Mystery in the case and a great Mystery to a Wonderment even to the surprizing of every wise and thinking Man ver 6. 4. Here is a Mother a Mother of a very spurious Illegitimate and unclean Off-spring Harlots and Abominations many Abominations and great and reigning too Abominations of the Earth i. e. that large Part of the Earth where she is situate and doth reside A little unto each or these as the Time and Space we are limited to will allow A Name upon the Forehead if this were noâ— to be read and seen by most Christians and Professors it would not much concern the Christian World for whom it must be calculated for others that own not the Christian Religion are not in a Capacity to make a Judgment upon the Case for if this Book of the Revelations were not written for the Christian World it leaves us not any Certainty where the case is to be considered and the Matter to be judged Now if it be calculated for the Christian World then it must be upon such a People that is most publick and visible and apparent which agrees to none so fitly as to the Church of Rome which by their own Confession is the most potent and visible in the Christian World for where have the inconsiderable Hereticks so called whose Beings are in Corners such a Name as may be read or known by all or the principal part of the Christian World Now to clear these poor innocent so called Hereticks from being concerned in this Character we imagine at least it cannot refer to them 1. Because they have no Forehead so broad to bear the Inscription which we will engage to make good against any Romanist in the World 2. Because they are so plain and honest a People and their Principles so easily and well known that it is wild and ridiculous to call them Mystery Babylon there neither being any hellish depth nor confusion in what they profess as might be fully evinced by unquestionable Instances for what confusion or hidden thing can be in this that there is one God the Object of Worship one Holy Book called the Bible the Rule of Worship one blessed Kingdom Heaven or World to come the Reward of Worship and all that act Faith Hope and Charity upon these three great Fundamental Principles shall inherit that blessed Kingdom or World to come 3. Because they are so retired and private that had they a Forehead broad enough for the Inscription aforesaid yet they sit so low that Nations cannot easily read it and if we acquit the poor innocent Protestants who must we fix these Characters upon If all Dissenters from the Church of Rome be clear then it must unavoidably be fixed upon Rome her self if any demand for what Reason the Answer is First Because when the Protestants are exempted then there is none left to bear the Inscription but the Church of Rome 2. She hath a Forehead broad enough to bear Mystery and Confusion for there is not a greater hellish depth and Confusion to be found upon any People than upon the Church of Rome as will appear in its place 3. Because the Dissenters with respect to Appearance and the exercise of Power are very small and inconsiderable in comparison of that overgrown monstrous Body of the Church of Rome for to call the Dissenters great and the Church of Rome small is as congruous as to call the Ocean a little Spring and the smallest Brook the Ocean Secondly Babylon Confusion or a mixt Body is far from that pure Order which in Words Rome pretends unto and can by no means agree to the Protestants for they are so strict in their Discipline that they admit of no such mixture that deserves the Name of Confusion they will receive none into their Communion without much Caution and Satisfaction and when received keep them no
Records for the certainty of it And Origen affirms that one Phlegon Secretary to the Emperor Adrian did write thereof in his Chronicles What an illustrious Testimony is that extorted by Truth from the Mouth of an Enemy I mean Josephus a Jew in Religion as well as by Nation tho he wrote in Greek born not above five or six Years after Christ's Passion In his 18th Book and 4th Chapter speaking of the Reign of Tiberias he hath these Words In those Days there was one Jesus a wise Man if it be lawful to call him a Man for he was a Worker of great Miracles and a Teacher of such as readily receive the Truth and had many Followers as well Jews as Gentiles This is that CHRIST who tho he was accused by the chief of our Nation and by Pilate condemned to be crucified yet did not they who had first loved him forsake him for he appeared unto them the third Day alive again The holy Prophets foretelling these and many other wonderful Things of him And even to this Day the Christian Sect so named from him continues Nor is that less clear of Lentulus in his Epistle to the Emperor Tiberius recited by Eutropius in his Annals of the Roman Senators and now commonly extant in the Bibliotheca Patrum (e) Apparuit temporibus nostris adhuc est homo magnae virtutis nominatus Jesus Christus qui dicitur à Gentibus Propheta veritatis quem ejus discipuli vocant Filium Dei sâ—scitans mortros sanans omnes languores He thus begins There hath appeared in our Days and yet is living a Man of great Virtue or Power named Jesus Christ who is called of the Nations the Prophet of Truth whom his Disciples call the Son of God a Raiser of the Dead and an Healer of all manner of Diseases To all which we might add the Prophecies of the Sybils amongst the Heathens who most plainly foretold the Coming of Christ the Son of God into the World and express'd his very Name and Quality in certain Acrostick Verses recited by the great Augustin in the 23d Chapter of the Ninth Book of the City of God XIV He that disowns the Bible to be of Divine Authority must either think there is some Revelation from God to the World how he will be worshipped and how they ought to conduct themselves or he thinks there is none If he thinks there is none he not only gives the Lie to the Christian and Jewish but generally to all Religion that has been or is in the World For they all have pretended and do alledg the same as their Foundation And besides he must confess that God who has made Man the noblest of Creatures and Lord of the whole World has left him in a worse Condition in the present Posture we find him than the meanest Creatures to whom he has given sufficient Means to attain the highest End of their Beings But that infinite Wisdom should deal thus is absurd and unreasonable to conceive If he grant there is any-where a Revelation from God to the World let it be produced and judg if it be any way able to vie with the Scriptures for all those glorious Characters and Marks of Divine Authority Power and Excellency which we have enumerated XV. If the Scriptures be neither the Invention of Devils nor Men then it can be from none but God But they are not from Devils for neither could they work Miracles nor deliver true Prophecies to confirm them nor would it consist with God's Sovereignty over them or with his Goodness Wisdom or Faithfulness of governing the World nor would Satan speak so much for God nor lay such a Design for Man's Salvation and against his own Kingdom nor be so industrious to draw the World to unbelief of it Nor were the Scriptures the Invention of Men for they must be either good Men or bad Men Good Men they could not be for nothing could be more opposite to Goodness nay even common Honesty than to assume the Name of God falsly feign Miracles and cheat People with Promises of another World And then on the other side 't is as impossible ill Men could be the Devisers of so holy a Book For can any rational Man think that wicked Deceivers would so highly advance the Glory of God Would they so vilify themselves and brand and stigmatize their own Practices Could such an admirable undeniable Spirit of Holiness Righteousness and Self-denial as runs through every Vein of Scripture proceed from the Invention of the Wicked Would they ever have extolled their Enemies the Godly and framed such perfect spiritual Laws or laid such a Design against the Flesh and all their worldly Happiness as every-where the Scope of the Scripture doth carry on If we cannot gather Grapes of Thorns and Figs of Thistles then may we be assured that no ill Men had an hand in writing and promoting this good and holy Book 16. Satan's Suggestions Temptations against the Bible argue it divine XVI The Divine Composition of this blessed Book is not a little manifested by the continual Rage of the Devil against it which appears not only in stirring up his Instruments utterly to suppress it for what Book in the VVorld ever met with such Opposition as aforesaid but also in those Temptations with which he assaults the Hearts of Men when they apply themselves to the serious Study of it VVe can read any other History and readily entertain and credit it but when we once come to the Bible strange Objections Doubts and Curiosities arise and presently we are apt to question the Truth and Possibility of every Passage These are the Suggestions of Satan to render that holy Book ineffectual to us the Scope and Purport of which he knows tends directly to the Overthrow of his Kingdom of Darkness Some of the most frequent Objections against the Bible are these that follow Object 1. How Men in the respective Ages wherein the several parts of the Bible were written could know that they were written by an infallible Spirit and so distinguish them from other Writings Answ Two ways First by the Quality of the Persons and secondly from the Nature and Quality of the Matter As for Moses there could not be the least Cause of doubting his being inspired by God since he wrought such Miracles and had a visible and audible Entercourse with the Lord as we read Exod. 19.9 that the Lord said unto him Lo I come unto thee in a thick Cloud that the People may hear when I speak with thee and believe thee for ever The other Parts of the Old Testament were written by Prophets and holy Men. And tho several of them were not received and hearkned to as such by the corrupt ruling Part of the Jews whilst they lived yet they were acknowledged afterwards as well for the Sanctity of their Lives and the fulfilling of those things mentioned the Judgments which they foretold coming to pass
Thess 1.3 3. It is called the Faith of God's Elect Tit. 1.1 4. It is called unfeigned Faith 1 Tim. 1.5 2 Tim. 1.5 5. It is called Faith that works by Love Gal. 5.6 6. It is called Faith of the Operation of God Col. 2.12 7. It is called precious Faith 2 Pet. 1.1 8. It is called holy Faith 9. It is called the Faith of the Son of God It s excellent Names set forth its transcendent Nature 2. Faith is precious in respect of the Means of its procurement or the Price that was laid down for the obtaining of it viz. the precious Blood of Christ for had not Christ died we should never have had one dram of it it is given to us as the Fruit and Effect of his glorious Undertaking 3. Faith is precious in respect of the Fountain from whence it proceeds 4. Faith is precious in respect of the Means by which it is wrought in the Soul viz. by the Word and Spirit of God in a wonderful manner Eph 1.19 20. even like as God wrought in Christ when he raised him from the Dead 5. Faith is precious in respect of the Object it takes hold of or fasteneth upon viz. God the Father the Holy Spirit but more immediatly Christ crucified Ye believe in God believe also in me 6. Faith is precious in that it joins or unites the Soul to Christ it makes us one with him as it were Flesh of his Flesh Bone of his Bone a lively Member of that Body whereof he is the Head 'T is that which ties the Conjugal Knot between him and every Believer 7. It is the Eye of rhe Soul no Man without it can behold Jesus Christ nor the fulfillings of future Promises Abraham by Faith saw the Day of Christ 8. Hereby a Christian is made a Child of God To as many as received him Joh. 1.12 Gal. 3.26 to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believed on his Name Ye are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus 9. It is the only way or means God is pleased to take to deliver the Souls of Men from Sin Wrath and eternal Death 10. It is that which interests the Soul into all the sweet and precious Promises of the Covenant of Grace See Light 11. It is the Instrument of Salvation Believe in the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved 12. Faith is a most excellent and precious thing upon the account of the Fruits of it viz. Life Light Peace Purging Boldness at the Throne of Grace Joy in the Holy-Ghost Hope and good Assurance of eternal Life 13. Faith is precious in respect of that glorious Power and Virtue that is in it 'T is medicinable and the most Sovereign Antidote and Cordial in the World 1. It will expell Poyson 2. 'T will perfectly as it applies the Blood of Christ cure a wounded Conscience 3. It will bear up and revive a fainting Spirit Mat. 8.23 I had fainted unless I had believed 4. It is good against the Feebleness of the Knees and Weakness of the hands 5. It is a most excellent thing against Fear and Tremblings of the Heart But when he saw the Wind boysterous he was afraid and beginning to sink Luk. 8.23 Mat. 14.30 he cried saying Lord save me And immediatly Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him and said unto him O thou of little Faith 6. Ezek. 36.26 It is a precious Remedy against the Stone of a hard Heart it will dissolve it break it in pieces and cure the Soul perfectly of it 7. It cures all manner of inward Deadness it may well be called lively Faith or Faith of the Operation of God 8. Col. 2.12 It is good against the Dimness of the Eyes it helps them that cannot see afar off 9. It is a most Sovereign Thing against evil Spirits it will resist the Devil and make him flie 10. It is excellent good to purge and work out all those noxious and evil Humors of the inward Man cleansing and purifying the Heart 11. It is good against the Falling-Sickness Believers stand by Faith but if through a Temptation they should fall Faith will help them up again David and Peter had not so much Faith as to keep them from from falling yet they had enough to raise them up again when they were fallen It is an universal Remedy it cures all the Diseases of the Soul so that we may say with the Woman let the Distemper be what it will If I can but touch the Hem of his Garment I shall be healed 14. Faith is precious because it shields and gloriously preserves the whole Soul from all Dangers it is that which works with and tends to the perfecting of all other Graces in us 15. It was by Faith that Saints in every Age of the Church Heb. 11. were enabled to undergo and suffer all those hard and bitter Tortures and Torments they met with for Christ's sake 16. It is that which helps the Godly to overcome the World 1 Joh. 5.4 He that is born of God overcometh the World and this is the Victory which overcometh the World even our Faith VI. Gold is often tried and refined in the Fire we read of Gold seven times refined The Refining-Pot is for Silver Prov. 17.3 and the Furnace for Gold VI. Faith is often tried in the Fire or Furnace of Affliction 1 Pet. 3.12 Think it not strange concerning the fiery Trial which is to try you c. He shall sit as a Refiner's Fire Mal. 3.2 3 and as a Purifier of Silver c. and purge them as Gold and Silver c. God this way tried Abraham's Faith together with the Faith of many others of whom we read I will bring the third part through the Fire and I will try them as Gold is tried Zech. 13.9 VII Tried Gold is much better than that which is not tried nor refined in the Fire VII Faith that is tried is of wonderful value much more to be prized than that which was never brought under Exercise How excellently did Abraham's and Job's Faith shine when tried The Trial of your Faith is much more precious than Gold tho it be tried in the Fire c. VII Gold tried in the Fire is of an enriching Nature if a Man has much of it it enriches him greatly We esteem him a very rich Man that hath great Store of tried Gold in his own Possession VIII So Faith that is tried in the Furnace is of a Soul-enriching Nature he that hath much of this Faith is a very rich Man a rich Saint James 1 5 God hath chosen the Poor of this World rich in Faith and Heirs of the Kingdom See more of the Nature of Gold in the Metaphor Gold where the Word of God is compared to it Metaphor Disparity GOld is naturally an earthy Sort of Metal 't is from beneath and therefore corruptible Not with
delivered themselves into the hands of Justice 6. That Man can never have good Days that keeps an evil Conscience 7. On the other hand he that hath a good Conscience needs never be sad nor can he be without good Days for as Trouble and Horror of Conscience is the greatest Trouble so Peace of Conscience is the greatest Joy That Man can never want Musick saith Mr. Caryl that speaks in Consort and is harmonious with himself A good Conscience is the poor Man's Riches and the rich Man's chiefest Jewel a Jewel worth keeping It is saith one the best Pillow to sleep on and the best Dish to feed on A good Conscience is a continual Feast so the Geneva-Translation Prov. 15.15 Dan. 5.5 A good Conscience with a Dinner of Herbs is all Varieties but a bad Conscience makes all Feasts and Pleasures like the Hand-writing on Belshazzar's Wall 8. Labour to get and keep a good Conscience because an evil one spoils all the good and best Actions of thy Life it renders thy Prayers to be sinful 9. Consider Conscience is privy to all thou thinkest knoweth what Evil hath been done by thee in private seeth all the Evil thou hast committed and all the Good thou hast omitted the doing of and one day if evil Rom. 2.15 it will lay all open before the Eyes of God Angels and Men and come in as a Witness to charge and condemn thee for ever O therefore get a good Conscience 10. Take heed how thou carriest thy self towards Conscience because it hath a Regal Power in thy Soul a Commission either to accuse or excuse and if he condemns thee as an Unbeliever or as a false Hypocrite by the Light and Authority of God's Word 1 John 3.20 God will also assuredly condemn thee unless thou dost repent in the great Day 11. Consider what a glorious Mercy it will be to have such a Friend as Conscience witness for thee when thou art wrongfully accused and condemned by Men. This was that which bore up Job and holy Paul in their Troubles Job 27.6 2 Cor. 1.12 My Heart shall not reproach me c. This is our rejoycing the Testimony of our Conscience Quest Some possibly may enquire here How a good Conscience may be known or what Characters may be given of it Answ I shall give you some Rules to judg of a good Conscience both Negatively and Positively First Negatively 1. A blind ignorant and misguided Conscience is not a good Conscience Some think that God concerns not himself with their Actions takes no notice of their Hearts Words or Lives Others think that God is made up wholly of Mercy and tremble not at his Justice and so conclude it is an easy thing to get to Heaven One that I have heard of said That if it were as easy to get the Riches of this World as it was to get Heaven he would not care or to that effect not remembring that it is as hard to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven especially for rich Men as it is for a Camel to go through the Eye of a Needle Mat. 19.23 1 Pet. 4.18 and that the Righteous shall scarcely be saved Others think that those Men are Fools that make such a Stir and Ado about Religion thinking that is the best Religion that is easiest to the Flesh and is most free from outward Trouble whereas the Scripture saith 1 Tim. 2.12 that whoever will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecution Some think the Laws of Men must be their Rule in all Matters of Faith and Religion and whatever Magistrates command must be done c. 2. A drouzy and sleepy Conscience is not a good Conscience A Conscience that is not throughly awakened will let a Man alone in Sin such can sleep upon the Brink of the greatest Danger tho they are just falling into the Gulph of Eternity yea can sleep under the most awakening Ministry tho Hell-Fire be thrown as it were in their very Faces yet Conscience giveth them not one Jog 3. A guilty Conscience is not a good Conscience when Conscience flies into a Man's Face for this or that Sin Tit. 1.15 some horrid Pollution or other loved and lived in 4. A seared Conscience a Conscience that hath no feeling in it is not a good Conscience 5. A despairing Conscience is not a good Conscience Such as think their Sins are greater than God can or will forgive Mat. 12.31 notwithstanding Christ hath said All Sins and Blasphemies against the Father and the Son shall be forgiven unto Men and those that believe not there is Life for them in Christ make God a Liar Secondly Positively 1. That Man hath a good Conscience that walks uprightly and faithfully to his Light according to what he knoweth If he hath only a natural Light and walks up faithfully to that then he hath only a natural good Conscience there is Moral Sincerity spoken of in the holy Scriptures Joh. 20.4 as well as Godly Sincerity Abimelech in this respect had a good Conscience In the Sincerity of my Heart and Innocency of my Hands Gen. 20.5 have I done this Here I might shew how a natural good Conscience may be known from a Conscience evangelically and spiritually good take two or three Hints 1. He whose Conscience is only naturally good is usually a proud Man Lord I thank thee Luk. 18 11. I am not as other Men c. Such seek their own Glory they sacrifice to their own Net and burn Incense to their own Drag all centers in Self the Principle of their Action is Self A Saint when his Gifts are highest his Heart is lowest when his Spirit is most raised his Heart is most humble 2. A Man that hath only a natural good Conscience his great endeavour is to still the Noise and stop the Mouth of it but never looks to have the Guilt removed and Filth washed away by Christ's Blood he seeth no need of a Saviour I was alive once without the Law Rom. 7.11 c. He is like a Child that hath got a Thorn in his Flesh who wipeth away the Blood but taketh no notice or thought how to get out the Thorn If bare Performance of Duties whether natural or divine will still or quiet the Conscience the Conscience is but naturally good 2. When Conscience compares a Man's Ways by the perfect Rule of God's Word by which he walks and finds it agreeable thereto 3. An evangelical good Conscience findeth a Man as careful of his Duty towards God as he is of his Duty towards Man and as careful of his Duty towards Man as of his Duty towards God Acts 24.16 Herein do I exercise my self to have always a Conscience void of Offence towards God and towards Man 4. An evangelical good Conscience always stirs up to Obedience and Conformity to God's Word from the sight of the Excellency of it and Purity that is in it Thy Word is very
Popish Religion Now these are lame Professors they are corrupt or not sincere they will not unless healed hold out to the end of the Race but be turned out of the Way IX A Man that meets with bad Way in running a Race is thereby many times hard put to it and in danger of losing the Prize As when he is forced to run up-hill a great while together or meets with a rough and untrodden Path or is fain to run through a deep Mire or a very dirty Lane this tries his Strength Courage and Resolution IX So when a Christian meets with hard Things or passeth through great Difficulties in his Way to Heaven he is much put to it viz. when he is forced to mount the Hill of Opposition and pass over the Stile of carnal Reason and through the perilous Lane of Persecution and Valley of the Shadow of Death Being accounted all the Day long as a Sheep for the Slaughter Psal 23.4 He then is tried to purpose Many that have set out Heavenwards in a Day of Peace and Prosperity have in a Time of Tribulation and Persecution grown weary Mat. 13.21 or being offended have fallen away X. Men that run in a Race have many Spectators who stedfastly look upon them to see how they run and who will win some hoping one will gain the Prize and others hoping the same Man will lose it X. So the Saints of God have many and eminent Spectators who stedfastly look upon them with great Expectation to see how they behave themselves whilst they run the Celestial Race viz. God the Father the Lord Jesus Christ and the holy Spirit the one Almighty and Eternal God Yea and all the holy Angels on the same side behold them with great Earnestness hoping they will hold out to the end and obtain the Crown of everlasting Glory and to that purpose help and encourage them in their Course On the other side there are all the Devils or wicked Angels who have their Eyes upon them for evil Zech. 3.1 2. who do not only hope and long to see them grow weary and faint in their Minds but also strive as much as in them lies to hinder and resist them in their Race so that they may lose the Prize XI Some Men run a great while and afterwards grow weary and slack their Pace nay quite give over running and so lose the Prize XI So some Professors seem to run well to be zealous for God and Religion a great while it may be for many Years together but when Trouble arises or Temptation seizes upon them they grow weary and indifferent about these Matters and with Demas cleave to this present evil World and so turn with the Dog to his Vomit again and lose Eternal Life XII Some Men that have run in a Race have run for a great Prize yea for a Crown as some have observed and when they have won it have been praised exceedingly it being esteemed a mighty Honour it hath not only enriched them but been to their great Renown and Glory XII So the Saints of God who run this heavenly Race run for a great Prize viz. a Crown of Glory 1 Cor. 9.25 And every Man that striveth for the Mastery is temperate in all things Now they do it to obtain a corruptible Crown but we an incorruptible Be thou faithful unto Death Rev. 10. and I will give thee a Crown of Life I have saith Paul fought the good Fight 2 Tim. 4.7 8. I have finished my Course I have kept the Faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of of Righteousness which God the Righteous Judg will give me at that Day and not to me only but unto all them also that love his appearing This Prize will not only enrich the Soul that obtains it but raise his Renown and Glory to Eternity He shall be honoured of all nay he is the Man whom the King delights to honour Rev. 3.21 They shall sit down with Christ on his Throne c. XIII The Man that runs who resolves to win the Prize breaks through all Difficulties will not regard any vain Allurements but presses on with his utmost Strength Celerity and Speed imaginable the Thoughts of the rich Prize animating his Mind and prompting him on so to do XIII So a true Christian who resolves for Heaven he makes haste he breaks through all Difficulties and regards not the Golden Balls Satan throws in his Path viz. none of the vain Allurements of this World but with his uttermost Strength Celerity and Eagerness of Affection presseth forward I press towards the Mark c. Phil. 3.14 Mat. 7.13 He strives to enter in at the strait Gate He strives against Satan against the World against Sin strives in Reading in Hearing in Praying being greatly animated and encouraged thus to do Heb. 11. by seeing him who is invisible to the natural Eye and by having a Sight of the excellent Reward or that glorious Crown and Kingdom he knows he shall receive when he comes to the end of the Race Metaphor Disparity SOme Men in running a Race do their best they do whatever in them lieth to obtain the Prize but nevertheless lose it BUt now a Christian whoever he be that doth his best does what he can in all Uprightness of Heart to believe to close in with Christ to love serve and obey him shall never miss of eternal Life Joh. 10.2 Rom. 8.1 Never was any Man damned saith a worthy Minister that did what he could to be saved II. Many run in a Race but one only obtains the Prize II. But tho Thousands run in this spiritual Race yet they may all obtain the Prize Inferences WE may infer from hence That the Work and Business of a Christian is hard and difficult Heaven is not obtained without running wrestling striving warring c. 2. That many Professors who set out Heaven-ward and run well a little while are not like notwithstanding to obtain eternal Life Mat. 24. 't is only he that endureth to the end that shall be saved 3. It may also inform us what the Reason is that so many Persons faint or grow weary in this spiritual Race 1. Their Weights which they have upon him may occasion it Or 2. The Way being bad or up-hill 3. Their not being temperate in all things 4. Their being diseased or lame 5. Satan beguiling them with his Golden Balls 6. They being not throughly affected with the Worth of that glorious Prize they run for 7. By means of their trusting in their own Strength c. 8. Their growing lazy loving present Ease c. 9. And lastly which is the Sum of all their not being truly converted never effectually wrought upon by the Spirit of Grace 4. It may serve to stir us all up to the greatest Diligence imaginable to the end Whatsoever we meet with in the Way Heaven will make amends for all Saints compared
Word 1 Pet. 3.1 4. If Saints are the Salt of the Earth and Interest of Nations it shews the Folly of those wicked Men that strive to root them up and turn them out of the World 5. Lastly It may caution all that profess the Gospel against Apostacy Remember Lot 's Wife She for not being savoury or for looking back Luk. 17 32 Gen. 19.26 was turned into a Pillar of Salt nay and into a standing Pillar c. May not one Reason of it be this viz. To shew that that very Example of God's Severity upon her might serve or be sufficient to season all Christians to the end of the World against Apostacy or looking back Saints compared to Merchants Mat. 13.45 46. Again the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Merchant-Man seeking goodly Pearls who when he had found one Pearl of great Price c. Simile Parallel A Merchant is a great Dealer in the Things of the World A True Christian is a great Dealer in the Things of Heaven his Affections are set upon those Things that are above Col. 3 1. where Christ fitteth at the Right-hand of God II. The best and greatest Merchants trade and deal in the richest and choicest Things on Earth viz. Jewels Pearls c. II. The true Christian desireth and seeketh after the Riches of Grace and Riches of Glory called Pearls which are of the greatest Value and Worth in which he may be most happy He seeketh for Pearls but he fixeth most upon the Pearl of greatest Price Jesus Christ Mat. 13.46 III. Merchants in their first Trading are not so skilful in their Merchandize as they are afterwards when by commercing with other Merchants they have found out the true Worth of their Merchandize and the manner of their Dealings III. So the true Christian when he is first concerned in the Matters of Christianity is not so skilful as afterward when he hath by Christian Converse found out the Worth of spiritual Things and the Deceitfulness of Satan the World and his own Heart together with the Faithfulness of God IV. Merchants are most careful of their Concerns when they have met with some Loss then they begin to fear they shall be undone if such Losses encrease upon them IV. Christians are most careful in their spiritual and eternal Concernments when they have met with some spiritual Losses and are attended with a holy Fear lest eternal Ruine should follow V. Merchants that deal in precious Stones are very careful lest they should be deceived with counterfeit Stones which are very like the true Ones V. The true Christian is very careful lest he should he deceived in his Spiritualities viz. have a false Faith a false Repentance and a false Obedience and counterfeit Grace which may be very like the true VI. Merchants trade to Foreign Parts or Countries their chief Concerns come from thence whereby they grow rich VI. True Christians have their chief Concerns from Heaven whereby they grow spiritually rich Heaven is called a far Country Luke 19. VII Merchants have Correspondents in those Countries to which they trade who receive their Merchandize which they send and make Returns of more gainful Things VII The true Christian hath his Correspondent in Heaven who manageth all his Concerns viz. Jesus Christ the Righteous He is their Advocate and Intercessor he appears in Heaven for them Heb. 9.24 He receives their Duties and makes Returns of Mercy He will receive their Tears of Godly Sorrow and return the Oil of Joy Thou puttest my Tears into thy Bottle c. VIII Merchants are strongly engaged by the Profitableness of their Trade to follow it very close O how diligent are Merchants when they find Riches come in apace upon them VIII So should it be with true Christians the Gainfulness of Godliness should engage them to follow the heavenly Trade more closely because it hath the Promise of the Life that now is 1 Tim. 4.8 and that which is to come for Time and Eternity is little enough to make up the Revenues of a godly Life what Time cannot do Eternity shall IX Merchants are diligent in attending the Exchange where they have an account of their Foreign Affairs and also an Opportunity to trade further either in selling or buying and they that are negligent in this Matter do give just cause of Suspicion that they will soon fail and cease to be Merchants IX True Christians do make Conscience and exercise a godly Care in attending the Meetings of the Saints in their solemn Worshipping of God whereby they get Understanding and Knowledge of their Affairs in Heaven as managed by Jesus Christ And there they have the Opportunity to put off spiritual Duties Heb. 10.25 and receive heavenly Blessings And such as do neglect this Practice may justly be suspected that in a little time they will cease to be Christians X. Merchants are very careful in keeping their Accompts they are often in their Compting-Houses They who are wise will be sure their Books are well kept and that their Accompts are in good Order that so they may see a good End of their Affairs and enjoy Comfort in the Management thereof X. True Christians are and ought to be very careful in keeping up their Closet and secret Communion with God by private Prayer and Self-Examination that so they may give their Account up to God with Joy and not with Grief and may also enjoy divine Consolation in the faithful Performance of the Duties of Christianity Saints compared to Pilgrims Heb. 11.13 They confessed that they were Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth 1 Pet. 2.11 I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims to abstain from fleshly Lusts that war against the Spirit Note The Saints of God are in these Scriptures compared to Strangers and Pilgrims Simile Parallel A Pilgrim is one that travelleth from one Place to another and is far from home THe Saints of God are spiritual Travellers they are far from their Father's House Heaven is their everlasting Home and thither they are going All the holy Patriarchs and Prophets confessed they were Pilgrims on the Earth Jacob said The Days of the Years of my Pilgrimage rather than the Days of my Life Gen. 47 9. because of the Uncertainty of his Abode here and in respect of his removing from Place to Place II. A Pilgrim that sets out in a long Journey takes care to free himself of all manner of Weights and unnecessary Burthens and whatsoever else may tend to weary or unfit him for his Journey II. So the spiritual Pilgrim when he first sets out in the Ways of God lays aside every Weight Heb. 12.1 and the Sin that doth so easily beset him It greatly behoves him so to do for one Sin carried in the Bosom or the inordinate Love to any Thing or Person of this World will prove of dreadful consequence to him The young Man in the Gospel had gone a great way seemed to be a very zealous
setting forth the Worth and Fxcellency of them IV. So God in the Day to come when he hath made up all the Jewels he intends to make will reveal shew or make known his Saints to Angels and Men. Hence the Day of Christ's coming is called the Day of the Manifestation of the Sons of God They shall be mine saith God He will say in that Day These are mine these that you ungodly Ones abused hated and persecuted and thought not worthy to live but accounted the Off-scouring of all things behold now what rare and lovely Ones they are these are the Delight and Joy of my Heart whom I value as my choicest Treasure and I will spare them whilst you shall bear the Fierceness of my Wrath and Indignation for ever Then shall ye return and discern between the Righteous and the Wicked Mal. 3. ult between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not Disparity I. Other Jewels may be lost But God will lose none of his Jewels II. He that makes other Jewels may not be the proper Owner of them nor wear them for an Ornament himself But God who makes all his spiritual Jewels is the proper Owner of them This People have I formed for my self They are also made for his own Glory III. Other Jewels may be quite spoiled broke to pieces and become good for nothing the best and richest Jewels shall at last pass away and perish for ever But God's Jewels shall never be utterly spoiled for tho they may receive some Damage by Satan's Temptations and the Pollution of Sin yet God will perfect that which is wanting concerning them and make them at last so glorious that they shall be out of Danger and shall abide and shine in Beauty and Glory to Eternity Inferences FRom hence we may infer what horrid Iniquity the Enemies of God and his Church are guilty of and what a dreadful Account they have to give for endeavouring and with the greatest Rage and Malice and unwearied Attempts contriving all ways imaginable to spoil break in pieces and utterly destroy all God's choice and precious Jewels which he is as tender of as the Apple of his Eye what will they do in the Day of Vengeance 2. It speaks forth much Comfort to the Godly O how are they esteemed prized and valued by the Almighty they are his Jewels his special and peculiar Treasure 3. This may inform all Men what the Reason is God is so much concerned for the Good and Well-being of his own People and so often appears to vindicate their Innocency and defend them from the Rage and Cruelty of wicked Men. 5. Let us enquire whether we are God's Jewels or not 1. Are we regenerated Ones have we the Pearl of Faith Love Humility c. 2. Are we holy sincere and faithful in all things to God 3. Do we excell others Is there a real or only a seeming Worth and Excellency in us What do we more than others 4. Do we grow in Grace doth the Work of God go on upon our Hearts Are we more sit for Heaven to day than we were yesterday A Jewel in the hand of a Jeweller is every day nearer finishing The Righteous shall hold on his Way and he that hath clean hands shall grow stronger and stronger Saints compared to Kings Rev. 5.10 And hast made us unto God Kings and Priests c. THe Saints are in this Place and some others called Kings which is one of the highest Titles among Men. Parallels I. KIngs are usually highly descended or are Sons of Nobles So the Saints are all highly descended they are born from above born of God and so may be said to be the Off-spring of Heaven Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God! Behold 1 Joh. 3.1 2. now are we Sons of God c. II. Kings have great Attendants belonging to them So the Saints have most great and glorious Attendants belonging to them viz. the holy Angels No Kings or Monarchs on Earth are honoured like the Saints and Children of God in respect of the Excellency of their Retinue See Angels under the Sixth Head III. Kings have their Crowns and do reign or else expect to reign So the Saints have a Crown laid up for them 2 Tim. 4.18 Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which God the Righteous Judg shall give unto me at that day and not to me only but to all them also that love his Appearance Be thou faithful unto Death Rev. 2.10 Rev. 5.10 and I will give thee a Crown of Life And as they shall have a Crown so they shall reign upon the Earth as Kings IV. Kings are the principal Men on Earth far exceeding in Honour and Excellency all common People So the Saints are the chief and principal Ones or the most excellent in all the Earth it may be said of them as of Jabesh 1 Chron. 4.9 10. they are more honourable than their Brethren What base and ignoble Persons are the Wicked to those noble Souls The Ungodly be they never so high and great in Power and Sovereignty are compared to Things very base vile and contemptible as will hereafter be shewn The Righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour Prov. 12.26 V. Kings sometimes meet with great Trouble and Sorrow after they are anointed before they come to the quiet Enjoyment of their Crowns they have been severely persecuted and chased from one Place to another as King David particularly was So the Saints of God tho they are anointed with the Oil of Gladness and have an Assurance given them of the Crown of Glory meet with very great Trouble in this World being persecuted tormented afflicted and sometimes having no certain Dwelling-Place as is said of some of the ancient Worthies Heb. 11. Heb. 11.37 VI. Some Kings have possessed and reigned over many Kingdoms their Dominions have been very great The Saints are the Heirs of a Kingdom nayâ— all the Kingdoms under the whole Heavens shall be given to them Rev. 11.15 Dan. 9.27 The Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ c. And the Kingdoms and Dominions and the Greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the People of the Saints of the Most High c. VII Kings have great and noble Minds they busy not themselves about mean Matters So the Saints have great and noble Spirits they converse about Things above being risen with Christ their Affections are not set upon Things below Col. 3 1 2 Phil 3.20 but seek those Things that are above where Christ is at the right-hand of God Our Conversation is in Heaven c. VIII Kings have many great and glorious Privileges and Prerogatives appertaining to them how are they honoured and congratulated by the People So have the Saints They shall sit down with Christ
have paid the utmost Farthing Inferences HOw may this humble sinful Mortals What little cause have any of the Chrildren of Men to boast of their Riches Alas they are whether they know it or no exceedingly in Debt they are worth nothing and whether they believe it or not Death will convince them of it 2. It may stir up the Hearts of the Godly to pity Sinners when you see poor Prisoners that are in Prison for Debt crying out of the Grates Bread Bread for the Lord's sake how ready are you to pity them but how more doleful is that Cry of the rich Glutton in Hell for a drop of Water to cool his Tongue and none is given to him 3. It speaks much Comfort to Believers who have through that redemption that is in Christ obtained the forgiveness of all their Debts Oh! what a Blessing these things being considered is pardon of Sin Let thy Soul with David Bless the Lord and all that is within thee praise his holy Name who forgiveth all thine Iniquities Psal 103.1 2 3. who healeth all thy Diseases who hath freed thee from thy Sins and the Punishment of them Wicked Men the Rod of God Isa 10.5 O Assyrian the Rod of mine Anger THe Ungodly and bloody Persecutors of the Lord's People are called his Hand his Rod and his Sword Deliver my Soul from the Wicked which is thy Sword from Men of the World which are thy Hand O Lord Psal 17.13 14. Parallels I. A Man smites such as have offended him with his Hand and with a Rod or Sword So God makes use of the Wicked as an Instrument to chastize his Children when they transgress his Law and grievously sin against him II. As a Hand or Rod lays on harder or softer Blows according to the Pleasure and Purpose of him that strikes So God lets the Wicked out upon his own People to oppress and afflict them as he fees good either in a milder or more severe manner III. When a Father hath chastized his Children sufficiently and throughly humbled them he sometimes casteth the Rod into the Fire So when God hath by the Wicked who are his Rod throughly humbled his People and taken away their Sin he will throw the Wicked their bloody Persecutors into the Fire of his Wrath For yet a very little while Isa 10.25 and the Indignation shall cease and mine Anger in their Destruction Wicked Men compared to Tares Mat. 13.38 The Tares are the Children of the Wicked One TAres 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Varineus quia amet triticum illud ut umbra corpus sequitur imitatus simul arescit ac si esset de tritici genere i. e. Because it loveth the Wheat and imitates it as the Shadow imitateth the Body and groweth up with it as if it were of the same kind with the Wheat It should not saith one be translated Tares but evil Seed It is that which we call the deaf Ears that grow up with the good Corn and cannot be discerned till the Harvest Liegh's Crit. Sacr. and then it proves naught for Tares and Fitches are soon discerned and pluck'd up The Enemy sowed Tares v. 15. i. e. corrupted Ungodly Men are compared to Tares Tares saith a noted Writer is a Sort of Grain that groweth in the Eastern Country therefore those that are called Tares amongst us I suppose are not the Tares our Saviour alludes to Metaphor Parallel TAres are a low and base Sort of Grain of little worth or esteem in comparison of Wheat and some other Grain SO the Children of the Wicked One are a base and contemptible Sort of People in comparison of the Children of God II. If Tares are sown amongst Wheat it is done by the Hand of an Enemy out of spite and malice to the Injury and Loss of the Owner of the Field II. So the spiritual or metaphorical Tares viz. the Children of Belial that grow in the Field of this World were first sowed by the Devil he is that Enemy who did it i. e. He infused by his Spirit through the Corruptness of Mortals that evil Seed into their Hearts from whence these Tares spring out of spite and Malice to God himself whose is the Field and also out of spite and malice to Mankind III. Tares growing among Wheat do hurt and prejudice the Wheat hindering its growth and flourishing III. So the Ungodly or Children of the Wicked One dwelling with or among the Saints hurt and greatly prejudice them hindering their Growth in Grace and Godliness Saith David Psal 120.6 Wo is me that I sojourn in Mesech that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar It is a hard Matter to keep our Garments clean and no way to defile them living in the midst of a wicked and ungodly Generation Who can touch Pitch and not be defiled therewith The Israelites dwelling among the wicked Natives of the Land of Canaan Psal 10 6.35 36. 't is said learned their Works and served their Gods IV. Tares as Wilson observes are so like Wheat whilst they are in the Blade as hardly the one can be discerned from the other IV. So Hypocrites seem so like true and sincere Christians that for a while the one can hardly be known from the other V. The Man who had Tares sown amongst the Wheat in his Field whilst Men slept would not suffer his Servants to pluck them up lest some of the Wheat should be pluck'd up with them but let them grow together until Harvest and then commands the Reapers to separate the one from the other and the Wheat to gather into his Barn but the Tares to cast into the Fire from whence it appears that those Tares were good for nothing but Fuel for the Fire c. V. So the Almighty tho there be many Hypocrites Hereticks and Reprobates in the World would not have Magistrates or others to pluck them up for their Errors or Heresy only that is destroy them or take them away by corporal Punishment and Death lest they pull up and destroy some of his precious Saints with them instead of those Children of the Evil One but would have them live or grow together in the Field of the World until the Harvest that is the End of the World The Field is the World Mat. 13.38 39 40 41. the good Seed an the Children of the Kingdom but the Tares the Children of the Wicked One. The Enemy that sowed them is the Devil the Harvest is the End of the World and the Reapers are the Angels As therefore the Tares are gathered and burnt in the Fire so shall it be in the End of the World The Son of Man shall send forth his Angels to gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them that do Iniquity And shall cast them into a Furnace of Fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth Inferences THis may put every Christian upon the Search and Examination of
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
c. The Merchants stood afar off saying Alas alas that great City Babylon that mighty City Again they wept saying Alas Verse 18. alas that great City which was cloathed c. What City is like unto this great City And cried weeping and wailing Verse 17. saying Alas alas that great City wherein were made rich c. And a mighty Angel took up a Stone Verse 21. like a great Mill-stone and cast it into the Sea saying Thus with violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down I will shew thee the Judgment of the great Whore Chap. 17.1 c. He hath judged the great Whore Chap. 19.2 c. Great in four Respects 1. Great in Name 2. Great in Power 3. Great in Multitude 4. Great in Action vile Actions V. Rome Papal or Church of Rome is not only a Woman a City a Whore but a very great Woman City and Whore great in many respects but chiefly in these four 1. She hath a great Name no Name so great in the Christian World as the Name of Rome She is called a Queen because joined by Contract to a great Man the Man of Sin a Man greater than Emperors and Temporal Princes who pretends a Power to give them their Crowns to set them upon their Heads and kick them off at pleasure 2. Great in Power She gives Rules to Kingdoms advances her Ecclesiastical Laws above Temporal sets her Head and the chiefest of her Sons above Secular Jurisdiction makes them unaccountable and pretends a Power to absolve and bless them and without Controversy the lesser is blessed of the greater 3. Great in Multitude There are no People besides that are in a spiritual united Body and visible Community professing Christianity comparable to her for Multitude and the vast Numbers of her Sons and Daughters 4. Great in Action vile Actions such as deposing and poysoning Princes fomenting Jealousies raising Wars setting Nations together by the Ears invading Rights making Uproars burning Cities and carrying on dreadful Devastations where she is gainsay'd And that which adds to her Greatness is the invincible Confidence she hath that all Persons and Things are made for her and given to her so that all Things she doth are allowed as legal and just in Heaven From whence we frame this Argument Arg. If there be no United Body of People or visible Community in the Christiâ—n World that is so great in Name Power Multitude and Action vile Actions as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath been and still is Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome is this great very great Woman City and Whore spoken of But there is no united Body of People or visible Community in the Christian World that is so great in Name Power Multitude and Action vile Actions as Rome Papal or the Church of Rome is Ergo Rome Papal c. is this great very great Woman City and Whore spoken of To reinforce this Argument let it be considered that the Christian World is distinguished or divided into two Parts viz. Papists and Protestants the Protestants cannot be this Whore 1. Because they own Jesus Christ to be Head of the Church and only him 2. They have never revolted or changed him so as to set up another in his room under any Title whatsoever but profess him to be their Lord and are in Obedience and Subjection to his Laws in all matters purely Religious 3. Neither is their Name Power Multitude or Actions so great by far as the Papists are they being but small inconsiderable and low in all Papist Countries And when the Protestant Religion hath gotten up to be the profest Religion of any Nation Kingdom or City what is that Nation Kingdom or City in comparison of those Nations Kingdoms and Cities where the Papists reign and Popery is profest This every intelligent Man hath so full a Prospect of that it appears needless to give proof by Instances VI. Babylon This Woman City of Confusion and Whore which is very great sitteth upon many Waters Rev. 17.1 which is expounded to be Peoples and Multitudes and Nations and Tongues And he the Angel said unto me Verse 15. the Waters which thou sawest where the Whore sitteth are Peoples and Multitudes and Nations and Tongues c. Which according to the learned Mede and a famous French Author is more than a third part of the ten considerable parts which the Roman Monarchy fell into not long before the Pope Man of Sin or Head of Mystery Babylon assumed the Imperial Seat and Crowns which afterward became ten Kingdoms with crowned Heads assisting the Beast against the Lamb and persecuting of the Saints distinguished into ten Kingdoms or Empires 1. Of Germany 2. France 3. England 4. Scotland 5. Denmark 6. Polonia 7. The Kingdom of Spain 8. The Kingdom of Navarre 9. The Kingdom of Hungary 10. The Kingdom of Naples and Sicily All which Rome Papal had in Possession as our French Author saith in the days of Pope Leo the tenth which was less than 200 Years VI. Rome Papal or Church of Rome is not only a great Woman City of Confusion and Whore that hath set up the Man of Sin great Belial or highest Son of Wickedness but she likewise sits upon many Waters viz. People and Multitudes Nations and Tongues which may be illustrated by undeniable Instances 1. She sat upon or ruled over more than one third part of ten which was formerly under the Roman Empire in its Civil State which more than one third part hath since fallen into ten States or Kingdoms under the Government of ten crowned Heads and have all agreed to give their Power to this last Beast according to what was foretold by Daniel Dan. 7. concerning the little Horn which had a Mouth speaking great things whose Looks were more stout than his Fellows by whom three of the first Horns of the Roman Power in its Civil State was pluck'd up by the Roots and in their place succeeded ten Kings or Crowned Heads who have their Crowns given them by this last Beast and as they have their Crowns given by and hold their Kingship under the Pope little Horn last Beast or Man of Sin in requital of his Fatherly Care to give his Sons so great a Patrimony they gave their Power unto him and engage against the Lamb making War with and persecuting the Saints till the Word of God or Prophecy of Daniel is fulfilled which ten Crowned Heads answer to the ten Toes in Nebuchadnezzar's Image to the ten Horns in this 17th of the Apocalypse that are so concerned in the Beasts Kingdom as to be overcome by the Lamb and turn to hate the Whore that before they supported and for whose Pleasure they did persecute the Saints which ten States or Kingdoms are by our French Author in his Book called the accomplishment of the Prophecy p. 345. distinguished to be as in the other Column set forth All which Kingdoms as King James in his
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
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
before this Division was but low and small being confined to his Episcopal Power over the Church till by his Arts he had got up gradually to the Regal Seat and Power of the Temporal Sword which he managed with so much Craft and Policy that afterwards he enlarged his Dominions but is very rightfully in his Infancy stiled a little Prince Power or Horn arising up amongst or after the rest which began presently after the Death of Julian about the Year 365 in which Time was a most fearful Earthquake the like never known before betokening the Decay of the Fourth Kingdom in its Civil State or Power by a Division or falling of Nations who set themselves against the Power of Rome and harrassed wasted and destroyed the Provinces thereof for near forty five Years together See Mede lib. 3. p. 659. III. This little Horn after his Rise to Temporal Power plucks up three of the ten Horns by the Roots Dan. 7.8 Before whom there were three of the first Horns pluck'd up by the Roots III. The Papal Power having gained the Temporal Sword tho but a little Horn at his beginning did practise and prosper so that betwixt the Year 365 and the Year 456 or soon after when Rome was sack'd by Gensericus he gained such Enlargements that he came to possess about three parts of ten of the former or old Roman Dominions according to the Rules or Measure of the Compass as we find in Mr. Mede lib. 3. p. 658. and famous Du-Moulin ubi suprà Upon which three Characters of the little Horn we frame this short Argument If the Pope of Rome did arise to Temporal Power upon the weakning of the Caesarean Dominion which before did hinder him in his aspiring Usurpation was but little in his first Rise and Appearance did enlarge and grow to a Possession of about a third part of the old Roman Dominion Then the Pope of Rome is the little Horn the Wicked Power and vile Person set forth by the Prophet Daniel But the Antecedent is true Ergo so is the Consequent IV. This little Horn hath Eyes like the Eyes of a Man c. IV. The Pope of Rome hath Eyes like the Eyes of a Man the Resemblance of a humane Look but a Heart like the Dragon out of which foul Mouth he utters presumptuous Things His Predecessors had Eyes like a Leopard a Bear a Lion a Dragon but this hath Eyes like a Man In which there are three things to be noted 1. He looks higher 2. Sees further and 3. Is more enticing than those that went before him 1. He looks higher that is makes a pretence of Piety and Design for Heaven 2. Sees further that Deceit Flattery and Policy will do more than Strength 3. Is more enticing to Kings and People than the Eyes of a Leopard Lion or Dragon or the former Powers in their Heathen State V. This little Horn hath a Mouth speaking great or presumptuous Things above the rate of ordinary Men. Dan. 7.8 V. The Pope of Rome hath a Mouth speaking great or presumptuous Things above the ordinary rate of Men. This is evident in many respects of which we shall give you but a few Instances out of many 1. That he is the highest Deputy of God above all the Kings of the Earth 2. That he is infallible and cannot err which is an incommunicable Attribute of the Most High 3. That he is universal Head and Bishop of the Catholick Church 4 He assumes the Attributes of his Holiness and holy Father such an Oracle that has Right or Power to give Laws to the World to which all ought to subscribe and yield obedience and none ought to dispute Greater and more loftily can no Man speak unless he will say I am the Supreme Being and there is no God in Heaven or Earth above my self which would be so highly ridiculous that every Ideot would be able to detect it VI. The little Horn had his Looks more stout than his Fellows Dan. 7.20 Whose Looks were more stout c. VI. The Pope of Rome has Looks more stout than the Horns that have been contemporary with him which appears in three things 1. In his terrible Bulls that he makes to roar and stare most dreadfully 2. In his Power and Acts of deposing Princes 3. In asserting himself to be God's Vicegerent against whom no Person upon any Cause or Pretence whatsoever ought to lift up Hand or Tongue upon the Penalty of a total Ruine in this World and an eternal Ruine in the World to come VII The little Horn makes War with the Saints Dan. 7.21 I beheld and the same Horn made War with the Saints and prevailed against them and that for a long Time even to the wearing out of the poor Saints of the Most High Verse 25. VII The Pope of Rome hath made War with the Saints and prevailed against them and that to their Ruine as to Liberty Estate and even Life it self as the true Witnesses of Christ have most sadly experienced in many Countries in divers by-past Ages even for such a Series of Time that may be properly called a wearing out of the Saints of the Most High for his Cruelty ended not in a Month or a Year but hath lasted for many hundred Years So that for Length of Time Numbers of Countries and Multitude of Persons there is no Power that ever reigned hath out-done or equalized this vile and bloody Monster upon which we frame this Argument If the Pope of Rome may be more fitly said to have Eyes like the Eyes of a Man a Mouth speaking presumptuous Things and Looks more stout than his Fellows to have made War with the Saints to have prevailed against them and wore them out more than any other Power that ever yet reigned Then he is the little Horn or vile Person under Consideration But the former is true Ergo so is the latter VIII The little Horn is diverse from the rest of the Horns Dan. 7.24 And he shall be diverse from the first and shall subdue three Kings VIII The Pope of Rome is diverse from the rest of the Potentates in these four respects 1. The Manner of his Rise 2. His Pretensions to Power 3. In his progress to his Height of Dignity 4. In his Management of the Power he has usurped 1. He was small or little in his Rise but an ordinary Bishop before he came to be a Temporal Prince 2. He pretends not to hold his Kingdom by Inheritance or Gift of the People as other Kings do but by a special and Divine Patent 3. In his progress to the Height of his Dignity by leaving his fixed Station as Pastor of a Church and by Deceit Treason and Violation of all Laws mounts the Throne of Imperial Grandure 4. He rules by a supreme Ecclesiastical Power as well as Temporal pretends to the Keys of Heaven as well as the Sword of Justice on Earth shewing himself to be the Beast that hath two Horns
and spoils his Divinity makes him but a poor petty God he is but the God of this World both for extension and duration he bears no rule above nor shall he bear any sway in the World to come If the God of this World 't is by Usurpation he is like an audacious Traitor who rebels and strives against his Lawful Soveraign For the Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof Christ is Heir of both Worlds tho he admits Satan to God it here for a while he is a false God an Enemy to God and no God Disparity GOD is without Beginning the Devil had a beginning God is an uncreated Spirit the Devil an Angel and a created Spirit I do not say he was created a Devil Sin made him a Devil God can do what he pleaseth he hath an unlimited Power the Devil's Power is limited he can go no further than God permits him God hath a just and rightful Power Satan hath only an usurped Power c. God is infinite immense c. But some may say in what Sense is Satan said to be God of this World What World c. The word World is a convertible Phrase and here I understand it is to be taken for the Inhabitants of the World I mean the Wicked distinct frâ—m the Godly He is the wicked Man's God three ways 1. By Devolution they have fallen off from God to Satan they have departed from the true God and his Service and have closed in with the Devil and so Satan owns them to be his Subjects The whole World is divided into two parts two Bodies and are under two Heads either Subjects of Christ's Kingdom or of the Kingdom and Power of Satan they are either of the Army of Light or Regiment of Darkness Rom. 6.16 2. The Devil is the wicked Man's God by voluntary submission His Servants ye are to whom you obey Wicked Men are Satan's Volunteers 3. By God's just Desertion as they have cast off God and his Service and desire not the knowledg of his ways so God hath cast them off and suffered Satan to possess them c. The Devil a Prince Joh. 14.30 The Prince of the World cometh c. Eph. 2.2 According to the Prince of the Power of the Air. Rev. 9.11 And they had a King over them which is the Angel of the bottomless Pâ—t THE Devil is in these Scriptures called a Prince Prince of Darkness Prince of the Power of the Air King of the bottomless Pit c. Parallels PRince is a Term that denotes Power and Soveraignty Satan hath great Power over wicked Men c. There is also no doubt some kind of Supremacy or Superiority amongst the evil Angels we read of the Prince of Devils He casts out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils Also some of these wicked Angels are called Principalities and Powers which signifieth Eminency of Place above others What degrees or order there is amongst Devils is hard to find out what ever Order there is amongst them yet we know he is the Master of mis-rule amongst Men c. II. A King or Prince ruling and reigning imports a Kingdom for what is a King without a Kingdom and Dominions over which he reigns The Devil hath a Kingdom There is a twofold Spiritual Kingdom spoken of viz. the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness called sometimes the Kingdom and Power of Darkness â—1 His Kingdom is in the Hearts of ungodly Men he rules and reigns there 2. His Kingdom takes in all the Confines and Territories of Anti-Christ and all other false and corrupt erroneous and tyrannical States whatsoever throughout the whole Earth where his Power is owned and his Authority subjected to 3. He is said to be King of the bottomless Pit III. The Name of some Kings puts an awful fear upon Men So the Name and Power of Satan is such that it makes many Souls to dread and quake at the Thoughts of him IV. Some Kings have been great Tyrants There is no Tyrant in the World nor ever was so vile as the Devil True some have acted like Devils they seemed more like Devils than Men as Nero who caused the Bowels of his own Mother to be ripped up to see where he lay c. See Lion and Dragon V. Some Kings are mighty in Power and their Dominions very large Satan is a mighty King he hath a Power that no meer human force can stand against hence called the strong Man armed none ever seemed a match for him but the Prince of Peace Besides he rules over all the Nations of the ungodly and by force or fraud enslaves to his hellish Scepter Millions of Souls there is no Kingdom or Nation in the whole Universe but he pretends to some Right Supremacy and Authority in it the World is full of his Creatures nay there are more Souls who are his Vassals than the Son of God hath faithful Subjects The Devil a Hunter Psal 91.3 He will deliver thee from the Snare of the Hunter Prov. 6.5 Deliver thy self as a Roe from the Hand of the Hunter By the Hunter in these places I see no ground to doubt but that the Holy Ghost principally intends the Devil who is the great Hunter and Destroyer of Mens Souls out of whose Hand i. e. Power Wisdom advises her Son to deliver himself Parallels A Hunter is one that pursues or eagerly follows after his Prey what sort of Beasts soever he hunts he seems unwearied in his Pursuit his Heart is affected with his Game and hence takes great delight in it So the Devil pursues Sinners nay and the Godly too for they are part of his Game and how eagerly doth he pursue them 't is the only thing he seems to delight in he is never weary of this work nor in the work II. A Hunter in pursuing after the poor sensitive Beast designs to kill and destroy them 't is to take their Lives away c. So the Devil in hunting after the Souls of Men his grand design is to destroy them He seekâ—th whom he may devour 't is the Soul the Life of the Soul he strives to destroy As David speaks of his Enemy Thou huntest after my Soul to take it 1 Sam. 24.12 so may every Man and Woman say of Satan III. A Hunter has many Devices and cunning Stratagems to ensnare the Game he pursues So the Devil hath many Snares and cunning Wiles to catch and destroy the Souls of Men Hence he is compared to a Serpent We are not ignorant saith Paul of his Devices 2 Cor. 9.11 and in another place he exhorts the Saints to put on the whole Armour of God that they may be able to stand against the Wiles of the Devil The Greek Word signifies such Snares as are set to catch a Man He will deliver thee saith the Psalmist from the Snare of the Hunter Psal 91.3 meaning saith Ainsworth the Devil Satan hath many Devices and Snares to draw
in the Rod which a wise Man strives to understand 1. There is a chiding Voice in the Rod. 2. And not only so but in some Rods an amazing Voice 3. A threatning Voice 4. An awakening Voice 5. A convincing Voice 6. There is an humbling Voice in the Rod. Quest Why do so few Men and Women hear and understand the Voice that is in the Rod Answ 1. Because the Affliction or Judgment perhaps is general 't is hard for Men to make special and particular Application of common Calamities 2. Because Men are more subject to look to secondary Causes in the Rod than to the immediate Hand of God 3. Because Men are so heedless and unsensible they will not trouble themselves to find out the Voice that is in the Rod. 4. 'T is because Men are so full of other Business that they have not Time to hearken to God's Voice in the Rod. 5. 'T is because they do not see any present Effects of God's Hand he is loth to strike How shall I give thee up O Ephraim c. Affliction compared to a Furnace Deut. 4.20 But the Lord hath taken you and brought you forth out of the Iron Furnace Jer. 11.4 Ezek. 22.18 And Lead in the midst of the Furnace A Furnace is either taken properly or figuratively 1. Properly 1. For a Place which Refiners refine their Gold in Prov. 17.3 2. A Place of Torment such as was that which the three Worthies were put into who refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar's Golden Image Dan. 3.6 22. 2. Metaphorically for heavy and cruel Bondage Deut. 4.20 Jer. 11.4 For Hell-Torments Mat. 13.42 And shall cast them into a Furnace of Fire Note Afflictions or sore and cruel Trials are compared to a Furnace Parallels A Furnace is prepared for Gold The Refining-Pot for Silver and the Furnace for Gold So Afflictions are appointed for the Saints who are compared to Gold II. A Furnace refines Gold and makes it much more pure than before So doth Affliction refine and make more holy the Hearts and Lives of godly Christians Job 23.10 When he hath tried me I shall come forth as Gold III. A Furnace is made sometimes very hot So Afflictions are sometimes very sore and grievous to the Godly A weak Fire will not refine some Gold no more will small Trials refine some Christians IV. A Furnace melts the Gold and makes it soft before it is refined So Afflictions melt or make the Hearts of Believers soft And I will leave you there speaking of the Furnace and melt you Ezek. 22.20 V. A Furnace consumes Tin Lead c. and also the drossy part of Gold So those Afflictions and Trials God brings upon his People burn up or consume all loose and hypocritical Professors who are compared to base Metal as Tin Lead c. And not only so but also all the Filth and Corruption of such who are sincere Psal 37.20 Into Smoke shall they consume speaking of ungodly Ones See Gold and Refiner in the First Volume pag. 262 264. VI. Some Furnaces denote great Torment 't is an amazing thing to be thrown into a hot fiery Furnace So some Afflictions and Judgments brought upon an ungodly People are very terrible when they are in Wrath. The Wrath of God is to wicked Men like a burning and consuming Furnace Who can stand before his Indignation Nah. 1.6 or who can abide in the fierceness of his Anger His Fury is poured out like Fire See Furnace as it respects Hell-Torments Affliction compared to the Winter Cant. 2.11 For lo the Winter is past c. SOme understand by Winter the State of the Elect before Conversion but others Guild Durham Ainsworth in my Judgment upon better grounds those cruel Persecutions the Church of God shall be under during the Reign of the Tyrannical and Antichristian Powers of the Earth The Winter is past the Rain is over and gone c. These things saith Mr. Ainsworth may be applied to the outward Troubles and Grievances of this Life by the Malice of the World as when Israel was brought into the Bondage of Egypt and of Babylon and after was released likewise to the spiritual Winter Reign and Rage of Antichrist after which the Graces and Fruits of the Gospel began again to flourish It may also signify the Afflictions of the Soul Parallels WInter is a Time of Cold attended with Snow Frost Storms and sharp Weather So whilst the spiritual Winter of the Church continues sharp and bitter Storms of Persecution frequently arise upon the Godly II. Winter tho it be sharp yet it is a profitable and wholesom Season of the Year in respect of the Body of Man and Fruits of the Earth So is the spiritual Winter of the Church or Soul the Godly can no better be without Adversity than we can be without Winter III. Winter-Frosts c. kill the Worms Weeds and Vermine So do Afflictions and the Frosts of Persecution destroy the Weeds of our Corruption and free the Church from carnal Professors who are like Worms and base Vermine that hinder the Growth of God's choice Grain IV. In Winter 't is a difficult and hard thing to travel some Roads So 't is a difficult thing to travel in the Way to Heaven i. e. to keep on in the Path of Gospel Holiness and Obedience in a Day of Persecution V. In Winter many things look as if they were dead Trees Flowers and Plants have no Beauty in them they are not pleasant to the Eye So whilst the Winter-Time of the Church continues the blessed Trees and Plants of Righteousness seem as if they were withered and their Beauty and Glory gone by means of the Tyranny and Oppression of the Ungodly but when the Winter is past and the longed for Spring beginneth to appear they will sprout up and flourish again gloriously VI. In Winter we have now and then some good and comfortable Weather So now and then in the Winter-Time of the Church there is a sweet serene and calm Time of Peace and Tranquillity Acts 9.31 Then had the Churches Rest throughout all Judea Galilee and Samaria and were edified and walking in the Fear of the Lord and in the Comfort of the Holy-Ghost were multiplied VII The Winter makes the Spring and Summer much more acceptable and sweet So the Storms Tempests cold Frosts and nipping Time of Trouble Oppression and Persecution will cause the Golden Age of the World viz. the Reign and Kingdom of Christ like the Spring and Summer to seem much more sweet and acceptable to the Saints and all that fear God This is signified by the Singing of Birds c. They shall sing in the Heights of Zion Jer. 31.12 Isa 35.1 2. c. The Wilderness and the solitary Place shall be glad and the Desert shall rejoyce and blossom as the Rose it shall blossom abundantly and rejoyce even with joy and singing c. VIII In Winter Frosts and cold pinching Weather usually last not
so doth Heaven like Paradise with Divine and Sacred Pleasures IV. Adam in Paradise knew no Sorrow he had Joy without Sadness Strength without Weakness Health without Sickness Light without Darkness Life without Death for Death had nothing to do with him whilst he stood in his Innocency So in Heaven the Godly are delivered from every mixture of Evil Rev. 21 4. God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes and there shall be no more Death neither Sorrow nor Crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are past away Here is Joy without Sadness Strength without Weakness Health without Sickness Light without Darkness Life without Death V. Adam in Paradise before tempted by the Devil knew no Sin he was free absolutely free from the least stain he had not so much as an evil Thought he was created in the Image of God being perfectly Righteous So in Heaven the Saints shall be free from Sin perfectly free not only free from the Guilt Filth Power and Punishment of it but also from the Act of it they shall not be troubled with one evil Thought more they are without Fault before the Throne of God and the Lamb. VI. Adam in Paradise enjoyed the sweet and blessed Presence of God he convers'd and had glorious Acquaintance and Communion with him God and Man lived then in perfect Peace and Friendship there was no Breach because no Sin and so God's Face was not hid from him So in Heaven all the Godly enjoy the sweet and Soul-ravishing Presence of God and of Jesus Christ Joh. 12.26 Joh. 14.3 1 Thess 4.17 1 Joh. 3.2 Where I am there shall my Servant be And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am ye may be also so shall we ever be with the Lord. Saints there have the Fruition of God and of Christ for we shall see him as he is and this is the highest glory Man can be raised to we shall not only see God and the Lamb but be filled with the Joy and Delight of God and Jesus Christ Heaven from hence is called the Joy of the Lord if the perfect enjoyment and participation of the glorious Trinity or fulness of it so far as it is capable of Communication can delight and fill the Soul with Joy and Happiness the Godly in Heaven shall have it God's Face will never be hid from his Children any more there will be no more a Breach between the Soul and its Saviour VII Adam in Paradise had the Tree of Life and Liberty before he sinned to eat of the Tree of Life So in this Paradise of God we read of the Tree of Life which as some understand Rev. 2.7 is Jesus Christ And to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God which doubtless signifies the glorious participation of the Life Fulness and transcendent Sweetness of the Lord Jesus and of the continuance of the Life of the Saints in its full Strength Vigour and Glory to Eternity VIII Adam in Paradise had great knowledg both of God and the Nature of all Creatures God brought all the Creatures to Adam to see what he would call them and whatsoever Adam called each living Soul Gen. 2.19 that was the Name thereof the naming of the Creatures saith Ainsworth was a sign of Soveraignty it also manifested Adam's Wisdom in naming things presently according to their Natures as the Hebrew Names by which he called them do declare So the Saints in Heaven shall be perfect in Knowledg they shall know as they are known they shall know all the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles and all the Saints that ever lived by Name which we may gather by that Knowledg Peter James and John had of Moses and Elias in the transfiguration of Christ in the Mount which was a Figure of Heaven Disparity ADam's Pleasure and Delight in Paradise was much of it Earthly But the Saints Pleasure and Delight in the Celestial Paradise will be Heavenly II. Adam in Paradise was troubled with a tempting Devil But the Saints in the Celestial Paradise shall not be troubled any more with a tempting Devil for he shall be shut up in Chains of Eternal Darkness to be tormented for ever III. Adam soon lost his earthly Paradise by Sin and was turned out of all But those who are accounted worthy to obtain this Heavenly Paradise shall never lose it nor be turned out of it but continue in it for ever and ever even to the days of Eternity Heaven a Crown of Life 2 Tim. 4.8 Henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness Rev. 2.10 And I will give thee a Crown of Life James 1.12 He shall receive the Crown of Life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him THE Reward of the Godly in Heaven is called a Crown a Crown of Life a Crown of Righteousness c. Parallels A Crown denotes any beautiful pleasing Ornament or profitable thing hence a Crown is put for to adorn and bless with good Things and so to make joyful Prov. 4.9 17.6 Psal 8.5 103.4 The Saints in Heaven shall be beautiful and very glorious they shall sparkle and shine forth like the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father plentifully enjoy and possess true Blessedness II. A Crown is a sign of a Kingdom and Dominion saith Ainsworth The glorified Saints in Heaven shall possess a Kingdom and shall be as Kings and Princes for ever and ever Hearken my beloved Brethren hath not God chosen the poor of this World rich in Faith Jam. 2.5 and Heirs of the or that Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him III. A Crown denotes also Victory Christ warring against his Enemies and overcoming them hath on his Head many Crowns or Diadems So the Saints being Crowned signifieth that perfect Conquest they have through Christ obtained over Sin Satan Death and Hell c. IV. A Crown signifieth Glory Honour and external Grandure The glorified Saints shall be honoured and appear in eternal Grandure as Kings who have their Crowns on their Heads V. As there is nothing more rich glorious desireable nor esteemed among Men above a Crown or Kingdom So the Holy Spirit in setting forth the Reward and everlasting Glory of the Saints in Heaven compares it to these things But alas there is no earthly thing how splendant and glorious soever can sufficiently set out the state of the Saints after Death or the Glory of Heaven For Pleasure 't is called Paradise for Riches and Honour 't is called a Crown and a Kingdom A Crown of Life denoting that Saints in laying down their Lives for Christ shall not be at all losers thereby but only exchange it for a better a short momentary Life for an everlasting Life a Life of Joy for a Life of Sorrow a Life of perfect
love to hear of him and often from him 9. They highly value every special Token of his Love 10. They rejoice in his Presence 11. They grieve and mourn at his Absence 12. If they have grieved him cannot rest till they see his reconciled Face again 13. They love his Image wherever they see it love all the Godly the poorest Saint as well as the richest 14. They love to be like him in Grace here as well as in Glory hereafter 15. They are troubled when he is dishonoured 16. They are greatly concerned for his Name Kingdom and Interest in the World 17. They often visit him in Closet-Duties 18. Take great care to please him 19. Will suffer for his sake when called to it 20. Long for his Appearance Baptism a Burial ROM 6.4 and COL 2.12 Expounded and Practically Improved Rom. 6.4 Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into Jesus Christ that is into the Profession of his Faith Confession of his Name and Communion with his Church were baptized into his Death Col. 2.12 Buried with him in Baptism wherein ye are also risen with him c. FOr the opening of this Metaphorical Text we will shew 1. The Literal Signification of the Word Baptism 2. The Metaphorical Signification thereof 3. What Burying literally and tropically is 4. Give a symbolical Parallel between Baptism and a Burial 5. Produce some Inferences from the Whole In shewing the Signification of the Word Baptism we will with all Impartiality give the Judgment of the Learned The Word is Greek and we are to seek its meaning from the Learned in that Tongue of whose Writings we have carefully examined the most noted some of which are Scapula and Stephanus Pasor Minshew and Liegh's Critica sacra Grotius Vossius Causabon Selden Mr. Daniel Rogers Mede Chamier Dr. Taylor Dr. Hammond Dr. Cave Hesychius Budaeus Beza Erasmus Buchanan Luther Illyricus Zanchy Glassius c. who with all the Learned of any note that are impartial agree with one Voice That the primary proper and literal Signification of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Baptiso is Mâ—rgo immergo submergo obruo item tingo quod fit immergendo that is to drown immerge plunge under overwhelm as also to dip which is done by plunging And 't is certain the Ancients so understod it as appears by their constant Practice of dipping such as were baptized as Tertullian says of his Trine-Immersion Ter mergitamur that is thrice are we dipp'd And that the Change of the Rite to Aspersion or Sprinkling was invented to accommodate the tender Bodies of Infants in these Northern Parts when the Practice of baptizing them prevailed is ingenuously confessed by Vossius and most of the Learned In a less proper or remote sence because things that are washed are dipped in or covered all over with Water it is put for Washing Luk. 11.38 Heb. 9.10 Mark 7.4 And we dare modestly assert That no Greek Author of any Credit whether Heathen or Christian has ever put Baptizing for Sprinkling or used those Words promiscuously The Greeks have a peculiar Word to express Sprinkling viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which they use when they have occasion as might be abundantly shewn if needful From this proper Signification arise some Metaphorical Notations As 1. From the Signification of Drowning they are the Words of * A notione quae mergeâ—e significat profluxit ea quae pro affligere usurpatur quia qui affliguntur calamitatum gurgite quasi mergantur Vossius in Thes Theol. it is put for Affliction because they that are afflicted are as it were drowned in the Gulph of Calamities Mat. 20.22 Mark 10.38 Luke 12.50 Baptismus non significat Afflictionem quamlibet sed vehementem forinsecus irruentem ut sunt in Scripturis undae persecutionum tribulationum quibus qui merguntur abruuntur baptizari videantur Estius ad 1 Cor. 15 2â— That is Baptism denotes not every light Affliction but that which is vehement and overwhelming As there are Waves of Persecutions and Tribulations mentioned in Scripture so such as are drowned and overwhelmed by them may seem to be baptized Mat. 20.22 23. Mark 10.38 39. Luk. 12.50 The Reason of the Metaphor is taken from many and deep Waters to which Calamities are compared Psal 18.16 He drew me out of great Waters Psal 32.6 Psal 69.1 2 c. 2. It is put for the miraculous Effusion of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other Believers in the Primitive Church because of the Analogical Immersion or Dipping for so as we have proved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies For the House where the Holy-Spirit came upon the Apostles was so filled that they were as it were drowned in it Or the Reason of the Metaphor may be from the great Plenty and Abundance of those Gifts in which they were wholly as it were immerged as the Baptized are dipped under Water Acts 2.3 Mat. 3.11 Mark 1.8 Luke 3.16 John 1.33 Acts 1.5 11.16 When Fire is added it is a Symbol of external Manifestation 3. It is put for the miraculous Passage of the Israelites through the Red Sea 1 Cor. 10.2 which was a Type of Gospel-Baptism These Reasons of the Metaphor are evident and convincing Demonstrations that the Signification of Baptism is to dip or plunge for Sprinkling can bear no Analogy with them The Word is expressed in the Old Testament by the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tabal which the Septuagint or the Seventy Learned Interpreters render by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Baptiso to dip as these Texts shew Gen. 37.31 Exod. 12.22 Lev. 4.6 17.14 6.51 9.9 Deut. 33.24 Numb 16.18 2 Kings 5.14 c. Hence also the Baptized are said to be dead and buried in allusion to the putting of dead Men into the Earth and covering them therewith to which we proceed What Burial in a natural sence is every Man knows and in our Text it is a Metaphor the Symbolical Analogy of which with Baptism follows in the Parallel Metaphor Parallel WHen one is buried it imports him to be dead for none but such ought to be buried WHen one is baptized he ought to be dead to Sin that is converted by the Power of God's Word to Gospel-Truth which always makes the Soul loath and detest Sin and then that Soul may be said indeed to be dead to Sin This may be evidenced by this Consideration That Baptism is an illustrious Symbol of the Death of Christ our Saviour who died for us I am he that was dead and am alive behold I live for evermore The true Administration of this Sacrament visibly figures it to us and to that end it was instituted viz. to confirm that great and glorious Truth of his being really a Man and so cabable of suffering or passing through the Death of the Cross Rom. 6.3 4 5. into which Death we are baptized and then being dead to Sin and to this World we are to
live in newness of Life amongst the Saints in the Kingdom of God II. When one is buried he ought to be covered all over with Earth else 't is no Burial II. When one is baptized he ought to be covered all over with Water or else 't is no Baptism Which fully appears 1. From the Nature of Burial 2. From the proper and Metaphorical Significations of the Word as is largely opened 3. From Scripture-Practice which always was by Dipping as all the Learned that are impartial acknowledg 4. From the constant Practice of Antiquity who retained the right Form until Clinical Baptism viz. such who deferred their Baptism till their sick Bed came to be used about Cyprian's time in the third Century These Clinici so called because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 baptized in their Bed were such as delayed their Baptism until their Death-Beds because they believed it would take away all Sin and that there was no Pardon if they sinned after receiving it yet not daring to go out of the World without this great Badge of Christianity deferr'd it till they thought they were in danger of Death And since they could not without peril of Life be dipp'd Sprinkling was invented to serve the turn For a like Reason as was said before they changed the Mode of Administration with respect to Infants when their Baptism was introduced out of regard to their tender Constitutions especially in cold Countries Seasons This was the Original of Sprinkling and sprung purely from the abuse of Baptism and the Want of the right Subject as by Divine Aid shall be demonstrated in a particular Sheet impartially and from undoubted Authority One may with as much reason be said to be buried when Clay or Earth is thrown upon his Head only as to be baptized when Water is poured upon his Head or Face And if the one be no Burying 't is as certain the other is no Baptism And he that affirms that Sprinkling may represent or symbolically express the Death Burial and Resurrection of Christ does at the same time speak without colour of Truth Word of Sence and against all the Reason in the World As breaking of the Sacramental Bread visibly betokens that Christ's Body was broke and as the pouring forth of the Sacramental Wine represents the gushing forth of his Blood so the Sacramental Dipping in Water viz. Baptism represents his Death and Burial and the coming from under the Water his Resurrection 1 Cor. 15.2 3 4 c. III. Burial precedes the Resurrection or raising of the dead Body to a State of Immortality III. The Immersion of the Party baptized precedes his Emersion or coming out of the Water which symbolizes or answers to two things 1. The Resurâ—ection of Christ 2. Our rising again to Newness of Life Buried with him in Baptism wherein ye are also risen with him c. as in the Text. Inferences FRom the whole we may rationally conclude That the Administration of this great Ordinance by Sprinkling which comports not with the Literal nor Metaphorical Signification of the Word nor those great Mysteries represented by it viz. the Death Burial and Resurrection of Christ is disorderly and should be rectified 2. It is a Motive to excite us to admire and reverence the great Grace and Goodness of Christ who hath given us such a visible Symbol of his Death Burial and Resurrection not only to confirm our Faith but also to prevent our being deceived by any seducing Spirits 3. It is not to be wondred at that such as deny the Man Christ Jesus but preach up the Light within to be a Saviour should reject these two great Ordinances stated in the Scripture viz. Baptism and the Lord's Supper because such as deny the Substance are necessitated to deny the Sign Persons of this Judgment may be easily confuted For when ever the Term Baptism is mentioned and God or Christ represented as the Agent it must be understood of the Baptism of the Spirit in the Sence before spoken of When ever Baptism is mentioned as the Act of any Apostle or Minister of the Gospel it denotes Water-Baptism because these have neither Power nor Commission to baptize with the Spirit and with Fire And when ever the Baptism of Blood and Suffering is mentioned it must be understood of Persecutors or ungodly Men who murther destroy or afflict the Godly for neither God without Blasphemy nor good Men without a wrong application of the Term may be said to baptize that way So that when we meet with the Act of Baptism as the Act of a good Man we must of necessity understand it of Water-Baptism in the same Method and Mode of Administration as was practised by the Apostles and Primitive Christians and that being a positive Institution with respect to the Subject and Manner of Administration is not to be deviated from upon any pretence whatsoever unless we will suppose the Laws of the Almighty to be in the Power of Man so as that he may dispense at pleasure with them which is not to be done without sufficient Authority from God himself which is no where to be found 4. If the Laws of the great unerring Sovereign of all things are to be observed without variation unless it be by his express Direction then we are to conform exactly to his Order in this part of the Evangelical Law and to practise it no otherwise than he has prescribed because it was once so delivered to the Saints 5. We would caution all that would approach to this sacred Evangelical Ordinance unless they be dead to Sin that is such as truly and really hate Wickedness and the empty Vanities of the World and unless they have a prospect of and long to have an Interest in that never-fading Inheritance promised by our dear Lord Jesus to his Children not to prophane this blessed Institution Because if they want the due Qualifications of serious and converted Souls viz. Faith Repentance and good Lives they are hereby entitled not real Members of Christ but Hypocrites and incur as great a Hazard as such do who eat and drink unworthily of the Lord's Supper The Lord's Supper 1 Cor. 11.23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you That the Lord Jesus the same Night in which he was betrayed took Bread Verse 24. And when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my Body which is broken for you This do in remembrance of me THe Papists affirm That after the Words which they call the Words of Consecration spoken by the Mass-Priest the Bread is changed into the real Body of Jesus Christ and many of the blessed Martyrs in Queen Mary's Days were burned to Ashes for denying this Transubstantiation Which absurd and monstrous Conceit of theirs hath been learnedly confuted by many ancient and modern Writers so that it may be thought needless to add any thing here upon that account yet that we may make our way