most fitly serue Saint Iohn to patterne antichrist an other Antiochus aswell for the like barbarous crueltie against the lightes of the world Phil. 2 15. the starres Dan. 12 3 Hebr. 11 12. and Host of heauen the true Christians Dan. 8 10 c. Reuelat. 8 12. and 12 4. and for the equall power giuen him of God thereunto Dan. 7 21. and 8 12. and 11 36. Reuel 13 7. as also for the semblable meanes of strength to accomplish his tyrannie Dan. 7 7. Reuel 13 1. and 17. ver 37 c. And lastly for the same iudgement and damnation of them both by booke euidence recording all their mischiefs against Gods people to be tormeÌ„ted in the fierie lake for euer Dan. 7 vers 10. 11. Reuel 19 20. and 20 12. was likewise the space that Christ the head of his church Eph. 1 22. indured all indignities euen to the shamefull death of the crosse Phil. 2 8 Hebr. 12 2. Isai 50 6. as the Prince of our saluation consecrated through afflictions because he that sanctifieth they which are sanctified are all of one Hebr. 2. ves 10. 11. And this space is also expressed sometime by halfe a propheticall weeke answerable to Daniels midweeke Dan. 9 27. viz. three daies and an halfe Reuelat. 11 9. sometime by 42 moneths Reuel 13 5. sometime by a time two times and halfe a time Dan. 7 25. and 12 7. Reuel 12 14. All which varieties expresse yet one space of time to signifie rather a certaine measure of afflictions determined in Gods euerlasting purpose to conforme his Church both of the Iewes and Gentiles to the image of his owne sonne Rom. 8 29. 2 Cor. 4 11. 1 Pet. 5 10. then any certaine time of persecution which the church of Christ must indure according to the will of God Rom. 6 6. 2 Cor. 1 5. and 4 10. Heb. 10 36. 1 Pet. 3 17. And immediatly after his baptisme he was visiblie replenished with the holie spirit Mat. 3 16. Luk. 4 1. And presently led by the same spirit into the wildernesse to be tempted of the deuil Mat. 4 1. Heb. 2 18. and 4 15. where he being among wild beastes Mark 1 13. which of old time were wont to frequent the deserts along the riuer Iorden Zechar. 11 3. continued fasting 40. daies in holie meditation before he entred that great worke of his fathers businesse which was inioined him of God in accomplishing the truth of Moses law by sealing vp and fulfilling the vision and Prophet and abolishing the dailie sacrifice oblation of the law Dan. 9. ve 24. 27. through the one oblatioÌ„ of himself Heb. 9 14. 10 14. wherby he cancelled the handwriting of the ceremoniall law which continuallie reuiued testified our sinnes against vs Col. 2 14. and thereby brought in euerlasting righteousnesse for vs all Dan. 9 24. Hebr. 10 14. Moses likewise at the giuing of the law had continued 40. daies fasting in the Lords presence vppon the mount Exod. 34 28. And Elias also at the restoring of the same law was 40. daies miraculouslie sustained without any food 1 King 19. v. 8. 14. which miraculous abstineÌ„ce of Moses Elias and of Christ sheweth the holie perfection of the law in it selfe Rom. 7 12. which was deliuered restored and abolished by one and the same miracle though through the infirmitie of our fleshe Rom. 8 3 it could not yet with all that perfectioÌ„ make vs perfect Heb. 7 19. and 10 1. but Christs one offring of himself hath made perfect for euer them that are sanctified Heb. 10 14. Thus therefore in the end of those 40. daies hauing put the Tempter to flight he came forth and preached the glad tydings of our saluation Mat. 4 17. and 9 35. euen the generall Iubilie of our euerlasting freedome from the captiuitie of Sathan sinne hell and eternall death Leuit 25. vers 9. 10. Luk 4. vers 17. 18 c. And these three orders namely kings high-priests and Prophets were ordeined according to the law by annointing Exod. 40 13. 1. Sam 16 13. 1. King 19 16. to shadow vnto vs the plentifull graces of Gods spirit which was in them by measure Act. 1 5. Eph. 4 7. 1 Ioh. 2. vers 20. 27. and 4 13 but in Christ without measure Psalm 45 7. Luk. 4 18. Ioh. 1 16. and 3 34. and 10 36. Acts. 10 38. as in whom are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge Col. 2 3. because in him dwelleth all the fulnesse of the Godhead reallie Col. 2 9 for it pleased the father that in him should all fulnesse dwel Col. 1 19 and of his fulnesse haue all we receiued and grace vpon grace Ioh. 1 16. Eph. 4 7. Tit. 3 6. Psal 68 19. God hath forbidden all similitudes and likenesse of any Images thing either in heauen in earth or in the sea which lying in his chanell as it were vnderbeareth the earth Psal 24 2 to worship them or him thereby vppon paine of eternall death not onely on the spirituall adulterers themselues that is the breakers of that spirituall wedlocke Ier. 31 32. Ezech. 16 8 but euen to the 3. and 4. generation of their adulterous posteritie Exod. 20 5. Read Hos 2. vers 2. 3. 4. 5. And Moses exhorting the Israelites as knowing that he should verie shortly after be taken from them chargeth them diligently to attend to the law and commaundements of the Lord and especiallie that they should beware of idolatrie for the Lord saith he spake vnto you out of the mids of the fire and yee heard the voice of the words but saw no similitude saue a voice Take therefore good heed vnto your selues for you saw no image in the day that the Lord spake vnto you in Horeb out of the mids of the fire that yee corrupt not your selues and make you a grauen image or representation of any figure c. Deut 4. vers 12. 15. 16. wherby Moses plainlie sheweth that the Lord of purpose with-held from them all shew of figure and likenesse causing them onlie to heare a voice for none can expresse the image of a voice as saith Esdras 4 Esd 5 37 because they should make no maner image at all no though it were possible for them to imitate the verie image of God himselfe to worship him therby yet were it vnlawfull for them so to doo for God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit truth for the father requireth euen such to worship him Iohn 4 23 c. Good works also these marchants most groslie abuse making them blasphemous and derogatorie to the due merits of Christes death and passion in in seeking v Albeit true christians worke not for reward Rom. 4. 4. but of dutie Luke 17 10 yet our God which 〈…〉 eth vs to worke Mat. 20 1 c. of his owne â—â—ere bountie and â—â—â—our Mat. 〈◊〉 14 15. hath 〈…〉 ed to re 〈…〉 our workes Mat. 10. 42. Luke â—â—3
5. He descrieth her coulers to be purple and o The Pope can be content to weare Christes skaâ—let robe because howsoeuer it was put vpon Christ in mockerie it represented a kinglie maiesty Mat 27 28. but yet he will haue it also adorned with golde precious â—â—ones pearles that so it may be the true liuerie of Antichrist Reuel 17 4. skarlet as the Pope himselfe and his Cardinals euen at this day vse to weare Reuel 17 4. And finallie to remoue all doubt of that cruell citie the Angel certifieth Iohn that it is that great citie which ruleth ouer the kings of the earth which then when S. Iohn wrote that Reuellation was Rome Reu. 17 18. And that in it that is within the far wide vsurped power iurisdiction thereof was found the bloud of all the Prophets and Saintes that were slaine vpon the earth Reuel 18 24. No maruell then if the Romanes beginning so cruellie with Christ and ioining with the Iewes to crucifie the Lord of glorie hold on stil in all impious and superstitious rage against the true christians and being absurde and reprobate in doctrine concerning the faith be derided and detested of all good men whom Christs seruants shall at length vanquish most gloriouslie and reward them double according to their workes The spirit of God hath commaunded so and we are sure it will be so and haue good hope to see it so Reuel 18 6. for their great city that is their former large vsurped power ouer manie countries and nations is alreadie diuided into three partes Reuel 16 19 for of that large Romish corporation some nations are become true Christian protestants as England Scotland Germanie Denmarke c. some hold still the Romish religion as Italie Spaine and the countries vnder their tyrannie some are neither as the kingdomes and countries won from Antichrist by the Turke Reuel 9 verse 14. 15. 20. with all other Atheists Sectaries among the two former sorts The Lord hath graciously begun their ruine in diuerse of those tenne kingdomes which sometime wholly bent their power to assist the Beast Reue. 17. verse 12. 13 but now a good part of them forsake and hate the Beast Reu. 17. verse 16. 17. And as we haue heard that those deuillish spirits are gone forth vnto the kings of the earth to gather them in their holy League as they call it to the battell of the great day for their vsuall speech is that they hope for a day but the holy Ghost saith of God almighty so we looke when they shal be gathered as blessed be God we saw a faire beginning in the yeare 1588 when they compassed the p With such glorious tâ—tles it pleaseth the Lord to beautifie the professors of his word as Da. 7 18 8. v. 10. 24. Pâ— 105 15. Tents of the Saints about the beloued Citie Reuel 20 9 at q S. Iohn setting down Arâ—nageddon addeth withall that it is so called in Hebrewe wherby he would haue vs to search the old TestameÌ„t for the true sense meaning of the storie so much also he meant by Abaddon before in which word he expresseth the Prophets therunto alledged paraphrastically the more to stir vp our desire in seeking out the truth Ar-mageddon Reuelat. 16 16. For Saint Iohn alluding to Magiddon or Mageddon which was a region in Iudaea towards the mediterrane sea in the tribe of Manasses calleth it Ar-mageddon the mountaine of the slaine and of purpose addeth Ar mountaine to Mageddon because of mount Tabor which being strongly enuironed with other neare mountaines Ier. 46 18 was within the coast of Mageddon wheron Barak and Debora with their armie expecting the comming of Sisera most wonderfully discomfited king Iabin and his complices the maine Reliques of the Canaanites and most despitefull enemies of Gods Church Iudg. 4. verse 6. 12. 15. 5. verse 18. 19. Psal 83. verse 9. 10. In that Mageddon also at the brooke Kishon Elias slue the idolatrous Prophets of Baal 1. King 18 40. The holy Ghost therefore leading vs to that place and victorie would put vs in most certaine hope and expectation of the like and verie rare victories of the idolatrous Papistes the sworne aduersaries of the true Church of Christ And for confirmation of this Truth Debora by the power of the spirit winding in all Gods aduersaries together on an heape concludeth her Epinice or song of her triumph with this acclamation so let all thine enemies perish ô Lord. Amen read Psalm 83. Thus haue we brieflie seene how the Lord God being before all beginning Psal 90 2. from euerlasting hath by his wonderfulâ— workmanship of the world declared his eternall power and Godhead vnto men creating all things for the benefit of maÌ„ and man himselfe to feare and loue the Lord who being created in holie innocencie and made the soueraigne of all earthlie creatures wittingly and wilfullie transgressed the commaundement of his Lord whereby he most iustlie procured eternall death to himselfe and to all his posteritie But the Lord vnspeakably rich in mercie found out a Redeemer euen of the seede of the woman the Man Iesus Christ the righteous the verie son of God who after manie promises of his comming in sundrie ages when the fulnesse of time was come being miraculouslie conceiued by the holie Ghost in the wombe of a virgin became man to suffer for man that death which all man-kind had rightly deserued and so both freeing vs from the punishment of sinne and clearing vs from the guiltinesse thereof hath set vs at peace againe with God and purchased an inheritance immortall and vndefiled and that fadeth not away reserued for vs in heauen and not committed anie more to our owne keeping as it was to Adams for the Lord himselfe sustaineth our lot Psal 16 5. and keepeth vs by his power through faith vnto saluation which is prepared to be shewed in the last time 1. Pet. 1 4. requiring of vs that we should not nowe liue vnto our selues but vnto him that died for vs and rose againe that we likewise should rise to a newnesse of life in holinesse righteousnesse and Christian sobrietie in this present world looking for the blessed q This is the true marke of all the godly and faithful generally both vnder the old Testament the new a secure hope and expectation of the last iudgement in the second comming of Christ Luc. 12 36. 21 28. Phil. 3 20. 1 Th. 1. ver 3. 10. 2 Thes 3 5. Hâ—b 9 28. and 11 3. Iam. 5 8. Re 22 20. hope and appearance of our Sauiour Iesus Christ to euerlasting life Resolue now thy selfe Christian Reader resigne all earthly r ChristiaÌ„s ought by the counsell of the holy Ghost to examine proue them selues whether they be in the faith feele the spirite of Christ working in them 2 Cor. 13 5 for by Christs spirit of adoption which is a witnesse in our hearts that
â—odie the true sacrifice of our sinnes Isai 3 10. Ephes 5 2. 1 Pet. 2 24. was taken â—om the crosse Mat. 27. vers 57 58. No maruell now the time of Christes â—omming so long and so plainlie told beâ—ore and recorded in Daniels prophecie 〈◊〉 S. Iohn note this in the Iewes especiallie â—s a monstrous and yet general vnkindâ—esse proceeding of their wilfull ignoâ—ance of Gods mercifull visiting them by â—is owne v Manie of the Iewes of that time waited coÌ„tinuallie for Christs comming as Ioseph of Arimathea Luke 23 51. father Simeon An Phanuel and diuerse other Luk. 2 vers 25. 36. And in the yeare that Christ suffred Caiaphas prophâ—cied that one should die for the people c. Ioh. 11 49. not speaking that from Daniels writings but God putting the truth in his mouth as he did in Balams asse Numbers 22 28 he vttered thereby his owne malice which he bare in his minde to kill Christ so the caitife blasphemed and prophecied with one voice sonne that Christ Iesus came â—nto his owne and his owne receiued â—im not Ioh. 1 11. our Lord therefore â—harplie rebuketh those Pharisies and â—adduces for their grosse ignorance of â—he signes and times of his comming aâ—ong them telling them that they were â—etter seene in the face of the skie and â—ore wether-wise to discerne faire daies â—nd tempests then skilfull to know the â—mes of the Lords visitation Mat. 16 3. â—his their generall ignorance euen at his â—ast farewell to the citie moued him to â—eepe ouer Ierusalem and through sorrowfull sobbes euen to wanâ— words to expresse his griefe for their wofull miseries saying O if thou hadst knoweÌ„ at the least in this thy day those things which belong to thy peace but now are they hid from thine eies Luke 19 42. They had diuerse signes to haue put them in minde of his comming as the departure of the w Read Dan. 2 44. After the captiuitie of BabyloÌ„ there were no kings in Iewrie for the state was gouerned by deputies of the tribe of Iudah but that Herod Mat. 2 1 c. being an Arabian by nation descended of the stocke of the kings of that fourth kingdome Dan. 2 40 reigned king in Iudea so the scepter was translated from the tribe of Iudah when Christ was borne scepter from the tribe of Iudah Gen. 49 10. And the sending of Elias the Prophet Malac 4 5. not that verie Elias himselfe should rise againe to reproue as Sirachides supposed Eccles 48 4 c. And as the common opinion of the Iewes and t Iohn Baptist denieth that he is Elias Ioh. 1 21. but his deniall is after this sense of the Scribes for so his questioners ment it See Herods feare that 10. Baptist should be risen againe Mat. 14 2. The Iowes had long before this tiâ—e admitted Pythagoras his MeteÌ„psychôsis as also hâ—s profane opinion of the good ill angel attending each one 2 Machab. 11 6. Acts. 12 15. Scribes was Mat. 17 10 but that Iohn Baptist should go before Christ in the spirit and power of Elias as Gabriel interpreteth Malachis meaning to Zacharias Luke 1 17. Christ maketh it plaine Mat. 11 14. This finall blindnesse in Israell Moses by the spirit foresaw therefore brast out with this hearty wish of their only happinesse Oh that they were wise then they would vnderstand this they would coÌ„sider their latter end Deut. 32 29. with sorrow inough the Prophet doubled this complaint who is blind but my seruant or deafe as my messenger that I sent who is blinde as the x He alludeth to the name Ierusalem which signifieth visible peace for the Lord had set it in the middes of the nations as a spectacle in their sight of all peace and prosperitie to his people but the Iewes breaking the conditions thereof were yet vainly confident of peace which thus the prophet reprocheth Ezech. 5 5. Ier. 7 4. and our Lord Luke 19 42. endowed-with-peace Isai 42 19. wherefore our Sauiour as he went to the crosse turning backe to those wailing women which lamenting him little thought of their owne calamities that should shortlie ensue mercifullie forewarneth them Weepe not for me ye daughters of Ierusalem but weepe for your selues and for your children for behold the daies will come when men shall say Blessed are the baren and the wombes that neuer bare the brestes that neuer gaue sucke Luk. 23. vers 28. 29. But I am here caried farther then I purposed yet not so far from my purpose whereunto I returne S. Iohn saith that this Iesus Christ the iust is our aduocat with the father the reconciliatioÌ„ for all our sinnes 1 Iohn 2 verse 1. 2. And that his bloud clenseth vs from al sinne 1 Iohn 1 7. for as the Baptist saith he is the lamb of God which taketh away the sinne of the world Ioh. 1 29. Neither is their as S. Pet. witnesseth saluation in any other for amoÌ„g meÌ„ there is geuen none other name vnder heauen whereby we must be saued Acts. 4 12. To him also giue all the Prophets witnesse that through his name all that beleeue in him shall receiue remission of sinnes Act. 10 4â— Therefore the true Christian touching all the worke of his saluation both in heart beleeueth with mouth confesseth with the Psalmist thus Whom haue I in heauen but thee And I haue desired none in the earth with thee Psa 73 25. He alone is God all-sufficient Gen 17 1. mightie and sufficient to saue Isai 63 1. neither is there anie other that heareth our words Isai 41 26. and 63. vers â— 16. Wherefore Dauid calleth him O thou that hearest the praier Psal 65. 2. And Isay setteth downe the verie foâ—me of euerie Christians faith and confession thus Onely in the Lord touching me shall he say is y Righteousnes in the orginall tâ—ngue is red in thâ— plâ—nâ—mber to sigâ—ifie vnto vs thâ—â— all our rightâ—â—â—sâ—esse is of the Lord â—hat we should neuer once open our mouth to iustifie our selues Eze. 10 63. all my righteousnesse strength Isai 45 24. for Christ Iesus who is al in al Col. â— 11. Ioh. 1 9. RoÌ„ 9 16. Eph. 1 23 Phil. 2 13 of God is made vnto vs wisedome righteousnesse sanctification redemption that God alone might haue al the glorie 1 Cor. 1. vers 30. 31. Now the meanes to obtaine this righteousnesse in Christ is by hearing the word of God either red Exod. 24 7. Deu. â—1 11. Ioh. 20 31. Act. 15 21. Eph. 3 4. Col. 4 16 1 Thes 5 27. or Preached Act. 8 35 c and 16. vers 14. 32. 1 Cor. 14. vers 24 25 assuredly to beleeue all the promises of God in his son our Sauiour 2 Cor. 1 20. 1 Ioh. 5. vers 10. 11 applying them to thy selfe thus That Christ Iesus died for my sinnes and rose againe for my iustication Rom 4 25. And the Apostle saith if thou shalt confesse with thy