practised by the Apostles and they are these Laying on of Hands to recover the Sick and upon Officers and upon persons Baptized Now it cannot be the Laying on Hands upon the Sick for men might be sick and recovered through Laying on of Hands and sick again and so recovered again and again and so some men might be under this Laying on of Hands many times but this in Heb. the 6. must not be practised above once for it is said Not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works of Faith towards God of the Doctrine of Baptismes and Laying on of Hands Furthermore it cannot be that Laying on of Hands on Officers for it is said that they that had laid this Laying on of Hauds spoken off Heb. 6. had need to be taught the first Principles of the Word of God but Officers could not be so ignorant therefore it was not upon Officers Moreover the same that are exhorted to go on to perfection had laid this Laying on of Hands as you may see if you read diligently the 1 and 2 verses Now all are exhorted to go on to perfection therefore all the Church of the Hebrewes were under this Laying on of Hands so then it cannot be that upon the Sick nor that upon Officers for men may go on to perfection and never be under that Laying on of Hands for the Sick nor yet that upon Officers Therefore this Laying on of Hands spoken of Heb. 6. is that only which followeth Baptisme and to this agreeth the order of words vers 2. neither can it be thought on good grounds that the holy spirit should rank any other Laying on of hands with these Principles which are the beginning of a Christian man so then it followeth that Prayer with Laying on of Hands upon every Baptized person is a Principle of the Doctrine or beginning word of Christ as hath been shewed before Object But the end of Laying on of hands was that the spirit might be given so as that some extraordinary gifts might follow as there did Acts 19. but we see none now therefore not to be practised Ans By the same reason we may refuse Baptisme for the Apostles promises the gift of the spirit to every penitent believing baptized person Acts 2.38 39. which then did fall down miraculously but we see it not so now Therefore no Baptisme Again Mark saith that these signes shall follow them that believe the Gospel in the name of the Lord Jesus they should cast out devils shall speak with new tongues c. Mark 16.16 17 18. But we see no man do any such thing now Therefore by the same ground you may say no man believeth and then no salvation Again the Apostle saith God hath set in the Church miracle-workers 1 Cor. 12.28 By the same rule no miracles no Church but mistake not the Gospel the Ordinances thereof and the whole way thereof was at the first confirmed by signs and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the holy Ghost Heb. 2.4 and all Believers are to walk up according to the Gospel and all the Ordinances and the whole way thereof untill Christ come 2 Tim. 2.2 2 Pet. 3.2 Rev. 2.25 To conclude this point the Spirit of the Lord is promised so as to be given to all penitent belieeving baptized persons Acts 2.38 Gal. 3.14 and the way and order of the Gospel is to seek it by Prayer and Laying on of Hands Acts 8.15 17. Chap. 19.6 2 Tim. 1.6 The next Principle of the Doctrine of Christ is the Resurriction of the dead which is this to believe that Christs very body that was crucified did rise from the dead the third day according to the Scriptures John 20. and that our bodies shall also rise again from the grave when Christ cometh in person again according to that in 1 Thes 4.16 17. The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remains shall be caught up together with them in the cloud to meet the Lord in the aire and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Now it is very plain that the very body of Christ which was crucified and buried did rise again he and not a spirit like that body did appear First Because he commandeth his Disciples to handle him and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as I have and so he shewed them his hands and his feet Luke 24 39.40 and so he shewed Thomas the place of the nailes bidding him put his hand into his side all making it appeare that it was the very body that was nailed to the Crosse and peirced with a spear that did rise again Secondly Because he did eat and drink with his Disciples after he arose from the dead Acts 10.40 41. and was shewed openly several times not only to the eleven Apostles but to five hundred brethren at once 1 Cor. 15.6 So then seeing Christs body is risen from the dead so shall all mens bodies the just and unjust also shall be raised from the grave at the last day Acts 24.25 First I say that the bodies of the righteous shall rise from the grave according to that in the 26 of Isa 19. Thy dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise awake and sing yee that dwell in the dust for thy dew is as the dew of hearbs and the earth shall cast out the dead yea if the righteous in Christ have hope in this life only they were of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15.19 Because of persecution and temptation and trialls according to John 16.33 Christ tells the righteous that in him they shall have peace but in the world they shall have tribulation Therefore they shall rise again to receive a reward Heb. 11.26 or else it were better for them to eat and drink for to morrow they shall die yea it cannot stand with the righteousness of God that his should suffer affliction and persecution alwaies here on their bodies for the testifying of truth and their bodies never to rise to be freed from misery Secondly because the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 15. It is sown a natural body it is raised a spiritual body and so he saith That corruptible must put on incorruption so I reason That is it the same body that died that shall be raised only it shall be changed into a spiritual body for there is a natural body and there is a spiritual body as the Apostle sheweth but it is that Same that is natural that shall be made spiritual at the Resurrection Therefore note what the Apostle saith I pray and that is this It is sown a natural body It is raised a spiritual body so it is that every seed according to the comparison that the Apostle makes of the seed hath his own body and so the comparison of the seed doth
Rev. 17.16 But the Antichrist is taken alive when the Lord cometh and punished with everlasting deflruction from the presence of the Lord in a lake of fire 2. Thes 1.9 and Rev. 19.20 And so to draw to a conclusion I do desire all men to take heed to the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles for they are able to make men wise unto Salvation and if men speak not according to the Law and Testament it is because they have no light in them Isa 8.20 O give heed to the most sure word of the Prophets as unto a light shining in a dark place until the day of Christ dawn and the day Star arise in your hearts noting diligently all things that are spoken of that must come to pass for when the signs concerning Christs coming are come to pass the day of Christs personal appearing will dawn Secondly is there such a spirit of delusion among men wherein is a mystery of iniquity Then let all take heed that they seek the Lord while he may be found and to kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish in the way O do not neglect to read and search the Scriptures and walk up in that you do know be not deceived God will not be mocked what a man soweth that he shall reap for he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting Gal. 6.7 8. Thirdly is it so that God doth and will give up men to a Spirit of delusion that they should believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness Then he exhorted from hence to forsake all unrighteous wayes in conversation and all whorish inventions of men in point of Worship for if Moses Law be abolished which was given to him by the Lord let no man think that he shall be excused if he worship according to mens inventions Fourthly let all the Saints consider and lay to heart what hath been spoken and search the Scriptures that they may be informed what is to come to pass and so according to Christs exhortation in Luke 21.36 Watch ye therefore and pray alwayes that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the son of man Moreover when the Lord thus overthrows Antichrist and his Armies and the Kings of the earth as it hath been shewed before and more plentiously appeareth in Scripture When the whirle wind of the Lord goeth forth with fury a cutting whirle-wind it shall remain with pain upon the head of the wicked the fearce anger of the Lord shall not return until he have performed the intents of his heart At the same time saith the Lord will I be the God of all the families of Israel and they shall be my people For God hath loved them with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindness he will draw them Jer. 30.23 24. Chap. 31.1 2 3. And it shall come to pass in that day that the great Trumpet shall be blown and they shall come that are ready to perish in the land of Assyria and the out-casts in the land of Egypt and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jernsalem Is 27.13 So when the Enemies shall come in like a flood great enemies being gathered by the beast the Antichrist according to Rev. 16.13 14. being mâ—â— according to Joel 3.9 10 11 12 13 14. the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him then even then the redeemer shall come to Sion and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob saith the Lord Isa 59.19 20. compared with Rom. 11 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32. Then at that day the Lord himself which was dead and arose again and is alive for evermore Rev. 1.18 shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voyce of the Archangel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first 1 Thes 4.14 15 16. compared with Isa 27.13 and so as Zach. saith The Lord my God shall come and all the Saints with thee and his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives which is before Jerusalem Chap. 14.4 5. then the Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of Hosts and Lord of Lords and King of Kings shall raign personally upon the earth in mount Sion and in Jerusalem and before his antients the house of Israel gloriously Isa 24.23 Rev. 17.14 Chap. 19.13 14 15 16. And for the further proof and clearing up of this truth That the Lord Christ shall raign personally on the earth more then a thousand years and all the Saints with him from Adam to his coming which dyed in the faith and are found in the faith at his coming are to raign with him upon earth First consider and mark well what the Scripture saith in the letter of it for the proof of the same the Prophet Jer. saith Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous branch and a King shall raign and prosper and execute Judgment and justice in the earth In his dayes Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his name the Lord our Righteousness Chap. 23.5 6. Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession Psal 2.8 In his dayes shall the righteous flowrish and abundance of peace shall be so long as the Moon endureth He shall have dominion also from Sea to Sea and from the river unto the end of the earth Yea all Kings shall fall down before him all nations shall serve him Pfal 72.7 8 9 10 11. verse 17. His name shall endure for ever his name shall be continued as long as the Sun and men shall be blessed in him All nations shall call him blessed and the Lord shall be King over all the earth in that day shall there be one Lord and his name one Zach. 14.9 Dan. 7.27 And the Kingdome and dominion and the greatness of the Kingdome under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose Kingdome is an everlasting Kingdome and all nations or dominions shall serve and obey him and Rev. 5.9 10. saith Thou hast made us unto our God Kings Priests we shall raign on the earth Chap. 11.15 And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great voyces in heaven saying the Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall raign for ever and ever Rev. 20. sheweth at large That the Saints shall raign with Christ a thousand years which cannot be understood but to be on the earth So then the letter of the Scripture speaks much that the Lord Christ shall descend from heaven 1 Thes 4.16 Acts. 1.11 and his feet shall stand upon mount
seed of Abraham are cast out and so not admitted as members of the new Testament or Church of Christ meerly as such upon which account John the Baptist put back the Pharisees from his Baptisme as not fit members for the Church of Christ upon their plea of having Abraham to their Father Mat. 3.9 how lame weak frothy carnall and confused a thing is it to receive little children into the Church by Baptisme upon the plea that they are the seed of Believers What! all the fleshly seed of Abraham the father of the faithful cast out and yet labour to receive in the fleshly seed of Abrahams children be ashamed hereof O ye Priests for the Lord will not hold them guiltless that makes void his Commandements by their own traditions But more to this elsewhere Mat. 15.6 Now to return The sum of all is as the Apostle saith the Bond-woman and her son that is to say the first Covenant and its children is cast out ever since the death and resurrection of Christ so henceforth know we no man after the flesh 2 Cor. 5.16 because the son of the Bond-woman Ishmael after the flesh shall not be heir with Isaac the son of the free-woman that is to say with the children of the New Covenant or new Testament wherefore it remaineth in the next place to consider what the new Covenant is and who are the children thereof since they only are heirs according to promise The New Covenant or New Testament is in the strictest sence that which is written in the 31 of Jer. 33 34. vers and Heb. 8.10 11 12. And in the largest sence the Gospel the glad-tydings way and ordinances thereof as 't is written in the books of the new Testament whereof Paul was a Minister 2 Cor. 3.6 Mat. 26.28 Heb. 9.16 17 18. Now the Children of the New Covenant are penitent believing obedient men and women such as are born again not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God John 1.13 New creatures and these are the children of Abraham after the spirit and heirs according to promise John 8.39 Gal. 4.29 2 Cor. 5.17 And with them considered such God makes or enters into Covenant giving them his spirit and so puts his Laws in their minds and writes them in their hearts and so he is a God unto them and they only are his people Heb. 8.10 And so they need not teach every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying know the Lord for all shall know him from the least to the greatest of them verse 11. But mistake not though all the children of the New Covenant need not to teach one another so as to know the Lord yet they ought to build up one another in the knowledge of the Lord Jude 20. having received gifts from the Lord they are to teach one another to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord exhorting one another and so much the more as they see the day of Christ approaching so by using of their gifts they come to be established and go on to perfection Heb. 5.12 14. and 10.25 1 Cor. 12. Eph. 4.8 11 12. Moreover the Lord will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their iniquities will he remember no more so that they may have free accesse to him through Christ he being sacrificed for them so that there is no need of a sacrifice as there was under the old Testament for then there was a continual sacrificing and so a remembrance of sin every year and so the comers thereunto could not be made perfect for it was not possible that the blood of Buls and Goats should take away sins Heb. 10.1 2 3 4. But Christ being come by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified so he takes away the first Covenant that he might establish the Second that the children of the second Covenant might stand before God and die not having a new and living way which he hath consecrated or made through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all and so they come before the Lord with boldness yea enter into the holiest by the Blood of Jesus and having an High Preist over the house of God draw neer with a true heart in full assurance of faith having their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and their body washed in pure water Heb 10.9 10 19 20 21 22. So then the children of the New Covenant have free accesse to God worshipping of him in spirit and in truth acceptably without any sacrifice as after the Law or old Administration that being abolished and done away 2 Cor. 3.11 13. so sin is not remembred and so they shall be eternally saved if they hold fast the profession of their faith without wavering to the end but if they sin wilfully there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins but a Certaine fearfull looking for of judgement and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries he that despised Moses Law died without mercy under two or three witnesses of how much sorer punishment suppose yee shall he be thought worthy who hath troden under foot the son of God and hath counted the Blood of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done despight unto the Spirit of grace verse 23 26 27 28. Furthermore the Ministers of the new Testament are not by a fleshly line as the Preists of the old Testament were the sons of Aaron born by Generation Exod. 29.9 Numb 16.40 But they are made Ministers of the new Covenant meerly by gifts given from God as appeareth Eph. 4 8 11. where the Apostle sheweth that the Lord Jesus ascended up on high and gave gifts to men he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers for the gathering together of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the edification of the body of Christ till we all meet together in the unity of the faith and knowledge of the son of God unto a perfect man and unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ vers 12 13. So then it is cleer from hence that all the Ministers or Preachers of the new Testament are to preach or teach by gifts given from God for they have gifts given for the work of the Ministry and that in all ages till Christ comes for all the saints cannot meet together in the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man not untill Christ his coming therefore the whole work of the Ministry is to be performed by men gifted of God in all ages and not by men of a fleshly generation line or by any humane learned Arts for that is contrary to the new Covenant for all her children are taught of the Lord. And this will further appear because as the Apostle sheweth the world by wisdome knew not God 1 Cor. 1.21
shall not be mentioned so as to condemnation but shall be blotted out at that good day that day of refreshing Act. 3.19 So that through Christ which is the substance of the Scape-goat the Saints sins shall be seperated from them and so they shall be presented before the father without spot or wriukle or any such thing holy and without blame Eph. 5.27 and so Paul saith to the Saints at Rome That every one of us shall give account of himself to God Rom. 14.12 and so the discovery of their good and bad works they being brought to judgment will exceedingly set out the love goodness mercy and compassion of the Lord God in forgiving the debt or payment for Christs sake his faithfulness justice and righteousness in making good his promise in rewarding them according to their works for he will not forget their work and labour of love This Doctrine doth teach the children of God to walk very circumspectly redeeming the time applying their hearts to wisdome cleansing themselves from all filthyness of flesh and spirit prefecting holyness in the fear of God and to abound in love one towards another and towards all men adding to faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness Charity or love For that faith which worketh by love is availeable to Justification Gal. 5.6 and the duties done in love only will avail in the day of judgment 1 Cor. 13. Therefore let us have respect to all the Commandements of the Lord for in keeping of them in love there is great reward yea let us cloath our selves with righteousness as with a garment reaching after that which is before following hard towards the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus giving up themselves to watch and pray that so they may stand compleat in all the will of God So then they that die in the Lord or are found in him at his coming shall receive eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord for the gift of God is eternal life Rom. 6.23 and also eternal death will be the portion of them that obey not the Gospel Mat. 26.46 2 Thes 1.8 9. yea they that are not found written in the book of life shall be cast into the lake of fire Rev. 20.15 and this is the eternal judgment for it is unrevokable and this shall be when Christ cometh in his own person and not before that very person that was peirced with a spear yea that very person that dyed and rose again from the dead the third day which the Apostles did see and handle yea he was seen of five hundred brethren at once and many if not all did see him aseend into Heaven Act. 1.11 Zach. 12.10 Luk 24.39 40. Jo. 20.27 and so the Apostle Paul possitively asserts from the word of the Lord that the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and with a voyce of the Archangel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first yea if you read from the 13 verse of that Chapter to the end you will see that the same Jesus that died and rose again from the dead shall descend from Heaven and all the Saints shall be raised and they that be alive at his coming shall be changed and shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the ayre and so shall be ever with the Lord and so shall be made perfect altogether Heb. 11.40 Object But it is said by some that it is not the person that shall be judged and cast into torments or hell but sin or the lust of the flesh and the tempter which is Satan and therefore they bring that in Revel 20. Death and hell is cast into the lake of fire not men say they but sin Answ It is unjust men as they do consist of soul body and spirit that shall be judged and cast into the lake of fire and there shall be tormented for ever and ever for their sin 1. Because soul body and spirit may be blamed at the coming of Christ 1 Thes 5.23 and they that are then blamed and set at the left hand of Christ as goats are cursed and delivered over to everlasting torments Math. 25.41 45 46. 2. Because the fearful and unbeleeving and whoremongers and Idolaters and murtherers sorcerers and all that loveth or maketh a lie shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone Rev. 21.8 and Ch. 22.15 it is not the sin or the lie but the sinner and the liar so it is the man that lusteth and so committeth sin and repenteth not he shall be punished for ever for that is the second death and so death is cast into the lake of fire for the second death or everlasting punishment for sin is to be in the lake of fire Rev. 20.14 And for hell the grave and hell in the Scripture is taken for all one as it appeareth ver 13. So the earth shall be in the lake of fire or a great part of it when God causeth the elements to run together again 2 Pet. 3.10 and the Divel which is the tempter shall be cast into the lake of fire where the beast and false prophet or man of sin shall be in torments for evermore Revel 14.11 and 20.10 These Principles or foundations Peices or Pillars upon which wisdome builds her house Prov. 9.1 are the Doctrine or commandement of Christ and are laid down upon Jesus Christ the cheife Corner stone Ephes 2.20 Heb. 6.2 And there is no man or woman that can be judged or lookt upon as a Christian in order according to the Scriptures nor to be received into communion with the Church except he beleeve and practise this Doctrine mistake me not there may be some that walk up to their light and neglect not to know more that may be precious in the sight of God but we are to look to the order of the new Testament and to walk accordingly doing all things decently and in order 1 Cor. 14.40 Therefore no man ought to be received into communion in a Church state but those that do own and practise all the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ as aforesaid And that this ought to be so first consider that all that began to be Christians owned all this beginning Doctrine of Christ Heb. 6.1 and therefore they are called the first Principles of the Word of God and milk for Babes Heb. 5.12 13. or the word of the beginning of Christ and so the beginning of a Christian man and the three thousand which gladly received the word were baptised Act. 2.41 42. that is dipped in water and continued in the Apostles Doctrine which is the Doctrine of Christ Secondly As they under the Law of Sacrifices were to walk up in all the Law which did hold out Christ to come in the flesh doing all the commandements
There the Apostle sheweth that he would not have us ignorant of this Mystery least we should be wise in our own conceits that blindnesse in part is happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in and so all Israel shall be saved as it is written Fourthly These Scriptures in the 11 of Isa 11. to the end and chap. 59.20 21. chap. 66.8 9 10. and Jer. 31. and Ezek. 37. and the Covenant in this place spoken of doth belong to the house of Israel and the house of Judah and that will plainly appear if you note well those Scriptures mentioned for Paul sheweth us in the 11. of the Romans All Israel shall be saved as it is written There shall come out of Sion the Delieverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob for this is my Covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins So the Apostle speaking of the 59 of Isai the .20 applying it only to the house of Israel and that the Covenant of the Lord is to them so as to take away their sins yea it is plain that he speaks of the house of Israel after the flesh because he saith as concerning the Gospel they are Enemies for your sakes but as touching the Election they are beloved for the fathers sake so you may see as concerning the Gospel they are Enemies but as touching the Election they are beloved for the Fathers sakes that is for Abraham Isaac and Jacob sakes for the Lords Covenant is with them and so they are chosen yea he speaks of them which should come of them which then were concluded in unbelief ver 32. which was the Jewes therefore he speaks not of the Converted Gentiles but of the house of Israel according to the flesh for the gifts and callings of God are without repentance vers 33. So I say the Lord God hath determined to call Israel and of this he will never repent Again this doth further appear that God will call again Israel after the flesh and teach them according to the new Covenant so they shall know him and worship him in spirit and in truth for Zechariah saith Thus saith the Lord of Hosts it shall yet come to pass that there shall come people and the Inhabitants of many Cityes and the Inhabitants of one City shall go to another saying let us go speedly to pray before the Lord and to seek the Lord of Hosts I will go also Yea many People and strong Nations shall come to seek the Lord of Hosts in Jerusalem and to pray before the Lord Thus saith the Lord of Hosts in those dayes it shall come to pass that ten men shall take hold out of all Languages of the Nations even shall take hold of the the skirt of him that is a Jew saying we will go with you for we have heard that God is with you Zech. 8.20 21 22 23. And Micah faith in the last days it shall come to pass that the mountaine of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains and it shall be exalted above the hills and people shall flow unto it And many Nations shall come and say come and let us go up to the mountaine of the Lord and to the house of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his wayes and we will walk in his paths for the Law shall go forth of Sion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem Chap. 4.1 2. But now men say that these Scriptures were fulfilled when Judah retured from Babylon for the Jewes after their return from Babylon never enjoyed such things unto this day search and see and these Scriptures say that they shall be fulfilled in the last dayes and the Scriptures do not call them the last dayes that were before Christ came in the flesh therefore not fulfilled but before the house of Israel shall be called so as to believe the Gospel as it hath been shewed the Gospel of the king dome must be preached in all the world for a witness unto all Nations Mat. 24.14 according to Revel 14.6 And I saw another Angel flie in the middest of Heaven having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth and to every Nation and kindred and tongue and people And this must be a little before and in the time of the fall of the Whore of Babylon and the rising of the man of sin the Antichrist as appeareth in vers the 8 9. And to this agreeth Mark 13.10 The Gospel must first be preached among all Nations compared with Mat. 24.14 and then the end shall be So the Gospel a little before the end shall be preached in the pure way thereof to all Nations so the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in But it doth and will so come to pass that now in this last of the last dayes the Gospel that is and shall be preached in the pure way thereof and the Whore of Babylon falling that the spirit of Antichrist doth and will more and more appear and the Antichrist the Man of Sin will come forth whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders 2. Thes 2. for the Antichrist or Man of Sin is not the Whore of Babylon and for the right understanding of this truth mark well these seven Particulars 1. First Who is this great Whore of Babylon and where her chief seat hath been and is 2. Secondly Her fall and the means how and by whom 3. Thirdly What is the spirit of Antichrist and who hath that spirit 4. Fourthly That the Antichrist will be a single person 5. Fifthly The manner of his rising and when 6. Sixthly Some of the great things he will doe 7. Lastly His fall when and by whom Of these things in order But first I freely confess That many honest men fearing God in those latter times have been mistaken in saying that the Romish Whore of Babylon is the Antichrist that the Scripture speaks of but men may see in this latter part of the last time with a diligent and serious search of the Scriptures through grace that the great Whore of Babylon is not the Antichrist And it being so that God having shewed it me through the Scriptures I being not accounted of in the world knowing that God doth great things by them that are not esteemed among men that no flesh should glory c. And considering that this which I do in this work may be seasonable and for much profit to the People of God and for the praise and glory of God I shall shew in brief that the Whore is not the Antichrist And for the clearing up of this truth First you may see who this great Whore of Babylon is by noting her chief seat where it is and that is at Rome for John saith Rev. 17. That the great Whore of Babylon which sitteth upon many Waters is that City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth
of blasphemy which had seven heads and ten hornes Rev. 17.3 Now note that five of them heads or kings were fallen when John wrote the Revelation and the sixt was then in being vers 9 10. Now this Woman the Harlot was to sit upon the sixt head and hath so done a long time and so the beast that had seven Heads carrieth her beareth her up forthe Magistrates have supported her all along understand also that the fixt Head of the Beast hath reigned ever since the writing of the Revelation but now is partly strong and partly broken that the sixt Head is not fallen is plain if you note well for the seventh Head when he cometh he must continue a short space now that head of the Roman Monarthy which is in being hath continued long even from before the birth of Christ for Rome was governed by Emperours before the birth of Christ Lnke 2.1 and the imperial power standeth yet though it be translated into Germany therefore the Imperial Head cannot be the seventh Head because that hath continued long and that the seventh Head continueth but a short space note Rev. 17.10 Five are fallen and one is and another is not yet come and when he cometh he must continue a short space Also mark well that the power of the Pope and his Clergy cannot be the seventh Head for they have continued long Secondly the Whore cannot be any of the Heads of the Beast because she sits upon and is carried by the Beast that hath seven Heads and ten Horns so she causeth the Beast to serve her and maketh the Beasts and the Kings of the earth slaves to her to do her will so then the sixt Head of the Roman power is not fallen though it be in part and the seventh Head is now arising which will take away the sixth and doth will and must give some liberty to preach the Gospel and to administer the Ordinances in the old way thereof and so the Lord God will bring things to pass for not one jot or tittle of his word shall fail and so in the rising and reign of the seventh Head and the ten Hornes the Angel shall flie in the midst of Heaven having the everlasting Gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth and to every Nation and kindred and tongue and people saying with a loud voyce fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgment is come and worship him that made heaven and earth the Sea and the fountaines of waters Rev. 14.6 7. So the Gospel and the way thereof being preached the Nations will be enlightned and so God will put it into the hearts of the ten Hornes or Kings to hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire Rev. 17.12 16. So through the preaching of the Gospel in the pure way thereof the great Whore of Babylon falleth and so the hour of her judgment is come and to this agreeth that in Rev. 14.6 7 8. which sheweth that after the Gospel is preached to the Nations then shall follow another Angel saying it is fallen it is fallen Babylon the great City for she made all Nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication ver 8. Much more might be spoken to this but let this suffice as touching what the Whore is and her fall the manner how and by whome In the next place note diligently what the spirit of Antichrist is and who have that spirit now John in his first Epistle Chap. 4. And ver 3. doth declare what the spirit of Antichrist is namely every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is that spirit of Antichrist whereof you have heard that he should come and even now already is in the world Also understand that John did not intend the heathen that never did beleeve nor the unbelieving Jewes which never did acknowledge Christ come in the flesh but those have the spirit of Antichrist that went out from the Church of Christ Chap. 2.18 19. John sheweth them that it is the last time and as you have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time They went out From us c. So that the spirit of Antichrist is that spirit that is found in them that have been enlightned and have known the truth and go out from the Church of Christ and in a mystery deny Christ come in the flesh and so Paul speaketh of the Antichrist or Man of Sin 2 Thes 2.7 saith The Mystery of iniquity doth already work c. and Peter speaking to the Saints saith in his 2 Epistle 2.1 there shall be false teachers among you who Privily shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that Bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction So the spirit of Antichrist denyes Christ come in the flesh secretly and they that have this spirit say Christ is come in their flesh and so say the light within them is Chuist when at the best it is but the light of nature and in many the spirit of errour their light being become darkness being delivered up to strong delusion to believe lyes thinking they have Christ in them when it is a spirit of errour and so pervert the sence of the Scriptures declaring the Annointing and the Annointed to be all one teaching up the spirit of Christ apart from the Body of Christ to be the Christ or rather the spirit of error in them to be the Christ come in their flesh so in a very deceivable secret way deny Christcome in the flesh in saying he is the Christ that is within them which is an evil spirit so applying the Scriptures that speak of the spirit of Christ dwelling in men to be that evil spirit in them so declaring that spirit of errour in them apart from the body or flesh of Christ to be the Christ so deny Christ come in the flesh but note well what the Scriptures of truth saith they declare that Jesus Christ was slain Act. 2.22 23. Chap. 3.15 Chap. 4.10 in Chap. 5.30 Peter who was full of the holy Ghost saith the God of our fathers hath Raised up Jesus whom ye flew and hanged on a tree Paul saith to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 15.3 4. First of all I delivered unto you that which I received how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that he was Bursed that he Arose the third day according to the Scriptures So it is plain that the spirit apart from the body or flesh of Christ is not the Christ therefore again note what Paul saith 1 Tim. 2.5 There is one God one meditatour between God man which is the Man Christ Jesus and Heb. 10.10 sheweth that the Hebrewes were sanctified by the offering of the body of
of a furnace and the Sun and the air will be darkned by reason of the smoak of the Pit Rev. 11.7 Chap. 9.1 2. and neer the end of his raign when the sixt Vial is poured or pouring out then shall come three unclean spirits like frogs out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the Beast and out of the mouth of the false Prophet for they are the spirits of Devils working miracles which go forth unto the Kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battel of that great day of God Almighty and he gathered them together to a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon Rev. 16.12 13 14 16. which is into the Land of Canaan according to Joel 3.9 10 11 12 13 14. Multitudes multtudes in the valley of decision and so I come to the seventh particular which is The fall of the Beast or Man of Sin and when and by whom Now Paul saith that the Lord will consume him with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy him with the brightness of his coming 2 Thes 2.8 So when the enemy shall come in as a flood the spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him Isa 59.19 and so when the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with ten thousand of his Saints to execute Judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds and of their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him Jude 15. Then the Sun and the Moon shall be be darkened and the Stars shall withdraw their shining the Lord also shall roar out of Sion and utter his voyce from Jerusalem and the heavens and the earth shall Shake but the Lord will be the hope of his people and the strength of the Children of Israel Joel 3.15 16. And in that day will the Lord make Jerusalem a burthensome stone for all People all that burthen themselves with it shall be cut in peices though all the people of the Earth be gathered against it Zech. 12.1 2 3 4. Then the Lora Jesus that Died and Rose again himself shall descend from Heaven with a shont and with the voyce of the Arch-angel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first Then we which are alive and remaine shall be caught up together with them in the Cloudes to meet the Lord in the ayre and so shall we ever be with the Lord 1 Thes 4.14 15 16 17. And so as Zechary hath it The Lord my God shall come and all the saints with him Chap. 14.5 And then the ten horns which received power as Kings in one hour with the Beast the Man of Sin These have one mind and shall give their Power and Strength unto the Beast These shall make war with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them For he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful and so according to Rev. 19. The Lord Jesus the King of Kings and Lord of Lords with his Armies which were in Heaven following him upon white Horses cloathed in fine Linnen white and clean descends from heaven against the Beast the Man of sin And the Kings of the earth and their Armies gathered together to make warr against him that sate on the Horse the Man Christ and against his Armies and the Beast was taken and with him the false Prophet that wrought miracles before him with which he deceived them that had received the marke of the Beast and them that worshiped his image These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sate upon the Horse Which sword proceeded out of his mouth and all fowls were filled with their flesh So the Beast the Antichrist the Man of Sin and the false Prophet which did work miracles before him shall be taken alive and cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone and so Tophet is ordained of old yea for the King it is prepared he hath made it deep and large the pile thereof is fire and much wood the breath of the Lord like a stream of brimstone doth kindle it Isai 30.33 And so as men are threatned in Rev. 14.9 10. That if they worship the Beast or his image and receive his mark in their foreheads or in their hands The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with sire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb So it shall come to pass when the Lord Jesus shall appear and therefore take the 11 verse And the smoak of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever and they have no rest day nor night who worship the Beast and his image and whosoever receiveth the marke of his name For this purpose read Isai 14.18.19 and Chap. 66.24 Ezek. 38.22 23. Thus the Lord will magnifie himself and sanctifie himself and he will be known in the eyes of many Nations and they shall know that he is the Lord And then in that day shall his servants say This is the Lord we have waited for Him we will be Glad in his Salvation Isai 25.9 So then we may see that the Whore is not the Antichrist that the Scripture speaks of for the Whore is set out in Scripture thus as a Woman a false Church as a Queen The Mother of Harlots and ahominations of the earth The Antichrist is set out thus A Man of Sin The man that did shake kingdomes The Son of the Morning The Son of Perdition Secondly the sixth Head of the Roman Beast carrieth the Harlot but the Antichrist the Man of Sin is the eighth and last Beast as hath been shewed Thirdly The Whore confesseth Christ to be come in the flesh and hath a shew and a remembrance of his Ordinances though she have changed the subject and manner but the Antichrist denies Christ come into the flesh and his Ordinances that declare him come in the flesh as it hath been shewed Fourthly The Woman the Harlot and her members that do worship according to her Traditions and inventions have space given them to repent and many do repent but they that do worship the Beast the Antichrist or receive his mark in their right hand or in their fore-head they cannot repent they must drink of the wrath of God c. as it is Rev. 14.9 10. and in Chap. 16.11 They repented not of their deeds note that the first vial is poured out upon the earth and the men that had the mark of the Beast and worshipped his Image are plagued therefore none of the vials are poured out until the Antichrist raigneth vers 1 2. Fifthly The ten Horns hate the Whore and destroy her and make her desolate
he that is left in Sion and he that remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Sion shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of Judgment and by the spirit of burning Isai 4.2 3 4. Then shall health be restored unto Israel and their wounds healed saith the Lord because they called thee an out-cast saying this is Sion whom no man seeketh after Thus saith the Lord behold I will bring again the captivity of Jacobs tents and have mercy on his dwelling place and the City shall be builded upon her own heap and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voyce of them that make merry and I will multiply them and they shall not be few I will also glorifie them and they shall not be small Jer. 30.17 18 19. Again at this time will the Lord make them one Nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel and one King shall be a King to them all and they shall be no more two Nations neither shall they be devided into two kingdoms any more at all Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their Idols nor with their detestable things nor with any of their transgressions but I will save them out of all their dwelling places wherein they have sinned and will cleanse them so shall they be my people and I will be their God Ezekiel 37.22 23. Again Wait yea upon me saith the Lord untill the day that I rise up to gather the Nations that I may Assemble the kingdoms to pour upon them mine Indignation even all my fierce anger for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousie For then will I turn to the people a pure Language that they may all call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one consent At this time I will bring you again even in this time that I gather you for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth when I turn back your captivity before your eyes saith the Lord Zeph. 3.8 9 10. Again Look upon Zion the City of our solemnities thine eye shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation a Tabernacle that shall not be taken down not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed neither shall any of the cords be broken And the Inhabitants shall not say I am sick the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven there iniquity Isa 33.20 24. Again Hear the word of the Lord O ye Nations and declare it in the Isles afare of and say he that scattered Israel will gather him and keep him as a sheepheard doth his stock For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger then he Therefore they shall come and sing in the hight of Zion and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord for Wheat and for Wine and for Oyle and for the young of the flock and of the heard and their souls shall be as a watered Garden and they shall not sorrow any more at all Jer. 31.10 11 12. Yea in that day shall that song be sung by the house of Israel that is in the 12. of Isai Yea they shall cry out and shout for joy for great is the holy one of Israel in the midst of them verse the 6. Zeph. 3.15 They shall not see evil any more then that in the 35. of Isai shall be made good and that in Isai 60. and many other places which speak very clearly to these things search and see for Paul would not have us Ignorant of this mystery Rom. 11.25 Moreover be not mistaken though it be so that the fulness of the Gentiles under this dispensation shall come in before Christ come in person and many shall be given up to blindness and be destroyed at his appearing as it hath been shewed before yet them that are left of the Nations shall fall in with the people of Israel and say Come let us go up to the mountains of the Lord to the house of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his wayes and we will walk in his pathes For out of Sion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem Isai 2.2 3. Micah 4.1 2 3. Yea many people and strong Nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to pray before the Lord Thus saith the Lord of hosts in those dayes it shall come to pass that ten men shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew saying we will go with you for we have heard that God is with you Zach. 8.22 23. yea Zach. saith that when the Lord cometh and all the Saints with him even then the Lord shall be King over all the earth in that day shall there be one Lord and his name one and then it shall come to pass that every one that is left of all the Nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King the Lord of hosts and to keep the feast of Tabernacles Chap. 14.9 14. and this as I understand was signified under the Law when the males came up to Jerusalem to keep there feast so the Nations shall come up from one new Moon to another and from year to year to worship before the Lord Isai 66.23 for then the Gentiles shall be Converted to the house of Israel Isai 60.5 For the house of Israel that are brought back and are called when Christ come shall then be chief among the Nations according to this Scripture Isai 19.24 25. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria even a blessing in the midst of the land whom the Lord of Host shall bless saying blessed be Egypt my people and Assyria the work of my hands Israel mine Inheritance so in that day the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea Isa 11.9 So in that day when Christ raigns gloriously on the earth there will be first all them that dyed in the faith are found in the faith at his coming made immortal and shall raign with Christ over the whole earth Dan. 7.27 injoying perfection in knowledge and purity 1 Cor. 13.10 11 12. Ephes 5.27 and be made free from all manner of imperfections yea as David saith They shall be abundantly satisfied with the Fatness of thy house and thou shalt make them drink of the River of thy pleasures Psal 36.8 So they shall be compleatly happy injoying fulness of joy for ever and ever Secondly the house of Israel that is called when Christ appeareth as hath been shewed shall be under them and governed and judged by them Obad. 21. Mat. 19.28 Luke 22.28 29 30.