know God yet in works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and to every good work reprobate These are not as Virgins but defiled prophane open wicked persons poluted in their lips and in their lives though Tit 1. 16. they call themselves christians they are Christs greatest enemies and make the times more evil and perilous and are worse then Heathens Jewes and Turks whose conversion they hinder by their devilish doctrines rediculous forms of worship and odious carriages hard-heartednesse and impennetencie So that now at this time in matters of Religious and spiritual worship The world in general consisteth of four parts 1 Heathens 2. Jewes 3. Turks and 4. Christians The last of which even Christians are the least part of the world but the 6th part say some writers yet these christians amongst themselves are greatly divided in matters of Religion but they all conclude against the heathens Jewes and Turks and renounce and disclaim their communion esteeming them that they be the Church of the devil the Synagogue of Sathan and Luther saith the Turk is the Body of Antichrist yet are they innumerable Rev. 9. 16. Rev. 20. 8 9. as the sand of the Sea but they are all out of the way and not so good as one mortal Saint For the Heathens worship many gods which by nature are no gods The Jews in expresse words deny that Christ is come in the flesh The Turks and almost all others do deny him in their works for although the Turks do acknowledge and worship the true God after a manner yet do they serve Mahomet And although they protest against the worshipers of Images as Prote stants against Papists yet they worship God by a divised rediculous stinted Service Book of their own invention contrary to Gods institutions Christian though divided greatly in opinion and affection yet most of them in humane traditions and divine or rather divised Services are not untyed but entangled in each others principles and practices Church ministry worship and discipline like to like Mother daughter jumping together in the seeming circumstances of times and places and many other matters O how heathenish are they in their common talke and carnal Songs Their speeches and practices shew as if they had the Heathen gods and godesses and their Temples in great esteem Where the graves tombs and Monuments of the dead be there are their Temples for their Religious Isa 65. 4. worship For their hearts remaineth there among the graves and lodge in the Monuments like the men possessed with devils who came out of the Tombs exceeding fierce their tipes for there was their dwelling being driven of the Mat. 8. â—8 Mar. 5. 3. Devil which dolesom and Idolatrous places in this land were and in other lands are places of refuge and protection for wilful murderers And these miserable sinners are strongly possessed with strange opinions that there are degrees of holinesse in those Idolatrous Temples which were built for heathenish and Popish services Yet these Christians or rather Antichristians are in continual variance amongst themselves Persecuting one another extreamly to the death as they have power and oppertunity censuring one another as Scismaticks and condemning one another as Hereticks often Writing Preaching Praying fighting against one another as mortal Enemies witnesse Spain France Germany other places in Europe living in hatred hating one another for peace is taken from the earth and the way thereof the world knoweth not therefore the Angel with his sharpe Sickle is reaping them and Rev 14. 14 Rev 14. 18 19 20. the Vine of the earth even the false Church with the clusters thereof shall be cut down and cast into the great winepresse of the wrath of God For their vine is the vine of Sodom and of the fields of Gomorra their grapes are the grapes of gall and their clusters are Deut 32. 32 33 34 35. bittet Their wine is the poyson of Dragons and the cruel venim of Aspes the day of their calamitie is at hand and the evil things that shall come upon them make haft Yet the Roman Catholicks say that they are the true Church So saith the Prelaticall Church for themselves and so say other churches for themselves But there is but one way of holyness in which all Christians ought to walk as they hope for salvation and that is the way of Separation for the Scripture saith What fellowship hath righteousness 2 Cor. 6. with unrighteousness What communion hath light with darkness what concord hath Christ with Belial what part hath the believer with the infidels what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols For the Church of God is the Temple of God wherein God hath promised to dwell and walk Therefore Gods people must come out from amongst the Antichristian assemblies and be seperate and not touch the unclean thing For the Church of Christ is set forth by the Apostle Peter to consist of lively stones built up a 1 Pet 2. 5. Spiritual house they are Gods peculiar people seperated from the world in matters of Spiritual Worship But the churches of Antichrist consist of mixed swarms of sinners unrighteous persons 1 Cor. 6. 9. 1 Pet. 4. 17 18. and the Scripture saith the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of God Be not deceived neither fornicators nor Idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor theeves nor coveteous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the Kingdome of God I know Antichrists Churches will labour to justifie themselves by the infirmities of others The incestious person say they was suffered by the Church of Corinth but they should observe that that church upon admonition did put 2 Cor. 7. 11 away from amongst them that wicked person They sorrowed after a godly sort it wrought in them carefulness clearing of themselves indignation fear vehement desire zeal revenge in all things they approved themselves to be clear of this matter Now the churches of Antichrist consist of a mixed multitude of sinners such as are before mentioned swarms of Fornicatos Lyars Sabbath breakers and and Idolaters eating and drinking and dancing about Dame Flora's pillars Swearing and cursing is common amongst them yea swearing by the Mass as Israel did by the sin of Samaria much used in the countryes yea the names of the Idol gods are frequent in their mouthes not in contempt of them but in praise they are the foretops and frontis-peeces of their Triumphals It s a common thing for them not only to revile one another in jest and in earnest but those who reprove or convict them of sin they malitiously reproach and slander as the heathens vilified the christians in the time of the ten persecutions which doth greatly aggravate these obstinate sinners sin and manifesteth them to be vessels of wrath fitted for destruction The abominable sin of Pride the deadly sin of flothfulnesse the detestible sins of drunkenesse and whoredom
A new and true Description of the WORLD As it is now divided In four parts Heathens Jewes Turks Christians WOe unto the World because Mat. 18. 7 of offences saith Christ to his Disciples Because ye are not of the World but I have chosen you out of the world John 1â— 19 therefore the world hateth you By the World here is meant the peo of the World which the Scripture calleth the evil World The Number of ungodly men and not the people of God for none are Gods peculiar people but such as obey his voice and keep his Covenant Exo. 19 5. And the Apostle John saith We know that we are of God and the whole world lyeth in wickednesse Iohn 5. 19. And as the world hath encreased sin hath abounded and its a great question whether when the Son of man cometh he Luk. 18. 8. shall find faith on the earth AFter the old Creation In the year of the world one thousand six hundred fifty and six The old World 2 Pet. 2. 5. which the Apostle Peter calleth the world of the ungodly That world utterly perished by the Flood In which time of destruction the Church of God which then consisted but of few even eight persons was preserved remaining 1 Pet. 3. 20. about three hundred seventy and five dayes in Noah's Arke Then when the flood was gone and the earth was dryed they went out and by Gods blessing encreased and multiplyed upon the earth But most of them fell away from the truth And there began another world of ungodly men and have continued in a way of succession unto this day the children inhetiting their fathers sins and approving of their evil sayings Psal 49. 13 This is the world but not the world whichi was before the Flood nor the world to come but this present evil world described in this Treatise BEfore the decease of Noah even in the dayes of Peleg the earth was divided For at the building of Babel Gen. 10. 25 11. God confounded the language of all the people of the earth for their pride vain glory and infidelitie and scattered them abroad throughout all the earth And did set the Bounds of the people of each language that they should seek the Act. 17 26. Lord. But in stead of seeking the Eternal God that made them they fell to making and worshiping Idols according to their own fancies And Babilon was the principal seat of Idolatry and abounded in Zech. 5. 6 11. Tyrany yet it was called the glory of Isa 13 19. Kingdomes and the beauty of the Chaldeans Excelencie and continued above thirty generations until the seventy years of the Captivity of Judah ended And since that golden Kingdom ceased all the other three Persian Grecian and Roman successive worldly Monarchs have been inferior in worldly Dan. 2. 38 39 40. dignity as Silver is inferior to Gold and Brass to Silver and Iron to Brass although they were never soe successful in their victorious conquests the later against the former Yet notwithstanding the Lord of hosts hath in the times before of old as well as since punished the Kingdoms and Nations for their sins especially for their Idolatry Nation rose up against Nation and Kingdome against Kingdome and made great warrs against each other particularly before the destruction of Sodome and Gomora with fire and brimstone Amraphel King of Shynar Arioch King of Alasar Cheodarlaomer King of Elam and Tydall King of Nations These made warre against five Kings and their Subjects which rebelled against them and subdued them and smote the Rephaims and the Zuzims and the Emims and the Horites and Amorites and victoriously conquered those Giants whose height was as Cedars and their strength as Deut 2. â—0 11. 12. 20. Oakes and they took the spoil with those they led captive But those Conquering Kings taking just Lot captive who was no Idolater but a true worshiper of the living God it was their ruine for God who had raised up Abram from Ur of the Chaldeans Neh 9. 7 Isa 41 1 2 3. and after called him from Charan of Mesopotamia into the land of Canaan and gave the Nations before him and made him rule over Kings he gave them as dust to his sword and as driven stubble to his bow he pursued them and passed safely by the way that he had not gone For that Story in Genesis 14 saith That when Abram heard that his brother Lot was taken captive he with his trained servants three hundred and eighteen pursued those Armies and recovered all and slew Chedarlaomer King of Elam and the Kings that were with him and brought back the Captives with the spoyle which wonderful and victorious Conquest did put the world in a maze and filled their hearts with fear and terror for they were all Idolaters And Abram and his fellowes were contrary unto them in Religion as light is to darknesse Then upon this mighty and wonderful Conquest The Isles feared The ends of the earth were afraid drew near and came and fell to making more Idols in stead of turning to the Lord. They helped every one his Neighbour and every one said to his brother be of good courage So the Carpenter encouraged the Goldsmith and he that smoothed with the hammer him that smote the Anvill saying It is ready for sodering and he fastened it with Isa 41. 24 29. nayles that it should not be moved But they were worse then nothing an abomination and their Images wind and confusion Yet the world continued still in wickednes and would not be perswaded from their false worship by all Gods chastisements of them and the remarkable examples of Gods judgments against Sodom and Egypt and his wonderfull miracles which appeared afterwards Iosh 2. 9 10 11. Exo. 15. 14 15 16. and were famous to the world but their hearts were hardened to their own destruction for one and thirty Kings and their kingdomes were destroyed by Iosh 12. â—4 Joshua and none made their peace save only the Gibeonites who became hewers Iosh 9. of wood and drawers of water for the sanctuary of the Lord. After God had setled his peculiar people Act. 1â— 20. the Israelites in their land dividing it to them by lot he gave them Judges until Samuel the Prophet And afterwards they desired a King before the time And God gave them v. 21. King Saul whom he anoynted who reigned forty years v. 22. And when he had removed him he raised up unto them David to be their King who reigned forty years Afterwards Solomon reigned over all Israel the space of forty years without warre Judah and Israel were many as 2 Chr. 9. â—0 1 Kin. 11. 12 4â— 2 Chr. 9. 26. 1 Kin. 12. 24. 2 Chr. 11. 4. the sand which is by the Sea for multitude eating and drinking and making merry But afterwards for Solomons Apostacy and Idolatry God did rend ten parts of
his Kingdome from his son Rehoboam and made Jeroboam the son of Nebat King of Israel even over ten Tribes without warrs which King fell to Idolatry and made Golden calves for gods and builded high places for his false worship against the lawes of God and set up 1 Kin 12 24 base fellowes to be priests of those high places and made other alterations in matters of Gods worship by his evil counsel which he took which the multitude 1 Kin 12 28 31. 13 33 13 â—5 16 2 Kin 13 3 â—7 followed for which God punished them with warre and other calamities for five hundred thousand chosen men out of 800000 valliant men of King Jeroboams Armie were slain in one battail And afterwards they were greatly diminished by several judgments unto the time of Jeoahaz King of Israel in the time of whose reign God delivered them into the hand of the King of Siria who made them low as the dust by threshing so that he did not leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsmen and 2 Kin. 13 7 ten Chariots and ten thousand footmen And in the reign of Hoshea their last and best King all the remnant of Israel were carried away captive by Shalmenazar King of Assiria 2 Kin 17 2 And the Tribe of Judah also with Benjamin fell to Idolatry Therefore God diminished them by thousands and hundreds of thousands by many sore judgments as the sword famine and pestilence And so great was the Lords wrath Ier 15 2 against them that he would not hear their cry nor any prayer for them for he said to his Prophet Jeremiah when they fast I will not hear their cry and pray not for this people But appointed him to take forth the precious from the vile and said Let them return unto thee Ier. 15 19 but return not thou unto them And in the eleventh year of the reign of King Zedekiah they also were carried away 52 captive into Babilon But in Captivitie and affliction Gods people did bethink themselves and repented and their uncircumcised hearts were humbled and they returned to the Lord their God with their whole heart Therefore God comforted them by his promises and Providence and delivered Ester them from the bloody plots of their malignant enemies and caused them to find favour in the sight of them that led them captive And when the seventy years of Judahs captivity were accomplished Ezra Gods people the Jewes were delivered out of captivity and returned again into their own Land and there they renewed their covenant with God and were setled and encreased and multiplyed under the power and protect Nehemiah chapter 9. 36 37 38 Dan. 10. 13 20 21. 8. 5 7 21. on of the King of Persia That silver Monarch until the Prince of Persia withstood them Then God fought against that persecuting Prince and raised up the King of Greece who subdued the Persian power and did bear rule over all the earth and Gods people had liberty of conscience under the Greeks that Brazen Monarch but at last the Saints suffered great persecution for conscience sake Dan. 11. 16 2 Mâ—â— 7. Heb. 11. 35 36 37 38 under that power and were cruely used and exposed to much hardship hunger cold and nakednesse in saving their lives they wandred about in Sheepskins and in Goatskins and were destitute afflicted and tormented and although they were such of whom the world was not worthy for they were the sons of God yet they wandred in deserts in Mountains in dens in caves of the earth Then the Church of God consisting of precious Sains whose conversation was in heaven was as a woman crying travelling in birth pained to be delivered and longing for the coming of Christ Jesus the Son of God to deliver them out of the hands of their enemies that they might serve him without fear in holynesse and righteousnesse before him Luk 1. 74 75 all the dayes of their lives In time before our Saviours birth God raised up the Sons of Syon against Zac. 9. 13. the sons of Greece and made them fight valliantly and do exploits and they Dan. 11. 32 were victorious at several times against their cruel bloody persecutors yet the remainder of their enemies were many and lively and oft times molested them so that the Saints could not be quiet to serve the Lord but were still in fear But God did in process of time put down the Grecian power and did set up the Romans who did bear dominion over all the world under whose Luk 2. 1 2 3 4 5. 1. power Gods people the Jewes lived and had liberty to practice their Religion publiquely in their own land but had no Authority to put any man to death but were subject to the Roman power Ioh. 18. 31 Mat. 22. 19. 21. Mat. 17. 25 Ro. 23. 6. 7. 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. Dan. 9. 25 26. unto whom they paid taxes and Tribute in Christs time which Christ himself submitted unto as his parents before him and his Apostles after and in the four hundred thirty and fourth year after the building of the wall of Jerusalem by Nehemiah Christ Jesus our Lord was crucified and dyed under that Roman power But God the father raised up his son 1 Cor 15. 4 Mat. 28 18 19. Christ on the the third day after his crucifying And gave him all power both in heaven and in earth therefore Christ gave commission to his Apostles to preach the gospel to all nations for their salvation which wrought powerfully and effectually throughout the Gal â— 7. 8 Act 22. 18. Rev 6. 9 20. 13. 16. 11 13 14. 18. â— Acts world amongst Jews and Gentiles But to this day the greater part of them have and do and will stand out against it to their own destruction and although multitudes both of Jews and Gentiles have been converted to the faith yet since those primative times there hath been a great falling away and a general departure from the faith and Order of the 2 Thes 2. 3. 2 Pet 2. 2. Gospel and men have given heed and still give heed to seducing spitits and 1 Tim 4. 2. 3 doctrines of devils speaking lies in hipocrisie having their conscienses seared with an hot Iron forbiding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats against Gods commands And these dayes are the last dayes perillous times wherein men are lovers of their own selves covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to Parents unthankful unholy without natural affection truce breakers false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of those that are good Traytors heady high minded lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God and yet these miscreants 2 Tim 3. 1 5. have a form but not the very form or power of Godlinesse for they deny the same in their conversations from such saith the Apostle turn away although they professe that they