thorough Gods helpe shall make manifest and apparant But before I doe proceed I desire the Reader to observe that I doe not condemne all use of Counsells or Synods but doe hold that diverse men of divers churches may lawfully be assembled together to consult and advise of matters concerning Religion and the worship of God for their instruction and better information of their Iudgments and so a good holy use may be thereof But that any counsells have such power over the churches of Christ as to impose upon them thrir commaundements for doctrine and to vsurp the goverment of the Churches and to rule and reigne over them by their lawes and canons and prescribe rules and formes how God wil be worshipped as these generall counsells have done that I doe deny as being contrary to the perfection of the holy * 2 Tim. 3. 17. Deut. 4. 2. Revel 22. 18. Scriptures and the practise of the Apostles and Elders of the Church of Ierusalem who being assembled togither did professe it to be †Act. 15. 10. a tempting of God to lay such a yoke on the disciples necks as the observing of the Iewish ceremonies which being unlawfull to doe it is much more unlawfull to devise and impose any other and therfore the said assembly of the Apostles and Elders concluded to lay no greater burden vpon the disciples then to absteyne from such necessary things as either were simply evill in themselves as fornication or els evill in respect of Act. 15. 18. 19. c. offence as meats offred to Idols blood and things strangled Now to proceed First it is sayd of this Beast That he did rise up out of the sea By his rising up was foreshewed that the Antichristian policie should arise from a poore and meane estate to great riches and honour in the world which we and former generations have seene to the vttermost fulfilled For dayes there were when the Churches of Christ both Ministers and people were hated despised and persecuted in the world syoyled of their goods made gazingstocks and wonders and afflicted with all kinde of crueltie as histories both sacred and humane doe abundantly specifie and declare The Apostle Paul saith of himself his fellow brethren the Ministers of the Gospel that they were as men appointed to death and in the account of the world as the filth refuse ofscouring of all things But since this beastly generation hath succeeded the church and under the titles of Ministers of the Gospell and the Bishops over Gods people have found meanes by little and little to rise up and to exalt themselves over the Nations and to bring the multitudes and peoples and Nations and Tounges under their Iurisdiction rule and Reu 18. 3. 2. Thes 2. 7. Dominion and they have so risen up that they are become the great men of the earth and are waxed rich through the abundance of their delicacies This mistery of iniquitie was working in the Apostles tyme for there were then crept into the church those that desired worldly pompe and promotion and were not contented with the portion of the Lordes heritage but their ambicious desires could not then be satisfied there was a lett in the way that hindered it which lett being removed their purposes soone after tooke effect fitly therefore is this generation said to rise up in respect of those whose successors they boast themselues to be The former hold no certaine dwelling places but were exposed to hunger thirst cold nakednesse buffetings c. But these latter have their Lordly Houses warrelike Castles Prince like Pallaces they have their rents revenues and abundance of riches in great excesse they are pompously arayed in stately robes and rich apparell they rule like lords over the people have power to afflict all that will not beare the yoke of their Dominion thus is this generation risen up and exalted as all may see that list to minde it The place from whence this Beast is sayd to rise up is the sea The Naturall Sea we know is the gathering togither of many waters Gen. 1. 9. 10. A like thing must that be out of which this Beast was to rise But in the 17. chapter Multitudes and nations peoples and Toungs are resembled by waters therfore the gathering together of such into one body politike may rightly be resembled by the Sea Thus then the trueth standeth By the rising up of this beast out of the Sea was foreshewed That those many waters that is the people and multitudes and Nations and Toungs not onely under the Romane Empire but most nations and people of the world being gathered into one sea or ecclesiasticall State should breed and bring forth this Monster For they being of two contrary sorts the seed of the Serpent the seed of the Woman children of the kingdome and children of the wicked vnto the one sort the word of God in the administration therof is the savour of life unto life unto the other sort it is the savour of death unto death The one sort feare God and wil obey him rather then man The other feare and reverence the arme of flesh more then they doe the living God These as light and darknesse being contrary one to another the one being of Christ the other of Belial how therfore should they in things concerning God and Christ Faith and Religion agree together Those which be of God cannot but witnesse against those that be of the world because their deeds are evill Those which are of the world are heady high minded proud boasters wise in their owne conceit and therfore scorne to be rebuked and hate to be reformed These being together in the world as Wheate and Tares in one Field and as Sheep and goates in one Flocke the true end of the administration of the word of God had beene to call and separate the one from the other the precious from the vile beleevers from insidells But notwithstanding this generation thought it to be wisedome to take a contrary course namely to bring all people of all sorts to be one Church and likewise unto vniformitie in Religion And because it could not be effected by the power of the Word of God that sword of the spirit they procured the helpe of worldly governours to bring it to passe by their power and cōmaund By which devise and policie these many waters that is the Nations and people have beene gathered into one Church and eccleasticall body politike here represented by the Sea and have been brought to use all one order of worship service and government But this conformitie not being procured thorough love but constrayned by feare was but an humane devise and worldly policie and no divine Institution And therfore could not be upholden maynteyned and continued by the word of God and the administration of a serviceable Ministerie but by the over-ruling power of a Lordly Prelacie whereupon it was thought meet that Synods or Counsells of
knowne unbeleevers to the end to meete together for the mutuall edification and comfort one of another by doctrine breaking of bread and prayer and to practise all other Ordinances of Christ set downe in his Testament as they shall haue occasion and to companies of Beleeuers hauing such fellowship and communion one with another the title of the Churches of Christ doth in our use of speech properly and of right belong but for beleevers to doe this apart by themselues is adiudged contempt of authority factious novelty making of Conventicles and unlawfull Assemblies dangerous to the State and not to be suffered in any Kingdome or Common-wealth and so they blaspheme the Tabernacle of God in a high degree as if Gods people were a company of ungodly rebels and wicked conspirators but the righteous Lord will in due time visit his people rebuke his enemies And on the other side for Gods people now to deny the kingdome of the Beast that is as they call it the holy Catholick church Militant to be the true Church of Christ To refuse to partake and communicate with them in their abominations delusions and unfruitfull workes of darknesse is adjudged disobedience schisme and contempt of the power and authoritie of the Church To speak against their proceedings sedition disturbance of the peace of the Church heresie impietie and what not Thus they adorne the Harlott which corrupteth the earth with her fornications with the title of the Church and spouse of Christ and Tabernacle of God And so blaspheme the Tabernacle of God as if it were not a communion of Saincts by calling and profession but an habitation of Divells an hold of Fowle spirits and a cage of every uncleane hatefull bird Further it is sayd of the Beast that it did blaspheme those that dwelt in heaven that is the Saincts departed this life Those that dwell in heaven are then blasphemed when it is sayd of them that they take it as honour done unto them when we make them our Patrones build them Temples set up their images offer and pray unto them and make them Mediators between Christ and us for by this they are made not onely idolls but also favorers and cheife maynteyners of idolatrie They are also blasphemed when the doctrine which they taught and practised is condemned for heresie or when erronious doctrines vayne traditions superstitious rites ceremonies and customes are fathered upon them as received from them by Tradition as unwritten verities but the world hath been brought to beleeue that Saints in heaven might by these meanes bee as it were bought and fold betweene Priest and people wherein they haue been highly blasphemed Moreover it is said that it was given to the Beast to make warre with the Ver. 7. Saints and to overcome them and power was given him over all Kindreds and Tongues and Nations Warre is made with the Saints when they are accused to Rulers and Governours to be Hereticks Schismaticks wicked and ungodly persons and they may then be said to bee overcome when their accusers are iustified and they condemned according to this this Scripture hath been fulfilled and verified Great and of long continuance haue been the warres which the Beast hath made with the Saints and many haue been the victories of this kinde which the Beast hath had against them as the Histories and other records of the Nations do plentifully witnesse It was given to the Beast to make warre with the Saints when Rulers and Governours gaue way to the Beast to devise and make lawes at their own pleasure concerning Religion and the worship of God and then to condemne for delinquents and euill doers all that would not obserue those lawes How free and forward Rulers and Governours haue been to giue such power unto the Beast they themselues haue felt by long and wofull experience for much woe hath the Beast wrought not to the poore and meaner sort of the Saints onely but even to Emperours and Kings and all degrees of people and therefore it is said in the words following that power was given unto this Beast over every Kindred Tongue and Nation So that the exaltation thereof was such as to be as a father aboue all fathers to every Kindred a Lord aboue all Lords to every Tongue a King aboue all Kings to every Nation Thus was this Beast exalted and sate as a Queene triumphing over them having all of all degrees brought in bondage unto her dominion which was a just recompence upon their heads that gaue such power unto this Beast yet see how the world was herein deluded they were not as captiues against their wills but in blinde devotion had this Beast in most high reverence as being a Divine Power ordained and given by God and not from the Dragon Thus did the Lord giue them over to bee deluded by this Beast as a iust reward of their ungodlinesse in that they received not the loue of the truth but tooke pleasure in unrighteousnesse Further it is declared in the words following That all that dwelt upon Ver. 8. the earth shall worship him that is the Beast whose names are not written in the Booke of the life of the Lamb slayne from the foundation of the world By those that dwell on the earth is meant those that haue set their habitation there and choose rather to enioy the prosperitie of the world and the pleasures of sinne together with the Beast then to suffer affliction for the truth and for witnessing against the Beast These are they that worship him that is receiue their precepts and rules for doctrine and wholesome instruction and obserue their ordinances and lawes as perfect rules of equitie and righteousnesse casting the Word of God declared in the holy Scriptures behind their backes and treading his Ordinances under their feete making farre more conscience not to eate an Egge on a Friday then to steale or commit adulterie But of such it is said that their names are not written in the Booke of life of the Lamb which was slaine from the beginning of the world That is they are not of the number of Gods Elect and Chosen in Christ and given unto him for his portion and heritage whose condition is to be hated despised persecuted and afflicted in the world for righteousnes sake in whom the Lamb Christ Iesus as in his members hath been slaine since the beginning of the world which condition those which cannot brooke and indure but count it a pleasure to liue deliciously for a season and take delight to inioy the pleasures of sinne may thereby bee discerned not to haue their names written in the Book of Life Concerning these things it is added If any man haue an eare let him heare Ver. 9. As if it should be said few there bee which haue an eare to heare these things For who can indure to heare that Catholike Church which they account to bee spirituall holy and heavenly to bee compared to a Beast
are * Psal 82. 6. called Gods and their seats as the Throne of God in heauen should bee so corrupted by the Pope as that they should beleeue the Saints and Servants of God which refused to obey the Pope and his Lawes to be therefore Hereticks Schismaticks refractarie rebellious and disobedient persons and therefore should condemne them to be burnt to death This they haue done thinking they did God therein good service and that it was the iust iudgement of God upon them Thus he made fire to come downe from heaven For true it is that the iudgements rightly pronounced by the lawfull Magistrates are the iudgements of God and their punishments Gods punishments and therefore it is that Maigistrates are called Gods but seeing Magistrates haue beene thus corrupted by the Pope and made to pronounce unrighteous and unjust judgements wee are to esteeme them as the judgements of the Dragon and yet neverthelesse their authority and power lawfull and ordained of God Thus the Beast deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by meanes of those Miracles falsly so called which he had power to doe in the sight of the Beast as is shewed in the verse following And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the meanes of those miracles Vers 14. which he had power to doe in the sight of the Beast Those which the Beast deceiveth are sayd to dwell on the earth that is haue their affections fet upon earthly things and not upon heavenly so that they will not for loue of the truth forsake their earthly possessions and pleasures these are they which are deceived by these lying wonders of this Beast but those that are strangers and pilgrimes in this world whose affections are set upon heavenly things and not upon earthly these are not deceived nor deluded by him these making tryall of him by Gods word haue found him to be a lyer and a deceiver and beleeue him not but taking their liues in their hands witnes against him to the death that his power and working is of Satan and that his wonders are lyes And whereas it is sayd that he had power to doe these miracles in the sight of the Beast therby is confirmed made manifest that which before is shewed page 23 that this sonne of perdition the chief darling of his holy catholick Mother is present with her and in her bosome and for her sake and in her behalf exerciseth his power shee retayning still her former authoritie without any diminishing thereof as is evident unto all that are acquainted with the acts of that Church Thus much for the second parte of this chapter The 3. part of the 13. Chapter of the Revelation Wherin is foreshewed a third Beast which was set up by the commaundement of this second Beast the Pope who sayd to them that dwelt on the earth that they should make an Image to the Beast which had the wound with a sword and did live HEre we may see that the Pope by his commanding power was the cause of setting up this Image and for the better and more cleare understanding what this Image is Let us consider a little the patterne whose image and likenes it beareth namely the first Beast The first Beast as hath beene shewed was the representative body of the Catholicke Church Militant consisting of the selected Prelacy and Preisthood of sundry Nations gathered together into one Councell or Synode with authoritie to make lawes and canons for the universall Church to be observed uniformely of all Nations under pretence of the insufficiency of the Scripture for the government of the Church and the worship of God In like manner the Pope in his wisedome seeing it necessary for the good government maintenance and upholding of his kingdome and the rooting out of Heretickes and seditious persons as they call them which daylie increased in every Countrie did ordeyne and command | Vide conciliū Lateran secundum Can. 6. that in every Province there should yerely be held and kept a Provinciall counsel or Synode consisting of the Prelats and divers other selected persons which should look to those matters to which Synode he also gave power to make lawes and ordinances to which the people should be conformable and obedient This is the Image which he caused the dwellers on the earth to make of the Beast which had the wound with a sword and did live Further it is sayd Vers 15. And power was given him to giue life unto the Image of the Beast that the Image of the Beast should both speake and Ver. 15. cause that as many as would not worship the Image of the Beast should bee killed In this verse wee may obserue first that a gift was given to the Pope to bestow upon this Image secondly what this gift was viz. to giue life or breath to the Image thirdly the end and effects of the gift which was that the Beast should speake and cause that as many as would not worship the Beast should be killed As there was given by the Dragon to the first Beast great power and authoritie and also a mouth to speake blasphemies and to make warre with the Saints in like manner by the same Dragon was this gift given to the Pope to giue life or breathe to this Image By life is here meant authoritie which is the life of a Synode without which it is of no force and so this Image should haue been no more then a very image or picture and set up to no purpose but the Pope having received it gaue authority to the Image that he should speake that is make and set forth Canons and Lawes for to speake is so understood as for example A King is said to speake to his subiects when he setteth forth his Lawes and Proclamations so this Beast having made Canons and Decrees speaketh to her vassals and subjects by them Moreover the Image caused that as many as would not worship him should be killed Here the pride and cruelty of this Image is set forth to be answerable to the first Beast and therefore rightly is he called her Image for as the first Beast made wart with the Saints and overcame them and all that dwelled on the earth worshiped him c. so whosoever would not worship this Image that is heare his voyce and keep his commandements there was no way for him but death All the worship that the Lord requireth of his servants is * That they feare him walke in all his wayes loue him and serue him with all their Deu. 10. 12. 13. hearts and with all their soules to keep the commandements of the Lord and his ordinances And this is indeed the true worship of God In like manner this Image wil be worshiped his lawes must be observed his canons obeyed without examining and trying of them be they never so unholy and unjust They that do not observe and obey them be they never so upright and holy men