the windings of his tail are against Jesus Christ so they are against us He tempts us as I said before somtimes to question our son-ship and somtimes to destroy our selves and someimes to fall down and worship him by his setâ—ing before us the glory of the world as he did before Christ The eleventh thing to be enquired into is What the third part of the stars of Heaven are which by the tail of the great red Dragon are drawn out of heaven and cast into the earth The third part of the stars of heaven are those that are unstable infirm unsetled not built upon the sâ—re foundation that in appearance have shined like stars in heaven they are not to be understood the material stars but it is a Metaphorical kind of expression borrowed from the stars they shined as the stars As there hath bin some in our days that have shined so in shew but are now cast down out of heaven into the earth so that now their lights are put out they themselves are become earthly worldly carnal and the like The twelfth thing to be be enquired into is What the earth is into which the great red Dragon casteth the third part of the stars of heaven The earth somtimes is put for the men of the earth As O earth hear the word of the Lord sometimes it is put for the material earth as Gen. 1. 20. but here it is to be taken for that which the first man is off the first man is of the earth earthly so that it is taken for that earthly mindedness worldliness wickedness wretchedness and filthiness which was in Adam after his fall The thirteenth thing to be enquired into is What the meaning of the great red Dragons standing before the woman which was ready to be delivered is standing is a posture of readiness to devour so that it holds forth this the readiness that the Dragon is in to devour the man-child and that term before her that is before the womans face facing of the woman the womans readiness to be delivered signifies her being nigh at hand to bring forth Now what a sad thing it would be for a woman to have one that seeks her life and the life of her child stand facing of her when she is ready to bring forth it will endanger both the woman and child so it is here O what a sad thing it is to the Church of Christ to have the great red Dragon stand facing of her when she is ready to be delivered of Jesus Christ it is the only way to make the Church of Christ miscarry Thus you see that the meaning of the Dragons standing before the woman holds forth That there is a readiness in the Dragon to devour the Babe either by facing of the woman and so making of her miscarry by reason of fear or by devouting of the Babe when he is born The fourteenth thing to be enquired into is what the meaning of that saying is for to devour her child as soon as it was born To devour is to eat up quite to make an end of as soon as it was born that is so soon as it was brought forth So soon as ever the Saints of God are in a readiness to bring forth Christ in them the great red Dragon stands before their face for to devour him he cannot endure Christ should be in them or brought forth in them but seeks to destroy him 〈◊〉 just as Herod and the Scribes and Pharisees after Christ was born did seek to devour Christ without us so the Dragon seeks to devour him within us and for this purpose she stands before us and faceth us that he might be the more ready to catch and lay hold of Christ and quash the appearing of him in us You know what a sad thing it would be for a woman to have her child as soon as it was brought forth snatcht from her and devoured and eaten up before her face O how it would trouble her So for a soul to have Jesus Christ so soon as he is brought forth in it snatcht from it and devoured and eaten up before its face O what a sad case that soul will be in O how it will cry out for is Jesus is Jesus as the woman would for her child O my child my child The terms in the words being thus explained the first Thesis or Basis upon which I shall build my discourse is this That there is such a thing as the great red Dragon in heaven It is cleer from the words and it is cleer from other Scriptures as that Scripture in Luke 10. 18. saith Christ to his Disciples I beheld Satan fall as lightning from heaven he was in heaven and Christ saw him fall from his seat Question But you will ask me What Is Satan in heaven To that I answer as followeth First Satan in heaven is Satan in a Priestly shape Secondly Satan in heaven is Satan in a Prophetical shape Thirdly Satan in heaven is Satan in a Kingly shape First of all Satan in heaven is Satan in a Priestly shape appearing as the Priest Christ Jesus acting his Priesthood doing the very office and work of Christ as offering sacrifice to God putting up petitions to him praying and the like Secondly Satan in heaven is Satan in a Prophetical shape as the Prophet Christ acting him as a Prophet prophesie as he did that is to say speak to edification exhortation reproof and of things to come O how Satan hath bin in heaven in some in this respect in our days In what a Prophetical shape he hath appeared who have prophesied out of their own hearts who have followed their own spirits and have seen nothing but vanity and lying Divination saying The Lord saith and the Lord hath not sent them and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word and they have with their lyes made the heart of the righteous sad when God hath not made sad Ezek. 13. All which we cannot but see fulfilled in our days Thirdly Satan in heaven is Satan in a Kingly shape acting the Kingly Office of Christ reigning ruling and commanding within the heart and without as Christ But to make things more plain the Dragon in heaven is the Dragon on high Secondly The Dragon in glory Thirdly The Dragon at rest For heaven presents us with all these three things Height Glory and Rest First of all The Dragon in heaven is the Dragon on High that is to say in the Chair Seat and Temple of God shewing himself that he is God and saying that he is God 2 Thes. 2. 4. He it is that exalts himself as the Eagle that sets his nest among the stars Obad. 1. 4. He is that Lucifier that ascends into heaven and that exalts his Throne above the stars that sits upon the mount of the Congregation in the sides of the North Isa. 14. 13. He is that Capernaum which is exalted unto heaven and which shall be
A WONDER and yet no WONDER A GREAT Red Dragon in Heaven REVEL. 12. 3. And there appeared another Wonder in Heaven And behold a great red Drogon c. 2 COR. 11. 14. And no marvel for Sathan himself is transformed into an Angel of light LONDON Printed by J. Macock for Giles Calvert at the black spread Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1651. To my deerly beloved friends which are in Christ Jesus Grace Mercy Peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ THat which at this time moved me to present you with this ensuing Discourse is that heavenly and glorious shape and form wherewith the great Red Dragon is now come forth in the Spirits of Professors never was the Dragon in more glorious habit then now O how he is arrayed how his mouth is ful fraught with pretended immediate and perfect enjoyments of God in the Spirit under colour of which he seeks to deceive and by his taile to draw those down out of heaven into the earth that have shined as stars in heaven he is great and he is red that is to say he is mighty and he is bloody His mightiness and bloodyness lye hid under his glorious appearances He is called in Scripture that old Serpent whose tail is full of windings and turnings who was of old in the begining Gen. 3. He is called likewise the Devil and Sathan a Deceiver and an Adversary he is all these names under beautiful Discoveries and appearances of God he is wrapped up and covered in and under Doctrines Speakings Writings of men and Discoveries of God he ushereth in Errors with glorious truths In his appearing to Professors he looks first how their Natures are inclined he casteth an eye first at the bent of their Spirits That way which they are inclined he wil sute himself in apparell if they be inclined towards Notions Fictions Forms or pretended high injoyments of God without power he sutes himself accordingly he makes use of Scripture likewise to strengthen him in his Designs These and many others are his subtilties now adayes this Dragon is described to be a wonder in heaven Revel. 12. because of his seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns upon his heads a wonder indeed you wil say it is when you come to be taken up with John into the Spirit The Dragon wants no wisdome to tempt deceive and devour for he hath seven heads no power to bring about his designs for he hath ten horns and he wants no glory wherewith to promise to professors if they will fall down and worship him because he hath seven Crowns Beloved Friends therefore I have written this ensuing Discourse likewise to shew you the multiplicity of subtilty power and glory that is in him to deceive and which I have seen to be in him Do not therefore O do not slight what I have written though confused and scattered it is the day of smal things which God would not have you despise consider well what I have written before you begin to censure it and if you finde any truth in what I write mind that more then he that writ it If you inquire whose this Discourse is it is the discourse of a bruised Reed and of smoaking flax of a suckling of a babe in Christ out of whose mouth God will perfect his praise Yours in him who is the truth and no lye Edw. Hide Junior REVEL. 12. 3 4. And there appeared another wonder in heaven and behold a great Red Dragon having seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns upon his heads And his taile drew the third part of the stars of heaven and did cast them to the earth And the Dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered for to devour her child assoon as it was born IN the beginning of this Chapter There is a great wonder spoken of which appeared to John and which he saw a door being opened in heaven to him The wonder is as followeth A woman clothed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet and upon her head a Crown of twelve stars This woman is the Church of Christ his Spouse the Lambs bride as appears by many places of Scripture as Ephes. 5. 32. Revel 31. 9. The Sun wherewith she is cloathed is that light and glory which shines forth in the Gospel which is Christ the Son of Righteousness for so he is called in Malac. 4. 2. but unto you that fear my Name shall the Sun of Righteousness appear with healing in his wings The Moon is a light below the Sun and borroweth its light from the Sun and is nothing but that light and glory which shined and doth now shine forth in the Law The terme under her feet is nothing else but beneath her the Crown of twelve stars which is upon her head holds forth that Royall and Kingly glory wherewith the Church of Christ is cloathed so that the meaning of the wonder is this It holds forth that multiplicity of glory which the Church of Christ is in and under for there is a glory of the Sun a glory of the Moon and a glory of the stars a crown of twelve stars above her the Sun of righteousness in the midst of her and the Moon under her feet so that there is glory above her glory in the midst of her and glory beneath her insomuch that she is hem'd in with glory or it holds forth that variety of glory under which the Church is for there is one glory of the Sun another of the Moon another of the stars for one star differeth from another in glory 1 Cor. 5. 41. This woman so cloathed with glory being with child and cryed travelling in birth and pain to be delivered there appears presently another wonder in heaven which is that which I intend now to speak to And there appeared another wonder in heaven and behold a great red Dragon having seven heads and ten horns and seven Crowns upon his heads c. The words are one of the Wonders which John saw being taken up by the Spirit into heaven there being a door opened to him It is said in heaven it appeared to him from whence we may draw this conclusion That there is no seeing of a Wonder but in heaven there is no seeing of heaven without being taken up by the Spirit into it unless a door be opened in heaven to us If we have a desire friends to see a Wonder we must desire God to take us up into heaven and there to open the door of heaven to us for so Iohn was taken up into heaven see Revel. 1. 10. and there a door was opened to him see Revel. 4. 1. This Wonder is a Wonder indeed What That a great Red Dragon should be seen in heaven Stand astonished and be amazed ô ye heavens was there ever such a thing heard of If you could but see it you would stand astonished and admire But to come neerer to
the world are but one mans wife in unity and all the men in the world are but one womans husband in unity so that one man may lie with all the women in the world for they are his wife in unity and one woman may lie with all men in the world for they are her husband in unity That there is no act that is sinful before God That the holy Spirit is not God That Jesus Christ hath no other then a humane nature These and many others are the Principles that the great red Dragon with his Tail windes into Professors thereby to cast them out of Heaven into Earth And therefore Friends take heed of him he is very subtle his Tail is full of windings and turnings if it were possible he would deceive the very Elect If you be Professors in shew and not in deed he will drag you down from Heaven into Earth that is he will drag you down from your glorious profession into Earth that is into such an estate of earthly-mindedness and wickedness that all that see you and behold you shall say of you as it shall be said of Babylon when she is destroyed Alas alas that great City that was clothed with fine linnen and purple and scarlet and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls for in one hour so great riches is come to nought Revel. 18. 16 17. So shall they say of you O glorious Professors that have been as stars shining in Heaven clothed with fine linnen purple and scarlet and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls which are nothing but the parts and gifts and righteousness of men Alas alas those glorious Professors for in one hour as it were are they come to nought So that you see how the Dragon draws Professors out of Heaven into Earth by winding with his Tail false and unsound principles into them Quest But may some say You hold a falling away from grace do you not Answ. No but I hold a falling away which is now fulfilled before the day of Christ come spoken of in 2 Thes. 2. 3. And besides I hold a falling away from the end of the Commandment which is Charity out of a pure heart and a good Conscience and of faith unfeigned from which some having swerved have turned aside to vain jangling which was Hymeneus and Alexander 1 Tim. 1. 5 6 20. And also a falling away from the heavenly gifts of those that are inlightened and are made partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good Word of God and of the powers of the world to come Hebr. 6. 4 5. If Professors have reached no further then Charity though it be out of a pure heart and of a good Conscience and of Faith unfeigned and no further then a being enlightened and a tasting of the heavenly gifts and a being made partakers of the Holy Ghost and a tasting of the good Word of God and of the powers of the World to come they are liable to be by the Tail of this great red Dragon drawn out of Heaven that is drawn from these into Earth so that they will become earthly filthy vain and the like The third Basis or Thesis upon which I shall build my Discourse is this That there is multiplicity of subtilty strength and glory in the great red Dragon to deceive accuse set upon tempt and destroy This is clear from the words and it will appear to be so from other places of Scripture see Gen. 3. 1. Now the Serpent was more subtle then any beast of the field which the Lord God had made That sheweth that there is a multiplicity of subtilty in him We wrestle not only with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers Ephes. ult. Chap. That place of Scripture sheweth that there is a multiplicity of power in him If thou wilt fall down and worship me saith the Serpent to Christ I will give you all the glory of the world That speaks a multiplicity of glory in the Dragon We shall a little hold forth his subtilty power and glory First we shall speak of his subtilty see Job 1. 6. When the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord Satan he came among them See his subtilty in it under pretence in coming to pray with the sons of God he came to accuse and set upon Job as you shall see by and by And the Lord said unto him From whence comest thou Then Satan answered the Lord From going to and fro in the Earth and from walking up and down in it See his subtilty here in leaving out like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour And the Lord said unto Satan Hast thou considered or hast thou set thy heart on my servant Job that there is none like him in the Earth a perfect and upright man one that feareth God and escheweth evil Then answered Satan the Lord and said Doth Job fear God for nought Hast thou not made a bedg about him and about his house and about all that he hath on every side Behold his subtilty again in accusing Job As if Satan should have said Thou hast made a fence against all that he hath and he serves thee for that it is not for nought that he serves thee thou hast encreased his substance and blessed the work of his hand and he serves thee for that but put forth thy hand now and touch all that he hath and he will fall acursing of thee and that to thy face And the Lord said unto him Behold all that he hath is in thy power only upon himself put not forth thy hand So Satan goes forth from the presence of the Lord After he had Gods Job away he went it was for Job that Satan presented himself before the Lord Now in Cap. 2. they came the second time to present themselves before the Lord and Satan came with them And the Lord said unto him from whence comest thou And Satan gave him the like answer as before And the Lord said unto him Hast thou consider'd my servant Job a perfect upright man that feareth God and escheweth evil and still he holdeth fast his integrity although thou movedst me against him to destroy him without cause The subtilty of the Serpent in presenting himself before the Lord was not only to accuse Job but likewise to move God against Job for to destroy him without cause And Satan answered the Lord Skin for skin yea all that a man hath will he give for his life But put forth thy hand now and touch his bone and flesh and he will curse thee to thy face See how he further accuseth Job before God that so God might destroy him or that he might have him to destroy As if Satan should have said to the Lord thus All that a man hath before he will lose his life he will part with all yea skin for skin but do but touch his bone and flesh and he will fall acursing of thee