helpers of God and the King therefore ye sonnes of men if ye would avoid the curse and inherit the blessing leave Neutrality and shew your selves men for God and the King especially you the inhabitants of the Metropolitan city Meroz Thus I have finished the literall sense The mysticall sense concerneth the King of kings whom we must admit to raign over us to whom we must pay Tribute in releiving his members to give honour to the King of kings Christ Jesus as supreame to yeild obedience to his Commandements to abhorre Neutrality to be zealous and repent of Lukewarmnesse to shake off the yoke of sinne and to receive upon us the yoke of Christ. And thus much of the crimes laid to the charge of these servants Now I come to their doome Bring them and slay them before me The iust reward of a Traitor is death as appeares in the examples of Ioab and Shimei 1 King 2. Thou knowest what Joab the son of Zerviah did to me Some say in revealing his letters about Uriah or rather in threatning to turne the hearts of his people from him saying As the Lord liveth not one shall stay with thee yet for this David on his death-bed chargeth his sonne to bring his hoary head with sorrow to the Grave So likewise Shimei who cursed David with a bitter curse If these were sons of death that threatned and reviled the King how much more such as plot mischief against him and doe steale away like Absolom the hearts of the kings subjects from him Bring them and slay them and the modus patiendi Before me for the greater shame and example to others that all Israel may heare and feare and doe no more so wickedly Let us feare the destruction from God and the king and yeild such subjection as belongs unto them both that we may flie from the wrath of the king here and the wrath of Jesus Christ by whom kings raign hereafter To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory for ever and ever AMEN FINIS THE GREAT ANTICHRIST 2 TIM 3. 1 2 3 4 5. Know this that in the last dayes shall come perillous times c. By J. V. Prisoner Printed in the Yeare of our Lord 1643. THE GREAT ANTICHRIST 2 TIM 3. 1 2 3 4 5. 1. Know this that in the last dayes shall come perillous times 2. For men shall be lovers of their owne selves covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents unthankfull unholy 3. Without naturall affection truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of those that are good 4. Trayterous heady high minded lovers of pleasure more then lovers of God 5. Having a forme of godlinesse but denying the power thereof from such turne away IN the last dayes the Scripture foretells the coming continuance of The Antichrist the great Antichrist the man of sin whose members were many petite Antichrists that is the forerunning hereticks for in them the mystery of iniquity wrought in Saint Pauls time who said Ye know what withholdeth that he should he revaeled in his time that is the Roman Ethnick Empire which when it was removed then came in that Antichrist The Persians succeeded the Chaldeans the Grecians subdued the Persians the Romans followed the Grecians and after the Roman Monarchy ceased in Augustulus the Hesperian Caesar the Starre Absynthites that fell from Heaven about the yeare 666. Constans the Emperour gave the government of the City of Rome to the Pope Then was Antichrist the bestia bicornis the beast with two hornes his Ecclesiasticall and Temporall power whereas before he had onely the Spirituall power to bee Universalis Papa supreame over all so then Antichrist hath continued above a thousand yeares by consent of the foresaid writers Yet Andreas and Arethas upon the Apocalyps with other Fathers seeme to hold that Antichrist shall continue but three yeares and a halfe which is true in a sense for his three last yeares shall be most grievous to the persecuted Saints such tribulation as never was in mockings scourging bonds imprisonments warre bloodshed and he shall not suffer their bodies to be buryed These are the perillous times spoken of in this Text therefore have I made so large a preface to it wherein observe first a precept to get knowledge know this secondly the subject this in generall but in particular it is a prophecy of the perills of the last times thirdly the adjunct in the last dayes fourthly the causes 1. Opinions 2 ly Vices of men here particularized 1. For the first observe in generall Knowledge is a precious thing The preacher was wise and still taught the people Knowledge all men naturally desire to know knowledge of the Ancients is commended in Scripture David cites a Proverbe of the Ancients As saith the Proverb of the Ancient of the first that made it Wickednesse shall go forth from the wicked His sinne goeth forth from him willingly and his punishment goes after it his ruine comes from himselfe S Paul thrice cites the Poets which were Prophets among the Heathen First against Idolatry Acts 17. Wee are his off-spring therefore the Godhead is not like the worke of mans hand that hath neither reason sense or life Secondly against Atheisme denying the immorality of the Soule 1 Cor. 15. Let us eate and drinke for tomorrow wee shall dye be not deceived evill communication corrupts good manners Thirdly against Lying and Epicurisme Titus 1. the Cretians are alwayes lyers evill beasts slow bellyes Three mayne articles are confirmed by humane learning but there are in those dayes ignorant sectaries that oppose all learning pretending inspiration by the Holy Ghost as the Gnostikes of old yet it was the commendation of Timothy that of a child he knew the holy letters But why should I trouble your eares with invectives against r these I leave them to meditate on three Proverbs A wise man contending with a foole whether be rage or laugh he hath no rest A foole is wiser in his owne conceit then seven men that can render a reason Bray a foole in a morter and his foolishnesse will not depart from him 2. I proceed to the subject which is a prophecy of perillous times This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your eares animus meminisse horret My heart trembleth at this and is removed out of his place but you must know it and therfore I must speake it these are the perillous times or difficult all men are in such straits that they know not how to deliver themselves as Israel betweene the red Sea and the Aegyptians secondly hard times wherein men want food to eate and rayment to put on all men cry out O tempora O mores oh hard times and evill conditions of men Wee have heard of Germany and Ireland and would not believe now wee see and feele thirdly cruell times the Son
sonnes of Belial in Ralbages judgement In Psal. 105. it is said Touch not mine anointed that is my magnified exalted servants It is meant of Abraham who was a mighty Prince Gen. 23. and of Isaac who was more mighty then King Abimelech Gen. 26. It cannot be meant of a reall nation which none of the Kings of the house of David had but the first except in case of division Besides Cyrus is called Gods annointed and the King of Tyre is the annointed Cherub by reason of their exaltation and no otherwise But there are that fight against the King by words aswell as deeds so Balal sonne of Zippor sought with Israel by the hiring of Balaam to curse them for otherwise he fought not at all against them as Jepthah saith But let those blasphemous tongues know A bird of the Aire shall tell the matter and that which hath wings shall carry the voyce O ye sonnes of men how long will ye turn the glory of the King into shame Is it fit to say to Kings Ye are wicked or to Princes ye are ungodly Fifthly Neutralists would have no King raign over them first because they that are not with Christ are against him so they that are not with the King are against him they that are neither hot nor cold God will spew out of his mouth Secondly Neutralists are in Scripture termed sons of Belial that is unprofitable servants that desert the cause of their King 1 Sam. 10. There followed Saul the first King though a Tyrant a Band of men of valour unity and wealth whose heart God had smitten and humbled to yeeld obedience but the sonnes of Belial were Neuters and despised him saying How shall this man save us and brought him no present to aid him in the stablishment of his Kingdom What shall we then think of these that are so farre from giving him of their own that they rob the King of his due their conscience is feared with a hot iron harder then the rock which Moses smote and rivers ran in dry places Thirdly All Israel and Judah with a perfect heart helped David to the Kingdome there were no Neutralists 1 Chron. 12. â— There came to David when hee was shut up for feare of Saul twenty three men of valour Commanders Then of Gad eleven men whose faces were as the faces of Lyons and they were swifter then the Roes upon the mountaines the least of them was captain of a hundred and the greatest over a thousand and in 1 Chron. 12. 20. Multitudes came dayly to the King till it was a great host as the host of God 1. Of the Tribe of Judah the Royall Tribe were Nobles and Courtiers 2. Of the Levits Jehoiada was ruler of the Aronits all the Aronits the true seed of Aaron were for the King not the Ieroboamits that is the spurious Priests of the lowest of the people Thirdly Councellours of Warre and of State of the Tribe of Issachar that had understanding in the times to know what Israel ought to doe Fourthly Merchant adventurers of the Tribe of Zebulon Fifthly Lesser Merchants of oyle and wine of the Tribe of Asher Sixthly Artificers and Husband-men of the Tribe of Kuben c. All these came to the King not to betrary him but to help him these suffered in the maintenance of his Royall rights Fourthly what shal I say more to draw all men from neutrality I set before you this day cursing and blessing Judg. 5. Curse yee Meroz saith the Angell of the Lord in cursing curse the inhabitants thereof because they went not to the help of the Lord to the help of the Lord with the mighty first the help of the Lord was the help of Barak and Deborah who was the Iudge or supream Ruler in Israel and as the Hebrews write Barak was husband of Deborah the wife of Lappidoth or Barak for Barak and Lappidoth are the same sense in the Hebrew Meroz is the Metropolis the city Jerusalem for none of Judah who were neare came to help the King in this battell Now the Angell of the Lord that is Barak Gods messenger or the Angell by the mouth of Deborah the prophetesse three times curseth in the originall the inhabitants of Meroz for Neutrality because they came not as voluntiers of themselves without invitation Secondly To help the Lord that is the Lords annointed namely the Judge in those dayes he doth not say the Grand Senate Thirdly With the mighty for the King had in his army mighty men of valour therefore not out of fear but misprision they came not forth Observe here a difference he curseth Meroz but not the other Tribes he wonders at them The chief city he curseth but at the country he admireth Out of Ephraim was the root of them Joshua and the rich men of Ephraim opposed Amalek Politicians of Benjamin were for the Judge Law-givers or Judges came from Machir and from Zebulun they that handle the pen of the scribe that is Merchants or Secretaries or Clarks in offices The King himselfe went before his army on foot But for the divisions of Ruben were great thoughts of heart and great impressions and searchings of heart wise men wondred why Ruben was absent and did not help the Lord. Ruben was simple unstable as water and so his posterity and such as seek popular applause or love the world had rather with Ruben abide among sheepfolds to heare the bleatings of the flocks then the Alarum of warre O Ruben why hast thou divided thy selfe from thy brethren and not assisted the King with the Royall Tribe the Levits the Merchants the Scribes the Rich are thy sheep more deare to thee then Christs flock and the sheep of the great shepheard Why did our brother Gilead abide over Iordan parted by a River easily passable and why did Dan fly away and abide in ships of the sea to save himselfe from civill warre by land Why did Asher abide on the sea shore and fortifie himselfe against the King in his breaches Blessed be Zebulun and Napthali the people that jeoparded their lives for our Barak in the high places of the field when the starres in their courses fought against Sisera and the Angells fought from heaven Blessed above women shall Jael the wise of Heber the Kenite be Blessed are all those who by word or pen or hand have helped the King against the Rebels Nobles that are clothed in white linnen and ride on white asses Iudg. 5. shall celebrate their praises Judges that sit in judgment shall magnifie them for among weapons of warre Lawes are silent All travellers in the high paths shall speak Glory to God on high for in civill warre the high wayes ceased and travellers passed through by paths Villages cease and warre is in the gates Lo the blessing of God and all good men high and low are upon the
dishonours his Father the Father riseth up against his Sonne to put him to death Brother robbs and kills his Brother This Civill Warre in the judgment of the Heathen is the punishment of rapine and fratricidy fourthly inexorable times they are for Warre when wee petition for Peace woe to me that I dwell with them that hate peace and breath out slaughters whose teeth are as speares and arrowes and their tongue a sharpe sword Lord deliver me from those foure generations of the last times Prov. 30. 11. There is a generation that curseth his Father and doth not blesse his Mother do not the Martialists of these times thinke it zeale to kill Father and Mother in this cause There is a generation pure in their owne eyes and not purged from their filthinesse Who are these but the impure Hypocrites in my Text There is a generation How lofty are their eyes and their eye-lids are lifted up are not these the proud Pharisees There is a generation their teeth are as swords that cry out Warre Warre and no Peace that devoure the poore and needy by rapine and imprisonment against reason and common rights I come now to the causes of these evill time which are two First the Opinions Secondly the Vices of men here mentioned not reduced to the head of prophanesse but Hypocrisy The Hypocrites reigne and the people are insnared Iob. 34. Antichrist is the great Hypocrite Heretickes and Sectaries of these times are limbes of Antichrist and make up Babel the Great which is the confusion of all sects First for their opinions it is said in my Text They are lovers of themselves of their owne wills and opinions for the time shall come saith the Apostle 2 Tim. 4. 3. that men will not endure sound doctrine enquire out of these two Epistles and the Epistle to the Romans and wee shall find what sound doctrine is First the doctrine of prayer for Kings 1 Tim. 2. 1. I exhort first of all that prayers be made for Kings but certaine Brownists of these times will not pray for the King but revile him in their prayers Secondly the doctrine against Women Preachers I suffer not a Woman to teach nor to usurpe authority but saith Isay Women rule over you Thirdly the doctrine of obedience to superiours but now Servants run away from their Masters without their consent and rise up against them in the publick cause doe these induce sound doctrine Fourthly the doctrine of justification by faith which Pelagians of old and the Papists now deny Fifthly sanctification Rom. 6. 1. which Gnostikes and Nicolaitans formerly now Familists and Antinomians deny Sixthly the doctrine of predestination without foresight Rom. 9. 1. which Papists and Arminians oppose Seventhly the doctrine of subjection to Kings though they be Heathens and Tyrants which Gnostikes of old and now Anabaptists and Brownists oppose they can live without a King though Saint Paul saith Rom. 13. 1. Let every soule be subject but these men thinke they have no soules because they would have no King in Israel that they may do that which is right in their owne eyes Iudges 21. ult The Christians of Rome paid tribute and custome to Nero and Trajan Tyrants but these rob the King of his due and yet they say pro Rege they say Kings of old were anoynted therefore the people was subject as to Gods ordinance but now it is not so To which I answer with the Jew no King the sonne of a King was anoynted except in case of division about the right as Solomon when Adoniah would be King but the Kingdome came by succession as every mans inheritance descends from his fathers Againe they say The Kings of Jury made no such covenant as our Kings do I answer with the same Jew the contrary appears in the example of Ioash and Iehoiada who made a covenant betweene the King and the people and though Ioash were an Apostate and a Tyrant yet the Traitours and murderers of the King were cut off by his sonne that reigned after him the King and Kings sonne will never forget to punish Traytours as appeares in the example of David on his death bed who forgot not Shimeie's curse Moreover they say a King is a humane creature and therefore may be removed by man I answer He is an ordinance humane that is taken out of Men not from Angells yet by Gods appointment he is Supreame 1 Pet. 2. 13. and all inferiours are appointed by him but the supreame powers as Kings and Emperors are appointed of God Roman 13. 1. The Jewes had a Grand Councell of seventy one Elders Numb 11. Gather to mee seventy men of the Elders and Moses who was King was above them all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Talmud Sanhed Perek 1. The lesser Sanhedrin was of two hundred and thirty sometimes they go not forth to warre nor gather the Councell of the Tribes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but by the Grand Councell of seventy one They judge not the King at all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he goeth not forth of his Palace to mourne for the dead c. in Deut. 17. thou shalt set a King over thee the King then is supreame they ride not on his Horse nor sit on his Throne to rule yet the booke of the Law is with him when he goes to warre or sits in judgment There were three companies of Iudges in Jerusalem at the doore of the mount of the House in the Court and in a paved Chamber where the Grand Councell sate of seventy and the King from whence was no appeale Deut. 17. Talmud Sanhed Perek 11. Lastly the doctrine of indifferent things they cannot indure no Ceremonies but their owne inventions yet the primitive Christians though differing in Ceremonies of meats and dayes lived in mutuall charity Rom. 14. 1. 2. The use of this is already made by the blessed Apostle Rom. 16. 17. I beseech you brethren marke them that cause divisions and scandalls to make many stumble and fall contrary to the sound doctrine yee have received and avoyd them for they serve not the Lord Iesus as they pretend but their owne bellyes what care they if they can eate and drinke and fare deliciously every day if flockes or heards of poore mens be driven away and they undone forever and by faire words they deceive the hearts of the simple not of the wise who see plainly their hypocrisie but like Absolom they steale away the hearts of the Kings well-minded Subjects by lyes But I would have you saith Saint Paul simple in evill and wise in that which is good to hold fast the poynts of sound doctrine forenamed and the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly who is Satan but he that will not endure sound doctrine as is plaine by the coherence who is all for Warre and bloud but the God of peace shall subdue these Satans and bruise
they shall declare unto thee the wonderfull Reformation in this Nation the slavish Invasion by Water the Hellish Gunpowder-treason by Fire and how God hath brought thee through fire and water wherein thou couldest not live into a moyst place wherein thou hast lived so many yeares in plenty but Jesurun hath waxed fat and kicked and for ingratitude is justly with a Civill Warre consumed Sixthly Unholy or unquiet and restlesse are the Hypocrites they are all for Warre and accuse Petitioners for Peace of a Carilinarian conspiracy it is God that creates peace man cannot do it it is as hard a work as the Creation Our Land is without forme and voyd darknesse is on the face of the deepe nothing is but confusion in our Church and State it is the spirit of the Lord that moves on the face of these darke waters saying Let there be light and there was light this light that God creates is peace secondly this peace is a fruit a fruit of the spirit Love Joy and Peace but whence comes warre and fightings from the spirit of malice and envy thirdly it is said a fruit of the lips of the messengers of peace How beautifull on the mountains are the feet of those into whose lipps grace and peace is poured fourthly God creates a double peace Peace peace nationall and personall which cannot be without truth but there are restlesse men whose sinnes torment their conscience and love no peace the Text saith They are the wicked emphatically remarkable wicked men these Hypocrites revile others as wicked when themselves are by the spirit of God styled the most wicked that disturbe the Nationall peace and trouble our Israel by killing and stealing They are like the troubled Sea that cannot rest Raging waves of the Sea foming out their owne shame whose waters rage continually and cast up mire and dirt into the Royall face both by word and writing Woe to these Sectaries of Cain who loved bloud and slew his brother and was called the first Disciple of the Devill Abel was a Shepheard and a man of peace and he slew him because his works were righteous These covetous hypocrites run greedily after the error of Balaam who would have cursed defied Israel for reward they shal perish in the gainsaying of Core who rose up and rebelled against Moses the King and against Aharon who was the Priest of the Lord so these endure neither God the King or any Ministers but of the lowest of the people To conclude with Isay There is no peace saith my God with the wicked these wicked will have no peace for then all is lost which they have spent in warre their restlesse disposition appeares in all the ensuing particulars they are Covenant-breakers False-accusers Traytors heady high minded c. of each word and so an end Seventhly they are Covenant-breakers they have made a covenant with the King and taken the oath of Allegiance but this oath they regard not they have their Pope to dispense with it Achitophel made a Covenant with David but broke his Covenant and therefore is accursed in Psal. 55. 21. He hath prophaned his Covenant Zedechias rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar the King who was a Tyrant also as they say when he had made him sweare by God and hardned his neck so that the wrath of God came upon them and there was no healing 2 Chron. 36. 12. King Solomon chargeth all Subjects to obey the Kings commandement and that in respect of the oath of God Eccles. 8. 2 3. but these urge the Kings oath legibus quas vulgus elegerit but themselvs keep no oath Besides these men make Covenants with the Subjects of the King and the same day like Jesuits break the same their Jesuiticall faction like Antichristians dispenseth with the oathes of Supremacy and Allegiance and their subscription was forced and therefore they revolt Deus bone is there any Religion in these no Heathen story is able to parallell their sophistication In 2 Sam. 23. 1. there was a Famine three yeares for Saul and his bloudy house because he slew the Gibeonites the reason was because of the oath of the Rulers though taken out of errour to avoyd the scandall of the Nations and the seeming not reall prophanation of the name of God but these Hypocrites are Truce-breakers and hold it lawfull so to doe Eighthly they are without naturall affection witnesse their zeale in killing and spoyling of Fathers Sons Brethren Sisters Kindred c. but of this before Ninthly they are false-accusers in Greeke Devills in Syrian Hypocriticall mockers at feasts that like the Devill their father tell lyes for morsells Psal. 35. 15. In my affliction they rejoyced the abjects viler then the earth they rent me with their teeth and ceased not they print preach speake lyes against the Lords anoynted as David was every day Lord deliver him from lying lipps and from a deceitfull tongue Tenthly Incontinent what shall I say of their incontinency both in the concupiscible and irascible no penalty is now inflicted and it is a shame to speake of the things done of them in secret Eleventhly these Hypocrites are fierce Let Jehu speak for them all Come see my zeale saith he to Jonadab he killed the King and Queene and seventy sonnes of the royall Progeny all his kindred and Priests and destroyed Baal out of Israel he would have no peace What peace as long as the whordomes of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many his Zeale was all for truth as he said so the Sectaryes and others are all for truth and no peace while Jezebel lives their driving is like the driving of Jehu the sonne of Nimshi for they drivefuriously or madly but when by warre and bloud they have obtained peace I wish they set not up a worse Idoll then they have put downe as Iehu their father did Baal was Mars the planet Ralbag or Iupiter Belus which Iehu destroyed and set up the Calves a farre worse Idoll and made the common people Priests so I wish that these set not up as they begin the meanest of the people and drive out the sonnes of Levi as Iehu did Twelfthly they are haters of good that is moderate men who are not carryed with their turbulent zeale by which many a good Ionadab is deceived and their hatred is irreconciliable to eradication of their familyes expulsion of their wives and children and banishment from Countrey and friends because they cannot endure to see them or heare of them and this to a politicall creature is worse then death in Ioel 2. what have you to doe with mee O Tyre and Sydon who have taken my silver and gold and brought them to your palaces and the children of Judah yee have sold to the Grecians to remove them farre from their border and doe not these haters of good men send
their brethren farre away from their houses lands and friends that they may seize on their inheritance But thus saith the Lord to you Cains behold I will raise them from the place whither you have sent them and returne your recompence on your owne heads and I will sell your sonnes and your daughters to the sonnes of Judah and they shall send them to the Sabeans to a nation afar off for Jehovah hath spoken it Thirteenth they are Traytours fathers betraying children and children betraying fathers to the death the off-spring of the Wolfe and Tiger and the wild beasts their kindred breaking the bonds of society betweene man and man and delivering men up to Magistrates and Rulers for a word and that in secret our Saviour prophesyed of these Traytors Luk. 21. 16. Your fathers and brethren and kinsmen and friends shall betray you to death do we not see this in these days of Civill warre a father will not spare his child a child will kill his father in battaile and if he cannot so kill him he will betray him to death by discovering his secrets or by false accusation under pretence of justice But the greatest Travtours are such as fight against the King and they pretend all this is for the King though his owne person have beene in imminent danger more then once these are they that call darknesse light and light darknesse evill good and good evill the use of this is made by Isay the Prophet say not a confederacy to whom this people shall say a confederacy neither feare their feare but feare God and meddle not with Traytors that curse their God and their King and looke upward for as it followes they are proud and heady and their councells shall be carryed headlong Fourteenth these Hypocrites are hasty in all their consultations without deliberation they pretended Reformation must be done in a day not considering the divers gradations of a Reformation Josiahs wonderfull Reformation was of the continuance of three hundred yeares the reignes of Asa Iosaphat Iehoiada Iotham Hezekiah Manasseth Iosiah and then also was but fainedly and not with the whole heart and for punishment of Delinquents they are too hasty have they never read of David what he said of the sonnes of Zerviah Ye are too hard for mee he would but could not punish these two great Delinquents except he had involved his whole Kingdome in a Civill warre as is now done lastly they are too hasty in their hostility have they not read that Israel lost forty thousand in two dayes in a Civill warre through too much hastinesse and precipitancy not consulting with the Lord and surely in this respect these men have cause rather of mourning then rejoycing Fifteenth these are lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God whence come these warres and fightings do they not from their lusts and pleasures that warre in their members their pride ambition popularity avarice for hereby their portion who were beggarly is made fat and their meate pleasant they live by warre therefore they barne incense to their net and sacrifice to their dragge They cry nothing but warre and bloud digge they cannot and to begge they are ashamed therfore they resolve to kill steale rob rifle or doe any villany to satisfie their lusts which they love more then God Sixteenth They have a forme of godlinesse but deny the power thereof they have a portraiture picture or delineation of godlinesse but no life at all therein Consider the particulars they give almes but it is to be seene of men they make long prayers but to be heard of men they fast but disgrace their faces appearing as sad when they are not what is this but a picture of godlinesse without life it was never knowne from the beginning of the world that a dead beast was offered in sacrifice to God but the Hypocrites present dead sacrifices to God Againe in their Sabbaths is a shew of godlinesse but no life for they say When will the Sabbaths be gone and like the Pharisees their viperous progenitors abuse the letter of the Sabbath against doing good they sit in Moses chaire to teach and to judge others according to the Law but doe the contrary and breake all Lawes they make long prayers to devoure Widowes houses they enlarge their phylacteryes of the hand and head there 's the letter but no power their heads are full of mischievous devices and their hands are full of bloud They are ever hearing and learning there 's the shadow but are never able to come to the knowledge of the truth there 's no power except it be over silly women as the Apostle here saith These Hypocrites intrude into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sinnes and led about with divers lusts This time is a plaine interpretation of this Prophesie Another power they have got likewise by the shew of godlinesse it is against the King like Janis and Jambres the two Sorcerers of Egypt that resisted Moses who was King in Jesurun These sorcerers were Hypocrites for their miracles were but glisterings and delusions of the eyes The use of all this is First our Saviour saith Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees which is Hypocrisie Hereby wee are most like the Devill who transformes himselfe into an Angell of light and hereby wee become limbes of Antichrist the first borne of the Devill who is the great Hypocrite That hath two hornes like a Lamb but speakes like a Dragon The second use From such Hypocrites turne away so saith Saint Paul avoid their society for they are selfopinionated selfwilled greedy of money proud unnaturall truce-breakers fals-accusers traytours heady fierce unthankfull popular unquiet haters of all moderate men lovers of lusts and pleasures and deceiving the world by a forme of godlinesse so that they believe Rebellion to be Zeale and Treason to be Religion Depart from me yee Hypocrites yee bloudthirsty men The Lord give us grace to depart from them here lest wee have our part with these Hypocrites hereafter in the lowest Dungeon of Gehenna from which good Lord deliver us by Jesus Christ to whom with the Father and holy Spirit be honour and glory for ever and ever Amen FINIS a Theologia symbolica non est argumentativa b Aliquid c A paribus imparibus similibus c. d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 e Syr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arab. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 f Chron. 10. g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Philip. 2. 2 Phil. 6. 7. c. h Syr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arab. to recover it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 k Psal. 110. 1. m Prov. 8. 1 Cor. 15. n Psal. 68. o Debellare superbos p Matth. 24. q Luk. 21. r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 s Matth. 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophyl t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 12. Arab. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉