thee thy Elders and they will tell thee Deut. 32.7 as indeed they did tell them Judg. 6.13 and Psal 44.1 2. Thus Bildad bids Job Enquire of the former Age Job 8.8 of their Radmonim as the Jews called their Ancestors whose heart they said was as the Gate of the Temple large and beautiful but the heart of their Posterity was as the Eye of a Needle narrow and of no Receipt in comparison and therefore they are referred to their Progenitors for better Information 5. Yet this Maxim quod Antiquissimum Verissimum that is truest which is Ancientest must be taken in sano sensu cum grano salis in a sound sense and with a grain of Salt therefore did I affirm before the Authority of Antiquity with this caution to wit when it is right Antiquity 't is the Noble saying of a Noble Writer that Antiquity must have no more Authority than it can maintain with truth Old Age saith Solomon is indeed a Crown of Glory but 't is only so when 't is found in the way of Righteousness Prov. 16.31 and not otherwise Antiquity disjoyn'd from Verity is but a filthy Hoariness and deserveth no more Reverence than an old Fornicator or Malefactor which because old is so much the more odious and as Manna the longer it was kept against the Command of God the more it stank so doth Error Enormity and Heresie Custom without Truth is but mouldy Error though the Romanists call their Religion the old Religion which is their common decoy yet is it a mouldy putrefied and stinking Religion having not the Salt of Truth to preserve it and it cannot truly be called the Old Religion because it cannot be found in the Scripture of Truth This Bellarmine himself confesses to part of the Popish Religion to wit Invocation of Saints saying Cum seriberentur soripturae nondum caeperat usus vovendi sanctis there was no vowing nor bowing to the Saints departed when the Scriptures were written Bell de Cult Sanct. cap. 5. 6. Suppose it may be said of Popish Superstitions as 't is said 1 Chron. 4.23 These are ancient things old and obsolete never a whit the better for that 'T is here at best as in Books some of which are adoranda Rubiginis of adored rustiness which are of more Antiquity than of Authority Laban the Idolater pretends Antiquity for his Gods in his Oath to Jacob wherein he appealed to the Gods of Abraham of Nahor and of their Father Terah all which served strange Gods Josh 24.2 but Jacob in his Oath riseth no higher than his Father swearing only by the fear of his Father Isaac Gen. 31.53 Though the Idolater pretended the Antiquity of his Gods in his going so high as his Grandfather c. yet surely Jacob that pleaded it not worshiped the truer God and more rightly Thus the Image at Ephesus which occasioned such a tumult Act. 19. had its Antiquity and could not be spoken against by any reason as the Town-Clerk told the people And why because it was wonderfully ancient so ancient that though the Temple of Diana had been seven several times re-edifyed yet this same Image was never altered Pliny lib. 16. cap. 40. Yea so ancient that though it was made by Canetias a certain Artificer as Records relate yet for the great Antiquity of it those covetous and idolatrous Priests gave out that it did fall down from Jupiter to make it the more venerable amongst the blind Heathens Act. 19.35 And by a craft not much unlike this of those Pagan Craftsmen the Papagan or Popish Priests do now shew some shivers of the Cross whereon our Lord suffered yea some shreds of the tale of the Ass whereupon he rode to Jerusalem To go yet higher sinning and lying are ancient things as ancient almost as the world yet are they not the better but worse for this Antiquity neither doth Christ hereby commend the Devil in calling him a Murtherer from the beginning John 8.44 All ancient things are not the best things 7. But to come closer to the point and to shew that the Romish Religion is so far from any true Antiquity that it is no better than a Novice Novelty and a mere Innovation and therefore the charge of Novelty the Romanists would fasten upon us ought indeed to be retorted upon them they do crastily to call Novellers first and it may be they learn'd this craft from Ahab that sold himself to work wickedly who first called the Lords Prophet Atroubler of Israel but the Prophet retorts it back upon him saying Thou and thy Fathers house be the troublers of Israel 1 Kin. 18.17 or rather the Romanists might learn this craft from Korah and his Conspirators that accused Moses and Aaron for taking too much upon them when indeed it was their own Crime and therefore 't was justly charged by way of retortion upon them by Moses what they had unjustly charged upon him and Aaron Numb 16.3 7. And thus our retorting upon Popery the charge of Novelty wherewith the Papists falsely reflect upon us is warranted by Scripture And here I cannot omit how Scaliger truly and trimly told the Jesuits Nos non sumus Novatores sed vos estis Veteratores we are not young Novellers but sure I am you are old Cheaters The truth of this learned mans Testimony will be more evident in handling the Jesuits tricks in Chapter 6. 8. The Novelty of Popery appeareth in the sequel more particularly although we be able as hath been said to look far beyond Luther yet sure I am the Romanists in their present faith cannot look beyond Antichrist I mean the Western Antichrist the Pope Assuredly Popery rose not until the Star Wormwood fell which was not till the third Angel sounded Revel 8.10 which must be after that great flood of Arrianism that seemed to drown the World again insomuch that the good Father cryed out totus mundus fit Arrianus Now this great Star blazing Comet or burning Meteor must needs be that grand Apostate of Rome whom Phocas the Parricide set up in his Chair of Pestilence and this great Star is called Wormwood not only because he was in the Gall of Bitterness himself but also because he imbittered others and proved exceeding bitter to others He was the Son of Perdition so called both Actively and Passively in working the destruction of others and being for destruction himself at last After Gregory the Great in the sixth Century who was the worst of all the Popes that went before him and the best of all them that came after him Boniface the Third was his immediate Successor in whom there was a great fall from Primitive Integrity into the deepest Gulph of Impiety and then arose the smoak of the Bottomless Pit Revel 9.1 2. to wit Heretical Opinions insomuch that all the old Hereticks were said to flee and hide themselves in the Popish Clergy Then did the smoak of School-Divinity-Notions darken the Sun or light of the Gospel and this
cultum non tantùm ad Creaturas et Idola transferimus verùm illum nostris inventis ac mendaciis vitiamus which in plain English is not only to worship a false God but also to worship the true God by false means is Idolatry 86. There is Idolatry of the First Commandment and Idolatry of the second when men esteem and adore any thing for God which is not the true God this is Idolatry against the First Commandment But when the True God is indeed worshipped but he is worshipped in Images in Saints and Angels and all false Mediums and not by means of Gods own prescribing this is Idolatry against the second and there is great Affinity between them 87. 'T is said 2 Chron. 33.17 The People sacrificed in the high places yet to the Lord their God Their Sacrificing formerly was Idolatry against the first Command but now 't was Idolatry against the second as failing and falling short of the true manner in worshipping the true God There is such a resemblance 'twixt them that they are one in Genere 88. Their Sacrificing now in the high places yet to the Lord was in general of the same kind with their sacrificing formerly in those high places to Baal The scope of the second Command is to condemn all Will-worship as Idolatry which is not warranted by the word of God 'T is said Deut. 12.4 Thou shalt not do so to the Lord thy God 'T is not said thou shalt not do so to those Idols but not so in that manner to the true God as they did to their Idols v. 30 31. 89. Polanus in his Syntagni Theolig lib. 9. cap. 3. makes two sorts of Idolatry The 1. he calls tectior et subtilior when the true God is indeed worshiped but with another manner of worship than he hath commanded himself to be worshipped in his word as those that worship God by Statues and Images are idolatrous although they deny Centies millies says he that they worship any thing beside the true God 90. The second sort of Idolatry which he calls Crassior et Apertior is when any thing is religiously worshipped for the true God which is not God This was the Idolatry of the Gentiles worshipping Devils Men and other Creatures with religious worship and this is saith he the Idolatry of the Papists in their religious worshipping of not only Saints and Angels yea the very Images or Statues of them but also of the Cross Reliques yea of those that were Nequaquam Sancti aut nunquam in rerum Naturâ 91. If this be so that this grosser sort of Idolatry be found in the Romish Church how much more that which is subtiler and of a finer spun thread pretending they worship God in their Images as the worshipping of Jehovah by or in the golden Calf which Aaron made in the Wilderness was plain Idolatry In like manner as the worshipping of God by the two Golden Calves that Jeroboam set up at Dan and Bethel was flat Idolatry 92. Although we find Aaron pretended that by or in that Calf they worshipped Jehovah that brought them out of the Land of Aegypt Exod. 32.4 5. compared with Nehem. 9.18 which says This is thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt they or at least some of them intended to worship the true God in this false manner Hence the Feast is not proclaim'd to the Golden Calf but to Jehovah 93. Suppose there be truth in Dr. Hammond's Notion that the Golden Calf in the Wilderness was made in the Figure of a Cherub after appointed to be in the Tabernacle Exod. 25.18 and of which he says Aaron might then have some intimation compare Ezek. 1.10 with 10.14 yet could not Israel be so notoriously stupid as to believe that either the Golden Cherub or Calf wrought all those wonders in Aegypt and brought them thence 94. And Jeroboam made the same pretence in his Calves the same Phrase being used 1 Kin. 12.28 Behold thy Gods O Israel which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt meaning a representation of the true God of Israel as if he drew them not to worship any other God than the God of their Fathers which brought them as his Redeemed People out of the Aegyptian Bondage for by this Title God describes himself Exod. 20.2 Ezek. 20.5 6. Lev. 19.36 Amos 2.10 95. And as Israel learnt this abomination among the Aegyptians among whom they had so long lived and where the Idol Apis was worshiped in the shape of an Oxe and Thus 't is said of Israel they changed their glory to wit their God that redeemed them out of Aegypt into the similitude of an Ox that eateth Grass Psal 106.19 20. So Jeroboam brought his Calf-making from Aegypt too where he had lately lived 1 Kin. 11.40 96. Although those worshippers of the Calves both in Aaron and Jeroboam's time probably pretended that they did not worship the Calf but God in the Calf as did also Jehu 2 Kin. 10.16 29. In having zeal for the Lord yet adhering to Jeroboam's Calves their worship being not as some excuse it by any means terminative in the Creature before their eyes yet are they expresly called Idolaters 1 Cor. 10.7 97. And though the Idolatry of Israel in the Wilderness was indeed of a deeper dye than the Idolatry of Jeroboam because it was against greater means and mercies the Ten Tribes under Jeroboam had not upon their hearts such a fresh tast of Deliverance from Aegypt they had not the pillar of Glory nor the Tabernacle of Gods Presence they had not a Moses that was faithful in all the house of God only Priests of the basest of the People 1 Kin 13 33. yet the Idolatry of Rome is worse thâ—â— that in the Wilderness 98. The Israelites in the Wilderness gave the Glory of Christ who dwelt in a Cloud and Pillar unto a Calf or Cherub but these Idolaters of the Church of Rome give the Glory of Christ when he is dwelling in our Flesh and glorified in Heaven to a Creature which they worship as God indeed giving it to their Crucifixes Agnus Dei c. so there is a greater abomination In this Idolatry than in the Idolatry of former times 99. The Lord makes a comparison betwixt Aholah and Aholibah Ezek. 2â— 4 5 11. (c) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Tent. Aholah had indeed played the Harlot v. 5 〈◊〉 (d) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My Tent in her Hebr. Aholibah was more corrupted than she 〈◊〉 So if we compare Aholah the Jewish Churcâ— with Aholibah the Romish Church that says God 's Tent is in me as the word signifies in the Hebrew we shall find her the greater Harlot of the two 100. Thus we see the plea of the Romish Church for her worshipping God in Images from the Israelites worshipping God in the Calves falls to the ground and to worship God in at or before an Image is Idolatry 't is a worshipping of the true God
King of Kings and Lord of Lords although they be never so poor and despicable to men God accepts of Religion in Rags as well as in Robes (c) God is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act 10.24 he is no respecter of Persons Act. 10.34 4. As Religion brings worth to persons so it becomes safety to Nations As it is the beauty so it proves the bulwark of Countreys and Kingdoms their muniment as well as Ornament 'T is the sacred Anchor by which the great Ship of the Common-Wealth is held fast that she may not split either upon the Rocks of Atheism or Quicksands of Superstition both which are of great provocation to the Lord and on which many Nations have been dash'd in pieces 5. What the Ark was to Israel that Religion is to all Lands while the Ark abode in Shilon Israel had no Ichabod but the Kingdom flourisned in Victories Josh 18.1 But afterwards as the Atheism of the Canaanites had caused the Lord to root them out of that unclean Land Ezra 9.11 12. because they were shameless sinners before him So the Superstition of the Israelites in their high places c Psal 78.58 made God to forsake not only Shiloh v. 60. but also the holy Land which they had polluted Ezek. 8.6 Isa 1.12 21. 6. This Shiloh was in Ephraim the Tribe of Joshua where he had placed the Ark by his own Palace that the former might give Lustre and safety to the Latter The stability of the Ark conferred stability upon his house and upon the whole house of Israel and 't is observable that Tribe perished fist that lost the Ark and Tabernacle first Ps 78.62 2 King 17.6 9 c. Samaria in Ephraim falls before Judah 7. Religion may truly be called the Chariots and Horsemen of Kingdoms and an Establishment of the true Religion is the best way to an establishment of a true Peace Yea desolate Countries may say of Religion as Mary said of our Redeemer in another case Oh! Religion if thou hadst been here in the truth and power of it our Nation had not dyed for this is that blessed Cement (d) Religio a Religando to bind that binds God and a people together in lasting love 8. In Poetical Story what the Palladium was to Troy that Religion is to a place and people The Heathen Oracle told the Trojans that so long as they could secure this Image of Pallas their City should not be destroyed which when crafty slysses heard of he used his wiles to slay the keepers of it and so stole it away and soon after destroyed the City How are the crafty Vlysses's of this Age using their wiles to slay the Keepers of our Religion to steal away our Palladium for our ruine 9. In sacred Story what Sampson's hair was to him that is Religion to a Nation the strength of a Nation lies in it as the strength of Sampson lay in his hair and as soon as his Locks were cut his strength was gone So if the Locks of Religion be once cut off our strength is abated 10. How doth the Delilahs of the Romish Philistims sing their Syrenian Songs to lull the Sampsons of our reformed Religion asleep that they may cut off our Locks wherein our strength lyes and that their uncircumcised ones may be upon us We have a sufficient Testimony hereof in that late Proclamation which was issu'd out in November 1666. for suppressing the insolencies of Papists and for banishing their Priests and Jesuits out of the Nation so long before the discovery of this Plot now prosecuted in this year 1679. 11. The reformed Religion like the Lord of it is placed between two Thieves to wit Atheism and Superstition 1. Atheism on the left hand would lay wast Religion and trample upon it as a worthless thing devised of men only in terrorem This left hand Thief steals away the holy Scriptures and Instead thereof sets up Lucian for the Old Testament and Machiavel for the New This is the Fool (e) Psal 14.1 The Saples Fellow 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that says there is no God 12. There is much of Satan in this left hand Thief for the Devil is the grand (f) Rom. 1.30 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or God-hater and would if possible destroy as well as deny the being of God Deicidii Reus est Diabolus And yet though he do all he can to make men either speculative or practical Atheists he cannot make himself one for the Scripture saith he believes and trembles Jam. 2.19 13. We do not find that ever God wrought a miracle to convince Atheism because his ordinary works do convince it The book of Nature confutes it as well as that of Scripture the glorious Fabrick of the World must have a Maker for it could not make it self and that Nature which is in man contradicts it for man naturally in all extremities runs to God Aristotle when the terrors of death that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as he called it was up on him cryed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Causa Causarum miserere mei 14. Yea Epicurus himself conceived an infinite space for his Atomes and could he imagine a greater ease to the Mind in conceiving an Idea of that than of an Infinite Being And Tully says of this Epicurus that though he did Re tollere Deos yet he did Nomine ponere imagining God Corporeal Nec quenquam vidi qui magìs ea quae timenda esse negaret timeret mottem dico et Deos. Epicurus was afraid of God and Death though he denyed them Tully de Nat. deor (g) Tully de Naturâ Deorum lib. 1. cab 86. 15. Thus we see this great Patron of Atheism though he prostituted his Conscience to a denyal of God and Religion yet he could not silence it even in Tully's opinion And we may appeal to the Consciences of the worst Atheists if at some time they believe not a Deity 16. The Consciences of the worst Atheists will tell us upon appeal to them that at some time of pangs or affrightments they have believ'd that there is a God (h) Diagoras's words was rather votum than judicium be wished there were no God to punish his Sin though now either through incogitancy or reluctancy they have smothered those Igniculos or Scintillas which be easily put out as to any open manifestation strong corruption may pat out the light of Nature 17. It were well if this Atheism were not so promoted by our divisions about Religion (i) Lactan. Instit lib. 3. cap. 4. Lactantius speaks of Arcesilas that pondering the many contradictions and oppositions among Philosophers he became a despiser of them Thus carnal men that are Atheistically minded viewing the many differences and digladiations amongst Professors in the matters of Religion which is a stumbling block God judicially lays in their way Ezek 3.20 they come to this resolve to be of no Religion at all 18. Thus have we seen the first Thief that
art not mistaken this Image is also Christ for Christ is more jealous of his honour than so and will not give it to any Creature (n) Isa 48.11 128. It is therefore the safest to come out from this Idolatrous Babylon seeing the great God calls us even the Lord Almighty 2 Cor. 6.17 18. and Rev. 18.4 lest beside the infection of Sin we partake also of the infliction of Punishment for they that sin together are most like to suffer together Esto procul Româ qui cupis esse pius Indeed such as go only to see Rome though they be not really for Rome are constrained by force to uncover the head and bow the Knee at Mass c. which is not only too much connivence but even Adoration it self therefore be not there lest God be angry and ye partake of her Plagues 129. Separation from Rome is a commanded duty not only in heart but in body too for fundamental Errors are found in her yea this gross Idolatry for which she is to be destroyed Revel 14.8 Because she hath made all Nations drink of the Wine of her Fornication Idolatry is called Wine because 't is sweet to corrupt Nature and soon intoxicating and 't is spiritual Fornication as it is a going a whoring from God not liberal for Rome is a City or Church with whom the Kings cannot commit liberal Fornication 130. Whoever drinks of the Wine of her Fornication shall be sure to drink of the Wine of Gods Indignation Revel 18.8 10. Therefore Little Children keep your selves from these Idols and from this Idolatry lest the Lord render you Wine for Wine 1 John ◠21 The Apostle adviseth to avoid all Image-worship and not only palpable Idolatry but all dealing with Idols We should keep our selves at least negatively from them as those seven thousand in Israel that would not how the Knee to Baal if not positively by a publick profession of our utter detestation of them as Daniel and his three Companions did 131. Idolatry hath many cursed (o) The Qualities of Idolatry Qualities in it for which it ought to be abhorred As (p) 1. 'T is a bewitching Sin 1. 'T is a bewitching Sin so 't is compared to an intoxicating Cup For as Whores give enchanted Cups to their Lovers to make them commit Fornication with them so hath the Whore of Babylon bewitched the Nations with her spiced Cup of damnable Idolatry And how did the Idolatry of Micab's house bewitch the whole Tribe of Dan Judg. 18.36 132. It is (q) 2. A Covenant-breaking Sin 2. a Covenant-breaking Sin It breaks that holy Marriage-Covenant betwixt Christ and his Church he being a Jealous God will not suffer his Spouse to go a whoring after other Gods but would have her a chast Virgin presented to him and preserved for him Abide for me and I will abide for thee Hos 3.3 like the Turtle-Dove offered in Sacrifice She must have but one Mate Thus Idolaters be called Adulterers Jam. 4.4 and seeing Idolatry is a breaking the Covenant of God how stupidly blind was Micah that said the Lord would do him good for it Judg. 17.13 Their sorrows are multiplied that hasten after other Gods Psal 116.4 133. And (r) 3. a detestable Sin 3. 'T is an abominable Sin detestable in the Eyes of God he calls it the abominable thing which he hates Jerem. 44.4 and when the Scripture speaks of Idolls it calls them Abominations as the Abomination of the Moabites and of the Ammonites and Jupiter Olympius or the spread-Eagle set up in the Temple was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Abomination of Desolation Math. 24.15 I have seen an horrible thing says God Hose 6.10 A thing to be started from and trembled at 134. God hateth Sin worse than the Devil for he hates the Devil for Sin 's sake not Sin for the Devils sake but of all kinds of Sin the Sin of Idolatry is most odious to God because in it the Devil sets up himself in the place of God and requires Men as once he did Christ himself to fall down and worship him Deut. 32.17 1. Cor. 10.20 Rev. 9.20 Yea 't is peccatum laesae majestatis not only a common Transgression or petty Treason but t is high Treason against the King of Kings as Rebells disclaiming their King and set up an Usurper in his stead commit the highest Treason So do Idolaters in disclaiming God and setting up an Idol in his place 135. Yea 4. Besides many other cursed Qualities It is (ſ) T is a Land-destroying Sin a Land destroying Sin it brought desolation upon Israel and made their Land to spew them out The Jews say at this Day that in all their Punishments which they still undergo there is an Ounce of the golden Cals which they made in the Wilderness given them This Iniquity shall be Romes rain she hath fallen culpably by Idolatry and she shall fall penally by an utter Desolation In one Hour is she made Desolate for her Idolatry Revel 18.3.19 136. The Lord setteth his Attribute of Jealousie before the Church in the second Commandment to warn her that she abstain from all Idolatry both absolute and relative mediate or ultimate because a Jealous God will Construe it all to be no less then spiritual Adultery and Jealousie is a strong Passion the most sublime Indignation is in it a displeasure that is hotter than Nebuchadnezzar's fiery Furnace Dan. 3.19 Jealousie is cruel as the Grave Cant. 8.6 The Grave spareth no Man and there is no Redemption from it So nothing will satisfie a Jealous Husband a Jealous God but destruction 137 As it is a dangerous thing to meet a Bear that is robbed of her Whelps Prov. 17.12 Or the Revenger of Blood while his Heart is hot with Fury Deut. 19.6 So it is to meet a jealous Man in his Rage Jealousie is the Rage of a Man therefore he will not spare in the Day of Vengeance he will not regard any Ransom neither will he rest content though thou givest many Gifts Prov. 6.34.35 Saith Solomon 138. Thus we have the (t) 5. Quality A God-enraging Sin 5. quality of Idolatry 't is a God enraging Sin as 't is one of the highest Transgressions God is angry for the breach of any Commandment but he rages with Jealousie at the breach of the Second Commandment when his Worship is corrupted and his Glory is given to the Creatures Lovers of Idols are haters of God I am 4.4 Exod. 20.5 and God will plague such to the third and fourth Generation Wherefore little Children keep your selves from Idols CHAP. III. The Third Property 'T is unsafe to Live and Dye in Or A Damuable Religion 139. THe Third Property is The Romish Religion is an unsafe Religion to live and dye in We should fear and tremble to live in any Religion that we are afraid to dye in for death may suddenly surprise us Luke 12.20 It hath been indeed accounted an harsh Doctrine to
Coasts How just it is with God to fill them with the evil of their own ways and to say to them as they to God depart ye cursed 207. These desire not the knowledge of Gods ways (u) Rom. 1.28 they like not to retain God in their knowledge because their minds are reprobate and injudicious they love darkness rather than light and Cain like they get as far from God as they can How Righteous is Gods Retaliation upon all such Reprobates in saying to them Ye have rejected my Company I will also reject yours and as you will not know my ways I will not know your persons at the last day Luke 13.27 208. This is the Character of those Roomanists that live in those Countreys of the reformèd Religion where many famous Churches are founded worshiping God after that manner which the Romish Church calls Heresie as Act. 24.14 yet teaching no other Doctrine than what Moses the Prophets and Apostles have spoken before them and without controversie all people lye under an obligation to resort thither for true knowledge where the Mountain of the Lord is exalted on the top of the Mountains God teaches his ways there Isa 2.3 209. We have a famous example of those in the Ten Tribes whose hearts the Lord had touched with the finger of his Spirit in that universal depravation of Religion under Jeroboam 2 Chron. 11.14 16. The Levites left their Suburbs and their Possessions that belonged to them a great act of self denyal and came to Judah and Jerusalem to do the service of the Lord in the Temple there And after their example many people out of all the Tribes of Israel that abhorred Jeroboam's Idolatry came thither also for the true worship of God 210. Oh! that the Lord who perswaded Japhet to dwell in the Tents of Shem may perswade all such Romanists to forsake the Tents of the Romish Church lest they perish with her Come out of her my People to wit all such as set their hearts to seek God as those Religiously disposed Jews did lest ye perish in the way and partake of her Plagues Revel 18.4 as those in the Tents of Korah's Conspiracy 211. Moreover in those Reformed Churches God hath raised up many famous Witnesses who have discoursed the controversies betwixt us and them at large the sound of whose writings hath gone even to Rome it self yea and their own Champions have set down our Arguments against them in their writings of answers to them for which some of them have met with interdictions for reprinting lest knowledge of the truth should come to light thereby as Bellarmine and Gregory de Valentia c. so zealous are they to keep people in ignorance by those helps might understand their own Errors 212. Besides in those reformed Countreys many blessed Martyrs and Confessors have made publick Confessions of their Faith even in the Presence and Audience of their persecuting Papists such as loved not their lives for the sake of the truth by whom much light was communicated for those Martyrdoms and Massacres were not done in a Corner but were famous even in the Popes Palace as Phil. 1.13 and in all places which administred occasion to all persons for enquiring after the cause of such sufferings 213. Now seeing those Romanists living in those Countries have so many advantages for knowing the truth and yet shut their eyes against all in a pertinacious and incorrigible hardness of heart their Ignorance is affected and pravae dispositionis there is a price put into their hinds and like Fools they have no heart to it Satan hath filled their hearts to believe Lyes they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 self-condemned Tit. 3.10 214. Sed quid opus est multis We have many Scripture Characters and Evidences that the Popish Religion is damnable all which will make it appear that it is but blind Charity and not only foolish pity but also plain cruelty to promise Life and Salvation to such Papists as be impenitent and repent not of their doctrines and doings and 't is but a mealy-mouth'd soothing them up in their sinful state and sowing pillows under their Elbows in those that fear to say to them that living and dying Papists they cannot be saved 215. (w) The 1. Scripture Evidence of the Damnableness of the Romish Religion The 1. Scripture Evidence is they are decypher'd in graphical terms to be such whose Names are not written in the Lambs book of life Rev. 13.8 Those whose Names are not recorded in the book of life those whom God hath not predestinated to be saved from all eternity by the death of Christ those and those only should be worshipers of the Beast Those that dwell upon the Earth or stand upon earthly Principles and carnal Doctrines such as that flesh-pleasing Religion consists of wonder after the Beast 216. This Inhabitants of the Earth is contradistinct to Saints whose Conversations is in heaven Phil. 3.20 Now if none of the Beasts worshipers have their Names written in heaven it concludes strongly that there is no Salvation for Papists living and dying in their Popish State and Religion they are not Elect but Reprobate ones a people devoted to destruction see also Revel 17.8 217. (x) The 2. Scripture Evidence The 2. Script evidence is Revel 14.9.10 If any man worship the beast c. The same shall Drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his Indignation and he shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone c. This plainly demonstrates that all the obstinate worship pers of the Beast which in my treatise of Antichrist I have proved to be the Pope shall drink of the wine of gods Indignation because they have drank of the wine of the popes fornications 218. They that love the wine of Idolatry must at length pledg in the wine of Gods Anger and severest Judgment and this Cup of Vengeance which is prepar'd for them shall not be allayed with the water of mercy at all Jam. 2.13 no mixture of mercy in their misery as in the afflictions wherewith God exercises his own people in this world wherein god in wrath remembers mercy Hab. 3.1 and Stirs not up all his wrath Psal 78.38 whereas the Saints sip onely of the top of the Cup those Sinners drunk up the dreggs of the fiercness of his Anger Isa 51.22.23 219. Those worshippers of the beast shall be tormented with fire and Brimstone in Hell-fire where they shall have no intermission of their tortures v. 11. they shall have misery without mercy and torment without end in the presence of the Angels who shall not only be Spectators but executioners also and in presence of the Lamb for all their Agnus Dei c. 220. The 3. Scrip. Evidence is 2. Thessal 2.10 (y) The 3. Scripture Evidence Those that the man of Sin the grand Antichrist seduces with his lying wonders or Counterfeit miracles are such as