of sinne the bloody and adulterous estate of the whore that sitteth on many waters with whome the Kings of the earth have committed fornication and the inhabitants of the earth have bene made drunken with the wyne thereof 1 Ioh. 2.18 and 4.3 2 Thes 2.3.4.7.8.9.10.11.12 Rev. 11.8 and 14.8.9 and 17. and 18. chap. Secondly the Lord Iesus will destroy Babylon condemne the whoore and consume the man of sinne with the breath of his mouth with the bright manifestation of his comming and with the publishing of his Gospell wherein he will clearly and powerfully appeare to the comfort of his Church and destruction of the wicked Rev. 14.6.7.8 and 18.4.5.6.20 and 19.13.15 2 Thes 2.8 with Esa 11.4 3. As God for a tyme hath suffred the Princes and States of the world to give over their power right and soveraignty vnto the Beast to submit vnto authorize and vphold the kingdome and jurisdiction of Antichrist so God agayne in his tyme doth and will stirre vp the Princes and Magistrates to hate that harlot to make her naked and desolate of her honours dignityes and revenewes to convert and employ her Lordships lands and livings to other vses and finally to suppresse and abandon her offices works abominations which have so long deceived and defiled the world Rev. 17.15.16.17 and 18. and 19. chap. 4. Fourthly this fall of Babylon this consumption of the man of sinne and desolation of the great whore shal be performed by degrees that as it rose not wholly vp in a day but first was in a mysterie and then was revealed and afterwards exalted so it shall also decay be abolished by little and little till at length sodenly in one day even in an houre this city and kingdome of Antichrist be destroyed abolished so as it shal never be found any more as when a great milstone is cast into the sea and riseth not agayne and as of old it came to passe †Ier. 51.61.62.63.64 with Rev. 18.20.21 according to the word of the Prophet in Babylon of Chaldea which was a type and figure of this spiritual Babylon now spoken of 2 Thes 2.3.4.7.8 Rev. 14.8.9 and 18.2.7.8.20.21.22.23 with Esa 13. and 14. chap. Ier. 50. and 51. chap. Lastly at the overthrow and destruction of this Antichristian kingdome and mysticall Babylon her Kings Marchants Mariners and craftesmen shall mourne lament because of the judgement come vpon her with whome they have lived in pleasure before and no man now buyeth their ware any more but the servants of God shal be glad and rejoyce give glorie to the Lord saying Hallelu-iah salvation and glory and honour power be to the Lord our God for true and righteous are his iudgements for he hath condemned the great whore which did corrupt the earth with her fornication and hath avenged the blood of his servants of from her hand Reve. 18.9.10.11 c. with 19.1.2 c. And hitherto of the first and second Reason Both which I have prosecuted more largely as conteyning in them the speciall grounds of this controversie namely that their present Ministery is not according to the ordinance of Christ and not this onely but is also of the apostasie of Antichrist To which two heads the other Reasons here ensuing may be referred Yet the propounding handling of them apart from the other serveth more plainly to meet with some objections and more fully to insist vpon other particulars needfull in this cause to be considered And so we will now proceed to the Reasons following The third Reason VVHatsoever Ministerie is such as none can heare it or have any spirituall communion with it but in so doing he shall worship the Beasts image spoken of in the Revelation and receive his mark in his forehead or hand that Ministerie may none hear or have any spirituall communion withall But the present Ministery of the Church-assemblies of Engl. is such as none can heare or have any spirituall communion therewith but in so doing he shall worship the Beasts image and receive his mark in his forehead or hand Therefore none may heare or have any spirituall communion with the present Ministerie of the Church-assemblies of Engl. The first part of the Reason is evident because whosoever doth so worship or receive as there is sayd bringeth himself vnder the fierce wrath of God as it is written If any worship the Beast and his image and receive his mark in his forehead or hand the same shall drink of the wyne of the wrath of God yea of the pure wyne which is poured into the cup of his wrath and he shal be tormented in fyer and brimstone before the holy Angels and before the Lambe and the smoke of their torment shall ascend evermore and they shall have no rest day nor night which worship the beast and his image and whosoever receiveth the print of his Name Rev. 14.9.10.11 That the truth of the second part of the Reason may better appeare we are first to consider what is meant by the Beast and his image here spoken of what by the worshipping of it and what by receiving his mark in the forehead or hand and then to apply it to the present purpose And first that these and the like speaches are not to be taken litterally but in a mysticall and spirituall signification the Spirit of God teacheth vs in playne words in divers places of this book Rev. 14.8.9 with chap. 17.5.15.18 and 11.8 and 1.20 besides that it may be shewed by necessary collection also as will appeare in that which followeth By Beasts the Scripture often figureth out men kingdomes of beastly qualities and conditions so resembling them for their foolish ignorance savage cruelty gredynes of prey beastlynes of life certainty of destruction c. Dan. 7.17 8.20.21.22.23 with Ier. 10.14 Luk. 13.31.32 2 Tim. 4.17 Tit. 1.12 And so here by the beast his image we may vnderstand the Romane dominiō Antichristiā hierarchie resembling it the body of the man of sin with all the offices functions lawes constitutions power authority apperteyning therevnto For which compare this Scripture of Rev. 14. with 2 Thes 2.3.4.8.9 1 Tim. 4.1.2.3 1 Ioh. 2.18.22 and 4.3 2 Ioh. ver 6.7 Rev. 11.8 and 13.1.2.5.6.11.15.16.17 and 17.1.2.3.4.5.6.7 c. and 18.2 c. and 19.2.20.21 c. 20.4 And thus have the Martyrs of former ages also vnderstood it as may be seen in Act. Monum edit 5. p. 161 5. c. By worshipping the Beasts image may be vnderstood the yeelding of spirituall subjection homage obedience to that Antichristian kingdome in the lawes rules offices orders power and jurisdiction thereof And so this word worship is much vsed in the Scripture Exod. 20.5 Deut. 12.30 13.2.4 Iosh 22.5.27 Iudg. 2.11 2 King 17 33-41 Ezech. 8.16 and 20.32 Mat. 15.9 Act. 7.43 Col. 2 18-23 By receiving of the mark in the forehead or hand may be vnderstood the receiving of their ordinances
Christ himself Thus the Assumption is cleared And thus the cause is yeelded by themselves who in their owne writings speak and reason in such sort as hath ben shewed Which I thought good thus to apply to their present estate further manifestation of the truth And thus much cōcerning these Argumēts Reasons Which now I leave to the consideration of all that are of judgement and conscience exhorting them as they love the truth and their owne good 1 Thes 5.21 Psal 119.59 to try all things by the word of God to consider their wayes and to turn their feet into his testimonies And I pray the Lord God of all glorie and goodnes to discover and consume the apostasie of Antichrist daily more and more to make the light and power of the Gospell of Christ shine forth and prevaile against all enemies and hinderances to give his people of all estates and nations to walk in the light and comfort thereof to the praise of his Name and eternall life by Iesus Christ who is God overall blessed for ever Amen Ier. 50.29 Call together * the mighty many against Babel all that bend the bow besiege her round about let there be no escaping for her recompense her according to her work according to all that she hath done do vnto her for she hath ben proude against the Lord against the holy one of Israel A Table of some principall things conteyned in this Treatise THat it is not lawfull to heare or have any spirituall communion with other Ministerie then that which Christ hath given vnto his Church pag. 1. 17. 51. 63. 70. 78. 87. 93. c. That the Ministery given by Christ is of Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers spoken of Ephes 4. p. 2. 4. 5. 7. 22. c. That the Ministers of the Church of England are none of these p. 3. c. Of the obiection made about hearing the Scribes and Pharisees p. 14. That the Ministery of the Church of Engl. is the Ministery of Antichrists Apostasie p. 18. c. Of the Prelates being spirituall Lords Diocesan and Provinciall Bishops Antichristian vsurpers c. p. 19. c. and p. 70. 71. 101. 102. 110. Of the examples of Timothee and Titus alledged for them p. 22. c. Two Questions about the ordinance of Christ and the apostasie of Antichrist touching the Ministery and governement of the Church p. 26. How the Ministers of the Church of England are made Deacons Priests Bishops and Archbishops And wherevnto they subscribe p. 30. c. That the Ministery of that Church obeyeth not Christ in his ordinance as their Prophet Priest and King p. 39. 105. That it is set against and exalted above the holy things and constitutions of Christ p. 41. That it apperteyneth not properly to any estate civill or ecclesiasticall but onely to the body and religion of Antichrist p. 42. 43. That the King may and ought to suppresse it throughout his Dominions p. 44. That the Lord will abolish it by the light and power of his Gospell with the spirit of his mouth and brightnes of his coming p. 46. That the Ministers with the people in that estate worship the Beasts image and receive his mark in the forehead or hand p. 51. c. That they derive not their power and functions of Ministerie from Christ the head of the Church p. 63. c. That though they be of good gifts and teach many true doctrines yet it is no warrant to communicate with their Ministerie p. 66. 75. 92. That they work vpon the consciences of men by vertue of a false spirituall calling p. 70. 109. 110. Of the Apostles not ceasing to preach in the Name of Iesus at the commandement of the Rulers of Israel p. 73. 74. That the Ministerie of the Church of Engl. is a straunge Ministery p. 78. c. Of the conspiracy of Corah Dathan Abiram c. p. 79. That it is vnlawfull to present our bodies at false worship p. 81. c. Of Naamans example alledged for that purpose p. 82. That the Ministerie of the Church of England is not from heaven but of men p. 87. That it giveth honour to Antichrist and is derogatory to the reformed Churches p. 95. Divers testimonies of their owne and of the Martyrs others against their Ministerie and Church estate p. 6. 13. 15. 21. 30. 33. 36. 41. 44. 59. 65. 73. 76. 79. 88. 93. c. Also the grounds of Mr Bradsh Arguments and of the London Lincolnshire Devonshire and other silenced Ministers their Exceptions Abridgement Answers and Offers applyed against them p. 93. c. Faultes escaped Pag. 63. lin 6. 7. read thus of Engl. is such as deriveth not Pag. 78. lin 22. Num. 15.39 Pag. 85. lin 8. will from the hote Pag. 94. line 29. annex this in such of the books where it is wanting and God must have no solemne Worship in England except it be in communion with the same Pag. 95. lin 19. put in the margent Mr Bradsh Argum. 2. Pag. 110. lin 10. annex this And their owne reasons alledged against the vse of the Ceremonies do also prove it
commandement there are set opposite on the one hand ‡ Exod. 20.4.5 the making devising of any thing in the worship of God or the submitting to any such inventions and on the other hand †Exod. 20.6 the keeping of that onely in the worship of God which he himself hath commaunded Exod. 20.4.5.6 Where also it may be observed that the same words of keeping the commandements of God are vsed in both these Scriptures and †Exod. 20.4.5.6 in the one opposed generally to all inventions in religion whatsoever ‖ Rev. 14 9-12 in the other specially to the constitutions and abominations of the Romish and Antichristian iurisdiction As the faithfull therefore which in religion submit themselves onely to the truth ordināces of Iesus Christ prescribed in his word are sayd to keep the commandements of God and faith of Iesus having this as a signe vpon their hand and being sealed therewith as with a mark on the forehead so they which in religion submit themselves to the ordinances constitutions of the Romish Antichrist are accounted by the holy Ghost to worship the Beasts image and to receive his mark in their forehead or hand And hitherto of the exposition of this Scripture Now to apply it to the matter in hand it is to be noted 2 Thes 2.3 c. 1 Tim. 4.1.2.3 1 Ioh. 2.18.19 4 1-6 Rev. 13. 17. chap. c. first that this Antichrist the man of sinne hath made apostasie from the ordinances of Iesus Christ Secondly that he hath brought in and set vp in stead thereof his owne errors constitutions the inventions works of Sathan and particularly that opposing and exalting himself against the kingdome of Christ he hath turned the Ministery and government of Christ his officers which be Pastors Teachers and Elders into the Ministery and government of Archbishops Lordbishops Suffraganes Chancelours Archdeacons Commissaries Priests Parsons Vicars c. entring and executing their offices not according to Christs ordinance but after their owne orders canons and constitutions Thirdly that notwithstanding many popish enormities be already removed out of the land by the mercy of God yet the present constitution of their Church-assemblies still is such as every one of them is subject to a provinciall Archbishop to a diocesan Lordbishop to a Chancelour to an Archdeacon to a Priest being the Parson Vicar or stipendary Curate of the Parish As also to a Book-worship devised by man to the Prelates popish courts suspensions excommunications absolutions consecrations orderings degradations deprivations and other such proceedings according to their Canons and courses which in their order were erected and are reteyned in the Synagogues and kingdome of Antichrist but were never appointed by Christ for his Church and people to observe and yeeld vnto as hath bene proved Whereby it appeareth that the publick Ministery of their assemblies now is such as none can have spirituall communion therewith but in so doing they observe and submit vnto the ordinances of Antichrist and consequently worship the Beasts image and receive his mark in their forehead or hand according as here before hath bene declared Yet before I conclude this point I would advertise the Reader that some vnderstand this receiving of the mark in the forehead or hand to be meant of submitting vnto Antichrists ordinances eyther openly with a bold face or secretly vnder hand As also that such may be sayd to receive the mark in their hand which receive to execute any office or performe any work in the kingdome of Antichrist by his power and hand that is by vertue of any authority received frō him or of any subjection yeelded vnto him Which may well be applyed to the buying selling by vertue of the mark received spoken of Rev. 13.17 But how ever it be for the propriety of the phrase yet herein do all these expositions agree that thereby is vnderstood the submitting to Antichrist his ordinances to be implyed and therefore come all to one end as towching the matter in hand And long since Iohn Claydon spoken of before a Martyr of Christ burnt in the dayes of King Henry the fift in the yeare 1415. held that the Bishops licence for a man to preach the word of God is the character of the Beast that is Antichrist Act. and Monum edit 5. pag. 588. And after him agayne Mr Ridley another Martyr burnt in Queen Maries dayes in the yeare 1555. writing largely of this matter to the Christians then afflicted sheweth his judgement concerning it thus * Act. Monum edit 5. pag. 1618. Doth not Paul command to the Romanes which perteyneth to every Christian soule †Rom. 6. As you have in tymes past given your members to do service vnto vncleannes and wickednes from one wickednes to another so now give your members to do service vnto righteousnes that you may be sanctified And I pray thee good brother what doest thou think is to bear the mark of the Beast in the forehead and in the hand that Sainst Iohn speaketh of I know we ought warily to speak of Gods mysteries which he shewed by the spirit of prophesying to his servant Iohn yet to read them with reverence and to pray for the same so much as God knoweth necessary for our time to know I think it necessary and good Wherefore what I suppose is to beare the Beasts mark I will tell thee and commit the iudgement of my interpretation as in all other things to the spirituall man I suppose he beareth the Beast of Babylons mark in his forehead which is not ashamed of the Beasts wayes but will professe them openly to set forth his maister the beast Abaddon And likewise he beareth his mark in the hand that will and doth practise the works of the Beast with his power and hand And likewise I will not let to tell thee what I think to be signed in the forehead for the servant of God is whereof Iohn also speaketh reckoning vp many thowsands so to have bene signed of every tribe I suppose he is signed in the forehead for the servant of God whom God hath appointed of his infinite goodnes hath given him grace strength cōstantly to confesse him his truth before the world And to have grace strengh to cōfesse Christ the doctrine of the Crosse to lament mourne for the abominations of Antichrist I suppose is to be signed with Tau whereof Ezekiel the Prophet doth speak Thus I suppose these Prophecies are spiritually to be vnderstood And to look for other corporall marks to be seen in mens foreheads or in their hands is nothing els but to look that there should come some brute beast out of Babylon or some Elephant Leopard Lyon or Camell or some other such monstrous beast with ten hornes that should do all the wonderfull things spoken of in Iohn And yet of a beast speaketh Iohn But I vnderstand him so to be called not for