all sculking away Their Plot being laid open and timely prevented laid them open to the scorn of the people and to the anguish and horrour of their own guilty Consciences Thus doth the most wise and righteous God befool insolent men in their never so secretly projected and promoted Plots wherein they do hope to supplant the Son of David our Lord Jesus that Prince of Peace as those did Solomon here and the Church in him But what became of the Plotters Adonijah himself flies to the Horns of the Altar which probably so prophane a Prince had hitherto despised and was pardon'd by this peaceable Prince but upon his good behaviour v. 52. which when he broke in seeking the Kingdome with Abishai Ch. 2. 22. being no small Petition as Bathsheba call'd it v. 20. for Solomons sagacity saw the depths of the Devil in it which his Mother could not dive into for this he lost his life v. 24. as Joab did after him v. 30. where the very Altar could not secure him from Just Vengeance and as for Abiathar he was thrust out from the High-Priesthood v. 37. his Linnen Ephod or sacred Function did not exempt him from Civil Censures as the Romanists plead and so was fulfill'd the Word of the Lord upon Ely's House 1 Sam. 2. 31 35 and had he not been afflicted in all wherein David had been afflicted which was for above forty year he had been also a dead man with Adonijah and Joab for this Conspiracy David dies full of days riches and honour 1 Chron. 29. 28. and leaves the state of the Church honourable Solomon succeeds and brings the Churches State to its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or highest pitch of Glory while Militant which is a Figure of the Kingdome of Christ one greater than Solomon here on Earth David had advanced the splendour of the Church in his Religious provision for the portable Temple to wit the Tabernacle erected in the City of David and also in his Religious preparations for the Fix'd Temple 1. Knowing the place where it should stand to wit on Mount Moriah where Abraham offer'd Isaac Gen. 22. 2 9. and 2 Chro. 3. 1. 2. Receiving the pattern of it by Divine Inspiration 1 Chron. 28. 19. he gave it to Solomon Ch. 29. 11. who by the help of Davids prepar'd materials to wit 1. Spoils of Enemies Ch. 18. 11. 2. An hundred thousand Talents of Gold 3. A thousand thousand Talents of Silver 4. Hewn stone and Timber 5. Iron and Brass without measure Ch. 22.14 6. Precious Stones Ch. 29. 2. 7. His own offerings and those of the Princes and people Ch. 29.4 c. though Solomon added much more of his own store built the most stately and costly Structure the most sumptuous and glorious Edifice that ever was in the World therefore justly called the Worlds Wonder the House of the most High God 2 Chron. 2. 5. and a Type of the Church Triumphant in Heaven as the Tabernacle had been of the Church Militant upon Earth This Temple was twice so long and large every way as was the Tabernacle Exod. 26. as the Temple in Ezek. Ch. 40. 41 42 c. setting forth Gospel-times is described as much bigger than all the old Jerusalem and a new Jerusalem bigger than all the Land of Canaan Solomon finish'd his Temple in the year of the World 3000. Hence some gather that the Spiritual Temple shall be compleated in 3000 more and then the Sabbatical year shall take place as the Sabbath succeeds the six days of the Week In the building of this Magnifical House of the Lord all the materials were made ready before they were brought thither so that there was neither Hammer nor Axe nor any Tool of Iron heard in the House while it was in building 1 King 6. 7. to teach us three things 1. That all true Members of Churches must be sanctified and called to be Saints 1 Cor. 1. 1 2. hewn by the Word and Spirit and made living Stones before Admission 2. That in the Church Militant upon Earth all noise of jars and contentions which are as the knocking of Iron Instruments must be declined 3. That in the Church Triumphant in Heaven there shall be no sorrows nor sufferings all noise of fears and tears shall be done away the State then shall be peaceable and joyful for which the Saints are fitted by the Hammer of Gods Word and the Hand of his Spirit upon the Mountains of this lower World there to enjoy rest and glory The Sanctum Sanctorum of the Temple or Oracle so called because there God used to deliver Divine Answers or Oracles Exod. 30. 5. and Levit. 16. 2. was the place prepared for the Ark of the Covenant to rest in after its many removes and wandrings 1. From the Desart to Gilgal 2. From Gilgal to Shilo 3. From Shilo to the Philistims 4. From thence to Bethshemesh 5. From thence to Kiriath Jearim 6. From thence to the House of Obed-Edom And 7. From thence to Sion the City of David Now Solomon provides a resting place to wit the best part of the Temple the Holy of Holies for this best and most precious piece which had the Law within it and the Mercy-Seat upon it far more precious than the Palladium at Troy the Pessinuntium at Rome or the Image at Athens made by Canetias the Artificer yet said by the covetous Priests to be dropt down from Jupiter Act. 19. 35. as it was the principal Evidence of Gods gracious presence and the lively Type of Christ in whom are hid as in an Ark or Coffer all the Treasures of Gods goodness Col. 2. 3. So that when Solomon dedicates his glorious Fabrick which as Josephus saith dazled the eyes of all its beholders by Sacrifice and Supplication he concludes his Prayer saying Arise now therefore O Lord God into thy resting place thou and the Ark of thy strength 2 Chron. 6. 41. whereby he invites the Lord to take possession of his Temple where his Ark should be no more transportative but setled for a long season Psal 1 â—2 8 9 10. And the Lord testifies his acceptation of all both by Fire from Heaven which was kept alive till the Captivity of Babylon and by filling the House with his Glory 2 Chro. 7. 1. Now was the Church of God by his good hand upon her brought up to such a beauty of Holiness and to such a perfection of dazling splendour like that of the Temple that Religion was had in great Veneration both by Domesticks and Forreigners 1. His own Israel went home so refreshed with the Prayer and the Blessing that they adored the Lord for his goodness to them 1 Kin. 8. 66. and both Hiram King of Yyre praised God for the Blessing that the Church had in Solomon 1 Kin. 5. 7. saying Because the Lord hath loved his people he hath set a Solomon over them 2 Chro. 2. 11. Hence some verily think this Hiram was a Proselited Prince and 2.
all 1 Kin. 11. 11 12 13. 1. For Davids sake which is five times repeated there for his honour and 2. For Jerusalems sake both which had peculiar promises as 1. David 2 Sam. 7. 9 10 11 12 16. all performed by the promiser either in the Types ' or Antitypes 2. Jerusalem that holy City Neh. 11. 1. 18. Isa 52. 1. wherein Zion and the Temple stood and was the special Type of the Church Psal 51. 18. Isa 62. 1 7. and 66. 20. Revel 21. 2. and therein God promis'd to David his servant that he should have a light or Lamp always 1 Kin. 11. v. 36. to wit a Royal Successor that should shine before his people which was most properly accomplish'd in Christ Luke 2. 32. The Scepter could not be taken either by men or Devils from Judah until Shilo came Gen. 49. 10. and then was he a light to the Gentiles as he had been and still was a glory to Israel Now though the Devil that Grand Make-bate of the World had a great hand in this Rent or Division together with his Impious Instrument Jeroboam yet the Lord had a greater hand in it to ordain order and over-rule all For thus saith the Lord This thing is from me and the cause was from the Lord as well as from the Devil 1 Kin. 12. 15.24 As it was a sin call'd Rebellion Ch. 12. 19. so it was from the Devil but as it was a punishment of sin both of Solomons Idolatry Ch. 11. v. 11. and of Rehoboams insolency so it was from God as an Act of Justice from the Supreme Judge Am. 3. 6. God here withdraws the Spirit of Wisdom from Rehoboam and leaves him to his own egregious folly as Chap. 22. 23. 2 Chron. 25. 20. and 32. 31. God knows how to order the disorders of the World to his own glory as having an over-ruling Providence beyond mans purpose and an over-pouring power still to preserve his poor Church though Solomon had been sharing himself betwixt God and Idols and therefore his servant Jeroboam shall share the Kingdome with his Son Rehoboam yea and bear away the better half from him yet Judah still rules with God and God with them and is faithful with the Saints When Ephraim the ten Tribes compassed God about with lyes Hos 11. v. 12. that is while back-sliding Israel went after their Leaden Priests made by Jeroboam of the basest of the people and their Golden Calves Judah kept tite to the Temple-worship and firm in the true Religion Thus the most gracious God even in the midst of wrath remembers mercy and leaves this blessing soon repenting of the evil behind him that a Lamp should be lighted in Jerusalem which the most boistrous blasts of the Devil and his Instruments should not blow out The Sixteenth Plot against the CHURCH in Canaan Defeated by GOD. CHAP. XVI NOw when the Devil had divided so great a share of Davids Kingdome to himself by Divine Permission the Lord of the Soyl Hos 9. 3. Isa 8. 8. giving way for his own glory to such sad Incroachments he falls upon sowing the cursed seed of his Tares upon the Lords Land among those Tribes who disdain'd to live any longer by the Lords Law Oh wonderful there was no visible Church upon Earth at this time but in the Land of Promise and yet the only wise God gives up to Satan when all the World lay in wickedness 1 Joh. 5. 19. and so in the possession of that wicked one even the largest share of his own Land also though it was but a little spot of Land no bigger than our Wales in all Thus the Lords Land Levit. 25. 23. became the Devils Land too in the greatest part with all the rest of the Habitable World Oh how unsearchable are the ways of the Lord and his works past find-out Rom. 11. 33 34 35. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh the bottomless depth of Divine Wisdome the Devil having got this leave against Israel as once against Job when Gods Hedge was gone begins to lay waste Gods Vineyard Isa 5. 5 6. He now falls to work for debauching Israel he first makes them cast off their true Soveraign and chuse a false one Jeroboam the Son of Nebat must be the man one that wanted neither Craft nor Courage to back this Horse which had cast his Rider Next to Achitophel the Devil had not a craftier Head to plot against the Church than this Leader of the Faction and Fraction As the subtil Serpent infused into him his subtilty for stealing a Scepter so for securing it to him when he had stoln it His Plotting Head had this considering Cap upon it 't was but a pang of discontent that made me King violent things are not permanent sudden Paroxysmes or Fits of passion have as sudden Relaxations and recoveries the Revolters cannot return thrice a year to the Temple in Jerusalem as God commands them Exod. 34. 23. but 't will make them revolt from me and return to Rehoboam I must either keep them off from God or I shall never keep them off from Loyalty and Piety Therefore to give them a pleasant Diversion when he durst not offer a direct Restraint and Prohibition he changes and adulterates that Religion which he dare neither inhibit nor abolish Hereupon this new King plots to make Israel a new God and for their ease nearer home too that they might not be toiled with going so far as the Temple pretending to be more merciful to the people than the most merciful God yea and more prudent than he in his more compendious and plausible way of worship altogether accommodated to the ease and humour of the people Aaron had humour'd Israel with one Golden Calf such as they had seen long in Egypt Exod. 32. 4. Now Jeroboam who had lately lived there 1 Kin. 11. 40. judges it proper after Aarons example to humour them with two which he sets up at Dan and Bethel at both the ends of the Land North and South 1 Kin. 12. 27 28 29. Thus took he crafty counsel of his cursed Courtiers and so he might secure his Realm and Region he matter'd not though Religion were run down to ruine And this thing became a sin to Israel v. 30. a most heinous sin though it was but a base thing this Image was one of the basest Psal 106. 20. The Image of a Calf eating Hay Oh what Brutish Creatures were Israel made by an Intoxicating Devil Psal 115. 8. so as to fall down and worship such a Brutish Creature as a Calf as soon as it was set up yea that service which was only due to God was performed to Devils in this base thing 2 Chron. 11. 15. all Idolatry is Devil-worship all Devotion that is not done to God nor by a Divine Warrant is done to the Devil there is no Medium or Mean betwixt them 1 Cor. 10. 20 21. Revel 9. 20. Now the Devil that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Idol-lover had
care of his Church and of his Promise to Abraham even when he seems to have Utterly Abandon'd them The same Graciousness that had sent Prophets to them all along their Revolt and a Promise of the Messiah at the same time their Rejection was foretold Isa 7. 8. within 65 Y. of its comming to pass That the Lord would not quite cast off the House of David till a Virgin have born a Son and he to be God in our Nature v. 14. and this Son to be Born in Bethelem One that should tread down all the Churches Enemies and be her Peace c. Micah 5. 1 2 3 4 5. yet would be War to the Assyrians in sending Lyons among them as before all which doth show That this Antient People of the Ten Tribes are not altogether Abandon'd and Abolish'd but God reserves this Honour for them to Vouchsafe them a Call to the Participation of Christ but more of that in New-Testament-times Ezek. 37. 16 19. Jer. 3. 12 13. c. Isa 11. 12 13. Obad. 20. Rom. 11. 15 26. The Seventeenth Plot against the CHURCH in Judah Defeated by GOD. CHAP. XVII WHen the Devil saw how successful he had been in Debauching and Destroying the Ten Tribes of Israel He falls upon his 17th Plot against the Kingdom of Judah which yet Ruled with God and was Faithful with the Saints Hos 11. 12. God was sincerely served amongst them and they Held fast their first integrity the True Religion was Publickly Professed and the True Worship of God was Purely Preserved in the Temple at Jerusalem This made Abijah the next to Rehoboam though none of the best to boast so boldly and therefore prevailed 2 Chro. 13. 10 17. Israels Apostacy was not onely Aggravated but also Vanquished by Judahs Integrity yea and Judah was Kind Courteous and Communicative to those good Souls that left the Ten Tribes and came thither to Injoy the Pure and Publick Worship of God This the Envious One espying and Envying Endeavours to Corrupt Jerusalem as he had done Samaria that so Aholah and Aholibah might be both Alike nay the latter to be worse than the former as afterwards Ezek. 16. 2 45 48. and 23. 4 11. Yea that Prince of the Ayr the Devil never gave over his stormy Blasts with his stinking Breath until he had Blown out that Lamp which God had promis'd to give David in Jerusalem 1 Kin. 15. 4. at the last which did fall out about the 3420 Y. of the World in the 11th Y. of Zedekiah when Ezekiels 390 Y. mentioned Ezek. 4. 5. were exactly accomplish'd in that fatal Fall of Jerusalem for which Jeremy Writt his Book of Lamentations to Condole the sad Condition of the Church because the Crown was faln from her Head Lam. 5. 15 16. and her Light or Lamp was Extinct by the Devils Extinguisher then was she brought into darkness and not into light Lam. 3. 2. and removed into dark places as they that be dead v. 6. so put into the Dark Graves of Babylon until the Time of their Opening came Ezek. 37. 12. c. Now to Reduce the Church to this faln and Extinct Estate The Devil Designs against her many Maladies and 't is remarkable God sent her as many Remedies in Raising up a good King for a bad a good King for a bad almost all-along whereas those of Israel were all bad Universally until they had sinned themselves beyond the Reach of all Remedies Prov. 22. 1. 2 Chro. 36. 16. Oh Dreadful and Direful Divine Sentence Satans first Blast against the Lamp of the Church in this 17th Plot was in Rehoboam who at 41 Y. old was Childish and Simple 2 Chro. 12. 13. with 13. 7. but of an Haughty and Hard-oppressing Spirit so prooved himself a very Fool Eccles 2. 19. though he were the Son of so Wise a Father a very fit Tool for the Devil and though for 3 Y. he did Well 2 Chron. 11. 17. yet after he did Evil and Judah with him which brought up Shishak K. of Aegypt to Plunder Jerusalem 1 Kin. 14. 22 23 24. Upon this the Devil got the Golden Shields of Solomon changed into Brazen ones v. 27. as he had made the faithful City now to become an Harlot No Wonder therefore that her Silver was become Dross and her Gold turned into Brass Isa 1. 21 22. Shishak prompted to this Enterprize by Jeroboam who had lived in the Court of Aegypt and as some say Married a Wife of the Blood-Royal easily prevaileth through the Pusillanimity and Effeminacy of Rehoboam but especially because Judah had Transgressed against the Lord 2 Chron. 12. 2. His Prevalency could not have happened without the Church's Prevarication Notwithstanding at the Preaching of the Prophet Shemaiah which was a great Divine favour both Princes and People Humbled themselves v. 5 6. which was a greater Divine favour but the greatest of all was that God did not then pour out his whole Wrath but granted them some Deliverance v. 7 8. So that things went well in Judah v. 12. The Devils 2d Blast against Davids promised Lamp was in the Reign of Rehoboams Son call'd Abijah 2 Chron. 12. 16. so his Father named him signifying The Lord is my Father with Respect to that Promise made to David 2 Sam. 7. 14. but because he Walked not in the ways of David therefore is Abijah called Abijam 1 Kin. 15. 1. which signifies My Father is a Sea Indeed his Father was as Inconstant in good as the Fluctuating Sea because he Prepared not his Heart to seek the Lord 2 Chro. 12. 24. he had only some slashy and fleeting Resolutions in his aforesaid Humblings but he did not draw them out into Execution because they Sprang not from his Heart that right Spring of all True goodness so they were soon off again and he wavering like a wave of the Sea Jam. 1.6 was driven by the Wind of Temptation to do Evil and so Dyes leaving a Diminish'd and Impoverish'd Kingdom to his Son Abijah or Abijam who did Evil like his Father Though the Book of Chronicles layeth no Wickedness to his Charge so joyns Jah the Name of God to his name Abijah yet the Book of Kings Chargeth him with the Wickedness of his Fathers ways and therefore calls him Abijam as above 1 Kin. 15. 3. Though at first when he went out to War against Jeroboams vast Army he seemed to be good pretending to and pleading hard for Religion 2 Chron. 13. 5 10 12. and praying to God in his Distress v. 14. and believing in God v. 18. but being puffed up with this great Victory he falls away and shew'd himself in his Colours treading in the same Dirty steps of his Idolatrous Father who when he Recover'd Bethel from Jeroboam 2 Chron. 13. 19. did not Destroy the Calf and Idolatry there for which cause 't is probable God shorten'd both his Reign and his Life Oh what a sad Aspect had the Church in that Day when not onely Israel Worship'd Jeroboams
1 Shemaiah the Prophet Neh. 6. 10 12 13. and 2ly Noadiah the Prophetess c. v. 14. All these had Linguam Venalem were meerly Mercenary ☞ Thus the Churches Adversaries can be at Cost and Charge to Corrupt Gods People and such Hypocritical persons may easily by Hire be Corrupted the Suffrages of a great many Bribed Prophets are not so much to be Numbred as Ponder'd their concurring Consent in an evil Matter was not so much Vnity as Conspiracy neither did the Devil Rest here in giving Disturbance from Without but 2ly the Church must have Disturbance from within also by their own People and Brethren and that 1. by Mutiny Neh. 5. 1. and there was a great Cry of the People as if it had been the outragious Uproar of a Seditious Faction which is as Dangerous and as Threatning a Deluge as the Head-strong Water when once it is out of its Banks 2. by Treachery some of the Nobles Maintain a private Correspondency with their Enemies just as it is at this Day Neh. 6. 17. Tobiah that Cursed Adversary of the Church had his Pensioners among the Jews and such as were his Sworn-Servants to be true to him and to promote his Designs because he was Son-in-Law to Shecaniah Ezra 2. 5. whose Son had Marryed the Daughter of Meshullam a Zealous Builder Neh. 3.4 This Mischief mix'd Marriages brought upon them Neh. 6. 18. and 3. 5. The Sooty Souls of those Nobles or Hebr. White Ones under their White Garments were too Stiff to Stoop to Gods Service but not to the Devils Notwithstanding all this The Lord Laughs all the Devils Design to nothing Nehemiah under all his Difficulties directs his Prayer to God Neh. 4. 4 5. This was his Sanctuary he slyes to Easing his own Grieved Heart by Breathing Heaven-ward and turning over all the Churches Adversaries into the Hands of the Captain of his Salvation he looking upon himself but as a private Souldier under him to take them all to Task ☞ Woe to those Enemies against whom Saints do Pray as he did Turn their Reproach upon their own Heads Give them for a Prey and Cover not their Iniquity If they onely be Blessed whose Sin is covered Psal 32. 1. Oh what a Curse do they lie under whose Condition is contrary Nehemiah makes Prayr all along his City of Refuge His Anchor in all Storms His Salve for all Sores Neh. 4. 9. and this brought all the Counsel of the Devil and his Imps to nought v. 15. Psal 33. 10 11. God Strengthned his Hands in his Work as he Weakened the Hands of their Enemies Neh. 6. 9. So that he Finished the Wall of Jerusalem maugre their Malice v. 15. The Feasts of Tabernacles was kept Ch. 8. and a Solemn Fast Ch. 8. and 9. a Solemn Covenant is Entred into Ch. 10. Offices are Ordered Ch. 12. The Temple Purged and Religion Reformed Ch. 13 c. See more of this further on Nehemiah in the 20th Plot next Following The Twentieth Plot against the CHURCH in Persia Defeated by GOD. CHAP. XX. THe 3d. and last Plot of the Devils in the Old Testament was against the Church that Return'd not with their Brethren out of Captivity but continued 1 in Babylon and 2 in Shushan where they had Built Houses and Planted Gardens c Jer. 29. 6. and so were unwilling to leave them and their Estates they had gathered with Gods Blessing upon their Obedience to Gods Prophet in them There were indeed a Sordid sort to wit the Posterity of Selab who preferr'd the Service of the King of Babylon above the Freedom of the Land of Promise 1 Chron. 4. 23. They could be content to drudge in making Pots in Babylon as their fore-Fathers had made Brick in Aegypt both those Works were but Mortar-Works Exod. 1. 11. There they stay'd with the King of Babylon for his Work 1 Chron 4. 23. which Scripture shows ☞ that Ezra Wrote those Two Books of the Chronicles after the Jews Return from their Captivity but there were others that might stay there upon more Noble Accounts as 1 Daniel did and his Three Noble Companions whose continuance there conduced more 1. for Gods Glory for though those Four eminent Servants of God were not Delivered from their Captivity yet God got greater Glory to himself in Delivering Daniel from the Den of Lyons and the Three Nobles from the Fiery Furnace 2. 'T was also more for the Churches Comfort to have Four such Friends and Favourites in the Court of Babylon where her Adversaries were Unweariedly Circumventing her than any Service they could do her in their own Land 3. And 't was likewise more for the Worlds Advantage seeing by this very means those same Heathenish and Idolatrous Kings and their People came to some Knowledge of the True God as appears by Nebuchadnezzar's Cyrus's and Darius's Proclamations 2ly Ezra himself and his Company came not all of them out of Babylon at the first Return upon Cyrus Proclamation Ezra 1. 3. and 2. 2 to 60. and 7. 1. and 8. 35. with Zerubabel nor 3ly did Nehemiah come up with Ezra it being 13 Y. after his Return Ezra 7. 1. and Neh. 2. 1. and 't is much he should Return at all being the Kings Cup-Bearer a place of great Trust and Credit yet a Man of Religion is marvellously trusted with it even by an Heathen King 't was a strange Work of God that Artaxerxes should shew Favour to a stranger a Prisoner and one of a strange Religion which he himself knew not and which his Subjects Hated And 't is as strange a Work of God that Nehemiah a Courtier should leave his Wealth Ease Honour and Authority that he was in and go so far from Court as many Hundred Miles to Dwell in a Tatter'd and Decay'd City among a poor People there to Drudge like a Day-Labourer and that in dayly danger of his Life Therefore is he most deservedly called and counted the 3d. Founder of that Church and Common-Wealth after Joshua and David though Zerubabel began the Temple and Ezra Restor'd the Law yet Nehemiah comes after and Compleats All so became The Comfort of the Lord to his Church according to the signication of his Name 4ly God had his Mordecai which signifies Pure Myrrhe or Bitter Contrition 1st in Babylon and then 2 in Shushan he was carried Captive to Babylon about Ten Y. Old in Jeconiahs Captivity 2 Chron. 36. 10. Jer. 24. 1. Ezra 22. 2. Esth 2. 6. according to Junius Dr. Willet and Dr. Lightfoot's Opinion living about 110 Y. This Mordecai Returns to Jerusalem when the Captivity was sent back again to their own Countrey by Cyrus Ezra 2. 2. and there had Helped forward their Settlement so long as the Temple-Work was allow'd to go forward but when that was Hindred by Cambyses all his Life time He with many others Return back again to their Old Residence into Babylonia or Persia As soon as Darius had Conquer'd Babylon Dan. 5. 34. he Models his
and wearing Arms against God and so Exposing themselves to his Wrath Matth. 28. 4. and 't was the Trembling of the Earth that now had Possession of Christ who proved too Hot a Mouthful for it to swallow Act. 2. 24. together with the Apparition of a Glorious Angel Rouling away the great Stone from the Mouth of the Sepulchre and sitting down upon it in Despight of the Guard as a Conquerour which made the Watch Tremble the stoutest of the Devils Champions shrink and shrivel away when Christ begins to Display his Glory Neither the Weight of the great Stone nor the Watch of the Stout Souldiers nor yet the Bands of Death stronger than all so strong as to hold fast many Millions of Men from Adam to this Day under the power of Death could Hold the Dead Body of Christ from Rising beyond his own time To all those Three Impeding Maladies God found out and Applyed as many even Three most Effectual Remedies for 1. The great Stone that was laid upon the Tomb by Man was Roul'd away by an Angel 2. The Earth-quake makes an Heart-quake in the Watch insomuch that they though Sixty of them according to Theophylact are all Affrighted away And 3 the Deity of Christ Losed or Broke the Bands of Death Act 2. 24. for Chist being Life Essential it was not possible he should be Holden of them therefore he Swallowed up Death in Victory 1 Cor. 15. 54. His Resurrection was to be the Demonstration of His Divine Nature Rom. 1. 4. and the Foundation of our Faith and Perseverance 1 Cor. 15. 14. notwithstanding their malicious Wresting of Christs words Destroy this Temple of my Body yet I will Raise it again the Third Day Joh 2. 19. the meaning of which they Invert and made it a matter of Accusation against him at his Arraignment Matth. 26. 61. but after his Interrment they take up his Right meaning and made Advantage of it for Secureing him fast in his Sepulchre calling the Faithful and True Witness Revel 1. 5. and 3. 7. this Cheat or Deceiver Matth. 27. 63. yet the Lord turns all their Wicked Counsel into Folly 2 Sam. 15. 31. 1 Cor. 1. 19 25. c. and in the sight and Despight of Sixty Weaponed Witnesses After the Sun of Righteousness had been sett in the Grave Six and Thirty Hours just so long as the Sun in the Firmament had his Course stop'd on Joshuahs long Day Josh 10. 13. Then did Christ Break the Bonds of Death as easily as Samson did his Green Wit hs Judg. 16.7 and Rose up on the first Day to bring Life and Immortality to light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. upon the same Day that God had drawn out of that Abhorred Estate of Nothing and brought the first Light out of Original Darkness by his Almighty Word Gen. 1. 2 5. The Twenty-Fifth Plot in the New-Testament against the Church in Apostles Defeated by God CHAP. XXV AFter a few Days that Christ was Risen out of his Grave he Rode up to Heaven as a Conquerour in his Triumphant Chariot over Sin Death Hell and Devil leading Captivity Captive that is Captivating all those Four who had held us in Captivity 2 Tim. 2. 26. Just as in the Roman-Triumphs the Great Conquerour Rode up to the Capitol in a Chariot of State and all their Prisoners following behind with their Hands bound behind them He Throwing certain pieces of Coin abroad all along as he Ascended to be pick'd up by the People Even so our Lord Christ that Mighty Conquerour in the Day of his Solemn Coronation or Inauguration into his Heavenly Kingdom Triumphed over all those Spiritual Adversaries of his Church making a shew of them openly Col. 2. 15. as Tamberlain did the Great Turk Bajazet whom he carried about all Asia shut up in an Iron-Cage to be seen of all Spectators on every side for Scorn and Derision And Christ likewise that the Grandeur of his Glorious Conquest might be more magnificently Celebrated gave great Gifts to Men 'T is said he Received those Gifts before in the Old Testament Psal 68. 18. and he Gave them now in the New Ephes 4. 8. He Received them that he might Give them he therefore Receives them with one Hand and Gives them with the other Accounting it more Honourable to give than to receive Act. 20. 35. Now the Gifts Christ gave to his Church were both Ordinary and Extraordinary to wit Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastours Teachers All Gifted by God for the Perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry and for the Edifying of the Body of Christ Ephes 4. 8 11 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is for the right Joynting of what ever the Devil may Disjoynt even to the End of the World v. 13. before which a compleat comming up into an Vnity of the Faith and unto that full Measure of the Stature of Christ even a Perfection of Grace cannot be expected Hence Christ Insists upon this point that his going from his Disciples was as Expedient as his comming to them Joh. 16. 7. He came to them that he might Converse with them in the Flesh but he must Depart from them that he might Conferr upon them his Spirit Christ had often promis'd to send the Spirit or Comforter to them in his Life time John 14. 16 26. and 15. 26. and 16. 7. that they might once observe it as an unparallel Priviledge to have the Spirit which is the best of all things powred down upon all Flesh the worst of all things Hos 8. 13. Joel 2. 28. Christ tells them that this Spirit whom he calls Another Comforter whereof they would stand in need during his Departure in an Evil World should be as his Vicar-General with whom he would leave them in a dark forlorn World and by whom he would be with them and with their Successors even to the End of the World Mat. 28. 20. Now after his Resurrection He Breath'd on them saying Receive ye the Holy Ghost Joh. 20. 22. as Adam received Life by Gods Breathing upon him so the Disciples received a power of Life and Death of Remission of Sin and Execution of Judgment as Act. 5. 5. 10. by Christs Breathing upon them or at least this Breathing was a prefiguring-preparation for their further and fuller Reception of the Spirit upon the Day of Pentecost which Christ had Promised Luk. 24. 49. and did perform over and over again Act. 2. 2 3 4. and 4. 31 33. whereby they were Enabled as Christ had told them to do greater Works than he did Joh. 14. 12. not for the Manner they doing all in Christs Name not in their own nor as Equal with God but for matter greater as 1 Converting Three Thousand Souls at one Sermon alas now not one Soul scarce is Converted by Three Thousand Sermons Act. 2. 41. 2 Curcing the Diseased not onely by a Word speaking or an Hand touching but also by the shaddow of Peter passing by Act. 5.
Ierusalem He gets Letters-Patents from the High-Priest to range abroad and to worry Christs Lambs at Damascus v. 2. The going out of the Gospel from Ierusalem to the Gentiles makes Satan Mad Satan makes Saul Mad Hereupon he Rides or Runs Post after it to reclaim and Suppress it thus far the Devils Bowl runs well but now it meets with a Rubb that casts it quite out of the way and that which was most Vexatious this Rubb falls out when the Bowl was well nigh got home to the Jack even when Saul was come neer to Damascus Act. 9. 3. Damascus the chief City of Syria or Damesec signifying a Bagg of Blood so called because there 't is supposed Cain Murdered Abel was Distant from Ierusalem 160 miles or Six Days Journey Saul was suffer'd by his Saviour to become an Apparitor or Inquisitor against private Meetings of Hereticks Christians so called this was more than a bare Base Informer he must get a full Commission for doing much Mischief by Authority he must Travel without Disturbance Five Days Journey and be also towards the end of his 6th even neer Damascus and not one Rub or Remora we read of doth he meet with in all this Wicked Work and Wretched Way and it may be easily Imagined what Bloody Thoughts this Blood-Hound Saul had Suggested into his Mischievous mind by Satan all the way as he went Oh how did he Hope to Pepper the poor Christians with a full Execution of his Barbarous Designs Oh how was he Delighted to espy on the Road his Dear Damascus where his Design lay when he came neer to it and so neer as to behold it no doubt but he meant to fill that Bag of Blood as Damascus signifies with a great deal more of the Blood of many Righteous Abels and he Resolv'd to do something in order hereunto before he slept that 6th Night but Behold in the midst of all those his Murdering Imaginations and Hellish Machinations Christ meets him and Vnhorst him or Knock'd him down with a Thunder-Bolt or Flash of Lightning when almost at his Journeys end there he stumbl'd upon that stumbling-Stone the Rock of Ages as well as of Offence and falls to the Earth Act. 9. 3 4. and 't is a Wonder he brake not all his Bones and that his Breath was not beaten out of his Body yea that his Carcass was not hung up in Gibbets as a publick Warning to all Bloody Persecutors that the Churches of Christ might have the more Rest and Respite thereby No Christs thoughts are not as ours 't is True Christs Throws and Blows with his Heavy Hand are Deadly to effect the aforesaid and his Anger is Destructive to such as will not Kiss him with a Kiss of Subjection he saith a little of his Wrath will make them Perish in the midst of their way of their Plots and of their Lives Psa 2. 12. yet lo together with the Beams of his Glory Christ here shews the Bowels of his pitty though now he be in Heaven in a Glorified Estate yet hath he still his Heart as kindly affected to Sinners as when he was upon Earth though he hath chang'd his Honour yet not his Nature he is as kind and loving as ever yea more for it is Glorifi'd Love that is now in Christ though he now be free from Passion as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or uncapable of Suffering yet not at all from Compassion still hath He a kind of Feeling as well as Fellow-Feeling in those Words Saul Saul why Persecutest thou me Act. 9. 4. the Head of the Church Christ feels himself Wounded in his Members the Saints Christ liveth in them Gal. 2. 20. their Reproaches are his Hebr. 13. 13. and their sufferings are his Col. 1. 24. Saul Hearing from this Compassionate Christ that he was but kicking against the Pricks v. 5. that is In his mad marching to Damascus he was but Hurting himself in Hurting the Saints he Truckles and becomes of a mad Bull of Bashan Tractable to Christs Yoke * Oh matchless Mercy in Christ thus to make of a Worrying Wolf such a Blessed Shepheard of his Flock of Sheep Then had the Churches Rest c. v. 31. when the Wolf was chang'd into a Lamb yea into a Pastor or Feeder and Defender of the Lambs of Christ ☞ God hath still this way open whereby to give Rest to his Afflicted Chruches He can Convert as well as Confound the worst of their Persecutors 'T is plain here Satan lost and Christ gain'd the Game Satans 6th Assault was upon Saul himself when converted into Paul so call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Cessando because Christ caused the Flame of Hell-Fire to Cease in him no sooner was the Fire of Hell caused to cease in Saul and he become Paul but presently the Fire of Hell from Satan began to flame out against him Tempora Mutantur etiam persona c. Now Satans principal Assaulter of the Church is become the principal Assaulted by Satan in the Church now Satans prime Apostle or as the Word signifies Messenger with his Credentials and Plenipotentiary Letters-Pattents from the Soveraign Sanhredrim for persecuting the Church becomes a prime Apostle of Christ with all Apostolical Qualifications thereunto for the preserving and protecting of the Church this makes the Devil mad against him and not onely to hinder him at every turn in his Work as himself sayeth 1 Thess 2. 18. but also doth his Utmost not onely to Hurt him yea and to Hand him out of the way by some of those often Perils he brought him into 2 Cor. 11. 14 24 to 30. Paul Describes his Perils and Passions both by Sea and Land by Forraigners and Domesticks all Satans Instruments in a Golden Flood of Eloquence to which Demosthenes is but Dull yet here again the Devil was Defeated in this Design also by a marvelous Hand of God for 1. Paul after he had been struck Blind with the Lightning and was led Blind into Damascus which he would so gladly have seen and been at for persecuting the Christians to shew him he was but Blind in that Rage against them and after he had Afflicted his Soul in Fasting Three Days and receiving his Sight both of Soul and Body by his Rapture into Heaven as some say 2 Cor. 12. 2. becometh Insatiabilis Christi Concionator an Unwearyed Preacher of Christ Act. 9. 20 22. both there and in Arabia Gal. 1. 17 18. God Chain'd up Satan for Three Y. so that he could not Act any Violence against Paul all that time God gave him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sufficient or so many Days Act. 9. 23. or Three Y. so long a time to Settle e're he call'd him to Suffer the good Husbandman turns not the crushing Wheel upon his tender Cummin nor his hard Flail upon his soft Fitches Isa 28. 26. when Paul was well confirmed in the Faith then the Devil hath leave to stirr up Layers in Wait against him but God both Discover'd it
lastly Christ was not gone from them much less had deliver'd them up unto Satan but still Walked in the midst of His Golden Candlesticks Revel 1. 13. and standing at the Door Knocking both by Outward Means and Inward Motions by the Hammer of his Word and by the Hand of his Spirit Revel 3. 20. with those Seven Epistles together with His own Return and Personal Preaching to them after the Death of Domition he marvelously Repaired Refreshed and Established those Seven Churches well-nigh laid waste by the Cruelty and Tyranny of that Persecuting Emperour In that Isle also whither he was Banish'd from all Humane Society Christ came to him and gave him to Write not onely that Excellent Gospel so useful for Defence of Christs Divinity against the Blasphemies of Cerinthus c. And those Blessed Epistles of His the 1st 2d and 3d. but also the Revelation of things to come Rev. 1. 19. and 4. 1. Even all the Wretched Maladies that should befall the Church and all the Blessed Remedies for Her Deliverance to the End of the World Thus in all this also God over-Shoots Satan in his own Bow and left not himself without Witness Act. 14. 17. This Bloody Wretch Domitian was Murder'd by his own Men and the stiff-necked Jews which had all along oppos'd Christ and his Gospel with the utmost Outrage were pay'd Home at last with Matchless Miseries as before both under Vespasian the Father and Titus his Son that were Predecessors to Domitian and this John onely of all the Apostles lived to see in Despight of the Devil and all his Cruel Cut-Throats the Wrath of God come down upon those Christ-Killers to the utmost as Christ had foretold The Twenty-Seventh Plot against the Church-Primitive by the Ten first Persecutions Defeated by God CHAP. XXVII SAtans 27th Plot against the Primitive-Church was manag'd by Rome-Heathen when now Grown Great under her Coesars and became the Lady of Kingdoms and the Imperious Domineering Mistris of the World The Provocation was this 1. The Churches of Asia were Recover'd from their aforesaid Apostacy which it seems began in Pauls time 2 Tim. 1. 15 16. All they which are in Asia are turned from me c. being ashamed of his Bonds by Johns Ministry 2. The Gospel was spread all the World over by the scatter'd Apostles at the Destruction of Ierusalem until which at least some of them had their Residence there as by Andrew into Scythia Phillip into Pâ—rygia by Bartholomew into Judea by Thomas into Parthia and Persia by Matthew into Aethiopia by Simon Zelotes into Mauritania and Affrica by Judas Brother of James into Edessa by Matthias into Macedonia c. but that which provok'd the Devil and his Imps most of all was 3. that the Gospel should so Prevail and Prosper even in Rome it self where Satans Principal Throne was and that by Paul who was there a Prisoner at large for Two Years Act. 28. 16. Preaching the Kingdom of God v. 23 24 30 31. whereby the Roman-Gentiles were brought into the Obedience of Faith and a Famous Church was Constituted there of those called to be Saints whose Fame was spread for its Faith all the World over by that Resort which was to Rome the Queen of Cities now from all parts of the Earth Rom. 1. 5 to 8. and 16. 19. And still that which was of Greatest Provocation is that not onely the Beloved of God therefore Hated of the Devil were found in Rome it self Rom. 1. 7. but even in Nero's very Family Phil. 4. 22. This Cursed Leaven of Christianity as they call'd it had not onely Leavened Rome the best and chiefest City in the world but also Caesars own Royal Pallace which was the best and chiefest Building in that best and chiefest City All Nero's Court Rang of Paul the Prisoner and the Preacher Hereby the Lord ordered the Futherance of the Gospel Phil. 1. 12. 13. even where Satans Seat or Throne was what could the Court of such a Cursed Caitiff and Cast-away as Nero was be but a Barathrum and Brothel-House abounding with all Abominations quite contrary to the Prince of Anhalts which was call'd Academia Ecclesia Curia a Court a Church and an University And what was this but to Depose the Devil from his Dignity and Dominion and to set up Christ in his Throne No Wonder if this provok'd him to do as John had foretold in his Seal-Prophecy that after the White Horse with Christ upon him to wit the Gospel had spread it self like a Sun-beam Conquering every where and also Crowned for its Conquests by those Primitive Preachers Hâc non Successit aliâ Aggrediendum est Viâ The Devil would then come forth Riding upon his Red Horse together with his Black and with his Pale Horse to bring War Famine of the Word especially yea Death and Hell too in those 1st Ten Bloody Persecutions Revel 6. 2 3 5 7. This is the 1st Branch of the 2d part of that Book which Iohn divides into Two parts 1st an History of things then present 2d a Prophecy of things to come Ch. 1. 19. Now this Rage of this Mad Rider was the first of those things that should be hereafter the whole of the Prophecy being as a Comedy Represented on a Theatre in a Dramatick Dress as in Three Acts the 1. is the Tragical Misery of the Church 2. Her Deliverance 3. Her Doxology or Magnifying her Deliverer So that though the Beginning be the Devils yet always the End is the Lords Jam. 5. 11. and that a Good End for his own Glory and the Churches Comfort As Daniel Assured the Church how it should be preserved to Christs first Comming so John assures no less Preservation to Her from his time to Christs 2d Comming Indeed all the Ten Primitive Persecutors were as Red Horses whom the Devil Rode upon so Bloody that for every Day in the Y. excepting one 5000 were Murder'd as Jerom Writes and the 1. was Bloody Nero that Monster of Mankind notwithstanding his Vtinam Nescirem literas I wish I could not Write my Name to the Execution of any during his Plausible Quinquennium or Five Y. Reign whom the Devil spurr'd up to burn Rome his own Imperial City Singing upon his Harp all the Nine Days it was Burning the Song of Homer about the Burning of Troy and then charg'd it upon the Christians to avoid the Odium of it from himself who had Hired several Villains to Fire it in several places openly casting Fire-Brands if not Fire-Balls amongst the Oyl-Shops and Drugsters yea some of his own Bed-Chamber were seen to carry Flax Toe Torches c. to promote it and his Pretorian Souldiers or Life-Guard Men did not onely further it but even Threaten'd those that Attempted to Quench it crying They knew what they did they had one to bear them out * Now the Christians many of which Paul Salutes in Rom. 16. goes to the Pot Yea Paul himself as he had foretold 2 Tim. 4. 6. to
7. 11 24. and 8. 3 4. so those Locusts here do prevail just the same Term of Time and then it shall be said The Waters are abated or Abating 3. As Noah and his Family the Church onely were Deliver'd from that Deluge so Gods Sealed Ones onely are Saved from this Antichristian Deluge in the Ark or Church 3ly They were limited in their Torment which they put others to their Commission reach'd not to Torment any to Death to them it was given this is oft repeated in the Revelation to shew that Antichrist and his Auxiliaries though Bandying and Bending all their fraud and force for Destroying Souls are so Butted and Bounded by the great God that they all can do no more than is given them from above The Popish Locusts are so Confined in their Commission that as they must not Hurt whom they will save onely those that are not Sealed as in the first Limitation so they must not Hurt as much as they please they have power onely to Hurt but not to Kill ver 5. 10. This was all in the 1st Commission onely to Torture and Torment the Consciences of Men by their Penances Pilgrimages Purgatory c. And though larger power was given after of Killing the Witnesses Chap. 11. 7. and the Saints Chap. 13. 7. Yet while they Killed their Bodies they could never Kill the Souls of any of Gods Sealed Ones as they did of the Vnsealed The Devils 1st Design against the Waldenses Defeated by God CHAP. XXXI THis Ushers in the Devils first Design the first part of this last Plot was against the Waldenses in which God also disappointed him giving still a New Remedy for this New Malady No sooner did the Lord stirr up his Faithful Witnesses Bereng arius the Waldenses and the Albingenses in the 11th Century to give their Testimony against the Kingdom of the Beast which had now overspread the whole Christian World like another Deluge by the help of those Swarms of Innumerable Locusts but then began the Devil in his first Persecution under Papacy to Support by force what he had hitherto Advanc'd by fraud Here the Beast began 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to make his Bloody War against the Seed of the Church Revel 12. 17. as the Red Dragon had done 1st against the Man-Child Constantine whom the Church brought forth after her Ten Sharp Throws in the Ten Primitive Persecutions v. 4. and 2ly against the Woman or Church it self in his Flood of Arrianism v. 5 9 13. Then did the Dragon give Power to the Beast that came out of the Bottomless pit to make War with the Saints to overcome them and to Slay them Rev. 13. 2 7 15. The Occasion of the Beasts first War was this A Knot of Jovial and Jolly Rich Romanists being at their mad Merriments and Pastimes one of them suddenly falls down Dead at which sad Spectacle Peter Waldus a Rich and Learned Citizen of Lions in France and then a boon-Companion with them was much startl'd This Providence God made an Ordinance for his Conversion He Returns Home falls upon Instructing his Family and Familiar-Friends in the Doctrine and Practice of Faith and Repentance as also upon Inveighing against the Ignorance Superstition and Debauchery of the Romish Religion which Indulg'd such Mad-Merry-Meetings as God from Heaven had Testify'd against This Coal being Kindled Kindleth many more Coals which eagerly Hearkened to this 1st Angel Rev. 14. 6 who layd the first Foundation of Romes Ruine from this Waldus Sprang those Good Christians the Waldenses All Kindled with a Coal from Heaven by this Mans Ministery This was Matter enough to make the Devil stir and to Kindle the Beast with a Coal from Hell to wit Alexander the 3d. the same that Betray'd the Emperor into the Turks Hand and that set his Foot upon the Emperors Neck c. as before This Pope first Curses them with Bell Book and Candle 2ly Persecutes them with the Inquisition Fire and Sword c. yet neither this first Game will Satan Win as the Sequel shows for 1 Sanguis Martyrum est Semen Ecclesiae The more they were Molested the more they Multiplyed Insomuch that G. Morrel in his Memorials saith there were above Eight Hundred Thousand who made profession of the Waldensian Faith in the Y. 1260. or 12th Century notwithstanding all the Bloody Cruelty of the Beast against them 2ly Their Scattering by persecution did Spread the Gospel almost into all Lands as France Picardy Lower and Upper Germany Bohemia Savoy and Lombardy yea into England Poland Italy Spain Flanders and many more in all which the Light of Truth hath ever since Shone more or less to the Dispersing of that thick Fogg of Antichristian Darkness 3 Though the Waldenses when they were forced to take up Arms in their Just and Necessary Defence both as Men and as Christians did then Confess to the Beasts Champions We know ye must overcome us for God hath said The Beast shall make War against the Saints and overcome them Rev. 13. 7. Yet by the Help of Earl Reymund and Peter K. of Arragon Christ the Captain of their Salvation gave them many Signal Victories over the Popelings which came against those Christians with their Croysadoes or Crosses the same they carry'd to their Holy War as if they had been as bad as Turks 4. God did marvelously send them Saviours in their saddest times as 1. Lewis the 11th of France who upon a Just Information of the Waldenses Innocency and of their Enemies Malicious Slanders stop'd all proceedings of Persecution by his Royal Decree 2 King Francis was call'd off from persecuting them just as Saul was from pursuing David by a Messenger that told him The Philistims have Invaded the Land 1 Sam. 23. 27. even when he had got David as it were in a Pound and had no way to Escape him v. 26. just so a War arose 'twixt the Prince of Piedmont and this K. Francis the 1st which gave to him a Diversion from his persecuting Work and to the poor persecuted Waldenses a sweet Relaxation from Hot Persecution as his Death did much more when another Persecution was Designed 3 K. Lewis the 12th whose Chancelour together with the Popes own Commissioner examining the Witnesses against the Waldenses and finding them Innocent of the Matters they were Charged with they were Immediately Discharged the Kings Commissioner publickly professing that he wish'd himself as Good a Christian as the worst of them yea the King himself Swore an Oath that they were Honester than himself and any of his Catholique-Subjects Upon this he stay'd the Persecution 5ly The last Divine Testimony for those Christians was Gods Black brand he set most Signally upon their Persecutors as 1 on that Arch-Bishop who was the Devil's and the Pope's Arch-Engine in persecuting Waldus for Translating the Bible into the French Tongue and for Converting so many precious Souls from the Cacolique rather than Catholique Church of Rome God left not his Cruelty
Suspition of Heresie Hereupon the 5th Vial is reassumed and further and fullier explained in Revel Chap. 17. and Ch. 18. in both which the Great Damnation of the Damnable Whore is Angelically and Evangelically Described shewing with much perspicuity for the Earth was Lightned with that Angels Glory Revel 18. 2. how Christ will crush the Crown of that Proud Prelat of Rome with a Woe as Isa 28. 1. So that Ribera the Jesuit Confesseth Romes Ruine shall be Manifest to all Men whereof there was a fair Omen in Y. 1619. when Peter's Image in Peter's Church at Rome had a Massy Stone fell down upon it and not onely knock'd the Keys out of the Image's Hands but so Shatter'd the Image and its Inscription that not a Letter of that Sentence whereon Rome Grounds her Claim was left Legible save onely Aedisicabo Ecclesiam I will Build my Church which might teach those Popelings it shall be done on the Ruines of their Rotten Title How much more shall the Romish Religion which is but an Image a meer Shaddow and Ceremony be Broken all to pieces when the little Stone cut out of the Mountain of Heaven without Hands doth fall foul upon it Dan. 2. 35. 44 45. If Christ once fall upon Rome with his whole Weight he will Crush it to pieces yea Grind it to Powder Matth. 21. 44. The Elder Rome is the baser as one of her own Sons Theodoric Vrias said Y. 1414. sadly of her That of Gold she was become Silver of Silver Iron of Iron Earth Superesse ut in Stercus abiret She would turn next into Dung to be cast out to the Dunghill She is now come to her Toes of Clay which while part of Iron did no less than Stagger When Phillip the Fair K. of France not many Ages since broke ope the Gates of Rome Demolish'd the Walls Dispers'd the Cardinals and Citizens yea and Doomed the Pope to a Dark Dungeon and Loading him there with many Scoffs and Curses This was Boniface the 8th in the 12th Century And the Realm of France not many Years since was ready to Shake off the Papal Yoke and to erect the Arch-Bishop of Burges as their proper Patriark because Gregory the 14th would not be Reconciled to Henry the 4th of France no not when he turn'd to the Romish Religion And had not the Pope hasten'd his Benediction the Parliament of Paris which Burnt the Popes Bull by the Hands of the Hangman had utterly withdrawn from the Vassalage of Rome Yea our King Henry the 8th and the French-King a little before their Deaths were at a point to change the Mass into a Communion and to have Rooted out the Prelat of Rome out of both their Realms and they were so throughly resolv'd herein that they meant to require the Emperors Concurrence or otherwise to break off from his Alliance Act. and Monum Fol. 11 35. If Rome Stagger'd thus at that time surely a cold Sweat stands upon all the Limbs of the Beast at this time when his Toes of Clay cannot long Support him and how far God may Honour this Realm toward Romes Ruine we know not seeing it was the first that Shook off the Romish Yoke However as sure as Rome Heathen is Destroyed so shall Rome Antichristian surely be Christ the true Jehoiada will cast this Whore Athaliah out of the Temple and Burn her for an Old Bawd because she hath burnt the Seed-Royal put down Kings at her pleasure Usurp'd the Government of the Church set up Altars and Images to Baalim and Ashtaroth to He and she-She-Saints and call'd them Traitors who would set the Crown on Christs Head then all Saints will rejoyce 2 Chron. 23. 21. Revel 18. 20. The 6th Notable Remark is The 6th Vial brings in Conversion to the Jews as soon as the 5th Vial doth bring on Confusion to the Popelings The first of those Four few Works aforesaid to wit The Call of the Jews which cannot be till Antichrists Seat be Destroyed for nothing doth Stumble that poor People at Christianity more than the Idolatry of those Mock-Christians the Romanists whom the very Turks for their Image-Worship call Idolaters and therefore Abhorrs them for their Breach of the 2d Commandment Hereupon Antichrist must be removed from his Throne before the People of the God of Abraham be Converted No sooner is the Euphrates of Mystical Babylon Dryed up the Markets of Romish Merchandize must Fall Kings will not be such Babies as H. 8. said as to let about Nine Tun of Gold go Yearly hence to Rome by Peter-Pence c. and to loose their Points to be Lashed by the Pope as they had been Revel 18. 11. No Doubt but the 5th Vial Drys up and Diverts the Euphrates of Rome Tyber Romes River being so named as Rome is Babylon both Mystically in throwing down not onely Rome it self but also its Riches and Revenues ☞ Hence may we Comfortably Hope that the 5th Vial is begun inasmuch as the Heat of that Plague hath already Dryed up many Golden Streams that ran to Rome out of all Popish Kingdoms the Ten Horns of the Beast but now praised be the Lord none of those Ten Kingdoms except Spain and Italy but they have all more or less Diverted the Euphrates of Rome and turned the Vast Riches and Revenues that ran Yearly thither towards the Maintenance of Godly Schools and Gospel-preaching when Literal Babylon had a Drought upon her Waters Jerem. 50. 38. and her Passages were stop'd Jerem. 51. 32. She was taken soon after accordingly Rome that Mystical Babylon shall shortly be Sack'd and Ransack'd this being a fore-runner of it But still Christ hath the Eastern Antichrist the Turk to Tread down Under the 6th Vial which produceth Three Grand Effects 1. The Drying up of Euphrates 2. The Warlike Preparation by the Influence of the Jesuits those Frogs comming out of the Mouths of the Dragon Beast and False Prophet Revel 16. 12 13. 3. The Destruction of the Churches Enemies by Christ v. 16. 'T is True all the Vials do Concern the Beasts Kingdom yet not onely so some think that the Western Antichrist upon the Ruine of Rome by the 5th Vial shall run to the Eastern Antichrist the Turk for Succour and Gog the Pope or Covert Enemy of Christ shall joyn with Magog the Turk or the Overt and open Enemy as the Two Names do signifie Therefore the 6th Vial is powred out upon Euphrates or Turkish Empire to Dry it up so far that another Army of New Christians the Converted Jews may make War against the Beast also Their Conversion is Hindred by a Double Barr. 1. The Popes Idolatry 2. The Turks Insolency Now as the 5th Trumpet brought on the former bar so the 5th Vial takes it off and as the 6th Trumpet set on the latter bar by loosing the Turk from Euphrates Revel 9. 14. so the 6th Vial carries it off by drying up his Euphrates or Empire that the way of the Jews may be